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A Fashion Statement Needs All Elements to Work Together

July 22nd, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in Fashion

In order for any piece of jewelry to work, one of the most important things that a woman needs to be able to do is not over focus on the jewelry item itself. This is easy to do given the expense of a piece of nice jewelry in comparison with other fashion accessories, but it really is a mistake. In order for a gem or diamond to really shine, it is going to need to be set against the proper back drop that helps it show off its unique appeal. This means that those who are putting together a 1st class look are going to need to be able to judge the outfit as a whole. It is not about only the dress or slacks or any of these things, it is the entire statement that one is making with the look they are putting together – and the hope is that the look will be something that can be mixed and matched, worn over a long period of time in different ways while still keeping fresh.

When a woman is able to mix her fashion choices correctly she is able to pick out items of jewelry that go well with her hair style, her sunglasses, her bags or totes and plenty of other unique pieces and accents that help create the style she has set out to make. The crucial factor here is that she has a lot of balls to juggle and will need to keep her eye on the over all look in order to pull things off properly. This means she will not want to skimp on the blouse or skirt or anything else, but is rather going for a collection of elements that can all be brought together for good effect.

Many times, shopping over the web at a source like Very.co.uk will give her an advantage because she is then able to see a wider selection of goods and is not going to end up making an impulse buy. This is how fashion savvy women create unique looks for less, in the end.

High Class Men’s Luxury Accessories at Fantastic Prices

March 13th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in Guides

Men today know that they are going to have to place a much higher level of importance on the way that they look than any man would have needed to in the past because we now live in a media age and all around the world it is a very visual type of culture that rules. The fact is, the TV and films have really changed the way that we look at ourselves so now we want to be able to say more with the types of things we wear and this is why Pandora has risen so high in terms of their renown for the quality that they offer to those who are their customers. people know that this name is serious about giving a high level of value and because of that they know they can trust the name of the brand itself to give them exquisite quality when any other brand might be content to settle for doing fair to medium at the same kind of product. This is not the type of item which will be bought for a cheap price in any big chain store but those who know this name are able to get something truly valuable they can cherish for years to come thanks to their own personal level of savvy.

That makes a big difference for those of us who want to look great and impress the people around us. This is what has seen the gents watches selection expand so hugely over the years as more and more men come to understand that they can really get a lot about themselves across with the right kind of classy watch on their wrist. People know that a man is serious when he insists on a first class time piece as more and more men are starting to do.

Astrological Jewelry from ELTIF Offers Unique Spin on Popular Signs

February 17th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in News

With twelve signs in the traditional Western zodiac, designer Julie Lampert believes she has struck upon an idea that will suit just about anyone by offering a personal touch. Her company, ELTIF Designs, is named after her favorite expression, ‘Enjoy Life To Its Fullest’ and the designer has taken the slogan serious by creating a range of gold and silver jewelry suitable for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, pairing the traditional symbol for each astrological birth sign with a hand design called a hamsa.

The hamsa, also called chamsa or khamsa, is an Arabic word meaning five – as in four fingers and a thumb on the human hand. Popular in North Africa and the Middle East, the palm shaped charm originated in ancient Carthage where it was known as the Hand of God and intended to ward off danger and the evil eye. In recent times, the hamsa has come of interest to those who practice Jewish mysticism based on the Kabbalah.

By combining her own descriptions of each zodiac sign, Lampert hopes to interest those who find mystical topics to be of interest. Each necklace is available in the customer’s choice of sterling silver or gold plated sterling silver and all of the necklaces in the Hamsa Collection retail for $180.

Finding Unparalleled Quality in Matrimonial Rings

February 13th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in Guides

With such value out there to be had by those who take the time to really get the best deals on the kinds of jewelry that they want it is very important that people make smart choices – especially those couples who are about to tie the knot and start their lives together. The fact is, the wedding rings that a couple chooses will always be a big statement about who they are and how they see themselves and this will directly affect the way that other people see them. It is for this reason that many couples are so choosy about what they select in terms of the sort of jewelry that they want to be seen wearing. This is smart because there is almost no other thing that a couple will share, in terms of a fashion item, that will have the same level of cultural significance and affect so much of the way that the world views them in terms of being a team with shared values. For this reason alone, being careful to find the top quality ring is an absolute must for each member of the new marriage and matching those rings is definitely a smart move because it shows serious levels of unity.

Couples who take the time to pick out their wedding rings together may find that when they put the web to work they are able to discover new design ideas that they never would have come across if they only focused on their local shops and did not look into the world around them. This is why so many have come to see the web as a paradise for rings of distinct quality and offered at terrific value which says so much about those who wear them in their new life.

Rebecca and Baci Perugina Match Chocolate and Jewelry for Valentine’s Day

January 22nd, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

Italian jewelry brand Rebecca, a subsidiary of Testi USA, has concocted a delightful marketing concept for customers to enjoy this Valentine’s Day by pairing its products with chocolates from famed Italian chocolate company Baci Perugina. The giveaway will offer a combination that both companies hope will lure women with two products they are sure to adore: chocolate and jewelry.

