The Jewelry Stop

Costume jewelry adds style and beauty to you and your ensemble. Costume jewelry is a wearer?s delight, as it further highlights your personality with the look it adds to your costume. Costume jewelry is more about defining your fashion statement. So whether it?s classic or stylish it is your choice.

Costume jewelry is made out of a variety of materials, which can be pure silver, glass beads, kundan, semi-precious stones, metal, etc. The value of the metal used in it makes a difference between cheap costume jewelry and fine costume jewelry. So the price mainly depends on the material used. Also, as per the style you want to portray you can choose that kind of jewelry. As per your requirements, there is cheap costume jewelry as well as fine costume jewelry.

Costume jewelry has a wide array of styles and designs. You can have the traditional to the latest designs in costume jewelry. All types of costume jewelry are available in the market these days. Be it bracelets, earrings, bangles, anklets or belly-button rings it is all there.

There is an amount of charisma you can experiences in wearing costume jewelry. Fine costume jewelry adds elegance to your persona. There are a variety of contemporary items to serve your interest. Antique costume jewelry is also available for adding that royal touch. Many a type of earrings, bracelets and necklaces made in the antique style are all available with the jewelers.

In the fat Indian weddings a huge sum of money is spent in purchasing wedding costume jewelry. But you can?t be sure whether this jewelry will be of any use further. In that case, costume jewelry comes as the easy way out. You can go for antique costume jewelry, which comes at an affordable price. Antique costume jewelry is unique in style. It can be hand crafted as per the design. Indian costume jewelry is antique so it adds weight to your dressing. A beautiful range of Indian costume jewelry is available, which has antique as well as modern designs.

About the Author:

Amit is with http://www.neuronimbus.com and writes about Costume Jewelry. Get more jewelry articles at http://www.jaipurjewelers.com

How To Wear Jewelry RightSubmitted By: Jason Tye

A man should wear jewelry; it should not wear him. This statement means that jewelry can make or break a man?s outfit. The right jewelry should allow him to pull off his look effortlessly, while the wrong jewelry would only make him look ridiculous. Jewelry is now considered as one of the important accessories that add the required finishing touches to a man?s look. If you do not have a clue as to what jewelry to pick to complement your outfit, then this short article may serve as your guide.

1. Necklace. Less is more, keep it tucked in your shirt. Doing otherwise will just look tacky and even childish.

2. Ring. Aside from the usual ring finger, these days you can wear a ring on your pinky, your thumb, or just about any finger, as long as it looks good with your outfit and it matches the occasion. Avoid wearing disproportionately large rings as they would only make your fingers and hands look smaller and would come across as gaudy. Refrain from wearing more than one ring at time since it looks too flashy.

3. Bracelet. As a general rule, bracelets should not be worn too tightly around the wrist, nor should you let them swing up and down your arm.

4. Earrings. There is a particular type of earring called for in a certain occasion. It would not be appropriate to wear a diamond stud at the beach. A punk-inspired earring would look awkward when worn during a black tie or red carpet event.

5. Watch. Gold, silver or titanium wristwatches rather than leather-strapped ones go better with an evening suit. Leather watches are for more casual events.

6. Do not wear too much jewelry. Piling tons of jewelry would only destroy your look; it would make it appear confusing and cluttered. But there is an exception to this rule. You can wear several accessories at a time, as long as it matches your outfit. For instance, you can layer beaded necklaces or anklets if you want to achieve a more laidback, bohemian look.

7. Wear jewelry with the right length and size. It would be useless to don a long metal chain and tuck it in your shirt. It would also be wrong to wear a very loose bracelet, especially if it goes up and down your arm and makes an annoying noise. Don?t wear overly large accessories since they would look just too showy. Wearing accessories that are too small would also look awkward, especially on a big person. When it comes to combinations, avoid using extremely big jewelry with small ones. A thick necklace and a tiny stud earring would look gawky.

