For the quintessential Indian bride, the perfect Indian bridal jewelry enhances her looks as much as her make-up does. Her beauty as the blushing bride is amplified not only by the kohl around her eyes and the different hues on her eyelids but also by the eye-catching Indian bridal jewelry that adorns her entire person, from head to toe.
Although much of the Indian bridal jewelry an Indian bride could wear is dependent on the size of her budget, she usually sees to it that she is bedecked with the most lavish ones that she could lay her hands on. This is actually part of her presenting herself not only to her husband but also to the public. Because of this, an Indian bride would want her Indian bridal jewelry custom-designed.
An Indian bride would have her Indian bridal jewelry made, based on her wedding trousseau, especially on its dominant colors. The type of precious metals and stones that will be used in making the jewelry should blend with the colors of her wardrobe.
Indian bridal jewelry is not just one piece of jewelry worn by the Indian bride. It is made up of different pieces that complements and blends with each other to create that perfect look of an Indian bride. The Maangtika, the nose ring, the earrings, the bangles, the necklace, the anklets and toe rings make up the entirety of the complete Indian bridal jewelry.
The Maangtika is the most traditional and most essential part of the Indian bridal jewelry. Apart from the necklace, the Maangtika is the most noticeable piece of the Indian bridal jewelry adorned on an Indian bride. It is worn on the bride' head and is designed to be unique for each bride. While its color and design largely depend on the colors of the bride's outfit, it is usually made of precious stones like pearls and diamonds. It has a centerpiece that is exquisitely designed and sits on bride's forehead and is usually attached by a string that runs to the back of the bride's head.
Another essential part of the Indian bridal jewelry is the necklace. This piece is usually very eye-catching with a design that is in tune with the other pieces of Indian bridal jewelry adorned on the rest of the bride's body. The design of the necklace would also have to complement the neckline of the bride's wedding attire. Most of the common types of necklaces worn as part of the Indian bridal jewelry are the chokers and the long necklaces with elaborate designs and bedecked with precious stones that goes with the bridal colors. Chokers are worn over dresses with high necklines while the long necklaces complement those wedding dresses that have deep necklines.
An Indian bridal jewelry ensemble will not be complete without the traditional nose ring. This is as much a part of the Indian bridal jewelry as the Maangtika and is usually almost of the same design and color as the earrings. The traditional nose ring is called the “nath” and is made up of a ring worn at the nose that is studded with precious gems and has a long chain whether in gold or silver, that is attached to the hair of the bride. The rest of the pieces that go with the entire Indian bridal jewelry are as just as important. They are all needed to complete the look of the perfect Indian bride.
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Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
College Class Rings
Since the times when rings were created, people have worn them for a great variety of reasons; they have been symbols of different events, things and feelings. The college class ring stands for one's unique accomplishment during university years and embodies a lifelong connection between a person, their classmates and university.
College rings have a long and rich tradition. They first appeared 150 years ago and were worn by the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy. These first college rings had a very strange design: a book with a sword driven through it, showing the class' contempt (this emblem was first used by Voltaire to express his hostility to the Bible). Later these rings were replaced by gold signet ones with the years of graduation and school insignia engraved. During the World War II college rings came into fashion all over the country and were worn by trendies from different American colleges. There also appeared a custom among students, who went out together, to exchange their rings (he put it on a finger, while she wore it around a neck). After the War most American universities picked up this tradition, what reinforced it and made it an American cultural mainstay.
Nowadays, being all the rage, college class rings are available in a great variety of designs and styles, s o you are sure to find a ring to your liking. You may choose an intricate and elaborate an elegant and handcrafted, or even an avant-garde ring either with a small, delicate stone or with a huge, shimmering gem . Besides, you may select from precious and non-precious metals. The most common of them are platinum, yellow or white gold, silver or lustrium. As regards metal finish some graduatesfavor Antique Finish (it shows the contrast between the fine detail of your ring and a dark background); others prefer Natural Finish (it accentuates the glint of your gold ring).
On the whole, college rings are divided into traditional, signet and fashion rings. Though regardless of the style, they all are usually studded with artificial or g enuine stones, and those can be ofa Facet or Smooth cut.
Depending on the gem and the cut you've chosen, there are various stone effects available. Encrusting rings are those with a symbol or a personal letter inscribed withgold, which is deeply embedded into your stone. It looks better on dark and only smooth gems. Encrusting can't be used with other effects such as Sundance or Astralight. Astralightrings give the illusion of a rainbow beneath the stone, while Sundance ringsgive the illusion of rays. The both latter effects can be found both on smooth and faceted gems.
You may also create a unique college class ring by engraving your personal information into the inside of it. The most common inscriptions are graduation year, degree, initials or full name. There are also Curriculum Panels available, which includes symbols of your curriculum or major.
There is a great variety of college class ring styles and designs on the market. You will definitely pick out a ring that will be an extension of who you are; a ring, that will express your individuality and reflect your personal features, and at the same time embodies the traditions and symbols of your university, making your experience last forever.
