Evolution of the Jewelry Trade

The jewelry trade had its humble beginning in the days of the caveman. Today it is a massive and flourishing industry. Jewelry is worn with everything from jeans and sneakers to elegant evening wear. How it all happened is quite an interesting story.

Earliest forms of jewelry were worn by cavemen. Their jewelry was crudely fashioned of sea shells as well as animal teeth, claws or bones. Graves of prehistoric people have revealed beaded jewelry as well as jewelry made of ivory, wood or metal.

Studies of the ancient Egyptians revealed well-crafted jewelry. The Egyptians were probably the first to combine gemstones with gold or precious metals. The priests of Bible days wore breastplates made with rows of diamonds, emeralds and other gemstones.

Workers who made implements or weapons for battle became the first jewelry craftsmen.

As they worked with metals to make the implements of war, they discovered the fine art of using the metals to create precious jewelry.

The jewelry trade came to America with the first settlers. An artisan could repair a broken farm implement, a wagon wheel or fashion a wedding ring. New York City became the leader of the precious metal industry in the 1890s with the first jewelry store opening at the beginning of the 19th century.

The 20th century ushered in machines which created jewelry and mass production began in manufacturing plants. Jewelry became more available and more affordable. New York City is still the headquarters in the United States for the leading designers and artisans.

During the mid 1900s jewelry artists began designing and creating their own special lines of jewelry. These are sold in up-scale stores, boutiques or galleries. Today, jewelry is available in specialty jewelry stores, department stores, mall kiosks, craft shows, etc.

The Internet and television shopping channels also claim a large portion of jewelry sales.

Many celebrities now have their own line of jewelry. These are mostly sold on television or in up-scale department stores. Usually the designs are high-fashion and elaborately crafted.

Jewelry is worn by men, women and children of all ages. It has become increasingly popular. There is always joy in giving jewelry to mark major occasions such as engagements, weddings, birth of a child, anniversaries, etc. Jewelry will be around for eternity.

When shopping for gold and diamonds, the name to remember is www.normasfinejewelry.com. Norma’s has many beautiful jewelry items at 40% to 60% less than the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price every day. If you are shopping for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or diamonds rings, be sure to see the 100s of choices at Norma’s. There is no need to wait for a sale or fight the Mall traffic. Norma welcomes you and every order will receive her personal attention.

Several Bead Jewelry Designs

Working with beads can be fun and exciting in the same time for those who love to participate in arts and crafts . This can turn into a passion, but also into a business as well. Bead jewelry design is used for clothing and shoes decoration, and for many other things. All the spectacular beads can be used in bead jewelry designs, from small colorful beads to large beach theme beads.

Seashells can also be used o create beads designs, buttons, and many other decorative objects. Everything depends of the imagination and creativity, taste and experience. When someone decide to make bread jewelry design, is wise to begin using beads found at a local craft store.

The color and size must match with the project you are designing. There are many options to choose from, everything depends on your imagination and creativity. Ever the craft store looks like having a wide variety of products; remember that a craft store is not specialized in items to make bead jewelry designs. It is possible that after making some pieces of bead jewelry, you get tired of the selection offered to you there.

This is the moment when you can search some sites specialized in offering materials for bead jewelry design. There are many great sites that you’ll find convenient to become your only materials’ provider. You will have the possibility to buy from those sites all the supplies you need. Make sure that you made the best choice; you must collaborate with the most appropriate firm for you. If you can manage to have a long term relationship with them, it will be to your benefit.

You can read the reviews coming from the site’s clients. Many people are buying from the internet bead products. Here is a great jewelry resource http://www.thejewelrydelivery.com. You can share their experience and opinions. Consumers’ review can be really useful and give you the information you need. You can find companies you didn’t’ even know existed, but it will give you the opportunity to learn from other people experience and don’t make the same mistakes.

There are some website that never comes through their promises that hey are proposing in the website content. It is not a pleasant experience to order your bead jewelry designs to a company online and wait a few days without any result. It is very discouraging to realize a few days after that your will not receive your beads and the money are lost.

After a serious research, you’ll find the serious online companies that can provide you everything you need; you can make bead jewelry and sell them after back on the internet.

It is a great chance to create a profit doing what you love to do. If the profit isn’t interesting you, the bead jewelry designs will be the most appropriate gift for your closest friends and family, on birthdays or special occasions.

Sterling Silver Money Clips

It’s always harder to shop for gifts for men than for women because although they have fewer accessories to choose from, they tend to be more picky than women especially when they have an “image” to maintain. If you’re looking for the perfect gift that your man won’t feel ashamed of using, stay away from risky clothes and jewelries and start visiting accessory boutiques to look for the best sterling silver money clip you can find.

Why Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver unlike other types of silver won’t get rusty even when it’s exposed to water and other elements. As such, your man won’t have to worry about getting his sterling silver money clip ruined when there’s a sudden downpour.

Sterling silver is also considered a classy material especially when compared to materials like leather. It is also more durable and it definitely won’t break or bend easily when pressure and force are exerted.

Money Clips vs. Wallets

Although there are more styles, colors, and designs to choose from when shopping for wallets, there are also more disadvantages to be found if you choose to purchase a wallet instead of a money clip for your man.

Firstly, wallets usually create a noticeable bulge in the pocket which effectively reduces the sexiness of the person. If you want your man to look good, he’ll be better off with a slim and compact sterling silver money clip.

Secondly, there’s no turning back time when your wallets become victims of wear and tear. Old leather will always be old leather. Immortality on the other hand is granted to sterling silver money clips. All you have to do is polish them regularly with the right cleaning tools and you’ll have a brand new looking money clip all the time!

Thirdly, money’s more accessible when using a money clip. All you have to do is pull off the exact kind and number of paper bills you need and payment is instantly made.

Fourthly, money clips are especially advantageous to men who love playing the field. Instead of having to changing photos in their wallets all the time to avoid hurting their current flavor of the month, no evidence can be garnered against them when they’re using money clips. It’s just money after all!

