Fashion Jewelry

Mourning Jewelry

There seems to be jewelry for every occasion. There is jewelry for weddings and special styles from different countries. Jewelery for parties and jewelry for dancing and items just for babies and youngsters. What you may not have heard about yet is mourning jewelry. Not so new on the scene but staging a comeback is jewelry you wear when you have lost a loved one or are in mourning for some reason.

Mourning jewelry is apparently all the rage right now, and with vampire chic taking over our pop culture – from Twilight to True Blood – it’s no wonder. So what is mourning jewelry exactly? Let’s get into some more details. The first examples of mourning jewelry were found in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Black and white enameled heads or skulls were often set into both rings and brooches and worn to indicate a period of mourning after the death of a loved one. This type of jewelry became most popular in England with Queen Victoria after the premature death of Prince Albert in December 1861. Black jewelry soon became a must-have accessory, as thousands of Brits sympathized with their grieving Queen. So, the Brits made it most popular during the mourning over the death of Prince Albert?

In the United States the use of mourning jewelry increased with the outbreak of the Civil War, which included the emergence of hair jewelry – lopped off locks given to loved ones by soldiers who went off to war, often worn as pendants or in closed lockets. Today, mourning jewelry is making a comeback, with young designers like Anna Schwamborn from London designing a range of styles made with the hair and cremated ashes of loved ones mixed with black bone china. Her “Mourning Objects” collection includes a rosary, necklace and a watch chain tear catcher, among other styles. Does this sound a bit grotesque? Macabre? It is, actually. But don’t let that stop you from joining in on the trend. Hopefully, you won’t have to lose a loved to to take part.

It does seem  a bit sick, for example, to put the ashes of someone you knew in a locket around your neck? This is most likely against the beliefs of some religions that consider the dead body to be sacred and not a form of adornment. Pieces of hair may not be so controversial and are often kept in lockets or jewelry boxes as keepsakes of people both living and passed away. Rings and pendants having skulls and blood and spiders on them is something more for the younger set with a passion for the dead and legends and stories of love and death and the undead. As vampires and other creatures continue to entertain and intrigue, there will always be those that take it further and dress in black, have tattoos and other piercings made to their bodies to join a crowd of death worshipers.

Whatever your interest or motivation, now could be the time to embrace the trend. If you are wearing mourning jewelry because you are truly in mourning, you have our deepest sympathy.

Silver in Style

From our CZ Collection, this pure sterling silver pendant plated with sparkling rhodium with CZ in a pave setting makes a wonderful item to behold. The item measures 29mm. At 925e.com, we’re the experts in wholesale jewelry and silver jewelry wholesale. If you buy your jewelry wholesale or like wholesale silver jewelry, look for Item Code: 53-701-2817 at 925e.com and go Silver in Style

Peridot – the lovely green Gem

There are many green stones from which to choose if you are a lover of green and have a passion for jewelry. There are Tourmaline, Emeralds, and even some Sapphires are a bit green. Today, we’ll look at Peridot. A semi-precious gem often used in jewelry with a beautiful bright green color.

Just where the word  came from is still not confirmed. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests an alteration of Anglo-Norman pedoretés, a kind of opal, rather than the Arabic word faridat, meaning “gem”. Most likely it is the Arabic origin because oftentimes ‘p’ and ‘f’ are interchanged in that family of languages.

It is interesting to note that Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: basically an olive green. As with all gemstones, the color is varied by the absence or presence of either inclusions or imperfections in the stone or the absence or presence of certain minerals. Peridot is no exception. The intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual Peridot gems can vary from yellow-green through olive green to brownish green. The most valuable is considered a dark-olive green color. But, if you are a gem collector, you will know that the beauty of a gem and its color are completely in the yes of the beholder.

Through the years, it has been found that the untrained eye will confuse Peridot with other gems. It is sometimes mistaken for emeralds and other green gems. In fact notable gemologist George Frederick Kunz discussed the confusion between emeralds and Peridots in many church treasures, notably the “Three Magi” treasure in the Dom of Cologne, Germany. Olivine, of which Peridot is a type, is a common mineral in mafic and ultramafic rocks, and it is often found in lavas and in peridotite xenoliths of the mantle, which lavas carry to the surface; but gem quality Peridot only occurs in a fraction of these settings.