Author Bio
This article submitted by Mike Daniels, the jewelry industry specialist - www.jewelring.com
Bridal Jewelry - The Icing On The Cake
You have your dress, you've got your shoes, your hair style picked out; but you still need to "finish your look" for the big day. That is where your bridal jewelry comes in.
It used to be that pearls, which are wonderful for weddings and brides, were the only jewelry that brides wore. Now with the internet and the growing bridal jewelry businesses out there, your choices have become limitless.
Are you looking for some sparkle, or something simple and elegant? Search the internet for bridal jewelry and you will find a wide variety of resources out there to suit your specific needs. Boring bridal jewelry is a thing of the past. All brides want to feel and look beautiful on their wedding day, and not just look like every other bride they've seen before. This is where your bridal jewelry will make the difference. Find pieces of jewelry that "speak to you", that fit your color or theme for the special day. In many cases, bridal jewelry makers will create a custom piece for you that is special and unique.
When choosing your bridal jewelry, look for some parallel between your wedding gown or style of shoes and other accessories. This will help you pull your look together when making your selection. Many times, you will be able to find on various bridal jewelry websites, tiaras, headbands, hairpins and combs that will pair up or match bridal necklaces, bridal earrings and bridal bracelets. Consistency and a common look and feel through out your bridal accessories is key to not looking "patched" together.
This is your day, make the best of it, feel beautiful and find the bridal jewelry that is right for you. Feeling comfortable with how you look is all part of feeling beautiful. If you want to be a unique bride that looks gorgeous on your wedding day, search for the bridal jewelry that will compliment your attire. You will be beautiful, your bridal jewelry will enhance that.
Author Bio
www.bonitaj.com
info@bonitaj.com
Bridesmaid Jewelry - a Wonderful Gift
Eventually every bride gets to the point of planning when she must decide upon what jewelry her bridesmaids will wear for the big wedding day. In addition to that task, comes spending money on a budget. Staying within your allotted budget in some areas can be a hard and grueling task.
Remember the old catch phrase "kill to birds with one stone"? Well choosing your bridesmaid jewelry can help you save money, time, and sanity. Trends are taking us towards purchasing "thank you" gifts for our attendants and groomsmen. Why not give your bridesmaid the jewelry that they need to wear for the wedding day as their "thank you for being a special part of my day" gift? It really kills two birds with one stone, you don't need to think about another gift to give, that is already covered by your jewelry gift. The second great part of giving jewelry to your bridesmaids as their gift, is you can cut your budget here as well. If you are allotting money for their jewelry and a gift, you're covered in one shot. Time savers and money savers are great for brides on any budget.
With so many options on jewelry out there, you can personalize each piece of jewelry for your bridesmaids, making it not only a great gift, but a very special one as well. Purchase your bridesmaids jewelry that will not only look great with their bridesmaid's dresses, but will work for another fancy or special occasion. In many cases, the jewelry that your bridesmaids wear, can even be worn for "going out on the town" or for any occasion.
So brides, choose wisely and you will get more return for your budget money allotment and a really great and personal gift for the special ladies in your life.
Author Bio
www.bonitaj.com
sales@bonitaj.com
ph. 888-526-4479
Information You Should Know When Looking to Buy Jewelery
For the average person looking at jewellery can be exciting, but confusing. What do all these terms mean?
Jewellery terms, especially relating to actual Gem stones, are very important because the price of the final item is dictated by the stone quality and cut. Following are some of the terms you'll come across.
Blemish: Imperfections found on the surface of a Diamond.
Brilliance: describes how well a diamond reflects white light.
Carat: is a unit of weight measurement used for weighing diamonds. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Clarity: How "clear" the diamond is. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Cloud: Most diamond defects are dark. This however is a milky colour, and a lot less noticable as a result.
Colour: The tint of the diamond. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Crown: The upper surface of a cut diamond.
CT or CTS: Carat Total Weight of a diamond.
CTW: Carat Total Weight of a diamonds on piece of jewelry.
Cut: The shape of a finished diamond. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Eye Clean: Diamond looks clear to the naked eye. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Facets: The number of angles cut into a diamond. The more facets the shinier the diamonds appearence.
Finish: As you may expect, this is the quality of the diamond's workmanship.
Make: The cut and proportion of a diamond.
Polish: How well buffed the facets of the diamond are.
Symmetry: Good diamonds have been cut symetrical.
Table:Top surface of a cut diamond. Flat like a table top.
I trust this will help you when next looking to spend some of your hard earned money.
Author Bio
Staff writer at make-picture-frames.com. All things to do with picture frames and picture framing. Strictly for enthusiasts, with informative articles updated regularly.
Buying Diamonds For Cut, Carat And Clarity
We've all heard that cut, carat and clarity are important considerations when buying a diamond, but most of us have no idea what that really means. In this article, we will give you a little explanation of each so that you can be armed with a bit of knowledge the next time you buy a diamond.