One major concern of yours should be that you are actually getting the right kind of metal, and that the money clip is indeed made of sterling silver, it is never too difficult to find someone who understands something about silver and get them to the shop with you. It is also advisable that you think about the person you are getting this for, ideally the money clip should be fitted to their habits and needs, if you will observe the person you will know what kind of money clip will suit him best.

Platinum Vs White Gold

Platinum Vs White Gold; Why is My White Gold Ring Turning Yellow?

Many women complain that their white gold jewelry is turning yellow. They don’t understand why this is happening and they’re confused.

I am the author of a platinum brochure that helps clear up some of the confusion. In it, I delve into the history of platinum as well as answer some of the most popular questions concerning platinum vs. gold. For example:

Q: What is the difference between white gold and platinum?

A: There is a tremendous difference between the two metals and it has to do primarily with purity. White gold is a fabricated color. In order to obtain the ‘white’ look of white gold, pure gold is diluted with white metal(s), such as nickel. However, this resulting metal is still not a true ‘white’ and must be plated in platinum to achieve the look of platinum. Over time, this plating wears away and a yellowish tint emerges. This yellowish hue is not tarnish; it is the true color of white gold. To restore the white and bright finish, the metal must again be plated. Platinum, on the other hand, is 99% pure and will always remain naturally ‘white.’

Here’s another question that often comes up.

Q: Why does platinum cost more than white gold?

A: The market value for platinum per ounce is much higher than gold. One reason is that platinum is much more rare than gold. In fact, it is 60 times rarer. It takes ten tons of ore and eight weeks to produce just one once of platinum. But it’s worth it.

There is an additional factor to the price disparity. While platinum requires less ongoing maintenance than that of silver or gold, platinum does require very special attention when fabricating a quality piece of jewelry. Today, there are few jewelers who can work well with platinum. It requires special tools, special techniques and highly trained individuals.

Platinum is the metal of kings. It’s pure and it’s dense. Did you know that a six inch cube weighs an incredible 165 pounds? I’ve always advised my customers to purchase platinum when they could afford it.

Types of Diamonds

Diamonds are classified broadly under the categories of Natural Diamond, Synthetic Industrial Diamond and Thin Film Diamonds on the basis of their process of origination.

Diamonds remain to be the most fascinating gift that a woman can ever dream about. The word “diamond” is derived from a Greek word “adamas” which stands for “invincible”. Due to its atomic structure, diamond is the hardest natural matter. This expensive and translucent gem is made of carbon.

Diamonds can be scientifically classified into 4 types, known as type 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b.

Diamonds are made of carbon, and are extremely pure, but in almost all diamonds there are tiny proportions of other elements, interspersed within the carbon as part of their crystal structure. These "impurities" are not what are known as inclusions, and are so small as to be invisible even under a very powerful microscope.

Type 1 Diamonds

Type 1 diamonds contain nitrogen. About 98% of all diamonds are type 1a

Type 1a

If the nitrogen atoms are clustered together within the carbon lattice, then the diamond is said to be a Type 1a diamond. Because these diamonds absorb blue light, they can have a pale yellow or brown color. 98% of diamonds are Type 1a.

Type 1b

If the nitrogen atoms are evenly spread out throughout the carbon lattice, then the diamond is said to be a Type 1b diamond. These diamonds absorb green light as well as blue light, and have a darker color than type 1a diamonds. Depending on the precise concentration and spread of the nitrogen atoms, these diamonds can appear deep yellow ("canary"), orange, brown or greenish. Less then 0.1% of diamonds belong to Type 1b.

Type 2

Type 2 are diamonds that absorbed no, or very few, nitrogen atoms.

Type 2a

These diamonds can be considered as the "purest of the pure" - they contain no, or minuscule amounts of impurities and are usually colorless. Unless, that is, the carbon tetrahedrons that make up the diamond were twisted and bent out of shape while the diamond rose to the surface of the earth. An imperfect carbon lattice will make the diamond absorb some light, which will give it a yellow, brown or even pink or red color. 1-2% of diamonds belong to Type 2a.

Type 2b

These diamonds contain no nitrogen - but they do contain boron, which absorbs red, orange and yellow light. These diamonds therefore usually appear to be blue, although they can also be grey or nearly colorless. All naturally blue diamonds belong to Type 2b, which makes up 0.1% of all diamonds.

Addie Jakson is 25 years old, article writer by education because she loves to. In addition to writing about fashion, she is a specialist of writing articles for studs’ jewelry. She is known for great articles for studs’ jewelry.

Some Common Jewelry Questions

What is my birthstone?

There are several different lists of birthstones. Following is a list of some of the most commonly accepted birthstones.

January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine/Bloodstone
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Alexandrite/Moonstone/Pearl
July - Ruby
August - Peridot/Sardonyx
September - Sapphires
October - Pink - Tourmaline/Opal
November - Topaz/Citrine
December - Blue - Zircon/Turquoise

What is the difference between 10, 14 &18 karat gold?

24 kt = 99%
22 kt = 91.66%
20 kt = 83.33%
18 kt = 75%
14 kt = 58.33%
10 kt = 41.66%

What does .925 mean?

This is another method of marking sterling silver and refers to the percentage of silver 92.5%).

How is gold colored?

Varying the alloys creates the various colors of gold. Red has more copper, green has more silver, and white has nickel or palladium added.

What are the 4 Cs?

The four Cs are Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat weight.

What is the difference between created and simulated stones?

Both are manmade stones. Created stones are chemically the same as the natural stone. Simulated stones are stones that are made of a material other than what it is attempting to copy. Cubic zirconium, lab-grown corundum, lab grown spinel and glass are common materials used to simulate gemstones.

What is stress fracturing?

