Anyone who reads this blog knows how much I love jewelry.

I buy what I can and admire what is beyond my means.

It might be a little of both when it comes to a new collection that’s being unveiled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan this week.

A selection of fine jewelry has been developed in conjunction with the special exhibition “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul,” which opens tomorrow and continues through Sept. 20.

Here’s how the press release describes these lovely pieces:

“In connection with the exhibition, the Metropolitan Museum and the National Geographic Society have collaborated with Gurhan Orhan, international jewelry designer and master goldsmith, who works both in New York and in Turkey, to create a collection of fine gold jewelry adapted from the exhibition’s rich treasury of artifacts from the National Museum in Kabul.

Gurhan employs the traditional technique of the early goldsmiths: fortifying hollow jewelry inside with natural elements such as grain, wood, or sand.

His workmanship and attention to detail enable him to create the strong, lightweight, museum-quality jewelry for which he is known.

For the Hidden Treasures Collection, Gurhan has focused his talents on developing a group of very special pieces in his signature 24-karat gold and a variety of semiprecious stones that echo the arts of the ancient world.

Inspired by the traditional shapes seen in the original gold jewelry and ornaments on exhibition, often inlaid with turquoise either singly or in combination with other semiprecious stones, Gurhan’s adaptations are made with lapis lazuli, turquoise, and carnelian evoking the colors and stones used by the ancient craftsmen.

“This exquisite jewelry reflects both the elegant craftsmanship of Afghanistan’s ancient art and the rich traditions of contemporary Afghan culture.

The beautifully designed pieces were inspired by the extraordinary artifacts on display in the exhibition ‘Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul,’ ” said Shamim Jawad, founder of the Ayenda Foundation and wife of Afghan Ambassador to the United States.

The Museum will offer a limited assortment of elaborate necklaces, pendants, earrings, bangles, and rings—approximately thirty designs ranging in price from $350 to $25,000—at the exhibition shop when Afghanistan:  Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul opens to the public on June 23, 2009.”

Here are a few of the collection’s treasures, starting with the Afghanistan gold carnelian intaglio ring, at $3,650:

This is the Afghanistan gold granulated triangular pendant, at $6,000:

This is the Afghanistan gold granulated turquoise bangle, at $4,660:

And here’s the Afghanistan gold multi-stone granulated necklace, yours for $11,850:

Definitely something to admire… and if you’ve got the funds, go for it.

After the exhibition closes, the pieces will then be available in the main gift shop.

And for more on the exhibit, be sure to check out tomorrow’s Life & Style section (and here on LoHud.com), when my friend and colleague Georgette Gouveia previews the exhibition through an interview with its curator, Joan Aruz of Chappaqua.

The museum is at 1000 Fifth Ave. (at 82nd Street).

Call 212-535-7710.

Stop by, or shop online.

(Photos courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art).