This is a just a short article with random notes about how they "used to do it", as culled from early 1900's sources. As will become obvious from some of the ingredients used, they didn't take a lot of safety precautions back then. Hence, these are provided as a snapshot of history only and we don't recommend using anything but modern cleaners which have been proven safe.
Everyone has their tried and true methods of cleaning jewelry using various commercial products, baking soda and assorted home remedies. Back before the days of ultrasonic cleaners and safe, chemical-based cleaners, our ancestors had some unique approaches to keep their gold and sterling silver sparkling clean.
From the pages of The Boy Mechanic published in 1913:
Jewelry Cleaning
To cleanse articles of silver, gold, bronze and brass use a saturated solution of cyanide
of potassium. To clean small articles, dip each one into the solution and rinse
immediately in hot water; then dry and polish with a linen cloth. Larger articles are
cleaned by rubbing the surface with a small tuft of cotton saturated in the solution. As
cyanide of potassium is a deadly poison, care must be taken not to have it touch any sore
spot on the flesh.
From the same pages of The Boy Mechanic:
To Clean Silver:
A good method to clean silver of any kind is to place the articles in an aluminum
vessel and add a few pieces of zinc. Hot water is added and the silver boiled until clean.
It is best to use soft water. The tarnish is removed by the electrolytic action of the zinc
on the aluminum and the silver, and the latter will take on a bright luster. This method of
cleaning will not injure oxidized or black silver, nor that which is partly oxidized.
Our last item is just something we've always thought was amazing and it's sure to be a hit with antique watch collectors and historical photography bugs the world over!
Making Photographs on Watch Dials
1) Beat to a foam the white of an egg, with the addition of a little ammonia. Add 9 oz.
and 3 dr. of water and beat again. After the egg has settled, filter and let the liquid run
over the dial, which has been previously cleaned with ammonia. When the surplus has
run off, coat with the mixture and allow to dry.
2) A sensitive collodion is now produced as follows: Dissolve 9 gr. of chloride of zinc in
5 dr. of alcohol; add 7-1/2 gr. of collodion cotton and 6-1/2 dr. of ether. Shake the whole
forcibly.
3) Dissolve 23 gr. of nitrate of silver in hot water, add 1-1/2 dr. of alcohol and keep the
whole solution by heating. The silver solution is now added in small quantities at a time
to the collodion, which must be well settled. This, of course, is done in the dark room.
After 24 hours the emulsion is filtered by passing it through cotton moistened with
alcohol. This durable collodion emulsion is now flowed thinly upon the prepared watch
dial, which, after the collodion has coagulated, is moved up and down in distilled
water until the fatty stripes disappear. The water is then changed once, and after a short
immersion, the dial is left to dry on a piece of blotting paper.
4) It is now ready for exposure. Expose under magnesium light and develop with a citrate oxalic developer, or
in the following hydroquinone developer:
Hydroquinone ………… 1 dr.
Bromide of potassium .... 6 dr.
Sulphite of soda .……….. 1-1/2 oz.
Carbonate of soda .……... 2-2/3 dr.
Water ………………….. 14 oz.
5) After fixing and drying, coat with a transparent positive varnish.
It's hard for us to imagine how anyone ever figured that out to begin with! We hope you've enjoyed this look back at a time when people were forced to rely on good old Yankee know-how, common sense and their own ingenuity!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Live from New York ....
Live from New York ..... it's Bijoux Extraordinaire! Being a jeweler has its perks. Several times each year I travel to distant cities and countries to discover what is new and exciting in jewelry and to meet with some of my favorite gem cutters, goldsmiths and jewelry designers.
Most recently, my destination was the Big Apple and the annual Jewelers of America show. With over 1,400 exhibitors this show is a wonderful opportunity to discover emerging jewelry trends, as well as conduct market research for our jewelry appraisal lab.
Of course, I also never resist the opportunity to acquire beautiful jewels and gemstones for our clients and the Bijoux collection. Following is a brief summary of what I saw, heard and purchased.
Part of the fun of the New York show is discovering new gemstones and cutting styles. One exciting innovation is the faceting of pearls. An inventive lapidary (gem cutter) has perfected a method for gently faceting these delicate gems and the results are astounding! When faceted, white and light colored pearls take on a shimmering sparkle as if they have been inset with numerous sparkling diamonds. For Tahitian Black and darker pearls, faceting creates a stunning optical illusion: a small, dark iridescent pearl appears to be magically floating within a larger pearl. The effect has to be seen to be believed. Naturally, we acquired several of these rare beauties for the Bijoux collection.
What is exciting in estate jewelry? The hottest trend is filigree rings from the Edwardian and the early Art Deco periods. Most often crafted in platinum or white gold, these intricate, lacy jewels are an ideal setting for a diamond or colored gemstone. In New York we purchased several wonderful antique filigree rings. We also discovered a very talented contemporary goldsmith who is working in these antique styles and has mastered the arts of filigree, engraving and chasing. If you would like to view these beautiful antique and contemporary filigree rings, please give us a call (800 770-9440).
The vibrant blues and purples of tanzanite continue to win fans among jewelry designers and consumers. Popular settings for this captivating gemstone include antique-style platinum rings and elegant custom design jewels. Because of increased demand and waning mine production, finer quality tanzanites are becoming more difficult to find in sizes greater than one carat. As a result, the cost of these finer gemstones is increasing.
In contrast, lesser quality and commercial grade tanzanites are readily available and in abundant supply. By exploiting the recent cave-in and tragedy at the tanzanite mines, some unscrupulous gem dealers are attempting to create a false sense of scarcity and manipulate consumers into paying excessive prices for lower quality gemstones. This is occurring in both the retail and wholesale markets. Remember, when buying jewelry and gemstones always be wary of tall tales and big sales.
While in New York we acquired a wonderful selection of fine jewelry, faceted pearls and dazzling gemstones. If you would like to learn more about these exciting jewels, please call to arrange a convenient time to come and visit us.
Most recently, my destination was the Big Apple and the annual Jewelers of America show. With over 1,400 exhibitors this show is a wonderful opportunity to discover emerging jewelry trends, as well as conduct market research for our jewelry appraisal lab.
Of course, I also never resist the opportunity to acquire beautiful jewels and gemstones for our clients and the Bijoux collection. Following is a brief summary of what I saw, heard and purchased.
Part of the fun of the New York show is discovering new gemstones and cutting styles. One exciting innovation is the faceting of pearls. An inventive lapidary (gem cutter) has perfected a method for gently faceting these delicate gems and the results are astounding! When faceted, white and light colored pearls take on a shimmering sparkle as if they have been inset with numerous sparkling diamonds. For Tahitian Black and darker pearls, faceting creates a stunning optical illusion: a small, dark iridescent pearl appears to be magically floating within a larger pearl. The effect has to be seen to be believed. Naturally, we acquired several of these rare beauties for the Bijoux collection.
What is exciting in estate jewelry? The hottest trend is filigree rings from the Edwardian and the early Art Deco periods. Most often crafted in platinum or white gold, these intricate, lacy jewels are an ideal setting for a diamond or colored gemstone. In New York we purchased several wonderful antique filigree rings. We also discovered a very talented contemporary goldsmith who is working in these antique styles and has mastered the arts of filigree, engraving and chasing. If you would like to view these beautiful antique and contemporary filigree rings, please give us a call (800 770-9440).
The vibrant blues and purples of tanzanite continue to win fans among jewelry designers and consumers. Popular settings for this captivating gemstone include antique-style platinum rings and elegant custom design jewels. Because of increased demand and waning mine production, finer quality tanzanites are becoming more difficult to find in sizes greater than one carat. As a result, the cost of these finer gemstones is increasing.
In contrast, lesser quality and commercial grade tanzanites are readily available and in abundant supply. By exploiting the recent cave-in and tragedy at the tanzanite mines, some unscrupulous gem dealers are attempting to create a false sense of scarcity and manipulate consumers into paying excessive prices for lower quality gemstones. This is occurring in both the retail and wholesale markets. Remember, when buying jewelry and gemstones always be wary of tall tales and big sales.
While in New York we acquired a wonderful selection of fine jewelry, faceted pearls and dazzling gemstones. If you would like to learn more about these exciting jewels, please call to arrange a convenient time to come and visit us.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
What is a Reputable Jeweler?
Shopping for a diamond or expensive jewelry item has always been a daunting task. However, shoppers now have a wealth of shopping advice available online. While not all online shopping guides are accurate or necessarily agree, one common recommendation is to find a reputable jewelry retailer.
So how does the typical diamond or jewelry shopper determine which retailer is reputable and trustworthy?
You cannot assume that longevity means a jeweler is reputable. Just because the same family has owned their jewelry store for over fifty years does not equate to trustworthy. Bad advice, inflated prices, low quality diamonds and switching diamonds have made many jewelers wealthy for many years so years in business is not a reliable measure.
A big expensive store or recognized business name does not mean the person you are dealing with is giving you advice that is best for you. Likewise, a GIA Graduate Gemologist or an AGS Certified Gemologist diploma on the wall means the person knows about diamonds and gemstones, but does not guarantee they are giving you the best advice, the best diamonds or the best value.
There is no single sure way to identify a trustworthy and reputable jewelry retailer but there are some excellent indicators.
