Emerging Engagement Ring trends blend tradition with modern flair

The diamond engagement rings - a timeless expression of love and commitment.

The classic styles available - solitaire and pave, for example - still are popular today, but there are emerging trends of which you, the potential buyer should be aware.

Note: One thing that never changes is what grooms tend to pay for engagement rings - quite a bit! Latest statistics show the average amount spent is $3,000, according to these sources:

" $3,044 (Bride's Millenium Report)
" $2,982 (Bride's Magazine)
" $2,909 (Modern Bride, as cited in Weddings for Dummies)
" $3,576 (Conde Nast Bridal Group)
" $3,165 (Modern Bride Magazine)
" $2,807 (National Bride Service)

Hot ring trends - classic, antique and modern lead the way

For example, classic solitaires are very popular. Many women are choosing a classic-cut diamond solitaire. These are assured of never going out of style and make good heirloom pieces.

However, a traditional solitaire setting is upswept and raises the diamond high. Some people today select settings where the center stone sits low, creating a look that is elegant and ergonomic. Another popular setting is one that is intricately raised, as well as twisted band.

And while the round cut continues to be popular, it is becoming more common to see the oval cut, as well as the emerald.

The pave setting, where the band is studded with diamonds seamlessly, is elegant and is becoming more popular. The idea is that smaller stones are set so close together that no metal can be seen between them. This maximizes the wattage of the ring without pushing the cost too high.

Antique, vintage rings that your grandmother might have worn also are trendy, which combines an historical, period look with current fashion. Look for gold filigree settings, floral accents and gemstone baguettes. The cuts typically are cushion, round, pillow and Asscher , and their larger facets radiate more fire under less light.

Also becoming more popular are modern styles. This type features clean, streamlined designs for a cosmopolitan, chic look. The most contemporary styles feature a bezel-set and designs where the diamond seems to "float," which is a type of tension setting.

engagement rings with colored stones also are an emerging trend, with colored diamonds being quite the rage. Many celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez, have chosen colored diamond engagement rings and this has cemented their popularity.

For something different, consider new diamond cuts on the market. The Zales diamond cut has more facets than traditional cuts and can increase the stone's fire. Also consider the princess cut - a modified square.

Platinum - hands down the choice today

Regarding the ring itself, platinum is definitely the hot trend. Platinum is popular because its rich luster sets off the brilliance of a diamond like no other metal. This metal is naturally white and will always keep its shine, unlike yellow gold, which may tarnish. Platinum is the strongest precious metal, and is twice as heavy as most gold alloy rings.
Some women want their platinum ring carved with designs or inlaid with gemstones.

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Armani Watches - The Best Style Statement of Modern Times!

If there is one head turning accessory you could wear everyday and yet not look over the top, it would have to be Armani watches. The brainchild of Georgio Armani and worn by all fashion conscious individuals today, these convey a sense of casual and chic sophistication. So if you wish to make a style statement this season, get yourself a fabulous set of Armani watches!

The range of choices for men and women!
Out of all the fabulous Armani watches available in the market today the Emporio Armani watch seems to be the most eye-catching and popular. Whilst the Emporio range is catering to both men and women, the range of designs is truly astounding. Amongst the men, whilst the Meccanico watch range is all about combining functionality with sleek dials and designs, the diamond set watch is all about extravagance and opulence. The Meccanico range of watches has a wide range of colours to choose from right from sleek black to amber, to even an unusual combination of pale lilac and tan. You will find various shapes on the watch dials ranging from rectangular to oval to even round. There are a wide range of dial sizes to choose from. So whether you like big dials or small ones you can be sure to find one that suits your fancy! The bracelet range of Emporio Armani watches combine elegance with beautiful styles on the watch straps. All straps have beautifully crafted metallic links in them which are sure to add up on the style quotient this season! From finishes ranging from dull matte to glossy shine, there is a style to suit every palate. Amongst the collection of Armani watches for women, each piece is all about fine sophistication and elegance. From beautiful bracelet straps to diamond studded dials, to elegant slim and sleek straps, every watch conveys a sense of youthful spirit. The whole collection is designed to cater to both day and evening wear.

Reflect your personality
They say a watch says a lot about the wearer. Nothing seems to reveal your sense of style and personality better than Armani watches. Depending on your personality, you can select the shape and style of the watch. For example: if you are feeling bold and in the mood for some water sporting action, try out some of the sleek water resistant black dial Armani watches. If you wish for a more formal appearance then try out the range of Meccanico watches which come with dual dials for both seconds as well as minutes. With a wide range of subtle and sophisticated colours to choose from, you can surely find a watch to perfectly match your wardrobe. For example, an unconventional combination of lilac pink on the dial would go perfectly with a light grey blazer. For career oriented women who want to make a winning impression in the boardroom, Armani watches can really help in that effort. From super sleek trim straps to opulent silver bracelets, set off a unique mood each day!

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Get started with your gold investments

Gold investments are the best way to consolidate your investments as they are well known for fixed market value that does not depreciates in a volatile way in comparison to stocks. Incase you are looking for investment opportunities; make sure you go for gold investment that helps you in getting the best value for money. Given the market value of gold and its stability over money investments, gold can offer huge financial returns and true vale for money. It is seen that gold has survived monetary collapses while sailing through swiftly in the bullion market. This makes gold stable in comparison to stocks and shares where the risk of losses is much high in comparison of profits.

However, if you want to go forth with gold investments, make sure you invest in gold coins as they offer instant liquidity solutions. Apart from liquidity solution, gold coin investment rules both the national and international markets. It is seen that gold investment is the most lucrative and sound investment in bullion market as many investors try to incorporate gold stocks in their portfolios. However, if you are planning to dabble in gold investment stocks, make sure you have a thorough knowledge about bullion trade and its market practice.

While making gold investment, try to gather as much information about bullion trade. This will definitely help you in making a sound investment. It is seen that investment in gold jewelry such as necklace, rings and other things is not as sound investment in comparison to gold coins and bricks. Gold bricks and coins are secure investments and help you in increasing your profitable bullion trade career. However, in order to get started with gold trade portfolio, you have to start collecting gold bars and coins. This will definitely give you an edge in trading policies. The benefit of trading in gold bullion trade is the fact that gold investment does not get effected by the falling paper currency. Therefore, if the trade market faces crunch and money value topples, your gold will remain virtually unaffected to the falling price by providing you an option of stable liquidity. Therefore, given the benefits of gold investment, gold coin sale can offer you a plum and lucrative trading practice that helps you in getting good money in exchange of gold. During increasing sensex, gold prices automatically increase and offer huge dividend on its sale.

So, given the amazing benefits of gold trade, if you are into bullion trade or deal in gold investment, you will definitely have an edge over other portfolio owners as bullion trade is more lucrative in comparison to other portfolios. In comparison to $ US, gold has show a strong position that makes it an important investment. Well, keeping all the above things in mind will definitely help you in making the best investment solution. Gold investments are more profitable than real estate ventures as economical recession can take the toll of market price however, in gold investment; it remains untouched by any market condition.

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Amethyst Jewellery - The most striking Jewel

If you are shopping for an amethyst ring then you will be wooed and drawn by its subtly seductive color. Amethyst comes in a striking violet color and it is believed that it will protect you from seduction. How ironical!

For a long-long time, amethyst has been one of the most striking stone from the quartz family and it has adorned the thrones and crowns of prince and princesses. The great Moses said that it is the symbol of the Spirit of God. Its name was derived for the Greek word 'amethystos' meaning not intoxicated. The amethyst is the birthstone of those who were born in the month of February. Over the centuries, many faiths and beliefs have been formed around this magical stone. Some say that it can protect your crops against locusts and storm while others believe that it will bring good fortune in war, destroy evil spirits and enhance the intellect.