Stress fracturing is a problem associated with white and lower karat gold. Gold of 10 kt or less are susceptible. White gold often has this problem. Stress fracturing is caused by chemicals that dissolve the alloy out of the gold which, of course, weakens it. This can cause an item to suddenly just break for no apparent reason. This is most often seen as a prong tip on a white gold setting that is suddenly missing. Chlorine is one chemical that can cause this problem. Never soak your jewelry in strong cleaners.

Why does my fine jewelry turn my finger black?

This is most often not a problem with the quality of the metal. Whenever a metal is ground into a fine enough powder, that powder is black. If the hand cream or makeup that you are using contains any abrasive materials, this will rub on the piece of jewelry and create a black smudge. Many of the materials used to color makeup are mild abrasives.

Fashion Jewelry Bargain Prices

Keep Up with Fashion Jewelry Trends at Bargain Prices

The jewelry trade had its humble beginning in the days of the caveman. Today it is a massive and flourishing industry. Jewelry is worn with everything from jeans and sneakers to elegant evening wear. How it all happened is quite an interesting story.

Earliest forms of jewelry were worn by cavemen. Their jewelry was crudely fashioned of sea shells as well as animal teeth, claws or bones. Graves of prehistoric people have revealed beaded jewelry as well as jewelry made of ivory, wood or metal.

Studies of the ancient Egyptians revealed well-crafted jewelry. The Egyptians were probably the first to combine gemstones with gold or precious metals. The priests of Bible days wore breastplates made with rows of diamonds, emeralds and other gemstones.

Workers who made implements or weapons for battle became the first jewelry craftsmen.

As they worked with metals to make the implements of war, they discovered the fine art of using the metals to create precious jewelry.

The jewelry trade came to America with the first settlers. An artisan could repair a broken farm implement, a wagon wheel or fashion a wedding ring. New York City became the leader of the precious metal industry in the 1890s with the first jewelry store opening at the beginning of the 19th century.

The 20th century ushered in machines which created jewelry and mass production began in manufacturing plants. Jewelry became more available and more affordable. New York City is still the headquarters in the United States for the leading designers and artisans.

During the mid 1900s jewelry artists began designing and creating their own special lines of jewelry. These are sold in up-scale stores, boutiques or galleries. Today, jewelry is available in specialty jewelry stores, department stores, mall kiosks, craft shows, etc.

The Internet and television shopping channels also claim a large portion of jewelry sales.

Many celebrities now have their own line of jewelry. These are mostly sold on television or in up-scale department stores. Usually the designs are high-fashion and elaborately crafted.

Jewelry is worn by men, women and children of all ages. It has become increasingly popular. There is always joy in giving jewelry to mark major occasions such as engagements, weddings, birth of a child, anniversaries, etc. Jewelry will be around for eternity.

When shopping for gold and diamonds, the name to remember is www.normasfinejewelry.com. Norma’s has many beautiful jewelry items at 40% to 60% less than the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price every day. If you are shopping for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or diamonds rings, be sure to see the 100s of choices at Norma’s. There is no need to wait for a sale or fight the Mall traffic. Norma welcomes you and every order will receive her personal attention.

Buying Silver Jewelry

Buying Silver Jewelry: Things To Look Out For

If you are looking into purchasing silver jewelry you have to be the judge as to whether the jewelry is real and how much you can get it for. With silver jewelry, before buying, you must look at the markings on the piece of jewelry and make sure that it has a U.S. registered trademark of a reputable company or individual that will vouch that the piece is authentic. If the piece is sterling silver it must by law carry both of e types of markings.

Now when it comes to looking over it for its aesthetic reasons the piece should not be worn or chipping unless you are looking into antique or used jewelry.

If you want help judging jewelry you can shop for it through a jewelry store or, in some cases, jewelry departments in department stores. Especially in jewelry shops there will generally be an expert on jewelry and they can give you information on silver jewelry. If the piece that you are looking to purchase is expensive you can have a jeweler appraise the piece and see if it is worth what you are paying.

Many times though the piece is used or inexpensive and you must judge for yourself. The appearance of the piece is the most important thing so before purchasing a piece look over it thoroughly for nicks on the piece or discoloration from being worn. A great place to pick up silver jewelry can be garage sales and thrift stores.

Many times you can find good silver jewelry at thrift stores or at a garage sale. Obviously the silver jewelry for these places is not new but if the piece still looks good it can be had at a good price.

Another good place to get jewelry where you will have to be the judge is mass merchandise stores such as Target and Wal-Mart. The people working at the jewelry department probably are not experts at judging jewelry. But in these stores you can be sure that the jewelry is authentic and they usually will tell you the amount of silver in the piece. You can then judge the look and feel of it and if it is made well.

Bangles, Bracelets, Necklaces and Earrings Jewelry

Bangles, Bracelets, Necklaces and Earring are ornaments worn by women mainly on their arms, wrist, neck and ears. Men also wear it as fashion symbol. They are made of numerous precious as well as non-precious materials such as gold, silver, platinum, glass, wood, ferrous metals, plastic, etc. Gold made ornaments are usually high cost and silver produced are costly too. Glass based jewelry looks ordinary and plastic simply does not even sounds good. You still have ‘Metal’ made ornaments, a choice of jewelry that looks great and does not cost as much as gold, silver or platinum..

Metal Bangle, Bracelets, Necklaces and Earrings are widely acclaimed male and female ornaments. These products are often stubbed with precious and semi-precious stones such as diamonds, gems and pearls etc. Metal jewelry looks pleasant and buying it is not a costly affair. If you are looking for a change in jewelry fashion or tired of wearing gold or silver jewelry, Metal Jewelry is the best option available to go for.

Metal Bangles are usually circular in shape and not as flexible as metal bracelets. Metal bracelets can be used as Friendship Bracelets, Sports Bracelets and Charm Bracelets etc. It is a flexible article of jewelry. Solid form bracelets are referred to as bangles or bangle bracelets. Bracelets can be smooth, textured or set with stones. Earrings are often made of metal and are worn on the ear.

