Buying Pearls

Pearls are at the height of fashion and always have been. They are classy and classic at the same time. While the strand of pearls is the usual order of things, more daring designs have come out this year like tasseled multi-strand pearls, pearls set with semi-precious stones and the list goes on. Here is a list of things you must look out for when shopping for pearls:

- Dull or chalky looking pearls must be avoided. The glow of a pearl is its most important quality. If they look dull then chances are that it is weak and could even crack.

- Always inspect pearls under a bright light. Scrutinize the surface of the pearl and ensure it has no cracks or odd-looking bumps. If shopping for Baroque pearls however, then this rule does not count.

- Keep in mind that size matters. The bigger pearls cost a lot more.

- If you are on a small budget, ask for freshwater pearls from China. They are less expensive and come in a variety of shapes and sizes with an average around seven millimeters.

- The best care you can give your pearls is to wear them. Remember not to put them on until you have done all your make up, perfume, etc. as they could ruin your pearls; and do not wear them in the pool or when swimming in the sea.

- When shopping for pearls, it would help not be too price sensitive as the best pearls do not come cheap – and rightly so, because they will last you a lifetime.

The Truth About Gold Jewelry

Gold is the most coveted precious metal in the world. Sought after even by the most primitive of tribes, gold in ancient times was considered a source of immortality and thus was even used in medicines to combat old age and increase the longevity of life.

Gold is available in numerous colours, finishes and styles, and even though other precious metals such as silver are used for jewelry, gold remains the favorite. It probably is so popular also because it is ‘hardy’ and is known to not rust, corrode and is practically incorruptible. Gold does exist everywhere from rivers to mountains, but extracting this precious metal is a costly and difficult affair.

The Basics
What does ‘gold’ mean? – When used on its own, it means ‘all gold’ also known to most as 24 karat gold. However, gold is a soft metal and is generally mixed with other metals to make it harder and more durable.
Karat – Karats refers to the amount of real gold in a piece of jewelry. For example, 14-karat gold means that the piece of jewelry is made out of fourteen parts of gold, which is mixed with ten parts of base metal. The higher the karatage, the more gold included in the jewelry. Almost all pieces of jewelry have the karats marked, although this is not a legal requirement. Along with that mark, you should see the name of the US-registered trademark of the company. If you do not see any such trademark, it is recommended that you look for another piece of jewelry.

Solid gold – This type of jewelry is made from any karat quality of gold where the inside is not hollow but is made from solid gold.

Plated gold – Plating jewelry with gold can be done in different ways such as mechanically plated, electroplated or any other way using a base metal. However, gold plated jewelry is not the best pick, as the gold plating will wear off eventually.

Tools And Wire For A Basic Beaded Wire Necklace

Learning how to make pieces of jewelry is easy, especially if you learn the wire-wrap method. However, you will need to buy a few basic tools first that are necessary for making jewelry.

BASIC TOOLS

1. Selection of jewelry pliers: round nose, chain nose, flat nose
2. Side cutters
3. Pin vice
4. Ring mandrel
5. Rawhide mallet
6. Millimeter gauge
7. Needle file
8. Steel ruler
9. Steel scribe

Others you could consider investing in include:

1. Wire twister
2. Bending jig
3. Bead board
4. Tweezers
5. Hand-lens
6. End cutter

CHOOSING YOUR WIRE

When choosing wire to make your pieces of jewelry, you must choose carefully. Different types and sizes mean different pieces. Here is a basic guideline on what kind of wire works for what:

1. 20G – use for earrings
2. 18G – use for bracelet components
3. 16G/18G – use for necklace components

A few dos and do nots:

If you want to make wrapped bead links for the bracelets and necklaces it is recommended that, you use 20G or 22G wire. If making any kind of wire component that needs to stand on its own, then do not use 22G. Use it only if the piece is tiny.

When purchasing wire of 16G, remember to purchase the soft wire – otherwise, if you buy the half-hard 16G it might be too stiff and will not serve the purpose. The soft wire on the other hand can be used for turning out spirals – whereas half-hard wire can be used to fashion out wrapped loops.

For an ear wire, do not go for 22G wire. It is far too thin and could be uncomfortable for the wearer. Instead, choose either 20G or 21G wire.

WIRE FOR WRAPPING

You have many options of wire for wrapping to choose. However, to start with, purchase 18-20 gauge wire. Learn the entire process on brass wire. Not only is it inexpensive, it is the best choice for a learner. Once you get the hang of it, try copper, sterling silver, gold-filled and niobium. Niobium is interesting to work with – and is available in a multitude of colors.

