Archive | March, 2015

Jewelry 101: What You Need To Know

31 Mar

Jewelry 101: What You Need To Know

Human beings have been adorning themselves with bright and shiny objects for almost as long as civilization has existed. Jewelry can be simple adornment or it can signify any number of things. Jewelry can denote your position in society, a protection against evil, or membership to a society or clan. It can take the form of expensive gemstones, or be as simple as leather and bone.

If you are stuck on what gift to buy for a female, jewelry always works. Make sure you know what size the intended person wears in rings and necklaces before making your purchase. There is nothing worse than purchasing a nice piece of jewelry that doesn’t fit the intended recipient. Do your research before making your purchase.

Sterling silver jewelry makes a great investment. Pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver last for a lifetime and provide endless elegance. Sterling does tarnish, but can be quickly shined up using a polishing cloth. However, pieces of sterling silver jewelry that have specialty coating can last ages without tarnishing.

More Info If you have a round face, stay away from long dangling earrings. Such earrings generally make your face look rounder and draws attention away from great features you may have.

Purchase meaningful jewelry for any occasion. Giving jewelry as a gift leaves a long lasting impression on the intended recipient. However, you can always add a personal touch by having the jewelry piece engraved with a personal message or add a charm of great importance. Personalized jewelry given as a gift always makes a loving gesture.

Making your own jewelry is easier than you think. You can find interest pendants at craft stores that can be placed on chains you already own or you can easily buy an inexpensive chain. If you knit or crochet, you can use yarn to create chokers and bracelets. Even if you buy and combine store bought items, making your own jewelry still allows you to design what you wear.

When choosing your wedding band set, keep in mind the jewelry you already own and regularly wear. A yellow gold wedding band isn’t the best choice if most of the jewelry you already own is white gold or silver. You will most likely be wearing your wedding band every day. Make sure it’s not only something you like, but something that matches what you already own.

More Info When getting body jewelry, find a licensed piercer who uses a needle. Even when piercing ears, it’s best to avoid piercing guns.

If you have a piece of jewelry that has a clasp that is broken there is no reason to throw it away because you can get it fixed. You can take it to a jewelry shop and have it repaired. You need to call the jewelry store going in so that you can be sure that they will fix jewelry regardless of where it was purchased.

Make sure your jewelry matches at least a few of your outfits. You do not want to purchase pieces that you can only wear for very special events, as that may be impractical. Finding simple and elegant pieces that match several outfits is not as difficult as it sounds, and you will probably enjoy the search!

A fun craft for your wedding is to make your own jewelry. It really is simple and it gives you the ability to customize the items exactly as you wish. For my wedding I used various shades of purple pearls and Swarovski crystals to make all my jewelry and my daughter’s as well. It was stunning AND affordable!

More Info When buying jewelry as a gift, it is important to consider the body type of the person you are shopping for. Some body types look better with larger or smaller pieces of jewelry.

Crowns, tiaras, necklaces, rings, and any other variety, it is all just jewelry and has been a part of human civilization for as long as can be remembered. While the styles and processes for making it have changed and some of the purposes changed, there is always the consistent purpose to jewelry, to adorn and beautify the human form.

Jewelry Care – Advice And Tips For Your Fine Jewelry

31 Mar

Jewelry Care – Advice And Tips For Your Fine Jewelry

Choosing jewelry can seem like a daunting task if you are not sure where to start. Knowing someone’s birth stone or favorite metal (such as gold, white gold or silver) can help you immensely, when picking out jewelry. Read the tips in this article to get ideas for which bracelets, rings, or necklaces, are the most fitting.

Do research on your fine stones, especially if you engage in regular activities that may chip or completely cause them to break into pieces. Not all stones are created equal. Some quartz, peridot, amethyst, to name a few, are among the most fragile stones and will require very gentle wear, care and storage.

A TIP! Do research on your fine stones, especially if you engage in regular activities that may chip or completely cause them to break into pieces. Not all stones are created equal.

