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Friday, April 13th, 2007
A pearl earring is a classic cute piece of jewelry for women of all ages. Pearl earrings are unique and wonderful gift for yourself or someone special in your life. Simple pearl earrings can be the perfect accent to a wonderful business suit or evening attire. The right matching pearl earrings can be worn on casual occasions or the dressiest of occasions depending on the style and type of jewelry and your individual taste and fancy. Buying pearl earrings is not merely about finding the most expensive item on sale but it must match your outfit and your taste. Classic stud pearl earrings lend a simple elegance to an ornate gown, while simple gowns may go very well with dangle pearl earrings.
Since pearl earrings come in wide range of prices and colors, pearl earrings have become very much affordable. Pearls come in a variety of colors, the most traditional and popular are white and black but with wide array of various other colors - pink, peach, golden etc available, women now have the luxury of multiple choices. Perfect peal earrings with matching pearl necklace is the perfect buy or as a gift for your loved ones and has always been the preferred choice of many women. Pearls are subtle in colors but quite alluring and are always in fashion. As compare to diamond or gold earrings, pearl earrings are not heavy on budget and are very much affordable.
Pearl earrings are made with selective quality pearls of various types such as freshwater pearls, akoya or seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls and South seawater pearls. Each one of these types of pearls lends their own charm and sophistication in a pair of pearl earrings. Depending upon age and color of one’s skin, woman may choose small to medium or large pearl size for a set of pearl earrings. Gold and silver posts are used when making pearl earrings.
It is very important to take care of pearl earrings and pearl jewelry as pearls being natural gems are very much prone to light, dust and heat. Often wipe off with soft cloth before storing and keep pearl jewelry separately from other types of jewelry to avoid rubbing. It also helps keep the luster bright and shinning.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
During ancient times and even today in our present modern era, it is a common belief among many that a gift of white pearls ensured the happiness of married couples. It will be a big surprise not to find a single woman not wearing pearl jewelry in any weddings. Brides and bridesmaids love white pearl jewelry and white pearls are the perfect wedding or anniversary gifts.
For some good reasons, white pearls are the favorite of women in the U.S and Europe. In many Asian and middle-eastern countries, gold jewelry is the preferred choice during wedding times or for investment and social esteem. Cultures and traditions often define fashion and trend when it comes to weddings and choosing perfect wedding jewelry or gifts.
White pearls are very famous for its natural luster and purity. The iridescence that some pearls display is caused by the overlapping of successive layers in a pearl, which breaks up light falling on the surface. White pearls are predominately of freshwater pearls and akoya pearls types. White pearls compliment all styles and color of dresses from casual to classy. High quality white pearls are very round in shapes and have perfect clean surfaces.
When choosing for quality white pearls, it is important to keep in mind the nacre thickness, luster, surface texture, shape and size etc. Before the days of cultured pearls, all natural pearls were generally of white colors with a creamy or pinkish tinge. White pearls could have one or more overtones. White pearls can also be colored enhanced with peach, lavender, yellow, green, blue, brown, purple, or black etc. White pearls have become very affordable now.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Sapphires are more commonly known as the blue variety of the mineral corundum, formed from aluminum oxide. However, sapphires can be all different colors except red, which is more recognized as the “ruby” gemstone. They can even be colorless or transparent which is the natural state of corundum. What makes it special is its hardness, making it the second hardest mineral next to the diamond.
So, sapphire can be of many colors, except red. The reason behind it is that trace elements of iron, chrome and other substances add color to the otherwise natural colorless state of corundum. For instance, the blue color of the sapphires comes from a mixture of titanium and iron. It can range from the darkest, grayish blue to the lightest shade imaginable. In order to achieve the desired blue color, the sapphire undergoes an intense heat process or baking to remove any gray or brown color.
Light-colored sapphires or fancy sapphires as they are often called are all the other colored sapphires except blue and red. Purple sapphires contain the element vanadium that gives them this attribute and can be made into a variety of shades. Iron is what makes yellow and green sapphires. Pink sapphires contain chromium and the general rule is that the deeper the color pink the sapphire is the higher in value it becomes, especially if it comes close to red as that of the ruby.
A notable variant of sapphire color is the “padparascha” or “padparadja”, a brilliant orange sapphire with a pink undertone.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Sapphires are more commonly known as the blue variety of the mineral corundum, formed from aluminum oxide. Aside from their hardness, which is 9 on the Moh’s scale, and their variety of colors and shades, sapphires still have a lot to offer gemstone fanatics.