Customized Mother Bracelets And Name Bracelets – Christmas Gift Considerations

Name bracelets, also called mother bracelets, are popular gifts given during the Christmas period. Customized bracelets are even more special, and loved ones will treasure it for years to come. Before you actually go out and buy the bracelet, consider the following:

If you want a good quality bracelet made in either gold or sterling silver, prepare yourself for a high price. If the price offered seems like a great deal, or economical, then it might be that the metal used is not authentic. In which case, do not buy it.

The size of the letter beads used must also be checked. If it is a mother or grandmother bracelet, then 5.6 mm letter blocks is the normal, accepted size. If the bracelet is for a child or a person with a very small wrist, then opt for 4.5 mm letter blocks, which are smaller, but will suit them better.

The clasp is also important to look at. Choose between a lobster claw clasp and a toggle clasp. While a toggle clasp is far prettier, a lobster claw clasp is far more secure.

If you are shipping your gift across, it is important that you find out how much the shipping charges are. In most cases, shipping a bracelet within the country via first class mail will probably cost anywhere between 60 to 80 cents. It will take around four to five days for your gift to reach its destination – which is not entirely a long time, taking into consideration how long it takes for items ordered off magazines and television.
Mother bracelets are great gifts to give loved ones, not only for Christmas, but also for any special occasion.

Knitting Jewelry on a Machine

Intricate designs on jewelry date far back in time. Pieces of jewelry that have been woven, braided, knotted, crocheted or using knit wire adornments have been found in continents across the globe. In ancient times, these pieces of jewellery were made by hand, with the assistance of primitive tools. Now, in modern times, the use of a knitting machine has helped revolutionize contemporary jewellery designs. With the use of knit wire and knitting machine, new fangled pieces of jewelry are created every day.

Knitting machines come in different shapes and sizes. The most ordinary one being the single bed machine – this is found frequently at sales, auctions and even on eBay. This knitting machine is easy on the purse and like all machines, comes with an instruction manual. It is not easy to become an experienced machine knitter. Beginners must be familiar with basics tasks and techniques, utilizing yarn instead of wire – until they get the hang of it.

Not only is machine knitting an efficient manner of creating a unique piece of jewelry, it is also flexible. The wire knit on the machine takes the form of a flat sheet – which can be any size that you want it to be. You can increase the width of the sheet by either adding or removing needles on both ends of the machine. So, get creative – turn the knitted piece into a little tube where you could enclose a cord or beads to fashion out a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.

Silver Pocket Watch Cases and their Development

Next to the country’s founding papers, the American Railroad was the most influential contributor towards the advancement of the country. The linking of the industrialized East with the West took place because of the railroad.

With the railroad in place, keeping time was crucial during this period. It was extremely important that the travel times of heavy loaded and also fast moving trains were monitored and kept track of at all times. Waltham, an American pocket watch and the working of the telegraph both together introduced the standard of time. This development helped keep the railroads safe and dependable, making rail transport more popular.

American watch factories, once they perfected their processes of manufacturing and marketing, these beautiful, mechanical wonders were available for purchase to everyone; be it a man working on the railroad or even a commoner. Pocket watches needed cases to protect them.

Beautiful, decorative gold cases were first produced, which could be likened to works of art. However, gold while being prohibitively expensive, was also soft and thus, not durable. Another raw material used to produce pocket watch cases was coin silver – which was also quite beautiful, but still not hardy enough to withstand the ruggedness of its users and their working environment. Therefore, to improve on durability and affordability, an alloy was developed to meet the rugged needs of the users of American pocket watches. The alloy consisted of a fusion of nickel (45%), copper (54%) and manganese (1%). This combination was referred to as silver ore, silveroid, silverine or silverode. While being easy to polish, it was quite hardy and looked similar to coin silver.

Eastern Pearl Lore

As far back as 3500 BC pearls were worn by Eastern, Asian and Roman societies to represent a person’s wealth, power, beauty and as a talisman to bring about good fortune. These gem stones are created inside the tissue of a shelled mollusk, and are the only gem stone that is made by a living animal.

Eastern cultures believe that pearls are linked to the moon and one can only wear a pearl if the wearer’s birth chart or their lord of their astrological house is linked to the moon. In these cultures pearls hold the personalities and strengths of different Hindu gods, for example dark pearls are associated with god Vishnu and yellow pearls are associated with god Varnua.