When shopping for diamonds, make sure that you shop for them based on their four main criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The color refers to the hue of the stone. The cut refers to the way that the stone is fashioned, such as princess and square cuts. Clarity refers to the flawlessness of the stone. The carat refers to the weight of the stone.

When buying diamonds, do not fall for the selling ploy of deceptive jewelry lighting. Many of these have quartz or halogen bulbs. The kinds of lights they emit can really make stones appear much brighter. This is because they shine it purposelessly behind them to give them a false glow in an attempt to attract customers.

A TIP! Sterling silver jewelry makes a great investment. Pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver last for a lifetime and provide endless elegance.

Buying jewelry for someone else can be challenging. Look at what they choose for themselves and try to find something similar. Avoid sized items like rings unless you know what their size is. If you guess, what’s going to happen if you guess wrong? It may help to go window shopping with them and see if they mention a certain store, brand, or even a specific item.

When you’re choosing a piece of jewelry to wear, think about what you like on other people, and what they like on you. Think about particular pieces that you’ve received compliments on, especially from strangers. It also helps to think about what you’ve complimented on others. If you find yourself telling others how much you like certain pieces, remember what those are when you’re out shopping for jewelry for yourself.

A TIP! Pewter jewelry has been widely popular for decades. If you’re looking to invest in jewelry pieces made from pewter, make sure that they are lead free.

Keeping the occasion in mind when selecting jewelry, can help you decide what is appropriate, and what the recipient would like most. Knowing the birthstones for each month and the budget you have will also, make it easier to choose. Remember the tips in this article if you’d like to give jewelry as a gift.

Jewelry Tips And Tricks: A Guide To Accessorizing

31 Mar

Jewelry Tips And Tricks: A Guide To Accessorizing

Homegrown Tip! Use a gentle dish soap to clean your jewelry. The soap you buy for your kitchen can be great for jewelry too.

You want to look your best and your jewelry is an extension of you. There is plenty to learn and possibly plenty of bogus information to unlearn. There are many tips and tricks available for jewelry and we have gathered some of the most important ones for you to use here in this article.

Homegrown Tip! When you are shopping for jewelry, make sure that you ask your jeweler the “right” questions about their wares. You need to discuss things like diamond grades.

Only purchase jewelry from well known retailers. If you are looking to purchase gold, silver or platinum make sure that the retailer has a professional set up and that their products come with a guarantee. Do not purchase from unknown vendors who claim that the jewelry they are selling at a discount price is made from real precious metals or gemstones, they are often imported fakes.

Homegrown Tip! Essential to anyone buying jewelry for reclamation purposes is a pocket-sized gram and carat scale. While a scale can’t determine the purity of the gold and silver you encounter in your jewelry hunting, a pocket scale can at least give you a basic starting point to determine fair pricing and valuing of your jewelry finds.

You can get jewelry that speaks of ancient and vintage times passed. They take their styling from the Victorian era and other famous time periods. These make perfect pieces to any wardrobe where you want to show some old world class. Popular types include Bakelite jewelry, book chains, cameos, celluloid jewelry, doublets, filigree jewelry, and much more.

Homegrown Tip! If you are considering a titanium wedding band, remember that it cannot be re-sized and may be a bit more difficult to cut off in an emergency than rings made from precious metals. Titanium rings are less likely to bend or crush under pressure, however, so an accident that would heavily damage a gold or platinum ring may not harm a titanium one.

When wearing or buying jewelry, it is important to not go with anything large and flashy. I say this in literal terms, not as in “the diamond was so large.” This is because any jewelry like earrings or necklaces that are too large become gaudy and unattractive. It is best to stick to pieces that fit you and look right.

Homegrown Tip! Diamonds are the perfect gemstone to buy for your wedding jewelry. The beauty of these stones is not only how they look, but also that they can be worn again for almost any occasion.

When buying jewelry, pick jewelry that will go good with the majority of your wardrobe. If you spend hundreds of dollars on an amazing piece of jewelry, you will want to be wearing it any chance you get. Consider foregoing a more expensive piece in favor of one that you could wear more often.