Beautiful Metal Bangles & Earring stands and Metal Necklace rack can be used to showcase your jewelry. Having a lot of jewelry can create a mess, there are plenty of display and organizing solutions available. These showcases are beautiful enough to be a decoration itself. A variety of single purpose or multi-purpose jewelry showcases can help you to hold your jewelry with utmost care.

You can visit a jewelry showroom in your area or jewelry online shopping store to buy Metal Bangles, Bracelets, Necklaces and Earrings from a website like www.treasurejewelry.com. Where ever you’re buying from, Quality and Cost of the products are two important factors to consider before you buy. You can do the research on your own or visit the online store mentioned above for quality products & best services.

Several Bead Jewelry Designs

Working with beads can be fun and exciting in the same time for those who love to participate in arts and crafts . This can turn into a passion, but also into a business as well. Bead jewelry design is used for clothing and shoes decoration, and for many other things. All the spectacular beads can be used in bead jewelry designs, from small colorful beads to large beach theme beads.

Seashells can also be used o create beads designs, buttons, and many other decorative objects. Everything depends of the imagination and creativity, taste and experience. When someone decide to make bread jewelry design, is wise to begin using beads found at a local craft store.

The color and size must match with the project you are designing. There are many options to choose from, everything depends on your imagination and creativity. Ever the craft store looks like having a wide variety of products; remember that a craft store is not specialized in items to make bead jewelry designs. It is possible that after making some pieces of bead jewelry, you get tired of the selection offered to you there.

This is the moment when you can search some sites specialized in offering materials for bead jewelry design. There are many great sites that you’ll find convenient to become your only materials’ provider. You will have the possibility to buy from those sites all the supplies you need. Make sure that you made the best choice; you must collaborate with the most appropriate firm for you. If you can manage to have a long term relationship with them, it will be to your benefit.

You can read the reviews coming from the site’s clients. Many people are buying from the internet bead products. Here is a great jewelry resource http://www.thejewelrydelivery.com. You can share their experience and opinions. Consumers’ review can be really useful and give you the information you need. You can find companies you didn’t’ even know existed, but it will give you the opportunity to learn from other people experience and don’t make the same mistakes.

There are some website that never comes through their promises that hey are proposing in the website content. It is not a pleasant experience to order your bead jewelry designs to a company online and wait a few days without any result. It is very discouraging to realize a few days after that your will not receive your beads and the money are lost.

After a serious research, you’ll find the serious online companies that can provide you everything you need; you can make bead jewelry and sell them after back on the internet.

It is a great chance to create a profit doing what you love to do. If the profit isn’t interesting you, the bead jewelry designs will be the most appropriate gift for your closest friends and family, on birthdays or special occasions.

10 Tips For Picking Jewelry

A prom dress without the proper adornments is like a Christmas tree with no ornaments: no matter how beautiful it is, it seems somehow naked. If you've ever watched celebrities walk down the red carpet you know that they realize the importance of accessories in order to "complete the package". Tasteful and properly coordinated accessories can really bring an outfit together while ill matched pieces will often ruin the entire outfit.

It is often difficult to decide which accessories are perfect for prom since most of us do not have the luxury of celebrity stylists to offer advice and recommendations. Keeping the following suggestions in mind as you search for the perfect compliments to your prom outfit should help you avoid any glaringly horrid accessory mistakes. The number one, time-honored piece of advice for accessorizing and proms is this: less is more. It is better to err on the side of caution than to add too many accessories and become an eyesore.

When it comes to jewelry, it helps if you select jewelry that not only goes with the overall theme you are hoping to achieve with your dress and hairstyle, but also something that you would wear after the prom as well. You do not have to choose jewelry that matches your dress, it is more important to choose pieces that compliment your entire ensemble. Pearls are always a wise selection as they are elegant and beautiful while rarely being garish. They are also friendly to budgets that may be stretched a bit thin from the purchase of a prom dress.

Your hairstyle should be considered when selecting your jewelry also. If you are going for an updo, there are many wonderful jewelry options available. For these hairstyles, studs work wonderfully and allow for bolder choices in necklaces while drop earrings also look great with this hairstyle and call for keeping other jewelry a little simpler. The same goes with hair ornaments.

If you have long hair that you are wearing down, you will need earrings that are bold and make a statement. Hoops and chandelier style earrings work really well in this particular situation. Be sure you don't overdo the accessorizing thing by pairing these bold earrings with bold necklaces and bracelets; you only need one piece of 'loud' jewelry.

There are many different types of prom dresses and the dress you will be wearing should have an impact on the jewelry you wear along with it. Below are some general guidelines that should help you make wiser jewelry decisions for your special night.

1) Spaghetti straps: If you are looking for one stand out piece of jewelry to wear with this type of dress, consider a wide cuff bracelet for that special piece. You can pair it easily with stud earrings or earrings that dangle but aren't over stated. Be sure that your date won't be brining a wrist corsage however as this will kill the statement that the bracelet makes.

2) Strapless: This particular dress is striking gold for the jewelry lover as you can choose a necklace that really makes a statement. Be sure to wear a necklace that is short with this particular type of dress rather than one that will meet the fabric. If you choose a simple necklace you are free to add bold earrings or a bracelet in order to add that little bit of zing!

3) Short sleeved dress: It is an excellent idea to bring attention to your arms by using stackable bracelets with this type of dress. Choose a simple necklace or even go without and let your bracelets make your statement for you. If you aren't into bangles, try for a wide cuffed bracelet instead.

4) High-necked: With this type of dress, a necklace will only serve to compete with the neckline, skip it. Instead, choose an elegant bracelet and matching earrings, gemstones work best.

5) Square-necked: This dress is an excellent choice to show off a beautiful necklace. Keep that fact in mind when choosing your jewelry. You'll want a necklace that you can show off and understated earrings and other accessories.