1) Does the retailer truly listen to you and work to find what you want, which might be different from what they have in their display case? A reputable jeweler is more of a consultant than a sales person. Diamonds and jewelry are not an exact science but you should be able to verify the advice you receive with other expert opinions you find online. Be wary of “tag readers” who know little more about the product they sell than what they read on the tag attached to the jewelry item.
2) Does the jeweler sell diamonds graded by the GIA or AGS, which are the industry leading independent grading laboratories? A reputable jeweler should be stressing the importance of a top level grading report, often called a certification. While very small diamonds typically do not have certifications, any significant diamonds you consider should have a grading report from one of the top laboratories. While reputable jewelers do sell diamonds without certifications, their first recommendations should be diamonds that have grading reports. Not all grading reports are equal in accuracy and consistency so insist on the industry leading certifications for your diamond.
3) Appraisals should not be something used as a selling tactic. Appraised value is usually for establishing estimated retail replacement values for insurance purposes and often bares little relevance to the low retail price you deserve. An appraisal is not the same as a certification, which has no dollar value and is prepared by an independent laboratory.
4) Beware of the “lifetime guarantee” sales scheme. Most of the services promised are already available to you or are of little value to begin with. Insurance is a smart investment for expensive jewelry because it protects your investment from loss, theft and damage. The store guarantees are typically tactics to get you back in the store on a regular basis and tend to draw attention away from the quality of the diamond or the price you are paying.
Buying a diamond is an expensive purchase that warrants doing your homework and research so you can make the best decisions possible. If you enter the diamond buying process with some diamond knowledge and a strategy for determining a reputable, low price retailer, your reward will be years of enjoyment and satisfaction.
So how does the typical diamond or jewelry shopper determine which retailer is reputable and trustworthy?
You cannot assume that longevity means a jeweler is reputable. Just because the same family has owned their jewelry store for over fifty years does not equate to trustworthy. Bad advice, inflated prices, low quality diamonds and switching diamonds have made many jewelers wealthy for many years so years in business is not a reliable measure.
A big expensive store or recognized business name does not mean the person you are dealing with is giving you advice that is best for you. Likewise, a GIA Graduate Gemologist or an AGS Certified Gemologist diploma on the wall means the person knows about diamonds and gemstones, but does not guarantee they are giving you the best advice, the best diamonds or the best value.
There is no single sure way to identify a trustworthy and reputable jewelry retailer but there are some excellent indicators.
1) Does the retailer truly listen to you and work to find what you want, which might be different from what they have in their display case? A reputable jeweler is more of a consultant than a sales person. Diamonds and jewelry are not an exact science but you should be able to verify the advice you receive with other expert opinions you find online. Be wary of “tag readers” who know little more about the product they sell than what they read on the tag attached to the jewelry item.
2) Does the jeweler sell diamonds graded by the GIA or AGS, which are the industry leading independent grading laboratories? A reputable jeweler should be stressing the importance of a top level grading report, often called a certification. While very small diamonds typically do not have certifications, any significant diamonds you consider should have a grading report from one of the top laboratories. While reputable jewelers do sell diamonds without certifications, their first recommendations should be diamonds that have grading reports. Not all grading reports are equal in accuracy and consistency so insist on the industry leading certifications for your diamond.
3) Appraisals should not be something used as a selling tactic. Appraised value is usually for establishing estimated retail replacement values for insurance purposes and often bares little relevance to the low retail price you deserve. An appraisal is not the same as a certification, which has no dollar value and is prepared by an independent laboratory.
4) Beware of the “lifetime guarantee” sales scheme. Most of the services promised are already available to you or are of little value to begin with. Insurance is a smart investment for expensive jewelry because it protects your investment from loss, theft and damage. The store guarantees are typically tactics to get you back in the store on a regular basis and tend to draw attention away from the quality of the diamond or the price you are paying.
Buying a diamond is an expensive purchase that warrants doing your homework and research so you can make the best decisions possible. If you enter the diamond buying process with some diamond knowledge and a strategy for determining a reputable, low price retailer, your reward will be years of enjoyment and satisfaction.
Wholesale Beads for Easy-to-make Earrings
Jewelry assembled out of beads will grab everyone’s attention whether you are wearing it in casual circumstances or whether you choose to display it on special events. But what really gets you thinking about beadwork is that you can take advantage of the available offers of wholesale beads anytime by ordering online and turning jewelry making into an occasion of running your own small business: a business that functions due to the attraction people have towards beautiful or peculiar beads and ornaments. Your business can not fail as long as you provide your customers with innovative or eye-catching ideas for jewelry making which can, in turn, make them feel beautiful or special.
For instance, look at a fast and cost-effective manner of making earrings you can then sell. Of course, your advantage over the competition will consist in a smart option: the idea to buy wholesale beads from an online shop with good prices: gemmall.com. These wholesale beads are less expensive and you can acquire as many as possible, in the same affordable limits, in order to craft a sufficient number of pairs of earrings to guarantee a profit to your investment.
The “attraction through attraction” principle we are talking about functions on the following commonsensical premise: if your jewelry making efforts result in beadwork attractive enough so as to suggest potential customers that by wearing your ornaments their entire appearance will appropriate the same degree of attractiveness, then you are on the right road to a successful business.
Going back to the cost-effective and easy-to-make pairs of earrings your business will promote, you should first take a look at the kind of materials you could use out of an incredibly diverse offer of wholesale beads. Depending on how much money you are willing to invest, you could use simple glass or plastic beads, for the cheaper versions of earrings, and precious metal, gemstones or pearl beads for the more expensive products.
Of course, jewelry making is not entirely based on wholesale beads. Even if beads are the elements that give the final, decorative touch to the resulting beadwork, there are other components that practically offer support for the beads. As a result, for our earrings, apart from the beads of your choice, you will also need ear wires, head pins, a wire twisting tool and a wire cutting tool. Make sure that the ear wires and the head pins are made from a reliable material, such as sterling silver. Don’t be cheap with such parts of the earrings: they will not be quality products if the material breaks only because you were too mean to invest a bit more in more reliable materials.
You also need to be careful with pushing the beads onto the head pin. You will place onto the head pin as many beads you consider necessary for the final length of the earrings. When you are done with the beads, you will use the wire cutting tool in order to cut whatever length of wire is in excess. Be careful: the same as it happens with any other kind of jewelry making, earring crafting requires delicate actions. Make sure that there is some wire left: this part will have to be curled into a small circle with the wire twisting tool.
Next, with the same wire twisting tool, you will open the end of the ear wire and through it you will introduce the small circle you have curled out of the remaining part of the head pin. Finally, you need to see that you fastened the opening of the ear wire around the head pin.
With so many curls and twists, you can now understand why the ear wires and the head pins need to be made out of more resistant materials: weaker ones can easily break, maybe even before you get to actually see how such a pair of earrings looks like. If quality materials are used, no matter the material of the beads employed, the resulting earrings will also meet high quality standards, fit for complying with customer expectations.
For instance, look at a fast and cost-effective manner of making earrings you can then sell. Of course, your advantage over the competition will consist in a smart option: the idea to buy wholesale beads from an online shop with good prices: gemmall.com. These wholesale beads are less expensive and you can acquire as many as possible, in the same affordable limits, in order to craft a sufficient number of pairs of earrings to guarantee a profit to your investment.
The “attraction through attraction” principle we are talking about functions on the following commonsensical premise: if your jewelry making efforts result in beadwork attractive enough so as to suggest potential customers that by wearing your ornaments their entire appearance will appropriate the same degree of attractiveness, then you are on the right road to a successful business.
Going back to the cost-effective and easy-to-make pairs of earrings your business will promote, you should first take a look at the kind of materials you could use out of an incredibly diverse offer of wholesale beads. Depending on how much money you are willing to invest, you could use simple glass or plastic beads, for the cheaper versions of earrings, and precious metal, gemstones or pearl beads for the more expensive products.
Of course, jewelry making is not entirely based on wholesale beads. Even if beads are the elements that give the final, decorative touch to the resulting beadwork, there are other components that practically offer support for the beads. As a result, for our earrings, apart from the beads of your choice, you will also need ear wires, head pins, a wire twisting tool and a wire cutting tool. Make sure that the ear wires and the head pins are made from a reliable material, such as sterling silver. Don’t be cheap with such parts of the earrings: they will not be quality products if the material breaks only because you were too mean to invest a bit more in more reliable materials.
You also need to be careful with pushing the beads onto the head pin. You will place onto the head pin as many beads you consider necessary for the final length of the earrings. When you are done with the beads, you will use the wire cutting tool in order to cut whatever length of wire is in excess. Be careful: the same as it happens with any other kind of jewelry making, earring crafting requires delicate actions. Make sure that there is some wire left: this part will have to be curled into a small circle with the wire twisting tool.
Next, with the same wire twisting tool, you will open the end of the ear wire and through it you will introduce the small circle you have curled out of the remaining part of the head pin. Finally, you need to see that you fastened the opening of the ear wire around the head pin.