Carat
Diamonds are measured in what is called carat weight which stems from an old form of measurement involving carob beans. At one time, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was considered one carob or one carat. Today, the measurements are a bit more precise and one carat is 200 milligrams.
You may also hear a diamonds weight referred to as grains which stems from another ancient form of measurement. In the far east, rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond. If the weight equaled 4 grains or rice it was called four grains - or one carat as we know it to be now.
You have to be leery when buying diamonds that are already set or mounted. If there is more than one diamond in the piece then the tag will show the CTW or Carat Total Weight which is the combined weight of all stones. It will not tell you the weight of each stone in the piece, therefore you must ask the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in order to really know what you are buying.
Clarity
There are basically two things to think about when evaluating the clarity of a diamond - inclusions and blemishes. Inclusions are flaws inside the diamond and blemishes are those on the surface. Diamonds are graded by the amount of inclusions and blemishes and whether or not they can be seen by the naked eye.
Many diamond buyers mistakenly think that diamond clarity refers to how clear it is but this is not the case.
Clarity actually refers to the external as well as internal imperfections in the stone. The best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL or IF - Flawless or Internally Flawless - meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the worst.
Cut
Contrary to what most people think, cut does not refer to the shape of the stone, but to the facets that are cut into each stone. These facets are critical as they are what causes the stone to reflect light and what gives it, it's brilliance. Even the most wonderful diamond can be ruined if it is not cut properly.
Jewelers follow a mathematical formula to insure that a diamond is cut to show the maximum brilliance of the stone. As with anything cut affects price and there are several grades of cut to consider when buying a diamond.
The best cut is called "Ideal Cut" and it is perfectly per portioned to maximize the brilliance of the stone. The next best cut is called "Premium" which is also very desirable and is less expensive than the ideal cut. A "Very Good" cut is one step down from the premium but still reflects most of the light from the stone.
In some cases, the cutters vary the proportions of the cut to result in a larger diamond. The "Good" cut is an economical grade - lower than the "Very Good" but quite popular with most people buying diamonds as it still shows the stone off quite well. "Fair" and "Poor" cuts should be avoided as they do not result in a sparkly brilliant diamond. These diamonds are cut to specifically maximize size but they sacrifice brilliance in the process.
Author Bio
Lee Dobbins is a jewelry designer and owner of Artisan Jewelry Online where you can find out more about handmade jewelry, diamonds and other gem stones.
Choosing the Right Engagement Ring For Valentines Day
Engagement rings are a symbol of a promise and a commitment for the future. They are highly romanticized and something that girls fantasize about, probably starting about the time they first notice boys. They will most likely change their mind more than several times, both about the boy they envision giving them the ring and about what the ring that symbolizes their engagement will look like.
Engagement fantasies are just that - fantasies; I can assure you that they are not thinking along the lines of what a discount ring, or even an affordable ring will look like. As they get older, their character and values will determine whether their fantasies are more towards marrying for love, or for status. It is a horrifying thought to know that the majority of marriages are somewhat of a business decision. I guess that would apply as well then, to the engagement.
Inexpensive engagement ring ideas may come to mind for the pure of heart who only fantasize about that the man of their dreams be wonderful and kind, and not necessarily worldly and successful. One of the main arguments that create conflict in a marriage is finances. If the man of your choice doesn't have unlimited financial resources at the time of his proposal, you may want to choose an affordable engagement ring.
Jewelers offer beautiful rings in all qualities, sizes and price range. It should not be difficult to find a ring to suit your taste and budget but if you are creative and can't find the ring of your dreams, another option would be to design your own ring and have it custom made.
One thing to ask the jeweler before choosing a ring is the grade of the diamond. Diamonds are graded and priced according to what is referred to as the four Cs for color, cut, clarity and carat weight.
Read everything you need to know about purchasing a diamond engagement ring and more.
Author Bio
Author is marketer for sites such as:
Valentines Day
www.healthresourcesonline.net/laser/
Choosing the Right Engagement Ring For Valentines Day
Engagement rings are a symbol of a promise and a commitment for the future. They are highly romanticized and something that girls fantasize about, probably starting about the time they first notice boys. They will most likely change their mind more than several times, both about the boy they envision giving them the ring and about what the ring that symbolizes their engagement will look like.
Engagement fantasies are just that - fantasies; I can assure you that they are not thinking along the lines of what a discount ring, or even an affordable ring will look like. As they get older, their character and values will determine whether their fantasies are more towards marrying for love, or for status. It is a horrifying thought to know that the majority of marriages are somewhat of a business decision. I guess that would apply as well then, to the engagement.
Inexpensive engagement ring ideas may come to mind for the pure of heart who only fantasize about that the man of their dreams be wonderful and kind, and not necessarily worldly and successful. One of the main arguments that create conflict in a marriage is finances. If the man of your choice doesn't have unlimited financial resources at the time of his proposal, you may want to choose an affordable engagement ring.
Jewelers offer beautiful rings in all qualities, sizes and price range. It should not be difficult to find a ring to suit your taste and budget but if you are creative and can't find the ring of your dreams, another option would be to design your own ring and have it custom made.