6) V-necked: using a matching necklace and earring set will work wonderfully with this neckline and compliment your look nicely.

7) Plunging: For this dramatic look try pinning an antique broach at the bottom of the plunge or wearing a pearl choker from dramatic flair. Diamond collars and simple ribbons also look great with this dress; you absolutely do not want a long necklace that will take away from the drama of the plunge.

8) Simple: A simple prom dress is like a blank canvas, it is completely up to you to make your statement. Use your imagination and have fun decorating yourself.

9) Ornate: It is very difficult to find complimentary jewelry for an ornate dress. The problem is that most jewelry will only serve to distract from the beauty of the dress. Perhaps the best jewelry in this situation is a bold cocktail ring.

10) Vintage: Bring it to the future with modern bangles or necklaces that are neatly layered. Simple jewelry also works wonderfully with this type of dress.

The important thing to remember is that moderation is almost always the best choice when selecting jewelry to accentuate a dress. You do not want your jewelry competing with either the dress or other pieces of jewelry. The most important thing is to have fun. Prom is a special night, but only the first of many more to follow.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry

Bridal Pearl Jewelry Provides Classic, Timeless Elegance on Your Special Day

Pearls hold a classic, timeless elegance, and are the perfect accessory on your wedding day. Best of all you, can incorporate pearl bridal jewelry so that it either prominent and eye-catching or subtle and subdued. Here are just a few of the ways you can add pearls to your special day.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry - Pearl Necklaces

Pearl necklaces are typically divided into six lengths: collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera, and rope. A pearl collar is usually 12 to 13 inches long and is made of at least three strands of pearls. A pearl collar works best if your bridal gown has a plunging neckline, a V-neck or is strapless.

A pearl choker is usually 14 to 16 inches long, and rests at the collarbone. Its classic length makes it the perfect accessory for bridals gowns. At 17 to 20 inches, the princess necklace is the classic pearl necklace length because of its versatility. It works well with both high and plunging necklines.

The matinee pearl necklace is typically 20 to 25 inches, and works well with high necklines. This pearl necklace would be ideal if you're a bride for the second time, and your gown is cocktail length.

At 27 to 36 inches, the opera pearl necklace drops to the waist, so it can be worn with a high neckline or wrapped into a double strand to form a choker. The pearl rope necklace is longer still, at 40 to 72 inches or even longer. Its sheer length makes this pearl necklace a stunning accessory. It can be looped into a double or triple pearl strand, can be looped and worn at the wrist, or even worn down the back of a backless gown. Both versatile and daring, an opera-length pearl necklace will make a dramatic statement on your wedding day.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry - Pearl Stud Earrings

If the style of your wedding gown doesn't lend itself to a pearl necklace, consider pearl earrings. Classic stud earrings lend a simple elegance to an ornate gown, while simple gowns call for dangle pearl earrings. Today, there are many settings from which to choose, including hearts, hoops, ribbons, and chains. You can also choose from among single pearl stud earrings or earrings that are designed with several pearls.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry - Bridal Party Gifts

Pearl jewelry is the perfect gift for bridesmaids and groomsmen alike. Pearl cufflinks are a gift that will last a lifetime, while bridesmaids will delight in one of any number of pearl gifts. Pearl jewelry is available at virtually every price point, so you can find both heirloom quality pearl jewelry sets and fashion pearl jewelry. Pearl pendants, bracelets, and earrings - as well as strands - make perfect pearl jewelry remembrances for your special day.

Diamond Jewelry Online Buying Tips

When it comes to diamonds, there are numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are minor, but there are some major ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds. With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest and best offer prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your detail investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

In this respect, ask about the seller’s credentials and qualifications, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

Jewelry Making and Design

The Beauty of Bead Jewelry Making and Design

In the world of creative arts, bead jewelry making and design is quickly becoming the most popular craft. This craft offers boundless possibilities in terms of design and materials and will surely awaken the artist in you. The limitless possibilities in design and form in this craft may be overwhelming and may cause some problems but at the same time may allow you to exercise your creativity freely.

An expert in the art of bead jewelry making maintains that problems in the craft may pave the way for the birth of unique design elements. Take for example her experience with designing a bracelet out of jasper and copper. Jasper drill rings are unpopular with crafters because they are generally unattractive and not conveniently functional.

She chose a colorful combination of red, brown and green jasper drill rings for her bracelet design. However the result of her effort looked appalling. She decided to try another style to salvage her project. She experimented with copper to compliment the colors in the jasper drill rings.

The results were dramatic. The element of copper blended the colors of the jasper drill rings and transformed into a stunning masterpiece. She even accented the bracelet with copper wire. She discovered that the key to working with any element when it comes to bead jewelry making was in the harmony and blending of the colors.

The abundance of materials in bead jewelry making gives you plenty of opportunities to experiment. All you need is your imagination and a lot of patience. The initial results of your project may not be impressive but if you keep at it you may be rewarded with a stunning work of art.

One of the recent and most fashionable trends in bead jewelry making is cell phone charms. They are easy to make and allows you to exercise our creativity in personalizing your cell phone. They are very popular among young girls and many of them have started to make their own design. Materials that give headaches to seasoned crafters may provide inspiration for young budding artists.

Don’t just discard seemingly ugly and unworkable bead jewelry making materials. Work with them patiently and you may come up with an impressive masterpiece.

Wedding Jewelry

How To Care For Your Swarovski Crystal Wedding Jewelry

I have found that when you wear crystals on a daily basis they tend to lose a little bit of their luster. Let's face it, the reason why we choose Swarovski is because they are top of the line. There is nothing in the market that will catch your eye and sparkle quite like a Swarovski crystal.

But if you wear crystals over a period of time you may find that they appear to be a little bit dull, not quite as bright as the day that you brought them home. I am going to talk about 2 very simple and inexpensive solutions that you can do at home to keep the brilliance in the jewelry that you love so much.

