Gold, Silver, and Gemstones Jewelry

Sapphires, Rubies, and Emeralds: How Colored Gemstones Are Valued

2009-09-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

The colors of the rainbow caught forever in glittering jewels that take your breath away. Colored gemstones can rival diamonds for their beauty but how are they valued?

Even though sapphires, rubies and emeralds differ in color and weight for example, there is a consistency in how they are valued. And that includes lesser known gemstones like tourmaline, alexandrite, peridots, and garnets as well. The four characteristics that determine value in a colored gemstones are color, clarity, cut, and carats, but the most important is color, color, and more color.

The intensity of the color and the closer it comes to the true spectral color means the stone has more value. Emeralds should be a pure green, rubies the reddest red, and sapphires a deep rich blue. As the color varies from the spectral ideal, the value declines. For example: Burmese rubies have the best color. Rubies that are a lighter red, reddish orange, or with a touch of brown or a bit of blue aren't nearly as valuable.

Color is measured in intensity or saturation, in other words the vividness of the color. It also reflects the hue, or how close the color approximates the pure spectral color; tone which is how light or dark ie., how much black or white is in the color; and finally the distribution of the color or how even the color is across and within the stone.

The other factors of clarity, cut, and carats are not as important to the value of a stone that has the best color and inversely have a greater impact on the value of a stone that is not as pure a color.

Clarity is the absence of internal flaws that can be seen with a magnification of 10. Most colored gemstones naturally have inclusions or flaws. A prime example are emeralds which very rarely don't have flaws. The lighter the color of the stone the more visible the flaws become, while the darker the color of the stone the less obvious. The type of flaw and where it occurs in the stone affects its value as well.

Cut is the way a stone is faceted to bring out the best characteristics of that particular stone for its type. The cut brings out the color, fire, and brilliance of the stone, not sacrificing one for the other. Unlike diamonds colored gemstones can also be presented as a smooth rounded surface known as cabochon cut. Cabochon cut sapphires and rubies often reflect a star and are known as star sapphires and star rubies.

Carat is the weight of the stone, not how big it is. Different types of gemstones have different weights when cut to the same size. The density of rubies is greater than the density of emeralds so a one carat ruby will be smaller than a one carat identically cut emerald. Stones can be cut to look bigger as well. Some gemstones are more readily available in larger weights such as amethysts or tourmalines, that say emeralds. For example: An 18 carat tourmaline will have a lesser value per carat than a 5 carat alexandrite because large tourmaline stones are more common than large alexandrite stones.

The best safety precaution when buying gemstones or gemstone jewelry is to buy from a reputable jeweler. You will get what you pay for. Peace sign jewelry from heavenly Treasures does just that

Pearls before Swine

2009-06-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Pearls, beautiful, lustrous, glowing pearls. And to think it all started with a grain of sand.

The mollusk, that' s oyster to you and me, opens its shell to pass fresh water over itself and snag tiny bits of food. Sometimes what it snags is a grain of sand or piece of shell. If the mollusk can't get rid of the bit of grit it begins to coat it with a substance it produces called nacre. Coating the grain of sand makes it less irritating. As time passes the grain is coated with many layers of nacre. Eventually you end up with a lustrous pearl.

Not all pearls are gem quality. The pearl can be lopsided, have an irregular surface, or the coloring of the pearl is grayish instead of glistening. If the irregularity is only on one side and the pearl looks good otherwise it can be set in jewelery with the flaw at the back of the piece where it won't be noticed.

Pearls can be from fresh water or salt water mollusks. Salt water is more expensive.

Colors range from white, yellow, pink, to gray. South Sea Pearls, sometimes called Tahitian pearls, are some of the most expensive pearls. They are larger, because the mollusk is larger, and the colors are iridescent black, purple, and dark gray. The pearl looks like a rainbow is playing against the dark surface.

Natural pearls are very expensive and difficult to find in jewelry since the Japanese began culturing pearls. Cultured pearls are simply oysters in an oyster bed that has been seeded with a nucleus.

Good cultered pearls have been left in the oyster over several years to build up layers of the pearl. Cheap cultured pearls start with a much bigger seed core and then left in the oyster only long enough to gather a few layers. Those layers can wear off.

The value of a pearl is based on 5 factors: cleanliness, shape, luster and orient, and color.

