Perhaps you’ve seen the Om symbol around or know firsthand what it signifies. For those who don’t know:

What Does “Aum” Mean??

Aum (or OM) is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined together, make the sound Aum or Om. It is believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds. It is said to be the sound of the universe. What does that mean?

Somehow the ancient yogis knew what scientists today are telling us–that the entire universe is moving. Nothing is ever solid or still. Everything that exists pulsates, creating a rhythmic vibration that the ancient yogis acknowledged with the sound of Aum. We may not always be aware of this sound in our daily lives, but we can hear it in the rustling of the autumn leaves, the waves on the shore, the inside of a seashell.

Chanting Aum allows us to recognize our experience as a reflection of how the whole universe moves–the setting sun, the rising moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the beating of our hearts. As we chant Aum, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.

The Aum symbol design can be seen as a symbolic representation of the various psychological compartments of the psyche; an inner dimensional map of the various compartments of human consciousness and the relationship each has to the divine within.

The long lower curve represents the dreaming state.

The upper curve stands for the waking state.

The curve which emanates from the center represents deep sleep, beyond dreams.

The crescent stands for the veil of material illusion.

The dot is the transcendental self.

Source: SacredFunk.com

Style 5563 High Polished OM Pendant With Bezel Set Diamond High polished “OM” pendant with a bezel set round brilliant diamond on an 18″ cable chain, approx. 5/8″ tall. Trade Up Our Guarantee

We often get many questions re: the various degrees of gold in jewelry. (Take a moment to look at our extensive selection of gold jewelry.) Before you purchase any gold, know the various terms first.

Pure gold: When 100 percent of the metal is gold, it’s called 24-carat gold, or 24k. That’s the stuff worth almost $1,100 per ounce. But don’t expect jewelry to be pure gold because that metal is too soft for a durable design. Virtually all gold gets mixed with other metals — such as palladium, nickel, copper, silver, zinc, silicon and boron — to increase its hardness. Mixing, however, dilutes the gold’s value.

Solid gold: In the United States, a metal doesn’t have to be pure gold to be called solid gold. Metals containing as little as 41.7 percent gold — also known at 10-carat gold — legally can be called solid gold.

14-carat gold: This is what most fine jewelry is made from, a mixture of 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of a base metal. Thus, a 14k-gold bracelet is just 58.3 percent gold. Some very fine jewelry is 18k gold (75 percent gold) and some is just 10k gold (41.7 percent gold). Many “class rings,” for example, are 10k because that tends to be a stronger alloy and less expensive than rings made with a higher percentage of gold. U.S. jewelry that is 10k or higher usually will be marked with its carat quality, though marking is not required by law. Near the carat quality mark may be a U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials.

Gold-filled, gold overlay and and rolled gold plate: These are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10k gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. Jewelry marked gold- filled, gold overlay or rolled gold plate should include the karat quality of the gold used. Example: 14k gold overlay, 12k RGP or 1/20 12k GF. If the layer of gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the jewelry, any marking must state the actual percentage of carat gold, such as 1/40th 14k gold overlay.

Gold-plated: Jewelry can be thinly plated with gold in various ways, including mechanically plated or electroplated. Gold-plated jewelry has significantly less gold than gold-filled, gold overlay or rolled gold jewelry. Eventually, gold plating wears away, and how long that takes depends on the plate thickness. Gold electroplate has a layer at least 0.175 microns thick of 10k or more gold. Gold-flashed or gold-washed jewelry has an extremely thin plating of gold less than 0.175 microns thick.

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2010/01/01/991880_p2/seller-beware-as-gold-buyers-can.html#storylink=cpy

Style FS1629 18kt White Gold Diamond Leaf Designed Band 18kt White gold band with .08ct t.w. diamond leaf design, (readily available in ring size 6, please call to order other sizes). Metal: 18kt White Gold Stone Size: .8ct t.w. Ring Size: 6 Trade Up Our Guarantee

A client told us about an experience she had not too long ago that went something like this:

She really wanted a new piece of jewelry. She hadn’t purchased something new in years. Unfortunately she and her husband were going through a trying financial time and simply couldn’t justify a new purchase. So she sat down with her jewelry box and dumped the contents on the bed. She spent a good deal of time untangling necklaces and matching earrings, finding the correct backings. She put aside pieces she no longer wore and readied them for a local thrift store. She arranged her jewelry properly, for easy, no-tangle access. She cleaned a few necklaces for a much needed shine.