Most of the things that will take away from the beauty of a crystal are from everyday activities that most women do to take care of ourselves. Hairspray, lotions, make-up, and even oils from our skin can sit on the surface of each facet and mute the brilliance that really makes Swarovski crystal jewelry so unique.

The good news is that it is not difficult or expensive to maintain this beauty. You will find that a lot of the ingredients that I suggest, you probably already have in the house or can easily be purchased at any grocery or convenience store and you won't break your wallet.

My personal favorite is one that a lot of people carry around with them already, Baby Wipes!!! You will be amazed at how easy it is to restore the shine in your crystals by simply holding a wipe between your thumb and a few fingers and rolling the crystals back and fourth once or twice and move along, continuing the process until you have cleaned all of them. Once you have finished, dry them off with a clean cotton cloth or a tissue, just be sure that it is a plain tissue not the kind that contain lotion.

Another simple way to maintain the brilliance of your Swarovski crystals is to make a solution that contains water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap, it is a very easy and non-abrasive way to get all the hairspray, facial oils and other things off of the surface of your Swarovski crystal jewelry and restore that incredible sparkle.

In a plastic container that has a sealing lid, add 3/4 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1/2 tablespoon of dish soap. Close the lid and shake thoroughly to mix the ingredients. Then place your jewelry in the solution and replace the lid. You will only need to eave it in there for one or two minutes, I would not recommend longer than that unless it is necessary. While your crystals are soaking GENTLY swirl the container for 30 seconds and then let it sit for the remaining minute. Then remove your crystal jewelry and run it under warm water to remove the soap and dry it in a clean cotton cloth. It will look like you just bought it!

Fashion Jewelry

Accessorize Your Apparel with Stylish Fashion Jewelry

If you’re feeling a little drab with your outfits, don’t worry. Whether you’re planning a family outing, attending a formal party or dinner, or just going out for a night on the town, you can spruce up any of your outfits with stylish fashion jewelry. Don’t spend more money on new clothes – accessorize the outfits you already have with lovely fashion jewelry. Here are some great tips to help you achieve the look and feel you want with almost any outfit.

Fashion Jewelry Necklaces – Slender the Neckline

Necklaces can enhance the look of your shirt, sweater or dress by adding color, brightness and beauty. You can even make your neck and upper body appear thinner by wearing certain types of necklaces. For example, if you have a solid colored shirt or dress with a rounded neckline, wear a necklace of medium length that hangs in a V-shape. The V-shape will make the neckline appear narrow and will also draw attention away from the arms and shoulders. For a larger person with broad shoulders, this is a thrilling discovery! It’s the easiest weight-loss program around!

For shirts or dresses with a V-shaped neckline, a medium to short necklace that’s more rounded looks nice. Again, wearing opposites near the neck draws attention away from other areas, so a slender look is achieved once more. The type of slide you choose also makes a difference. Use a slide that matches or complements your outfit, but choose the size and shape carefully. Fashion jewelry necklaces and slides look different on everyone depending on the person’s neckline size and body shape. Even the shape of the face should be considered.

Some types of fashion jewelry necklaces include beads, pearls, diamonds, chains (rope or regular), twist, multi-chain, braided, etc. There are also many themes to choose from in slides, including animals and nature, elegant designs, bead assortments and more.

Bracelets and Earrings

Once you find a necklace, choose a bracelet and earrings to complement the necklace. Or, you can buy all of these in a set. Bracelets help make your ensemble complete. Earrings help bring attention to your face and away from your upper body and shoulders. Some earrings shine and glisten while others are plain and simple. Either way, they make great additions to your apparel.

Specialty Jewelry

If you like silver, then try sterling silver jewelry. It’s gorgeous for all occasions and comes in a variety of styles, sizes and shapes. If you are allergic to many types of jewelry, then hypoallergenic fashion jewelry might be a solution. Hypoallergenic fashion jewelry looks the same as other jewelry, but is made a certain way as to not trigger allergic reactions. If you have skin rashes or other reactions to jewelry, try hypoallergenic fashion jewelry before giving up all together. You might be pleasantly surprised!

Fashion Jewelry and other Accessories for Work

When dressing for work, use fashion jewelry to dress for success. Add a necklace, watch and matching handbag to your work apparel to show you are ready for the tasks ahead. Keep work-related jewelry simple so it doesn’t get in the way. For example, rings that are very large or pointy might be a hindrance if you work with your hands often. Choose fashion jewelry for work that’s both sensible and fashionable.

Shopping for Fashion Jewelry made Easy on the Web

You can easily shop for beautiful fashion jewelry online and save time and money. Many fashion jewelry sites sell all types of jewelry, watches, handbags and even other products such as luggage, Italian charms, etc. When ordering online, you can take your time to browse all the categories and choose the fashion jewelry that works best for you.

Photograph Jewelry

Photographing jewellery can be tricky, but with a few concepts and budget below US$500 it is possible to achieve near-professional look of the photographs. This guide is intended for absolute beginners. Terminology is simplified, and camera adjustments are discussed with only jewellery in mind.

1. Equipment

Digital SLR

Biggest spend for near-professional look of jewellery photography is for the digital SLR. This is an absolute must. Second-hand camera will be as good. Camera without many features and without high Mega-Pixel rate will work just as fine. 3 Mega Pixel is more than enough.

Note that what makes the difference is the quality of the optical system, not the number of actual pixels.

Digital SLR will allow you to manually adjust every aspect of the camera. Automatic modes are not appropriate for jewellery.

2) Lighting

Avoid using any flashes. Don't use camera's built in flash. Don't buy stand-alone flashes. In fact, don't buy any lighting equipment. Desk lamps 60W-100W will do just fine.

Photo tent will help a lot, but is not mandatory. You get find them for as little as US$20. Terminology varies, so "Photo Tent" will also be called "Light Cube", or "Soft Light Box". Do your searching and find one approx 20" (50cm) in size.

