Posts Tagged ‘Gold And Silver’

I have some very old gold and silver jewelry, some pieces have stones in it. I want to know how to clean it so that the silver is no longer black and the gold doesn’t look so dull. The stones in some jewelry are also dirty. I don’t want to do anything that will damage the jewelry. How do I clean it?

While the first criteria for jewelry is beauty, even the most gorgeous pieces of jewelry can be worn to distract from either the jewelry itself or your outfit. The occasion frequently dictates the rules of fashion. You should be the center of attention, not your jewelry. Jewelry is an accessory and an adornment.

Too Much Jewelry

Perhaps the most common jewelry faux paux (mistakes) is wearing too much jewelry. It can confuse the eye and blend your pieces into the appearance of only one piece of rather gaudy jewelry. A stack of bangles worn with layers of bead and chain necklaces and large dangly earrings and several rings is just too much of a good thing.

Noisy Jewelry

Along with too much jewelry, noisy jewelry is usually inappropriate. An arm load of bracelets that clanks or tinkles at your every move is distracting and even irritating.

Incompatible Jewelry

Your jewelry should coordinate with the fabrics in your clothing. Heavy shell or wooden beads do not work with a thin silk blouse. You would be better with several thin chains or a strand of pearls. Pearls are not usually shown at their best with heavy denims or tee shirts. Wear those heavier cork or stone beads with your heavy denims or bulky sweaters. Along the same lines, the length of the necklace should coordinate with your collar. A choker can be worn with a very deep neckline, but if you wear it with a turtle neck or high neck shirt, it looks crowded.

Incompatible Materials

Jewelry can be made of anything from gold and silver with pearls and diamonds to copper washers with natural stone beads. The gemstones and materials used in your jewelry should coordinate, not class with each other. A skilled designer can coordinate even seemingly incompatible materials for a unique and striking look.

Wrong Sized Jewelry

If you are a larger sized person, tiny jewelry will get lost on you and can make you look even larger. If you wear jewelry in proportion to your body, it helps unify your look. A tiny person in huge jewelry or too much jewelry can look almost like a child playing dress up.

No Focal Point

A large necklace, bangle, earrings and ring eliminates the focal point you need for your ensemble. One piece of jewelry can be the focal point and the others can accessorize that piece. Along the same vein, too many matching pieces is just too “cute” to wear. Earrings that match a bracelet or a necklace and matching bracelet look good. If everything matches exactly as a set, it becomes too predictable and lacking in imagination.

Earring Problems

Earrings seem to cause the most frequent faux paux in jewelry. A well-fitted dangling earring calls attention to your shoulders, which is the last feature to age on most women, but a tiny earring on a large woman can give her a fat-neck look and long dangling earrings on a woman with long hair can look disorganized and messy. Multiple ear piercings have become fairly common, but the earrings need to be coordinated with each other using the largest in the lowest piercings.

Dirty Jewelry

Dirty jewelry is frequently seen. Earrings and necklaces can be affected by hairspray and cosmetics while cleaning products and lotions can affect rings and bracelets. Keep your jewelry clean by using the cleaning methods recommended for each type of jewelry you wear and your jewelry will create a wonderful accessory for your outfit and your own look.

Kingfisher Designs
http://www.wireweavers.com

Louise Coulson along with her husband Don designs and creates jewelry from sterling silver and gold filled wire. Their jewelry shows the wire used almost as if it were a fiber. The fiber arts approach comes from Louise’s long background as a weaver and the meticulous craftsmanship is due to Don’s background in engineering. The pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited edition.

Author: Louise Coulson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jewelry has made significant impressions on society dating back to ancient times. In ancient civilizations, gold was considered a preferred luxury metal because did not tarnish and was shapeable. Jewelry personified natural forms such as shells, plant life, and animals. Significant advances in style became increasingly evident with the setting of pearls and gemstones in shiny metals. Jewelry was worn in the form of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, and wreathes.

During Medieval Times, jewelry was widely adorned and worn by various levels of society. Brooches, pendants and pins with religious motifs were very popular during this period. Jewelry became so popular, sumptuary laws were created to limit lower levels of society from wearing gold and silver jewelry.

15th – 17th Centuries

Fake pearls and enamels became increasingly acceptable and were mass produced. These items were typically worn during the daytime as substitute for finer jewelry. Fine jewelry was kept for evening wear. Diamonds increased in popularity as well. The invention of the prong setting enhanced the brilliance of the diamond; therefore, expanding its allure with the upper-classes.

Victorian Era

The Victorian Era was an important advancement for Jewelry as an art form. Artistic expression became more apparent in fashion and jewelry. The early Victorian years were referred to as the Romantic period. The Romantic period emphasized dreams and emotions as inspiration for artistic expression. Morning brooches were a staple of this period. The hair of a loved one was intertwined within a pin, pendant, or brooch to make a sentimental piece of jewelry.