No matter how you cut a diamond

2009-05-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Cutting a diamond can only be done with another diamond. The practice is painstaking, one wrong move and the diamond can cleave into pieces destroying its value. A diamond can be cut so that its face is broader and the depth shallower. That makes the diamond "spread" or look bigger than it actually is. Diamonds are cut to increase their brilliance or sparkle and their fire or that rainbow quality. Some cuts favor one characteristic over the other, but in well cut diamond both should be enhanced.

The cut of the diamond refers to the precision and expertise of the finished shaped stone. A good cut can enhance a mediocre quality diamond and a bad cut can literally destroy the value of a good stone. Diamonds are cut in facets, or flat planes. Each should be precisely in alignment. Modern diamonds are always faceted to play up their inherent qualities. Other gems can be rounded like a star sapphire, that particular shape is known as cabochon.

The facets reflect light back through the diamond and causes the glitter and rainbow effect so characteristic of diamonds. Beautifully cut diamonds display the most vivid fire with the least loss of brilliance.

The classic round cut has 58 facets. It allows the most light to be reflected back up through the diamond. The face of the diamond is the flat surface you see when looking directly down at a diamond. It is surrounded by 33 facets. The girdle is the rim around the crown of the diamond. The pavilion is the bottom portion of the diamond and has 24 facets plus the tiny facet at the point of the pavilion called a cutlet.

The crown portion of the diamond should measure 1/3 of the depth of the pavilion. Diamonds are always faceted to play up their inherent qualities. Choosing the right cut can enhance a diamond's color (yes diamonds do come in colors) and hide flaws. A poorly cut diamond can be more prone to shearing or shattering.

Diamonds can be cut to look larger by decreasing the pavilion and increasing the crown. In other words the diamond is broad but shallow.

Small diamonds can be cut with only 17 facets and are known as single cuts. Swiss cut can be used for small diamonds as well and have only 33 facets.

There are other cuts for diamonds. The quadrillion is a square cut known as the princess cut. A round diamond can be cut with 144 facets. And a marquise shaped diamond, (think of a football with pointed ends) can have a dream cut.

The cut of a diamond is one of the four factors that determines the value of the stone.

More on how diamonds are valued

2009-05-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Color: Diamonds come in colors including black. Most of the darker colors are used for industrial purposes and not for gems. The white-blue color of pure water is the most valued color for white diamonds and these are rated D-F. (There is no A-C on the scale.) As the diamond color progresses toward yellow (K-M) it becomes less valuable. Diamonds that have a noticeable yellow (N-R) to champagne color (S-Z), are the least valuable. Because the color can be influenced by the color of the gem's setting, the color is judged when the stone is unset.

To complicate matters and value, diamonds that come in colors, called fancies, are very rare and very valuable. Deep blue, red, and green diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable gems on earth.

Carat: Diamonds and other precious gems are valued on weight, or carats. A carat is 1/5 of a gram. Sometimes diamonds under a carat are valued in points. One carat is 100 points, so a quarter carat diamond can be referred to as 25 points. Diamonds are not valued on their apparent size, since the size can be either enhanced or diminished by the cut. And different gemstones have different densities. An emerald is lighter than a diamond and a ruby is heavier. A one carat diamond, one carat emerald, and one carat ruby would be three different sizes.

The more the diamond weighs the more valuable it is. The price of a diamond is based on carats, but the more the diamond weighs, the higher price it has per carat, all other things being equal, meaning the diamonds are the same in color, cut and clarity. In other words, a one carat diamond may be priced at $10,000 per carat, while a two carat diamond will be priced at $20,000 per carat. The one carat diamond costs $10,000 and the two carat diamond costs four times as much or $40,000. The discrepancy increases the higher the carat weight.

Diamonds of one carat or more can be graded by an independent lab as to the quality of the cut, weight, color and clarity. The certificate is often available at the diamond seller's.

When you're buying a diamond you can choose which factors are more important to you. If you want more carats, you can trade off clarity. If it's important the color is as close to pure white as possible, you can get a stone weighing less carats, or perhaps one that has a minor, but not visible to the naked eye imperfection.

Diamonds: How are They Valued?

2009-05-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Cut: A diamonds' cut influences the brilliance, or light reflecting qualities of the gem, at the same time it enhances the fire of the diamond, or that rainbow quality. A good cut enhances both qualities, fire and brilliance, without sacrificing one for the other. A well cut diamond balances the depth of the diamond to the breadth of the diamond. A poorly cut diamond of the same size can look flat and be more vulnerable to cleavage and breakage.