One thing to ask the jeweler before choosing a ring is the grade of the diamond. Diamonds are graded and priced according to what is referred to as the four Cs for color, cut, clarity and carat weight.
Read everything you need to know about purchasing a diamond engagement ring and more.
Author Bio
Author is marketer for sites such as:
Valentines Day
www.healthresourcesonline.net/laser/
Bridesmaid Jewelry
Your bridesmaids. What would you do without them? Some of your bridesmaids may have been your friend forever. Maybe your sisters are part of your bridal party. Or possibly, one of your bridesmaids is becoming a part of your family. However you have come to select your bridal party, you know how important they are to you and want to select the right gift to say thank you. What better way to thank your bridal party than with a lovely bridesmaid gift. You probably go way back with several of bridesmaids - they may be sisters, best friends or cousins. You've grown up with these women and they are very special to you. Your budget will play a role in the amount of money you are able to spend for your gifts. But don't worry. Choosing a personal gift for every bridesmaid in your bridal party shows how much each and every one means to you. Your budget will decide how much you spend on your bridesmaids gifts but you should plan to spend a little bit more on your Maid/Matron of Honr. There are so many ways to make your bridesmaids gifts special. Elegant wedding jewelry is a more traditional bridesmaid gift that can be worn over and over after the wedding day. There are so many different options for bridesmaid jewelry. Elegant crystal jewelry is available in an array of colors that match the wedding theme. Victorian inspired jewelry is so romantic and perfect for wearing after the wedding with that little black dress. Rhinestone jewelry sets - flash at a fraction of the cost. Personalized bridesmaid gifts are also very traditional gifts. So many items may be personalized that one option is to choose a different personalized bridesmaid gift for each bridal party member. This allows you to match the gift to the person making it all that more special. After the wedding, what could be better than "pamper me" gifts such as a day at the spa for your Maid/Matron of Honor, plush embroidered spa robes or slippers, engraved jewelry boxes, or a personalized travel bag. Your girls will certainly appreciate some down time after the event of the decade! If you have the time, a homemade gift is a great way to thank your bridal party. Great idea if you have the time. A beautiful shawl or wrap that is matched to your color them is a great gift - especially in fall or winter. Photo albums for each bridal party member that starts with photos taken of the special times you've shared up to the wedding. Leave the rest of the album empty and you give the gift that keeps on giving. Each photo added to her photo album will remind her of the time she spent with you on your wedding day. When it's all over, take a moment to give each one of your bridesmaids a hug. Everyone loves one. This is the ultimate gift and the one that will let you know that you'll always be there for each other.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
Body Jewelry Is Hotter Now Than It Has Ever Been
Body jewelry has been an influential part of many cultures all over the planet for thousands of years. I would imagine one of the first that comes to mind would be belly dancers of the Middle East, or the beauties in India or adorn their foreheads with jewels. In many societies it was also used to signify a particular class. In modern times the use of body jewelry has reached the mainstream of our society with even grandmothers going to local piercing shops to get belly rings. Many people are beginning to realize that their bodies are another area which they can adorn with different types of decorations and jewelry to make them even more beautiful. The use of belly rings in particular calls attention to the mid section, although some I have seen would do better not to do so! The body jewelry industry is exploding with people getting piercings in every imaginable place and some even unimaginable, well to me anyway. Some of the more common and semi-normal areas for piercings besides the obvious ear lobe are the nose, eyebrow, nipples, and of course the popular navel. There is an almost unlimited supply of different jewelry made for all of these varieties. If you have pierced your nose there are different options you can choose from such as a circular barbell or a stud which can be a simple post with a ball on the end or it can be jeweled such as the diamond ones you have probably seen. The body jewelry used in the eyebrow is similar in style also allowing for the choice between barbells and even dangling charms. The jewelry used in the navel and for pierced nipples is very popular and gaining in popularity all the time. Personally I am a little apprehensive about the nipple piercing but who knows? If Janet Jackson can handle it, I can! It doesn't matter what you decide to have pierced, there is a piece of jewelry that exists to adorn it in many different colors and styles. The jewelry is made in many different price points as well from cheaper costume jewelry prices to real diamonds. One thing to remember is that even more so than with a piercing like the ear lobes, other areas of the body may be even more susceptible to infection so you need to take extra precautions to keep the area clean. Also make sure that you aren't allergic to the particular type of material you are considering placing in your piercing. Only go to certified reputable establishments that also are licensed by the health department in your area.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
Baby Jewelry