8. Different types of jewelry are called for in different occasions. You can where jewelry anytime and anywhere. Since it boosts our image and enhances our appearance, we should not limit wearing it to formal events. Instead of precious metals and gemstones, we can opt for simpler materials, which are durable and ideal for everyday use, such as stainless steel, leather, rubber, and glass.

Article Tags: jewelry, outfit, wear

What makes a piece of jewelry worthy of being called ?heirloom-quality? and what is meant by the term? Simply speaking, heirloom jewelry is recognized as jewelry that is passed down through generations, where as a ?heirloom-quality? piece may or may not be passed down but exhibits several principle qualities that one should expect from jewelry meant to withstand many many years of wear. An heirloom-quality piece is best described as high-end jewelry exhibiting quality materials, precise craftsmanship and solid construction. The most precious heirloom jewelry also exhibits unique design, special treatment and sentimental value. This two-part article will help readers distinguish between precious pieces meant to be treasured for a lifetime and pieces that are less valuable.

Quality Materials

The most obvious characteristic of heirloom-quality jewelry is that it is constructed with quality materials. Such materials may include but are not limited to high-karat gold, fine and sterling silver, platinum, precious and semi-precious stones, and organic gems.

The precious metals gold, silver and platinum, are valued for their rarity and beauty. Although they are malleable, these metals are remarkably resistant to corrosion, which makes them highly desirable for jewelry making.

Pure gold is measured as 24-karat and is generally considered too soft to be worn as jewelry, therefore it is commonly alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver and titanium to strengthen it. The result is gold of varying karats and shades, and generally the higher the gold content the more precious the piece is considered to be. In the U.S., 14-karat gold is predominant. In Europe, 18 karat is most common, and in parts of Asia and the Middle East, 22- or 24-karat gold is the standard. On high-end jewelry, the karat content is usually stamped on the piece.

Silver is the most plentiful of all precious metals, and when given a high polish, its reflective properties are unrivaled. It has been perhaps the most sought-after precious metal throughout the ages, likely due to its durability in combination with its beauty. One of the secrets of silver is that it easily flatters all skin tones. Though it is more durable than pure gold, like gold, pure silver on its own is too soft to be worn as jewelry. Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. This combination strengthens silver while retaining its precious metal properties.

Platinum?s popularity as high-end jewelry began more than 2,000 years ago in South American Indian cultures and like silver, it is prized for its highly reflective color. Another defining feature of platinum is its durability, which is unsurpassed by any of the other precious metals. Even the most delicate of styles fashioned with platinum permanently retain their shape; this allows jewelry artists extensive creative freedom when forming intricate pieces. Most platinum jewelry is manufactured with at least 85 percent pure platinum. Palladium, ruthenium and iridium, which are also members of the platinum family, are often alloyed with platinum to enhance its brilliance and durability.

Beside metal, heirloom-quality jewelry can feature a variety of skillfully set stones and organic materials. These materials can range from the very expensive and rare to the semi-precious and lusciously colored. What is most important is how well these materials are incorporated into the overall design and how securely they are set into the piece. Just because a 5-karat diamond is slapped into an 18-karat gold ring does not mean it qualifies as heirloom-quality.

Expensive gems such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires represent precious stones. Although diamonds enjoy instant recognition as being rare and precious, sapphires are theoretically four times as rare as diamonds. Sapphires are very durable, second only to diamonds in hardness and sometimes come in rarer colors than blue, called ?fancies? or ?party colors. Treasured by the ancient Inca and A
ztecs, emeralds are the most valuable precious stone in the world - by weight. Colombian emeralds are among the world?s most beautiful, prized for their undiluted pristine green. Incredibly deep red luster is the signature of the gorgeous ruby with the finest and rarest being referred to as ?pigeons blood? due to their unsurpassed intense red color.