Clarity: Diamonds are crystalline carbon. The clarity of the diamond refers to the purity of the stone and imperfections within the crystalline structure and on its surface. There is no such thing as a flawless diamond in nature. Sometimes this clarity factor is referred to as the cleanliness of the stone. If a stone is viewed under 10x magnification and no imperfections can be seen, either internally (inclusions) or externally (blemishes), the stone is referred to in the trade as flawless. A microscopic speck of carbon, undetectable by the human eye, can bring down the value of the diamond substantially. There are five commonly used methods for grading clarity. Just keep in mind the cleaner the stone, the more valuable it is, the more it costs.

Find the Perfect Jewelry Armoire for You

2009-04-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

You find it difficult to organize your considerably large jewelry collection – your pieces are stowed in numerous jewelry boxes of all shapes and sizes. You are getting worried that one of these days, you’ll misplace your many jewelry boxes and lose it forever.

Your jewelry organization problem can easily be solved by purchasing a jewelry armoire. The only problem you might run into is choosing from the numerous styles and kinds of jewelry and gems armoire available.

What is a jewelry armoire?

A jewelry armoire is much bigger and taller than traditional jewelry boxes. They are usually made up of several drawers for more space and better organization. Some even have hooks that you can use to hang your long necklaces, and mirrors, so you can see how your jewelry looks when you put them on. Often a jewelry armoire has several pull-out drawers and numerous divided compartments.
What are the kinds of jewelry armoire?

There are several kinds of jewelry and gems armoire, based on design and finish. It can be made out of different kinds of wood: oak, cherry, pine, and maple. Some, incredible as it may seem, may even be made of wicker. It also be painted or may have various decorative details.

How do you choose a jewelry armoire?

There are a few things you should consider when buying your armoire. The look and design of your armoire is often the first factor to think about. Find an armoire that will match the design and feel of your room or home.

The next thing to consider is the inside detail of the jewelry and gems armoire you plan to purchase. Look for one of which the inside is lined to prevent scratches and other kinds of damage on your jewelry. The amount of space that an armoire can hold is another important factor to consider.

Finally, don’t forget to consider the safety and security that your it can provide for your collection. Ensure that an armoire you will purchase has locks and other security measures to ensure that no one can open it except for you.

Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry Always Gets Noticed

2009-04-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

Beaded jewelry was already a hot accessory choice even during the days when people still lived in caves. In fact, National Geographic says the oldest beads ever found are up to 70,000 years old.

Historians also note that on Columbus' first trade with Amer-Indians, his merchandises included string beads for the indigenous people. History further notes that aside from popular porcelain items, like pots, the beads became the most marketable goods for traders. Our ancestors knew that the beautiful tiny beads had many uses, and one of these uses is creating attractive beaded jewelry that women would find irresistible.

Meanwhile, anthropologists and archaeologists believe that beads were also used as symbols in the early age. The symbols have not been well-documented, but it is imaginable that even during our ancestors’ age, they knew that wearing beads or beaded jewelry could be regarded as stylish and flamboyant.

One of the factors that could be considered in the popularity of beaded jewelry is it can easily be done without formal training. Practically anyone who can appreciate beauty will know how to work his or ways around beads to create a beautiful beaded jewelry.

Today, beaded jewelry continues to lure stylish men and women into wearing them as fashionable accessories for different occasions. Men wear beaded necklace items on the beach and sometimes on their custom made polo shirts. On the other hand, women wear beads in so many different ways. Women adorn themselves with beaded necklace, beaded gowns, beaded shoes, beaded bags, etc. Suffice it to say that where there are beads, there is a fashion statement.

In fact, one of the best fashion tips you will ever hear is to wear beads on top of a white shirt so you can get a very simple yet very hip and flamboyant vibe about you.

Body Jewelry: Ephemeral Fad or Lasting Trend?

2009-03-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Random body piercing, loading down the body with enough body jewelry to set of airport metal detectors and annoy homeland security officers, is no longer a clear part of any recent fashion trend. However, in would be inaccurate and even false to say that jewelry has completely lost or given up its place in the fashion industry. Body jewelry--and in this category we would include ear piercings, although we would certainly not focus on them--remains as much a part of fashion today as it has been, although in a slightly more toned down and understated way.

