Fashion Jewelry

About Mother of Pearl

Mother of pearl is the common name for iridescent nacre, a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting their bodies from parasites and foreign objects. This is the same substance that is deposited around an object that becomes lodged in the mollusk–either naturally or inserted by humans–to become a pearl. Although pearls are popular today, some past cultures regarded colorful pieces of mother of pearl as more desirable decoration for jewelry and other objects. Jewelry made from mother of pearl is in the group called organic jewelry, which includes all jewelry that originates from a living creature, plant or other living organism.

Pearl oysters and abalone are both sources of mother of pearl, which is widely used as an inlay in jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments. Mother of pearl comes in several natural colors, and is often bleached and dyed for decorative use. The dye retains the shimmering layers which make mother of pearl so sought after. Two substances combine to create mother of pearl. The first is plates of aragonite, a material which is secreted by the mollusk. Aragonite contains calcium carbonate and conchiolin, a natural protein. Alone, the plates are very hard, but also very brittle. As a result, the organism also secretes organic material similar to silk to layer between the plates. The result is a strong, flexible material which can withstand hard use.

Mollusks are known to create mother of pearl to protect themselves. In addition to forming part of the shell, mother of pearl also insulates mollusks from bacterial infection, and reduces irritation from organic material which drifts into the shell. Irregularities often form in the mother of pearl as a result of irritation. If the irritation is extensive enough, the mollusk will form a large bump, prized in the human world as a pearl. Only the outer layer of the pearl is covered in mother of pearl, which is why it is important to care well for pearls so that they do not crack, revealing the source of irritation beneath. Many early cultures used mother of pearl extensively in jewelry, and it came to be highly prized. Although the popularity of mother of pearl has diminished through the years, many people still appreciate the beauty of mother of pearl jewelry. Some homes integrate mother of pearl into tiles and other fixtures, although it is no longer used as extensively as it once was.

Like other substances found in nature, mother of pearl develops irregularities as it forms. As a result, every piece of mother of pearl jewelry or inlay is slightly different. Sometimes these differences are appreciated, and the artisan works with the unusual features of a specific piece to highlight them. Many beautiful pieces of jewelry and furniture have been created using mother of pearl. Look for its luminous beauty in rings, pendants, bracelets and more.

2010 christmas jewelry collection by 925e.com

Christmas Jewelry Collection

Current Fashion Jewelry Trends

Despite the fact that last year was a tough year with talk of a recession and the credit crunch, people still have an appetite for beautiful things. To help you cheer up, treating yourself to beautiful fashion jewelry while keeping an eye on good value is the smart way to shop. After all, jewelry is one of the few purchases you’ll make that is also a wise investment. In fact, the trend towards fashion jewelry has grown like wildfire as women appreciate how easy and cheap it can be to change their look without the expense of a whole new outfit.

A fabulous pair of dangly earrings, a nice brooch, necklaces with colored jewels and funky bangles with attitude can turn around a look instantly at a fraction of the price it costs to buy gold or even a new outfit. In fact, the rise in gold prices has seen a huge surge in people eager to offload their booty in exchange for hard cash. In actual practice, for the price of a gold necklace it is possible to buy a dozen fashion jewelry pieces which gives value for money in more ways than one.

You can expect most pieces to last for many years if cared for properly. Get your quality costume jewelry today, and it will be become a ‘must have’ in the future. Right now, people are snapping up vintage fashion jewelry from the 1980’s. Although this may be  stretching the term ‘vintage’ a bit, it does mean that jewelry from today will be someone’s ‘vintage’ find of the future. So treat the pieces you buy today with care. In the future, your grandchildren could be the envy of all their friends.

So what’s up for next year on the accessories front? As we just observed, the past will continue to be a strong influence on the future. It’s where we come from that matters, so vintage and antique pieces will continue to be of high interest. We’ll be eager to update them or create our own special look.

Event while we look to the past for inspiration there will be lots of key modern items to give voice to the times we live in right now. Last year gave us some great futuristic necklaces, industrial pewter cuffs, huge chunky necklaces, lots of colorful flat bead shapes infused with marbling. For next year, you will see these styles developing even further, more inspiration will come from the East where their production capacity knows no limits.

