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
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
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
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