And what did she find? That she had a forgotten treasure chest in her very own jewelry box.

What pieces do you have that you’ve forgotten about? What about a jewelry makeover for older pieces that you’ve always loved but need a new and improved look? Here’s a great example.

Many don’t know good faceting from the next. Or at least they think they don’t know. But truthfully, it’s just as plain as the ring on your finger. Most people, consciously or not, do know good faceting, since it so drastically affects the look of the piece.

This video gives a good idea on gems and faceting so when you buy your next piece, you’re in the know.

As big proponents of moissanite, we also understand people’s hesitation. What exactly is it and will it hold a candle to a real natural diamond?

Moissanite  is an amazing stone that resembles a diamond in nearly every sense. To the naked eye it appears just as, if not even more, brilliant than it’s expensive natural counterpart. In a simple traditional thermal probe, this stone even shows up as a diamond. When it comes to the moissanite vs. diamond battle, test yourself and you will see it is nearly impossible to tell the difference. No scratching or buffing ever and the stone will never turn cloudy or dull.

Moissanite is so durable, it’s nearly as hard as a diamond. While a diamond score a 10 on the hardness scale, moissanite comes in just below at 9 1/4. In fact, it’s harder than sapphire or ruby. When you shop our moissanite rings on sale, you never have to worry about them scuffing or scratching – just like a natural diamond.

This great video illustrates on of moissanite’s strongest points: it’s amazing sparkle.

It’s always helpful hearing tips from pros who understand fashion and design from a more seasoned point of view. Catherine Andreozzi has been teaching at RISD for over a decade and department head since the summer of 2010. As an apparel designer, her collections have been exhibited in Milan, New York and Las Vegas. Check out her tips:

Bridesmaids have a sordid history, fashion-wise. Most women equate bridesmaid dresses with an article of clothing that they’ll only ever wear once. Which is a shame, because a. they cost money and b. a dress should be worn again (unless you’re royalty!)

But what about jewelry? Jewelry is a popular gift for bridesmaids and when the piece is just right, its bound to please for years to come. Here are some tips from Dexknowsweddings.com:

Step 1:

Consider the theme of the wedding when choosing jewelry. If you’re having a beach wedding, buy a charm bracelet with crustacean charms. For a more formal wedding, you might look for pearl earrings.

Step 2:

Pick jewelry that will complement the bridesmaids’ dresses well. Necklaces should not dangle past the top of the dress fabric. Short earrings are best for high dress necklines, and bracelets are excellent choices for bare wrists.

Step 3:

Choose something that will complement the looks of all your bridesmaids. For this reason, conservative selections such as stud earrings or simple necklaces are preferred over dangling earrings and colorful bracelets. Those items are also likely to photograph better.

Step 4:

Traditionally, brides gives bridesmaids identical gifts, but you can take one gift idea and tweak it for each bridesmaid’s personality. For example, if you’re giving silver necklaces, each necklace can have a different pendant suited to that bridesmaid. Just make sure that any cost differences among the necklaces are negligible.

Personally, we think this is a bridesmaid gift for all occasions:

Style 10579 Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace, 10mm-11mm, 18″ long with a sterling silver clasp. For a larger view click here Available in: White Black Multi Color (dyed color) Chocolate (dyed color)

We’ve shown you some videos in the past that give you detailed instruction when it comes to wearing jewelry, jewelry trends, etc. This one highlights the fashion power of layering, using some trendy pieces this Spring. Tell us what you think!

If you’re familiar with your business, you’ll know we are very moissanite friendly. It’s eco-friendly and easily comparable to naturally mined diamonds in its brilliance and strength. This quick and easy video walks you through the basic methods of discerning moissanite from diamonds and cubic zirconia. You’ll note from the video the comparability between diamonds and moissanite as well.

Jewelry requires a good deal of maintenance yet many of fall short in this department. A tangled necklace can be a bit of a nightmare. Hours can go by and sometimes you end up worse than when you started! Here’s a simple “how to” video that will make life easier.

Snake chains are considerably less like to tangle:

Style 10347MS

Three Stone Round Moissanite Necklace

Three stone slide pendant featuring Charles and Colvard created round moissanite on an 18″ snake chain.

Available in 14kt white gold only.

$899