Jewelry is made of precious and semiprecious metals and gemstones, or colored glass, stones, faux pearls.
This is your opportunity to decide what your jewelry style is: remember, there is no good or bad about your choice. Both styles are legitimate and have a long history in America and in the world. And some of us are definitely two-style jewelry fans. Here are some ideas to help you to choose good jewelry:
1. Combination of materials
2. How metals are combined to make jewelry
3. Workmanship
4. Is it your love to be "fine" and "precious" and "well made", and incidentally, to pay more for your adornments?
5. Or is it your desire to enjoy strong colors and designs and on the whole, to pay less for your beautiful baubles?
6. Tarnishability
7. Longevity - Will this piece of jewelry be an heirloom?
8. The higher the Karat, the higher amount of gold
a. Gold is usually mixed with a base metal to increase its hardness
b. Quality jewelry makers mark their pieces with Karat number (24K),
and trademark name or symbol
c. The highest quality silver is 92.5% silver
Fine jewelry is made up of silver, gold, white gold and precious gems in many combinations of delightful sophisticated and or careful craftsmanship. Not that all fine jewelry is handmade; It must be "well made" and that is characterized by the quality of the materials and workmanship. The silver must be 92.5 silver, gold at least 14Karat or 58% gold
Many gold-filled pieces are 50-100,000 times thicker than regular gold platings and 17-25,000 times thicker than the heavy gold electroplate usually found on cubic zirconia cocktail rings. This statement puts gold filled jewelry on the fine jewelry side and HGE (heavy gold electroplate) on the costume jewelry side. If an item is stamped GF (gold filled) the minimum layer of karat gold must equal at least 1/20 the weight of the total item. 12 Karat GF is the most common stamp, but you will see 10K and 14K as well. Gold filled items with a solid layer of gold bonded by pressure and heat to another type of metal, usually brass, will commonly last 5-30 years even with daily use, but will eventually wear through to the brass.
White gold is another precious metal which is created by replacing the silver in the traditional gold-copper-silver-zinc combination used for 14K yellow gold with nickel. This reduces the red and yellow colors reflected by copper and gold. When rhodium is applied to a well finished white gold ring, the piece appears as a brilliant white and of course, enhances the value both monetarily and artistically.
Costume jewelry epitomizes the less expensive, less valuale materials, including base metals plastic, glass and synthetic stones. It asks for a different response from our friends and acquaintances: that we're "dressing up" the outfit we're wearig, that the jewelry enhances our
whole look instead of just the dress. Costume jewelry can be very colorful and considered by some to be flashy or overwhelming. This is where your tasteful choice governs the outcome. Don't be afraid to choose colors that complement your dress and shoes - cubic zirconia are high end crystals and very desirable as are rhinestones, or lucite. The makers of less expensive jewelry may continue to use gold plating in place of pewter, nickel or other metals and this stabilizes the value of costume jewelry. Please avoid articles that contain lead and look for gold and faux pearls to bring life to it.
CONSIDER INCLUDING THESE WONDERFUL STONES IN YOUR FINDINGS:
1. Turquoise - Mined in the United States, U. S. is largest producer
Considered high in fashion circles for its natural color and
elegance.
2. Agate - Montana agate is widely accepted and if a stone is cut
well and contains nicely defined patterns, the price of it can
exceed that of some of the better known semi precious stones.
Agate's beautiful natural colors speak for themselves, and are
known to grow in value over time.
3. Crystals - Swarovski is the highest quality leaded crystal
stone made in the world.
Daniel Swarovski invented the cutting machine which cut stones
perfectly.
Leaded crystal is more refractive, easier to cut and
less expensive than rock crystal.
If you start by looking around at the natural stones, you will become adept
at choosing nice pieces, comparing prices and seeing what looks good on you. You will begin to "own" a certain look, or admire many "looks" for
yourself. Enjoy the process! VISIT MY STORE FOR A LOOK AT SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS -
href=http://www.maggie6090watchesjewelry.com
1. Combination of materials
2. How metals are combined to make jewelry
3. Workmanship
4. Is it your love to be "fine" and "precious" and "well made", and incidentally, to pay more for your adornments?
5. Or is it your desire to enjoy strong colors and designs and on the whole, to pay less for your beautiful baubles?
6. Tarnishability
7. Longevity - Will this piece of jewelry be an heirloom?
8. The higher the Karat, the higher amount of gold
a. Gold is usually mixed with a base metal to increase its hardness
b. Quality jewelry makers mark their pieces with Karat number (24K),
and trademark name or symbol
c. The highest quality silver is 92.5% silver
Fine jewelry is made up of silver, gold, white gold and precious gems in many combinations of delightful sophisticated and or careful craftsmanship. Not that all fine jewelry is handmade; It must be "well made" and that is characterized by the quality of the materials and workmanship. The silver must be 92.5 silver, gold at least 14Karat or 58% gold
Many gold-filled pieces are 50-100,000 times thicker than regular gold platings and 17-25,000 times thicker than the heavy gold electroplate usually found on cubic zirconia cocktail rings. This statement puts gold filled jewelry on the fine jewelry side and HGE (heavy gold electroplate) on the costume jewelry side. If an item is stamped GF (gold filled) the minimum layer of karat gold must equal at least 1/20 the weight of the total item. 12 Karat GF is the most common stamp, but you will see 10K and 14K as well. Gold filled items with a solid layer of gold bonded by pressure and heat to another type of metal, usually brass, will commonly last 5-30 years even with daily use, but will eventually wear through to the brass.
