We used to think that cheap jewelry was only dangerous to good taste. But by now, many of us realize the potentially harmful components of jewelry, especially for children who love to put jewelry in their mouths.

Read on:

A non-profit organization called The Ecology Center ran tests on 99 pieces of jewelry (some of which was geared toward children but most of it was for adults) that were purchased from 14 different discount stores such from around the country, like Target, Claire’s, Glitter, Forever 21, Walmart, H&M, and Hot Topic. They checked each piece for dangerous things like lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, brominated flame retardants, chlorine, mercury and arsenic. And, surprise, surprise, lots of the jewelry was full of nasty stuff.

Over half of the jewelry, all of which cost less than ten dollars, had high levels of these hazardous chemicals, including 27 of the pieces which had lead levels which exceeded the 300 ppm limit for children’s products. Ninety percent of the pieces had chromium and nickel, which can cause allergic reactions, and ten percent of the pieces had cadmium, which is a toxic metal that’s been the subject of other jewelry and toy recalls. Some of the most toxic pieces they found included, “Claire’s Gold 8 Bracelet Set, Walmart’s Silver Star Bracelet, Target’s Silver Charm Necklace, and Forever 21’s Long Pearl Flower Necklace.” Take a quick scan of the jewelry you’ve got on to make sure none of these poisonous gems are making contact with your fragile epidermis as your read this.

Source: Jezebel

    Cadmium – looks prettier than it tastes!

What if life worked from the outside in? What if changing the color of the walls around you invited  new change into your life? What if wearing a bright pink blouse brought you romance and just the right kind of attention?

What if you needed guidance and wore our Curved Round Journey Pendant necklace for assistance? What if, each time you wore it, you were able to see your life’s journey more clearly? Or what if wearing it reminded you, during rough times, that life has all sorts of twists and turns but is beautiful nonetheless.

People have worn “lucky charms” since the beginning of time. That’s because jewelry can have magical powers…if you believe.

Style 10053 Curved Round Journey Pendant Seven stone curved journey pendant with 1ct t.w. round brilliant stones set on an 18″ cable chain.

It’s your big day and the focus should be about you and your sparkling spouse-to-be. Your bridesmaids need to enhance and support your look, not distract (which also means picking smart, classic dresses–not those scary ones never to be worn again after the wedding!)

The bridesmaid jewelry can be worked out simply and easily using these basic rules:

4 simple rules when picking jewelry for the bridesmaids:

1. It has to work for you.

This day is about you and all you desire. You’ll be looking at your bridesmaids the entire day; you want them to reflect your creative choice.

2. When in doubt, pearl it out.

Pearls look great with practically any outfit and on any woman. Plus a nice set of pearls can be affordable!

3. Keep it simple.

A delicate pendant necklace or stud earrings will never distract or overwhelm. Since the day will be full of “big” outfits, why not keep it simple when choosing jewelry for your bridesmaids?

4. Work with the neckline of the bridesmaids dress:

V-Shaped – Y-Shaped necklace

Strapless or Low Neckline – Choker, collar or multi-strand necklace

Sweetheart – Y-Shape or longer necklace

This pendant necklace is a popular bridesmaid choice:

Trade Up | Our Guarantee

Style 447M Classic Four Prong Round Moissanite Solitaire Pendant Four prong solitaire pendant with a Charles and Colvard created round moissanite set on an 18″ cable chain.

Here are a few basic tips to keep in mind when arranging your outfit…and in under 2 minutes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65nMxWLiEfo

Celebrities and other VIP’s rely heavily on the guidance of fashion stylists for that “just so” look. Jewelry stylists work along side them, making sure their clients wear just the right accoutrements to show off their style. Brianna Miller [above, right] is a well-reputed jewelry stylist who makes a living out of helping people choose just the right baubles.

While working at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, Miller discovered – and honed – her gift for styling and selecting the right jewelry for every ensemble. Her creativity and eye for color, textures and proportions helped her succeed, but she also learned to “read” a woman’s lifestyle and fashion profile.

“For me, styling is all about finding my client’s personal style and drawing it out,” she says. “It’s about elevating her style to make her the best version of yourself.”

She loves hearing women report back to her things like “everyone told me I looked fabulous, but it wasn’t about one specific piece – it was about the entire look!”

Read more at El Paso Inc.

A circle is the reflection of eternity. It has no beginning and it has no end – and if you put several circles over each other, then you get a spiral. – Maynard James Keenan

We’ve talked about classic looks here before–you know, the pieces that every woman should have in her jewelry box. Whether its a pearl necklace or simple, dazzling studs, some jewelry looks great on practically any woman and stands the test of time.

We’re going to add to the list: hoop earrings. Why should every woman own hoop earrings?

1. Face flattering. There aren’t too many times of faces that hoop earrings don’t work with, including a round race (though if that’s the case, you might want to go for oblong hoops).

2. Attention. Hoop earrings, unlike studs, are real attention getters. If they don’t work for the office, they’re perfect for a night out on the town.

3. Fun and flirty. If hoop earrings could talk, they’d say “celebration.” There is just something festive about them, even adding to the wearer’s mood.

4. Comfort. Weight is distributed evenly when wearing hoop earrings. They tend not to pull.

So what do your hoop earrings look like? Is it time for a new pair? With Spring fully in bloom, why not go for a bigger size?