You will need 3 lights. Two matted lights -- soft lights, and one reflector light. Place one matted light left of the area for jewellery, and one to the right. Place reflector light near where the camera is.

Whatever you do, avoid mixing light types. Use only non-fluorescent lights, and isolate your photo 'lab' away from natural light.

3) Tripod

To have freedom with many settings that will be a must, we will have to use longer exposures. For longer exposures to achieve maximum sharpness, we'll need a tripod. Our hand shakes too much, when camera runs at exposition 1/2s or 1/5s. Buy a 'tripod' for US$10-$20. You don't need a heavy duty tripod. If your setup will be on a desk, you can chose mini tripod - approx 10" (25cm), and stand tripod on the desk as well, or longer tripod, approx 50" (125cm) and stand it on the floor.

2. Setup

Position the lights as described above. Two desk lamps with soft light (irrelevant if you are using photo tent -- the tent is there to soften the light), and reflector light at the front. I keep the cube open at the front, for easier adjustments and photographs, unless jewellery is highly reflective of the image of me taking photograph.

Uniform background colour is recommended. White background works great. Black background is a little harder to work with. I use one of the white wooden shelves that was sitting in the garrage. Hardware stores will sell these for a few dollars.

Jewellery neck stands look effective only on some pieces, but for most laying on the white surface is the best.

3. Jewelry Arrangement

Spend time arranging jewellery. Clean the jewellery if needed. Polish and remove finger prints. Lay it nicely. For chains, spend time to even out all links and to lay it in a perfect circle. For fashion jewellery this may be a little tricky simply because it's made of various materials and it just doesn't like to sit perfectly on its own. Use blue-tac to fix it where you want it.

4. Taking Photographs

Set your camera to manual. This is where you can adjust all settings yourself. You can leave auto-focus on if you wish, that is about the only setting you can have automatic. Disable camera flash. With static lighting and without using flashes, you can spend time moving the lights until you get perfect setup, before taking shots.

Learn the following 5 camera adjustments: Aperature (f-number), Sensitivity (ISO number), Shutter Speed (Exposure), White Balance, and Focus. These 5 are your bread and butter.

4.1 Aperature

Also known as f-number. This setting widens or narrows the lens, limiting the amount of light that comes into the camera. This directly affects shutter speed, and film sensitivity (since we're using digital camera, film sensitivity is adjustable like anything else).

This setting is responsible for the 'focal lenght'. With high f-number eg f/22 or f/11, when taking jewellery photographs, parts that are close to camera will be focused as well as parts that are further away. With low f-number, eg f/2, only the focused part will be in-focus, and parts of jewellery that are further apart or closer to the camera will become fuzzy. Use this setting as it suits you. You may want to create certain effect, but if you don't, keep this setting to f/11. Overdoing this setting will limit the light coming into the camera, and you'll have to make sacrifices elsewhere to compensate.

4.2 Sensitivity

Also known as ISO number. This used to be film property, and expressed in numbers like ISO200, ISO400, ISO800 etc. The higher the number, more sensitive the film, less light it needs, and thus more expensive. In Digital SLR's this is merely just a setting, but the higher the number, more noise camera will capture. The more light you have, you can go lower with this number. For our limited lighting, ISO800 or ISO1600 will be fine, but try not to use ISO3200 -- it adds visible noise.

4.3 Shutter Speed

Also known as exposure, it is a measure of time camera will be taking the light. When photographing moving objects, you would want this fairly short: 1/200 or or 1/400. However, we're taking static objects, and with the tripod camera is static as well. This gives us flexibility in going as low as 1/30 or 1/10, or even 1/2. Value 1/2 means that camera takes light from the object for half a second. If anything moves during that half a second, photograph will be blurred.

Adjust shutter speed freely until you get desirable effect. In fact, when taking photographs of jewellery against white background, you will want photos over-exposed. Over-exposure should affect only the white background, where small imperfections of white surface will vanish into pure white. If your camera has light meter, it will display a warning that you have too much light, number 2 or 2.5 could be flashing in your viewfinder. This is good :-).

If your background is black, you'll want it under-exposed. This will keep the black background black, remove some imperfections, but leave the jewellery just fine.

4.4 White Balance

With different colours present in every light source, our eyes naturally adjust to what white is. Cameras try to do the same and for general photography are quite good at it. However, for jewellery, you'll want to try all manual pre-sets yourself and chose best result. If everything fails, manually adjust white balance, until it's good. You won't need to keep changing this setting from one jewellery piece to another.

4.5 Focus

Jewellery is static. It's easy to use manual focus, but auto-focus seems to work just as fine. If camera keeps focusing on the incorrect part, just switch to manual, and away you go. For most applications, auto-focus will be fine though.

4.6 Taking photographs

Take enough photographs for each peace. Use camera built-in display as a guide only. Colors and brightness will look slightly different on the computer screen. You can adjust some of it afterwards, but try to take a perfect shot in the first place.

5. Post-Processing

Restrain youself from using too many features of the photo editing software. All you need to do is manually adjust Brightness and Contrast, and perhaps use 'Sharpen' feature. Don't apply any automatic adjustments, as these will get confused with too much white in the photo, or too much black.

Crop to the area you want to keep, save in internet-friendly format (eg 400x300) and you've got a near-professional photograph. Reuse the same photograph for 'zoom-in' crops. You won't be making images larger, instead you'll be cropping from your original, adjusting and saving.

Hip Hop Jewelry At Its Best

Spinning Rims, Hip Hop Jewelry At Its Best

Whether you are looking for spinning rims for your car or for your pendant jewelry, there are many styles and designs available to you that you are sure to get just what you want. Spinning rims started on cars, but they didn’t stop there. These flashing, very cool looking spinning rims have fast taken over the hip hop jewelry world. Hey, they look great! Why not have them around your neck or on your belt buckles as well as having them on your car?