In much antique jewelry, Peridot could have come from Egypt: in the late 18th century or early 19th century, Peridot was taken from Egyptian ecclesiastical and other ornaments and reused in jewelry. Peridot crystals have been collected from some Pallasite meteorites. A famous Pallasite was offered for auction in April 2008 with a requested price of close to $3 million at Bonhams, but remained unsold. It is interesting to note that Peridot is the only gemstone found in meteorites.

Peridot is treasured in Hawaii as the goddess Pele’s tears. The island of Oahu even has beaches made out of tiny grains of Peridot. Although Hawaii’s volcanoes have produced some Peridot large enough to be cut into gems, virtually all Peridot sold in Hawaii today is from Arizona.

Fine large Peridot are found in Burma and large quantities of Peridot are also mined in China. In 1994, a new deposit of fine Peridot was discovered in Pakistan, 15,000 feet above sea level in the far west of the Himalaya Mountains in the Pakistani part of Kashmir. Beautiful large crystals of Peridot were found, some that cut magnificent large gemstones.  But you may not have to go to Kashmir to get some beautiful Peridot treasures. Check with your local jeweler first.

Precious Pendant

From our Preciada Collection, this pure sterling silver pendant plated in Rhodium and populated with Golden Citine, Iolite, Lemon Citrine, Rhodolite and White Topaz in a rub-in setting makes a stately and classy declaration. The item measures 6mm by 40mm. You’ll find more precious items like this at 925e.com – the experts in wholesale jewelry and silver jewelry wholesale. If you buy your jewelry wholesale or like wholesale silver  jewelry, look for Item Code: 138-1181-5 at 925e.com and find your precious!

Bold Leather

Parked in our Leather Accessories at 925e.com, you’ll happen across this fashionable necklace. Made of leather and stainless steel, it measures 25mm x 45mm. For more simple, stylish and bold looks,  visit 925e.com – the experts in wholesale jewelry and silver jewelry wholesale. If you buy your jewelry wholesale or like wholesale silver jewelry, look for Item Code: 78-852-454 at 925e.com and find what you’re dreaming of.

Some facts about Sapphire

Sapphire in Greek means blue stone. It is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum. If it is red or dark pink the gem would instead be called a ruby and then considered to be a different gemstone. Very small amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give corundum blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange, or greenish color. Pink-orange sapphires are also called padparadscha and have a beautiful orange-red appearance. But we mostly know sapphire as a beautiful blue gem.

They are most commonly worn as jewelery and can be found by searching through sediments and rock formations like other gems. They can also be manufactured for industrial or decorative purposes in large crystals. Because of the remarkable hardness of sapphire, it is used in some non-ornamental applications, including infrared optical components, small, high-durability windows, wristwatch crystals, and thin electronic wafers.

You can find sapphire deposits in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, East Africa, and in North America. The color in these gemstones has three components: hue, saturation, and tone. Hue means the color of the gemstone. Saturation means the vividness of the stone, and tone is the lightness to darkness. Blue sapphire exists in various mixtures of its primary and secondary hues, tones, and saturation. Blue sapphires are usually graded based upon the purity of their primary hue. There are other colors that get involved and can be seen readily by the trained eye. Purple, violet, and green are the most common secondary hues found in blue sapphires. Violet and purple can contribute to the overall beauty of the color, while green is considered to be distinctly negative. So, when they say 15% violet or purple, they are considered generally to be of fine quality. Blue sapphires with any amount of green as a secondary hue are not as desirable. Gray is the normal saturation modifier or mask found in blue sapphires and only detracts from the beauty and value of the stone.

Blue isn’t the only color, though. Yellow and green sapphires are also commonly found. Pink sapphires deepen in color as the quantity of chromium increases. The deeper the pink color the higher their monetary value as long as the color is trending towards the red of rubies. Sapphires also occur in shades of orange and brown, and colorless sapphires are sometimes used as diamond substitutes in jewelry. Padparadscha sapphires often draw higher prices than many of even the finest blue sapphires. Recently, more sapphires of this color have appeared on the market as a result of a new artificial treatment method that is called ‘lattice diffusion’. But natural colors are considered the most valuable.

