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Archive for the ‘Jewelry’ Category

A piece of jewelry that sparkles and shines is a delight to every womans eyes. Jewelry come in many forms and materials. There are jewelry that made of pure gold and silver and there are also jewelry that made of glass, crystals, semi-precious stones and other natural materials.

I am always fascinated with fashion jewelry, trinkets and stuff made of crystals especially crystal necklaces, crystal earrings and swarovski crystal brooches. After I graduated from college, I used to make fashion jewelry made of crystals as a hobby. My favorite things to do are crystal brooches, crystal earrings and crystal pendants. I went into every bead supplies stores I know just to find the finest materials I can use for my jewelry-making hobby. After trying different kinds of beads and using different beading materials, I settled myself with crystals.

When buying jewelry made of crystals, you have to remember that there are different facets, cuts, shapes, colors and looks of crystals. There are also crystals that have AB (Aurora Borealis) coating. This coating is often applied to one side of a crystal bead to accentuate the light-scattering properties. The AB coating looks metallic and opaque from the side it is covering but on a transparent crystal bead, the color and brightness of the sparkle shows through strongly when the bead is seen from the other side.

Crystals also come in several qualities and their facets also vary. Also remember that some of the best crystal beads are hand-faceted. Based on my jewelry-making experience, I learned that crystals have different cuts and shapes. The ones I know are:

1.Triangle-Cut this cut is more angular and has fewer facets but it reflects light very strongly and looks very bright when worn.
2.Hexagon-Cut this is a common cut for the round variant of crystal beads. This type of crystal bead is sometimes opaque; it is reflective but not translucent.
3.Diamond-Cut I have several shapes of diamond-cut crystals like round and cushion shapes. Both have diamond facets but their shapes are different.
4.Bicone there are bicones that are translucent but there are also bicones that are AB coated. Among my beads, this is my most favorite because of its diamond shape.
Of course, aside from the ones I mentioned, there are also other cuts and shapes of crystals but what I know and are always using are triangle cut, hexagon cut, diamond cut and also bicones. If you are still new to beading, these types of crystals are very easy to match with other beads and beading materials. I love these types of crystal because I can make gorgeous and elegant beaded crystal jewelry without hurting my budget.

It’s funny, many people go shopping for diamonds without actually ever really understanding what they are looking for. It’s important that you have the right information so that you can make an informed choice. Lots of people when they go shopping to purchase diamonds are really unaware of the different types. There are many different types for example like black diamond, Blue Diamond and chocolate diamond. Because of the vast range of different types available is important that you have at least a little bit of information to help you if you are thinking of buying any.

Basically you should understand the 4 C’s and what this phrase actually means you might come across this when you start to go shopping so having a quick understanding would really help.

1) Clarity – this basically determines what the purity is in their stone and also tells you how to clear the diamond is. It’s actually broken down into different grades and there are two methods systems that are used to help enhance the clarity grade of all diamonds that you find available.

2) Color – this is really simple to follow and it basically tells you the amount of color that you will find in the diamond. If you come across corners like red, blue, green or pink you’ll find that these tend to be more expensive then the common yellow color that we find.

3) Cut – discrete determines how a diamond has been cut. Basically it has been cout very well they tend to be more expensive. You may come across a town called brilliance and this basically let you know the amount of light that is reflected to your eye.

4) Carat – this very simple to work out it is basically to weight off the diamond and 0.20 is equal to one carat. So basically the heavier the current the more expensive the diamond will be.

The above information is just a guideline to give you some ideas to be honest if you are going to spend a lot of money you really need to do a lot of research so that you understand the terminology the markets and the prices that they are currently fetching.

There are many places nowadays even online where you can make purchases and realistically save a lot of money compared to visiting your local mall. If you are going to do this it’s important that you deal with a reputable jeweler and a recognized websites with lots of customer feedback and reviews of service.

Hopefully this has given you some ideas of what to look for when shopping for diamonds.

Want to purchase a pearl choker? Not sure about the available types and which one you should purchase? There are various types of jewelry items available on the market. Once you have decided about purchasing these you should have complete knowledge about the available types so that you can make a better purchasing decision. People often invest in these attractive necklaces and bracelets because of their elegance and style. Each type of these is different from one another and comes with a unique and fashionable look.

A pearl choker necklace is one of the most common types of these jewelry items. You can find these in different colors, styles and sizes. A black pearl necklace is usually preferred over a choker because of its stunning looks. If you want larger number of pearls on your choker then you will have to pay a higher price for these where as less amount of pearls would be available at lower prices.

A pearl drop necklace is another type that is popular among women of all ages. These alluring necklaces come in different colors to suit your needs and match your outfits. The traditional white color is usually preferred by women because of their elegant and stunning look. These are different from other types and are accessible in eight unique shapes including semi round, round, button, circled, oval, pear, and drop and baroque. These drop necklaces are different from chokers and give a hanging look with a chain made from your choice of material.

Pearl tear drop necklace is another type that comprises of a single necklace in which the pearl is pearl shaped or tear drop style. This is not only used as a jewelry item but also for decorative purposes.

Mikimoto necklaces are made from the finest quality cultured pearls. These are unique and different from other types because of the finest quality materials used in their making. The prices of these also varies because of its size, the type of jewels used in it and its shape.

Lastly coin pearl necklaces are also available on the market and are aimed at giving a unique and modern look. These are available in a variety of shapes and colors including pink, green, gray and many others.

Learning how to care for your engagement ring properly can help assure it truly will last forever. While diamonds are extremely strong the settings in which they are placed aren’t necessarily as strong. This is something you wear every day so it is exposed to a lot of wear and tear, not to mention a slew of lotions, soaps and cleaning products. It is important to take a few precautions to care for this precious piece of jewelry.

Know When To Take It Off

Engagement and wedding rings are usually worn most of the time, but there are times when you should take it off in order to protect it. When you are operating machinery or doing any sort of construction work you shouldn’t wear your ring as it could even be a safety hazard. But even when you are doing things like gardening or cleaning the house it is best not to wear it.

When gardening dirt and grime can get stuck in hard to reach places in the setting, but even worse you could hit a rock or put pressure on the ring in a way that can damage the setting. Chemicals and solutions used when cleaning can also cause damage to treatments or finishes on the diamond.

If you will be doing anything that you think may cause damage or loosen the setting it is best to take your engagement ring off until you are finished. Of course whenever you take it off you need to be sure to store it in a safe place. Even if you think you just need to take it off for a couple of minutes while you do something, be sure to keep it in a safe place. All too often accidents can occur if it is left on a shelf or near the sink. Don’t take any chances.

Cleaning Your Diamond Ring

Even if you are extremely careful with your wedding ring it will inevitably get dirty. But you can easily clean it to revive it’s sparkle, but when cleaning it you need to be careful as well.

For basic cleaning you can soak the ring in a solution of warm water and mild liquid soap. Use a small soft brush to remove dirt and oils then swish the ring in the mild soap solution. When you are finished place the ring in a strainer to rinse it, so it doesn’t slip down the drain.

It is also a good idea to have your jeweler clean and look at it periodically to make sure the prongs in the setting are still secure. If they become loose you can lose the diamond and not realize it until it is too late.