Jewelry Education and Advice

Yes, I realize the boldness of suggesting that any piece of jewelry could attract love. Many of us want love in our lives, but don’t know how to go about it. So we quietly long for it and when it doesn’t happen, we curse the heavens. Or just blame it on fate and timing. Or just become lazy or apathetic, hoping it will just fall into our laps. But let’s think about it for a second: Being open to love requires action and a mindset…and maybe a little magic.

What if you could open up to love in real, tangible ways in your life?

What if you could envision what you want so strongly that you become a magnet to love?

What if you could write out a magic list that contained all the elements you really want in a partner?

What if you could have charms that you hold and “charge” with your desires, so every time you wear it, you are reminded, even subconsciously, of your true desires?

It’s called manifesting and it’s been around for a long, long time. And jewelry has been used as a tool the in process of manifesting wishes.

Here’s a necklace we believe holds strong powers. It’s one of the staff favorites. Consider it if you’re looking for some love in your life….or just want a charming piece to show off to friends!

Can a necklace attract love? We think so. Especially this one!

Heart Shape Pendant With Genuine Brazilian Garnets And Natural Diamonds

You might not know the word “Bakelite” but undoubtedly you’ve seen it.

Bakelite became popular in the 1930’s and 1940’s. It is a strong, fire resistant plastic invented by Leo Baekeland in 1909. At first it was used for industrial purposes until jewelry makers found that lightweight Bakelite made a perfect choice for designing inexpensive jewelry. Coco Chanel was one famous designer who created Bakelite jewelry and accessories.

Here’s are some Bakelite pieces in its various incarnations over the years.

Auctioneer John Haxell with the largest Bakelite object ever produced - a coffin with a guide price of £5,000 Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/mailonsunday/article-1082316/Plastic-fantastic-The-pre-war-Bakelite-auction-expected-raise-thousands.html#ixzz1Pv4vQzOr

What a cute, effective video on a simple sterling silver jewelry cleaning technique!

As part of our ongoing jewelry history series, today we introduce pieces from the Art Nouveau period, with its flowing and fantastical forms and shapes.

The “Art Nouveau” (“new art”) movement was one of the first departures from classical art and design, towards a new modernism. This avant-garde movement occurred during what was known in France as the “La Belle Époque” period, or “beautiful era” of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Germany, the Art Nouveau movement was known as the “Jugendstil,” or “youth style” arts and crafts movement, named after “Jugend,” a cultural weekly magazine founded by Georg Hirth in 1896.

The Modernism movement was primarily influenced by the radical work of Czech (Moravian) artist Alphonse Maria Mucha (1860—1939), Swiss decorative artist Eugène Samuel Grasset (1845—1917), and English illustrator Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872—1898) — illustrator of the “The Peacock Skirt” below, left—and the ground-breaking architectural design work of Hector Guimard (1867—1942) of Paris (Paris Métro – below, right) and the surrealist architecture of Antoni Plàcid Gaudí (1852—1926) in Barcelona, Spain.

Design motifs of the Art Nouveau movement focused heavily on the themes of nature, fantasy, and the female form, with sensual flowing shapes that simulated the organic growth that would be reminiscent of the primeval Garden of Eden.

Exotic floral motifs with animals, birds, butterfles, dragonflies, peacock feathers and marsh plants were incorporated with graceful feminine imagery or fairies, mermaids and nymphs, complete with their long manes of twisting hair.

Some of the floral motifs that were used in the Art Nouveau style were borrowed from English artist William Morris, founder of the “Arts and Crafts Movement” of the late Victorian era.

Source: All About Gemstones

A client asked me a few days ago what type of jewelry would be appropriate to give new mothers. Hearts instantly came to mind. They simply and effectively convey the infusion of love a mother feels upon the birth of her child.

Birthstones are another possibility (which can easily be placed within a heart pendant).

Lastly, charm bracelets are a great gift for new mothers. Not only can you add charms per child, but you can also add charms after any achievement. Charm bracelets have a long history of marking special occasions in life.

Here are a few pieces of ours. Click on the image for more details.

Butterfly necklace in 14kt white gold featuring genuine pink sapphires and natural diamonds, approximately 1/10ct total weight on an 18' diamond cut rolo chain.

You're asking for problems with earrings like this!