Those are man made beliefs but gemstone therapists have a different view. They believe that this magnificent stone can have a cleansing effect on the wearer. But above all the stone symbolizes a strong bond of friendship. In the early ages, amethyst was mostly worn by bishops and cardinals. The hardness of this stone is 7 on the Moh's scale, and it permits moderate refraction but its crystal structure is most unconventional. The crystal structure construction of the amethyst is stratified and due to this, you will find certain lamellae and areas having varying color intensity.

If you come across a large cut amethyst then you will find that the color is not uniform across the stone. Scientists owe this variation in color to certain iron constituents that are connected to the natural radioactive radiation.

Amethyst also changes its color when heated and it can become yellow or colorless when heated at 400 degrees. There are few rare incidents where people have found bi-colored amethyst and this has been named ametrine.

There are some amethysts that will turn pale or colorless in broad daylight. Although the reason behind this phenomenon still eludes scientists but you can re-color your amethysts by using radium radiation. Since amethysts can lose its color hence it is always advised that amethysts jewelry or rings should not be worn while sunbathing or when you are in a solarium. Apart from the sunlight, even extreme change in temperatures can cause damage to the stone.

The biggest deposit of amethysts has been found in Brazil and Uruguay. The third country that has amethysts deposit is Madagascar. The largest cavity of amethyst was discovered in Rio Grande do Sul in 1900. Diggers found dark violet amethysts that were as big as an adult fist and weighed almost 700 cwt. Today, as compared to diamonds, ruby, and sapphire, the cost of amethysts is much lower but that doesn't mean it is any less precious. The amethyst is not just another stone, it is a beautiful part of nature that when worn by your loved one will pass on a part of its radiance to her. That's the magic of Amethyst.

Affinity Jewelers is committed to offering the absolute highest quality jewelry at the guaranteed lowest prices. You won't find a better deal on wedding bands, diamond anniversary bands, diamond necklaces, pearl rings, earrings, bracelets, and gemstone jewelry anywhere on the web. At Affinity Jewelers, quality jewelry can be affordable jewelry.

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Jewelry On-line

A Jewel Accoutrement

The jewelry of various forms and kinds has been used since long, around 3,000-5,000 years before. They have been used for a number of purposes like, largely for the adornment of body and no less than that as an amulet. Throughout history it can be seen that jewels were considered to be one of the greatest protections against supernatural evil and to welcome bless and prosperity in life. Jewelry was also used to distinguish different castes in a particular community.

The ostentatious display of jewelry and fashion was actually evolved by Napoleon; the Emperor of France who rejuvenated this notion as new incites of spectacle. Today, the purposes have not been changed utterly except that usage as a social tag in that sense. Even today jewelry effectively compliments the simplest of one`s outfits to give an overall complete appearance. From hair pin to toe ring, it embellishes the entire part of the body.

At primitive ages, people used to make jewelry with natural objects like stones, sea shells, teeth and bones of animals and etc. Later on, comparatively shiny objects were taken to add a little elegance and glamour to them.

Artistic innovation and creative reflection over the designs of stones and beads and other precious glittering objects have made the jewelry more striking and obligatory material to every individual since long before. In spite of the massive variations in novelty and modernization of designs, the jewels traditionally are placed into precious metals or metal alloys like, sliver, bronze, gold, platinum palladium etc.

From the historic era, gold was the best chosen metal for making ornaments and jewelry because of its malleable characteristic and everlasting glitter. History says it was the Egyptians who first used gold as a metal of ornament and also as a symbol of their economic status and social standing. The wonderful accessories like collars, head ornaments, earrings, necklaces, pendants and etc., were worn by the pharaohs.

According to experts, gold is too soft a metal to be used in its pure form and hence, in its alloy karat is used as a unit to determine the amount of gold present, and the K letter represents the word Karat. The 10K purity states 41.7% pure gold, 18K states 75% purity, 24K states 99.9% purity and so on. With the improvement of metallurgy various alloys of precious metals are coming out. One of which one is white gold, an alloy of gold and palladium or nickel like white metal, which is being used intensively by modern designers to mould rings, bangles or chains.

The gemstones can be classified into precious and semi-precious stones according to their availability and excellence of splendor. The diamonds, sapphires, opals, ruby, spinels, topaz, emeralds and pearls are considered to be the most precious stones till today.

During historical ages both the men and women used to ornament themselves with heavy jewelleries. The upper class women used to have parures, which were actually elegant suits with precious gems which could include a diadem, a necklace, a pair of bracelets, a comb and pins, a tiara, rings, earrings or even a belt clasp. These possessions were mark of grace and sophistication. The extensive use of pearls and diamonds in early 1900s bewilder even today`s designers and patrons. Queen Alexandra made and wore a high neck collar choker, called the `collier de chien` to hide the scar on her neck.

Later on, from 1940s or 1950s, the great influence of movies and TV shows and largely the prominence and glamour of actors and actresses started working on the general minds, and a gradual modernization of jewelry was gladly accepted by the generations for their dynamic creative and affordable fine designs.

The comparatively cheaper materials of jewelry, like sea shells, clay or imitation metals and colored stones attract mostly the young minds, giving a trendy dimension to their dress code and the lighter form of precious jewelry, thus mostly meeting the modern fashion statements.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for PoloMercantil.

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The Allure of Jewelry

The Allure of Jewelry
As a woman, I have never understood why Eve wanted to eat the forbidden fruit. Why would she risk her life for some fruit? Now if that dreadful snake had offered her a beautiful gold necklace or a diamond tennis bracelet that would be a different story. We have always been tempted by the allure of jewelry whether it be the little girl who must have the elaborate set of Barbie glamour jewelry or the woman who must have a Tiffany bracelet. We simply cannot resist jewelry, never have and never will. It's like we have a jewelry gene that makes us crave gold, silver, or platinum to adorn ourselves. Since Eve had no clothes before the fall, she didn't even know what jewelry was, but I bet as soon as she put on the first set of fig leaves, it wasn't a week before she was adorning them with rocks she thought were pretty. So I guess we can say we aren't responsible for our cravings for jewelry. Just like everything else, the Devil made us do it.

As far back as BC times, people have worn jewelry for a variety of different reasons. The first jewelry was crafted from materials such as stones, feathers, shells, and even bones. Often in primitive times, jewelry was worn for one of three reasons: as a religious talisman, to show status, or to protect the wearer. The ancient Egyptians often wore various types of jewelry to encourage positive results like good luck. Unlike today's society, people did not wear jewelry simply because it was pretty. At least, that is, until the Roman times.

The Romans were notorious for their hedonistic lifestyle, and loved wearing jewelry crafted from gold and gems. They not only wore jewelry to show their social standing, they wore it because it was pleasing to the eye. These days, jewelry is worn by men, women and even children the world over. Just as in ages past, people today wear jewelry for a variety of reasons.

Birthstone jewelry is a popular type of jewelry commonly worn today. While the origin of the birthstone is a mystery, the tradition has held strong for ages upon ages. Each month of the year is assigned a birthstone. For example, January's birthstone is Garnet, while the birthstone of August is Peridot. Each gem is associated with certain qualities as well. Garnet is believed to protect the wearer from nightmares, depression and encourage lasting love. Peridot, for example, is symbolic of protection and success. Each birthstone has its own special qualities and folklore.

Just like in ancient times, much of the jewelry worn today is symbolic. The best example of this is of course the engagement ring and wedding band. The single diamond in an engagement ring not only symbolizes a promise, but also something rare and beautiful. The wedding ring symbolizes an unbroken circle and the sanctity of marriage. There are even promise rings that are given by boyfriends to their girlfriends as a symbol of their affection. High school students often exchange class rings for this purpose as well. And let's not forget about mothers' rings. These rings contain a birthstone for each child and symbolizes a mother's never-ending love and pride for her offspring.

Then again, there's jewelry that doesn't mean anything but is beautiful to behold. From expensive fine jewelry to cheap costume jewelry, you can find personal ornamentation to suit your every whim and match your every outfit. The allure of jewelry has existed since the beginning of mankind, and will surely continue to do so for ages to come.

