Posts Tagged ‘gemstones’

Jewelry looks beautiful worn, but can be ruined if not stored properly. Most individuals who have been tasked with maintaining many pieces of jewelry know that incorrect storage can damage delicate metals. Organizing jewelry can problematic in several ways. However, with a good plan and the right storage materials, it is not overly difficult to keep your jewelry looking as good as it did the day you bought it.

Budget Storage

A great place to begin when attempting to organize jewelry is to store each piece separately. Jewelry can easily get scratched, tangled or otherwise damaged when the harder gemstones are allowed to come into contact with soft metals and soft stones, or several necklaces and bracelets become intertwined.

To keep your jewelry looking its best, the ideal storage solution is a purpose-made jewelry organizer, but in a pinch, wrapping each piece of jewelry individually in several layers of tissue paper will work as a temporary measure.

Jewelry Organizer Options

The best option for safe jewelry storage is a case that includes compartments and storage solutions for various different types of pieces – rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

Getting your jewelry organized is a fairly easy task; however it is one that can positively impact your life in small but significant ways. By utilizing a jewelry organizer, you should never be late because you spent fifteen minutes hunting down your favorite necklace, and you should not have to throw out a much-loved pair of earrings because one in the set got damaged due to incorrect storage.

Take a look at the following options for jewelry organization. Considering the number of different jewelry organizers available, it should not be too difficult a task to find one that suits your needs perfectly.

Jewelry Boxes: A good jewelry box is definitely one of the best investments you can make for keeping your pieces safe. Choose a box that includes storage for earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces to give you the best storage options. Ideally, you want a jewelry box that will allow you to store each piece of jewelry in its own separate compartment, so that nothing can get scratched.

Necklace Rods: A necklace rod can be ideal for hanging bracelets and necklaces, and you can even make one yourself by modifying and installing a small towel rail. This is perfect for keeping necklaces and bracelets untangled, and you should not have to hunt for that perfect accessory if you can view all your pieces at once!

Organizer Bins: A small organizer bin on top of your dresser is a good option for the budget-conscious homeowner. Hardware organizers are ideal for this purpose, as they have a large number of tiny drawers in which jewelry can be stored.

Earring Boards: An earring board, made of fabric covered cork, is a great way to use wall space to store earrings, and it’s an ideal project if you enjoy handicraft projects. Cover a sheet of cork in fabric and mount on the wall to instantly give you a way of storing earrings that allows you to see your entire collection at a glance.

Jewelry Trees: These can be great for storing rings, in particular, and these are especially useful if you’re the kind of person who likes to be able to see your entire “inventory” without having to open drawers or boxes.

Travel Cases: Jewelry organizers intended for travel purposes can be perfect for use at home, too. They store jewelry safely, with compartments for each piece, and many organizers can be stored in a closet, on a wall, or hung from a hook, to save space when you live in a smaller home.

Jewelry Pouches: Pouches are an excellent extra for expensive pieces. Use these in conjunction with other storage methods to provide an extra layer of protection for diamonds and other costly pieces.

More Tips to Keep your Jewelry Looking Great

There are several extra steps you can take to keep your jewelry and precious metals in pristine condition.

- Whenever you remove a piece of jewelry, store it safely in your jewelry organizer immediately. Don’t leave it lying around, where it might get damaged or lost. Make this a habit, and you’ll never have to worry about losing your favorite pieces.

- Put a jewelry holder in the kitchen and in the bathroom, for those times where you need to take off your jewelry temporarily, such as when you’re washing dishes or cleaning.

- Clean your jewelry regularly, even if you haven’t worn it often. The key to keeping precious metals and gemstones bright and sparkling is to keep them clean – oils from the skin, dust, cosmetics, hair sprays, and other chemicals dull the shine all too easily.

- For expensive jewelry, such as diamonds, get a professional clean and check-up around once a year. Professional cleaning is best to ensure your expensive jewelry is cleaned safely, and a check-up will take care of potential problems such as loose settings.

Josh Webber is a freelance writer who writes about a range of topics including organization in the home by using products such as a jewelry organizer.

Author: Josh Webber
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker

Ring Enhancers

Ring enhancers are uniquely designed to be worn with solitaire diamond rings. Their sole purpose is to enhance the solitaire ring with additional diamonds or gemstones, in order to upgrade it’s size and appearance. When worn together, the two rings appear to be a single, multi-stone ring.

Styles of Diamond Ring Enhancers

Popular styles of ring enhancers include ring wraps and ring inserts. A ring wrap is a single band, contoured to fit around a solitaire diamond ring, displaying additional diamonds on both sides of the center stone. This type of enhancer literally wraps around the solitaire diamond without completely encircling the center stone. A ring insert is usually a split, double band which the diamond solitaire ring slides into. In this style of enhancer, accent stones frequently completely encircle the center stone.

