Category Archives: Jewelry

What Is 925 Silver Jewelry – Copy

If you are a jewelry lover, particularly silver, you probably are familiar with the 925 mark. But for the sake of those who are asking what 925 silver marks is, this article will give you the answer. Silver, which is chemically denoted as Ag, is a white colored metal that is popularly used to create premiere lustrous silver jewelries. This lustrous metal is basically an alloy of gold or other metals when it is still in its pure form. And commonly, it is a by-product of metals such as zinc, lead, copper and gold. Well, so much with that introduction. Basically, everybody knows what is silver but does all of you know what is 925 silver? This is the recent trend in silver jewelry making so some are asking what is that 925 silver mark.

The 925 silver or also known as the 925 sterling silver is a mark to indicate an alloy that is made by combining 92.5% silver by weight with 7.5% of other metals by weight. Usually, the other metal is copper. Mixing copper and silver will create a perfect combination of metal that will deal with malleability issues. Pure silver is brittle or malleable thus combining it with copper will make it solid. Using copper has two benefits and one is it adds strength and second, it preserves ductility and natural illustriousness of the silver metal.

So with that being said, the next question now is, is 925 silver a great choice? The answer is a definite yes. Silver jewelry pieces equally provide a great deal of adornment and aesthetic pieces for men and women. They blend well with style and they are the perfect accessories for all seasons and occasions. May it be for weddings, parties, business functions, and whatever the occasion there is, silver pieces will make anyone stand out from the crowd. But of course, this is only applicable if you have really acquired genuine 925 silver and not cheap imitations. Be careful when buying silver jewelries as there are lots of fake ones scattered in the market.

Dont be fooled by seemingly great silver deals. Watch out as you can fall from the scams who are just interested in your money and you ending up with fake silvers that you sure will never be happy about.

With the many silver jewelry stores in the market today, it is important that you only deal with reputable stores like Direct Sales Jewelry. Though you can widen your search in the internet for the best silver jewelry stores, but if you want only quality, genuine, and great designs, only trust reliable stores like direct sales jewelry. It offer a wide variety of jewelry collections, from Silpada jewelry, Avon jewelry, Kirks Folly Jewelry, Cookie Lee, Park Lane, etc. The choices on premiere jewelries are limitless and the prices are reasonable. It is a sure thing that when you have decided to buy a specific kind of jewelry, you will be happy that you have gotten the best value for your money.

Jewelry Making Ideas Using Beads – Some Basic Tips – Copy

Jewelry is a great way to express your personality. It is even better, if you can make your own jewelry. You can choose from thousands of beads of different colors, material, size and style. You can let your imagination run wild when it comes to jewelry making ideas using beads. This is because the possibilities are numerous and with the addition of semi-precious stones, pearls, crystals, etc., you can create jewelry that can be passed on to the next generation.

There is no dearth of ideas for making beaded jewelry. You will already have many designs stored in your mind from what you have seen so far! Sometimes, you see a design and that prompts you to come up with something very creative! Inspiration can stem from many things that we come across in life. Actually, there are no rules for designing jewelry, but it is a good idea to follow some of the guidelines given below:

Do what you like to do.
Use different types, textures and sizes of beads in one design.
Decide on color combinations that create harmony.
Use spacer beads, connectors, bead cps, etc., creatively.
Use beads that you like most.
Never underestimate yourself.

Necklaces can be made, highlighting a bead in the center or a pendant. By varying the number of strands, length, color, and shape of beads different designs can be created. It is one of the easiest pieces of jewelry that a novice or a seasoned person can make. Necklaces can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Asymmetrical necklaces are the more modern types and can be created by mixing up the beads or by ensuring that no two beads on the necklace are the same. It is also possible to make an asymmetrical pattern by using the same type of beads in different colors on each side.

You can combine pink glass pearl beads with Swarovski faceted crystals in order to create an opera length necklace strand. Lavender and mint crystal beads in cube, round and rondelle shapes can be included to give a unique look.

Bracelets and rings are a part of any jewelry box. Beaded rings or bracelets can be as simple as a row of beads strung on wire or thread and secured to form a circle. Multiple strands of beads can be used for making bracelets and rings to make a style statement. A pearl and rainbow crystal bracelet makes great evening or casual wear.

You can make your watch come alive by creating a special band made out of beads! You will definitely stand out in a crowd as you decided not to settle for the plain old wristband for the watch. Strategies for watch bands can vary from multi-stand to woven, single to multiple layers, etc. However, make sure that color, size and shape of the beads chosen and the watch itself are in harmony.

Earrings are the minimum jewelry that any woman wears. A myriad combination of colors, sizes and shapes of the beads can be used to make earrings. Generally, the earrings, in terms of color of beads used, will have to be matched with the necklace, ring and bracelet. It is easier to make earrings and take less time compared to other jewelry.