With so many curls and twists, you can now understand why the ear wires and the head pins need to be made out of more resistant materials: weaker ones can easily break, maybe even before you get to actually see how such a pair of earrings looks like. If quality materials are used, no matter the material of the beads employed, the resulting earrings will also meet high quality standards, fit for complying with customer expectations.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
A Spence Diamonds Guide to Jewelry and Allergies
Choosing just the right jewelry for you goes beyond how good it looks on you, or how good it makes you feel. Some people have allergies to certain metals, so it helps to understand what to look out for if your skin is extra-sensitive, or you are prone to allergies. In our Spence Diamonds showrooms, we're always ready to answer your questions about how metal allergies can affect you, but in the meantime here's a bit of Metal Allergy 101:
Most often, rashes and infections on your skin caused by jewelry are a result of nickel allergy. Ever had an itchy red spot under a jean stud or watch buckle? Maybe when you had your ears pierced you developed an unusually uncomfortable reaction?
Nickel is the metal that causes the most rashes. And it is also quite commonly used in almost anything metal, for e.g. jewelry, kitchen utensils, scissors, paper clips, keys and of course the coin by the same name. Nickel has a more whitish appearance, so such metals as white gold, silver and all kinds of silver-colored metals (other than sterling silver) can and likely do contain some amount of nickel. 18 or 24 carat yellow gold does not contain nickel, but 10-carat yellow gold may have traces of nickel, too.
How Do You Know if You Have an Allergy to Nickel?
The first sign of nickel allergy is red and itchy skin, in the areas that have come in contact with metal, such as under a ring or necklace. Later on, tiny water blisters appear, making the skin moist and even oozy, and can even cause it to peel off. At this point, you probably want to be searching for jewelry that cooperates with your skin a little better. If the condition carries on for a long time, your skin may become red, scaly and cracked, and the rash can spread to other areas of your skin that have never even been in contact with nickel! So it's worth doing your homework on how to avoid such a reaction.
Some Good News, Some Bad News
The bad news first: Once you've become sensitive to nickel, you're likely to stay that way for the rest of your life. The good news is that over time, you may become less sensitive to nickel allergy. But there is hope as there are still plenty of metals that you can safely wear, including 18 and 14 carat gold, sterling silver, and a number of other hypo-allergenic metals. In addition, if you discover an allergy to nickel with an existing piece of your jewelry, Spence Diamonds offers an electrochemical process called rhodium plating that coats the ring and protects your finger from exposure to nickel. It is a very easy and very common process that will not harm your ring in any way. If you'd like to know more, we'd be happy to answer your questions about rhodium plating in one of our showrooms.
If you think that you might have an allergy to nickel, ask a member of our staff in one of our Spence Diamonds showrooms to help you select an item that will not only add a bit of sparkle to your life, but will also be safe and comfortable next to your skin.
Most often, rashes and infections on your skin caused by jewelry are a result of nickel allergy. Ever had an itchy red spot under a jean stud or watch buckle? Maybe when you had your ears pierced you developed an unusually uncomfortable reaction?
Nickel is the metal that causes the most rashes. And it is also quite commonly used in almost anything metal, for e.g. jewelry, kitchen utensils, scissors, paper clips, keys and of course the coin by the same name. Nickel has a more whitish appearance, so such metals as white gold, silver and all kinds of silver-colored metals (other than sterling silver) can and likely do contain some amount of nickel. 18 or 24 carat yellow gold does not contain nickel, but 10-carat yellow gold may have traces of nickel, too.
How Do You Know if You Have an Allergy to Nickel?
The first sign of nickel allergy is red and itchy skin, in the areas that have come in contact with metal, such as under a ring or necklace. Later on, tiny water blisters appear, making the skin moist and even oozy, and can even cause it to peel off. At this point, you probably want to be searching for jewelry that cooperates with your skin a little better. If the condition carries on for a long time, your skin may become red, scaly and cracked, and the rash can spread to other areas of your skin that have never even been in contact with nickel! So it's worth doing your homework on how to avoid such a reaction.
Some Good News, Some Bad News
The bad news first: Once you've become sensitive to nickel, you're likely to stay that way for the rest of your life. The good news is that over time, you may become less sensitive to nickel allergy. But there is hope as there are still plenty of metals that you can safely wear, including 18 and 14 carat gold, sterling silver, and a number of other hypo-allergenic metals. In addition, if you discover an allergy to nickel with an existing piece of your jewelry, Spence Diamonds offers an electrochemical process called rhodium plating that coats the ring and protects your finger from exposure to nickel. It is a very easy and very common process that will not harm your ring in any way. If you'd like to know more, we'd be happy to answer your questions about rhodium plating in one of our showrooms.
If you think that you might have an allergy to nickel, ask a member of our staff in one of our Spence Diamonds showrooms to help you select an item that will not only add a bit of sparkle to your life, but will also be safe and comfortable next to your skin.
Right Hand Ring
Talking about right hand ring which is a new concept that has evolved and booming in the diamond industry, however to broaden the definition of “Right hand Ring” it is a fashion statement for today’s career and independent women who have a flair for fashion diamond ring, which flaunts their purchasing power with a carefree attitude and a creative mind accompanied with a sense of style. In other words it’s an expression of ones unique personality who prefers to be a “face in a crowd”.
A Right hand diamond ring stands for a woman’s success, freedom, confidence, vibrant, stylish and want to be a part of the glamorous world. The idea of wearing a right hand diamond ring is for fun and celebrate liberation in men oriented world, however women prefer a unique Right hand diamond ring in order to co-ordinate with their wedding and engagement rings; or some women prefer a ‘one of a kind’ diamond right ring for themselves. The selection of a right had diamond ring can vary in terms of different material, gemstone, style, color but all that matters is the gleaming diamond sitting on your right hand and dazzling everyone’s eyes with its beauty and uniqueness.
So if you want to be the talk of the town, choose from the newest right hand rings that are classical and elegantly designs in platinum or white gold set with diamonds. We also encourage men to buy a right hand diamond ring as an ideal gift for their beloved or an appreciation of their personality and qualities. It is an ideal gift to surprise women out of the blue and make them cry with happiness and get a chance to be embraced; however it also an apt purchase for men in love in order to express their love by bending down on your knees to make that ‘Proposal of Love’ with a diamond right hand ring a remembrance for her lifetime.
Right hand rings are designed more like cocktail rings, featuring clusters of smaller diamonds. Right hand rings are intended to showcase the individuality of a woman, worn on the fourth finger and sometimes the little finger. Hence we conclude by saying that irrespective of the season, occasion, time, place right hand diamond ring appeals women’s sight and serves as an ideal ‘patch up’ gift to raise her brows in shock with happiness in order to for give you for making her sad, after all a ‘Right Hand Diamond Ring’ is a woman’s best friends.
A Right hand diamond ring stands for a woman’s success, freedom, confidence, vibrant, stylish and want to be a part of the glamorous world. The idea of wearing a right hand diamond ring is for fun and celebrate liberation in men oriented world, however women prefer a unique Right hand diamond ring in order to co-ordinate with their wedding and engagement rings; or some women prefer a ‘one of a kind’ diamond right ring for themselves. The selection of a right had diamond ring can vary in terms of different material, gemstone, style, color but all that matters is the gleaming diamond sitting on your right hand and dazzling everyone’s eyes with its beauty and uniqueness.
So if you want to be the talk of the town, choose from the newest right hand rings that are classical and elegantly designs in platinum or white gold set with diamonds. We also encourage men to buy a right hand diamond ring as an ideal gift for their beloved or an appreciation of their personality and qualities. It is an ideal gift to surprise women out of the blue and make them cry with happiness and get a chance to be embraced; however it also an apt purchase for men in love in order to express their love by bending down on your knees to make that ‘Proposal of Love’ with a diamond right hand ring a remembrance for her lifetime.
Right hand rings are designed more like cocktail rings, featuring clusters of smaller diamonds. Right hand rings are intended to showcase the individuality of a woman, worn on the fourth finger and sometimes the little finger. Hence we conclude by saying that irrespective of the season, occasion, time, place right hand diamond ring appeals women’s sight and serves as an ideal ‘patch up’ gift to raise her brows in shock with happiness in order to for give you for making her sad, after all a ‘Right Hand Diamond Ring’ is a woman’s best friends.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Why Jewelry Stores Dislike Knowledgeable Customers
For decades, jewelers have had enjoyed the position of being the "keepers" of the knowledge about diamonds and gemstones. They stood behind jewelry counters and shared little tidbits of information about jewels to shoppers. The jeweler seemed to be talking down to the shopper, making them feel as if they should be grateful to even be in the store or touch the precious gems in the display case.
This monopoly of knowledge went hand in hand with the monopoly of supply. The only way you could purchase a diamond or precious gemstone was to buy in a jewelry store. The prices were artificially high with markups of 100% to 300% of wholesale costs. The factors that differentiated stores included the ornate decorations, the fancy display cases, and elaborate storefronts. Life was simple and very profitable for the jeweler. The shopper came in, the jeweler said this is what you should buy, and the shopper paid the price because they had no other options. Can you recall any poor jewelers before the millennium change in the year 2000?
It was about this time that the most feared word in the jeweler's vocabulary began to change the industry forever. That word was Internet. Suddenly there were competitors springing up who could supply diamonds and jewelry delivered to your door, often at prices lower than could support the high overhead of the jewelry store. However, the greatest fear was that the hidden knowledge of diamonds and precious gemstones was available to any shopper who wanted to spend a little time researching online.