During the special promotion, those customers who purchase any jewelry with a heart motif will be a complimentary box of chocolate, thus making the products more appealing for women or men who are buying gifts for the romantic holiday. Since the word Baci is Italian for ‘kisses’, the appropriateness of the giveaway is strengthened and both companies foresee a substantial expansion in their business from this promotion.

Most of the jewelry offered comes from Rebecca’s Tropezienne Collection which features, along with many heart shaped pieces, fashion forward jewelry with cutting edge design and a Romantic style. The chocolates from Baci Perugina come wrapped inside a love note written by a renowned writer or poet and are filled with a hazelnut crème.

As the first of many such innovative partnerships, Agostino Magni suggests that many more promotional business pairings are in store for customers of its North American branch who appreciate the Italian charm the company offers.

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Crystal Candy Jewelry Serves Up Sweet Success for New York Entrepreneur

January 2nd, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in News

Bayside, New York native Lynne Shapiro-Goldman spent 10 years as a hair stylist before taking a job in the trend jewelry department of Bloomingdale’s, an upscale retailer, but after a short time working with jewelry she was struck by an epiphany that jewelry was her true calling. A lover of all things beautiful a creative, Shapiro-Goldman used her own experiences interacting with retail customers and observing jewelry lines to come up with her own unique twist on crystal jewelry that would appeal to those who enjoyed crystal necklaces. It wouldn’t be long before she began experimenting with crystal bead bracelets and from there she would plunge forward to develop her own line.

The 58 year old has described her success as having a fairy tale element because it all happened so quickly once the inspiration took hold of her. She began by spending only a hundred dollars for the materials she needed to create her first half dozen bracelets and has told the media that the ideas simply rushed into her mind. After wearing the bracelets to work, demand grew at a rapid pace and soon she had sold several of the hand crafted bracelets. Working primarily with vintage beads and Swarovski crystals, Shapiro-Goldman has created the Crystal Candy Jewelry line based on her thought upon first seeing her own work: they looked delicious.

Retailers spotted her work on display at Open See, a designer casting call put on by Henri Brendel, and from there demand has spiked. The jewelry line is now international, being sold at more than thirty five retailers in the United States, the Dominican Republic, Japan and Canada.

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Don’t Let Unused Jewelry Lie Forgotten

January 1st, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in Reviews

Isn’t it true that often times we over look a really great piece of jewelry just because we forgot that we even had it? Often, women get gifts of jewelry and end up having so much that they forget where the pieces are. This, combined with the fact that the items are small and can easily get lost at the bottom of a purse or fall from a dresser and remain hidden on the carpet for years is exactly why the Jewelry Frame was invented. This clever piece of wall decoration is one of the most innovative in years because it provides the perfect solution to those who want to be able to get their collections organized in a thoughtful way that is also utilitarian. Since the frame will let them hang their pieces right out where they can see them, it ends up that the jewelry gets rotated more and used far more regularly than if we simply had to place it in a drawer.

This is a smart device to have because it helps make sure that none of our better pieces of jewelry go to waste. Since the frame can hold a huge number of pieces there is always a lot of room. The best part is, these make great gifts for friends and loved ones who share our fondness for jewelry. They are not only immediately useful in the sense that they help us organize the pieces we already have, they can be used for years to come to help all of our pieces stay in great shape and not lie forgotten in the bottom of a drawer.

Gemstone

December 15th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Guides

Throughout history, gemstones have held a very high status in nearly all major world cultures because they have fascinated humans from the very earliest days with their beauty. Despite any other cultural differences, people have long shared an appreciation of gemstones as well as an affinity for the gemstone jewelry created using such gems. Over time, values have shifted, but the fact remains that gems continue to enchant the world with their sparkle, shine, color and ability to evoke a sense of wonder in the observer. For these simple reasons alone, gemstones hold an aesthetic importance that will not soon be replaced.

In order to understand exactly what gemstones are, it is important to turn to science. According to scientific categorization, gems are minerals that are valued for traits which make them useful in jewelry. While most gems are actually mined out of rock, several types of gems including coral, amber and pearls, are made from living animals or plants are therefore classified as organic gems. Since the natural processes that create gems occur over such enormously long periods of time, gems are very valuable. Their rarity is part of their value, but their beauty, durability, clarity, color, shine, sparkle and in some cases, their lack of color – as in the diamond.

Even though there are more than two thousand different types of minerals found on earth, only fewer than one hundred of these could properly be considered gems and among these, only sixteen have risen to any great level of importance on a global level. These sixteen precious stones are: zircon, diamond, opal, olivine, turquoise, tourmaline, quartz, spinel, topaz, lazurite, feldspar, garnet, chrysoberyl, jade, beryl (of which emerald and aquamarine are both sub species) and corundum (sub species of which include rubies and sapphires). While other semi precious gems such as onyx, amber or pearls are also used in the creation of gemstone jewelry, and greatly favored by those who prefer them, they are not held at the same level of value for a variety of subjective reasons.

