Jewelry Education and Advice

Just because gold is known for its high durability doesn’t mean that your gold jewelry doesn’t need some love and care. Here are a few pointers that will extend the life of your gold jewelry and keep you looking dazzling:

DOs

* Keep your jewelry away from chlorine as chlorine can weaken its structure and lead to breakage.

* Remove your jewelry and keep wrapped in a small soft cloth such as a chamois at the end of each day.

* Clean at least once a week with an appropriate cleaner, this will ensure that your jewelry keeps the shine and luster it had when first purchased.

* If you do not have a commercial cleaner a small amount of soapy water containing mild soap and a toothbrush will do just fine. Ensure that you leave your gold to air dry and then buff when drying is complete.

* Get them professionally cleaned at least once per year at a jeweler especially if they have precious stones embedded into them.

DON’Ts

* Wear your jewelry while swimming in chlorinated pools.

* Wear while bathing as soaps tend to leave a film on your gold rendering lusterless.

* Wear your gold jewelry all the time, this will add to wear and tear to it and cause it to be more vulnerable. Keep some pieces only for special occasions.

* Store jewelry in a place that it will rub on other jewelry or the storage container

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

Style 7231WB

Ladies’ 14kt Yellow Gold Anniversary Band

Ladies’ anniversary band, .50ct t.w. channel set diamonds, 14kt yellow gold.

Metal: 14kt Yellow Gold
Stone Size: .50ct t.w.
Ring Size: 4 – 8

This is an often debated issue: if you’re wearing gold, where nothing but gold. If you’re wearing silver, where nothing but silver. That’s what my grandmother believed. She also believe eating candy before bedtime gave you nightmares. So maybe its time we revisit these old “rules of fashion.”

According to one expert:

We were once told not to mix metals, and this is one of the old-school rules (like no white after Labor Day) that designers now ignore. Wearing gold with gold and silver with silver creates a more traditional look, but isn’t true fashion all about looking modern?

The trick is, if you want to mix metals, keep the style of the jewelry the same. A modern gold cuff won’t look right paired back to dainty, antique platinum and diamond earrings. The “stacking trend” lends itself perfectly to the mixing of metals. Stack square or round rings or bangles in different shades of gold. You can even layer gold and silver necklaces for a fashion-forward look. Sometimes rules were made to be broken.

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/jewelry-dos-donts/5-a-146754#ixzz0u8I3nh2N

Hmmm…maybe candy before bedtime did cause nightmares.

Ancient Egypt still influences our choice of fashion today, if you can believe it. Or perhaps you are already aware, since any of the images below are hardly foreign to our eyes. Cleopatra and her wondrous ways certainly had a direct influence.  Kind of amazing to think of that kind of fashion lasting power!

And remember, we know our jewelry and our history – if there’s a piece that makes you feel like an Egyptian queen, let us create one for you.

Jewelry was extremely popular throughout the history of the Egyptian nation. Excavations of tombs have shown that queens of Egypt were almost always buried with a multitude of jewelry to be used in the afterlife. The amount of jewelry worn by an individual often indicated their social position and level of wealth.

Even the poor, who could not afford much, attempted to adorn themselves with as much jewelry as was possible. While not nearly as expensive, the jewelry of the commoner was usually very brightly colored and was constructed of materials such as pottery.

The Egyptians did not confine themselves to a limited selection of materials: a very wide variety of minerals were crafted into jewelry including amethyst, cornelian, jasper, onyx and quartz crystal. Today these stones are classified as semi-precious versus precious gems like diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Tutanhkamun pendant (photo: J. Bodsworth)

19th Dynasty inlaid diadem, or wig (J. Bodsworth)

Source: Ancient Egypt online

Many women face a problem when it comes to choosing wedding and engagements rings: they don’t like their hands.

“My fingers are short and stubby.”

“I don’t have time for manicures. My hands are a mess.”

“My hands are bony. A ring just accentuates it!”

We’ve heard it all here. But just like any other fashion choice, a properly chosen ring can enhance what you like about your hands and downplay what you don’t like.

According to this fashion expert Melanie Spark:

Rings can elongate your finger. If you choose a ring style that is longer than it is wide, it can actually make your fingers appear longer. If you have short fingers, perhaps you enjoy the look of an elongated and graceful hand.

The length of a ring is measured from top to bottom or, visually, as it would appear from knuckle to knuckle. The width of a ring is measured from side to side or, visually, as it appears horizontally while sitting on your finger.

See? There is hope for you and your hands. Here’s a simple, elegant engagement solitaire ring that we think works with most women’s hands, across the board:

Style 9915-7.5mm

Round Solitaire Engagement Ring With Pave Diamonds

Four prong solitaire engagement ring with 1/10ct t.w. pave’ diamonds. Fits an 7.5mm round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

No, we’re not talking about copper jewelry that turns green from oxidation. Eco-friendly jewelry is becoming an increasingly popular term in our world.