Mass production of jewelry lowered its luster with Victorians as importation of jewelry began from North America to Europe; thus, the beginning of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Arts and Crafts guilds were smaller jeweler associations, but provided higher quality jewelry and intricate artwork in design.

Early 20th Century

The Art Nouveau Movement was derived from the Arts and Crafts movement. It started in Paris and spread to North America. Asymmetrical and flowing lines inspired natural designs. Among these natural designs, floral and female forms were very popular. This period has a continuous influence on Jewelry design.

1930 to 1940

The reinstatement of mass produced jewelry followed the Art Nouveau Movement. This type of jewelry was meant to be worn selectively as an accessory to specific outfits. Two designers, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli masterminded accessorizing fine and costume jewelry with day to day fashion. Vermeil jewelry was popular, but in short supply from war efforts. Rhinestones popularity increased.

1950′s

Hollywood’s flamboyance and glamour influence spread across continents. Engrained with it was costume jewelry on the silver screen. The styles and look of the stars quickly spread and was widely accepted across the world. The emergence of the middle class in America increased the demand for costume jewelry. This encouraged technical advances in mass production methods.

Today’s era has brought a creative culmination of styles to fashion jewelry, both timeless and trendy. Many celebrities have caught the wave by designing their own lines. Tori Spelling and Suzanne Somers are among a few. The fashion Jewelry industry is now a multi-billion dollar industry.

Jewelry is much more eclectic in today’s era. Pieces are made by many different stones, textures, colors, various lengths, or metals. Jewelry is sold in large department stores, restaurants, gift shops, jewelry parties, and boutiques.

Fashion jewelry adds a splash of pizazz to attire no matter the occasion. Most importantly, fashion jewelry is fun! It is fun to shop for jewelry, sell jewelry, collect jewelry, and of course, show it off.

J. Goodin, Inc. is a jewelry wholesaler with more than 25 years in the Fashion Jewelry business, distributing products to boutiques, gift shops, jewelry stores, and online retailers around the world. For more information about fashion jewelry, please visit http://www.jgoodin.com

Author: Ralph A. Gonzalez
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many couples want something more for their wedding rings than standard bands or typical designs in a jewelers display case. The opportunity to choose unusual wedding rings has grown with an increase desire of couples to design their own rings. You can customize the ring design, metal color and type as well as the gemstone sizes and shapes. Designing your own unusual wedding rings is an opportunity to create a treasured piece of jewelry.

Something Better than Diamonds

Even if your engagement ring has a beautifully cut diamond, there are many coordinating options with colored gemstones. Diamonds are not necessarily the first choice for couples wanting unusual wedding rings with the wide selection of natural or lab created colored gemstones.
Unusual wedding rings can mean something special to a couple. The wedding rings can represent an ideal the couple values such as using white and black stones to characterize the opposites attract theory. Black and white onyx stones are an unusual choice but have opaque colors and come in a wide variety of cuts. Selecting a gemstone in unique shapes such as hearts, triangular designs or ovals can add to the creativity of your design. Other untraditional gemstones include citrines which come in a range of orange and yellow, topaz that comes in a range of blue-greens and white or bright purple alexandrite.

Unusual Metal Designs

Yellow gold or polished silver is often the standard metal selection for wedding rings. A polished nickel finish on a titanium ring, stainless steel or a combination of gold and silver metals are all options for unusual wedding rings. Customizing your design to have the metals twisted together, braided or woven can all be design options. Some of the more unusual metals are frequently not available in men’s and women’s ring types. Tungsten for example, is often used for men’s rings and usually comes in dark gray polished or matte finishes.

Personal Inscriptions and Unique Designs

Etching a special design in to your wedding bands can be a great opportunity to create something symbolic of your relationship or that is meaningful to you as a couples such as flowers or musical notes. Unusual wedding rings also give a couple the opportunity to put their inscription on the outside of their wedding rings in contrast to the traditional inscriptions found on the inside of a wedding band. Another great way to customize your unusual wedding ring is to use ethnic related symbols such as Celtic designs or Chinese characters. A simple inscribed word that describes your relationship may also be a decision a couple can make.

Unusual wedding rings can be a unique and personalized way to commemorate your wedding day and the start of your marriage. There are many options through traditional jewelers and internet based jewelry designers for creating customized, unique wedding rings. A couple is more likely to be happier with their customized, unusual wedding rings if they feel a part of the design process.

Why not visit our website for more help with your wedding planning along with more ideas for the wedding rings

Author: Karen Lincoln
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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