Some jewelry making ideas using beads have been discussed. The possibilities are endless and matching sets of earrings, bracelets and necklaces to suit your expectations can easily be made.

The Best 3 Metals For Body Jewelry

Two of the most frequent issues with body jewelry are allergic reactions and infection. Appropriate care and cleaning of piercings is vital, but the type of metal in the piercing jewelry you choose is also extremely important. The following are the top 3 best metals for body jewelry, and a couple that you should definitely steer clear of.

TOP 3 METALS FOR BODY PIERCINGS:

#1 Implant Grade Titanium

Titanium is by far the metal of choice for body piercings, and is safe for initial piercings. Implant grade titanium G23 (Ti6al4v-ELI) is the material used in surgical implants, is biocompatible, resistant to body fluids and nickel free. Titanium weighs less and is much stronger than steel, which means you will have body piercing jewelry that is both durable, comfortable and nearly free of scratches. Titanium is an expensive metal, but well worth the slightly higher price. Titanium body jewelry is beautiful, is long lasting, and will still look like new after many years of wear.

#2 Surgical Stainless Steel

Surgical steel is the most popular metal for body jewelry, and is just behind titanium in terms of biocompatibility. 316L or 316LVM are the only two grades of stainless steel that are considered safe for wearing in healed piercings. Keep in mind that even the best grades of stainless steel do contain nickel and may cause problems for those who are sensitive to nickel. Several European countries have banned the use of stainless steel for initial piercings, and it is best to steer clear of stainless steel altogether until after your piercing has healed.

#3 Gold

Although it is beautiful, gold is not a good choice for body jewelry, especially for initial piercings or long term wear. Because gold is softer than other metals and is made with metal alloys, there can be an increased risk of irritation or infection. Gold jewelry is beautiful, but is safer when worn in healed piercings, and with care. Replace gold piercing jewelry with titanium at any sign of irritation.

NOT RECOMMENDED:

Sterling Silver: Stay away from any body jewelry where the part that is inside your skin (barbell, banana, ring) is made of silver. Sterling silver tarnishes when it comes in contact with body fluids, can easily harbor bacterial growth, and can contain allergy-causing metals such as nickel. Body jewelry where a sterling silver charm that is connected to or dangles from the end of the steel or titanium bar should not cause any prblems, as long as you dont have a silver allergy. Just make sure that the part that threads inside your body is made from a more biocompatible metal.

Mystery Metal: Scary. Any costume or plated body jewelry is a bad idea, and so is inferior grade stainless steel. Stick with the top 3 choices above to be sure your piercing stays comfortable and infection-free.

Dont forget that a body piercing jewelry is placed inside your body, and should be treated more like a surgical implant than a piece of costume jewelry. Although it may be tempting to buy inexpensive body piercing jewelry, spending a little more money on higher quality pieces is definitely a better choice in the long run.

Buying Birthstone Jewelry – Money Saving Tips

You have consulted birthstone charts and want to buy jewelry. Are you looking for some ways to save money? There are many factors that contribute to the cost. Some are obvious. Others may not have occurred to you.

Identity
The birthstones are gemstones. Some are obviously more expensive than others. The birthstones chart currently used in the United States contains less expensive alternates for most months.
There are many other lists:
Astrological charts use different time periods that combine months.
Old historical lists often assign the gemstones to different months and may substitute a few different stones.
Different countries have their own lists.
You can find these different birthstone charts on many websites. Look for a less expensive stone for your birth date.

Quality
The term genuine gemstone simply means that the stone has the necessary characteristics for its identity. The qualities of color and clarity affect the price. Inclusions of other materials can detract from the clarity and reduce the value. Choose a pretty stone with inclusions that are not obvious.

Color
Today many gemstones are color enhanced. Heat treating, diffusion, radiation, oiling, and dyeing are means of improving color. The gemstone industry assumes that these processes have been used, and sellers often do not volunteer the information. Ruby, sapphire, topaz, tanzanite, aquamarine, citrine, and others are routinely heated. Emerald is oiled. Beads may be dyed.
Assuming other qualities equal, natural color gemstones will be the most expensive. Dyed stones will be the least expensive.

Size
Gemstones are sold by weight. The larger the stone, the higher the price per carat. For example, one carat total weight of several small rubies will cost less than a one carat single ruby.

Beads
When rough gemstone material comes out of the mine, the highest quality is set aside for cutting into loose stones for settings. The lower quality is used for beads. Why? Because drilling a bead hole wastes valuable weight.
Beaded jewelry may cost less. The difference in quality is not always obvious.
The best quality gemstone beads are often tiny faceted rondelle shapes. The more valuable gemstones, such as ruby, emerald, and sapphire are seldom made into large beads, unless they are dyed or contain many inclusions. If you want natural color birthstones, you can probably find them as beads at an affordable price.