Inside-outside hoop earrings with approximately 9/10ct t.w. (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created round moissanite stones. Each earring measures 16x2mm wide, set in 14kt white gold.

Most have heard that toothpaste can clean certain types of jewelry…but ketchup? According to Reader’s Digest, condiments are just one of many household products you can use for jewelry cleaning.

[Thanks Reader’s Digest, providing helpful information since 1938.]

But vodka? Hmmm…

Alka-Seltzer

Drop your dull-looking jewelry in a glass of fizzing Alka-Seltzer for a couple of minutes. It will sparkle and shine when you pull it out.

See more uses for Alka-Seltzer.

Aluminum Foil

To clean your jewelry, simply line a small bowl with aluminum foil. Fill the bowl with hot water and mix in one tablespoon of bleach-free powdered laundry detergent (not liquid), like Tide. Put the jewelry in the solution and let it soak for one minute. Rinse well and air-dry. This procedure makes use of the chemical process known as ion exchange, which can also be used to clean silverware.

See more uses for Aluminum Foil.

Ammonia

Brighten up your gold and silver trinkets by soaking them for 10 minutes in a solution of 1/2 cup clear ammonia mixed in 1 cup warm water. Gently wipe clean with a soft cloth and let dry. Note: Do not do this with jewelry containing pearls, because it could dull or damage their delicate surface.

See more uses for Ammonia.

Baking Soda

To remove built-up tarnish from your silver, make a thick paste with 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 tablespoons water. Apply with a damp sponge and gently rub, rinse, and buff dry. To polish gold jewelry, cover with a light coating of baking soda, pour a bit of vinegar over it, and rinse clean.

Note: Do not use this technique with jewelry containing pearls or gem-stones, as it could damage their finish and loosen the glue.

See more uses for Baking Soda.

Beer

Get the shine back in your solid gold (i.e., minus any gemstones) rings and other jewelry by pouring a bit of beer (not dark ale!) onto a soft cloth and rubbing it gently over the piece. Use a clean second cloth or towel to dry.

See more uses for Beer.

Club Soda

Soak your diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds in club soda to give them a bright sheen. Simply place them in a glass full of club soda and let them soak overnight.

See more uses for Club Soda.

Denture Tablets

Has your diamond ring lost its sparkle? Drop a denture tablet into a glass containing a cup of water. Follow that with your ring or diamond earrings. Let it sit for a few minutes. Remove your jewelry and rinse to reveal the old sparkle and shine.

See more uses for Denture Tablets.

Ketchup

Let ketchup do the work of shining tarnished silver. If your ring, bracelet, or earring has a smooth surface, dunk it in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If it has a tooled or detailed surface, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into the crevices. To avoid damaging the silver, don’t leave the ketchup on any longer than necessary. Rinse your jewelry clean, dry it, and it’s ready to wear.

See more uses for Ketchup.
Read more: http://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/12-home-products-for-cleaning-jewelry/#ixzz2QjaKwWI5

Heart shaped jewelry has been around a long time. But does it read as a tad tacky or too “teenage” for grown-up tastes? This piece in My Jewelry blog addresses the ways in which heart jewelry can be worn tastefully and when to tone it down a bit:

Heart shaped jewelry remains classic. However, as we see all too often on the red carpet, too much of anything can be tacky. As with any variety of jewelry, it is important to practice moderation. Unless it is Valentine’s Day, avoid drenching yourself in heart-themed jewelry pieces and wear only one or two at a time. For a very understated look that can go all the way to the boardroom, try stud earrings in which the metal is in the form of a heart or that feature small gems in a diamond cut. If your workplace isn’t very formal, you may find that you can get more playful – consider a heart-shaped bangle or a bracelet that has a heavy heart theme. You may even be able to pull off a single piece of statement jewelry, such as a chunky ring featuring a gem in a heart cut or a sparkling, heart themed brooch. Also remember that heart shaped pendants and lockets never go out of style.

Read more here.

One of our heart-shaped pieces, assuredly untacky!

Style 10590S Heart Shape Pendant With Genuine Brazilian Garnets And Natural Diamonds Heart shape pendant in 14kt white gold featuring approximately .06ct t.w. of genuine Brazilian garnets and natural diamonds. (Pendant only, chain sold separately) Trade Up Our Guarantee

MSRP: $499.00
Our Price: $339.00

Some quick and easy tips for maximizing your jewelry ensemble:

The pope’s ring is also known as the The Fisherman’s Ring. It is an official seal, exclusive only to him. When the acting pope leaves, traditionally, the ring is broken with a hammer.

As vice president of the Roman Guild of Goldsmiths, Claudio Franchi was commissioned to make the ring when Benedict was elected in 2005. He said reports that the ring will be destroyed are a mistranslation of the Italian word “biffatura,” which means “to cross out.”

“The ring is marked with a cross on the upper part as a symbol of the end of the papacy,” he said. “It is not destroyed.”

The chosen design for Benedict ring was inspired by a Michelangelo painting. The final concept required more than 200 sketches and colored drawings. It depicts St. Peter, who was a fisherman, and carries the inscription “Benedictus XVI,” the pope’s official title in Latin. The elliptical shape represents the piazza in front of St Peter’s Basilica, laid out by the sculptor Bernini in the 17th century.

The ring is 35 grams of pure gold. It took eight artisans working 15 hours a day for two weeks to make it.

Source: CBS News