Fashion Jewelry

Something About Amber

Amber has been used by jewelry makers for hundreds of years to create amber jewelry and unique works of art that survive today as museum pieces. It was originally from the Eocene Epoch. About 45 million years ago, trees that one 19th century botanist called amber-giving pines deposited resin in what is now Scandinavia and the Baltic. This resin was carried by waterways to the Baltic coastline, where the largest deposits of amber have been discovered. At the bottom of the sea over the next 40 million years, this resin was fossilized and became amber. About two million years ago a glacier shifted, which brought the amber to the surface of the earth where it is mined today. Otherwise, we may never have found it nestled deep within the ocean.

The original pine forests depositing the resin grew in a warm, subtropical climate that was friendly to many plant and animal species. Many of these species were preserved in what are called inclusions. Inclusions are needles, twigs, leaves, flowers, pollens, seeds, flowers and oak hairs that became trapped and preserved in the resin that became amber millions of years later. Fossilized amber has also entombed small insects, arachnids, and occasionally other small animals. Feathers, hairs, and occasional paw prints reveal additional information about the life forms existing during the Eocene Epoch. In fact, it has become a great way to study the past as it has been preserved in Amber.

Evidence of amber use by ancient Central and South European cultures dates from the 13th millennium B.C. in the form of amulets used in hunter’s magic to ensure safe and prosperous hunting, as well as pendants and beads that demonstrate a decorative use that has survived through modern times. Amber is a mineral of many names, such as good stone, sacred stone, gold of the north, and Baltic gold. The Roman historian Pliny wrote: “Among luxury goods it is valued so high that an amber human figurine, no matter how small, costs much more than men in their prime”.

Amber jewelry was very popular during the Roman Empire, and the “Amber Route” that developed for the amber trade fostered social and economic development in the parts of Europe to which it extended. The most famous expedition of amber occurred during Nero’s reign, when a Roman equites sent to the Baltic Coast to acquire amber brought back so much of the gem that an entire stage for gladiator fights was made of amber. The 17th century is considered the golden age of the amber craft. During this period, distinguished artists created caskets, statues, chandeliers, and furniture laden with gold, silver, and amber for royalty and the wealthy.

In addition to its decorative uses, amber has been used for various medicinal purposes since the Roman Empire, when it was used to treat treating fever and tonsillitis. Copernicus used amber as one of the ingredients of his cordial mixture. And, at the turn of the 20th century, one of the most popular types of amber product was the cigarette holder with an amber mouthpiece. Amber was also used to decorate cigarette and cigar cases as well as dagger handles. Konigsberg was the center of amber craftsmanship for the first half of the 20th century. After World War II however, the state borders changed, cutting Germany off from what had been the main source of rough amber. During the latter half of the 20th century amber craftsmanship has come full circle and once again, Gdansk, Poland is the epicenter for amber art. Now, we find Amber as an important component in many pieces of jewelry.

Let’s take a look at the Opal

Let’s take a look at the Opal. there’s more than what meets the eye. In fact, there are so many varieties that show a play of color, but there are other kinds of common opal such as the milk opal, milky bluish to greenish, resin opal which is honey-yellow with a resinous luster, wood opal which is caused by the replacement of the organic material in wood with opal, menilite which is brown or grey. There’s hyalite, which is a colorless glass-clear opal sometimes called Muller’s Glass, geyserite, also called siliceous sinter, deposited around hot springs or geysers and diatomite or diatomaceous earth, the accumulations of diatom shells.

One of the most popular and most loved is the Fire opal. These are transparent to translucent opals with warm body colors yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red and they do not usually show any play-of-color, although occasionally a stone will exhibit bright green flashes. The most famous source of fire opals is the state of Querétaro in Mexico and these opals are commonly called Mexican fire opals.

Peruvian opal is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru which is often cut to include the matrix in the more opaque stones.

It is interesting to know where Opals come from. Australia produces around 97% of the world’s opal. 90% is called ‘light opal’ or white and crystal opal. White makes up 60% of the opal productions but cannot be found in all of the opal fields. Crystal opal or pure hydrated silica makes up 30% of the opal produced, 8% is black and only 2% is boulder opal. Interestingly, the town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. The world’s largest and most valuable gem opal “Olympic Australis” was found in August 1956 at the “Eight Mile” opal field in Coober Pedy. It weighs 17,000 carats and is 11 inches long, with a height of 4¾ inches and a width of 4½ inches. It is valued at AUD$2,500,000.