More and more people are become aware of the damaging effects of mining around the world. And many are opting for jewelry that has an “eco-friendly” status. But what does that mean exactly? Is your jewelry of a lesser quality?

From our website:

Are recycled metals as high quality as non-recycled metals?

Precious metals can be repeatedly recycled with no degradation in quality.

Gold and other metals are refined in order to remove impurities. Since gold and silver are elements, they are the same in the pure form, regardless of the source. There is absolutely no difference in the quality of the product you buy.

But there is a difference in how you feel purchasing recycled metals. It’s good to know that your jewelry purchase did not harm the ecosystem and you’re doing your part for this green planet!

Joseph Schubach Jewelers prides itself in our responsible, earth-friendly practices and a deep sense of community awareness. That means we care about the effect our business has on the planet.

In conjunction with the Harmony Metals program from Hoover and Strong, one of the greenest metal suppliers in the industry, we create pieces of jewelry that make you feel good on the outside and the inside!

Here’s a stunning example of an eco-friendly engagement ring made of 100% recycled material. Notice any difference? We didn’t think so:

This piece is made using 100% recycled metals and is proudly made in the USA. We strictly follow the Kimberly Process guidelines.

Eco-friendly Round Engagement Ring With Side Stones

In honor of the 4th of July celebrations in the states, we wanted to take a moment and review the fashion of our forefathers and foremothers.

Oh yes, these fashion choices seem a little constricting (and just damn hot) but somebody had to wear this stuff, right?

The lady wears strapless stays over a pink chemise. Her petticoat has pocket slits to access the free-hanging pocket beneath. "Tight Lacing, or Fashion Before Ease", 1770–75

French silk sack-back gown with closed bodice and panniers, trimmed with padded bands of blue satin, chenille blonde lace, flowers of gathered ribbon, feathers and raffia tassels, 1775–1780

Marie Antoinette was one of the most influential figures in fashion during the 1770s and 1780s, especially when it came to hairstyles.

Happy Fourth of July Weekend, from Joseph Schubach Jewelers!

You see the label all the time. Or perhaps you see it less frequently than you remember. But what does “Made in the USA” really mean when it comes to your jewelry purchase? What if your necklace is made in the US but the gems were imported from India (as in the case below)?

These latest rulings will give you a clearer idea (hopefully) on the real meaning of the label:

To illustrate the point, consider two example cases (loosely based on actual inquiries) addressed by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) below.

Two inquiries on origin

In the first inquiry, a manufacturer’s representative asked the JVC if the company could advertise a white gold sapphire necklace produced in New England as “Made in the USA.” The sapphires for the necklace were cut, polished and imported as loose stones from India, but the findings and chain were from a U.S. source.

The second inquiry involved finished rings that were imported from Thailand, checked for quality control at their U.S. destination, then boxed and shipped to retail stores. The wholesaler asked if he was required to provide “country of origin” information on the rings by marking or other means.

Before you read about the outcome, it’s important to understand a little bit more about the prerequisites of a “Made in the USA” claim:

First, for a product to qualify as “all or virtually all” made in the United States, the final assembly must take place in this country. To justify a “Made in the USA” claim if foreign articles are used in the manufacturing process, they must be substantially transformed in the United States, resulting in a new article of commerce that has a new use.

Even if the article is substantially transformed here, if the resulting product is then assembled or processed further, outside the United States, the FTC will not consider that product to be one that is “Made in the USA.”

So what happened in the cases mentioned above?

In the first matter, regarding the necklace, the imported material–gemstones–will be combined with domestically sourced materials to make a necklace. While the final manufacturing process will take place in this country, the gemstones were cut and polished in India. For that reason, a qualified origin claim, such as “Made in the USA of U.S. and imported material” is appropriate.  Had the stones been sourced from India in rough form, then “substantially transformed” here by cutting and polishing, a “Made in the USA” claim for the bracelet would more likely meet FTC standards.

As to the second inquiry concerning whether the Thai-made rings need origin markings, the one-word answer is “yes.” The imported rings must be marked, or tagged, as “Made in Thailand” to comply with U.S. Customs law.

The JVC provided the inquiring jewelers with information about the relevant law and guidance as to country-of-origin descriptions for their products.

Joseph Schubach Jewelers has taken “Made in USA” seriously for three generations. Nearly 100% of our jewelry has been produced right here in the states.

The difference between precious and semi-precious gemstones may seem self-explanatory (“Precious gemstones are just more…precious!) And to some extent, you would be right. But it depends on when you ask the question. Precious and semi-precious gemstones have changed titles, in a sense, throughout history:

In modern usage the precious stones are diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, with all other gemstones being semi-precious.