Baby jewelry can be a perfect gift for a special occasion, such as marking the birth of a newborn or as a christening or confirmation present. The wonderful thing about baby jewelry is that a high quality piece of jewelry is not just a great gift, it will also often become a highly-treasured keepsake and family heirloom that can be handed down through many generations. This kind of value cannot be measured in monetary terms and, in reality, the actual cost of baby jewelry is not important; it's the sentimental value that is priceless. The classic baby jewelry items are of course bracelets, with bangle bracelets in gold or silver being the most popular. These are also the safest items of adornment for babies, but pendant, charm bracelets, beautiful crosses and stylish earrings are also popular choices. Gold and silver have always been the materials of choice, however, in these days of "bling," diamonds and colorful charms are increasingly being used and designs are becoming more intricate. If you are looking for a slightly different piece of baby jewelry, or one with a more special significance, a great idea is to get a piece which incorporates a birthstone. What better way celebrate a new life, than with a piece of jewelry that has a connection with the date of their birth. Birthstones are gems associated with the calendar months of the year and they are considered lucky for people who are born in those months. Some scholars attribute the origin of the tradition of birthstones to the Breastplate of Aaron (the brother of Moses), a religious caftan arranged with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. It is believed that the power and luck associated with a gemstone increases during the relevant month. You need to be careful when choosing birthstones though; each month has a number of birthstones associated with it, based on a number of different factors. For example, my birth month is December, which has the following birthstones: 1. Modern birthstones: Turquoise and Blue Topaz, 2. Traditional Hebrew birthstone: Ruby, 3. Traditional Roman birthstone: Ruby, 4. Traditional Arabic birthstone: Ruby, 5. Traditional Hindu birthstone: Topaz. Alternatively, my Zodiac sign is Sagittarius, which has the following birthstones: 1. Zodiac stone: Topaz, 2. Talismanic stone: Beryl, 3. Birthstones: Blue Topaz, Blue Zircon, Ruby, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Citrine. Take your pick! Of course, if we are talking about baby jewelry, safety is a very important issue, for example, teething babies will always want to bite into their bracelets, or put them in their mouths. In general, you don't need to worry though - baby jewelry is necessarily hypoallergenic, to keep it from irritating a baby's extremely delicate skin. In addition, the charms that come with baby jewelry are usually tightly woven in, so there is little danger of them falling off or apart even if the baby is teething. But always check! There is no doubt that, if carefully chosen, even the simplest piece of baby jewelry can have an effect that could last fro several lifetimes.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
Michael Barrows' website has great info on baby names, baby name lists and lots of baby resources. Get your free ebook packed with baby tips for new parents, visit the baby jewelry website.
Authenticating Of Jewelry
You see, to give money value to an item of jewelry is 90% or more of the work needed for an appraisal. The printed part is easy and often done with forms from a computer, with values from the previous inspection and evaluation typed in. If you want a value, this will mean appraisal. No store able to accurately valuate jewelry is going to guess and risk their reputation on a guess. A customer may leave the store with a "guess" and tell other that "the store" said the item was worth so much money. See what I am getting at? This is a suggested approach which might help. Many jewelry stores will check the karat of metals for a reasonable fee. This is not an appraisal and no statement of value comes with it. I do not know of those who will grade diamonds and gemstones unless it is an appraisal since the grading is the largest part of appraisal work! Still, it might be worth your time to call a few jewelers and simply ask if they will check the metal and how much is the fee. Ask if they will determine the weight, clarity and color of the stones, with no written appraisal. Tell them you do not want a dollar value, only the information mentioned. Some will be surprised to hear this question. Ask if they will do that and if the service will cost less than regular appraisal services. You might also explain the reasons, for the family essentially. I suspect they will only provide appraisal services for the stones but should provide inexpensive service in telling the karats of metal items. The only way to know is to call and ask. Have you examined the jewelry for stamps or marks showing karat? If the jewelry is from the Middle East then the marks will be unknown to most jewelers in the USA and the jewelry should be tested. If from European countries, most show karats by number marks. British jewelry uses symbols in many cases and numbers on more recent items with the added symbols from the regional assay offices. 10k gold is marked as shown or with the number 417. 14k is also shown as 585 18k is also shown as 700 Heavy electroplate, meaning the metal is not gold but has a heavy gold cladding contains the letters HGE. Gold Filled, meaning there is a bonded layer of gold on a base (not precious) metal is marked in various numbers but always with a fraction and a GF. For instance, if the layer of gold is 12karat and is 1/12 by weight of the total piece, the mark is 1/12, 12k GF. Sterling silver is marked "sterling" or 925, showing the silver content in the item. Marks are often on clasps of bracelets and chains. On rings, the marks are on the inside. Sometimes magnification is needed to read the marks. If the jewelry has been worn a long, long time or a ring resized, the mark may be gone. BUW, a greenish discoloration on a chain or on a ring generally means the ring is NOT gold. Copper and brass corrode with a green color. Gold will darken but does not show any green color. The metal testing should be inexpensive. Stone grading might require an appraisal charge; that is up to the jeweler.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
Ancient Jewelry is Becoming Tremendously Popular