The concept is a simple one. The rims that are on car tires are simply spinning, or turning. Even when the car is at a stand still, it looks like the car is moving. Very cool trick! But, take this to the level of jewelry and you have all sorts of options available to you. There are pendants, watches, rings, and belt buckles that are spinning rims. They look just like the rims that are on cars in some cases, but not in all! In fact, you will find that there are a number of spinning rims that have anything but a car theme.

They are often used to symbolize whatever means the most to the person wearing them. Support for their favorite hip hop bands and singers or perhaps a reference to the New York town they are from are just a couple examples of what you can find in spinning rims. Whatever they are, they are in demand and a great way to express yourself.

Many people are demanding great things from spinning rims. Customized designs as well as added accessories like flashing and gems are just a few of the things that are now available to anyone who wants them. The good news is that there are a number of great websites online that offer a huge selection of the spinning rims that everyone wants even providing for new designs all the time. So, if the stars of hip hop are wearing these spinning rims, you can count on them to be around, in demand, and fabulous!

Buy Jewelry

It's hard to find a woman who doesn't love jewelry of some sort. Jewelry helps to create an image, a personal style, and the type of jewelry a woman wears says a lot about her personal taste. Some women prefer classic jewelry, gems, traditional styles. Others prefer more contemporary jewelry styles, perhaps ethnically influenced or created by a modern designer. Whatever she chooses, a woman knows that the jewelry she wears will accentuate her look and turn heads.

When buying jewelry, some of the terms used by the dealer can be confusing. Don't let this deter you from your purchase. A simple lesson can help you read through the jargon.

Are you shopping for a ring? These jewelry settings are common when it comes to diamonds or other gemstones:

1. Baguette: rectangular-shaped

2. Barion cut: traditional step-cut

3. Bezel: the jewelry's rim holds and completely surrounds the stone

4. Brilliant cut: reflect the most light from the stone; can be round, heart-shaped, oval, marquise, or pear-shaped

5. Cluster setting: this jewelry contains a large center stone surrounded by smaller stones

6. Emerald: rectangular- or square-shaped with cut corners

7. Marquise: double-pointed, boat-shaped stone

8. Pear: stones in the shape of a pear

9. Princess cut: square- or rectangular-shaped brilliant-cut stone

Jewelry comes in all shapes and also in sizes. When you are buying a gift of jewelry, it may help to take along an already-owned piece to compare sizes. For necklaces and bracelets, a jewelry dealer can give size or length suggestions depending on the style you choose.

One need not spend a whole lot of money on jewelry. Jewelry wholesalers offer quality items at lower cost. Even some costume jewelry is quite beautiful and far less expensive than “the real thing.” The important thing about jewelry is making sure it suits the wearer's taste. Accessories don't do much good if they just sit in the jewelry box.

Another thing to consider before buying jewelry for someone is whether she tends to wear more silver or gold-toned pieces. Some women combine the two; most prefer one or the other. Finally, think about her lifestyle. Would she prefer simple jewelry or more elegant, dangling pieces?

Regardless of what jewelry you choose, this is a gift she will never forget. After all, no woman can have enough jewelry.

Home Jewelry Business

Start a Work at Home Jewelry Business

Jewelry making is an ideal way to start earning a little extra money from home. You don’t need to spend a lot to get going. Initially your circle of friends will be your customers. Your friends will tell their friends, who will tell their friends, and so on and so on.

Though you may start with a kit or two for the learning experience, you can’t rely on kits if you want to make money selling your work. People will pay more for one-of-a-kind pieces. Plus, the mark-up on kits is quite high because another artist has done the design work for you. In other words, you can both charge more and keep your costs lower if you design your work yourself. This is how to maximize your profit.

A good place to start is by flipping through magazines and catalogues. Clip jewelry photos that appeal to you, along with price information if available. Get a notebook and fill it with the pictures.

You’re not going to copy them. This is just to give you ideas and get your creative juices flowing. The pictures will also come in handy when you can’t quite figure out how to do something you have in mind – kind of like your own illustrated how-to book.

There are two easy to learn jewelry making methods to consider: beading and wire sculpting, also know as wire wrapping.

Beading requires little skill other than a good sense of design and the materials are inexpensive.

Wire sculpting or wire wrapping is not that much harder to learn, but since you are dealing with gold, silver and genuine gemstones, the materials cost a bit more. But the markup is much higher.

Tools and Materials

Here’s a list of tools you will need to start:

1. Jewelers’ wire cutters - If you can only afford one pair, get memory wire shears. These are designed to make clean cuts on tough memory wire, so can also be used for softer wires.

2. Chain-nose pliers (sometimes called needle-nose pliers) – Very versatile for picking up and grasping small items, bending eye pins, closing jumps rings, even closing crimp beads.

3. Round-nose pliers – Used for creating loops on beaded head and eye pins. Can also be used for winding your own jump rings and as the second pliers you’ll need for closing jump rings.

4. Optional pliers – Wire-looping pliers which have several graduated circumferences to allow you to form perfectly uniform jump rings and loops (in place of the round-nose pliers mentioned above). Crimping pliers which have little notches to allow you to both flatten a crimp bead and then bend it to form a rounded finished look (instead of the flat crimp you get using the chain-nose pliers).

As for materials, I recommend some assortment packs of beads in coordinating colors, some decorative metal spacers, seed beads in both silver and gold (These can serve as spacers and beautifully set off your other beads.), tube-shaped crimp beads (Buy the best you can find – these are what hold it all together!), head and eye pins.

Other than that, let your choice of project be your guide. You might want some silver or pewter charms. For earrings, you would need ear posts or wires or clip-on bases. For bracelets, you need memory wire or stretchy cord or beading wire and clasps. For necklaces, memory wire or beading wire, clasps and perhaps pendants.

A bead board is a good idea too. Its ruled tracks help you measure and lay out designs for bracelets and necklaces; as well as to corral the beads you are working with at a given time.