Semi-precious stones are by definition more plentiful than their higher priced relatives and are primarily valued for their beauty. Examples of semiprecious stones include turquoise, amethyst, bloodstone, cubic zirconia, garnet, onyx and opal. Although coral and pearl aren?t technically stones, they are considered semi-precious as well.

Other materials considered semi-precious include amber, ivory, fossils and exotic woods. These materials are often referred to as ?organic gems? and present a unique and unusual treatment for jewelry of distinction. Amber is fossilized pine tree sap, most of which comes from the Baltic states of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Ivory can come from a variety of animals including prehistoric mammoths, but for centuries elephant ivory was the most prized. In an effort to conserve species decimated by the ivory trade, international bans on ivory were enacted making it a criminal offense to slaughter an animal simply for it?s tusks. Of course, caches of ivory taken before the initiation of world-wide bans still exists, this is referred to as ?pre-ban ivory? and while its use is legal many scrupulous jewelers opt to use ivory alternatives instead. One such alternative is the hard fruit of the Ivory Nut Palm, which has a remarkable resemblance to mammal ivory.

In part two of this article we will examine the importance of high-end craftsmanship, sentimental value and the proper care for a highly treasured piece.

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About the Author:
S. C. Versillee is an artist and jewelry designer with a background in library science. Through her web site http://www.EssenceCraft.com she not only provides quality fine art and hand crafted 18k gold and silver jewelry, but also articles intended to educate the consumer.

If you are considering buying cheap jewelry, understand doing so may backfire on you in certain situations. Not only is the quality not so great, but people receiving it may not appreciate it.

Should You Buy Cheap Jewelry?

Finding the cheapest jewelry is a popular option for many people at first glance. The problem, of course, is you get what you pay for. In the case of jewelry, this can mean a significant and noticeable difference in physical appearance.

First, it is important to note that the following comments refer to the purchase of cheap jewelry for someone else as a gift. If you are buying only for yourself, you can pretty much shop for the bottom line as you see fit. You know what you are paying and you know what you are getting, so it is up to you. More so, the jewelry does not represent an expression of your feelings towards anyone, which is not the case when buying for someone else.

If you are buying for a loved one or friend, going with cheap jewelry can be questionable. Purchasers of jewelry often misunderstand its meaning in relation to how people receiving it will gauge it. With jewelry gifts, the quality of the piece is almost always interpreted as a sign of how you feel about the person in question. If you buy low end jewelry for a loved one in particular, your gift may rebound on you in a very bad way if they interpret the piece as a statement you really don’t care much for them. Simply put, you have to be careful!

Given the above, does this mean you need to go out and buy the biggest custom piece of jewelry in the store? No. In the case of loved ones, they usually have a pretty good feel for your finances. It is far better to buy the best quality piece you can afford than to buy something that is large, but of lower quality. This is a time tested rule, and it will keep your gift from backfiring on you.

Purchasing low end jewelry can be a catch-22 situation. While you think you should get credit for giving a gift, others may see it as a sign of your feelings towards them. When in doubt, buy the best quality you can afford.

About the Author

Arsene Bergkamp is with JewelryStoresforYou.com - a nationwide list of jewelry stores.

Many may think that this years hot holiday must haves were a brand new Xbox 360 or Ipod Nano but body jewelry sales were up over 100% Quarter 4 of 2005 over Quarter 4 of 2004. As more and more teens and young adults get piercings, the need to fill those holes increases. With high demand and prices as low as the $5-$15 range for a piece of high quality jewelry from online retailers such as http://www.sthbodyjewelry.com it is no wonder body jewelry is such a hot seller this year.

“When the salary of the average American is down and parents are looking for great holiday gifts for their youngsters, body jewelry has proven to be a real pleaser among the high school and college aged crowd. Teenage piercing is becoming increasingly popular and safe. This years hot sellers have been belly rings, tongue rings and large gauge earrings” said Brandon Hoffman, owner of http://www.sthbodyjewelry.com.