Wearable antiquities are becoming tremendously popular especially ancient jewelry and seals. While many fledging collectors are thrilled to own small bronze statuettes, ancient jewelry is often smaller and the silver and gold pieces more spectacular and the ancient jewelry category are still quite undervalued in the art market. Therefore if you want something that is unique and has a history behind it, look into ancient jewelry. Despite the thoughts of ancient jewelry being incredibly expensive, not all of it is. However, considering the skills of people from the ancient Egyptian times as well as other time periods, some ancient jewelry was made flawlessly. The ancient jewelry from all corners of the world, especially Egypt and Greece has a very profound message to deliver to later generations. Unlike ancient jewelry crosses worn by individuals, processional crosses were used in battle and in ritual where one was carried and leading many followers. Roman jewelry was massive with ropes of pearls highly prized and medieval jewelry included very large brooches. Roman jewelry is generally priced lower than more rare Egyptian and Greek jewelry, because it is more plentiful on the market. Most early Roman jewelry resembled Greek and Etruscan jewelry. Rings, of all Roman jewelry, held a singular and symbolic position in Ancient Rome. Those rings etched with special intaglios made a significant part of Roman jewelry, while other rings might hold an inscribed motto dear to the wearer's heart. After the fall of Rome, Roman jewelry forms and techniques remained in general use. Although early Roman jewelry style borrowed from established Greek and Etruscan design, new motifs such as the Heracles knot (two loops intertwined) with an apostrophic figurine for averting evil spirits or bad luck was introduced. In addition, as Roman jewelry freed itself of Hellenistic and Etruscan influences, greater use was made of colored stones such as, topazes, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls. Ancient seals were generally engraved with a design to be impressed on wax or damp clay. Ancient jewelry is unique because it has a real mystery and romance. "Perhaps more than anything else, the allure of ancient jewelry lies in those loveliest secrets and wondrous methods of the great art of goldsmithing," wrote the famous Renaissance sculptor and goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini. The best preserved and most prevalent ancient jewelry was made of gold, the material long considered the ultimate expression of rank and beauty. Through the early Middle Ages, most better-quality ancient jewelry was crafted of 22- to 24-karat gold, which is characterized by a warm, rich yellow tone. The scarab or beetle amulet, which was either cast in gold or sculpted in clay and gemstones, became an enduring design motif that spread throughout the ancient world. Mycenae, the ancient Grecian city ruled by King Agamemnon, was the center for jewelry production in the 2nd millennium B. In ancient Greece and Rome, seal rings and portrait seals engraved with the owner's likeness became widespread. As with all ancient jewelry, examples with more complex designs, large numbers of gemstones and more intricate carving usually collect the highest prices. The Ancient Greeks were aficionados of jewelry, wearing simple to complex jewelry often complemented with effigies of the Greek Gods Eros, Nike, Artemis, Isis and Aphrodite. Most early Roman jewelry resembled Greek and Etruscan jewelry. Rings, of all Roman jewelry, held a singular and symbolic position in Ancient Rome. The ancient Egyptians commonly inlaid gold and silver with semi-precious stones such as carnelian, jasper, amethyst, turquoise and lapis lazuli. Scarabs, representations of the scarab beetle carved in stone, were also popular in ancient Egypt and Rome. Therefore as you can see ancient jewelry has its alluring charm and the interesting thing it is still very much available in today's marketplace.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
An Overview of Amber Jewelry
In the past few years amber jewelry has enjoy a rather aggressive increase in popularity. You can now buy amber jewelry in a vast array of different types of stores, from chain jewelry and trinket shops to local mom and pop general goods stores, and anything in between. Amber comes in a variety of colors - the most sought after color in the East is the light yellow colored amber. Amber was made 30-90 million years ago from the fossilized remains of a sticky resin produced by trees. The resin then hardened; trapping debris such has leaves, seeds, insects and feathers which have since served as an impressive looking glass into a world long gone. Although amber is found along the shores of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, a large amount of amber is found in Sambia, a region once inhabited by various Baltic tribes which is now apart of Russia. Some amber is torn in pieces from the sea floor and is washed ashore by the waves. The pieces of amber are then collected on the shore and are sometimes even dredged up from the bottom on the sea floor. Amber can also be mined and is called pit amber when extracted in this manner. Amber is used for many things including cigar-holders and the mouth-pieces of pipes. One of the most popular uses of amber is jewelry. Amber jewelry comes in all different styles from modern to abstract. Some pieces of amber jewelry can very light straw color, a rich deep orange or a dark green with flecks of gold. Some pieces of amber jewelry can have feathers, seeds or bugs fossilized in them adding to the allure of wearing something ancient. Amber jewelry is most commonly set in silver, white gold or platinum. Amber is commonly made into beads or used as center stones in pendants, earrings, necklaces and amber is even used in hair clips. The most common type of amber used in amber jewelry is Baltic amber. Amber is usually inexpensive compared to diamonds, but for a large clear piece with unusual debris it can be very expensive. Amber jewelry ranges in price from about $25 for a small pair of earrings to several thousand for some of the more unique styles of amber jewelry featuring several different shades of amber in one piece to extremely large pieces of Dominican red amber jewelry. Amber jewelry is unique amongst other jewelers' materials in that Amber is not actually a gemstone. Gemstones have well defined atomic structures which give them planes of cleavage, which are responsible for the shimmer and luster of well cut diamonds and other gemstones. As a fossilized organic resin, amber does not contain such long range structure. Nevertheless, the superficial stony appearance of amber, as well as its optical qualities and workability, have led many to consider amber to be gemstone regardless of atomic structure.