This distinction is unscientific and reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times, as well as their quality: all are translucent with fine color in their purest forms, except for the colorless diamond, and very hard, with hardnesses of 8-10 on the Mohs scale. Other stones are classified by their color, translucency and hardness.

The traditional distinction does not necessarily reflect modern values, for example, while garnets are relatively inexpensive, a green garnet called Tsavorite, can be far more valuable than a mid-quality emerald. Another unscientific term for semi-precious gemstones used in art history and archaeology is hardstone. Use of the terms ‘precious’ and ‘semi-precious’ in a commercial context is, arguably, misleading in that it deceptively implies certain stones are intrinsically more valuable than others, which is not the case.

So as you can see, “precious” and “semi-precious” are terms with changing meanings. And of course, whatever gem you like is precious to you!

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So you just read the title and you’re sighing already. Spiritual power of gemstones? How is that possible? What kind of new-agey post is this?

But think of it: people do become deeply attached to a piece of jewelry. Many consider it their “good luck charm.” So maybe there’s some truth to it afterall. Take a read…wait. Let’s light a candle first:

Ahh…that’s much better. Nothing like a little ambiance:

Gem stones hold onto energies. It is this which makes them so helpful in magical tasks and healing. They act as containers for magical energy. This makes gem stones ideal as altar tools and charms for spells.

For healing, stones are willing to have disease transferred into them. They then hold onto it until it can be safely flushed away. Healing stones don’t need to be gem stones – river and lake stones work wonderfully.

This ability to hold onto energy also means that new gem stones aren’t “fresh.” They are holding energies from past owners, people who mined them, people who polished and set and sold them, and people who held them in the shop before you picked them up . . .

So take care to cleanse all new stones thoroughly before using them.

Popular Gem Stones And Their Meaning

	Amethyst	Healing on all levels – body, mind, and spirit. Raises vibrational frequency and protects against negative energies.
	Amber	Transmutes negative energy into positive. Bridges conscious self to the Divine.
	Diamond	Purifies. Amplifies thoughts and feelings – both positive and negative.
	Hematite	Grounding. Clarifies thought, improves memory, and calms anxiety.
	Lapis Lazuli	Deep wisdom and intuition. Opens the third eye and leads to enlightenment.
	Moonstone	Balances yin and yang. Enhances the inner feminine, and acceptance for yin attributes.
	Opal	Amplifies emotion, insight, and spontaneity. Very potent, and can cause difficulties with the wrong person. Each colour of opal has its own properties.
	Pearl	Pure mind and heart. Balances emotions and reduces stress.
	Quartz Crystal	Attracts, amplifies, and sends energy. Easy and safe. Useful for all kinds of healing.
	Rose Quartz	Balances yin and yang, restoring harmony after emotional wounding.
	Turquoise	Highly spiritual yet grounding. Uplifting to unconditional Love. Aligns chakras and opens heart.

Precious Metals

	Gold	Symbol of the Sun and the God, as well as purity of spirit and eternity.
	Silver	Symbol of the Moon and the Goddess, the soul, and the beauty of the Wheel of Life.
	White Gold	Symbol of the pure and eternal Light of the Divine, the union of Goddess and God in One, the Spirit manifest in physical for

Source: Wicca Spirituality

We fancy ourselves educators at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. Every week, we instill upon you yet another history lesson connected to the wide world of jewelry.

Of course, we don’t quiz you at the end (though we might – you never know) but we hope you’ll become more informed buyers of moissanite, Gemesis, diamonds, gold, platinum and all the other special gems and metals we have to offer.

Today, a very interesting history of the engagement ring, thanks to the people at Ancient Jewelry Facts.

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.

Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon gave his fiancée a diamond engagement ring that he said was the same one his father gave his mother, and his grandfather King Olav gave to Queen Martha.

Not every royal lady has had diamonds in her engagement ring. The Queen Mother’s ring was sapphire and diamonds, as was Princess Anne’s. Lady Diana Spencer was given a £42,000 sapphire and diamond engagement ring by Prince Charles, while Sarah Ferguson received a ruby and diamond engagement ring from Prince Andrew.

However, Sophie Rhys–Jones took the more traditional line with a three-diamond ring when she became engaged to Prince Edward.

But for size, nothing comes close to the engagement ring Prince Rainier of Monaco gave Grace Kelly. She wore the 12ct diamond ring in her last movie, “High Society”, in 1956. In the film, Bing Crosby looks at the ring and quips, “Some stone, did you mine it yourself?”

A New Take on an Old Tradition - Style 9501M Tension Set Engagement Ring With A Round Moissanite And Side Diamonds