As a wearer of long or heavy earrings, you know how it can take its toll. This article offers some very real and practical solutions for droopy earlobes:

Earring stabilizers are by far the cheapest and easiest way to prevent a droopy earring. Many times, you will see heavy earrings accompanied by these plastic types of backs in stores. They provide for extra strength for heavy accessories as a replacement for traditional jewelry backs. I’ve found these to be helpful with fish-hook style earrings as well. This product can also be found in more “cushion-y” models, further protecting your holes from tears and excess weight.
Lobe Wonder is a drugstore brand product that assists with pre-existing tearing or drooping AND to prevent those same problems. Per the company website, the undetectable patch is applied to the back of the lobe, bearing most of the weight of the earring itself.
The most serious (and expensive) solution is plastic surgery, which seemingly repairs the hole itself, allowing women to once again wear earrings without the droop or pulling. Check out this video from The Doctors for intensive info about the out-patient procedure (for exceptionally queasy stomachs, this might not be for you):

Surgical Fix for Droopy Earlobes

Source: Spoil Me Fashion Blog

 

I stumbled across this today and, as I read through the criteria, I realized that we pass the “tests” mentioned. Take a look at our eco-friendly jewelry page.

As third generation jewelers, we realize the importance of taking care of our client and our community.

We’re old-fashioned jewelers with a new world mindset.

1. Look for a jeweler with a clear conflict-free diamond policy. Their policy should be both in print and listed on their official website. In addition to ensuring Kimberley Process compliance, the policy should address social and environmental issues. Avoid policies that do not address human rights abuses or environmental impact, or those that rely solely on compliance with the Kimberley Process.

On top of the printed policy, make sure that your jeweler can answer your questions regarding your gem’s origins. They should be able to identify the name of the mine and provide independent verification of its social and environmental responsibility. They should also be able to tell you how they track their stones from mine to the finished product.

2. Look for a jeweler that uses recycled metals wherever possible. Much commercial gold comes from mines in developing countries that employ children and adults in inhumane conditions and leave behind massive quantities of toxic waste, including cyanide, mercury, and arsenic. Less than 25% of gold used in jewelry comes from recycled sources when in fact gold and platinum can be endlessly recycled without compromise to their quality and without the environmental impact of newly mined metals.

3. Look for a jeweler with a wide range of ring designs. Every gal is different, and you’ll want to make sure that your ring design perfectly suits your style and personality.

4. Look for a jeweler with full custom-design services and capabilities. If a bride can’t find the ring she wants, she should be able to create it – she’s going to wear this ring for the rest of her life, after all!

5. Look for a jeweler that carries a wide selection of alternative gemstones and metals. Precious colored gemstones create gorgeous accents or a beautiful centerpiece and many jewelers lack broad inventory and expertise with these stones. You may also be interested in alternative metals, such as rose gold and palladium.

6. Look for a jeweler that never compromises on quality.

7. Look for a jeweler that provides excellent customer service and convenience. When making one of the biggest purchases of your life, you don’t want any of your questions to go unanswered.

8. Look for a jeweler with a glowing reputation. A good track record and dazzling customer reviews say it best – you’ll get what you pay for and be thrilled with the results.

9. Look for a jeweler with an airtight Warranty Policy. If something should go wrong during the manufacturing process or you discover a flaw in your ring, you should be able to return or fix it, no questions asked.

Source: Brilliant Earth Blog

The fashion police reside in all of us (well, at least the better dressed!). So most of us have heard that wearing gold and silver together is the ultimately no-no, a fashion felony. It’s up there with wearing white shoes after Labor Day. But does it really still hold water after all of these years? Here’s what Marie Claire had to say:

Rules of jewelry etiquette once dictated that silver jewelry be worn with silver, gold be worn with gold, and never the two shall meet. But these rules are changing. While wearing just one metallic element does give you a more traditional look, mixing them isn’t always a no-no. In fact, upscale jewelry designers like David Yurman have been showcasing items that mix the elements within the same piece. You might also try wearing a piece such as a watch in stainless steel with gold detailing to pull your look together. As for your gold wedding band, that’s a special item and an exception to the rule!

Read more: Mixing Silver and Gold – Marie Claire

 

People often overlook the clasp on a necklace when making a purchase; that is, until they’re struggling with it for 10 minutes while getting ready one evening or worse, potentially losing the piece. Take a quick moment to review the different type of necklace clasps and decide on one that is right for you:

1. Box Clasp

   • 
   • The folded metal spring inserts in the notch of the box housing.

     A box clasp holds one end of a chain with a fitted boxed housing with a notch in it. A lever formed from a flat piece of metal folded over fits into the notch like a tongue when compressed. Releasing the folded metal, once it’s inserted into the notch, secures it inside the box. To release this type of clasp, simply press the two ends of the protruding lever together and pull out of the box.

