General Jewelry Info

Buying your jewelry is only half the battle. Maintaining it so it looks great for years takes a little know how. Here’s  what one expert has to say:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monica_Mo

Your heart races. Your eyes widen. You begin a mad search, all the while saying, “Oh no, oh no!” Losing jewelry is stressful and upsetting. That’s because jewelry is such a personal item – losing it can feel like losing a part of ourselves.

Here’s a few tips on how to protect yourself from the commonly lost earring:

1) EASY No-Lose Earrings

The best style of earrings (that are are able to be removed but hard to lose) are leverback earrings. They are made in such a way you can’t lose them as they fasten closed. That is why Diamond Leverback Earrings are so popular. They are worth investigating when buying earrings as they look beautiful, are simple to use, and are hard to lose.

Many dangle earrings can be converted to a leverback style at your local jeweler — but you may want to try our next tip as an inexpensive alternative.

2) Earring Stoppers For Your Fish Hook Earrings

Many people don’t realize that when they buy earrings and there are rubber stoppers on the back of the card, that they can use them to keep the earrings on their ears.

If you already own fish hook earrings but didn’t keep the rubber safety stoppers (or the earrings didn’t come with safety stoppers), you can buy rubber stoppers for the back to make sure your won’t lose them. They take an extra moment to put on, but they work like magic.

3) Easy Storage When NOT Wearing Your Earrings

Storing earrings properly makes it much harder to lose earrings. You’ll want 2 places to store your earrings.

One place will be in your purse so if for any reason you need to take your earrings off, you have a designated place. A second a known place should be where you live. If you only own a few pairs of earrings, you can keep them all in the same portable place. However, many of us have several pairs of earrings.

To store earrings in your purse, I recommend one of the small silk zippered bags. A small silk pouch can easily hold any pair of earrings, look beautiful and usually be very inexpensive.

Not being able to find your earrings in the morning, is almost the same as losing them as you can’t wear them when you want. So make sure the place at home keeps your earrings neat and easy to find like an earring tree.

So follow these earrings tips and save yourself money and time.

Here’s a pair of leverback earrings guaranteed to stay in place:

Style 452MR

Classic Wire Basket Lever Back Moissanite Earrings

Classic wire basket lever back earrings with Charles and Colvard created round Moissanite.

Source: JewelryMall

Today, we are going to wax poetic about jewelry. Of course, jewels and gems have been mentioned in literature and poetry since time immemorium. Why? Because jewels have a magical, mythical quality that pairs perfectly with the beauty of words. Take this lovely, lilting piece by poet Sarah Teasdale:

If I should see your eyes again,
 I know how far their look would go --
Back to a morning in the park
 With sapphire shadows on the snow.

Or back to oak trees in the spring
 When you unloosed my hair and kissed
The head that lay against your knees
 In the leaf shadow's amethyst.

And still another shining place
 We would remember -- how the dun
Wild mountain held us on its crest
 One diamond morning white with sun.

But I will turn my eyes from you
 As women turn to put away
The jewels they have worn at night
 And cannot wear in sober day.

We’ve talked about the importance of being an educated jewelery buyer many times on my blog. I figure it this way: when you know as much about the jewelry you’re buying as I do, you feel more confident in your purchase. And rightfully so: buying jewelry is a commitment. When a customer is well-informed, he or she tends to make smarter decisions that last a lifetime.

Here’s a little lesson on the gold test:

After choosing perfect style on your particular occasion from your favorite jewelry store, the first thing you can do is to look for karat mark, which can be found mostly on end caps (where holding lock) for necklace, bracelet and anklet.

You will find 10kt or 417, 14kt or 585 and 18kt or 750 marking on it as well as, but not necessarily, trademark or company code and its country of origin.

For the rings, look inside the band, you will find quality markings. These markings are mandatory and if you don’t see it, something is seriously wrong.

Although due to some special custom made work or resizing a ring will damage marking permanently. This is where reliable jewelry store you can trust comes in. because good jewelry store will not damage or destroy these markings when necessary work or resizing.

And secondly, if you have any doubt, let the jewelry store manager test your item right in front of you. Most jewelry store will do this for you free of charge. There’s testing kit that contains 3 small bottles of 10kt, 14kt and 18kt testing liquid (acid), in most cases, with flat stone like rectangle panel.

They will scratch item of your choice on rectangle panel and apply appropriate liquid on it. Now observe it. What you want to see here is that scratch will remain nice and bright if item is right karat. If it is not right karat, in other words low quality, scratch will fade away and will even darken.

And finally, a rule of thumb that you always do, let them write down what you need on the receipt such as karatage or proper return policy. This is good way to protect your hard working money as a proof of quality promise from that store.