There are some variations of sapphires that exude a 6-ray, star-shaped pattern on their surfaces when light is shone upon them. This visual art is called an asterism, caused by needle-like inclusions of the mineral “rutile” and these sapphires are popularly called star sapphires. These star sapphires are becoming very scarce and very rare today because most sapphires are already cut into facets after heating instead of into “cabochons” or half-domes as are needed for the star sapphires.
Burma is known to have mined for sapphires since the prehistoric times. Sapphires from Burma, or Burmese sapphires, are considered valuable as they range from a full, royal blue to a deep cornflower blue. Ceylon or Sri Lanka is another of the world’s oldest sources of sapphires. Their sapphires are characterized by their light to mid-blue colors. The sapphires from Kashmir, which were discovered after a landslide, are the most beautiful and valuable. They exude a deep colored blue with a violet undertone and even exhibit a sleek shine on its surface. It is said that the Kashmir sapphire defines what a sapphire should look.
Nowadays, mines from the United States, India and Australia all contribute to the sapphire’s quantities in the world. Australia seems to be leading in the world’s production of dark blue sapphires. Tanzania also produces blue, yellow and orange sapphires. Brazil is the newest addition to sapphire mining with its blue, purple and pink sapphire qualities.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Luster is the hallmark of any pearls quality. Pearls are grown in lakes, rivers and sea. When it comes to buying pearls or for evaluation, be it freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls or Akoya seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls, South sea pearls, pearl luster is the prime and one of the key dominating factors. Pearl size, pearl type and how clean is pearl surface are other evaluating considerations.
Pearl necklaces are very famous for its natural beauty and white color brilliance. Pearls natural colors and its lustrous appeal bring charm and elegance to any necklines. Women love wearing pearl necklaces. Beauty of pearl necklace is unique in its own way and if diamonds are forever, pearls are timeless fashion statement. High quality pearl necklace truly brings grace and elegance to the wearer. Pearl necklace designed with selective matching colors and size of pearls is indeed a designer art. About 40-50 pearl beads are carefully hand-knotted and string together to make a beautiful and gorgeous pearl necklace. Pearl necklace go very well with all wedding gowns and is a preferred choice of many brides and bridesmaids.
White color pearl necklace is very traditional and classic but pearl necklaces are now available in various other colors and sizes as well. Pearl necklace designed with freshwater pearls are very good in quality and very much affordable now. Pearl necklaces come in various other types of pearls also such as Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls and South seawater pearls. Akoya pearl necklaces are typically more expensive than their cousin freshwater pearls and have always been in high demand for its high luster and nearly perfect round shapes. Black Tahitian and golden south sea pearl necklaces are excellent in quality and generally command higher prices both in domestic and international markets.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Beauty is everything. More than a thousand years of civilization and education have proven this saying false. However, in the case of selecting, collecting and donning gemstones, while beauty isn’t the only factor considered, it has a very large role. Although gemstones are subjected to several examinations and scientific standards, the eyes remain to be the best judge.
These pretty things, no matter how small, can be the price of one laptop, or even a car. Yes, they can be expensive sometimes. But a lot of work and preparation goes in to the development and finish of a gemstone.
Gemstones are actually rocks or minerals which are cut and polished before distributed commercially. They may also be petrified materials, meaning they are made of organic material and are transformed to stones or other similar materials. Other gemstones, which are of organic material, do not undergo petrification, thus they remain organic.
Gemologists are scientific experts who evaluate gemstones using a set of procedures. They assess the gemstones based on several standards such as their chemical composition, value and presence of flaws.
The chemical composition of gemstones plays a significant role in evaluating them as there is a different chemical composition from one gemstone to another. Diamonds, for instance, largely contain carbon, which may not be present in other gemstones.
Value is another factor considered in the evaluation and pricing of gemstones. The rarity of gemstones is a large contributing factor in their value. The rarer the gemstone, the higher is its value. Most of the features of gemstones which contribute to their beauty are also factors of value. Such features of beauty are their color, form, visual appeal and also rarity. Again, the rarer the features of these gemstones, the higher usually are their price. For example, although there are colored diamonds distributed commercially, the colorless ones are the most expensive as they rarely occur in nature or are rarely harvested. Other gemstones may be more expensive when they have bigger sizes if smaller ones are usually the ones harvested.