With major retailers such as Wal Mart and Target beginning to sell items such as belly rings in their jewelry department this Christmas season it is becoming apparent that piercing and body jewelry have broke out of the underground subculture from where it was born into mainstream society. http://www.sthbodyjewelry.com expects sales to continue to increase through 2006.

Visit STH Body Jewelry On The Web.
About the Author

Brandon is a body jewelry expert and owns STH Body Jewelry

When you think of some of the top jewelry designers in the world, which names come to mind? Tiffany? Cartier? David Yurman? These are three major players in the world of jewelry and their original designs continue to capture the interest of both media and jewelry lovers across the world. As a result of their immense popularity, many have been inspired to create their own versions of the jewelry that so many seem to adore.

Almost Diamonds, a popular online shop specializing in the world?s finest diamond simulant, offers a variety of designer inspired jewelry pieces to fit every lifestyle and budget. One such style is a 3mm interlocking trinity ring design featuring pave cubic zirconia on one of the bands and a high polished finish on the remaining two bands. If you are familiar with the rolling ring design, then you will love this designer inspired trinity band ring.

For the jewelry wearer who admires one famous designer?s use of pave, the designer inspired ?Heart within a Heart? necklace offered at Almost Diamonds is sure to be a winner. Speaking of pave, a puffed heart adorned in cubic zirconia is also offered at a very reasonable price, especially when compared to the original designer piece. Dangle drop earrings in both line and chandelier designs, along with a cubic zirconia starfish necklace and a roman numeral ring are among the popular designer inspired jewelry offerings available from AlmostDiamonds.com.

If you are looking for a designer inspired solitaire ring, the online specialty store also carries both heart and round styles in rose and yellow plating over genuine .925 sterling silver. In either of these, the wearer sees only the surface metal which appears to be either rose or yellow gold. Underneath the plating is a precious metal that provides both strength and durability.

Just as there are a great many talented designers, there are an equal number of designer inspired jewelry pieces. For those who can afford genuine diamonds and fine gold, designer jewelry is an option. For the rest of us who simply don?t have the cash to spare or prefer not to spend a fortune on one piece of jewelry, we can be glad that there are designer inspired jewelry pieces to quench our thirst for the finer things in life. When you wear designer inspired jewelry, nobody is going to know that you are not wearing the real thing. As the finest diamond simulant, cubic zirconia offers the same cuts and is measured just as a genuine diamond would be.

Whether you are looking for designer inspired jewelry, celebrity inspired designs or just plain beautiful sterling silver and cubic zirconia jewelry styles, Almost Diamonds is your one-stop shop for all that glitters. New customers receive a discount just for signing up to receive the company?s newsletter and, beyond that, the prices are designed to fit just as beautiful as the jewelry.

About the Author:

For more information on Designer Inspired Jewelry and Sterling Silver Jewelry, visit Almost Diamonds at http://www.almostdiamonds.com

One could say that making wire wrapped jewelry is a healing experience because the majority of wire wrapped jewelry is made from natural stones, rocks, minerals and gemstones. All of these stones have been known for centuries to have healing and mystical powers.

Cabochon stones or agates, jade, malachite, etc., are essential to making beautiful wire wrapped jewelry. Natural bead colors, versus dyed, irradiated or heat-treated are always the best. Using a mixture of genuine and synthetic faceted stones are another excellent choice in making wire wrapped jewelry.

Gold, silver and any plated beads are good, as are high quality, hand-made glass beads. Quality, texture and clarity are all essential in making beautiful wire wrapped jewelry. Wire wrapped jewelry pieces are normally, one of a kind, and will set you apart from all others. This jewelry makes a statement when worn by an individual.

The Process

Making wire wrapped jewelry into art depends mainly on the quality of your materials. Not only do your stones and beads have to be superior, but the jewelry components need to be high quality as well. Many wire wrapped jewelers make their own components. They are already skilled at wire wrapping, therefore, making wire wrapped jewelry components is only natural, and it also sets their jewelry apart from the next artist.