Selecting and Caring for Antique Jewelry
Antique jewelry is defined by most experts as jewelry that is at least 100 years old. Often, people confuse antique jewelry with vintage jewelry. Vintage jewelry can be old, but is usually defined as jewelry that's made after 1920. There are a variety of places where you can find stunning pieces of antique jewelry to wear, collect, hand down, or even resell. Before beginning your search for antique jewelry, it helps to know more about the different eras and types of jewelry you might come across. Here is a brief guide to different jewelry eras:

Late Georgian (1760-1837)

Because necklines were often low, necklaces were designed to flatter them. Often, necklaces were multi-tiered designs featuring diamonds or gemstones. Cameos and other pendants were often worn this way as well, with rows of draping chain in between. Berlin Iron is a material that you may find from this era. Patriotic citizens donated their gold for the war effort, and were given ornate replicas crafted from this iron. Miniatures were popular as well, which were similar to today's lockets containing photographs, only the likeness was painted instead of photographed.

Victorian (1837-1901)

The Victorian era is a highly popular one for antique jewelry collectors. Ornate gemstone jewelry, cameos, and shapes like hearts and flowers were highly popular. Serpents were another surprising motif, as they were considered good luck and a favorite of Queen Victoria. Diamonds became more accessible due to the discovery of plentiful mines, so more and more Victorians wore diamond jewelry. Onyx and jet were popular as well, and were often worn as mourning pieces.

Art Nouveau (1890-1915)

This period emerged in Paris during the last years of the reign of Queen Victoria. This era of jewelry making focused more on the style and form of a piece rather than the materials the jewelry was made from. Some popular materials included horn, bone, shell, ivory and glass. Semi-precious stones were popular as well, as were enamel and styles like cloisonne. Asian theme jewelry was popular also. You will even find opal and moonstone featured in jewelry from this time period.

It's likely that anything crafted after the Art Nouveau period would not be classified as antique jewelry, but vintage jewelry, depending on who you ask. When shopping for antique pieces, a good place to start is at estate sales. Auctions are also often great places to find antique jewelry from many different time periods. You may want to do some research before shopping, so you'll know what to look for and what denotes a piece as authentic.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/The-Allure-of-Jewelry/12570
Jewelry On-line

Bracelets for All Occasions

Bracelets for All Occasions
Bracelets -- they've been worn since the beginning of time and still are to this day. In ancient times, bracelets often held religious meaning or denoted a wearer's social status. Today, bracelets can still hold meaning and significance, although often bracelets are worn as a simple fashion statement. Let's take a look at some of the most trendy and popular bracelet styles.

Jelly bracelets were highly popular in the 1980's and have shown a resurgence in today's society. They are made from a soft rubbery material and come in every color of the rainbow, including clear. To wear them the right way, pile them on! The best thing about jelly bracelets is their price -- they're incredibly cheap. While we're on the subject of the 80's, let's discuss another vintage trend -- cuffs. Arm cuffs are worn around the wrists and can be fastened with Velcro or snaps. Cuffs are normally quite wide and often feature bright or eye-catching ornamentation, colors or patterns. Some arm cuffs, or bands, are made from stretchy terrycloth material.

Maybe you're looking for something a bit more classic. If so, you're in luck! One of the most popular and traditional types of bracelets is the diamond tennis bracelet. Diamond tennis bracelets can be a row of pure diamonds, or feature gold designs in between each diamond. These types of bracelets can be incredibly expensive. Luckily, today's simulated diamonds are as beautiful and lasting as the real thing.

Another hot bracelet trend is the bangle. Although some bangles have hooks or clasps, many of them simply slip onto the arm. Bangles can come in gold or silver and are often worn in bunches on one or both arms. Most bangles are skinny in width, but you can find wide bangles as well. Not all bangles are gold or silver. Some are crafted from alternative materials like wood, plastic or stainless steel.

Pearl bracelets are popular these days as well. They add a classic Victorian flair to any outfit and come in many different varieties. Most pearls are of the cultured variety, and come in many different colors like white, cream, pink, lavender and black. You can find pearl bracelets that are single strand, and those that feature multiple strands of pearls held together with a clasp.

Bracelets of all kinds make great gifts, for a friend, loved one, or even yourself! Rather than worry about what's fashionable, choose pieces that you enjoy wearing. This will ensure that you'll be happy with your choice for years to come!

All About Bridal Jewelry

Bridal jewelry refers to any pieces that are worn by a bride on her wedding day. The most common type of bridal jewelry is of course the engagement ring and wedding band. The tradition of presenting a woman with a diamond engagement ring is steeped in history and meaning. The diamond is not only the hardest stone, but one of the most ancient as well. Diamonds represent eternity, beauty, and rarity -- which is why they're so commonly used as a symbol of loving promise. The wedding band is often thought to represent the sanctity of marriage and the simple circle stands for infinity and an unbreakable relationship.

There are many new trends in bridal jewelry. Some brides are sporting engagement rings that are not only diamond, but contain other gems as well. Gold is the traditional metal used for bridal jewelry, but many couples are choosing platinum and even stainless steel for their wedding jewelry. The engagement and wedding rings are not the only type of bridal jewelry out there, however.

Often a bride will wear additional jewelry on her big day. This might include a special necklace such as a pendant shaped like a heart or a single diamond solitaire. Another popular pendant style is the eternity circle, which is a simple circle pendant that is similar in design to a wedding band, although bigger. This type of pendant may be adorned with diamonds. Diamond or rhinestone tiaras are worn as hair ornaments by some brides, depending on their hairstyle.

Bridal jewelry isn't just limited to the bride, either! It's customary for a bride to present her maid of honor and her bridesmaids with a small token of appreciation, and this is often a piece of jewelry to be worn at the ceremony. This can include a necklace or pendant, bracelet or ring. Even the guys can sport ceremonial ornamentation, such as a special man's ring or pair of cuff links.

Because many pieces of bridal jewelry are made with diamonds, it's important to know how to select and care for diamonds. Diamonds come in a variety of shapes, sizes, cuts and colors. You will want to choose a diamond with good clarity and few imperfections. Because diamonds are so tough, they're fairly simple to clean. A simple scrubbing with a toothbrush or traditional jewelry cleaner can be used to keep your diamonds sparkling.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Bracelets-for-All-Occasions/12574
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Gemstones Are All About Tales And Colors

Gemstones carry many popular stories and beliefs regarding their colorful displays. Each such class of stones may have a distinct crystalline and optical identity to speak of, which shall provide a unique identity to the gemstone jewelry produced from them. As per many popular stories, they are believed to influence the human mind in different ways when adorned as gemstone rings and other ornaments. These stories do have some scientific reasoning as well to rely on, as the human mind is known to react depending on the kind of optical and colorful displays it was exposed to. We are going to examine some of these tale telling facts about gemstones and their influences in the everyday life through the following paragraphs.

We often wear gemstone rings studded with Sapphires or Rubies on different occasions. These stones are basically mineral forms of corundum, an aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The mineral is called Ruby or Sapphire depending on the kind of light it was able to reflect back. A red mineral corundum is always called a Ruby while the rest other shades are classified either as Sapphires or Padparadschais. Gemstone rings should be worn according to one's zodiac sign, one popular belief says, and Sapphires work out best for those individuals who had an Aquarius sign. In the same way, Ruby is known to calm down aggressive individuals of a particular lineage of stars. Similarly, Opal and Topaz, two more precious stones that manufacturers often try making use of while assembling gemstone jewelry, are known to make individuals of certain stars successful.