The Function of a Wrap

Ring wraps can serve several purposes. They can be used in addition to a wedding band or they can be used as the wedding band itself, creating a coordinated wedding ring set. Ring wraps are sometimes chosen as anniversary gifts or used when renewing wedding vows. In some instances, enhancers have been chosen to wrap around an heirloom solitaire diamond ring, such as a mothers’ engagement ring. Mostly, they are used simply to enhance the appearance of a basic, diamond solitaire ring.

Choosing a Ring Wrap

When selecting a ring enhancer, it is necessary to know both the size and shape of your diamond solitaire. The shape of the enhancer must conform to the original ring and allow the center stone to fit properly into the enhancer. Wraps displaying subtle curves are suitable for round diamonds. Pointed ring inserts are better suited for marquise or oval shaped diamonds. When selecting a ring wrap, consider choosing a similar metal to that of your engagement ring. In some instances, women have the ring wrap soldered to their engagement ring to ensure a snug fit at all times. If both rings are the same metal type, your rings will be easier to resize or repair, if needed. Women with short fingers may want to use a wedding ring enhancer as their wedding band. Women with long fingers could wear both a wedding band and a ring wrap. All of these considerations are important in order for the two rings to blend seamlessly together.

For visual examples of Diamond Ring Enhancers, visit buyDazzle.com and view the bridal category.

Author: Doug Mayo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

The word antique comes from the Latin word ‘old’ antique engagement rings are usually over 50-100 year old. they are desirable because of their age and rarity and because they are unique.

Antique engagement rings are rings that show stunning craftsmanship. These rings a special because you really can see the attention and care that has gone into the design.

If you are planning on getting married it is well worth considering giving your loved one an antique engagement ring as it will symbolize and hold uniqueness and charm.

An antique engagement ring is usually at least 50-100 years old and is also referred to as a vintage engagement ring by some jewelers and come from different eras including Victorian, Edwardian and art deco.

Edwardian antique engagement rings were mainly made from platinum as this was the era when the oxyacetylene torch was invented. The rings would contain sapphires and rose cut diamonds as these were extremely popular at this time.
The rings from this era would stand out because of their stunning scroll work with piercing shapes and the fine detail made each one unique.

The Victorian antique engagement rings had a softer more elegant style and were usually set in rose or yellow gold. The rings in this era were often set with rows of diamonds and an extra facet called mine cut, this was due to the industrial revolution and discovery of diamond minds.

Art deco antique engagement rings are the most popular engagement rings they reflect fashion trends from this era and are more streamlined. Art deco engagement rings are often colorful with contrasting gemstones and are especially pleasing to the eye.

Weather you are looking to by an Edwardian, Victorian or art deco antique engagement ring it is important to look carefully at the ring description, pay close attention to the age, condition and size of the ring and where possible ask for this in writing.
Always remember the 4 c’s Color, clarity, condition and cut this will help to ascertain if the ring is authentic and what you are looking for.

You can find antique engagement rings at various places including jewelers, pawn shops, online and antique shops. If you have never purchased an antique engagement ring before I would recommend that you use a reputable seller or someone that specializes in this type of jewelry.

Giving someone an antique engagement ring will express your love and devotion and will be lovingly accepted.

Antique engagement rings are also considered a huge investment as their value in money will increase over time. It is also something that can be cherished and handed down from generation to generation passing loving memories down from you to others in your family.

Allen Jesson writes for several sites that specialize in Antique Engagement Rings,

Vintage Engagement Rings and A Gift Of Poetry

Author: Allen Jesson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rate

For years, pearls have been prized for their beauty; pearls have been ornaments to royalty and criminals alike. Regarded with great value in China, Greece, Europe and the Americas, these jewels have always been a popular choice as highly valued gems. With their variety of designs, we’ll show you how to choose the right kind of pearl earrings for the right occasion.

While naturally formed pearls come in all forms of irregular shapes and often cannot be used for jewelry, cultured pearls can be grown in a variety of shapes – spherical, oval, teardrop and baroque. Learning how to choose the right pearl earrings for the right occasion will involve finding a design or combining various shapes of pearls that suit your face shape.

Before you go about learning how to choose the right pearl earrings for the right occasion, it is imperative that you learn how to spot quality pearl drop earrings. Judging a pearl requires consideration of a few factors – color, overtones, size, luster, shape and surface quality.

When choosing the right pearl earrings for the right occasion, it is also important to determine your budget as pearls that have greater luster or have more reflective surfaces are more highly prized. The smoothness of a pearl’s surface is also a qualifying factor in judging its quality. From cream, champagne, pink, gold, blue and even black, choosing the right pearl earrings will depend on the occasion you intend to wear them to.

Pearls are delicate gems and are generally softer in composition than other jewels. Because of this, they are prone to damage like cracking and scratches. Its porous nature also makes it susceptible to other substances like perfume, sweat and makeup. Keep your pearls clean by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth and try putting on these accessories after you’ve worn your makeup and applied your perfume.

Earrings worn as accessories are designed to draw attention to the face and should be carefully chosen to flatter your features, depending on the shape of your specific face. Learning how to choose the right pearl earrings for the right occasion begins with determining your face shape.