Padparadscha – the pink-orange sapphire with a low to medium saturation and light tone, were originally being mined in Sri Lanka, but now are also found in deposits in Vietnam and Africa. These sapphires are very rare and highly valued.

Finally, the star sapphire is a type of sapphire that has a star-like phenomenon known as asterism. Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like imperfections that cause the appearance of a six-rayed ’star’-shaped pattern when viewed with a single overhead light source. It is interesting that it is the imperfections that can cause such beauty. The 182-carat Star of Bombay, located in the National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C., is an example of a blue star sapphire.

Sapphires are available, though, in many shapes and sizes for the gem and jewelry lover. They often look wonderful with white gold, rhodium and sterling silver. Once you start to notice the beautiful blue hues that the sapphire emits, you’ll want more for yourself

Current Trends in Jewelry

Silver has been big again lately because it has the right style at the right price. Even though there have been many new designs coming out each week, newer designs keep arriving on the scene. Many of them very reasonably priced and all of them fitting new fashion styles and designs. Just a quick glance at some of the new offerings in the world of sterling silver brings this thought to the fore. Also, the designers are using a blackened finish that looks more like antiquing than anything else to give their products class and a richer appearance. What was old is new again.

Another key aspect to the new designs coming out now are the prices. Lately, you are able to get pieces that used to cost so much more. With the improvement in manufacturing styles and techniques, it is no longer necessary to spend a lot of money to look good. Less expensive stones can be used and more silver (less gold) can be a good choice. People haven’t stopped buying jewelry at all just because there’s been some changes in the economy, they are just more selective now with what they decide to buy.

Some of the new designs are utilizing very price effective gems that bring sparkle and life, but don’t cost too much Some of the fashions are using agates, jasper, patterned rocks, fossils, and other unusual minerals. We’re starting to see more and more CZ in a pave style and it glitters with the best of them.

Not completely new, but in the past, asymmetrical stones and minerals used to be more of a novelty and and worn on only special occasions. Recently, you’ll see  lot more of these unique shapes make into fantastic pendants and rings and built into bracelets to create some of the most interesting looks. Since their design is so free form, not one of them looks the same. With each item being unique, there’s a stronger attraction.

Some symbols that have never gone out of style but are having a nice come back are love and peace symbols. There seems to be not only a revival of the 60’s fashion, but also a revival of the ideology that made it such a unique time. Peace and love are in fashion and along with them are the beads and necklaces and bracelets and other items that signaled these principles to others. Look for more of a revival of the values from the 60’s coming back.

Especially the collectible beads are the hottest category today. A variety of styles are now available from a wide range of manufacturers, including personalized beads for local communities. Personalization adds emotional value and makes them more unique.  Also growing are collectible bead accessories. The trend is very strong because this is something you can do yourself and limit the cost to just a few dollars that anyone can afford. Beads are also quite versatile. You can go for surfer looks or native American or Indian or psychedelic and on and on. Beads are definitely back.

Pick and choose the style you love. There are so many now that are easy on the budget and high on fashion. It helps that most people around you will be looking for the same kinds of things. More available and more in fashion. It’s a get time to shop for the latest in jewelry trends.

Heart Strings

This item will certainly pull your heart strings. From our Vermeil Collection, pure sterling silver plated with pink gold and sparkling rhodium and a classy CZ pave work together to make this special ring. This item has a top width of 20mm. You’ll find more treasures like this at 925e.com – the experts in wholesale jewelry and silver jewelry wholesale. If you buy your jewelry wholesale or like wholesale silver jewelry, look for Item Code: 111-986-829 at 925e.com and find exquisite delight.

Emerald City

Emeralds are clearly one of the most famous and adored of all the precious stones. They are unique and coveted as much – and sometimes more than – diamonds. Let’s find out why emeralds are so desired.

Emeralds are the birthstone for the month of May. They are said to represent beauty, power, and wonder. Long one of the most sought after and admired precious gems to be found, fascination and demand for this precious stone is because of its captivating and beautiful green color. Emeralds of high quality are also scarce. For these same reasons, emeralds may sometimes be considered even more precious than diamonds.

