Jewelry Education and Advice

What’s wrong with this picture? (Take it off!)

With the first of the “big” holidays approaching, we expect many jewelry wearers to be knee deep in kitchen preparations. And many will already be dressed beforehand, with a mere apron serving as a protection against the “elements” of Thanksgiving (steaming heat, splattering grease and hard knocks on unyielding frying pans).

How about some friendly holiday advice?

Take off your jewelry before even entering the kitchen. 

While many jewelry aficionados know better than to wear jewelry into a pool or the bathroom, most don’t think of one of the most dangerous zones in the household for jewelry: the kitchen.

Not only can cooking oils and fats stain metals, but food can get lodged into the setting of your engagement ring. And it doesn’t stop there: detergents can cloud up your gems, slowing dimming their inner fire.

And let’s not forget about potential loss. The bathroom isn’t the only place with a drain waiting to cause trouble, afterall.

The takeaway? Get into the habit of removing jewelry before entering the kitchen. It’s that simple. Take a few minutes before dining to don your glittery best. You’ll provide your guests with an extra treat by showing them another layer to your holiday look!

The market is flooded with fake jewelry. And that’s not a bad thing: fake jewelry has its place and can be a fun and flamboyant form of adornment. But when you think you’re getting a particular metal or gem and its something else (like a cheaper grade metal or a fake stone) well, then you got yourself a problem.

This fairly in-depth video quickly and easily displays the ways you can detect fake jewelry so you don’t fall victim to a dupe.

Does your body type influence the kind of jewelry you choose? This recent Forbes piece spotlights a jeweler who believes embracing your body type and being bold about your jewelry choices is the best way to go.

“I used to be really afraid I would be taken less seriously in professional settings as a fat woman. And I think I tried to minimize my body size by wearing jewelry that was super tiny when I was meeting with new clients or going to a conference.”

We love the theme of this piece: embracing your true self and expressing as fully as possible. Its too easy for women to find themselves downplaying aspects of their bodies. This then reflects in choices (fashion or otherwise) that are small or less than they’d naturally choose to wear.

The message in this article remind us: we can dare to be the biggest, boldest and baddest self we can be!

From a well-tailored fitted suit to a nice button down shirt to a fitted jeans, what looks appeal to women?

May we include a classic ring for gents?

Remember: good fashion doesn’t need to cost a lot. Start with a good haircut and build out from there!

It may seem like common knowledge…but it’s not. So:

Why wear your watch on your non-dominant hand?

Well, for several pragmatic reason:

First, the obvious. Wearing a watch on your non-dominant hand means you can go about your daily activities easier, since your dominant hand is doing much of the busy work.

Second, it protects the watch. That’s right: since your dominant hand is going about more tasks, there’s less risk of injury or breakage.

And lastly, it gives your non-dominant hand a little more to do. When you use your non-dominant hand more frequently, it can increase brain power. While we don’t know if checking your watch would fit in this category, it can’t hurt, huh?

One of the most common jewelry wearing questions: how much is too much? Conversely, how little is too little?

The answer is strategizing and balance. Let’s now forget: a “hey now” piece.

Let this video be your guide.

Amber ain’t your average gem. On some levels, its strange to think of it as a gem at all.

That’s because it’s….tree resin! That’s right. OLD tree resin. As a matter of fact, amber must be a million years old to qualify as amber.

And that is why most amber you’ve stumbled across probably isn’t really amber but composite and reconstituted resin alternatives…so not the real deal. (Remember: if the price is a little too good to be true, it’s probably not amber.)

Many have bespoke engagement rings with amber as the primary gem of choice. And why wouldn’t you pick a million year old gem for long-lasting love?

Radiant cut gems possess a brilliant facet pattern and a square (or rectangular) shape. They have a similar “sparkle level” to a princess or round cut but a more distinctive shape.

Radiant cut engagement rings have been donned by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Khloe Kardashian and Drew Barrymore.

Some people are intimidated by dainty jewelry. Seriously. Because I’m one of them. I’m not a dainty sort of person so bigger pieces seem to match my personality type better.

But then my aunt sent me a beautiful (and very dainty) necklace. Forced to look past my fashion reservations, I paired it perfectly with a floral summer dress I’m quite fond of. Voila…I look pretty darn good wearing dainty jewelry. Who knew?

This video does a smart job of showing how many types of dainty necklaces there are out there (many) and how they can be worn by any woman looking for a sweet and delicate touch to her wardrobe.

Undoubtedly you’ve heard this age-old piece of jewelry wearing advice: don’t mix your metals! Get ready to throw these tips into the bin along with “don’t wear white after Labor Day” or “don’t mix navy blue with black.”

This video details the basics when it comes to mixing metals and layering the right way (stop at three when it comes to delicate necklaces).