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Allergic Reaction to Nickel Alloyed White Gold Jewelry
White gold is routinely alloyed down with nickel. Nickel causes allergic reactions in a lot of people. It's probably showing up now, because your ring was plated in rhodium (the whitest member of the platinum family) when you bought it. This is normal, as white gold always has a little warmth to it, so it is almost always plated in rhodium. The rhodium has worn off. The white gold, alloyed with nickel is in direct contact with your skin. You are reacting to the nickel. One easy solution is to bring the ring in to the jeweler where you purchased it and have it replated with rhodium. Or, you could trade the ring in for a white gold ring that does NOT contain nickel, a palladium ring or a platinum ring. The metal rhodium is essentially inert to the skin, hypoallergenic, no reaction. What the reaction could be is a basic metals reaction and that SHOULD NOT be happening if the rings have a real rhodium plate. My suggestion? Contact QVC and tell them of the problem. They should either give your money back or replace the item with one with a real rhodium plate! Green is a reaction generally to base metals, such as copper, etc., which are either preplate(done beneath the rhodium on metals like silver) or part of the the meatal alloy the ring is made of. Either the plate is not rhodium or is a poor job at plating. QVC owes you an answer on this one and your may use my answer when you contact them if you want. Without seeing the ring and actually examining it, I can say little about the ring itself. "Temporary Fix. Recommended for you to Try: Rhodium is a hard and durable white metal. Most white gold is given a quick plated layer of rhodium when brand new or when repaired. This thin layer of rhodium gives the metal a whiter look. Rhodium is also a metal that does not react with the skin. A local jeweler should easily be able to refinish, buff up nicely and rhodium plate your ring. The look is good. The advantage to you is the rhodium provided a safety layer between the nickel in the ring and your sensitive skin! The rhodium works very well when the plating is done correctly. You can expect the rhodium to wear off in time but you should get 6mos to a year of wear before the ring should be plated with rhodium again. We often do this service for ladies who love white gold earrings but have problems. With yellow gold problems, we plate the parts touching the skin and it works until the rhodium eventually wears away." Is your ring white gold? If so, the rhodium plating by a local jeweler should ease the problem immensely and the surface will last a fair amount of time before redoing is needed. If the ring is yellow, there are likely environmental issues here, including swimming pool chemicals and salty air(if living near the ocean). Chemicals will often build up in a microscopic way and lead to skin reactions or smudges. Salty air can lead to a build up of residue which will cause smudges or even some sensitive skin reactions. For yellow gold, the solution is difficult but involves either avoiding the environmental issues or cleaning the ring quite often(every couple of days) with a good gentle scrub with a gentle dish detergent and rinsing well.
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Advice For Buying Fine Jewelry
A bench jeweler is responsible for repairs on customer jewelry. They have gemological training but are a bit out of date on pricing, etc. First of all, consider the term "chips". Folks often speak of little diamonds as being chips when in fact most are cut diamonds. Modern production methods almost require fairly consistent diamond shapes for quick stone setting and chips are not the ticket for that! Bench jewelers routinely set very small stones from perhaps 1/2 point upward. A diamond of 1/2 point is 0.005 carats. In comparison, a pair of earrings with a total weight of 80 points would need 40 points per earring. If using 1/2 pointers, that would be 80 diamonds per earring! Yes, even the 1/2 point stones are cut, not chips. More than likely, earrings like you mentioned would use stones of 1 point or 2 points. This would mean 40 stones or 20 per earring. Small diamonds set in pave or with many stones together as in earring with many diamonds are quality graded. The cut is apparently not so critical as color and clarity. You have likely seen diamonds with a white look? These stone have no reflection from inside the stone and only sparkle from the surface faces cut on the stones. These stones have a very, very low clarity grade. Then again, the diamonds may have plenty of sparkle from within the stones, light reflected from the inside of the stones with the facets (cut faces) on the back reflecting the light back to your eye. This is what you want. Decent clarity is needed and I suggest stones of the SI to I1 grade. In small stones, I1 is fine generally and dark spots are not really seen. Still, look for good return of light from within the diamonds. Some better earrings have higher clarity stones and the earrings will look slightly more brilliant. Ask if they have any idea of the clarity of the diamonds. Color is important. Often, to gain clarity and use stone relatively free of dark spots, manufacturers will use a stone of lower color grade. This means the earrings may have well selected fairly clean stones of a brownish or yellowish color. At first, you do not see this color but it is apparent when held next to diamonds of a higher (so called "whiter" or less colored) grade. If the stones have a slight tinge of brown or yellowish, look for a better grade. Ask if the stones are of good color or slightly off color. Go for better color without the brown or yellow tones. Much of this is up to your own eye. Also, if you loose a stone, off color stones are more difficult to match up for a replacement! The single cut stones are more round overall in top view. Still the number of facets is the same. Full cut stones