The Virgin Valley opal fields of Humboldt County in northern Nevada produce a wide variety of precious black, crystal, white, fire, and lemon opal. The black fire opal is the official gemstone of Nevada. Most of the precious opal is partial wood replacement. Miocene age opalised teeth, bones, fish, and a snake head have been found. Some of the opal has high water content and may desiccate and crack when dried. The largest black opal in the Smithsonian Institution comes from the Royal Peacock opal mine in the Virgin Valley.

As well as occurring naturally, opals of all varieties have been synthesized experimentally and commercially. The discovery of the ordered sphere structure of precious opal led to its synthesis by Pierre Gilson in 1974. Synthetics can be distinguished from naturals by the former’s lack of fluorescence under UV light. Synthetics are also generally lower in density and are often highly porous. Two notable producers of synthetic opal are the companies Kyocera and Inamori of Japan. Most so-called synthetics, however, are more correctly termed “imitation opal”, as they contain substances not found in natural opal. The imitation opals seen in vintage jewelry are often foiled glass, glass-based “Slocum stone”, or later plastic materials. Opals are a wonderful source of natural beauty – even those that are synthesized.

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.

Cubic Zirconia versus Diamond

Diamonds are some of the most valuable gems in the world and not just for jewelry.  They’re used in a wide array of industries, as well.  However, real diamonds are relatively rare.  Therefore, numerous attempts have been made by the scientific community to locate a viable diamond alternative.  While numerous types of synthetic gems have been created, the most common is cubic zirconia, a synthetic form of zircon crystal created in a lab environment.  What are the major differences between cubic zirconia and a diamond?

Weight – Weight is one of the largest differences between the two gems.  Cubic zirconia is 1.6 times as heavy as a diamond of the same size and proportions.  This is due to the high density of cubic zirconia as compared to a natural diamond.

Hardness – Yet another significant difference is the hardness of the two stones.  While diamonds have a hardness rating of 10 on the Mohs scale, cubic zirconia usually comes in with a hardness of 9, or a little less.  Therefore, while the stone is harder than many other substances, diamonds are still superior.

Flaws – Diamonds are natural stones; therefore, they have unique flaws deep within their crystalline structure.  A cubic zirconia diamond, on the other hand, has almost no flaws at all.

Colorlessness – True diamonds are very rarely without color at all.  Most diamonds have some color within them, though the more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it is. Cubic zirconia has no color at all in most cases.

Heat Conduction – A cubic zirconia diamond insulates, rather than conducting heat, whereas diamonds are excellent conductors of heat.

“Fire” – Diamonds have a natural luster, certainly, but the inner fire of cubic zirconia dwarfs the diamond.  For instance, cubic zirconia has a dispersion rating of 0.060 and diamond comes in with a rating of 0.044.

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.

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.

Hi Tech Jewelry Choices

With technology advancing each day, we see its impact on every aspect of our lives. Although we don’t yet ride in flying cars and have personal robots, some of these advances are truly impressive. It won’t be long before more of us are using some of the items mentioned here.

One new piece of hi-tech jewelry is a wireless earpiece and ring in one. The ORB wireless earpiece finger ring was developed by Hybra Advance Technology, Inc. It’s a finger-worn ring that twists open to become a comfortable, secure and sophisticated Bluetooth headset for hands-free calling. The price will be approximately $129 USD for the base model with premium aluminum housing. The Deluxe edition Orbs with displays will be a bit more.

Since many cities don’t allow using a hand held phone use while driving, some new bluetooth devices hooked onto ears are all the rage because it means you can still communicate on phones without having to hold them. Now there is a new black Swarovski crystal blue tooth device that vaguely resembles a round earring. Going high tech doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style especially if you like bling. Known as the Breeze, it is available in either black or white from the Swarovski online store.