   Hook and Eye

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   • A traditional hook and eye clasp.

     One of the most traditional and easy-to-use clasps is the hook and eye. The hook attached to one end of the bracelet or necklace secures the other end by hooking through the eye. One problem with this type of clasp is the possibility of the hook stretching and coming apart from the eye.

   Lobster

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   • Lobster clasp opens by pressing a hinge that opens into a claw.

     The lobster clasp opens by pressing a hinge, which opens a ring into a claw shape. The claw catches a loop or ring on the other end of the chain, securing the two ends together. Used to fasten heavier pieces, a spring-loaded device keeps the clasp secured. With an appearance like its namesake, the lobster claw clasp is one of the most secure choices in jewelry clasps.

   S Hook, S Clasp

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   • S Clasp secures at either end.

     Another of the traditional and popular fasteners is the “S” hook and clasp because of its simplicity and ease of use. Both ends are shaped like an “S” and either end may fasten into the ring attached at both ends of the chain.

   Spring Ring

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   • Spring ring clasp opens to secure a loop that holds the chain together.

     The spring ring clasp opens by pulling the arm of the clasp backwards by use of a spring-loaded apparatus. When opened, the ring clasp inserts over a loop on the other end of the chain.

   Toggle

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   • Toggle clasp uses a T-bar to insert into an open center.

     A toggle clasp has an open, centered component attached to one end of the chain. This component can be round, square or oval. The other end of the chain fits with a T-bar, which inserts into the hole. The toggle clasp using round or square openings are easier to put on and take off and stay more secure than the one with an oval opening.

Read more: Types of Jewelry Clasps | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5453198_types-jewelry-clasps.html#ixzz1LJw9vwWi

Many of us have fallen victim to these mistakes in the past, but that still doesn’t make them any less visually painful! So before you leave your house today, stop; check yourself for the following:

Too Much Jewelry

Perhaps the most common jewelry faux paux is wearing too much jewelry. It can confuse the eye and blend your pieces into the appearance of only one piece of rather gaudy jewelry. A stack of bangles worn with layers of bead and chain necklaces and large dangly earrings and several rings is just too much of a good thing.

Noisy Jewelry

Along with too much jewelry, noisy jewelry is usually inappropriate. An arm load of bracelets that clanks or tinkles at your every move is distracting and even irritating.

Wrong Weight and Size

Your jewelry should coordinate with the fabrics in your clothing. Heavy shell or wooden beads don’t work with a thin silk blouse. You would be better with several thin chains or a strand of pearls. Pearls are not usually shown at their best with heavy denims or tee shirts. Wear those heavier cork or stone beads with your heavy denims or bulky sweaters. Along the same lines, the length of the necklace should coordinate with your collar. A choker can be worn with a very deep neckline, but if you wear it with a turtle neck or high neck shirt, it looks crowded.

Incompatible Materials

Jewelry can be made of anything from gold and silver with pearls and diamonds to copper washers with natural stone beads. The gemstones and materials used in your jewelry should coordinate, not class with each other. A skilled designer can coordinate even seemingly incompatible materials for a unique and striking look.

Incorrect Size

If you are a larger sized person, tiny jewelry will get “lost” on you and can make you look even larger. If you wear jewelry in proportion to your body, it helps unify your look. A tiny person in huge jewelry or too much jewelry can look almost like a child playing dress up.

No Focal Piece

A large necklace, bangle, earrings and ring eliminates the focal point you need for your ensemble. One piece of jewelry can be the focal point and the others can accessorize that piece. Along the same vein, too many matching pieces is just too “cute” to wear. Earrings that match a bracelet or a necklace and matching bracelet look good. If everything matches exactly as a set, it becomes too predictable and lacking in imagination.

Earring Problems

Earrings seem to cause the most frequent faux paux in jewelry. A well-fitted dangling earring calls attention to your shoulders, which is the last feature to age on most women, but a tiny earring on a large woman can give her a “fat-neck” look and long dangling earrings on a woman with long hair can look disorganized and messy. Multiple ear piercings have become fairly common, but the earrings need to be coordinated with each other using the largest in the lowest piercings.

Dirty Jewelry

Dirty jewelry is frequently seen. Earrings and necklaces can be affected by hairspray and cosmetics while cleaning products and lotions can affect rings and bracelets. Keep your jewelry clean by using the cleaning methods recommended for each type of jewelry you wear and your jewelry will create a wonderful accessory for your outfit and your own look.

Sarah Jessica Parker might want to check out the first mistake.

 

Source: StreetDirectory.com