Certainly, covering every pierceable square inch of your body with body jewelry is not desirable, or even fashionable, any more. However, in at least one way, body jewelry is *more* a part of our fashion mind than ever before; pierced ears, noses, navels, and eyebrows are less frowned upon and more accepted, in the general fashion industry, than ever before. Excess is frowned upon, and may we never see those metal detector alarming days again. But it would be false to deduce from that that body piercing--again, not excluding earrings, but thinking of them as a minor part of jewelry--is no longer acceptable in fashion circles. This simply is not true.

In fact, as jewelry becomes more toned down and tasteful, it is possible that we will see an ever-greater acceptance of piercings in areas other than the ears. Certain piercings will probably never be really acceptable--it is to be hoped not, at any rate--but especially jewelry for the nose, tongue, eyebrows, chin, and navel will most likely become almost as common as pierced ears, especially as this jewelry becomes more understated, and less ostentatious. It will probably still be considered unusual and perhaps even vulgar to have all of these locations pierced, to have many piercings in each location, or to wear exceptionally large or flashy body jewelry. But even those may become more acceptable as the fashion industry becomes accustomed to the idea that body jewelry is most likely here to stay.

More on pearls

2008-07-16T15:13:00.001-07:00

Pearls can be cut. For example: a baroque pearl can be cut in two halves and the halves set as matching earrings, or in a pin or bracelet. But pearls can't be reshaped. If a pearl is almost completely round but has a major bump that bump can't be sanded down without losing the value of the pearl.

The color of a pearl can be affected by dying. Usually you can see the dye mark where the pearl has been drilled, as there will be a ring of color. Pearls can be bleached, but the bleach wears away the nacre of the pearl. Cultured pearls, especially low quality pearls, often have only a thin layer of nacre, so bleaching can destroy the value of the pearl.

Keep pearls away from commercial jewelry cleansers. Just dip them quickly in soapy warm water, rinse in distilled water, and dry with a soft cloth. Keep pearls away from other jewelry as they can scratch easily.

If you wear your pearl necklace often, have it restrung every few years. The restringing is not simply popping beads on silk threads. The pearls have to be removed in order and then restrung in that same order with a small knot tied between each pearl. The knot has two purposes, it keeps the pearls from rubbing against each other and if the necklace breaks, the knots prevent the pearls from all sliding off onto the floor.

How can you tell a pearl is real? Gently rub the pearl across the surface of your teeth, it should feel gritty and artificial pearls won't

Pearls - pretty and pink

2008-07-01T15:13:00.001-07:00

The value of cultured pearls is based on five factors.

Cleanliness refers to the skin of the pearl and any imperfections. There may be tiny blisters, irregularities or bumps. Since the pearl was created naturally by a biological animal some imperfections are to be expected. Large irregularities devalue the pearl significantly. If there is only a modest blemish it may be hidden by the setting of the pearl. Or if the pearl is in a necklace or bracelet the drill hole may hide the imperfection.

Shapes in pearls comes in three varieties, round, baroque and symmetrical. The rounder, or more spherical the pearl, the more valuable. Symmetrical pearls can be flattened but evenly shaped, think of a button. Baroque means any pearl that didn't make the grade for symmetrical. Baroque are the most common shape of pearls and the least expensive. Pearls can't be cut to shape like gemstones, what you see is what you have to work with.

Size matters. Yes it's the bigger the better for pearls. Size is partially determine by the size of the mollusk (oyster), how big the nucleus or seed is, and how long that nucleus has been in the mollusk being covered with nacre, the pearly substance. Tahitian pearls, or South Seas pearls are the biggest because the mollusk grows up to 12 inches in diameter.

Color - the most valuable pearls, with the exception of South Sea black pearls, have a body tone of pure white with an overtone of rose. The more cream colored the pearl, meaning it has tints of yellow, the less valuable. South Sea pearls are valued different because they have a dark body tone overlaid with rainbow colors. These pearls also come in white and gold.

Luster is the reflective glowing attribute of pearls. They're not sparkly like diamonds or colored gemstones, nor do they glisten like opals. When you look at a pearl there is an iridescent factor like a rainbow being reflected back at you. This is called orient. High luster and orient means you have a valuable pearl.

While this has nothing to do with value, don't go looking pearls when you're shucking oysters for dinner. Pearl oysters are non edible.