Another popular item is the fancy new USB drives made to look like jewelry instead of a piece of electronics. Since many people using computers today also use USB flash drives for additional storage and as data backups, manufacturers have woken up to the idea some people like more attractive versions. There are many such items at various price points. One example is the pretty crystal rose pendant 8G USB flash drive from Brando.com.

An interesting area for the use of hi-tech jewelry is the medical field. There are a number of and aging adults with medical conditions in the world.  Many depend on some form of technology to communicate different allergies whether to food or drugs. Some may have disorders like Alzheimer or dementia where a simple ID band of some sort could save someone’s life.  By wearing a medical alert bracelet can alleviate concerns in case of emergencies. These devices can help first responders determine a patients’ complete medical history and send responders to a secure website, a toll free number, or even a text message. This enables the care provider to obtain all the past medical conditions or any prescriptions currently taking so medics can proceed with caution. They not only have bracelets, but they also have necklaces or even a flash drive that can be hidden in a charm worn around the neck. The flash drive can be put right into a computer right in the ambulance and the medics can have all the information instantly.  If you are big in fashion Tiffany and Company even offers a gold medical bracelet.

Also, a company called Syba has just released an ultra-secure jewelry box that requires fingerprint authentication and a USB key.  Now you can store your diamond jewelry, gold earrings, and family heirlooms at home without having to worry. Look for more hi tech items coming in the future to make life easier and safer.

Strong African Beauty

From our Wood Collection, this solid black Necklace is made of wood. You’ll find more ethnic style and beauty 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: 66-796-468 at 925e.com – home of international style.

Gem Stones and Mountings

If you look closely at your jewelry, or if you want to make your own, you’ll notice there are several ways to attach the gem stones. Let’s observe a few and see how jewelry is made.

One of the most popular ways to set a gem stone is with the use of prongs. These are small fingers of metal that hold the gem in place. The stone is first placed inside the setting and then these fingers or prongs are bent down over the stone using special jeweler’s pliers.

Another type of setting is called ‘pave’. A pave setting is a stone setting in which multiple small stones are set close together and very close to the surface of a piece of jewelry, making it look like the jewelry has been ‘paved’ with gemstones. One classic use of the pave setting is in diamond jewelry, where multiple small diamonds can shine with brilliance in a pave setting. This type of setting is especially popular for rings and pendants. Any gemstone can be utilized in a pave setting, but the style of the setting promotes the play of light through the stone, so translucent stones like emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and topaz are especially suitable.

To make this setting, jewelers make a series of impressions in the metal which are used to seat the stones, and small beads or prongs are used to pin the stones in place. The goal is to have as little metal showing as possible, so that the brilliance of the stones can be clearly seen. A pave setting may only be applied to one surface, or it may wrap around in a three sided or round setting, a popular option for rings.

Another type of setting is the bezel. A bezel is a band of metal containing a groove and a flange holding a watch crystal or gemstone in its setting. This was the earliest method of setting gemstones into jewelry. The bezel is shaped into the size and shape of the gem and then soldered into place on the metal of the jewelry. The prepared stone is then placed into the bezel and the metal is pressed down over the edges of stone, locking it into place.

A cabochon stone (a gemstone that is not faceted) usually relies on the shallow angle cut into the side of the stone which helps the metal to stay in place. With a clear faceted stone, such as a diamond, a shallow groove is cut into the bezel itself. The widest part of the gem stone is placed in the bezel, which is then pushed down over the girdle. The pressure of the bezel over the edge of the diamond keeps it in place.

Bezel settings for diamond rings are also called rub-over settings. Bezel settings use a type of elevated collar which wraps the rim of the diamond in a complete metal edging. This type of diamond rings setting is the most secure fastener for the stones. The bezel setting also protects the diamond better than other types of settings, such as the prong setting. Diamond rings with bezel settings give the rings a more elegant, understated and streamlined appearance than the prong setting.

The next time you go jewelry shopping, take a look at all the different types of settings for the gem stones. You’ll see how different settings create different looks and perhaps you’ll have a greater understanding of the effort required to make beautiful jewelry.

Flowery Silver Pendant

From our Silver Collection, this pure sterling silver pendant with an anti-tarnish plating sports a bold and pretty flower. The item measures 35mm. You’ll find more pretty items 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: 54-706-7556 at 925e.com and enjoy the bold and the beautiful.