It’s a fact that the recession has to end some time. Many people feel it is already ended and some feel things will get worse. Time will tell, but one thing we know for sure. Fashion jewelry of good quality and modest price will prove to be a fun and practical way to end the blues. As always, human spirit will triumph. Beauty and the passion for fashion will continue to thrive.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli, often shortened to simply ‘lapis’, is a relatively rare semi-precious stone that has been sought after for eons for its intense blue color. Lapis lazuli has been acquired from mines in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,000 years and there are sources that are found as far east as in the region around Lake Baikal in Siberia. Trade in the stone is ancient enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian sites, and as lapis beads at neolithic burials in Mehrgarh, the Caucasus, and even as far from Afghanistan as Mauritania.

Lapis lazuli is a rock, largely formed from the mineral lazurite. The main component of lapis lazuli is lazurite – a silicate mineral. Most lapis lazuli also contains calcite, sodalite, and pyrite. Other possible constituents are: augite; diopside; enstatite; mica; hauynite; hornblende, and nosean. Some lapis lazuli contains trace amounts of the sulfur-rich löllingite variety geyerite. Lapis lazuli usually occurs in crystalline marble as a result of contact metamorphism. But, unless you are a geologist, you may not care exactly what minerals make up the lapis. You’ll care more about its beautiful blue and flecks of gold.

The finest color is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. Stones with no white calcite veins and only small pyrite inclusions are more prized. Patches of pyrite are an important help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value. Often, inferior lapis is dyed to improve its color, producing a very dark blue with a noticeable grey cast which may also appear as a milky shade. So, the gold in lapis is not real gold, it is pyrite. But, it adds to the beauty of the stone.

Lapis takes an excellent polish and can be made into jewelry, carvings, boxes, mosaics, ornaments, and vases. In architecture it has been used for cladding the walls and columns of palaces and churches. It was also ground and processed to make the pigment ultramarine for tempera paint and, more rarely, oil paint. Its usage as a pigment in oil paint ended in the early 19th century when a chemically identical synthetic variety, often called French ultramarine, became available.

The best lapis lazuli is found in limestone in the Kokcha River valley of Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan, where the Sar-e-Sang mine deposits have been worked for more than 6,000 years. Afghanistan was the source of lapis for the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, as well as the later Greek and Roman. During the height of the Indus valley civilization about 2000 BC, the Harappan colony now known as Shortugai was established near the lapis mines. In addition to the Afghan deposits, lapis has been extracted for many years in the Andes (near Ovalle, Chile), the Lake Baikal region of Russia; Siberia; Angola; Burma; Pakistan; Canada; India; and in the USA in California and Colorado.

Nowadays, lapis is often used and can be recognized as the beautiful blue stone in many modern pieces of jewelry. After 6,000 years, it has proven its worthiness and can contribute to any fashionable ensemble.

Bridal Jewelry

Here’s some info on the latest bridal jewelry trends for you. Whether you’re on a shoestring budget or the sky’s the limit, everyone is looking for a good deal. Regardless, you should search out only the best materials for our bridal jewelry and hair accessories: Swarovski crystals and rhinestones, natural pearls and gemstones and handcrafted pieces.

One of the new trends is to go Vintage. Deco sparkly hair brooches, feathery fascinators, birdcage veils, fun mini flyaway birdcages, and showstopping rhinestone bracelets, necklaces and chandelier earrings are making a bold statement this season. Unleash your inner Hollywood starlet and rock some vintage glam hair jewelry on your wedding day.

Both one of a kind vintage jewelry or a vintage style with a modern twist will work well. There are pieces with vintage elements like sparkly rhinestone brooches and one of a kind modern hair clips. There are also a wide selection of new vintage glam designs available in many places. With many accessory collections featuring a strong vintage feel, now is the time to reassess that pile of forgotten chains, bangles or rhinestones cluttering your jewelry box. Don’t go on a treasure hunt for the perfect piece. How you style and combine pieces is more important than any single item.

Some more trends include Flowers, Feathers and Tulle. Handmade silk flower combs, feathery fascinators with rhinestone accents, and light as air tulle birdcages and clips are timeless. Whether your hair is in an elaborate up-do or down, clip in one of these and you go from everyday to bride.

If you’re concerned about expenses, a recession-inspired return to less-precious materials, coupled with a new consciousness about sustainability, has helped inspire a creative renaissance in fashion jewelry. Free to experiment with less costly materials, designers are crafting wood, glass, rubber, leather, lace, Lucite and grosgrain ribbon into jewelry that only looks expensive. Silver is back at center stage too. Los Angeles jewelry designer Jeffrey Levin, whose designs have graced the covers of Elle, InStyle and Vogue, is even creating a new collection of what he calls ‘wristwear’ made from recycled rubber.

