This video offers some fun, non-traditional and practical tips to store your jewelry using straws, buttons and an oven mitt…yes, an oven mitt!

Most of us think only in terms of clothing when it comes to matching our skin tone, but instinctually we gravitate toward one metal or another because we know silver or gold simply looks better. If you’re unsure, here’s a smart chart to guide you:

Determining Skin Tone

Look at the skin in natural light. Try to find a spot where the veins are easily noticeable. For most people, the wrists are their best bet. Use the table below to determine one’s skin tone.

Matching Skin Tone to Metals

Metals are easy to divide into cool and warm categories. The following table highlights the most common cool and warm metals found in jewelry.

Matching Skin Tone to Gem Colors

Metals are the base of jewelry. They need to match the skin tone so as not to distract, but the metal itself is usually not the focus of a piece of jewelry. Whether artificial or real, gems need to match one’s skin tone in order to create a cohesive look. Pale skin can look great with the right jewelry, but the wrong jewelry can make such skin look washed out and even unhealthy. Use the following table to find the right gem colors.

Source: eBay

Image: Fire Mountains Gems

This fun little video offers up simple steps to avoid that dreaded “matchy matchy” look and take some chances with layers, colors and lengths.

Did you know:

The tradition of borrowing jewelry from high-end Jewelers to wear to the Academy Awards ceremony was started in 1944 by Jennifer Jones who wore Harry Winston’s jewelry for the occasion.

Pure gold is always yellow. The color of gold can be altered by adding in different metals.

Pearls are formed when a tiny bit of sand gets trapped inside an oyster. The oyster produces ”nacre” as a defense mechanism that coats the intruder, layer after layer.

A pearl is only found naturally in 1 in every 10,000 oysters.

Cultured pearls are formed with human intervention but placing an irritant into an opened mollusk or oyster.

Mother of Pearl is the thick nacre that coats the inner shell of the oyster or mollusk. The oyster secretes the nacre from the cells on the mantle tissue to protect itself from parasitic organisms.

Necklace Lengths:
-15-16″ is called “Choker length” and hits just above the collar bone.
-18″ length chains are called “Princess Length” and hit just below the collar bone.
-22-23″ length necklaces are called “Matinee length”
-28-36″ necklaces are called “Opera length”
-37″ or longer necklaces are called “Sautoir or Rope Length”
The Pearl of Lao Tzu is the largest pearl ever found, weighing 14.1 lbs and 10 inches in diameter.

Most Diamonds are 1-3 million years old.

The name diamond comes from the Greek word Adamas, which means indestructible or unconquerable.

Engagement rings are worn on the third finger of the left hand, because the ancient Egyptians believed that the vein in that finger ran directly to the heart.

A ruby is actually a red sapphire.

High quality emerald is more valuable than a diamond.

Cartier introduced the metal platinum to Jewelry in 1896.

 

Source: Beautifulbands.com

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bxTD6KWO5Y

We’re big believers that the more you know about a gem before purchasing, the happier you’ll be in the long run. Today, the lesson? Knowing the difference between “shape” and “cut.”

CUT

The cut of a gemstone describes how an artisan angles the gem to best reflect light through the stone. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is that brightness that seems to come from the very heart of a diamond. The angles and finish of any gemstone determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance.

SHAPE

The artisan will choose the ultimate shape which will best flatter this rough gem. The shape is basically the overall geometry or form of the diamond (round, square, etc.). The parts of the gemstone which reflect shape are the table and crown, for example in the round gemstone they are cut to produce a round shape when looking down from above.

SUMMARY

To summarize: The “cut” is actually the angle and shape of the facets. The various cut angles determine how the stone will reflect light. That’s what gives a gemstone it’s brilliance. The “shape” refers to the overall shape of the stone geometrically or as defined by the outline or surface. Hope this helps you distinguish cut vs shape.

Source: eBay.com

Below, an example of a shape chart:

It’s hard to remember to remove earrings, etc. before jumping in the pool or hot tub. And when we do, its often because we’re afraid of losing the jewelry…but the problem doesn’t lie there.

Read on:

Chlorine stress cracking is a chemical reaction between gold alloy jewelry and chlorine that causes breakdown of the metal causing broken prongs and ring shanks.

Chlorine is found with increasing use in household ‘non-abrasive’ cleaners and of course in laundry detergents and bleach. It is also used in pool and hot tub water treatment and in high concentrations in tap water. In some communities the chlorine in tap water is at levels normal for swimming pools. Where new construction is common local codes require chlorine level boosting each time a new home is connected to the water main.

 At maximum concentration such as pure household bleach, chlorine is so reactive that 14k gold jewelry left in pure bleach solution for 24 hours will be destroyed beyond repair; in   extreme cases the gold will be dissolved! DON’T EVER SOAK JEWELRY IN BLEACH!

 Chlorine reacts specifically with the copper and nickel portions of gold jewelry alloys. Copper and silver are the primary alloys for yellow gold and nickel is the primary alloy for white gold. Chlorine dissolves the copper, or in the case of a white gold mounting for a diamond the nickel, and causes a perfectly good and often new piece of jewelry to break.