White gold is another precious metal which is created by replacing the silver in the traditional gold-copper-silver-zinc combination used for 14K yellow gold with nickel. This reduces the red and yellow colors reflected by copper and gold. When rhodium is applied to a well finished white gold ring, the piece appears as a brilliant white and of course, enhances the value both monetarily and artistically.
Costume jewelry epitomizes the less expensive, less valuale materials, including base metals plastic, glass and synthetic stones. It asks for a different response from our friends and acquaintances: that we're "dressing up" the outfit we're wearig, that the jewelry enhances our
whole look instead of just the dress. Costume jewelry can be very colorful and considered by some to be flashy or overwhelming. This is where your tasteful choice governs the outcome. Don't be afraid to choose colors that complement your dress and shoes - cubic zirconia are high end crystals and very desirable as are rhinestones, or lucite. The makers of less expensive jewelry may continue to use gold plating in place of pewter, nickel or other metals and this stabilizes the value of costume jewelry. Please avoid articles that contain lead and look for gold and faux pearls to bring life to it.
CONSIDER INCLUDING THESE WONDERFUL STONES IN YOUR FINDINGS:
1. Turquoise - Mined in the United States, U. S. is largest producer
Considered high in fashion circles for its natural color and
elegance.
2. Agate - Montana agate is widely accepted and if a stone is cut
well and contains nicely defined patterns, the price of it can
exceed that of some of the better known semi precious stones.
Agate's beautiful natural colors speak for themselves, and are
known to grow in value over time.
3. Crystals - Swarovski is the highest quality leaded crystal
stone made in the world.
Daniel Swarovski invented the cutting machine which cut stones
perfectly.
Leaded crystal is more refractive, easier to cut and
less expensive than rock crystal.
If you start by looking around at the natural stones, you will become adept
at choosing nice pieces, comparing prices and seeing what looks good on you. You will begin to "own" a certain look, or admire many "looks" for
yourself. Enjoy the process! VISIT MY STORE FOR A LOOK AT SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS -
href=http://www.maggie6090watchesjewelry.com
Facts about silver and other metals and more on gemstones useful in producing good jewelry
QUALITY MATERIALS WHEN COUPLED WITH GOOD WORKMANSHIP MAKE GOOD PRODUCTS
Silver is a valuable, useful, precious metal that is alloyed with 7.5% copper. Silver combines witb many metals, but copper is the best as it adds to the stability of both silver and copper, which explains why they do not corrode and only experience tarnish in the presence of ozone, hydrogen sulfide or air conditioning sulfur. Tarnish occurs slowly and with regular polishing, it remains shiny and attractive. Tarnish will clean up with baking soda and water.
Silver is valuable, but much less expensive than gold, comparing at $14.71 USD ounce to gold at $736. USD ounce. Platinum sells at $1,472
per USD ounce and Rhodium is 4.5 times more expensive than Platinum.
White gold is created by replacing the silver in the traditional gold/copper/silver/zinc compositions used for 14K yellow gold, with nickel, where the nickel and zinc present in white gold reduce the red and yellow colors reflected by copper and gold. Unfortunately, some of the natural patinas stay with white gold, which jewelers say, are unattractive. A normal procedure is to apply a decorative rhodium
electroplate finish to white gold pieces whether it is a nickel-white gold or a palladium-white gold.
An additional list of gemstones is compiled here just for you to become familiar with their names and characteristics and to start adding them to your like and dislikes.
Amber - Fossilized tree resin from ancient forests, Golden or green
colored organic gem. Air bubbles, insects or small particles
are not considered flaws, but are instead a trait of genuine
natural amber
Beryl - Family of stones that include aquamarine, emerald, morganite
Sapphire - Comes from the mineral corundum, an aluminum oxide when it
is a color other than red. It is found naturally or can be
manufactured. Hardness is its outstanding quality as for in-
stance its use in making watch faces. Trace elements like
iron, titanium and chromium give corundum their blue, yellow
pink, purple, orange or green colors. If it is a fully
saturated red variety, it is a ruby and the pinkish-orange
variety is called padparadscha.(Wikipedia)
amethyst - Natural amethyst comes in colors from purple to yellow but
the moderate purple color is most often associated with
amethyst stones.
Opal - The mineraloid, opal, is amorphous hydrated silicon dioxide.