The trend is good news for all of us who have despaired that our jewelry is a hodgepodge of different styles, materials and decades. Matching is out, mixing is in. Now is the time to flaunt your personal style. “You can combine bracelets and bangles that feel as if they have been collected not only from various places on a journey, but also from various times.”  says designer Downing.

Stacks of bangles adorn wrists; layers of chains circle necks; and pendants, pins and earrings are built with unusual materials piled one atop the other. Worn in multiples and combined in eccentric, slightly kooky combinations, today’s jewelry makes its statement with size, color and audacity not price. Yes, audacity! Although many recommendations from designers may not fit your bridal party and plan, try to think outside the box. Perhaps you are already. Taking chances and living it up can make your wedding day outfit something for everyone to remember.

Jewelry Wholesale

From our Glass Collection, this colored glass pendant comes with a free black cord. Cheerful, bright and affordable. The item measures 25mm by 36mm. Visit us at 925e.com – the experts in wholesale jewelry and silver jewelry wholesale. If you buy your jewelry wholesale or like silver wholesale jewelry, look for Item Code: 52-755-910 at 925e.com – and you’ll be cheerful and bright, too. Sourec: Jewelry Wholesale

All about Palladium

Palladium is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pd and an atomic number of 46. Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it after the asteroid Pallas. Palladium, along with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium form a group of elements referred to as the platinum group metals.

The unique properties of palladium and other platinum group metals account for their widespread use. One in four goods manufactured today either contain platinum group metals or had platinum group metals play a key role during their manufacturing process. Over half of the supply of palladium goes into catalytic converters, which convert up to 90% of harmful gases from auto exhaust into less harmful substances. Palladium is found in many electronics including computers, mobile phones, multi-layer ceramic capacitors, component plating, low voltage electrical contacts, and SED/OLED/LCD televisions. Palladium is also used in dentistry, medicine, hydrogen purification, chemical applications, and groundwater treatment. Palladium plays a key role in the technology used for fuel cells, which combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water.

Ore deposits of palladium and other platinum group metals are rare, and the most extensive deposits have been found in the norite belt of the Bushveld Igneous Complex in the Transvaal in South Africa, the Stillwater Complex in Montana, United States, the Sudbury District of Ontario, Canada, and the Norilsk Complex in Russia. In addition to mining, recycling is also a source of palladium, mostly from scrapped catalytic converters. The numerous applications and limited supply sources of palladium result in palladium drawing considerable investment interest.

Palladium itself has been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, as an alternative to platinum or white gold. This is due to its naturally white properties, giving it no need for rhodium plating. It is much lighter than platinum. Similar to gold, palladium can be beaten into a thin leaf form as thin as 1/250,000 in. Like platinum, it will look a bit hazy over time. Palladium is one of the three most popular metals used to make white gold alloys.

When platinum was declared a strategic government resource during World War II, many jewelry bands were made out of palladium. As recently as September 2001, palladium was more expensive than platinum and rarely used in jewelry also due to the technical obstacle of casting. However the casting problem has been resolved and its use in jewelry has increased because of a large spike in the price of platinum and a drop in the price of palladium.

Prior to 2004, the principal use of palladium in jewelry was as an alloy in the manufacture of white gold jewelry, but, beginning early in 2004 when gold and platinum prices began to rise steeply, Chinese jewelers starting making a large amount of palladium jewelry. Johnson Matthey estimated that in 2004, with the introduction of palladium jewelry in China, demand for palladium for jewelry fabrication was 920,000 ounces, or approximately 14% of the total palladium demand for 2004. This means it increased almost 700,000 ounces from the previous year. This trend continued during 2005, with estimated worldwide jewelry demand for palladium of about 1.4 million ounces, or almost 21% of net palladium supply, again with most of the demand centered in China. The popularity of palladium jewelry is expected to continue to grow as the world’s biggest producers embark on a joint marketing effort to promote palladium jewelry worldwide. Do you own any Palladium jewelry?