When peals are worn they can bestow certain strengths upon the wearer, for example pearls can bring about peace, calmness, memory, compassion and love. It is also believed that since different pearls hold different characteristics, the wearer should consider his or her occupation before choosing their gem stone. For example a businessman, banker or a farmer is recommended to wear a greenish pearl, while a scientist, priest or a teacher should wear an orange pearl.

Pearls are believed to hold strong powers that can heal the sick, by emitting orange rays that can absorb the cold. These rays can heal blood related diseases, depression, fever, diabetes and eye problems.

When selecting a pearl make sure you stay away from pearls that lack lustre, are cracked or have spots. Wearing pearls that hold defects is considered bad luck and can reverse all good fortune that is associated with wearing pearls.

Famous Pearls

Pearls have always held a special place in many societies for their healing power, beauty and their ability to bring about good fortune. Throughout history a selected number of pearls have been considered unique for their lustre, size and beauty, here are a five of the most popular pearls in history:

The Abernethy Pearl – This pearl was found in 1967 in Scotland by Bill Abernethy who was a professional diver. The Abernethy weighed 44 grains and was of exquisite quality. The gem was on display for over 30 years in Cairncross and was finally sold in 1992 to a buyer for an undisclosed amount.

The Big pink Pearl – This pearl was recorded as the largest known abalone pearl in the Guinness Book of world records and was found in Salt Point Part California. The 470 carat pearl was valued at $4.7 million at the time it was discovered.

The Eugenie Pearl – This pearl was apart of the elaborate jewellery collection of the French Crown Jewels. This pearl was placed on auction in 1887 and was purchased by Napoleon Bonaparte for his many wives.

The Gogibus Pearl – This pearl was found in Europe in the early 17th century on the cost of West Indies. The gem weighed 126 carats or 25,200mm and was purchased by the King Phillip IV of Spain in 1620.

The Hope Pearl – This was one of the largest salt water pearls ever found. It was 450 carats or 90,000mm and changed colour from a white to a greenish gold. The stone was fist owned by Phillip hope in the 17th century, but now resides in the British Museum of Natural History.

The Healing Properties of Gemstones and Crystals

Many people believe in the use of gem stones and crystals to heal the body and mind. Crystal / gemstone healing is a technique that uses crystals to strengthen the body and change ones circumstances. The stones work by changing your vibrational rates within your aura. These changes are often slow and can be seen in changes in different aspects of your body and life.

If you are considering using this particular technique, you should wear quality gemstones, mainly around your neck. Make sure that the necklace you choose uses fewer metals to hold the gem stones. By using less metal, the gemstones would be able to release their healing powers with less restriction. The process is more effective if the individual believes that the therapy is likely to work.

Before choosing your gemstone, make sure you are aware of each stones healing powers. Here are a few effects of some popular gemstone varieties:

Amber – This stone can lift away your burdens and help to draw happiness into your life.

Jade – This stone is said to relax the body and should be placed on the shoulders or back.

Black opal – can be great for those who want to reach their true potential. This stone should be worn around the neck to release the stone’s healing powers.

Opal – This stone can help you to see your options in a complicated situation.

Freshwater Pearl – Pearls can help you to be more open to love and to see the goodness in yourself and others.

Understanding Gem Stones

To better understand gem stones it is important to distinguish between the four main categories of gem stones. These categories have been created according to the gem stone’s price, colour and quality. The four categories include:

New Classics: This category includes gem stones between the price range of $50- $1000 per carat. The stones in this category include tanzanite, tourmaline, aquamarine, imperial topaz and tsavorite garnet.

Connoisseur Gems: These stones are rare, they include stones such as black opal, Jadeite, Pink Topaz, Chrysoberyl cat’s eye and Sapphires in unique colours. This range of gem stones will cost from $250 to $5,000 per carat.

Collector’s Gem: These rare stones that are not found in the market regularly, which means that these stones can help to create a unique piece of jewellery. This range will set you back a few hundred dollars per carat, while the rarer stones like red and hot pink spinels can cost a few thousands. This category includes stones such as Spinels, Zircons, Moonstones, Morganites and Beryls.

Affordable Gemstones: This category includes gem stones such as Amethyst, White Opal, Citrine, Peridot, Rhodolite Garnet, Blue Topaz, Iolite, Chrome dispide. These gem stones are very reasonably prices between $5 and $100 per carat.

When choosing your gem stone(s) keep in mind that a gem stones price can differ according to the stone’s cut. So you might find yourself paying a little bit more for a common stone because of the stone’s shape and cut.