Homegrown Tip! Change your jewelry styles depending on the season of the year. Add spice to your wardrobe.

Make sure you give yourself adequate time when ordering a new jewelry piece. Most pieces have a turn around time of six to eight weeks. This can become a problem quickly if you need the jewelry for an important occasion. Make sure you give yourself extra time on top of the proposed time-frame.

Homegrown Tip! To add the perfect amount of flair to any outfit simply add one statement piece of jewelry. Whether it be a big ring, some bold earrings, a thick bracelet, or a chunky necklace, adding a statement piece to any outfit will not only bring it out of the ordinary but will also make it more ‘you’.

Looking at jewelry you would like to buy, decide how unique you want it to be. If you are having trouble finding a piece that speaks to you, try hand crafted. Hand crafted jewelry is available in any form of style and options. People who usually struggle to find something they like, will love the uniqueness of handmade jewels.

Homegrown Tip! When buying jewelry, make sure that you know the difference between the different types of silver available. Be aware that nickel silver and German silver do not actually contain any silver and they are only called silver because of the color.

Do you have sterling silver jewelry? As you probably know, silver is a metal which oxidizes when in prolonged contact with air. To keep your silver nice and shiny, get into the habit of softly rubbing it weekly with a polishing cloth. If there is grime on your silver jewelry, simply use a soft, moist cloth to remove it. Dry the piece thoroughly and then use a polishing cloth to restore the shine.

Homegrown Tip! Do not let a seller talk you into something you cannot afford or do not really like. Some sellers are excellent at what they do, but remember that you are the one making the decision.

Post pictures of you working in your studio if you are going to sell jewelry online. Many sites buy their pieces abroad and sell them at a higher price. If you do that, be honest and open about it. Using pictures of your studio will show people that you are really selling your work.

Homegrown Tip! As a jeweler, you should do your best to differentiate yourself from the concurrence. Set up your store in a unique way or create an original website.

When shopping for jewelry for your wife or girlfriend, consider her lifestyle and hobbies. If she tends to dress conservatively and enjoys traditional and classic styles, opt for diamond studs, simple chains, or tennis bracelets. If she constantly changes up her look, consider jewelry with interchangeable pendants, stones, or beads.

Homegrown Tip! When buying jewelry for someone that you care about make sure that you are not stepping over your own boundaries of what you can afford. While most likely you do want to impress the other person, no jewelry purchase will adequately make up for putting yourself at a severe financial risk.

Buying and selling jewelry wholesale is a great way to make a profit doing something you love. Before you begin to invest in bulk or wholesale rings, earrings, and necklaces, find out what business steps are needed to make your operation legitimate. In some states, this means applying for a vendor’s license.

Homegrown Tip! When photographing jewelry, lighting is key. By now you know that your camera’s onboard flash is horrible.

Clean gold properly. Even though gold has an advantage because it doesn’t tarnish or rust, it still needs cleaning. Harsh chemical cleaners will strip away any shine or luster, so only use a soft wet cloth for cleaning. If there are hard to reach areas, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water.

In conclusion, it is best to know all that you can about your jewelry because when you wear it, you are showing everybody an extension of yourself. It is important to take care of your own image as well as taking care of your possessions. Hopefully you learned some important tips from this article.

Let Us Give You Input On Your Jewelry Questions

31 Mar

Let Us Give You Input On Your Jewelry Questions

Jewelry is one of the few things that almost everyone agrees is nice. That being said it is very easy to use jewelry in poor taste or even in a tacky way. This article contains some tips about maintaining and using jewelry properly so that you can avoid faux pas such as these.

Do research on your fine stones, especially if you engage in regular activities that may chip or completely cause them to break into pieces. Not all stones are created equal. Some quartz, peridot, amethyst, to name a few, are among the most fragile stones and will require very gentle wear, care and storage.