Native American Jewelry

Native American jewelry is a rich and varied type of jewelry with many types from all over North America. Various Native American tribes have their own culture and traditions and this reflects in the styles of jewelry. This jewelry visually recorded tribal histories and captured their sense of oneness with nature. Lois Sherr Dubin wrote: ” (in) the absence of written languages, adornment became an important element of Indian communication, conveying many levels of information.” Later, jewelry and personal adornment “signaled resistance to assimilation. It remains a major statement of tribal and individual identity.”

While Native artists continued to incorporate new materials and techniques into their work, jewelry in the Americas has an ancient history. Olivella shell beads, dating from 6000 BCE, were found in Nevada; bone, antler, and possibly marine shell beads from 7000 BCE were found in Russell Cave in Alabama. Copper jewelry was traded from Lake Superior beginning in 3000 BCE. Stone beads were carved in Poverty Point in Louisiana in 1500 BCE. Heishe bead necklaces have been discovered in ancient ruins. Remnants of the seashells they used to make beads, were also found. Oyster shell, mother of pearl, abalone, conch and clam have been important trade items in the Southwest for over 1000 years.

Native beadwork was already extremely advanced in pre-Columbian era, including utilizing hand ground and filed turquoise, coral, and shell into smooth tiny beads to make heishe necklaces. They made carvings from wood or animal bone to make interesting beads, which they sewed into clothing or strung into necklaces. Turquoise is one of the dominant findings of Southwestern Native American jewelry. Thousands of pieces were found in the Chico Canyon. In the prehistoric times the Native Americans would mine the turquoise and then create the jewelry. Turquoise was found in southern Arizona that dates back to 200 B.C.

Pendants depicting animals are still favored by many tribes. Bear claws, birds, especially eagles, as well as turtles, and bird talons were set into crescent shaped pendants. The Iroquois ground stone combined decorative and utilitarian elements. Stone pendant shapes included ovals, rectangles and diamond shapes with serrated edges, arrows, triangles, animal figures and elongate polished pebbles with full grooves for suspension. Pendants and gorgets were sometimes engraved with hatched or zigzag lines, or shapes.

The Southwest is especially known for its silverwork. Southwest jewelry includes designs of channel inlay, cluster, mosaic, and petite point and materials of shell, gemstones and beads. Whereas the Navajo liked the squash blossom necklace, and they often combined turquoise, coral, and other semi-precious gemstones. They were set into silver scrolls, leaf patterns, and strung on cord for necklaces. Navajo people began working with silver in the 19th century.

Turquoise is closely associated with Navajo jewelry, but it was not until 1880 that the first turquoise was set in silver. Excepting for the turquoise wampum from earlier times, turquoise was very scarce and it was to be another thirty years or more before turquoise became readily available. This is why early Navajo jewelry had very few stones. They were soldered and surrounded by scrolls, beads and leaf patterns set in sterling silver. The Navajo silversmiths have made buckles, bridles, buttons, rings, round, hollow beads, earrings, crescent shaped pendants, bracelets, crosses, powder chargers, tobacco boxes, and disks used on belts. In 1903, Anthropologist, Uriah Hollister wrote about the Navajo. He said, “Belts and necklaces of silver are their pride… They are so skillful and patient in hammering and shaping that a fairly good-shaped teaspoon is often made of a silver dollar without melting and casting.”

The Apache tribe is perhaps best known for its amazing variety of jewelry designs. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the Apache’s were renowned for mastery in silversmithing which they employed to create unique jewelry designs. Silver was the medium of choice for the Apache when it came to jewelry. They would incorporate the use of some exquisite precious stones such as lapis lazuli and jade to create a colorful piece of jewelry. Now, more than ever before, original Native American Jewelry and its styles are popular with people all over the world.

All about Topaz

Topaz is a gem stone of many possible colors. You’ll find it in Clear (if no impurities), blue, brown, orange, gray, yellow, green, pink and reddish pink. Let’s learn a little more about this semi-precious gem stone.

Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but, like all gem stones, is usually tinted by impurities. Typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale gray or reddish-orange and blue brown. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, gold, pink, reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent. Orange topaz, also known as precious topaz, is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone for the US state of Utah.

Imperial topaz is yellow, pink or pink-orange. Brazilian Imperial Topaz can often have a bright yellow to deep golden brown hue, sometimes even violet. Many brown or pale topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink or violet colored. Some imperial topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time. Blue topaz is the US state Texas’ gemstone. Naturally occurring blue topaz is quite rare. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue. Mystic topaz is colorless topaz which has been artificially coated giving it the desired rainbow effect.

Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the granite and rhyolite type. It can also be found with fluorite and cassiterite in various areas including Ural and Ilmen mountains of Russia, in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Flinders Island, Australia, Nigeria and the United States. Some clear topaz crystals from Brazilian pegmatites can reach boulder size and weigh hundreds of pounds. These won’t be found on a ring. Crystals of this size may be seen in museum collections.

The name ‘topaz’ comes from the ancient name of St. John’s Island in the Red Sea which was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone was mined in ancient times; topaz itself wasn’t really known about before the classical era. In the Middle Ages, the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone, but in modern times it denotes only the silicate described above. According to some, it is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name ‘topazos’ means ‘green gemstone’. The Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter.

The color in which the topaz is most commonly found is yellow. In the 18th century, it was mined in Germany during a period of over 60 years. However, most of the crystals were hardly a centimeter in diameter. You had to go to Siberia or Brazil to find crystals as large as your fist. The enormous and magnificent topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, was for a long time thought to be a diamond. It weighs 1680 ct.

In mysticism, the topaz is attributed with a cooling effect. It is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death. It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy. One should listen to these claims with caution, however. It was also claimed that you could immerse your hand in boiling water after a topaz had been thrown into it and retract it again unharmed. But Topaz, nevertheless, is still a magical stone.

Winter Jewelry

Fall or Autumn is almost upon us. The weather is getting cooler in many parts of the world and soon winter will be here. It’s time to drag out some of the warmer clothing and to see what’s in vogue for winter jewelry this season. As always, it wouldn’t hurt to spruce up the old wardrobe a bit with some new gems. Blame it on winter.

Maybe it’s because of the poor economy, but fashion, in general, is taking it back to the basics. This season the current trend for jewelry is all about fashion fundamentals, with an emphasis on chunky. Chunky got in and is still in with no real signs of getting tired. Embrace it.

Statement necklaces have always been in, now they are bigger as of recent trends. Of all your accoutrements, they are still considered a must have as they generously give your entire wardrobe a boost. Huge chains and bib necklaces continue to be great looks to go after. These can really dress up the clean lines of a simple night time look, but don’t put them away during the day. Reinvent your white t-shirt and jeans by adding your favorite attention getter around your neck. When wearing a statement necklace, keep the rest of your outfit simple, sophisticated and subdued. If the rest of the outfit is too loud, your chunkies will get lost in the noise.

Bold earrings look great with that necklace. Long, jewel encrusted or oversized, earrings are gaining more acceptance. Just don’t get them too heavy. It hurts. As always, earth tones including reds are in season this season. Red accents are a classic look, especially when worn with black, gray and white. You may be wearing bold bits of scarlet or crimson with your bag or shoes, a necklace, bracelet or earrings would add another level of accent.

Classics like pearls are another basic that are popular now, but don’t go with the subdued or classy style. If the pearls aren’t chunky or bold, leave them at home. Wear them long and layered or a single massive, short choker. Try wearing a mix of different size chains in a variety of metals and colors for a look with maximum impact. When in doubt, go bold with gold. Metals and graphic elements play a big part in jewelry for this fall and winter season. Head to toe black is in. If you are heading out to a holiday party and would prefer to add some drama, then bedazzling rhinestones are always a choice. Look for clear or metallic colored crystals paired with dark metal. Take advantage of the black canvas and draw in some bold colors.

So remember, the fall and winter are the times to think big and bold when it comes to jewelry. This is not the time to be wearing tiny delicate earrings or pendants. Very small items of jewelry will get hidden under layers of heavy woolen sweaters and scarves. Therefore, for an item of fall and winter fashion jewelry to really show, it needs to be relatively large. A few accent pieces of jewelry in bright and vibrant shades can bring a touch of glamor to a winter wardrobe. Many winter clothes are dark or neutral in color. You can also add a splash of red or turquoise for a really stunning effect. There are many naturally colored gemstones that will look great for winter wear.

Finally, fall and winter fashion jewelry does extremely well with a bit of a sparkle. Even fairly small earrings or necklaces can stand out from a winter outfit if there is a sparkling stone or bead to catch the eye. Winter is the perfect time to wear stones with a special sparkle. A couple of accent pieces work best. Play dress-up this weekend and see what works. That way, you’ll be prepared when the snow comes.