Lab Created or Synthetic Gemstones
They have the same characteristics as natural gemstones, but not the same inclusions. The process contains similarities to the natural creation, but time and quality are controlled by man. These high quality stones are expensive, but should cost less than the same quality mined gemstone.

Imitation Birthstones
They may be other less expensive gemstones that are dyed. Howlite is used to imitate turquoise.
Glass imitations were popular in the 1940’s and 1950’s. They were often set in 10k gold rings. You may find them in antique or vintage jewelry stores. Prices will vary and may be determined by value as a collectible.
Swarovski crystal is a popular substitute as a birthstone. The colors are named after gemstones.
Imitations should cost less than genuine gemstones.

Precious Metals
The cost of gold and silver has increased drastically. They are also sold by weight. Heavy ornate settings, clasps, or beads will increase cost.
Different kinds of metal are priced from high to low in this order: 18k, 14k, 10k gold, vermeil (gold plated sterling silver), sterling silver, gold filled, gold plated, silver plated, gold or silver tone base metals.

Beaded Jewelry
Beaded birthstone jewelry has other options for lower prices.
Tiny spacer beads reduce the number of birthstone beads needed.
Look for other less expensive beads in the design, or just a few birthstones as focal points.

Designer
This term can raise the price. Jewelry that carries the name of a well known store, name brand, famous designer, or celebrity may cost more. Endorsements are expensive.
If fashion jewelry containing imitation gemstones and base metal is sold in a well known or upscale clothing store, it can cost more than jewelry with genuine gemstones sold on a website.

Custom Made
Birthstone jewelry that requires extra time, new design, buying new or unusual materials can be expensive.
Instead use the seller’s existing design with substitution of in stock stones or beads.

Middlemen
The number between the mine and the jewelry seller is one of the biggest factors affecting price.
A hobbyist who buys materials from a retail store adds a middleman.
A seller who designs and makes jewelry and buys beads or loose stones directly from the cutter eliminates distributors.
Ask questions.
Today it is easy to buy from jewelry makers. Look for their websites. Attend craft fairs or gem shows.

Overhead
Does the seller have to pay any large business overhead costs?
Store, warehouse, office, employees, website design or hosting, advertising.
Buy from a website business that is run from a home. Look for information on the About Us page.

Shipping and Packaging
It is never free. It must either be included in a higher jewelry price or paid as added cost by the buyer.
Actual shipping costs vary. If the seller offers options, compare their costs.
If you buy directly from a country where labor costs are low, the savings may be offset by high international shipping. Returning an item would be expensive.
Handling costs also vary. Fancy boxes and packing materials can raise the jewelry price or handling cost.

Conclusion
If you do comparison shopping, be sure to consider the quality of the birthstone jewelry.
Be suspicious of low cost items that cannot be returned easily, worthless guarantees, deceiving imitations.
If the price is too low to be true, it probably is not a bargain.
Save money, but do it intelligently.

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Choosing the Right Kind of Body Piercing Jewelry

When it comes to choosing the right kind of body piercing jewelry, then you need to get in tune with your inner self. You need to understand who you are as a person and how you would like others to perceive you. This is because with piercing, you are actually letting others know who you are as a person, without actually speaking. This is the power of piercing and other jewelry. They speak volumes about you and who you are as a person. >

Wild piercings, such as tongue rings, eyelid rings, nose rings and even bell rings portray you as an untamed spirit who has no boundaries and is up for anything fun. If this is not who you are, then you will probably want to avoid these types of body piercing jewelry! So before you go for a piercing, make sure that you discuss the action first with a friend. This will help you determine if the piercing is right for you or not.

If it is hard to come across a friend to discuss the issue with, then you can turn to the astrology. The stars will pin point your exact personality to some degree of certainty. With this information, you can make a decision on the best type of body piercing jewelry you are going to get.

Finding your personality is just one step of finding the best body piercing jewelry for you. The next step is harder still. You want to find the right design that will bring out your natural beauty as well as personality. This goes a long way in accomplishing the real work of these types of jewelry. Let’s face it, we seek out body piercing jewelry to make our appearances more beautiful and if the jewelry we are wearing does not achieve this, then we have failed ourselves. So seek out some expert advice on the best choice in piercings for you. A lot of factors come into play when choosing piercings’ shapes, lengths as well as sizes. Your height, the shape of you faces as well as your skin color will all comes into play here. A professional will be better positioned to advice you on this.

So make sure that you get your body piercing jewelry from a professional. This will ensure you the very best of advice as well as products in this category. If you go for a short cut, you will end up looking like a clown or worse still, you will suffer infections due to poor works man ship.