Buying A Diamond Engagement Ring: Get What You Pay For

2008-06-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's an important time in your life when you get engaged but don't let emotion overwhelm your shopping savvy when you purchase UK diamond engagement rings.

Diamonds are valued on:

Color - the purer and whiter the more valued

Clarity – the transparency of the stone and any inclusions (visible flaws)

Cut – how well cut the diamond is (not the shape)

Carat – how much the diamond weighs

Color can be manipulated in several ways. The diamond is shown under a colored light that offsets any yellowness in the stone or is shown against a black cloth backdrop instead of white. The setting of the stone can influence the perception of the color. A white gold or platinum setting contrasts with a yellowish diamond making the yellow cast more obvious, while a yellow gold setting doesn't make the yellow color as obvious. None of these methods are dishonest as long as the seller states the actual color grade.

However some dishonest sellers misstate the color grade intentionally or enhance it. Yellowish diamonds can be made to look whiter by touching the side of the diamond with indelible purple ink which neutralizes yellow. The diamond can also be painted to neutralize the yellow. The "paint" isn't at all obvious, can't be washed off and may take months of cleaning before it wears off.

All natural diamonds have some flaws. The diamond can be set to hide an obvious flaw on the edge of the diamond, the prong of the setting hiding the flaw. If you're buying a one or more carat diamond in your engagement ring it should be examined unset. Diamonds can have a crack or fissure filled thereby concealing it. Sometimes an inclusion can be lasered out. These techniques are not unethical as long as the seller discloses they've been used.

The weight of the diamond is measured in carats and increases exponentially. In other words a two carat diamond with similar clarity, color, and cut, will cost much more than twice the price of a one carat diamond. Some diamonds are cut to leave a bit of unpolished area on the girdle to make sure the diamonds reaches that important one carat weight. A .95 carat diamond price per carat cost is much less than a 1.00 carat diamond price per carat cost.

A three carat diamond engagement ring can vary tremendously in value depending on how many diamonds make up the three carats. A two carat center stone offset by two 1/2 carat diamonds would be costlier than a ring with a one carat center stone offset by four 1/2 carat stones, even though both rings have three carats of diamonds.

Diamonds that are two carats don't look twice as big as a one carat stone. The increase in perceived size is only about 50%. A word of warning: Be leery when someone says a diamond spreads 1.5 carats. That doesn't mean it weighs 1.5 carats, just that it looks the same size as a 1.5 carat diamond when viewed from above. That can be achieved by cutting the diamond broader but shallower.

Cut is one of the more important factors. A badly cut diamond loses its brilliance and sparkle compared to a well cut diamond. A round brilliant cut diamond is about half the size of that same diamond in the rough, or uncut. Some diamond cutters will try to eke out two one carat stones out of a rough diamond crystal by sacrificing the quality of the cut.

The best way to know that you're getting what you're paying for when purchasing your UK diamond ring is to purchase from a reliable dealer that provides a diamond grading report from an independent gemstone laboratory.

Fancies? Yes. Diamonds come in colors.

2008-06-07T15:00:00.001-07:00

Think of diamonds and you think of breathtakingly clear stones, clear as water, pure as ice. But diamonds do come in colors. Diamonds are normally graded from colorless or rare white, to brown. Colors deeper than light yellow are not usually used in jewelry making, although on occasion, champagne diamonds or cognac diamonds appear. These are really, in most cases, white diamonds of an inferior color grade, rather than fancy diamonds.

The colorless is the most expensive of the white diamonds. Diamonds with a faint tint of yellow are less valuable and a yellow color visible to the naked eye are the least valuable.

Fancies are the term used for colored diamonds. Diamonds can be found in every color and intensity: red, blue, yellow, green, and lavender. The intensity of the colors can range from palest pink to red, lightest blue to sky blue and so forth. Fancy diamonds are rarer than white diamonds. The most common fancy colors are yellow ranging from canary yellow, orange, and brown. Colors such as pink, lavender and light green occur much more rarely than the yellow colors. Most valuable of all are the deep reds, greens and blues.

One word of caution: colored diamonds can be created artificially by subjecting inexpensive yellowish and brown stones to radiation or heating. Fancy diamonds, other than green, can be tested to see if the color is natural or the color has been induced.