will have more sparkle and life to your eye. Stones of 1 point or more are better in appearance if full cut. Ask if the stones are single cut or full cut stones. Quality for earrings like you describe runs from very good to frankly very bad. Bench jewelers often do resizing services for national department stores. Much of the jewelry was tagged with a higher price and a "sale" price of about 50% off. The 50% off price is about what the jewelry was worth. But would I get any for my wife? No! Why? So many of the sparkling jewelry was very poorly made. Bench jewelers must clean jewelry before any soldering as for sizing a ring may be done and at least one of three of the rings from that store lost stones in the ultrasonic cleaner before we did anything! The prettiness of the jewelry went away because of the poor workmanship. Workmanship is difficult to judge when you are not in the business. Ask how the stones are set into the metal. If they say "channel set" ask to look through magnification. A real channel set has the sides of the channel pressed down onto the edges of the stone. A fake channel set has a channel for the stones but the stones are held in by little pieces of metal (a small pick of metal) from the inside channel walls pushed down, one little chip of metal on each side of the stone. This is "pick" setting and is very common in lower quality jewelry making. Do not get pick set stones or you will be losing stones. Ask the clerk to clean the items you are considering. Ask if they have an ultrasonic machine and that you would like the earrings cleaned for a few minutes in the machine. This will take off finger smudges and let you see the actual sparkle and color of the diamonds better. Also, if stones are not securely set, there is a chance some will come out in the cleaner! That is not a foolproof test but a good start. Do not hesitate to ask to have the jewelry cleaned in an ultrasonic before you pull out your check book or plastic card! Ask if the stones are set securely and if they have had any problems with lost stones from that line of jewelry. This is a reasonable question. Often, jewelry with many little stones is not set securely in the first place. Better quality items will go a lifetime with no problems at all. In small stones or large, yellow gold holds stone safely as does white gold. Perhaps platinum is the best overall. If you do not want the dull look platinum get after a while, go with white gold since white is your choice. What makes the yellow and white different is hardness. Generally, white gold is harder than yellow and may wear a bit better over time. When we set into yellow gold, we allow more thickness on the settings to account for this. White gold has problems if you are not careful. Any chlorine such as in swimming pools and hot tubs will work havoc on most white gold. This is because most white gold has nickel to make the gold look white. The effect is a weakening of the make up of the white gold recipe. Exposure to chlorine in strength or repeated at a swimming pool can actually lead to white gold prongs literally falling off. White gold holds stones well but avoid the chlorine! Unless you want platinum earrings, white gold is just fine. This will last and last and keep shine platinum will not keep. Just keep it clean and away from chlorine! Bottom Line, deal with a business which is a jewelry store first, not a department within another store.(There are exceptions. Ask if they service their jewelry and have bench jeweler "in house".) If the business has a good reputation, that is one to try first.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
Conventional Pearls in Particular Designs/Shecy Pearls
To keep up with this summer's fashion trends, Shecy Pearls, a leading online pearl jewelry supplier in China, just released their new designs of pearl jewelry. "In the new releases, we combine conventional pearls with particular designs, which is also this summer pearl jewelry trend," says Ivy Huang, the marketing director of Shecy Pearls. When talking about pearls, most people would immediately think of big, round, and especially white pearls. So these pearls are considered conventional. In fact, big round pearls are very rare and expensive, and are from South Sea and Tahiti. They are traditionally set in strands. Summer always represents excitement, energy and enthusiasm. Jewelry styles also change to be more exciting and more particular. Pearls remain hot in this summer, especially the valuable conventional pearls. This summer, big round pearls set in particular designs not only becomes a new trend, but also brings out decentness and dignity. "We released eight new jewelry sets. Each set has a theme, such as Nile, Galaxy, Phoenix, Dew, Blackberry, etc. For these new releases, all the pearls we selected are South Sea pearls and Tahitian pearls and are of the highest quality," says Ivy. Theses eight sets are in eight different styles with very modern designs. For example, the Phoenix set is fancy and intricate with a big round intense golden pearl surrounded by two rows of diamonds in a curvy arrangement, brings out an intriguing ring; the Galaxy set is decent and charming with a round white pearl sits in the middle of a white gold plate, together with a thick wheat chain, forms a glorious brilliant necklace; the Blackberry set is simple and alluring, simply featuring shinny smooth black pearls, diamonds and gold, the whole setting appears so sexy and mysterious. "2007 fashion trend is a harmony of tradition and novelty," says Ivy. "Fashion-conscious women like adding new concepts to traditional jewelry. They are also particular with whole jewelry settings." Shecy Pearls' designers are inspired by this trend and currently released eight refreshing styles. They are still working on it and will bring out more surprise to flourish over this summer.
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
Article Source: www.articleactive.com
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