Some southwest Indian tribes are widely seen wearing Turquoise to promote healing and good luck and to perform religious ceremonies. Hematite, another metallic gray colored stone, is adorned in the same region as a way to energize one's bloodstreams, while the brownish red Jasper is believed to nullify one's negativity. Jasper also gets known for healing up kidney, bladder, spleen and liver ailments and thus plays out the role of a medic. A dark green colored stone named Malachite, is supposed to help in garnering mental insightfulness and arousing the levels of loyalty and fidelity from those around. Another stone named as Adventurine and found in light greens, is often thought to aid people in getting rid of anxiety and garnering a tranquil life in exchange.

Purple colored stones Amethysts are known to help out people in getting rid of their addictive habits and in garnering mental peace. Similarly, Rhodonite is thought to raise up the levels of positive thoughts in one's life and help out them have emotional soundness. These and many other notions regarding precious stones dictate how people would normally buy gemstone jewelry across the globe. Not only the charm of adorning oneself with lustrous jewels but also the thought of having positive effects is what makes people go in for the ornaments like gemstone rings, bracelets, necklaces etc.

Many websites may be seen offering a great deal of information regarding gemstone jewelry these days. These include stones produced in natural mines and scientifically synthesized both. One can log on at these sites to instantly order their selections of gemstone items at highly cut-throat rates any day.

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Jewelry On-line

Gemstones - The Crowning Glory Of Ornaments

Gemstones need no formal introduction when it comes to evaluating how much they were defining man's beautifying techniques. Gemstone jewelry has always played a key role in making the humans look more glamorous since time immemorial. You may have as many bracelets, necklaces and finger rings of pure gold and platinum as desired, but unless you had had a couple of them studded with gemstones, the desire of having an impressive collection of jewelry items will go unfulfilled. Men and women have always craved for owning the ornaments like gemstone rings as a result, to display out their possession of power and wealth.

Gemstones, also called gems, are basically mineral parts that are cut and polished to look charming and be available for inserting inside ornaments. Some organic compounds and non-minerals like amber are also treated as gemstones by the ornament manufacturers. Gemstones are classified according to their chemical composition, crystalline structure and the original forms they were found in; the phrase habit stands for the last of these three categories. Hard brilliant diamonds, for example, are made of carbon (C), and soothing red rubies of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as per their chemical analysis. In the same way, different stones may have different crystalline formations as per their physical mapping, such as a cubic or a trigonal one. Some diamonds, originally found in the nature as octahedrons, are treated to have cubic crystalline formations for the sake of making specific industrial usage, thus transforming their basic physical state, the habit.

Gemstones have to go through many procedures before being inducted into ornaments. They are heated, irradiated, waxed and filled up with oil, apart from being targeted with several other techniques to gather lasting effects. Some of these treatments may last permanently while others may fade out with time, thus deciding how much value they should add to the resulting gemstone jewelry. Gemstones are basically either cut and polished into cabochons or faceted structures, depending on their physical properties. Stones that are opaque such as turquoise, variscite, opal, etc are normally cut and polished into dome shaped forms called cabochons, while those with transparent characters are made to look multi-faceted. One can always select to buy ornaments such as gemstone rings studded with either of the two kinds of stones.

The reason given for not cutting and polishing the opaque gems into multi-faceted ones is their lack of ability to showcase interiors. Apart from that, hardness does also play out a key role in deciding what shape any stone should finally have as gemstone jewelry. Normally, less hard stones are prone to getting more scratched compared to the harder ones, hence providing them with a dome like shape lessens the chance of those scratches being picked up visually. These aspects usually guide the way gemstone jewelry was manufactured across the globe.

There is a vast market available for the synthetically produced gemstones and their ornaments as well. They are generally valued just a fraction of what the naturally made gemstone jewelry might usually cost. These stones may have similar optical properties to their original counter parts on occasions, but may vary in terms of physical and chemical properties in a substantial manner. So, you should decide in advance the nature of stones you may wish to wear before stepping inside any jewelry showroom the next time, as there may be dozens of styles and price tags to choose from in various categories of the gemstone rings, necklaces and bracelets that you might get to look at.

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Jewelry On-line

The Beauty of Celtic Jewelry

The ancient Celtic people are famous to this day because of their incredible style of jewelry and ornamentation. The centerpiece of Celtic jewelry is the Celtic knot, which has no beginning and no end. This type of ornamental knot work was found adorning ancient manuscripts and monuments, often in the form of the Celtic cross. To this day, Celtic jewelry is a beloved and popular style of jewelry worn by people all over the world.

The Celtic cross is often worn as a pendant on a chain or silk cord. The Celtic cross features the trademark knotwork, and although it looks similar in structure to the traditional Christian cross, it sports a circle surrounding the intersection. Celtic crosses can be crafted from a variety of materials, although silver is often a popular choice.

Then there's the claddagh. This ring can either be a symbol of friendship or love. It features two hands holding a heart with a crown on top. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty, and the heart represents love. Often, the way the ring is worn designates the romantic status of the wearer. If the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart pointing to the hand, it means the wearer is in a relationship. If the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart pointing away from the hand, it means the wearer is available. Wearing the claddagh on the left hand designates either engagement or marriage. Claddaghs are normally crafted from silver or gold. Sometimes, they can feature gemstones as well.

Another popular type of Celtic jewelry is the ingot. The ingot is a rectangular shaped pendant usually made from silver or gold which bears engraved symbols. Then there are pieces of jewelry shaped like shamrocks, Irish dance shoes, Irish harps, and Gaelic coins. The beauty of Celtic jewelry is not only in its attractive appearance, but in the fact that everything has a deep and often spiritual meaning.

To browse and shop for Celtic jewelry, check out simplyirish.com. Here you'll discover a wide variety of gorgeous pieces of all kinds, including rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and much more!

Great Custom Jewelry Ideas
Custom jewelry is perfect for anyone seeking jewelry that has true significance and meaning. Custom jewelry is also ideal for someone seeking a truly one-of-a-kind piece. There are many different places where you can have custom pieces created. One of the best has to be Limoges. Since 1985, Limoges Jewelry has been a symbol of craftsmanship and quality. Here are some highlights of what you'll find at Limoges Jewelry.

Sterling Silver Family Name and Birthstone Ring

This gorgeous sterling silver ring features oval-cut, high quality Austrian crystals in the birthstones of your choice. You can choose two to four stones, as well as two to four names to be engraved into the ring. Names are engraved in cursive script and can contain up to ten letters. This ring would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day!

Sterling Silver Engraved Name Band

This gorgeous sterling silver band is ideal for a wedding, anniversary or birthday gift. It can be engraved with script up to 12 letters. Script is in black.

Sterling Silver Personalized Couples Heart Ring

This incredible sterling silver ring features two intertwined hearts, two names in cursive script, and two birthstones. This is a perfect gift for couples who want to celebrate their love!

14K Mom and Daughter Shareable Pendant

This solid 14k gold round pendant can be worn whole, or broken in half and worn by mother and daughter. This pendant comes with one eighteen-inch 14k gold chain. You have the option of ordering an additional chain at an affordable price.

Filigree Family Tree Birthstone Pendant

This tree shaped pendant is 14k gold plated and has room for a birthstone symbolizing each member of your family, up to ten. Birthstones are crafted from sparkling Austrian crystal. Pendant measures one inch tall and 11/16 of an inch wide.

Sterling Silver Engraved Dog Tag Pendant

This gorgeous sterling silver rectangular dog tag pendant can be engraved with a personal message of your choice. The message can be six lines with 12 characters per line. The pendant comes complete with a 20 inch ball chain.

These represent only a few of the customized jewelry choices available from Limoges Jewelry. This company makes jewelry of the highest quality, and has been doing so for over 100 years! Take a look for yourself at limogesjewelry.com.
A Guide to Diamond Jewelry
Diamonds are probably the most popular and recognizable gemstones in the world. One reason why diamond jewelry is so beloved is because of its heritage and history. The very youngest diamond in the world is 900 million years old, created even before the age of the dinosaurs. Diamonds are famous for being the hardest stone -- their name comes from the Greek for 'unconquerable.' Maybe this is why diamonds are given as a symbol of engagement. One of the most famous taglines for a diamond company is 'A diamond is forever,' and it's actually true!