The presence or absence of flaws in gemstones is, needless to say, very significant. Collectors, jewelers and other consumers prefer those with no flaws. However, in some cases, the presence of flaws usually confirms the authenticity or naturalness of gemstones. One considered flaw of gemstones is blemish. Blemish is a flaw or defect which is present at the surface of gemstones. This may be a scratch, a chip or a pit. Another flaw is inclusion which probably is a testament to the adage saying that beauty is skin deep. It is a defect within gemstones and may be in the form of a cloud, bubble, fracture or grain. Gemstones undergo various treatments to enhance their beauty, particularly their color and clarity. They may be subjected to heat, radiation, waxing or coating. Some treatments are effective in enhancing the value of certain gemstones, while others are not stable, therefore are not widely accepted.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
A good outfit for a lovely evening or even for daily use would not be complete without complementing it with the perfect set of jewelry. Foremost of this must be a great pair of gold earrings that perfectly matches a woman’s attire. Be it a special occasion such as dinner dates, cocktail parties and other special events (to which wearing the most elegant gowns is expected) nothing would be such a complement of appearance as the wearing of gold earrings.
Gold earrings can either be in the form of hoops, dangles and studs. Other earrings have laces of diamonds and other precious gems. Each of these forms of gold earrings have appropriate time and place for wearing and this should, of course, be carefully thought about. But, gold earrings in general should be able to match the style of outfit a woman is wearing at any time.
Gold earrings in hoops form is perfect for everyday use and would complement any style of corporate attire. The informal sense that it brings to women wearing this kind of gold earrings makes hoped gold earrings a perfect choice for corporate women and casual ladies in their daily business attire.
For a more sophisticated and yet not so formal look, dangling gold earrings are perfect. They can match almost any elegant outfit. Dangles come in three types namely, the beaded dangles, the charmed dangles and those dangles that contain diamonds. Each of these types of gold dangles suit specific styles of outfit.
The most elegant of all gold earrings are the ones that come in studs. These studs come in various sizes and cuts which resonate with elegance and sophistication. Because of its minimalist appearance, studs are perfectly suited to be worn with a matching necklace and an elegant dress.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Gold earrings can either be in the form of hoops, dangles and studs. Other earrings have laces of diamonds and other precious gems. Each of these forms of gold earrings have appropriate time and place for wearing and this should, of course, be carefully thought about. But, gold earrings in general should be able to match the style of outfit a woman is wearing at any time
Of course any piece of jewelry which gives a woman an elegant, sophisticated and classy look would always come at a price. And gold is no exception. Gold earrings are one of the most precious pieces of jewelry that women can invest into. The high price however well compensates for the durability and long lasting effect that these jewelry items create for anyone wearing them.
There are various sources where women can look for their perfect gold earrings. As much as possible purchase gold earrings only from well respected and highly reputable jewelry shops to avoid buying fake and sub-standard ones. A good alternative would be to search for gold earrings available online – many suppliers can offer excellent service and money back promises. These online shops provide warranties for their jewelry and buyers are assured of the authenticity and quality. These shops also have a good catalog of their jewelry which buyers can look at online. Details of gold earrings are included in online stores, including excellent images, and buyers can even order online by providing their credit card to the shops secured ordering website. Just remember to verify the security features of the online store that one is transacting business with before making a purchase.
Remember, gold earrings are precious pieces of jewelry that cost a lot for individual buyers. Hence, buying gold earrings should be done carefully to avoid getting short changed for what you buy.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
One of the many ways to express ourselves is through jewelry – it is often luxurious, elegant and give an air of comfort and sophistication. It indicate our fashion sense, our flair for beauty and elegance. But, jewelry receives wear and tear like almost any other items that we possess. Oftentimes, a stone is lost from our earrings, chains of our bracelets get broken, or they get tarnished. Luckily, all is not lost and jewelry can be repaired.
Jewelry repair is a profession just like other technical professions and equipment and training is needed to do the work well. You may wish to entrust this work to someone else – the expense can be well worth the peace of mind.
Here are some tips to restore your old jewelry:
1. Precious metal jewelry tarnishes and bends easily. To remove tarnish, use a liquid jewelry cleaner with a dipping tray or a spray bottle. Wear gloves to protect yourselves from the strong chemicals and take care of any odour produced from the chemical reaction. Use the cleaners in a well-ventilated area. After rinsing the jewelry in warm water, dry it with a towel, then with a polishing cloth.