The wire that is used should be sterling silver or gold-filled wire. The stones are taken and literally wrapped with wire. Rings that are wrapped are especially breathtaking. The settings are made of wrapped wire as well. The combination of the two makes an incredible work of beautiful art.

Pendants are also very popular in wire wrapped settings. They give the stone a bit of personality. Taking three wires and making a thin braid to wrap a stone is also very beautiful. Many artists are known by their specific style of wire wrapping.

The buyer can give the artist a stone to wrap specifically for them. The buyer will then designate whether they want a ring, necklace or bracelet. Many artists market themselves with this personal service. They eventually generate their business more from word of mouth, than any other marketing technique. Having the knowledge as to the mystical powers of each stone can also be quite helpful.

The general jewelry buying population really loves purchasing wrapped stones that will bring them wealth, health or happiness. Making wire wrapped jewelry is a healing and, it can turn out to be a beautiful and wealthy profession.

About the Author:

Ann Marier has written many articles on family life and different health questions. Her latest articles tell you all you need to know about jewelry making as a hobby perhaps even a part time business

Can a container capture more attention than what it contains? It happens if the container is a jewelry box ? hand made, exquisite, antique so on and on. The jewelry box is not functioning as a mere holder of valuable jewels. It is a work of art by itself. There are mind boggling varieties to choose from, the playful styles suitable for little girls, to handcrafted jewellery boxes. Their functions and the price ranges also vary.

Remember the wind up music boxes to hold your fancy jewels and also the trademark character jewelry boxes which fascinated the young girls with a small mirror for the little princess to check your look after putting on your jewels. These inexpensive great gifts are meant for little girls.
Then there are the dresser style jewelry boxes resembling tiny chests of drawers in bright colours with a soft fabric lining to protect the jewelry.

Jewelry boxes for the grown up come in different styles to fit every need ? not only for the women ? watch boxes, valet box which falls under the category of jewelry boxes are specially made for men.

Beautifully hand crafted jewelry boxes made from natural woods such as teak, mahogany and oak, fetch a good price. Looking for a fancier jewelry box ? try those made in rosewood, sandalwood, sal wood and white cedar, they are sanded to a perfect finish with beautiful stain and with a clear shiny coat of lacquer.

Limited edition jewelry boxes are made by master craftsmen and each piece has great detail and it is very difficult even for the original maker of the particular box to get an exact replica.

Jewelry boxes from different countries have different and distinct styles of their own. Jewelry boxes from India, particularly from Tamilnadu and Kerala are mostly carved in sandalwood with tiny relief work all over.

Lacquer Jewelry boxes from Russia are mostly miniature works of art with watercolour and oil decorations and appreciated for their high artistic quality reflecting Russian culture. Brightly coloured and sparkling they compare well with the jewellery held inside.

Need something to hold the treasured family heirloom? There is a big world of jewelry boxes beckoning you.

A special gift needing a special package? Try the Crystal jewellery boxes, hand painted with enamel over pewter. They are reasonably priced. They make a great impact as a Christmas, engagement, wedding, birthday or anniversary gift.

Fore more info visit http://www.trinket-boxes.info

About the Author:

Anastasia Phocas is a proud contributing author. Find more articles here. For more info visit Trinket Boxes or Antique Jewelry Boxes

Beaded Jewelry ? The Latest FadSubmitted By: Steve Manik

The latest craze is to have jewelry made of various types of beads in different sizes, textures and colors. The more beaded the jewelry the better it is as your outfits look gets changed to causal.

You may buy beaded jewelry from local shops or you may make your own by utilizing craft beads. Local craft shops namely Michaels, AC Moore and some other have a wide selection of superb quality and economical prices for the beads they sell. It is unimportant if you are experienced or novice working with beads, you can find beads, findings, wires, threads, tools and anything else you require to make stunning jewelry and door pieces for your home.