One of the newest trends in diamond jewelry is the right hand ring for women. The traditional diamond solitaire engagement ring is always worn on the left hand and symbolizes love and commitment. However, the right hand diamond ring is flashier, showier and a symbol of feminine empowerment and independence. It's not uncommon for a woman to have a diamond engagement ring on her left hand and a right hand ring on the other hand.

Diamonds are measured in carats. The term carat derives from carob seed, which was used in ancient times to measure diamond weight. Only five percent or less of the diamonds made into jewelry weigh more than one carat. Diamonds are judged using what's known as the four C's: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. Let's take a look at each one of these factors.

There are many different cuts available when it comes to diamonds. Examples of cuts include round, marquis, emerald, princess, pear, and even heart-shaped. The cut of a stone has a lot to do with its vibrancy and beauty. Clarity refers to how flawed a diamond is. While a flawless diamond is extremely rare, you will want to choose a diamond that has as few inclusions, or flaws, as possible. The clarity of a diamond is designated by an alphanumeric scale that your jeweler can explain to you in detail. Color is another factor to consider when choosing a diamond. While white diamonds are the most common and popular, diamonds come in all colors including yellow, pink, blue and even red. Then there's carat, which is how the weight of a diamond is measured. It's estimated that fewer than one percent of women own an engagement ring larger than one carat.

Diamond jewelry is not limited to engagement and right hand rings. Tennis bracelets, diamond pendants, and gemstone rings flocked with diamonds are just a few other ways diamonds are used for jewelry. When shopping for diamonds, consult with an experienced jeweler. He or she can educate you further on the diamond selection process and help you choose the perfect one for you!

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/The-Beauty-of-Celtic-Jewelry/12603
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Earrings -- Trends and Traditions

Earrings are some of the most popular types of jewelry worn today. You'll find that lots of women and men alike sport ear piercings. Some people even have more than one hole in each ear, a trend that took off in the late eighties and remains to this day. For those who don't have pierced ears but want to wear earrings, there are handy clip on styles. Here are some different trends and types of earrings that are popular these days:

Stud Earrings: Stud earrings are one of the most classic and traditional types of ear ornamentation available. A stud earring is simply one that is a small, simple stone, metal or jewel. This could mean diamond solitaires, birthstones, or delicate gold or silver studs in various shapes. Many parents choose to have their daughters' ears pierced with hypo-allergenic studs at a young age. Whether or not you do is a matter of personal preference. Stud earrings are first choices for young girls and adults alike.

Hoop Earrings: Hoop earrings are another traditional style that is as popular today as they were ages ago. Hoops can come in a variety of different materials, such as gold, silver or even hard plastic. There are small, delicate hoops and big, bold hoops. Some hoops are thin, others are thicker. There are hoop earrings that are perfect circles, and ones that are more oval shaped. There are even square are rectangular choices that are similar to circle hoops in style.

Chandelier Earrings: This is a vintage inspired trend that's hot today. Chandelier earrings look very similar to an actual chandelier, featuring tiers of sparkling ornamentation. There are chandelier earrings that are costume jewelry, and those that are fine jewelry. If you don't feel comfortable with such a strong style but want something substantial, try dangling styles made from soft silver or gold for a modern and stylish look.

Pearl Earrings: Pearls add classic sophistication to any look. There are pearl studs, as well as dangling styles that invoke an antique feel. Pearl earrings come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. There are white pearls, cream colored pearls, pink pearls, peach pearls, and even lustrous and rare black pearls. If you're looking for a conservative style that fits any ensemble, pearl earrings fit the bill!

For individuals with sensitive ears, stainless steel earrings are popular choices. Always keep earrings clean and if irritation develops, cease wearing them and treat the ear holes with peroxide or rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or swab.

Why Choose Estate Jewelry?
Estate jewelry is jewelry that is purchased (or sometimes inherited) from the collection of another person, whether departed or living. Basically, estate jewelry is used jewelry that has had a previous owner. This type of jewelry may or may not be vintage or antique. There are many reasons why people choose estate jewelry.

One reason is its value. Often, estate sales feature incredible prices on the items. This is why so many online auction sellers frequent estate sales -- to find valuable items at good prices. Another reason is for personal use. If you're looking for that one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, you just might find it at an estate sale. The type of jewelry you'll discover can vary widely and simply depends on the preferences of the previous owner. Some estate sales have incredible fine jewelry, while others feature inexpensive vintage costume jewelry.

By definition, antique jewelry is anything created before 1930. Everything after 1930 is usually called vintage jewelry. After the 1930's, women were more likely to desire more inexpensive pieces to match their various outfits, which led to the birth of costume jewelry. Costume jewelry can range from colorful plastic beads to rhinestone encrusted hair combs and everything in between. At many estate sales, you'll find colorful vintage pieces that may hold value, or at the very least, personal interest.

Often, you can find gorgeous heirloom pieces at estate sales as well. Lockets, cameos, cocktail rings and bejeweled brooches are just a few potential treasures you might come across on your search. It helps to have an idea of what you are looking for before heading to an estate sale. If not, then you may end up spending more money than you can afford or spending money on pieces that are different than what you wanted.

You may also want to read up on different kinds of collectible estate jewelry as well. There are guidebooks available that feature black and white as well as color pictures of various pieces. These books also list the maker of the jewelry, various details about the jewelry, and the current market value. Being informed and prepared is one of the smartest things you can do, especially if you're estate shopping for resale items. After your first estate sale, it's likely you'll get hooked and want to go again and again!

Fashion Jewelry Trends
Fashion jewelry is popular in today's fashion conscious society. Women, and sometimes even men, use fashion jewelry to accent their outfits. The difference between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry is that fashion jewelry is affordable and crafted from less valuable materials than fine jewelry. It's easy to have a jewelry collection that features something to match every ensemble.

Trends come and go. For example, the love beads and mood rings of the sixties and seventies aren't as popular today as they used to be. Sometimes, however, trends from bygone eras make a resurgence and become new again. One of the biggest trends that is taken from a previous decade is that of colorful eighties style jewelry. That means jelly bracelets, giant earrings, and even wrist cuffs in a variety of vibrant shades and patterns.

Another big trend is that of chandelier earrings. These are earrings that are long, ornate and feature rows of sparkling beads, just as a chandelier does. When it comes to earrings, simple dangling styles are also popular. Think long, liquid-like strands of shimmering silver and gold. Hoops are another classic earring choice that have been popular for decades and continue to be popular today. The size hoop that you can pull off will depend on your facial structure and hairstyle. Hoop earrings of today range from delicate and small to big and bold.

Bracelets are hot as well. Along with eighties inspired bracelets, bunches of silver or gold bangles are also popular choices. Stack them on one arm, or both -- the more, the better. Arm cuffs are a fairly new yet ancient-inspired bracelet trend that's catching on as well. When wearing an arm cuff, it's of paramount importance that you wear a sleeveless top and have well-toned, slender arms.

Necklaces are following the earring trend in that they're dangling and long. Women are sporting necklaces in multi-strand styles that hang almost to belly-button level. Charm necklaces are gaining popularity again, also. A charm necklace features a chain and hoop onto which charms are attached. The great thing about charm necklaces (and bracelets as well) is that one can wear multiple pendants or charms that have special significance while still remaining fashionable.

Big rings are another fashion jewelry trend that's popular these days. Big rings feature real or faux gemstones and bold styles. As a basic rule, only one large ring should be worn per hand. Women are pairing the big ring trend with deep, dark shades of nail enamel like red, purple and even black. No matter what's trendy at the time, the most important thing is that you have fun with your fashion jewelry choices and wear what makes you feel confident and attractive.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Earrings----Trends-and-Traditions/12606
Jewelry On-line

Bloody Jewelry Market

"Do you know that a diamond which you buy was paid by a human life?" This was written on the poster representing the 4-years child with amputated hands. The massive campaign against trade in contraband diamonds has been beginning from such lethal evident propaganda.