Even though diamonds get so much of the attention, emeralds certainly deserve their share. There are only 4 gems considered precious: diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

When we judge diamonds, we use the ‘4 C’s’: Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat. Depending upon the rating one gives, the stone is considered to have high or low value. These characteristics are also considered when one looks at an emerald, but in a different way. First, the color is considered. The richer greens and blue-greens tend to be the most expensive and highly regarded emerald colors, but this should never sway you from buying a lighter colored stone that you find beautiful.

Next, the quality of the cut plays an important role in assessing a stone’s value, but it is not an exact science. There is no single cut that is valued more than another. The most popular cut for an emerald is called the ‘Emerald Cut’. It is rectangular in shape and used because it brings out the best in the best emeralds.

The clarity of the stone is most important when valuing diamonds, but in colored stones, this characteristic is less important. This is especially true when it comes to emeralds because of what is often referred to as the ‘garden’. A garden is a natural feature internal to the stone that may appear like a silky web trapped within. Dense gardens may have an effect on clarity, but clarity alone should not sway one’s opinion of a particular stone. The degree to which clarity affects a stone’s appeal and value is a very subjective consideration. Many emerald buyers will often place greater emphasis on color.

One carat is a unit of weight measurement equivalent to 1/5th of one gram. Most gemstones are priced and sold based on their carat weight. For average sized stones, this price is based primarily on their color, cut, and clarity. But as you begin to look at larger stones, and particularly larger stones of high quality, the 4th ‘C’ begins to play a much bigger role in pricing the stone. The main reason is because the larger stones are rarer, and therefore, cost more.

If you’re in the market for a beautiful emerald to add to your collection of jewelry, consider the above facts. You’ll be glad you made your purchase. Precious gems last for centuries and are almost eternal. Having one to put on your finger in a ring or around your neck on a pendant will make you proud of your astute purchase.

Jewelry for Teens

Younger people often have their own ideas about what is right and wrong, interesting or boring. Teenagers are certainly no exception. When it comes to shopping for jewelry, teens have their own likes and dislikes and not much tolerance for things that mom and dad like. In fact, if mom and dad like it, it may lose its ‘cool’. Let’s look at some of the trends for teens in the jewelry department.

Although both boys and girls like jewelry, the styles are decidedly different and the young ladies buy and wear much more than do the boys. Having said that, it is also true that boys are wearing more jewelry today than ever before. Nowadays, teenagers have a variety of choice in jewelry; they have jewelry ranging from plastic to precious metals and semi-precious or precious stones.

Teens will mostly be interested in what current trend is most popular. These trends are often dictated by pop stars. First, their music stars are most important. The young of high school age and middle school, too, are driven by the current music trends. Probably the most influential people in their lives and in their jewelry tastes would be their music stars. Second, it would be movie stars. Mostly the people their age but then stars that transcend all ages alike Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock.

Besides what the most popular kids at school may be wearing, the next key driver for what teens may want is price. Those that have the parents with the money or are able to get their hands on the money will follow the trends much more closely and be quite a bit more fickle about the items they choose. After all, when you’re young things change fast. What was cool and in yesterday is so ‘yesterday’ today. Does that make sense? For the teen that must work on a budget, their choices are much less changeable and more stable. They won’t follow the trends so closely and will value more what they do have. Although always envying the kids with the new styles each week, they will grow up with a healthier attitude about accessories.

A word to the wise here. Today, many fashions require piercing and tattoos. These also come and go and are not always going to be in style. However, these things are irreversible. Even piercings don’t close up quickly and sometimes never close up at all. Some forms of piercings amount to mutilation. So, if you want to please your teen but not scar them for life, go with the temporary tattoos and as little to no piercing as possible. When they get older, they may thank you. Or at least they will be able to make the decision themselves.

Finally, when you do buy for kids, make sure you buy on the bigger trend and scale. Don’t settle for what is hot this week. Fashion trends for younger people can literally change overnight. If you don’t want to break your budget constantly, consult some fashion magazines or on line sources to see what the gradual and overall trends are. See what the major stores are offering and go with that. It will be in fashion longer and won’t break the bank.