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

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your help to pick out the best possible ring for our budget. The ring is so gorgeous! The moment J showed me the ring, I was literally jumping all over my room. This by pass ring is so much more elegant and delicate in comparison to the XXX that I wanted. The complimentary insurance for the first year was such a thoughtful gift. None of my friends have free insurance from their jeweler.

Cynthia Swyla of JCK posted a wonderful blog entry today about the circle trend in jewelry this season, packed with amazing photos and suggestions. What’s the circle trend? From hoop earrings to collar necklaces, circles will be seen a’plenty this summer.

Round, Like a Circle in a Spiral . . .

By Cynthia Sliwa

Posted on May 2, 2011 in Jewels on Jewels

You don’t need to go round and round on this. . . circles are a popular design motif this season. Circles are inherently present in a number of trends which I have previously highlighted. Rigid collar necklaces are often circular, as are the vast majority of the bangle bracelets that are currently so popular. Many a pendant is a round flat disk in shape. And when large hoop earrings dangle rather than intersect the wearer’s ears, creating a variation on a doorknocker design, they present a prominent circular design motif. Sometimes dots intermix with dashes. Sometimes circles are concentric; sometimes they appear in multiples of the same or varying sizes.Circles are also showing up. . . .

 

 

As the shape of eyewear lenses (photo from the May 2011 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine) . . .

In the shape of handbag handles (photo of Salvatore Ferragamo bag from the May 2011 issue of Marie Claire) . . .

As grommets in a sweater from Marni (pictured in the May 2011 issue of Marie Claire; the bangles are from Monique Pean) . . .

And in polka dots showing up in all manner of fashions and accessories (featured in the March 2011 issue of Real Simple).

A wide variety of circle-centric jewelry designs have been gracing the pages of the fashion magazines.

The March 2011 issue of Marie Claire featured a ruffled dress and matching head scarf from D&G worn with double circle earrings from Dominique Aurientis and a necklace with round pendant from Stella McCartney. The bracelets are from House of Lavande, Megan Odabash, and The Branch.

Actress Abbie Cornish is pictured in the April 2011 issue of InStyle wearing her own dress accompanied by a circle-centered gold-plated necklace from By Boe.

 

Here’s one of our popular pieces, loaded with roundness!

Save 30% Now!! Round Moissanite Oval Cluster Design Necklace Oval cluster pendant with approximately 1 1/3ct t.w. (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created round moissanite set on an 18" cable chain. Available in 14kt white gold only.

Cal and Roberta contacted us to duplicate her wedding band in 18kt yellow gold, which we did nearly identically! We also enlarged her original wedding band to fit over her knuckle keeping the design flowing all the way around.

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

It’s all about color this season…and a little flashback to the past. Better put your sunglasses on before viewing these eye-popping pieces:

Source: Salealertshopping.com