The human rights organization Global Witness received the grant from the government of the Great Britain for the development of the effective system of tracking of the diamonds arriving in the market from Angola. Then Global Witness has started the unprecedented action against contraband which has already led to the revolutionary changes in industry.

In Antwerp - the world's main trade center of diamonds - the World Diamond Congress under pressure of the public has started the development of an international certification and monitoring system to control the import/export of rough diamonds. This system should put a barrier to the market for deliveries of contraband rough diamonds from zones of military conflicts.

De Beers, established in 1888, is the world's leading diamond company with unrivalled expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. De Beers and its joint venture partners operate in more than 20 countries across five continents employing.

Earlier, De Beers Group - the world's famous monopoly that had defined shaky well-being of many African economics and also well-being of diamond business in Europe, Asia and America for a long time - has reacted to attack of the public. For more than seventy years, Southern African Group De Beers that has controlled deliveries, selling and also diamond's pricing, had resolved to the radical reforming.

The Chairman of the De Beers Group Nicky Oppenheimer has arrived to London to explain new reforms to its 125 joint venture partners. De Beers hosted a members meeting and international conference in London. Delegates representing the governments of producing nations, non-governmental organizations, and the trade and general press were also in attendance.

Laws of the free market had come to change gentlemen's agreements. This is contracts renewed time in two years by principle "money forward". Besides De Beers Group also would like to undertake functions of "policeman" in the market - on the rights of former monopoly it is going to control the accompanying documentation on the diamonds arrived to Antwerp.

For many African countries, which in 30th years had become free of colonialism, diamond fields are the main thing, if not the only thing, a source of incomes. Not casually conflicts in Sierra Leone, Angola, Congo, Liberia had inflamed because of the control over diamond mines.

The analysis of Antwerp's transactions had helped to complete the picture of penetration "bloody diamonds" in market. The scale of contraband amazes imagination. For example, the official information - Liberia makes in one year 100 - 150 thousand carats. However, in the Belgian market only for five years (1994-1998) had registered 31 million carats of diamonds of Liberian origin (app. 6 million carats every year!). The official mining of diamonds in Sierra Leone in 1998 had made 8,5 thousand carats, and in Antwerp in the same year had registered 770 thousand carats of Sierra Leone's diamonds.

In Sierra Leone the official government doesn't control mines of a southeast of the country - all of them maintain by insurgents from Revolutionary incorporated front which "had become famous" for terrorize local residents with chopping off them a brush of hands. How is it possible to stop the contraband?

Richard Hoobrooke, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, having accused a peace-making contingent in Sierra Leone (about 3 thousand people) in an inefficiency, had demanded to define what equipment is necessary for blue helmets to beat off diamond mines at Revolutionary incorporated front. However, the other way of struggle - the creation of effective system of certification of diamonds - results only in funny things.

What could we do with the jewelry made of 10-20 diamonds certified by professional experts? For example, the diamond necklace will require up to 30 certificates, so the necklace's price will rise greatly.

Besides in the world no more than five experts are able to define absolutely precisely by the diamond a place of its mining. Four of these experts work at De Beers. At present days the license for trade in diamonds in Antwerp is given out by the Belgian Diamond High Council (HRD), - this is some kind of the trading guild that closely connected with De Beers.

Its representatives refuse contraband's diamonds - they said that these diamonds had acted in the Belgian market from a small number of private dealers. So why criticize De Beers?

The cause is the diamonds pricing. In fact, De Beers instantly bought up diamonds of unknown origin to not admit a collapse of the market. Thus, De Beers had "choked" because of "swallowing" of unknown origin diamonds when the world community had started talking about ethical aspects of business.

But the cause is the not only in ethical aspects. The diamond market is a colossus on clay legs. So, it is enough an easy whiff of a wind to stagger them: only 3 % of demand reduction means losses in 1,6 billion dollars.

Nowadays many experts expect that outsiders desire of changing trade structure of the market to own advantage stands behind attacks to De Beers. The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs had accused Canada of attempts to disorganize the Belgian diamond industry several months ago. The matter is that Ottawa is going to mine diamond fields of its Northwest territory which surpass African resources and "are not blood diamonds".

De Beers had announced that it is going to lower the huge diamond resources (up to 5 billion dollars), and it had promised to achieve a full transparency of diamond business. Nowadays a large-scale advertising campaign is planned to support interest in diamonds. Thus, it is created the impression that the elected strategy is providing transition from the control over the market of rough diamonds to domination in the market of cut diamonds.

However, many experts are sure that De Beers is cunning. The world's famous monopolies (De Beers Group controls 60% of the world market of rough diamonds) don't die suddenly. The company just wants to wash away the accusations that its business had involved in African blood.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Bloody-Jewelry-Market/16574
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Choosing a Jewelry Watch

Watches are not only functional; they can be beautiful as well. A jewelry watch can be a way to keep time as well as a gorgeous accessory for any outfit. There are so many different kinds of watches from which you can choose, it's often hard to decide! Thanks to the Internet, it's easy to shop for the perfect watch for yourself or a loved one.

At World of Watches worldofwatches.com you can browse through a staggering selection of top quality watches for men and women. Here are a few popular picks that you may want to consider:

Michele MW2 Women's Diamond Watch -- Bring out your animal instincts with this gorgeous diamond adorned watch featuring a leopard print leather strap. The dial markings are black Roman numerals, while the dial color is mother of pearl. A massive 112 diamonds adorn this stunning timepiece. Swiss made quartz movement, luminous hands and resistance to water are just a few more features of this beautiful watch.

Accutron Vera Cruz Women's 18K/Steel Watch -- For buyers on a budget who want a high quality, eye-catching timepiece, this fits the bill. Brushed stainless steel and 18 karat gold provide durability and beauty, while Swiss quartz movement ensures top quality operation. You'll also get a date calendar, sweep second hand and push button hidden clasp.

Movado Amorosa Women's Gold Plated Watch -- This architecturally inspired women's watch features striking gold tone accented with black museum dial and gold tone hands. A lustrous polished case on bangle bracelet gives a sleek, fashionable appearance that adds classic sophistication to any outfit. This watch is also durable and water resistant.

Locman Plus Women's Strap Watch -- Fashionistas everywhere will love this feminine pink timepiece. The gorgeous cross-shaped case is immediately eye-catching and distinctive. Stainless steel and Kingfish leather make this amazing watch a must-have. It features a mother of pearl dial, calendar at the four o'clock position and great water resistance.

Bvlgari Diagono Men's Automatic Watch -- This incredible men's watch bears the respected Bvlgari name and tons of great features. The stainless steel, satin finish case provides masculine sophistication, while the horizontal link bracelet looks perfect on any man's arm. This watch features certified chronometer automatic movement, undirectional bezel function and incredible water resistance.

These represent only a small fraction of the jewelry watch selections available. No matter what your price range or style preference, there's a perfect timepiece out there for you!

Choosing Necklaces for Fun and Fashion
Necklaces are some of the most ancient types of jewelry. Even in prehistoric times, people wore necklaces crafted from natural materials like shells, stones, feathers and plant materials. Back then, necklaces were not worn for simple ornamentation, but to denote some sort of meaning. Jewelry was worn to provide protection, bring good luck, or show social status. These days, things are a little different. While people do wear jewelry because it has special meaning for them, others often wear jewelry to accent their outfits.

Today's necklace trends are as varied as the fashion you see. There is no one particular type of necklace that's more fashionable than another, but there are some popular styles that you may want to consider. One such style is the ultra-long necklace. These necklaces are usually gold or silver chains featuring pendants which hang almost to belly button level. They mimic the popular dangling chandelier earrings that are in demand these days.

