Many of us know that itching, burning sensation we feel when we wear a certain piece of costume jewelry. Sure, its fun wearing it at the time…but that rash on our skin (or hives) that it can create is not nearly as fun.

So how do you know if your jewelry could be harmful to your skin (or worse, your health. Some of these nasty metals are actually carcinogens).

Ready for this reality check from Jezebel?

A non-profit organization called The Ecology Center ran tests on 99 pieces of jewelry (some of which was geared toward children but most of it was for adults) that were purchased from 14 different discount stores such from around the country, like Target, Claire’s, Glitter, Forever 21, Walmart, H&M, and Hot Topic. They checked each piece for dangerous things like lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, brominated flame retardants, chlorine, mercury and arsenic. And, surprise, surprise, lots of the jewelry was full of nasty stuff.

Scary stuff, right? The study goes on to say that 90% of these pieces of jewelry had nickel and chromium, which can cause allergic reactions. 10% of the pieces of jewelry had cadmium, which has been the cause of several jewelry and toy recalls.

So what’s the takeaway? Can you wear costume jewelry occasionally without fearing its dangerous effects? Well…not necessarily. Like the food you eat, know the “ingredients” and know the source. If you notice an effect on your skin, remove it asap. Don’t endure the itch. Your skin is an organ and you don’t want to absorb dangerous metals for hours on end.

Even if your budget only allows for a few good pieces of jewelry, we advise wearing those only, except for a few rare occasions. And even then, know thy jewelry! 

SONY DSC

Images are from production files, so prongs are not finished.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, a ring like that awakes the sleepy romantic in all of us. Interested in a custom design piece for yourself? We can make your dream ring a wearable reality.

How to get your dream ring:

It’s simple. Share your ideas, images or Pinterest boards with us. Or have a one-on-one custom design consultation with a member of our team. We’ll combine your favorite elements to create a completely unique ring just for you.

Choose your gemstone:

Mined diamonds

Moissanite

Other lab grown diamonds (Pure Grown, Brilliant Earth)

Custom cut gemstones (sapphires, rubies, etc.)

Choose your metal:

14kt or 18kt gold

Mocha gold

Platinum

Rose, white or yellow gold

Palladium

Share your ideas via:

Pinterest boards

Collected images

Written or drawn ideas

Be involved in the process:

Review your personal project page for updates.

Provide feedback throughout the entire process.

Share updates with friends and family.

Review a 3D print of your piece to ensure complete satisfaction before it’s made.

See a professional video of your piece after it’s complete.

Have fun…custom design is a genuinely creative process!

Unsure of what you want?

That’s okay too. Our seasoned team of custom designers is waiting to talk to you. We’ll ask you just the right questions to get you started with the magical process of custom design jewelry.

Contact us to make your custom design dreams come true!

Call (888) 724-8222 or reach us at support@schubach.com. We generally respond within 24 hours (and never share your email address).

More contact info here:

No surprise but a good image can make or break an eBay or Etsy sale. We humans are visual by nature, and if a piece of jewelry is poorly shot, it sends us a subconscious message that the jewelry itself is flawed or “less than.”

Luckily, you don’t need a professional photography studio to get sharp, well-lit images of your jewelry. This video details just how easy it can be (and yes, she uses her phone to take the shots).

Stackable bands are seriously hot right now. And we’re on the forefront of creating custom design bands just begging to be stacked. Above, an example of diamond studded band and one band simply without.  ✨

Interested in a custom design band for yourself? Let’s make it a reality. 

How to get your dream ring:

It’s simple. Share your ideas, images or Pinterest boards with us. Or have a one-on-one custom design consultation with a member of our team. We’ll combine your favorite elements to create a completely unique ring just for you.

Choose your gemstone:

Mined diamonds

Moissanite

Other lab grown diamonds (Pure Grown, Brilliant Earth)

Custom cut gemstones (sapphires, rubies, etc.)

Choose your metal:

14kt or 18kt gold

Mocha gold

Platinum

Rose, white or yellow gold

Palladium

Share your ideas via:

Pinterest boards

Collected images

Written or drawn ideas

Be involved in the process:

Review your personal project page for updates.

Provide feedback throughout the entire process.

Share updates with friends and family.

Review a 3D print of your piece to ensure complete satisfaction before it’s made.

See a professional video of your piece after it’s complete.

Have fun…custom design is a genuinely creative process!