The jeweler of the past said here is what I have and which one do you want to buy? Then came the knowledgeable shopper armed with printouts of online diamond advice. Instead of simply asking for a one-carat diamond, the shopper now has a detailed list of requirements that all but guarantees that nothing in the store will meet their requirements, regardless of the price.
It is common for a diamond shopper today to say, "Here is what I want and I expect the lowest price in the country." Then they present their list of requirements for their round diamond:
1) Carat weight exactly 1.27 because our first date was January 27th
2) At least G color
3) VS2 clarity but I do not want to be able to see anything under the microscope
4) Must have a GIA grading report dated in 2006 with Excellent cut grade
5) No fluorescence
6) At least Very Good for polish and symmetry
7) Girdle has to be Medium (nothing more or less will do) and faceted
8) Laser inscribed with the GIA number
9) Must be able to take to an independent appraiser who agrees with all grading
10) I need it in two days
Their parting remark is that they are shopping these same requirements with twenty other retailers and are going to buy from the one with the lowest price.
This is the jeweler's nightmare because this is not how their business works. Their jewelry store caters to the impulse buyer who will come in, see something beautiful and buy with only a few encouraging words from the sales clerk. Spending hours of work to find the specific diamond the shopper wants and then paying the shipping and insurance to get it shipped next day is just more work than they want to do for a sale. Instead, they complain and wish for the return of the good old days, when Ma Bell controlled the telephones, gas was 59 cents a gallon and the secrets of the diamond industry were safely behind the jewelry counter.
Fortunately, for diamond and gemstone shoppers there are a new breed of diamond retailers available who not only encourage diamond education; they enjoy working with shoppers who know exactly what they want. These diamond brokers have access to the diamonds on the wholesale market and know how to find diamonds that meet the shopper's requirement. Best of all, the diamond brokers have much lower overhead than a jewelry store so can find the exceptional diamonds at very low prices.
The competitive marketplace always seems to produce sources for services and goods that consumers demand. The online diamond broker is well suited to serve today's well-knowledgeable and demanding diamond shopper.
Source: http://www.diamondsourceva.com
This monopoly of knowledge went hand in hand with the monopoly of supply. The only way you could purchase a diamond or precious gemstone was to buy in a jewelry store. The prices were artificially high with markups of 100% to 300% of wholesale costs. The factors that differentiated stores included the ornate decorations, the fancy display cases, and elaborate storefronts. Life was simple and very profitable for the jeweler. The shopper came in, the jeweler said this is what you should buy, and the shopper paid the price because they had no other options. Can you recall any poor jewelers before the millennium change in the year 2000?
It was about this time that the most feared word in the jeweler's vocabulary began to change the industry forever. That word was Internet. Suddenly there were competitors springing up who could supply diamonds and jewelry delivered to your door, often at prices lower than could support the high overhead of the jewelry store. However, the greatest fear was that the hidden knowledge of diamonds and precious gemstones was available to any shopper who wanted to spend a little time researching online.
The jeweler of the past said here is what I have and which one do you want to buy? Then came the knowledgeable shopper armed with printouts of online diamond advice. Instead of simply asking for a one-carat diamond, the shopper now has a detailed list of requirements that all but guarantees that nothing in the store will meet their requirements, regardless of the price.
It is common for a diamond shopper today to say, "Here is what I want and I expect the lowest price in the country." Then they present their list of requirements for their round diamond:
1) Carat weight exactly 1.27 because our first date was January 27th
2) At least G color
3) VS2 clarity but I do not want to be able to see anything under the microscope
4) Must have a GIA grading report dated in 2006 with Excellent cut grade
5) No fluorescence
6) At least Very Good for polish and symmetry
7) Girdle has to be Medium (nothing more or less will do) and faceted
8) Laser inscribed with the GIA number
9) Must be able to take to an independent appraiser who agrees with all grading
10) I need it in two days
Their parting remark is that they are shopping these same requirements with twenty other retailers and are going to buy from the one with the lowest price.
This is the jeweler's nightmare because this is not how their business works. Their jewelry store caters to the impulse buyer who will come in, see something beautiful and buy with only a few encouraging words from the sales clerk. Spending hours of work to find the specific diamond the shopper wants and then paying the shipping and insurance to get it shipped next day is just more work than they want to do for a sale. Instead, they complain and wish for the return of the good old days, when Ma Bell controlled the telephones, gas was 59 cents a gallon and the secrets of the diamond industry were safely behind the jewelry counter.
Fortunately, for diamond and gemstone shoppers there are a new breed of diamond retailers available who not only encourage diamond education; they enjoy working with shoppers who know exactly what they want. These diamond brokers have access to the diamonds on the wholesale market and know how to find diamonds that meet the shopper's requirement. Best of all, the diamond brokers have much lower overhead than a jewelry store so can find the exceptional diamonds at very low prices.
The competitive marketplace always seems to produce sources for services and goods that consumers demand. The online diamond broker is well suited to serve today's well-knowledgeable and demanding diamond shopper.
Source: http://www.diamondsourceva.com
Monday, February 5, 2007
Loose Diamonds Buying Guide
Loose Diamonds may seem like something that you only see in the movies, but more and more regular people are purchasing loose diamonds. Loose diamonds are often the most affordable way to get the perfect diamond ring. Many jewelers will attach loose diamonds to your jewelry for a nominal price. Loose diamonds are the most affordable way to up grade your current jewelry or to wear your own designs. Purchasing loose diamonds can now be done online and usually at the best prices. We have designed a guide for you to follow when purchasing a loose diamond.Loose Diamonds Clarity
Loose diamond clarity begins with flawless for a diamond that does not have any "flaws" or inclusions. Most diamonds have some flaws, feathers and specks in them that are visible under 10 X magnifications or to the naked eye. The loose diamond clarity chart begins with flawless followed by VVS 1 (very, very slight flaws) and through the whole range of diamond clarities. These flaws considerably affect diamond prices. Relax, it only takes a few minutes to learn the lingo and compare diamond prices based on diamond clarity.
Carat Weight
The carat weight of loose diamonds is just that - how much the stone weighs. Not very exhilarating until you see the spectacular rise in price from a small quarter carat diamond to a one or two carat diamond. Loose diamonds allow couples to purchase the best diamond they can afford now and upgrade the center diamond in the future.
Loose Diamonds - Cut
Loose diamond cut refers tot the shape of your diamond. Round brilliant diamonds are the most popular diamond cut and are available in many price ranges and sizes. It pays to price round diamonds even if you plan to buy a fancy cut diamond. The "fancy cut" diamonds include oval diamonds, emerald cuts, pear shaped diamonds, heart diamonds, marquis cuts, etc. Each diamond cut has it's own magic and romance... Which diamond cut should you choose? Let you heart by your guide.
Loose Diamonds - Color
Loose diamond color is based on matching a diamond against a set of diamond color stones called "master" stones. The colors of the master stones (usually quartz) start range from colorless (best quality) to slightly yellowish followed by diamonds that are clearly yellow and brown diamonds. The diamond color chart starts with "D" for a colorless diamond, followed by E,F,G (slight yellowish tint) and H, I and J that are clearly yellowish. There are also fancy yellow diamonds, green diamonds, etc.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Italian Designer Jewelry
Creating masterpieces on jewelry is child’s play for the Italian designers who spend their valuable time in sketching the designs and then applying them on the metals. Gold is said to be the frequently used metal on which their creativity speaks the language of royalty. Right from the trendy jewelries to the traditional ones, it is an Italian designer who can best mold the metals. For the women of today jewelry indeed is a concept of something funky and fashionable with the least intrusion of the bells and charms that were used as the decorative. Gold, which was once regarded as the jewelry for the D-day occasions has now turned to be a regular wear. Fashion changes color with time and the tastes of women also roll along with it. With the attempt to feed the needs of this change in fashion, designers are also storming their brains. Fashion jewelry for this matter always has an edge over the traditional and the so-called outdated ones. Italian designers have already earned the praise for their creativity right from the beginning of history and now they are just trying to modify it by producing something unique for the multi-tasking women of today.
The height of experimentation with the metals and the jewelries is carrying the designers to such an extent that they are trying to produce something exquisite by molding steel and ceramic also. They have delivered almost a mentionable change in the function and usages of the unique material that hardly had any implication in jewelry making. Coral is also often used in making designer jewelry. In fact the marriages between the coral and ceramic jewelry created by the Italian designers can look awesome and trendy on any woman irrespective of her skin color. You can get to see the sample of such an interesting piece of work with Vivace jewelry which on purchase can be shipped to the address given free of cost. These modern designers can custom make the jewelry for your make over.
They also present some of the excellent collection on the rings and bracelets that can even look attractive on the men. Fashionable jewelry that the teenagers and the office goers love to put on is mostly light and cheaper. The risk that they try to avoid while in precious jewelry items can easily be avoided when they are wearing cheap fashionable jewelry designed by the Italian designers. These designers are trying their best to show their craftsmanship through the magic effects that they can produce with the help of ceramic, coral along with other imitation metals. Color is a primary factor when ceramic jewelry is concerned. These jewelries have to be painted according to the need of the stylish women of today. Pearl can also be an excellent element to be used up as pendant. The creative brain of the designer decides the style in which it has to be inserted. The designers can use ceramic to create excellent pieces of necklace, bracelets and earrings. There is a lot of scope to experiment with the earrings as they are small and can be shaped in any way you feel like.