Try not to bathe or swim in your fine jewelry. Many times the type of water (hard versus soft) can splash and wear the metal jewelry or stain the stone. There are also chemicals like chlorine found in many swimming pools that can turn stones and badly stain metal jewelry.

TIP! Store your jewelry in felt. It is always annoying when a piece of your favorite jewelry starts to tarnish.

If you don’t have any jewelry cleaner handy, try using toothpaste with baking soda to help clean tarnish off of your sterling or pure silver jewelry. Just rub the toothpaste on the tarnished area with a soft cloth and clean off. Make sure to dry the jewelry to prevent future tarnishing.

When going shopping for diamonds, make sure to set yourself a budget and stick to it. The world of diamonds can seem overwhelming and the prices vary a great deal. By keeping a budget in mind, you can cut down the vast variety, to a much more sensible variety to choose from.

When wearing jewelry, less is more. You don’t need to wear a necklace, earrings, bracelets, a watch, and rings to make your outfit look complete. Choose pieces that work well with your outfit and what you’re wearing. One well chosen bracelet or necklace will draw more compliments than multiple striking items.

TIP! Jewelry can come in sets that include multiple pieces. Matching earrings can be worn with a matching necklace, but if your set includes more than two items, it might be better to only wear one or two at a time.

Never, EVER buy fake jewelry for someone you love! That means gold-plated, cubic zirconia, or gold-filled. Stick to the real stuff – you can get a bargain on real gold, silver, or even platinum if you look hard enough. Fake jewelry can turn the skin black or green, and that is the LAST thing you want to do!

If you are truly in love with a piece of costume jewelry, even if it is in less than good condition, it is okay to spend the money on it. A piece that you will treasure is more of an investment than the monetary cost of an item, so splurging can be allowed.

The meaning behind a diamond is eternity, that love will endure. You can never go wrong when buying diamonds, even if your budget is small. If you choose a quality metal like 14k gold and a smaller carat of diamond in a beautiful setting, whomever you’re giving it to will have a giant smile on their face despite the small price.

TIP! It is becoming more and more popular to purchase expensive jewelry online. Before you do, however, be sure to check out the business you’ll be purchasing with at the Better Business Bureau.

To open a jump link when making chain jewelry, hold the jump link steady with pliers your left hand, and grip the opposite side of the opening with pliers in your right. Gently twist your hands towards each other. This twisting action helps the jump ring maintain its circular shape without distortion, which will occur if you try to push the sides together without twisting.

By reading and following these tips you should be able to avoid some of the most common problems involving jewelry. This will allow you to wear your beautiful jewelry without the fear of over using it. These few small tips will go a very long way to helping you look classy.

Looking Fabulous: Advice On Buying Your Next Piece Of Jewelry

31 Mar

Looking Fabulous: Advice On Buying Your Next Piece Of Jewelry

Selecting and purchasing the right piece of jewelry can be a difficult step for many people. If you do the proper research and have a strong understanding of your needs, picking that perfect ring, necklace or earring becomes much easier. This article contains a number of tips on buying the right piece of jewelry.

Birthstone jewelry makes a great gift for anyone at any time of the year. They are incredibly popular and perfectly suited to birthdays though. There are so many kinds of styles and pieces that you can find or have easily made for yourself or someone you care about using a birthstone.

Men are very picky about the jewelry they wear, especially when they are gifted some that may seem feminine. When selecting jewelry for a man, make sure it something that goes with the way that they dress. Also, when selecting what you will get for him make sure that it is subtle and not flashy.

EXTRA INFO: When packing for a vacation, planning your jewelry is as important as planning your outfits. Since you can’t take your whole jewelry box, plan your outfits in advance and think about what jewelry you’ll be able to wear with multiple outfits.

When choosing earrings, test the weight in the store. You can’t–and shouldn’t–try them on, but holding them in your hand may be able to tell you if they’re too heavy for all-day wear or just too heavy. Heavy earrings will eventually become painful. No matter how nice they look, you won’t want to wear them if they’re not comfortable.

