What Are Belly Button Rings?

Rings that adorn your navel are commonly called belly button rings. They are fastened by piercing the navel, through which a ring is passed. A fairly modernistic kind of piercing, belly button rings are quite the fashion these days. Historians are unsure if belly buttons were used in ancient times.

Most belly button rings are circular, but there are other variations as well. Some are in the form of a curved barbell. Belly buttons are generally made out of gold and silver and are even made out of titanium and niobium. Do not even consider using belly button rings made out of plated metals as not only can these break fairly easily but can also cause irritations and even allergic reactions.

The size and thickness of belly buttons are the easiest way to classify them. The size of circular belly button rings is measured by its diameter, while barbell belly button rings, by its length. The gauge of the belly button ring is used to determine the thickness of the ring. The most common being the 14 gauge barbell. Other sizes include 8, 10 and 12 gauge belly button rings.

Not everyone can wear a belly button ring. Remember, if you are considering getting one; first ensure there is enough skin on top of the navel to hold the ring. Otherwise, there could be complications you could do without. Even the most experienced piercers who say they can manage anyways must not be trusted, and even if they do, it might not achieve the look you want it to.

Getting a belly button piercing is not ‘easy peasy’. Unlike other piercings, they take a lot longer to heal and infect more easily. Once you get your belly button pierced, make it a regular practice to clean it and disinfect it.

Engagement Ring Trends For 2010

This year is all about extravagance. Take wedding dress trends for 2010 for instance, it is the embodiment of romance; complete with ruffles, flounces and everything girly. Engagement rings too are taking a turn for the ‘over the top’ kind even though the solitaire diamond ring will always continue to remain in style. However, apart from the usual traditional engagement ring, there are a few new outrageous designs to consider.
Pave

These bands have a row of smaller diamonds around the main stone. The type of band you choose is completely up to you and could be anything from a double or triple band to a twist band or even a split band. Whatever it is, it will be a-sparkle with diamonds.

Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings

Colored engagement rings are all the rage this year and yellow diamonds have made it to the forefront of engagement ring fashion. Yellow diamond engagement rings were initially made by Tiffany’s in the late 19th century. This trend soon caught on with celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Hillary Clinton and Julianne Moore. Yellow engagement rings were used in proposals by the following celebrity couples: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds, Seal and Heidi Klum and Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller.

Brown engagement rings

Think of champagne, cognac, chocolate and cinnamon. Warm and brilliant hues such as these embody the likes of brown diamonds. Brown diamonds are owned by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz and Hilary Swank.

The 4 C’s of Diamond Quality

Diamonds are generally evaluated using the “four C’s”. The quality of every diamond depends on each stone, as each one’s characteristics depend on various factors.

Cut – The look of a diamond is determined by the manner in which it is cut. This can, in a sense, either make or break the diamond, and determines the price at which the diamond is sold by as much as forty percent. If a diamond is cut well, its ability to reflect light between facets, will give it, its sparkly composure for which it is so well known. Cutting a diamond with precision can only be managed by the most skilful in the trade, which must of course take into account the proportions of the stone, its finish and symmetry as well.

Color – When purchasing a diamond, always make sure that you get to view it under a light which is neutral and the stone must not be mounted. This is the best way to judge the color of the stone. The color of a diamond is rated between D and Z, with the whitest of the lot rated D and Z rated stones taking on a light, yellow tinge. The best stones are the ones rated between G and J.

Clarity – When you look at a diamond under a microscope, the blemishes or anything else that you can see, will determine its clarity. Some professionals in the industry also refer to it as the purity or quality of the diamond. These imperfections found in diamonds make it less valuable, whereas, finding diamonds with zero imperfections are quite rare.

Carat – The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Interestingly, most diamonds used in pieces of jewelry weigh less than a single carat.

How to Spot Fake Jewelry

Fake jewelry has always been something to watch out for, but with the popularity of the internet on the rise, this fraud seems to have escalated along with it as well. The average buyer of jewelry has always had to deal with the issue of fake jewelry, but buying jewelry on the internet means that you no longer need to worry about those seedy looking jewelry shops, but it does mean that you need to think twice about the jewelry you intend to purchase online.

Fake jewelry is made in various ways, and most of them can be spotted by a quick bout of clever scrutinizing. With regards to gemstones, you must look out for sandwiched stones. These have a slice of a genuine stone on top, while the bottom is an absolute fake. They are bonded together in order to create the look of a genuine gemstone, and this can be spotted with the use of a magnifying glass.

Keep in mind that not all stones are fakes. Some are just made to look outrageously expensive, when they are not. Low quality stones are sometimes mounted on settings that have solid backs which in turn make the stone look better, and create a better reflection of light.
If a jeweler presents you with a descriptive gem name, then this is when you need to realize that he is selling fake jewelry. For instance, American rubies are generally passed off as red garnets, while green sapphires are referred to and sold off as oriental emeralds.

If you actually decide to buy jewelry online, it would be worth your while to spend some time researching the seller, his history and reviews. Remember, you are putting down a considerable amount of money into the purchase, and therefore you could do without being conned.