Partial source: Squidoo Article

Here’s a short video on the gold testing process:

(above) 14kt yellow gold wedding band, high polished with scalloped sides and milgraining

When it comes to karats, we have a rough idea of the definition. But really, when you’re investing in the perfect moissanite engagement ring, shouldn’t you know a little better?

More on the Karat

It is a common misconception that a karat is a unit of weight but it is actually a unit of measurement for the amount of gold contained within an item.

“Karat” is also different from “carat,” which is a metric unit of weight for gemstones.

Karat (or kt) indicates how many percentage of pure gold is alloyed with other metals like silver, copper, zinc and so on.

Pure gold (99.99%) is generally considered to be too soft and pricey for daily enjoyment.

For this reason, it has to be mixed with other alloys to maximize its strength and at the same time, price can be lowered down as it contains inexpensive materials to target larger consumptions.

Only 24 karat is known as 99.99% pure gold.

18kt gold has approximately 75% of pure gold and stamped either “18kt” or “750” for European marking standard.

Likewise, 14kt gold has approx. 58.5% of pure gold and stamped “14kt” or “585” for European marking standard.14kt gold is most commonly used in US.

Finally, 10kt gold has approx. 41.7% of pure gold and stamped “10KT” or “417” for European marking standard.

(above) Gent's 14kt White Gold Diamond Wedding Band, diagonal design with .20ct t.w. channel set diamonds, high polished and matte finish

Partial Source: Squidoo Article

Fancy Colored Diamonds

You may or may not know that diamonds come in all of the colors of the rainbow, from reds and pinks to blues, greens and yellows. However, not all fancy colored diamonds get their color naturally. Below is an article explaining the color enhancement processes of natural diamonds.

COLOR ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL DIAMONDS
TREATMENT OF DIAMONDS TO CHANGE THEIR COLOR HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1940’S. INITIALLY IT WAS DONE BY EXPOSING THEM TO RADIATION FOLLOWED BY HEAT TREATMENT (ANNEALING). THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO SANITIZING FOOD PRODUCTS. THE RESULTING DIAMONDS ARE FREE OF RADIATION AND SAFE TO USE. THIS TREATMENT PRODUCES COLORS OF BLUE, YELLOW, GREEN, AND VERY RARELY PINKS AND REDS. WHILE THESE COLORS ARE PERMANENT, INDUSTRY TEST SUGGEST CAUTION BE USED FOR EXPOSURE TO TEMPERATURE ABOVE 300-400 C.
Since the 1990’s, the color of diamonds has also been altered by HPHT process (High Pressure High Temperature). Polished or rough diamonds (natural and synthetic) are processed in the lab under very high pressures and temperatures, mimicking conditions deep in the earth where diamonds are formed. Depending on the composition of the diamond the results could be colorless as well as yellow, green, orange, and very rarely pink and blue. Colors produced by HPHT are permanent and they have the same features as a regular natural diamond.
There are other methods of diamond treatment such as PVD (pressurized vapor deposit), a color coating scheme, and clarity enhancements such as lasering, [fracture filling] treating, or filling. Color treatment can be done on any synthetic or [natural/minded] diamond. In the US these processes are done under strict and safe conditions.    Article written by Cendico Diamond

I found this article to contain some easy tips on purchasing costume jewelry (it’s not all created equal!) and jewelry/fashion matching.

We know how much you love learning at Joe’s blog. And  trust me, we have a lot of information to share! Today, we’re going to impart to you a little history lesson on earrings. Now sit back – you may learn something. And thanks to AnnieSherman.com for the great info:

Did you know earrings originated in the Middle East? The oldest earrings were unearthed at the royal graves in Iraq!

In the Renaissance era, earrings were not popular. Women wore wigs, elaborate hairstyles and high collared dresses obscuring the ears. It was not until the 17th century when women wore their hair back that earrings were back in fashion. In the early 18th century, women wore bonnets with wide ribbons covering the ears and chins. Once again earrings became obsolete. In late 18th century, however, hair went back up and earrings were popular again!

In the early 20th century, piercing of the ears was considered uncivilized and a screw back type of fitting was invented so that ear piercing was no longer necessary. The beginning of emancipation for women! Around 1930’s, clip-ons were invented and then screw-ons. Both styles were widely used for earrings for the next 40 years. Since then, earrings have indeed been revolutionized. Earrings are fun, lots of movements, made of all shapes, sizes, materials and stones and are worn day and night!

Beginning the 70’s, ear piercing became the fad. Most contemporary earrings are for pierced ears nowadays. For those who don’t like poking holes in their ears (like me), thank goodness that vintage clip-on earrings are still around!