Colors range from clear through white, gray, red, yellow,
green, shore, blue, magenta, brown, and black. Red and black
are the most rare, therefore dear, white and green being most
common.
Topaz - Silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine and are clear, if
no impurities,or brown, orange, gray, yellow, green, blue,
pink and reddish pink. Topaz can be irradiated turning the
stone to blue ranging from a light pure color to a very dark
almost electric blue.
Tanzanite - This is the mineral zoisite from Tanzania. It has a
tendency to break, but has a strong trichroism which
means that it appears alternately sapphire blue, violet
and sage green depending on its crystal orientation.
Artificial heat significantl6y subdues trichroism, but
the heat improves its overall color.
Pearls - A pearl is a hard, round object produced in the soft
tissue of a living shelled mollusk. It is composed of
calcium carbonate in crystalline form and deposited in
concentric layers. The perfect pearl is round and
smooth and is admired and valued as a gemstone.
Freshwater pearls grow witin certain species of fresh
water mussels.
Silver is valuable, but much less expensive than gold, comparing at $14.71 USD ounce to gold at $736. USD ounce. Platinum sells at $1,472
per USD ounce and Rhodium is 4.5 times more expensive than Platinum.
White gold is created by replacing the silver in the traditional gold/copper/silver/zinc compositions used for 14K yellow gold, with nickel, where the nickel and zinc present in white gold reduce the red and yellow colors reflected by copper and gold. Unfortunately, some of the natural patinas stay with white gold, which jewelers say, are unattractive. A normal procedure is to apply a decorative rhodium
electroplate finish to white gold pieces whether it is a nickel-white gold or a palladium-white gold.
An additional list of gemstones is compiled here just for you to become familiar with their names and characteristics and to start adding them to your like and dislikes.
Amber - Fossilized tree resin from ancient forests, Golden or green
colored organic gem. Air bubbles, insects or small particles
are not considered flaws, but are instead a trait of genuine
natural amber
Beryl - Family of stones that include aquamarine, emerald, morganite
Sapphire - Comes from the mineral corundum, an aluminum oxide when it
is a color other than red. It is found naturally or can be
manufactured. Hardness is its outstanding quality as for in-
stance its use in making watch faces. Trace elements like
iron, titanium and chromium give corundum their blue, yellow
pink, purple, orange or green colors. If it is a fully
saturated red variety, it is a ruby and the pinkish-orange
variety is called padparadscha.(Wikipedia)
amethyst - Natural amethyst comes in colors from purple to yellow but
the moderate purple color is most often associated with
amethyst stones.
Opal - The mineraloid, opal, is amorphous hydrated silicon dioxide.
Colors range from clear through white, gray, red, yellow,
green, shore, blue, magenta, brown, and black. Red and black
are the most rare, therefore dear, white and green being most
common.
Topaz - Silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine and are clear, if
no impurities,or brown, orange, gray, yellow, green, blue,
pink and reddish pink. Topaz can be irradiated turning the
stone to blue ranging from a light pure color to a very dark
almost electric blue.
Tanzanite - This is the mineral zoisite from Tanzania. It has a
tendency to break, but has a strong trichroism which
means that it appears alternately sapphire blue, violet
and sage green depending on its crystal orientation.
Artificial heat significantl6y subdues trichroism, but
the heat improves its overall color.
Pearls - A pearl is a hard, round object produced in the soft
tissue of a living shelled mollusk. It is composed of
calcium carbonate in crystalline form and deposited in
concentric layers. The perfect pearl is round and
smooth and is admired and valued as a gemstone.
Freshwater pearls grow witin certain species of fresh
water mussels.
Join in the fun! Name your market - Are you a "fine jewelry person" or a "costume jewelry person"?
LET'S OUTGUESS THE JEWELRY AND WATCH REPORT FOR 2007
Most of us already have a good idea what our jewelry preferences are: but if you don't, GET UP TO SPEED!
Read the above article with the idea of deciding what kind of jewelry you feel the best in, that fits your pocketbook and your fancy and that you feel others like to see you wear.
Loading poll. Please Wait...
None
- Unknown
- Giant Lab Gems
- Giant Lab Gems to over 150 Cts. Fine Giant Lab Created Simulated Loose
Gemstones, Cubic Zirconia, Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Peridot, Ruby, and Tanzanite, Trillion, Heart,
Oval, Pear, Cushion, and Emerald Cuts
None
- Fine Jewelry vs. Costume Jewelry
- This site proposes that you decided which style of jewelry you will wear and will help you do so by presenting a
great deal of information to help you to choose good metals and beautiful gemstones and be able to wear and appreciate costume jewelry. There is a poll that can be taken advantage of to help you make your decision.
None
- About.com: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemstones/sp14-95/synthetic.html
- This feature of About.com requires frames.click on the link below to proceed to http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemstones/sp14-95/synthetic.html. 
by Colma
Hello! I am a native Californian, born in San Francisco, SOME years ago. You'll wonder what makes me tick - I'll tell you! Many things on God
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