Orange Sapphire & Diamond Starfish Necklace

I was just a child when my father took us out in a small dinghy on a warm summer day. While we waited, he slipped beneath the waves in his scuba gear, disappearing into the deep blue-green waters below.

A few minutes later, he surfaced beside the boat with a grin and carefully handed us two brilliant orange starfish he had found resting on the seabed. I remember turning one gently in my hands, fascinated by its tiny suction-cup feet. They seemed to wiggle and cling ever so lightly to my fingers, tickling my skin. In the sunlight, the starfish glistened in its shades of orange and gold. I thought they were beautiful.

My father watched our wonder for a moment as we each got to hold them before gently reminding us that these animals were alive and belonged in the ocean. After we had admired them, he carefully returned each starfish to the sea, where they slowly drifted back toward the ocean floor. It was a simple lesson, but one I never forgot—that some of nature’s greatest treasures are meant to be appreciated, then left exactly where they belong.