The best part of the Italian jewelry is that the designers posses the capacity to make any dull metal graceful, with their touch. This group of Midas is innovative in whatever metal or material they work on. Sterling silver can add a new meaning so that it can tell the untold story. Silver existed long back but moving with time is a wise decision and jewelry is just a part of such movement. Colored ornamental earrings are effective when they are hand glazed. The working women of today love to put on only that particular type of jewelry that can glorify them and make them look awesome. The Italian jewelries are also unparallel when it comes to designing of costume jewelry and vintage jewelry. It is only a sketch that produces the ultimate magic shining on the curves of women’s body. Wedding ceremonies are absolutely incomplete without the junk fusion collections with the glittering stones of increasing denominations studded on them in ascending order. Amethyst glass crystal beads are heavy and produce an elegant look when they are put on with orange or saffron apparels. They present a sense of holiness, which gets reflected on the face of the woman wearing it. The Italian Designers are also expert in creating designs on brooches.
These were used long before but with the change in style their uses have diminished and hence, the designers are trying to recreate them by giving some different forms, shapes and sizes to them. Gold items in 14 to 22 carats are light. They are simply just capable of attracting any women. They look ethnic and have the fragrance of elegance. The Italian designers have also experienced art while playing with the white gold, which is precious and unique in itself with the touch of elegance. Crystals are auspicious for they reflect the light that falls on them and also makes you glow. It is the Italian jewelry designers who can make fruitful use of the crystals.
They can use it simply by hanging beautiful crystals with the prominent edges from a chocker or can gather various colors of it to create a multi-colored crystal necklace. Leather is modified with cutter convenience to make the bracelets for the teenage boys and girls. In fact, bracelets more like the bangles can produce an exclusiveness that is desired by everyone. Body piercing jewelry can also have a major outlet in the form of the nose rings, naval rings and eyebrow rings. Though they are not of much artistic value yet to make them unique some amount of design definitely has to be inserted. Fashionable jewelries that are used in matching with the apparels are mostly made up of cheap metals, which the working women prefer the most. So, most of the Italian designer jewelries for regular use are being created on these types of imitation or easily available materials.
The height of experimentation with the metals and the jewelries is carrying the designers to such an extent that they are trying to produce something exquisite by molding steel and ceramic also. They have delivered almost a mentionable change in the function and usages of the unique material that hardly had any implication in jewelry making. Coral is also often used in making designer jewelry. In fact the marriages between the coral and ceramic jewelry created by the Italian designers can look awesome and trendy on any woman irrespective of her skin color. You can get to see the sample of such an interesting piece of work with Vivace jewelry which on purchase can be shipped to the address given free of cost. These modern designers can custom make the jewelry for your make over.
They also present some of the excellent collection on the rings and bracelets that can even look attractive on the men. Fashionable jewelry that the teenagers and the office goers love to put on is mostly light and cheaper. The risk that they try to avoid while in precious jewelry items can easily be avoided when they are wearing cheap fashionable jewelry designed by the Italian designers. These designers are trying their best to show their craftsmanship through the magic effects that they can produce with the help of ceramic, coral along with other imitation metals. Color is a primary factor when ceramic jewelry is concerned. These jewelries have to be painted according to the need of the stylish women of today. Pearl can also be an excellent element to be used up as pendant. The creative brain of the designer decides the style in which it has to be inserted. The designers can use ceramic to create excellent pieces of necklace, bracelets and earrings. There is a lot of scope to experiment with the earrings as they are small and can be shaped in any way you feel like.
The best part of the Italian jewelry is that the designers posses the capacity to make any dull metal graceful, with their touch. This group of Midas is innovative in whatever metal or material they work on. Sterling silver can add a new meaning so that it can tell the untold story. Silver existed long back but moving with time is a wise decision and jewelry is just a part of such movement. Colored ornamental earrings are effective when they are hand glazed. The working women of today love to put on only that particular type of jewelry that can glorify them and make them look awesome. The Italian jewelries are also unparallel when it comes to designing of costume jewelry and vintage jewelry. It is only a sketch that produces the ultimate magic shining on the curves of women’s body. Wedding ceremonies are absolutely incomplete without the junk fusion collections with the glittering stones of increasing denominations studded on them in ascending order. Amethyst glass crystal beads are heavy and produce an elegant look when they are put on with orange or saffron apparels. They present a sense of holiness, which gets reflected on the face of the woman wearing it. The Italian Designers are also expert in creating designs on brooches.
These were used long before but with the change in style their uses have diminished and hence, the designers are trying to recreate them by giving some different forms, shapes and sizes to them. Gold items in 14 to 22 carats are light. They are simply just capable of attracting any women. They look ethnic and have the fragrance of elegance. The Italian designers have also experienced art while playing with the white gold, which is precious and unique in itself with the touch of elegance. Crystals are auspicious for they reflect the light that falls on them and also makes you glow. It is the Italian jewelry designers who can make fruitful use of the crystals.
They can use it simply by hanging beautiful crystals with the prominent edges from a chocker or can gather various colors of it to create a multi-colored crystal necklace. Leather is modified with cutter convenience to make the bracelets for the teenage boys and girls. In fact, bracelets more like the bangles can produce an exclusiveness that is desired by everyone. Body piercing jewelry can also have a major outlet in the form of the nose rings, naval rings and eyebrow rings. Though they are not of much artistic value yet to make them unique some amount of design definitely has to be inserted. Fashionable jewelries that are used in matching with the apparels are mostly made up of cheap metals, which the working women prefer the most. So, most of the Italian designer jewelries for regular use are being created on these types of imitation or easily available materials.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Choosing and using gold piercing body jewelry
Although body piercing jewelry was not popular until about 20 years ago, it actually has a very long history. However, in the last 400-500 years, body jewelry has been restricted to mainly ear piercing. It's time to fully explore this new fashion trend.
A little bit of history
Although body piercing jewelry was not popular until about 20 years ago, it actually has a very long history. In ancient Egypt, only the royal family had the right to have body piercing. In fact, only the Pharaoh at that time had belly button piercing, any other people with a belly button ring would have been executed. For Egyptians, body jewelry was a way of embellishing the beauty of human bodies. On the other hand, around 2000 years ago, as mentioned in Bible, body piercing jewelry was very popular among nomadic tribes as a sign of wealth. Also, the roman warriors used to get nipple piercing as a sign of strength and virility. However, in the last 400-500 years, body jewelry has been restricted to mainly ear piercing until the last two decades.
Choices of metal
There are many choices for the metal used to make body jewelry. Since piercing could be in sensitive and delicate area of the body such as lip and tongue, the material has to be biological inert to prevent corrosion and infection. Common metals for making body jewelry are surgical steel, titanium, niobium, platinum and 14kt and 18kt gold. The primary reason for the above metals to be popular with body jewelry is that they are hypoallergenic and are absolutely safe to wear. Sterling silver body jewelry is not recommended because would tarnish and some of them contain nickel, which some people are allergic to. It is recommended to use surgical steel right after the piercing during the healing period to allow a faster healing process and minimize the chance of infection.
Types of body jewelry
Since the resurgence of body jewelry, many types of body jewelry became available in the market. The common body jewelry categories are navel rings, lip and tongue labrets, nostril rings, eyebrows barbells, ear plugs and nipple rings. In fact, the piercing technique employed by most of the body jewelry store is so mature and safe that you can put body jewelry wherever you want!
Fashion vs. Fine Jewelry
A decade ago, body jewelry was a symbol for rebellious and hip youth. Nowadays, however, it is a common trend just like earrings. This is shown by the fact that many celebrities are wearing them and the number of body jewelry piercing stores in the shopping mall is constantly increasing. This is a major fashion trend which we are now at the beginning of. As body jewelry becomes mainstream accessories, the style and quality are expected to improve tremendously. Body jewelry with natural semi-precious stones such as topaz and peridot are currently available in the market, soon body jewelry with gold and genuine diamonds will be as popular as diamond stud earrings. In fact, 14k and 18k gold body jewelry are good choices for gift to someone who are already part of this fashion jewelry trend resolution since they are truly precious and fashionable at the same time.
A little bit of history
Although body piercing jewelry was not popular until about 20 years ago, it actually has a very long history. In ancient Egypt, only the royal family had the right to have body piercing. In fact, only the Pharaoh at that time had belly button piercing, any other people with a belly button ring would have been executed. For Egyptians, body jewelry was a way of embellishing the beauty of human bodies. On the other hand, around 2000 years ago, as mentioned in Bible, body piercing jewelry was very popular among nomadic tribes as a sign of wealth. Also, the roman warriors used to get nipple piercing as a sign of strength and virility. However, in the last 400-500 years, body jewelry has been restricted to mainly ear piercing until the last two decades.
