Part of jewelry designers' fascination with Picasso jasper is the artistic tension: the boldness of black, the passive quietness of grey and the exciting energy of red all swept together.

Peridot jasper is like rich cream with a hint of cool mint blended into it. These creamy, gleaming beads combine the best of both worlds: peridot's delicate beauty with jasper's low cost.

Tigerskin "jasper" is a perfect choice for earthy jewelry styles. Its contrasting swirls and stripes of tan, yellow and yellowish brown create a tawny stone that's so rich looking its decadent.