Jewelry Education and Advice

You know them when you see them. You can’t help watching, like a fashion train wreck, slowly unfolding before your eyes. Jewelry mistakes can happen to the best of us. Luckily, these fashion faux pas can easily be avoided with a few tips on what not to do:

1. Jewelry Overkill – Unless you’re Liberace, too much jewelry distracts from your outfit and ultimately from you. Often one single, well-crafted piece of jewelry is all that is needed to make a statement. This doesn’t mean there isn’t a time and place to be a little excessive. Layering bracelets can look great, for instance. But you may want to stop there!

2. Wrong Jewelry/Clothing Combo – If you’re wearing a delicate, sheer top and an over-sized, clunky necklace, you may want to think again. Your choice of jewelry should enhance the overall tone of your outfit. A classic example of the right combo? A black cocktail dress with a string of freshwater pearls. Or that delicate, sheer top with a simple gold necklace.

3. Wrong Jewelry/Body Type Combo – If you’re a petite gal, a large piece of jewelry can overwhelm your look and make you seem weighed down. In turn, a larger woman may seem strangled by a thin, short necklace. It’s about proportion ultimately. The same holds true with the size of your face. An elongated face type will just seem that much more drawn by long, dangling earrings.

4. Dirty or Just Plain Old Jewelry – Vintage jewelry is one thing but tarnished jewelry or jewelry missing stones just sends an “I don’t care” message. Nowadays, it doesn’t take much to shine up a necklace or your replace stones in your grandmother’s earrings. You can do it yourself or have it done by a professional for a very reasonable price.

5. No Jewelry at All – There is a time and place for no jewelry, don’t get me wrong – like when you’re hiking, for instance. But for the most part, jewelry is an adornment that can bring you and your outfit to life…and just make you feel good. If you’re the type of person who thinks jewelry is too much of a bother, a simple piece might be just the right choice for you, like our Keys of Love pendant necklace.

And remember…there was only one Liberace!

Interestingly, some trends just don’t seem to be going away. Statement necklaces and cocktail rings have been “all the rage” for a few years now, for instance. As the summer fast approaches, the jewelry tends to lighten in weight and brighten in color.

Here’s what fashion expert Diamond Girl has to say:

The winning trends for 2010:

¨ Big and bold
¨ Dramatic, unique, unusual necklaces
¨ Huge cuff bracelets with big stones
¨ Natural stones, eclectic natural look
¨ Swarovski crystals
¨ Black
¨ Multi-strand necklaces
¨ Pearls
¨ Cocktail rings with huge stones
¨ Big hoop earrings

Believe it or not, popular jewelry colors in 2010 are yellow and Coral! This means that your simulated canary diamond jewelry will look perfect when paired with your cold weather wardrobe. In addition, citrine, yellow topaz or their cubic zirconia substitutes will bring some welcome sunshine (and some love! ) into your life as you remain on top of the seasonal jewelry trends.

For bead and handmade jewelry, Coral is going to be HOT. Looking ahead I see that Black is going to be big player…did someone say attitude?

On a final note to the upcoming seasonal  Jewelry Color Trends remember that some of the traditional favorites will be returning.

Among them, shades of green, gray and chocolate brown will once again be a wise choice for fashion conscious consumers. What does this mean for jewelry lovers? Quite simply, it means that smoky quartz, simulated chocolate and/or champagne diamonds will be in style and on trend! And you won’t believe how great Chocolate Gold looks!

(Chocolate gold earrings below.)

Spiral brown gold and diamond earrings, $37,050, from de Grisogono.

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.  ~Honoré de Balzac

Jewelry is a gift that is extremely “mom friendly.” It send an extra special message to the mother in your life – one that shows you care enough to think out of the “flowers and candy” mindset.

Many people (men in particular – sorry guys!) shy away from buying jewelry because they don’t want to buy something that Mom might not like.

To make life easier, here are a few tried and true pieces of jewelry – ones we know moms like because we sell to them!

Style 133M-ON SALE NOW

Classic Wire Basket Moissanite Earrrings

On Special: Save Up To $550!
Classic wire basket earrings with Charles and Colvard created round moissanite.

Single Strand Freshwater Cultured Pearls – 8.5mm – 11.5mm

Single strand freshwater cultured pearls, 17″ with 14kt yellow gold clasp.

8.5mm-9.5mm: Now $299
9.5mm-10.5mm: Now $399
10.5mm-11.5mm: Now $499

Style 5353M

Round Bezel Set Moissanite Bracelet

Elegant, feminine bracelet from our “Cut Lace” Collection with Charles and Colvard created round bezel set moissanite.

Many people walk into Joseph Schubach Jewelers, confessing they know very little about engagement rings. Of course, we're more than happy to help them through the process. An ill-executed engagement ring, well…could end up in a lack of an engagement!

So here, for your amusement (and warning!) are several photos of some of the worst engagement rings we could find:

Okay, now erase those images from your memory…please. And take a look at one of our decidedly non-ugly engagement rings…so you know the difference:

Cushion Cut Moissanite Ring With Pave' Diamonds And Six Genuine Sapphires

Celebrity engagement rings come in all shapes and colors and sizes with only one thing in common: size! Now, where you average Joe and Jane can afford a replica of one of these over-the-top pieces (in moissanite or cubic zirconia, for instance), these people wear the real deal. (Though even celebrities feel the pinch of our latest economic woes!)

Here are some literally stunning examples:.

• Elizabeth Taylor, when engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, wore a nearly 30-carat emerald cut diamond.
  

• Lady Diana Spencer wore an 18-carat deep blue oval sapphire circled by fourteen diamonds when she promised to become Princess Diana.
  

• Catherine Zeta-Jones’ nuptial promise to Michael Douglas was sealed with a 10-carat antique horizontal set marquise diamond.
  

• Despite the eventual cancellation, Jennifer Lopez’s finger sparkled with a 6-carat radiant shaped pink diamond while she was engaged to Ben Affleck, a stone reported to cost more than $3 million.
  

• Paris Hilton’s short-lived engagement was highlighted by the 24-carat emerald cut diamond ring.
  

• Donald Trump presented his bride-to-be Melanie Knauss with an overwhelming 12-carat emerald cut engagement ring reported to cost a cool $1 million.
  

Source: LovetoKnow.com

Lady Diana Spencer wore an 18-carat deep
blue oval sapphire

Jennifer Lopez’s 6-carat
radiant shaped pink diamond

Catherine Zeta-Jones
10-carat antique horizontal
set marquise diamond

If you don't have a rock star budget but want that same look, Joseph Schubach Jewelers can make your dream come true. Bring us a photograph or an idea and we can work together to make it happen.

As Valentine's Day approaches, many of us can feel the pressure.

What if you don't have that significant other? What if you're going through a break-up? What if that special someone consistently forgets about Valentine's Day or buys you something that just isn't…you?

Maybe its time to switch focus a little. Instead of expecting others to make the day magical for you, why not become the creator of a special day, regardless of who joins in!

When was the last time you bought yourself something really special? Something that genuinely reflects real self-love? Jewelry is a powerful and long-lasting way to say "I matter." When you buy a piece of jewelry for yourself, it is a constant reminder that you are the maker of your own happiness…and that love ultimately starts with you.

Here are a few pieces you might consider at Joseph Schubach Jewelers:

Cushion Cut Pendant With Side Stones

Square pendant with 1/5ct t.w. round brilliant stones set on an 18" cable chain. Fits a 7mm (1.66ct) cushion cut center stone.