Choices of metal
There are many choices for the metal used to make body jewelry. Since piercing could be in sensitive and delicate area of the body such as lip and tongue, the material has to be biological inert to prevent corrosion and infection. Common metals for making body jewelry are surgical steel, titanium, niobium, platinum and 14kt and 18kt gold. The primary reason for the above metals to be popular with body jewelry is that they are hypoallergenic and are absolutely safe to wear. Sterling silver body jewelry is not recommended because would tarnish and some of them contain nickel, which some people are allergic to. It is recommended to use surgical steel right after the piercing during the healing period to allow a faster healing process and minimize the chance of infection.
Types of body jewelry
Since the resurgence of body jewelry, many types of body jewelry became available in the market. The common body jewelry categories are navel rings, lip and tongue labrets, nostril rings, eyebrows barbells, ear plugs and nipple rings. In fact, the piercing technique employed by most of the body jewelry store is so mature and safe that you can put body jewelry wherever you want!
Fashion vs. Fine Jewelry
A decade ago, body jewelry was a symbol for rebellious and hip youth. Nowadays, however, it is a common trend just like earrings. This is shown by the fact that many celebrities are wearing them and the number of body jewelry piercing stores in the shopping mall is constantly increasing. This is a major fashion trend which we are now at the beginning of. As body jewelry becomes mainstream accessories, the style and quality are expected to improve tremendously. Body jewelry with natural semi-precious stones such as topaz and peridot are currently available in the market, soon body jewelry with gold and genuine diamonds will be as popular as diamond stud earrings. In fact, 14k and 18k gold body jewelry are good choices for gift to someone who are already part of this fashion jewelry trend resolution since they are truly precious and fashionable at the same time.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Ancient shell jewellery hints at language
Early humans strung mollusc shells together to make jewellery at least 75,000 years ago. Archaeologists say the discovery of the Stone Age shell beads hint that people had advanced concepts of symbolism and language earlier than anyone realised.
There are two competing theories of how modern human behaviour emerged. One is that it evolved abruptly in Africa or Eurasia 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. A competing theory suggests it emerged gradually in Africa between 250,000 and 50,000 years ago.
The new study of Stone Age shells from the gastropod Nassarius kraussianus suggests the second theory is more likely. Several clusters of the shells have turned up in excavations at Blombos cave on the southern tip of South Africa since 1997.
They are about the size of peas and have a hole punched in them, almost always in the same position. And they come from a layer of sediments roughly 75,000 years old.
Now Christopher Henshilwood of the University of Bergen in Norway and his colleagues have analysed 41 of the shells, which were found in clusters of similar shade and size. They contain traces of ochre, thought to be used by Stone Age cave dwellers as a decorative pigment.
Worn edges
Under the microscope, the team found slightly worn, smoothed regions near the mouths of the shells and the pierced holes. These worn patches, which are not found on other natural shells, are consistent with the idea that they rubbed against thread, clothes or other shells.
That is compelling evidence, says Henshilwood, that the cave dwellers deliberately pierced the shells so they could string them together into necklaces or bracelets.
Blombos cave is famous for its abstract engravings on ochre from the same time period, and together with the beadwork, this suggests to Henshilwood that its inhabitants had a complex sense of symbolism.
To communicate the meaning of the symbols, the society must also have had well-developed language with some kind of grammatical structure, he believes.
Rosary beads
"They must have had a way of describing the symbolic message that the beads represent," he says. "If I were Catholic and you were not, and I wanted to explain to you how rosary beads are used to count prayers, it would be very hard to do that with sign language, or a grunt and a groan - you wouldn't get the message at all."
Even if people made the jewellery just to look pretty, that still represents a modern human desire not seen in the animal kingdom, says Henshilwood.
"The sheer number of these beads makes them very strong evidence that people were using symbolic behaviour very early," he says.
He suspects the craft emerged when people developed a taste for social climbing, exchanging gifts with their neighbours to win favours and priding themselves on their image.
Source: http://www.newscientist.com
There are two competing theories of how modern human behaviour emerged. One is that it evolved abruptly in Africa or Eurasia 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. A competing theory suggests it emerged gradually in Africa between 250,000 and 50,000 years ago.
The new study of Stone Age shells from the gastropod Nassarius kraussianus suggests the second theory is more likely. Several clusters of the shells have turned up in excavations at Blombos cave on the southern tip of South Africa since 1997.
They are about the size of peas and have a hole punched in them, almost always in the same position. And they come from a layer of sediments roughly 75,000 years old.
Now Christopher Henshilwood of the University of Bergen in Norway and his colleagues have analysed 41 of the shells, which were found in clusters of similar shade and size. They contain traces of ochre, thought to be used by Stone Age cave dwellers as a decorative pigment.
Worn edges
Under the microscope, the team found slightly worn, smoothed regions near the mouths of the shells and the pierced holes. These worn patches, which are not found on other natural shells, are consistent with the idea that they rubbed against thread, clothes or other shells.
That is compelling evidence, says Henshilwood, that the cave dwellers deliberately pierced the shells so they could string them together into necklaces or bracelets.
Blombos cave is famous for its abstract engravings on ochre from the same time period, and together with the beadwork, this suggests to Henshilwood that its inhabitants had a complex sense of symbolism.
To communicate the meaning of the symbols, the society must also have had well-developed language with some kind of grammatical structure, he believes.
Rosary beads
"They must have had a way of describing the symbolic message that the beads represent," he says. "If I were Catholic and you were not, and I wanted to explain to you how rosary beads are used to count prayers, it would be very hard to do that with sign language, or a grunt and a groan - you wouldn't get the message at all."
Even if people made the jewellery just to look pretty, that still represents a modern human desire not seen in the animal kingdom, says Henshilwood.
"The sheer number of these beads makes them very strong evidence that people were using symbolic behaviour very early," he says.
He suspects the craft emerged when people developed a taste for social climbing, exchanging gifts with their neighbours to win favours and priding themselves on their image.
Source: http://www.newscientist.com
Sunday, January 28, 2007
How to Enhance your Appearance by Choosing your Right Metal
Wearing the wrong color metal in your jewelry or other accessories can cause you to look very blah or worse make you look so much older and duller than you could be. We all have a complexion that looks better with some colors than others. Basically we fall into four different color ranges and it is quite amazing the difference that it makes by putting the right metal color with the right color group.
I will put a link below where you can check out these four groups of color, you should recognise the group that you fit into the best. Groups 1 and 2 are the cooler shades while groups 3 & 4 are the warmer ones. For a more precise study on which group you belong to there are helpful books available on the subject. Or go through your wardrobe and hold different colored items up near your face while checking your appearance in front of the mirror. You will see which ones give you a lift and which ones don't. Alternatively if you have an honest friend ask for their opinion. Just be careful that they do not choose their own favorite colors, they must be able to evaluate what is best for you.
I am sure that most have experienced something similar to this. I found a gorgeous top in a lovely shade of blue with a V neckline delicately decorated with beads. Being in a hurry I did not try it on until I was home. I stood in front of the mirror and it was just plain blah. I took it back to the store and the attendant commented on what a beautiful top it was. I said that I loved it but when I pay that much for a top it has to do something for me and unfortunately this top did nothing for me. Simple, I had not taken the time to see that although I can wear some blues this one was not in my color range.
So that brings us back to jewelry. From very young I was led to believe
that gold is the only way to go. As I was buying gold earrings my friend suggested that I try silver ones. The effect was dramatic, my whole face took on a brighter more alive look. It was quite exciting.
If you go to the link below you will see the four color groups. Groups 1 and 2 are for the ones who are enhanced by wearing Silver, Platinum or White Gold. These are wonderful metals that will bring out the best in you. Besides the white metals these 2 groups look just wonderful in diamonds and white pearls. For everyday use you probably don't wear diamonds so go for the clear diamond like cubic zirconia's.
Sterling silver makes brilliant jewelry, if you get a bit tired of cleaning it, you can get Sterling silver with 18K white gold filled or plated jewelry which will not need cleaning so often and it looks so good.
Groups 3 and 4 you get to shine and look your best in Gold. Group three in particular can also wear brass and copper shades.
All groups can wear a mixture of white and gold metals in the one piece of jewelry. This is a really attractive mix. With the color of other gems, beads and jewelry decorations be guided by the colors in your group of colors.
You will get used to looking for the right colors and it becomes much easier with practice, then you will start to notice those around you or even television presenters that have made a bad choice of what to wear today, you just know that they could be looking a whole lot better.
Choose to wear the right metal color for that extra sparkle and advantage. Enjoy the compliments coming your way.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com
I will put a link below where you can check out these four groups of color, you should recognise the group that you fit into the best. Groups 1 and 2 are the cooler shades while groups 3 & 4 are the warmer ones. For a more precise study on which group you belong to there are helpful books available on the subject. Or go through your wardrobe and hold different colored items up near your face while checking your appearance in front of the mirror. You will see which ones give you a lift and which ones don't. Alternatively if you have an honest friend ask for their opinion. Just be careful that they do not choose their own favorite colors, they must be able to evaluate what is best for you.
I am sure that most have experienced something similar to this. I found a gorgeous top in a lovely shade of blue with a V neckline delicately decorated with beads. Being in a hurry I did not try it on until I was home. I stood in front of the mirror and it was just plain blah. I took it back to the store and the attendant commented on what a beautiful top it was. I said that I loved it but when I pay that much for a top it has to do something for me and unfortunately this top did nothing for me. Simple, I had not taken the time to see that although I can wear some blues this one was not in my color range.