The Hope diamond is an example of a fancy blue diamond. The Argyle Mine in Australia produces a small number of red diamonds and is the world's largest producer of pink diamonds. Several of their pink diamonds have sold for over $1,000,000 per carat.
The Dresden diamond is an apple green diamond weighing 40.70 carats. The Tiffany diamond is orange.

At certain times of the day the sky is colored. At sunrise you have what colors? Yellow, orange, and red. Suppose your diamonds take shape at these moments. They are reflecting the yellow or the red, and it becomes a part of them. Or if it is not sunrise or sunset, but the middle part of the day when the sky is blue, they reflect the blue. Just at the moment they turn hard they take on the color of the sky. If they are formed at night when there is no color for them they become pure and colorless, what we call white.

Turquoise Jewelry: The Stone Made From the Sky

2008-05-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Native American languages are filled with particularly descriptive words. Their word for turquoise means 'sky stone', or possibly 'stone made from sky,' and no single ethnic group knows more about making turquoise jewelry than the Native Americans. The 'sky stone' is a staple in their jewelry, and wearing it is believed to confer luck and prosperity on the wearer. Certainly turquoise is a beautiful stone, and turquoise jewelry has a warmth and yet an elegance that is rarely matched by other stones.

Far from being limited to Native American jewelry, however, this 'stone made from the sky' shows up in such unlikely places as Africa, Europe, and even Russia. Turquoise and jade were sacred stones to the Incas and the Maya. Ancient Greeks believed that turquoise jewelry had almost magical properties, and could increase wisdom, vision, and sexual attraction. Certainly our love affair with turquoise jewelry continues to this day; turquoises and turquoise jewelry appear in the jewel collections of monarchs, nobility, actresses, and the very wealthy. Yet turquoise jewelry is not an exceptionally expensive stone, and it also turns up in the jewelry boxes of ordinary working women, and even in some high-quality children's jewelry.

Some birthstone charts list turquoise as the stone for those born in December or October. The 'stone of the sky' seems an appropriate, if somewhat wishful, symbol for the month when the days are at their shortest, and the sky is often dark or clouded over. But turquoise jewelry remains an appropriate gift for any woman, for any birthday, in any month. And, no doubt because of its reputation with the Greeks as an aphrodisiac, the stone made from the sky is the perfect gift for weddings and anniversaries. It is a rare woman, indeed, who doesn't love turquoise's infinite pale blue and the warmth of this beautiful stone.

Meaningful - Celtic Jewelry

2008-04-17T01:31:00.000-07:00

Celtic jewelry is an extraordinary type of accessory that is rich in meaning and history. Although Celtic jewelry has been existent since around 2000 BC, its popularity never diminished in the fashion industry through the centuries. In fact, the popularity of this jewelry continues to grow even today because its appeal transcends age, gender and even culture.

It is undeniable that the stunning beauty of this jewelry is one of the reasons for its extreme popularity. However, those who know the history of the Celtic people do appreciate Celtic style of jewelry a little bit more than the rest.
The Celts settled in Ireland centuries ago. It was very evident among the Celts that they were born with a sense of exotic style and highly creative craftsmanship. The Celts would soon be renowned for jewelry making using gold and silver, and their merchandise have been deemed as not just striking, but also rich in meaning and history.

Among the different types of this jewelry are the exotic crosses and bracelets. The Irish consumers patronized the exotic style of the Celts and would soon spread the fashion style across the world.

The Irish people also helped spreading the rich meaning and history in the Celt jewelry. One of the most symbolic Celtic jewelry items is the Claddagh ring. The Irish are familiar with it, because it is a symbol of devotion to your loved one or friend. Some New Age believers would even use the Claddagh ring as their wedding band.

Across the world today, different nations with different beliefs are embracing Celtic jewelry if only for its aesthetic and artistic value. Both men and women appreciate Celtic jewelry, and in fact, some items are even considered unisex. The most frequently selected Celtic styled jewelry items are stunning necklaces and bracelets.
If you’re interested in starting your very own jewelry collection, the Internet has a lot of online stores for you. Finding the best jewelry is just a click away.

On the Various Kinds of Custom Jewelry Supplies

2008-04-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Custom jewelry has always had a large following; high school sweethearts engrave each others' names on rings or necklaces or lockets; best friends in middle school make keychains with 'Friends Forever' on them. And adults, especially women, love to get jewelry that was made especially for them from their children or significant other. Custom jewelry supplies run the gauntlet from square plastic beads with letters on them that can be strung together to make a name, a word, or a phrase, to expensive jewelry sets with birthstones or other distinctive pieces that can be strung onto real gold or silver wire, and made into a tasteful and elegant piece of jewelry.