Another popular style of necklace is the choker. Chokers are often either made with a chain, ribbon, or cord crafted from silk or leather. On the choker is suspended a pendant. Chokers are often worn with lower cut tops and sometimes as part of a more gothic or old-fashioned look. You'll find choker pendants that are ornate, bejeweled crosses, hearts, cameos or other shapes. Speaking of cameos, Victorian style necklaces are big as well. This may include beaded chains that feature tiers of sparkling ornamentation. Most of these types of necklaces fall into the costume jewelry category rather than the fine jewelry category.

Fine jewelry necklaces are always in fashion and often have special significance for the wearer. One popular type of pendant is the circle, which is often given as a gift of affection and adorned with sparkling diamonds or cubic zirconia. Diamond solitaire pendants are hot these days also. The size of these pendants can range from small to rather large, although the larger ones are often simulated diamond. Some women prefer simulated diamonds, as they are much less expensive and just as beautiful.

Other popular types of fine jewelry necklaces are those exchanged by best friends or couples. Often, this includes a pendant that is in two pieces that fit together. Sometimes, one part of the necklace is a lock, and the other is a key. These types of necklaces denote everlasting friendship, love and commitment.

Information About Pearl Jewelry
Pearl jewelry is beautiful and classic. One of the most interesting things about pearls is how they're made. Pearls are round and hard, and are created by creatures like oysters and mollusks. The pearl is formed when layers of hard material are formed around an irritant in the shell. There are different kinds of pearls from which you can choose, such as freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls.

Natural pearls are those that are created naturally, without human assistance. However, the most common type of pearl is the cultured pearl. Cultured pearls are grown and harvested by humans, which offers more control over the quality and quantity of the pearls. Japan is a leading producer of all kinds of cultured pearls. Pearls are available in a variety of colors, including shades of white, cream, and even black. They are also available in a variety of different shapes. They include: round, semi-round, oval, pear, ringed and baroque.

If you enjoy online shopping, you simply must take a look at the selections offered at dahliajewels.com. Here, you will find not only gold and gemstone jewelry, but an amazing variety of pearl jewelry as well. Choose from natural pearls, cultured pearls, and even vintage pearl pieces. Take a look at a few of the treasures that await you:

Single Diamond Pearl Studs: These incredible cultured pearl earrings feature a single lustrous pearl topped by a small diamond. The great thing about these earrings is that they're available in a variety of gorgeous pearl shades, including white, lavender and peach.

18" Tricolor Knotted Cultured Pearl Necklace: This amazing necklace features three different shades of pearls in one: white, peach and lavender. The pearls on this necklace are rated AS2R3, which means they have high luster and very few imperfections. The ornate clasp features cubic zirconia and a cultured pearl for even more beauty and style.

Single Diamond Pearl Pendant: Like many of the other choices at Dahlia Jewels, this stunning pendant is available in white, peach or lavender. This pendant features a single flawless pearl topped with a genuine diamond and comes with a white gold Singapore chain.

No matter what type of pearl jewelry you choose, it's important to know the right way to care for it. Pearls should be stored in a silk pouch or lined jewelry box. While pearls do need a bit of moisture in the air, it's important not to immerse them in water. If your pearls need to be cleaned, simply wipe gently with soft cotton cloth dampened with a small amount of water. Do not use ultrasonic cleaners or harsh solutions to clean your pearl jewelry. The right care will ensure your pearls will stay beautiful for a lifetime!

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Choosing-a-Jewelry-Watch/12692
Jewelry On-line

Buying a ring at the right size.

Once you have found the diamond ring or gold ring you feel most appeals to you, you will need to make sure that you are buying the correct size. It is better to get the size right when you buy jewellery you want to offer to someone.
Different countries use different ring sizes but if you buy your diamond ring on a UK based website or at a jewellery shop in the United Kingdom, it will be UK ring sizing. Whereas UK ring size will usually be letters, European or American size will be numbers. It is good to know that UK Ring Sizes use British Standard (BS6820 or IS8653) which uses alphabetic letters for each 1.25mm of ring circumference with half sizes in between. Whether you buy online or in a shop, rings will be available from size J to size Q in whole sizes only. If you want to find out what your ring size is, or what your partner's ring size is, we recommend two courses of action. The first one is with a ring sizer that show a circles of different sizes on a piece of paper. The second one is called a ring belt. You will easily find the ring size with either of those practical tools.
If your ring size is not between size J and size Q, a jewellery shop can often order the ring specially, sized especially for you, usually at a charged cost. This may take a little longer, around three to four weeks, as it will be made and delivered from their factory or another one of their shop. If however you need the ring urgently they will be able to have one of their standard rings re-sized for you. This would take approximately one to two weeks and there would be a re-sizing charge.
A finger ring is a band worn as type of ornamental jewellery around a finger; it is the most common current meaning of the word ring. Other types of metal bands worn as ornaments are also called rings, such as arm rings and neck rings.
Ring (Jewellery-Design) Cartier 1969.Rings are worn by both men and women and can be of any quality. Rings can be made of metal, plastic, wood, bone, glass, gemstone and other materials. They may be set with a "stone" of some sort, which is often a precious or semi-precious gemstone such as ruby, sapphire or emerald, but can also be of almost any material.
There are various methods for determining proper ring size. Some of the largest rings in the world are made for the winning team of the Super Bowl. The unofficial record for the largest championship ring ever presented to a professional sports team belongs to the 2003 World Series champions Florida Marlins, with a weight of over 110 grams and with over 240 stones.
Rings can be worn on any finger, even on toes. In Western culture, the traditional "ring finger" for the wearing of an engagement or wedding ring is the fourth finger of the left hand (with the thumb counting as finger number one). The signet ring, a ring designating nobility, is commonly worn on the little (fifth) finger of the right or left hand, depending on nationality.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Buying-a-ring-at-the-right-size-/12699
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How to Select and Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry is widely popular and available in many different styles. In order for silver to be classified as sterling, it must contain 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent some other type of metal, often something like copper. The copper or other metal added to the silver gives it strength and durability. Fine silver, also called pure silver, is almost 100 percent silver and is too delicate and soft to make jewelry.

Sterling silver maintains its beauty and does not wear away as silver plating often does. When purchasing a piece of sterling silver jewelry, you'll want to look for the stamp which designates it as fine quality sterling. You may also see a symbol which designates the maker. Quality crafted sterling silver can last a lifetime or more if it's cared for properly. Like all silver, sterling silver jewelry is susceptible to tarnishing, especially if it's not worn very often. Luckily, this is an easy problem to take care of and prevent. Choose a polish or jewelry cleaner especially designed for sterling silver. You may even want to have your silver jewelry polished by a professional jeweler on a periodic basis.

If you like shopping online, then you'll definitely want to take a look at the gorgeous jewelry offered at bluenile.com. Not only does this online vendor offer gold, diamond, pearl and platinum jewelry, they offer incredible pieces of sterling silver jewelry as well.

One of the most popular items is the sterling silver charm bracelet. Choose from a wide variety of silver charms to add significance and beauty to your charm bracelet. Charms include initials, lockets, birthstones, numbers, religious symbols, and even baby booties. Other affordable and beautiful choices include the popular heart pendants offered by this retailer, available in a variety of sizes and styles. You'll also find bracelets, rings, earrings and more!

Sterling silver jewelry makes a great gift for anyone in your life. Many couples these days are even choosing sterling silver for their engagement and wedding rings. Silver looks gorgeous with every skin tone and hair color. You can find delicate and dainty pieces of sterling jewelry, as well as large, bold pieces for more adventurous wearers. When it comes to great jewelry, sterling has it all -- beauty, durability, and affordability!