So that brings us back to jewelry. From very young I was led to believe
that gold is the only way to go. As I was buying gold earrings my friend suggested that I try silver ones. The effect was dramatic, my whole face took on a brighter more alive look. It was quite exciting.
If you go to the link below you will see the four color groups. Groups 1 and 2 are for the ones who are enhanced by wearing Silver, Platinum or White Gold. These are wonderful metals that will bring out the best in you. Besides the white metals these 2 groups look just wonderful in diamonds and white pearls. For everyday use you probably don't wear diamonds so go for the clear diamond like cubic zirconia's.
Sterling silver makes brilliant jewelry, if you get a bit tired of cleaning it, you can get Sterling silver with 18K white gold filled or plated jewelry which will not need cleaning so often and it looks so good.
Groups 3 and 4 you get to shine and look your best in Gold. Group three in particular can also wear brass and copper shades.
All groups can wear a mixture of white and gold metals in the one piece of jewelry. This is a really attractive mix. With the color of other gems, beads and jewelry decorations be guided by the colors in your group of colors.
You will get used to looking for the right colors and it becomes much easier with practice, then you will start to notice those around you or even television presenters that have made a bad choice of what to wear today, you just know that they could be looking a whole lot better.
Choose to wear the right metal color for that extra sparkle and advantage. Enjoy the compliments coming your way.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Sapphire and the Great Pretenders
In 1929, workers clearing brush in the Mogok region of Burma uncovered a spectacular sapphire weighing 958 carats. The gem was so large and of such a fine rich color that, if cut into a single jewel, it would have exceeded the means of any potential buyer. Therefore, this "Jungle Gem" was cut into nine smaller sapphires, the largest of which was over 66 carats.
Finding a spectacular sapphire lying on the jungle floor was extremely good luck. In contrast, today's jewelry consumer faces a retail jungle littered with synthetic, color enhanced and overpriced or misgraded sapphires - finding a gemstone of true quality and value at a fair price takes more than just good luck. To help navigate this jungle, the consumer should consider hiring a independent consulting gemologist as a guide.
In addition to seeking expert help, it is worthwhile to learn about other gemstones which offer exceptional shades of blue. Sapphire's status as the preeminent blue gemstone is challenged by fascinating jewels such as Paraiba tourmaline, tanzanite and iolite.
Paraiba tourmaline can occur as a rich sapphire-like blue while other examples of this enchanting gemstone exhibit electric teals and neon shades of turquoise. This gemstone is as beautiful, as it is rare: it is found in only one location, the Paraiba mining district of Brazil.
Tanzanite, a heat-treated zoisite from Tanzania, is a velvety violetish-blue with subtle flashes of red. Since its introduction by Tiffanys in 1970 this tantalizing gemstone has achieved tremendous popularity among custom jewelry designers and consumers throughout the world.
lolite ranges in color from a soft periwinkle to a deep violetish-blue. With colors less intense than sapphire and tanzanite this alluring gemstone has earned the poetic nick-name "water sapphire".
In addition to great colors, these stunning blue gemstones offer the consumer a range of costs. Because of their rarity fine Paraiba tourmalines often sell at cost close to sapphires of comparable quality. In contrast, fine tanzanites and iolites are significantly less expensive than sapphires.
Bijoux Extraordinaire is a practice of independent gemologists providing jewelry appraisals, custom jewelry design and gemstone acquisition services to jewelry and gemstone enthusiasts. If you are considering the purchase of a sapphire or other fine gemstone, please contact us to learn more about how we can help you. Our gemologists will provide you with the expertise and knowledge you need to acquire a beautiful gemstone of lasting quality at a fair price.
Source: http://www.jewelryexpert.com
Finding a spectacular sapphire lying on the jungle floor was extremely good luck. In contrast, today's jewelry consumer faces a retail jungle littered with synthetic, color enhanced and overpriced or misgraded sapphires - finding a gemstone of true quality and value at a fair price takes more than just good luck. To help navigate this jungle, the consumer should consider hiring a independent consulting gemologist as a guide.
In addition to seeking expert help, it is worthwhile to learn about other gemstones which offer exceptional shades of blue. Sapphire's status as the preeminent blue gemstone is challenged by fascinating jewels such as Paraiba tourmaline, tanzanite and iolite.
Paraiba tourmaline can occur as a rich sapphire-like blue while other examples of this enchanting gemstone exhibit electric teals and neon shades of turquoise. This gemstone is as beautiful, as it is rare: it is found in only one location, the Paraiba mining district of Brazil.
Tanzanite, a heat-treated zoisite from Tanzania, is a velvety violetish-blue with subtle flashes of red. Since its introduction by Tiffanys in 1970 this tantalizing gemstone has achieved tremendous popularity among custom jewelry designers and consumers throughout the world.
lolite ranges in color from a soft periwinkle to a deep violetish-blue. With colors less intense than sapphire and tanzanite this alluring gemstone has earned the poetic nick-name "water sapphire".
In addition to great colors, these stunning blue gemstones offer the consumer a range of costs. Because of their rarity fine Paraiba tourmalines often sell at cost close to sapphires of comparable quality. In contrast, fine tanzanites and iolites are significantly less expensive than sapphires.
Bijoux Extraordinaire is a practice of independent gemologists providing jewelry appraisals, custom jewelry design and gemstone acquisition services to jewelry and gemstone enthusiasts. If you are considering the purchase of a sapphire or other fine gemstone, please contact us to learn more about how we can help you. Our gemologists will provide you with the expertise and knowledge you need to acquire a beautiful gemstone of lasting quality at a fair price.
Source: http://www.jewelryexpert.com
Tickle Your Fancy with Fancy Color Diamonds
In 1817, R.J. Hauy, an eminent French mineralogist, wrote "Gems are the flowers of the mineral kingdom .... fancy color diamonds are the orchids." Fancy color diamonds, like orchids, are truly exotic and rare beauties of nature.
Yellows, reds, pinks, purples, blues and greens are not what you expect from diamonds. Anyone who has studied the 4 Cs can tell you, "When it comes to diamonds, the less color .... the better." While this is true, it is only true up to a point. Slight traces of color can be annoying and detract from a diamond's beauty and value. But when a diamond sparkles with brilliant, intense color, it is a gem of great rarity and beauty. These extraordinary gems are known as "fancy color diamonds."
The rarest and most valuable colored diamonds are vibrant reds. In fact, one of the highest per-carat prices ever paid for a diamond was for a purplish red stone weighing just over 0.95 carats. Sold at auction in 1987, this fiery beauty brought an astounding $926,000 per carat. More recently, a 5.11 carat red diamond is rumoured to have sold privately for $8 million. However, not all fancy color diamonds sell for such colorful prices (please excuse the pun).
Fancy color diamonds attain high values because of their great rarity and the attraction they have for gemstone collectors and connoisseurs. It has been estimated that only one out every 10,000 natural diamonds is a fancy color. Among natural colored diamonds the rarest shades are red, pink and green. More common are various shades of yellow and brown.
If a natural red diamond does not fit your budget or your color scheme, you may want to consider one of the more affordable, but equally striking alternatives. Pink diamonds from the Argyle mines in Australia are stunning when set in platinum. Yellow diamonds make striking center stones, especially when set between two smaller colorless diamonds. And purple and blue diamonds will capture you with a unique mystique all their own. While these shades are not as rare as red diamonds, they are just as beautiful and desirable.
Source: http://www.jewelryexpert.com
Yellows, reds, pinks, purples, blues and greens are not what you expect from diamonds. Anyone who has studied the 4 Cs can tell you, "When it comes to diamonds, the less color .... the better." While this is true, it is only true up to a point. Slight traces of color can be annoying and detract from a diamond's beauty and value. But when a diamond sparkles with brilliant, intense color, it is a gem of great rarity and beauty. These extraordinary gems are known as "fancy color diamonds."
The rarest and most valuable colored diamonds are vibrant reds. In fact, one of the highest per-carat prices ever paid for a diamond was for a purplish red stone weighing just over 0.95 carats. Sold at auction in 1987, this fiery beauty brought an astounding $926,000 per carat. More recently, a 5.11 carat red diamond is rumoured to have sold privately for $8 million. However, not all fancy color diamonds sell for such colorful prices (please excuse the pun).
Fancy color diamonds attain high values because of their great rarity and the attraction they have for gemstone collectors and connoisseurs. It has been estimated that only one out every 10,000 natural diamonds is a fancy color. Among natural colored diamonds the rarest shades are red, pink and green. More common are various shades of yellow and brown.
If a natural red diamond does not fit your budget or your color scheme, you may want to consider one of the more affordable, but equally striking alternatives. Pink diamonds from the Argyle mines in Australia are stunning when set in platinum. Yellow diamonds make striking center stones, especially when set between two smaller colorless diamonds. And purple and blue diamonds will capture you with a unique mystique all their own. While these shades are not as rare as red diamonds, they are just as beautiful and desirable.
Source: http://www.jewelryexpert.com
Friday, January 26, 2007
Jewelry Throughout Time
Throughout time, man has sought to decorate the human body and this has manifested as body painting, tattoos, piercing and for those a little squeamish or less brave, decoration by the wearing of adornments generally know as jewelry.