Craft beads may be plastic pony beads, fabric beads, paper beads, pearl, glass to swarovski crystals and any other thing. Shops which sell beads generally have a large collection of thousands of various types and sizes of beads.

Some of the more popular types of craft beads include Bead Heaven, Elegance collections, crystal Innovations, Better beads, Elite better beads, Fancy Finery, Westrim, Blue Moon and Bead gallery assortments. A large selection of bead and jewelry making kits, which are just right for beginners, are also available. These kits have everything you require including an instructions book to get you started.

As with any craft you have to get proper tools. You may buy them individually or in sets. If you are unsure whether you will like to continue making things with beads and are reluctant to invest in beginning. The alternate is you may take special training class at the bead store. They will provide you tools to work with and if you get interested you can than buy your own tools for your new hobby.

The craft store can also give you many ideas for your bead projects. It has no importance whether you take classes or work independently with a pre-arranged kit, or if you buy a book, you will have unlimited ideas of you own craft bead jewelry. You may make sets which will have necklace, bracelet, earrings and pin and each set will be totally yours which is a special kind of jewelry.

You might have doubts whether you are talented enough to make your own jewelry or home d?cor items with craft beads, but you can know only if you try to join a class and start with small items. As your skills improve you can try more complicated projects.

Before you are aware, you will be making your own jewelry and home d?cor items and everyone will be asking where you have purchased your jewelry from. And you might start your own business of making jewelry for other people to purchase. The opportunities are endless and the limit is only your imagination for using craft beads. You can set up our own jewelry making business and it may turn out to be profitable venture. Since, you are well aware that there is a great demand for handmade products in United States of America.

About the Author:

I am freelance writer, I have written on many fields that are under the sun. Accuracy, clarity and impact are the hallmarks of my work. I can write on any subject. More articles at http://www.article-ghost-writer.com and http://www.senatorinternational.co.in

Jewelry Care

Clean jewelry looks better and keeps its finish better than dirty jewelry. Cleaners and cleaning methods can damage your jewelry. Ask your jeweler, when you buy a new piece what is the best way to clean the jewelry. Here are a few do’s and don’ts and some tips to help you keep your jewelry looking its best.

Do

Store your jewelry individually wrapped or in a box with compartments so they don’t scratch each otherUse an Ionic cleaner if you can find one even on opals, pearls and emeraldsUse a soft cloth to colean porous gems like lapis, turquoise, jade and malachiteAvoid heat and strong light on your Opals because it can dry them outPut a ring holder next to the sink to catch your rings while washing your hands so they don’t wander down the drain. Don’t Use a sonic cleaner on anything but diamonds, rubies, sapphires, gold and silver without consulting the manufacturer of your jewelryGet lotion, perfumes, oils or other chemicals on your jewelry.Wear your jewelry when it might be subject to sharp blows or chemicals as in cleaning, gardening or playing sportsWear Kunzite or Zircon in sunlight as it could cause them to fade.Use paper towels for cleaning as they can scratch your gold or silver. Tips for Caring for Your Jewelry

Clean your earring posts and wires with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizerTry a Water Pik® to clean imbedded materials in chains.Diamonds are brittle and can be chipped, so wear them with care.Check with your jeweler to see if your stones are treated and what special care must be given to treated stones.Don’t wear your metals in a swimming pool as the chlorine is not good for them.Your stones can crack if they are subjected to sudden temperature changes.Soap film can dull your jewelry

Kingfisher Designs
http://www.wireweavers.com

Louise Coulson along with her husband Don designs and creates jewelry from sterling silver and gold filled wire. Their jewelry shows the wire used almost as if it were a fiber. The fiber arts approach comes from Louise’s long background as a weaver and the meticulous craftsmanship is due to Don’s background in engineering. The pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited edition.