Custom jewelry sets for children are perhaps the most popular jewelry items; little girls love sharing slumber parties by making jewelry, and jewelry made in this way makes excellent gifts for one child to give to another, or for a child to give to their mother, grandmother, teacher, or other important women in their lives. Additionally, however, the kits for making custom jewelry make excellent gifts for adults to give to children, which would perhaps explain in large part their popularity. The expensive 'real jewel' custom jewelry sets are much less popular, no doubt because adults are less fond of expressing their creativity in jewelry making. Easier, no doubt, to simply buy a piece of jewelry that fits their exact needs and tastes.

Finding custom jewelry supplies is not difficult, especially if you are looking for the plastic bead jewelry sets for children; almost every major retailer carries them in some shape or form. As noted before, a custom jewelry kit does make an excellent gift for little girls, and it frequently becomes the gift that keeps on giving, as girls create jewelry and then pass it on to other girls and women in their lives.

Current Trends in Fashion Jewelry

2008-03-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when fashion jewelry meant chains hanging from your clothes and metal studs everywhere it was possible to stick a bit of metal? If you do, then you have a long memory, because that was almost a year ago, and the fashion jewelry world has made a radical about-face in the time since then.

More and more, fashion jewelry is leaning from the grunge / punk look to the more feminine but equally scary 'girly girl' look. Costume fashion jewelry is in; the more sparkly and elaborate, the better. Bakelite is out; rhinestones are coming into their own. If you go for a girly sort of look, then try layering sparkle on top of sparkle for a glittering array of jewelry sure to bedazzle onlookers.

Look for bracelets that sparkle, and don't be shy about wearing them on both wrists. Colored jewelry isn't forbidden, but stick with richer, darker colors; emerald rather than citrine, ruby rather than amethyst; and layer on the rhinestones or austrian crystals for a little extra sparkle. Avoid large chains for jewelry; small chains on necklaces and bracelets are better, and liquid silver is best of all.

For those who are totally not in to girly styles or fashion jewelry that dazzles--and blinds--onlookers, the trends seem to be leaning away from the almost masculine punk look and towards a chic understatement. If this is more your type, look for white or black pearls, single strand necklaces or single pearl earrings, or go for something classic, such as single stone diamond pendants or single stone earrings in diamond, emerald, or ruby. Remember that anything classic or classy will always be in style. Stay traditional, or add a little extra color to liven it up. If you're looking to make a statement, wear different but complimentary stones in necklaces and earrings; emeralds and sapphires, or topaz and citrine, for example.

A Crash Course on Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

2008-03-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

If you’re one of those people who have been pining for a piece of diamond jewelry your whole life but have been either unwilling or unable to shell out enough cash to do so, then you must have heard of cubic zirconia jewelry at least once. Cubic zirconia is, after all, one of the most popular diamond stimulants today.

Because of the high cost and rarity of real, gem-grade diamonds, there has been much need for other materials that have diamond-like characteristics. Such materials have been called diamond stimulants, and are used to make ornate pieces of jewelry.
Different materials have been used as diamond stimulants, many of them artificial, the most popular of which include high-leaded glass or rhinestones, and moissante, and cubic zirconia.

Jewelry made of cubic zirconia are often preferred over those that are made from other diamond stimulants because of its high visual likeness to real diamonds and its relatively low cost. While some might say that moissante jewelry resemble diamond jewelry better, it is much more expensive than cubic zirconia jewelry, thereby still making the latter more popular. Another problematic aspect of moissante jewelry is its limited availability compared to cubic zirconia jewelry.

Choosing any form of jewelry requires time and patience. If you’re buying cubic zirconia jewelry in particular, it would help to compare it side-by-side with authentic diamond jewelry. This way, you would be able to see how much it resembles the real thing.

You should also take note of the materials and quality used for the setting of your cubic zirconia jewelry, as these are just as important in making your cubic zirconia jewelry look and feel like actual diamond jewelry.
Finally, a word of caution: never pass cz jewelry as real diamond jewelry when it comes to insurance plans and policies. However similar your jewelry is to the real thing, expert jewelers and appraisers will be able to tell the difference.