Diamonds last forever. However, the 40th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and Michael Alexander's precious jewelry in State College does not.

Forty-year-old Alexander and wife Andrea Alexander from New York City have been creating precious jewelry for 10 years. They have been selling their work at the Arts Festival for the past six years.

"It's such a great place for us," he said. "The people there, the energy, the organization of the show -- and we love going to State College."

Alexander said it could take anywhere from one month to four months to create a piece of jewelry, depending on the piece. He said some pieces are very complicated and there's more work to them.

Alexander said he is excited for this year's show because he's been very creative in the past six months.

"After 10 years my designs are starting to be generated within my own mind, and I'm using more internal inspiration than external," he said. "I get ideas all the time just sitting around."

He said one of the most memorable experiences he has of the Arts Festival was when he was given an award for best jeweler at the show in honor of a local jeweler who had passed away.

"Not only being honored for the show, but the award was in honor of a jeweler who had passed away and was a very honored member of the community," Alexander said.

Alexander said his wife guides him with jewelry design because he is a man designing women's jewelry.

"All the pieces that she loves are the ones that we sell," he said.

He said his wife runs the business, and he creates the jewelry.

Alexander said the average price range for his jewelry is between $2,000 to $6,000.

"I try to use very fine gemstones," he said. "It's very sophisticated, simple and elegant."