The History of Earrings

During 3000 BC in the Middle East, pierced earrings first made an appearance and were indicative of the wearer’s association with a particular tribe, religion and even political affiliation. They also were worn to show a person’s level in the social strata of the community they lived in, as well as to cast shame and label inferior casts, especially of those who were taken in as slaves.

Around the second century AD, any kind of metal that could be fashioned into twists, flattened or even bent, were turned into original designs and even hoops. It is during this period that earrings also included the occasional gemstone.

In Europe, during the Middle Ages, ear bobs were considered high fashion, especially amongst the top layers of society, but was soon forgotten with the entrance of huge hats, tall wigs and the high collars, which of course, would have overshadowed any kind of jewelry that could other have adorned the earlobe. With new fashions taking center stage, earrings were considered a hindrance, as they would only have got tangled up in the wig or fabrics used. Once necklines changed, and hairstyles shifted to more subdued tones, earrings were back in fashion, especially amongst the Italians. Every well dressed lady considered a pair of earrings part of her outfit.

Bonnets came into the fashion scene a century afterwards, covering the sides of the head, which again stole the limelight from the earrings. In 1900, hair styles took on a new fashion, where the hair was piled on the top of the head, or brushed back into a chignon, which only made the jewelers’ business more lucrative. It is during this time that clip-on earrings came into being and were thought to be the more sanitary version of the pieces of jewelry.

Following this era, came the time of the film and modeling industries, where every woman wanted to look like her favorite movie star or model. This meant that earrings were a must. And thus, from this time onwards, earrings have grown in importance as well as design.

Right Hand Rings

Right hand rings are all about women celebrating their individuality; their independence. While the left hand is essentially for the married woman, the right hand ring is one that is extensively advertised by jewelers.

Unlike the traditional wedding band or engagement ring, the right hand ring is more similar to the fashionable cocktail ring. The more common type of right hand ring has a small cluster of diamonds. They are mostly worn on the fourth finger on the right hand, and sometimes on the pinky as well.

In terms of target market, the right hand ring is advertised at women between the ages of 34 and 64. On the top of this list are women who have been previously married and do not really need to wait for another man to put a ring on her finger. High flyers and the rich are really those who are proud owners and wearers of the right hand ring.

While it is mostly single women that wear this type of ring, it is not confined just to them. Married women too adorn their right hand with this ring. It is an ideal gift to make to them as well, in reminder of their independence and personality.

The Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council report in 2003 stated that the most desired gift of jewelry were right hand solitaire rings. The right hand ring industry was also estimated at a whopping USD $5 billion that very year, by the Diamond Information Centre.

In this time and age, you need not think twice about buying yourself that gorgeous right hand ring. It is time you reward yourself. Go ahead. Splurge!

How Diamonds Are Formed

Diamond is derived from ‘Adamas’, a Greek word which means indestructible. Diamonds are the only gems in the world made up of a single element, which is carbon. Made up entirely of carbon atoms, they are formed in an isometric arrangement.

Diamonds are formed somewhere around 120 – 200 kilometers or 75 – 120 miles below the surface of the earth. Geological experts state that diamonds were first formed around 2.5 billion years ago, with the most recent diamonds formed some forty five million years ago.

The carbon, which makes this brilliant gemstone, is formed when the pre-existing rocks located in the upper mantle of Earth melt. Due to changes in temperature in this upper mantle, the carbon atoms located here are then forced to move even deeper, after which they melt and then turn into a brand new rock once the temperature reduces. If all the other conditions are right, like for instance pressure and chemistry, then this melting rock along with the carbon atoms gel together, making diamond crystals.

Deposits of diamonds are referred to as Blue Ground, Kimberlite Pipes or Primary Mines. Diamonds are also found in river beds, which are called Alluvial Deposits.

The process that goes into making a diamond is a fairly long process for Mother Nature, taking into consideration that it does take a few million years to make. Interestingly, all diamonds that are mined are not made into jewelry. Only twenty five percent is. Interestingly, one hundred tons of mud produces just one carat of a diamond.

History of Turquoise

Turquoise has a rich history behind it, with the use of this beautiful stone recorded as far back as six thousand years. Turquoise has been found in tombs in Egypt on the bracelets of Queen Zar dating back to around 5500 BC. Turquoise is also mentioned in works by Pliny and Aristotle and even Marco Polo. Over the ages, turquoise has been constantly referred to as the ‘stone of life’.

Turquoise was used by Native Americans for over a century for healing and protection. It has also been used in art, religion, trade, jewelry and even for treaty negotiations. In terms of healing purposes, the stone was used for insect bites, headaches, eye problems and fever. Ground to a fine powder and mixed in water, it was used for common stomach-related illnesses. Turquoise is also said to have noteworthy metaphysical properties, used for stress relief and nervousness. Many cultures value turquoise requiring it to be carried at all times for protection.
Turquoise ranges from a green to a vibrant sky blue and mostly has thin brown or black veins running through it. As opposed to gold, silver is the metal of choice for turquoise jewelry, as it enhances its colors much more.

This gemstone is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Iran, China, Turkey, Persia and Egypt.
Most turquoise is treated with wax to deepen its color and for stability. Otherwise, the stone tends to be quite chalky and porous and is not all that great on jewelry until treated.