Tiffany Jewelry -- The Ultimate in Classic Sophistication
The name Tiffany and Co., as well as the widely recognizable turquoise box, is synonymous with sophistication and quality. Who wouldn't want to unwrap a gift to find that distinctive Tiffany's box? Tiffany jewelry is some of the finest and most beloved in the world today. Let's take a look at some of the most popular selections available:

Tiffany Hearts Pendant: This gorgeous gold and diamond pendant is suspended on an eighteen inch chain and is crafted from 18k gold and stunning round diamonds. This incredible pendant makes an ideal romantic gift for a special woman.

Tiffany Stars Pendant: 4.44 carats of brilliant round diamonds make up this incredible star-shaped pendant, suspended on a 16.25 inch chain. Like all Tiffany jewelry, it makes a perfect gift and is the ultimate in quality and beauty.

Tiffany Celebration Rings: Celebration rings are platinum rings which feature gorgeous brilliant diamonds. You can stack and combine these rings, or wear only one. They are perfect for marking a significant event, such as an anniversary, marriage or birth of a child.

Tiffany Circlet: This circle style platinum and diamond ornament can be found in pendant and earring form. Rounds of sparkling Tiffany diamonds are encased in stunning platinum.

Frank Gehry Collection: One of the newest offerings in Tiffany jewelry is the Frank Gehry collection. There are a variety of different styles, including Axis, Equus, Fish, Fold, Orchid and Torque. This incredible collection features pendants and bracelets crafted from materials like sterling silver and green jade. Every piece in this collection is stunning and modern, as is the architecture they're inspired by!

Paloma's Sugar Stacks: These stunning gold rings are stackable and designed by Paloma Picasso. They come in a variety of gemstone choices, such as amethyst, rubellite and aquamarine set in 18k yellow gold.

Lock Charms: Tiffany's silver lock charms can be snapped onto most anything you wish, such as a necklace, bracelet, or purse. The charms feature the alphabetic letter of your choice, while some of them sport the classic Tiffany logo.

A book could be filled with descriptions of the various Tiffany jewelry pieces that are available! There are diamonds, jewels, gold, silver and platinum in a variety of different styles. Need a piece of jewelry that's beautiful and functional? Tiffany offers a plethora of stunning watches that are the ultimate in quality and style.

Why and How to Obtain Wholesale Jewelry

If you are looking for a fun business, why not consider selling jewelry? The great thing about this is that there are many places where you can find wholesale jewelry at a great price. When it comes to buying wholesale, you receive such a dramatic reduction off of the retail price because you're buying in bulk. There are many different places where you can market and sell your jewelry.

While you could open a retail store, many people choose to conduct business online. It's certainly easier and less expensive than selling your wares in a brick and mortar location. There are many different ways to sell jewelry online. You could open a web store where you offer your jewelry for sale at a fixed price. Many vendors are finding success this way. However, another option for Internet sellers is the online auction route.

After all, there are more than 100 million members registered on Ebay. That's a staggering potential customer base! The only thing about selling on Ebay is the competition. With so many sellers offering similar items as you, you'll need to offer quality merchandise, low prices and excellent customer service. If you can, then there's a distinct possibility that you can make a very good living this way. Ebay offers its sellers the ability to open their own stores for a low monthly fee. This can be a way to sell your items at a fixed price while still having the clientele and support that Ebay provides.

There's no limit as to what kind of jewelry you can sell. Some people offer fine jewelry, while others go the costume jewelry route. Still others specialize in between the two extremes, especially those sellers offering sterling silver and gemstone jewelry at moderate prices. Once you decide that you want to sell jewelry, the next step is to find a great place to buy it. One fantastic online vendor that offers wholesale jewelry for entrepreneurs is pippinbass.com.

At Pippin Bass, you'll discover gorgeous wholesale jewelry such as necklaces, rings, earrings and more crafted from fine sterling silver and beautiful gemstones. They offer lots of selection, great customer service and everything a jewelry seller needs to start and maintain a thriving business.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/How-to-Select-and-Care-for-Sterling-Silver-Jewelry/12736
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Tips on Taking Care of Your Cubic Zirconia Jewelery

When cubic zirconia is set in gold or sterling silver, it can be worn everyday without any damaging effects. Of course the exceptions are as follows.

Make-up, face and body powder and lotions can also cause the shine of the cubic zirconia to dull. So remove your cubic zirconia jewelry before coming in contact with any of these products.

Polish your cubic zirconia jewelry with a soft cotton towel or a chamois skin cloth in between cleanings.

We all get business with various projects and responsibilities, so it is not uncommon for the cleaning of our jewelry to slip through the cracks. Have you caught yourself at the last minute of getting ready taking a couple of minutes to clean your jewelry before you put them on to go out for the evening? All jewelry requires regular cleaning and proper care to maintain their beauty. So, set aside one day a week, every two weeks, or every month to attend to the cleaning of all your jewelry. You will be amazed at the results, and you won't have to worry about what condition they will be in when you choose them to wear for a special occasion.

Cubic zirconia jewelry and diamonds jewelry

Since coming to the world's attention in the 1830s, diamonds in has been a favorite of stones for jewelry. Not everyone can afford to buy diamonds, so the search for the best man-made version has been battled for years. Cubic Zirconia is considered to be the best man-made diamond for jewelry on the market today.

There are other synthetic diamonds used in the market today to replace diamonds in jewelry settings. The moissanite is a mineral created by a laboratory as a good diamond replacement stone. It was introduced into the market in the 1990s. It has become the choice of some for their fine jewelry collection. There are those who prefer moissante to cubic zirconia. The moissante match diamond in the hardness of the mineral, but there is a downside. The cost is about $500 per carat and the moissante does not have the brilliance and fire of a diamond or the cubic zirconia.

The Russian cubic zirconias used in jewelry are hand picked from the highest quality raw stones, hand cut by master cutters and hand polished. The specifications used for each of the Russian cubic zirconias are the same as those set down by the Gemological Institute of America for diamonds.

For my money, I will take a cubic zirconia jewelry over the other synthetic diamond jewelry any day.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Tips-on-Taking-Care-of-Your-Cubic-Zirconia-Jewelery/12756
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Use of gold in jewellery

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au coming from the Latin aurum, meaning shining dawn. It is a highly sought-after precious metal which, for many centuries, has been used as money, a store of value and in jewellery. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, underground "veins" and in alluvial deposits. It is one of the coinage metals. Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile of the known metals. Pure gold has a bright yellow color traditionally considered attractive.

Chemically, gold is a trivalent and univalent transition metal. Gold does not react with most chemicals, but is attacked by chlorine, fluorine, aqua regia and cyanide. It dissolves in mercury, forming amalgam alloys, but does not react with it. On top of that, gold is also insoluble in nitric acid, which will dissolve silver and base metals, and this is the basis of the gold refining technique known as "inquartation and parting". Nitric acid has long been used to confirm the presence of gold in items, and this is the origin of the colloquial term "acid test," referring to a gold standard test for genuine value.

Because of the softness of pure (24k) gold, it is usually alloyed with base metals for use in jewellery to make gold engagement rings for example, altering its hardness and ductility, melting point, color and other properties. Alloys with lower "k", typically 22k, 18k, 14k or 10k, contain higher percentages of copper, silver or other base metals in the alloy. Copper is the most commonly used base metal, yielding a redder metal. Eighteen carat gold containing 25% copper is found in antique and Russian jewellery and has a distinct, though not dominant, copper cast, creating rose gold. Fourteen carat gold-copper alloy is nearly identical in color to certain bronze alloys, and both may be used to produce police and other badges. White gold alloys can be made with palladium or nickel. White 18 carat gold containing 17.3% nickel, 5.5% zinc and 2.2% copper is silver in appearance. Nickel is toxic, however, and its release from nickel white gold is controlled by legislation in Europe. Alternative white gold alloys are available based on palladium, silver and other white metals, but the palladium alloys are more expensive than those using nickel. High-carat white gold alloys are far more resistant to corrosion than are either pure silver or sterling silver. They also tend to be much more appreciated by women when it comes to rings and especially engagement rings.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Use-of-gold-in-jewellery/13628
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