This stunningly intact 2,000-year-old gold, pearl, and emerald earring was discovered under a parking lot just outside Jerusalem's Old City.

Oh, I’m sure you’ve been there. Ten minutes to get ready and half of it is spent on trying to get on your necklace. You ask for some help and even your loved one has trouble! Soon, you find yourself not wearing said necklace as often because it’s just too much of a hassle.

As Terri Rocker, fashion expert, puts it:

“The best necklace clasps are easy to fasten, stay secured, match the style of the necklace, and endure the wear and tear of being repeatedly fastened and unfastened.”

Reminder when you are thinking of purchasing jewelry, consider the clasp! It could make or break your wearing experience:

Spring Ring and Lobster Claw

1. Operate a spring ring or lobster claw clasp by lifting the tiny lever that compresses the spring to release the clasp. Quite secure, both of these clasps are popular, with lobster claws usually being easier to manipulate.

Hook Clasp

2. Fish hook, S-hook and hook-and-eye clasps secure necklaces using hooks. While easy to fasten, these are not very secure and may slip out.

Magnetic Clasp

3. Magnetic clasps use magnets to secure the necklace. Most magnetic clasps are best suited to very lightweight necklaces, as they easily come apart.

Barrel Clasp

4. Barrel clasps are barrel-shaped screws that require some dexterity to twist and untwist. The larger ones are quite secure, although they are prone to looking bulky.

Toggle Clasp

5. The toggle clasp is also known as the bar-and-ring clasp. With a long bar on one end that fits into a wide ring and then “locks” into position, the toggle clasp is one of the easiest to fasten for arthritic hands.

Box Clasp

6. An elegant-looking clasp that often uses a filigree design, the box clasp has been known to come undone by accident. Open a box clasp by pushing the lever, and close it by clicking it into place.

Multi-Strand Clasp

7. A multi-strand clasp may have hook, slide locking or box clasp fasteners. Multi-strand clasps come with 2 or more loops per side to secure multi-strand necklaces.

Spring Ring Clasp

Toggle Clasp

Read more: Types of Clasps for Necklaces | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4899702_types-clasps-necklaces.html#ixzz0ut0yx6vJ

In my end is my beginning. ~ Mary Queen of Scots

Here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we consider ourselves educators of sorts. We want our customers to be as knowledgeable as possible, so their choices are sound and right. And the history of jewelry is no different; when you understand the past, you realize the power that it holds. A diamond ring is not just a diamond ring – its a symbol of love and strength that stretched back centuries:

Since at least 5000 BC, men and women have worn rings – on their thumbs, fingers and even toes.

Some rings have been purely decorative, seal rings and archers’ rings have had useful purposes, while a few have been thoroughly nasty specimens, harboring poison that turned a handshake into a deadly clasp.

The earliest written reference to rings as love tokens is in the second century BC, in works by the Roman playwright Plautus.

The practice of exchanging wedding rings, apparently common in Rome, was “Christianized” by the 4th century AD.

An early example of an engagement ring featuring Eros, the ancient symbol of love. By the 14th century, wealthy Europeans had their wedding rings set with precious jewels, somewhat like modern engagement rings, but it was not until 1477 that the diamond engagement ring as we know it came into being.

That year, the Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I gave a diamond engagement ring to his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy. This first instance of a royal engagement ring fueled the European passion for diamonds, already aflame by the taste for fine jewels promoted by Mary’s father, Charles the Bold (1433–77).

As the dukes of Burgundy controlled Europe’s major diamond–cutting centers in Antwerp and Bruges, Charles’ encouragement of wealthy Europeans to buy diamonds appears to have a commercial side.

By the 16th century, it seemed no royal marriage was complete without a diamond ring. Mary, Queen of Scots, chose one when she married Lord Darnley in 1565 and in 1673, James II of England sent a diamond ring to Mary of Modena for their proxy wedding in 1673.

In 1839, Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a diamond ring as a memento of their first meeting, perhaps inadvertently setting the royal seal of approval on diamond engagement rings.

It was during the second half of the 19th century that the practice of giving two rings for the bride became firmly established.

Prince Philip carried on the royal diamond tradition when he gave his fiancée, now Queen Elizabeth II, an engagement ring made with diamonds from the tiara of his mother, Princess Alice.

Source: Ancient Jewelry Facts

Style 9335M

Split Shank Milgrained Engagement Ring With Round Stones

Split shank milgrained engagement ring with approx. 1/3ct t.w. pave’ set side stones. Fits a 7mm round center stone. (Setting only, does not include center stone)