 

What to do?

 

Take off rings while cleaning with a chlorinated cleaner but don’t leave them near the sink where they may get knocked down the drain. Read labels – chlorine is in products where you least expect it – watch for the ‘Contains Bleach’ label.

Try to avoid wearing jewelry in the pool or hot tub. Rings set with stones, especially with prongs, are most subject to damage and hot tub water is five times more damaging due to heat and increased chlorine concentrations. Bromine based hot tub treatments are also damaging although not quite as corrosive as chlorine.

Demand a minimum of 14k gold for all jewelry. No matter what anyone tells you, 10k gold is a sub-standard alloy with a pure gold content of less than 50% and extremely reactive with chlorine. The higher the alloy, such as 18k, the less copper or nickel is present and the less reactive the alloy is with chlorine. Pure gold, or 24k, is impervious to almost EVERY chemical. The optimal metal for stone mounting is platinum, also impervious but three times as expensive as 14k gold. A more economical solution is Palladium (a platinum family metal) white gold which appears to be nearly impervious to chlorine with a cost about 30% higher than white gold. Ask your jeweler about Palladium white gold.

Avoid having rings ‘stretched’ to increase size. The usual procedure is to roll or hammer a ring shank (band) to increase the ring size which means that section of metal will be heavily stressed . Maximum chlorine reaction occurs to areas that have been stressed from rolling, hammering, or bending of prongs (unavoidable). Always insist that sizing up be accomplished by cutting the shank and adding new metal (size-up less than 1/2 size is usually okay to stretch).

When cleaning jewelry use only bottled or distilled water and a non-chlorinated laundry detergent or liquid dish soap. If your tap water contains a high concentration of chlorine and you leave you jewelry in the solution overnight you have done more harm than good. We still suggest cleaning jewelry frequently; it looks better, and you also remove chlorine residue from showering, washing hands, etc.

  Thanks, Jewelry1.com – great advice!

The summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street.

But you might want to take off your jewelry beforehand, especially if you’re wearing sunscreen. (Okay, those are the B-side lyrics!)

Here are some travel pointers found in Stylecaster.com, so you can take the best care of your jewelry this summer.

1. Sunbathe sans sparklers.
Sunscreen can coat gemstones, which reduces refractive and reflective light. Essentially, this means your stones won’t be as brilliant or bling-y. To avoid this, leave your fine pieces at home if you’re heading to the beach or the pool for the day, and be sure clean them regularly all summer.

 2. Organization is key when traveling.
When jumbled together, your jewelry doesn’t always get along. For example, a diamond can scratch a pearl, and a bracelet can get caught on a necklace, so always pack pieces in individual soft cloth pouches or lined jewelry boxes to prevent scratching, dulling, and the dreaded tangling of chains.

3. Keep it safe.
When selecting a hotel, be sure that safe deposit boxes are available. Never leave fine jewelry unattended in a hotel room, a rental car, or on a lounge chair—even if you’re just popping over to the bar for a mojito.

4. Shopping for something new? Do your research.
Oftentimes, vacation destinations are also prime shopping destinations, so if you get the urge to commemorate your trip with a new fine jewelry purchase (as opposed to a couple of locally-made friendship bracelets, which are a must!),  make sure you’re buying from a jeweler that’s been in business for several years. When in doubt, check a retailer’s reputation and rating with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbbonline.org) and also learn the store’s return policy. Most reputable jewelers have at least a 30-day money back guarantee wherever you are.

5. Before you go away, be sure your jewelry is adequately insured.
If you decide to bring an especially valuable piece on vacation—perhaps your engagement ring, a pricey watch, or a family heirloom—you might want to consider consulting an insurance agent to obtain an independent appraisal report to ensure a fair replacement if the article is lost, stolen or damaged.

This quick little video gives you a general idea of the directions you can go when choosing bridal accessories for your hair. For obvious reasons, we love the idea of using a family heirloom, such as a broach, to insert in your hairdo.

Imagine yourself in your bedroom, dressing for the evening ahead, perfume wafting in air, music playing gently in the background. You feel amazing, like a million dollars. Your dress couldn’t fit you any better and the night of you ahead is ripe with possibility and romance. You open your jewelry box and these lie waiting.

As you put them on, you know your look is finally complete. And as the night unfurls, your earrings enhance your face and capture the eyes of all you encounter.

Every woman deserves to have that extra special pair of earrings for that extra special occasion.

Let these be yours.

Style 10370MS Pear Moissanite And Natural Diamond Drop Earrings Antique design drop earrings featuring two 6x4mm (.48ct dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created pear shape moissanites and approximately 1/6ct t.w. natural diamonds. Available in 14kt white gold only. Trade Up Our Guarantee

While its small and may require a magnifying glass or loupe, understanding the markings on your jewelry help you understand the value and quality of your jewelry.

If you see a number you don’t understand, as the presenter points out, simply Google it for more information.