2. To mend a broken clasp, go to a jewelry supply store or a craft department and purchase a replacement clasp, “jump” rings, and fastening tools. These may also be purchased online in jewelry repair kits.
3. To flatten a chain, lay the piece down on a desk and roll a round pen or pencil over the area until it becomes smooth.
4. To prevent the posts on earrings from bending easily, do not apply a lot of pressure to them when putting them in your ears. You can try different styles of earrings such as a lever-back, French wire, or the newer “threader” earrings.
5. Soldering with gold solders is used to make repairs on broken chains. The loops or jump rings that hold clasps to chains are also soldered in better quality work. Soldering requires not only the equipment but a place to do it and training on torch work. This is not recommended at home – trust a professional.
6. Jewelry repair requires not only soldering equipment but also buffing machines, hand motor tools, acid pots, many assorted hand tools and a good bench set-up. This requires professional help.
7. Some equipment may be useful -you need a strong fingernail or two when dealing with jewelry but tools such as a chain nose (needle nose jeweler’s plier) or other pliers may be helpful. When the repair requires you to attach a clasp, a jump ring (loop of gold) may be used to hold parts together. The pliers allow opening and closing the loop. Open a jump ring by moving one side toward you and the other away from you. Twist open then simply twist back the same way to close.
8. In repairing broken chains, the difficulty lies in the fact that the chain is made up of fine wires. The wires heat up fast when trying to melt the solder. Jewelers coat the chain with an anti-flux such as yellow orcher or white out, and cover the chain with a heat sink such as a washer, razor blade, or coins. Inspect the chain to discover how the links are put together. Double-check the work of the salesperson taking the repair. Remove the damaged links from the broken ends of the chain. Then, cut the end links to re-assemble the chain. Cut the links with a fine saw blade, small end cutters, or a cut-off wheel in your flex shaft. Re-assemble the chain, add the solder, heat, clean and then polish the chain. Do not polish chains on a polishing machine. Simply lay the chain across your bench pin, hold the chain down stiff with your thumb and index finger. With a bristle brush in your flex shaft polish at medium speed the area of chain between your thumb and finger. Polish the chain little by little in this manner.
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Your ears deserve to be beautified with divine accessories - just like your hands, arms and other parts of your body. Reward them with fine and fashionable jewelry! That means diamonds!
What better ways are there to lavish your ears than by accessorizing it with the most luxurious items on earth? Diamond earrings will surely make your ears hear a positive ring. This is surely the case whether you pick a simple diamond stud, a diamond encrusted hoop or even diamond chandelier earrings. But since diamonds are so lovely and many of us can not afford to have them, you must be wise in choosing the right earring for you. Here are some tips that may be of use for you.
For men, there are two simple choices. Diamond studs are perfect for men who want that simply punk look. These studs come in all sizes and colors. Just pick the one which reflects your character and your price range the most. Men may also opt to choose the upper ear lobe studs and hoops for a more daringly expensive look. These kinds of ice will surely bring out the fly guy in you.
Men have it easier when it comes to picking their sparklers - girls always have much more to care for when it comes to diamond earrings. There are always three basic groups of diamond earrings. These are studs, hoops and danglers. Studs are perfect for exuding simple elegance. It is the diamond earring of choice for the woman of subtlety. Hoops on the other hand are a bit more funky and edgy. They come in all diameters and sizes. Diamond earrings of this kind are perfect for work and play. As for the danglers, these are often the most expensive kinds. Dangling diamonds are most likely paired with haute couture gowns and are only used for special occasions. They are also repeatedly equated to stardom and popularity.
Women may also want to choose the diamond earring of the best color. White diamonds is the little black dress of the gem world. It is a perfect fit for all sorts of clothes and attires. However demure people may also opt for impishly tinted rocks like pink and yellow diamond earrings. However, the latter tend to clash with some beautiful couture colors like blue and green.
Now that you know all these, there’s only one little detail you have to take care of. That is the price! After that you’ll be all set towards grabbing your diamond earrings. These will make your ears shine like the vibrant sun. So go ahead and start picking your Leighton’s, Cartiers, DeBeers or Tiffany’s. All of these diamond earrings will surely feel like once in a lifetime treats.
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