In ancient times, jewelry may have been simple pieces made from natural materials such as shells plucked from the seashore or pebbles worn smooth and polished by years of being tumbled along the sea or river bed. These would have been strung together perhaps as necklaces or wrist pieces as early examples of a charm bracelet. Nature gives up so many beautiful things that can be used to make items such as earrings, rings, bracelets, hair pieces and so the list goes on.
Skilled craftsmen would have laboured for many hours intricately carving small pieces of bone, ivory or wood to fashion exquisite unique pieces of jewelry, no two of which would ever be the same.
To ancient man, jewelry was not just decorative but very symbolic and the wearer often held the belief that these trinkets were lucky, that they would ward off evil spirits or that they would even help them defeat their enemies in battle.
To the Romans and Ancient Egyptians the wearing of jewelry and the type of jewelry worn was a direct indication of a persons standing in the community. Large heavy ornate pieces forged from solid precious metals such as gold, encrusted with precious or semi precious gemstones were a sign to say look how rich and important I am.
Styles and materials may have changed over time but the wearing of diamond jewelry has always been a practice adopted by both men and women.
Over the years there has even been functional jewelry such as the medical alert items, which have saved many peoples lives. Identity type bracelets worn by a person who has a medical condition or requires vital medication have helped medical personnel decide on appropriate treatment when faced with a person who has been rendered incapable of communicating because of for instance an accident.
Over recent years, popular items have been the brightly coloured rubber bracelets sold in aid of various charities, which demonstrate that the wearer supports that cause and has donated money to help raise funds for that cause. Some traditionalists may not regard these strictly as being jewelry although who said that the article had to be expensive or made from precious metals to qualify for the name.
In modern times, we have seen a huge increase in the type and variety of jewelry available and the discovery of new strong and lightweight metals such as titanium or other alloys has given rise to new many new possibilities. Man made materials such as acrylics and plastics also lend themselves very well to the manufacture of affordable, colourful jewelry and in the shops you can see many examples of wonderful, bright and modern fun items, to be worn on any occasion as the mood takes.
Whilst most of us choose to spend a little extra on that special piece of jewelry such as our wedding rings, we now have an endless choice of less expensive everyday jewelry which we can change to suit our mood or match our outfit.
Who knows what the future holds with regard to the designs and materials we will have at our disposal to make attractive pieces of jewelry to be worn by both men and women. One thing is for certain and that is that there will be a never ending supply with something to suit all tastes and all budgets from the most traditional to the most contemporary.
Source: http://www.love2have.co.uk
In ancient times, jewelry may have been simple pieces made from natural materials such as shells plucked from the seashore or pebbles worn smooth and polished by years of being tumbled along the sea or river bed. These would have been strung together perhaps as necklaces or wrist pieces as early examples of a charm bracelet. Nature gives up so many beautiful things that can be used to make items such as earrings, rings, bracelets, hair pieces and so the list goes on.
Skilled craftsmen would have laboured for many hours intricately carving small pieces of bone, ivory or wood to fashion exquisite unique pieces of jewelry, no two of which would ever be the same.
To ancient man, jewelry was not just decorative but very symbolic and the wearer often held the belief that these trinkets were lucky, that they would ward off evil spirits or that they would even help them defeat their enemies in battle.
To the Romans and Ancient Egyptians the wearing of jewelry and the type of jewelry worn was a direct indication of a persons standing in the community. Large heavy ornate pieces forged from solid precious metals such as gold, encrusted with precious or semi precious gemstones were a sign to say look how rich and important I am.
Styles and materials may have changed over time but the wearing of diamond jewelry has always been a practice adopted by both men and women.
Over the years there has even been functional jewelry such as the medical alert items, which have saved many peoples lives. Identity type bracelets worn by a person who has a medical condition or requires vital medication have helped medical personnel decide on appropriate treatment when faced with a person who has been rendered incapable of communicating because of for instance an accident.
Over recent years, popular items have been the brightly coloured rubber bracelets sold in aid of various charities, which demonstrate that the wearer supports that cause and has donated money to help raise funds for that cause. Some traditionalists may not regard these strictly as being jewelry although who said that the article had to be expensive or made from precious metals to qualify for the name.
In modern times, we have seen a huge increase in the type and variety of jewelry available and the discovery of new strong and lightweight metals such as titanium or other alloys has given rise to new many new possibilities. Man made materials such as acrylics and plastics also lend themselves very well to the manufacture of affordable, colourful jewelry and in the shops you can see many examples of wonderful, bright and modern fun items, to be worn on any occasion as the mood takes.
Whilst most of us choose to spend a little extra on that special piece of jewelry such as our wedding rings, we now have an endless choice of less expensive everyday jewelry which we can change to suit our mood or match our outfit.
Who knows what the future holds with regard to the designs and materials we will have at our disposal to make attractive pieces of jewelry to be worn by both men and women. One thing is for certain and that is that there will be a never ending supply with something to suit all tastes and all budgets from the most traditional to the most contemporary.
Source: http://www.love2have.co.uk
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Body Jewelry: an unusual way of enhancing the beauty of your own body
Since ancient times body jewelry has been a part of the culture and heritage of different religions. It has been known to be an essential part of the clothing and appearance of the people in many regions of the world. At different parts of time through the centuries it was also used to signify the class demarcations prevalent in society at that point of time.
However in recent times it has acquired a new dimension. Body jewelry has never been in such high demand. The human body is not merely a body, it is a piece of art which has its own innate beauty and body jewelry is the perfect way to enhance the beauty of your body. Not only can you decorate your body with it, but you can also use it to bring into focus certain parts of your body or to enhance the beauty of certain parts.
Body jewelry items are usually for particular places on the human body. These more common places for body jewelry include the nose, eyebrow, nipple, ear lobes and naval, along with ear plugs (both curved and straight barbells). As fashion trends keep changing, the various parts where you can use body jewelry and the manner in which you can use it also keeps changing.
Nose body jewelry comes either in the classic captive circular barbell, or in the form of a nose screw. The nose screw can either be jeweled or plain, depending upon your preference. Eyebrow body jewelry is similar to that of the nose, in the sense that the eyebrow body jewelry also has the small captive barbell. This is now being made with a dangling, sparkling charm to hang from the upper most part of your eyebrow barbell. The eyebrow body jewelry can be either curved or straight with a charm of any style or color dangling from the top.
Nipple and naval body jewelry is one of the more popular types of body jewelry, it is especially popular amongst the youth or the more adventurous in spirit. Nipple body jewelry includes the nipple barbells and the nipple shields. Naval body jewelry designs are also endless.
Whatever kind of body jewelry you use or wear, it is important to keep some pointers in mind. Such as the material the body jewelry is made off — is your skin allergic to it and is the piercing for the body jewelry done in a sterile and antiseptic environment.
This kind of jewelry is available for almost every conceivable part of your body. There are endless styles, designs, colors and textures in which body jewelry is made. What ever your budget, whether it is low end or high end; body jewelry is available in every range to suit your pocket as well as your tastes.
Body jewelry is not merely a decorative fixture; it is also a personal style statement. You can use it to bring attention or to take away attention from a specific part of your body. It is quite in vogue these days and has been in existence since time immemorial. If you have the attitude and the panache you can carry of any kind of body jewelry.
Article Source: http://www.merryjewelry.com
However in recent times it has acquired a new dimension. Body jewelry has never been in such high demand. The human body is not merely a body, it is a piece of art which has its own innate beauty and body jewelry is the perfect way to enhance the beauty of your body. Not only can you decorate your body with it, but you can also use it to bring into focus certain parts of your body or to enhance the beauty of certain parts.
Body jewelry items are usually for particular places on the human body. These more common places for body jewelry include the nose, eyebrow, nipple, ear lobes and naval, along with ear plugs (both curved and straight barbells). As fashion trends keep changing, the various parts where you can use body jewelry and the manner in which you can use it also keeps changing.
Nose body jewelry comes either in the classic captive circular barbell, or in the form of a nose screw. The nose screw can either be jeweled or plain, depending upon your preference. Eyebrow body jewelry is similar to that of the nose, in the sense that the eyebrow body jewelry also has the small captive barbell. This is now being made with a dangling, sparkling charm to hang from the upper most part of your eyebrow barbell. The eyebrow body jewelry can be either curved or straight with a charm of any style or color dangling from the top.
Nipple and naval body jewelry is one of the more popular types of body jewelry, it is especially popular amongst the youth or the more adventurous in spirit. Nipple body jewelry includes the nipple barbells and the nipple shields. Naval body jewelry designs are also endless.
Whatever kind of body jewelry you use or wear, it is important to keep some pointers in mind. Such as the material the body jewelry is made off — is your skin allergic to it and is the piercing for the body jewelry done in a sterile and antiseptic environment.
This kind of jewelry is available for almost every conceivable part of your body. There are endless styles, designs, colors and textures in which body jewelry is made. What ever your budget, whether it is low end or high end; body jewelry is available in every range to suit your pocket as well as your tastes.
Body jewelry is not merely a decorative fixture; it is also a personal style statement. You can use it to bring attention or to take away attention from a specific part of your body. It is quite in vogue these days and has been in existence since time immemorial. If you have the attitude and the panache you can carry of any kind of body jewelry.
Article Source: http://www.merryjewelry.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)