While diamonds of colorless type are the most valued, most gemstones are more value if they are of a deeper, richer color. This will affect their value, as will what style of cut has been applied to them. Gemstone jewelry offers several cuts including pear, marquis, princess cut, heart and round brilliant, for diamonds. With gemstones, one has a wide array of choices and since there are birthstones for every month of the year it is very possible to make a gift of gemstone jewelry be a very personal and sentimental affair. Understanding the colors and gems that a person likes most can help one pick the perfect gift, but be sure to know which precious metals they prefer since gemstone jewelry can be made combining any gems and precious metals on the market today to create a rainbow of different looks to suit just about any tastes.

People today might not believe that gemstones contain magical powers, but one thing is for sure: gems continue to fascinate us in ways that no other objects of beauty on Earth can ever come close to.

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Gold

December 15th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Guides

For thousands of years, gold has been considered the most valuable of the precious metals due to its ability to withstand corrosion from the elements and the fact that it does not oxidize with water or air as many other metals due. Add to this the fact that in its pure form it is easily shaped with hand held tools and one can easily see why it has been considered such a valuable metal down through the ages. Although it is perfect for coins and jewelry, gold has many other uses in other applications such as gourmet foods, dentistry, medicine and electronics. Due to its rareness combined with its wide range of uses, gold is very valuable and even today, there have only been a little over 161 tonnes of gold mined throughout the world according to historians of the subject.

Gold jewelry is valued using a number of features, but one of the most important is the gram weight of the gold contained within a piece. This is the amount of pure gold that exists within a given piece of jewelry and it is one of the most important points a person should know about any item of gold jewelry they intend to buy. The more gold an item contains, the greater its value. However, since gold is such a soft metal, it is often combined with other metals to give a piece of jewelry more strength and greater resistance to damage, thus preserving its value for longer. This mixing of metals with gold creates what is called a gold alloy. The amount of gold in any given alloy is rated by karats (also called carats in some countries) and this factor is represented by a symbol, such as 24k, that is stamped somewhere into the gold on a piece of jewelry. The higher the karat count, the higher the percentage of purity of the gold within a piece. By understanding these two factors, consumers are well on their way to assessing the value of any gold jewelry they encounter.

While pure gold jewelry certainly does exist, for practical reasons it is not always the best for pieces that one intends to wear daily. There are gold plated jewelry items and these do contain gold, but they have only a very thin coating of pure gold. This is done to reduce the price, but there are also items described as gold filled which contain more gold than the plating process provides, but cost less than pure gold. Hollow gold jewelry is sometimes used in earrings in order to make them lighter and less strain on the wearer’s ear. The jeweler should definitely tell customers if this is the case.

In the end, choosing the right gold jewelry is a matter of taste and personal preferences regarding its value. For some, it is the look that matters most or the sentimental nature of the particular piece, but others are more in tune with the monetary worth of the piece in harmony with its appearance. No matter what a shopper is looking for, knowing about jewelry before shopping is the smartest way to go.

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Silver

December 15th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Guides

Down through history, silver has been considered a precious metal and in some cultures it was valued more highly than gold, being commonly associated with the moon and spirituality during those times. Since it is the element most conductive of both heat and electricity, silver’s value is intrinsic rather than purely ornamental. While today both platinum and gold exceed it in value, silver jewelry is still widely used. The metal itself has other applications in other fields such as clothing, medicine, coins, photographic equipment and mirrors. Due to its attractive color, silver is favored as a lower cost alternative to the other more expensive precious metals, with sterling silver being cheaper than fine silver.

Sterling silver jewelry utilizes an alloy (compound of metals) that generally includes copper. This is the most common form of silver used for jewelry because the combination of these two metals creates a much more durable alloy that holds up better for the wear and tear put on traditional jewelry, especially those pieces that one intends to wear on a daily basis. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates how silver jewelry can be termed when it is sold and unless a piece has at least 92.5% silver it cannot be termed silver, sterling, solid silver, sterling silver or even utilize the abbreviation Ster. When a piece reads either 925 or 92.5 this means that it meets the commonly held standard, allowing it to be considered sterling silver jewelry in the official sense. Most other nations around the world follow a similar philosophy.

Unlike gold, silver will tarnish and so its care is crucial. A soft cloth or toothbrush and warm water are the best ways to care for silver jewelry, but some people prefer to use specialized cleaners. If one uses a special cleaning solution it is very important to ensure that the solution will not damage any of the gems or other precious metals used in the jewelry. Some people prefer not to treat the silver, though, and appreciate the blackening effect on the silver, known as a ‘patina’, because they feel that it adds character to their jewelry. If this is the case then one does not need to use any means of cleaning the jewelry and can simply allow it to age naturally.

While it is certainly an attractive alternative to more expensive gold jewelry, one must be careful when considering silver jewelry because there are definite instances when it would be deemed inappropriate to select silver instead of gold. For engagement rings and wedding bands, silver is not a good choice because gold is traditionally chosen due to the fact that it does not tarnish. This is a symbolic value, but much of jewelry itself is about symbolism so erring in this area can create an unintended offense, particularly for men who are choosing jewelry with which they hope to impress a woman. For other pieces, such as dress rings, pendants, bracelets or necklaces, silver can be a good choice but if one intends to give silver jewelry as a gift it is best to find out the wearer’s taste in advance to avoid purchasing something they would not like.

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