For an easy way to organize and display your earrings, attach a piece of metal screen mesh to an attractive photo or mirror frame. Paint your frame and mesh to match your decor, and attach your earrings to the mesh. You can hang the frame in your bathroom, bedroom, or closet to enjoy handy, tangle-free storage that doubles as art.

If you are giving jewelry as a gift, it is easy to make interesting and unique gift boxes that will leave an impact! You can find plain jewelry gift boxes at any craft and hobby store. After you have your plain gift box, head to the scrapbooking aisle and pick out some sticker packages that match the type of mood you want the gift box to convey. Decorating the plain box with these stickers gives it a nice decorative touch without breaking the bank.

EXTRA INFO: Costume jewelry should be treated differently than your other jewelry. A lot of the stones in costume jewelery are glued in and not set in.

What style of jewelry you choose for your wedding should be influenced by the style of your dress. If you have a high neckline then you can forgo a necklace and instead have drop earrings with a lot of sparkle. Long sleeves will usually mean you don’t want to wear a bracelet.

Make sure that you have a silver polishing cloth on hand for your silver jewelry. All silver tarnishes, so a polishing cloth will help you quickly and easily, have your silver jewelry looking like new without having to deal with smelly, messy silver polish. You can buy a polishing cloth for about $5.

When giving a piece of jewelry to someone, you must always remember to keep the receipt. This applies to almost anything you purchase, but this definitely applies to a piece of jewelry because of how expensive it is. If you want to return the piece of jewelry for whatever reason, you need the receipt to get your money back. Otherwise, you will be stuck with a useless piece of jewelry that you spent lots of money on.

EXTRA INFO: When selling jewelry online, you should aim to give your customers custom work that makes them feel like your piece of jewelry was created just for them. This makes your customers much more likely to purchase a piece of jewelry from you because your jewelry will have a personal connection with them.

Find a reputable seller. Ask your friends, family, and acquaintances where they believe you should attempt to find your jewelry. Finding a jeweler that is recommended by trusted individuals can give you an advantage to shopping around. You will know in advance what experiences others may have had, and be able to prepare better.

To open a jump link when making chain jewelry, hold the jump link steady with pliers your left hand, and grip the opposite side of the opening with pliers in your right. Gently twist your hands towards each other. This twisting action helps the jump ring maintain its circular shape without distortion, which will occur if you try to push the sides together without twisting.

If you are going to sell jewelry online, make sure you describe your products with a lot of details. Add as many pictures as possible, but do not use pictures to replace a good text. Be very careful of the vocabulary you use, especially when it comes to materials and colors.

EXTRA INFO: If you want to buy cheap jewelry, buy homemade jewelry instead of going to a store. A lot of people use their blogs to sell their own creations.

Costume jewelry should be taken care of. Stones in costume jewelry are usually held in place with glue instead of a physical setting. Take care not to use chemicals or lots of water in an attempt to clean your costume jewelry. To properly care for it you need to use a cloth dampened with warm water. After wiping make sure to use another cloth to thoroughly dry it. This will clean off any residue and make it look like new, without damaging it.

To get use out of an earring after one half of a pair is lost, use it as a brooch. Many earrings can be worn just as a brooch can, and can make a great accent piece. Try pinning the earring to a scarf or attaching it to your top just below the collar bone. A more delicate earring is a great way to accent a purse or a belt.

For nice, even beading on your handmade jewelry, make sure that you can’t see the thread from the previous stitch before moving on. This helps the thread to remain tight, providing tension among the crystal netting. You will end up with uniform beading in your jewelry if you follow this easy tip.

EXTRA INFO: If your grandmother or someone else is passing down antique jewelry to you, refrain from having it cleaned. For antiques, it’s actually that old varnish, “the patina”, that makes the piece worth a lot of money.

Buying jewelry can be a daunting task for many, especially after looking at the price tags for many pieces of jewelry. If you have more knowledge on jewelry and what to look for when buying, the process is simplified immensely. Follow this article’s advice to help you make the best decision when buying jewelry.