Buying Tips of Custome Jewelry

Custom jewelry includes any jewelry that is made according to design details provided by the buyer. There are various reasons why jewelry buyers opt for custom jewelry instead of buying standard ready made jewelry.

The main reasons for ordering custom made jewelry would include the following:

(1) Requirement of a very specific design that is not common and popular: A family ring would be a good example of custom jewelry. A buyer who loves cats and dogs might want to have a ring that shows a cat and a dog sitting next to each other on the same ring. The probability of getting standard jewels of this type is slim and custom jewelry is the only option.

(2) A design that is a combination of other designs: Buyers often come up with requirements that can combine certain features of two or three rings into one single ring. The texture from one ring might be combined with the gemstone mounting of another. When such specific requirements are revealed, custom made jewelry can deliver the exact results required.

(3)Requirement of high end craftsmanship: Standard mass produced jewelry does not have the kind of high end craftsmanship that is expected for custom jewelry. On the other hand custom jewelry is almost always produced in single pieces and requires individual attention from skilled craftsmen. Most of the work for custom jewelry is done by hand and perfect handfinishing is provided.

(4) The need for large sized jewelry: You might find the perfect ring of your dreams, the design and gemstones could be exactly what you want however, your ring size might not be available. The choice in such a case is to order custom jewelry that is specifically made to your size requirement.

Here is some advices on buying custom jewelry:

(1) Good gemstones for the price paid: Mass produced jewelry are normally produced with medium to low quality gemstones. This is done in a bid to keep prices down and cater to low priced markets. Very often reject quality gemstones are used and gemstone defects are sought to be covered up with cleverly designed mountings. Ensure that the gemstones used in your custom jewelry are the best quality for the price paid.

(2) Good Gold Weight: Your custom jewelry should have a good weight. This is helpful in more ways thank one. Firstly, the good weight will ensure that your custom jewelry does not bend and twist at the slightest excuse. The good gold content will also allow the gemstones to be firmly mounted and also protect the edges and corners of the gemstone from side impact.

(3) Highend Craftsmanship: Custom jewelry is individually made in single pieces and is therefore more expensive as compared to standard mass produced jewelry. Good quality custom jewelry needs expert craftsmen and most of the work is handmade. The details on the custom jewel should be handfinished and perfect. Insist in getting the best craftsmanship for the premium price you pay for custom jewelry.

(4) Choice of Gold and Gemstones: Select your choice of 14k or 18k gold for your custom jewelry. There is also the choice of white gold or yellow gold to be made and make sure that your jeweler gives you this choice. Many jewelers push buyers into ordering 18k gold for custom jewelry. The reason is simple, 18k gold is more expensive and provides better profit margins to the seller. The second reason is that 18k gold is softer as compared to 14k gold and therefore more easier to work with. These reasons do not always make 18k gold good for you. There are some cases where the hardness of 14k gold is a better choice. This could be the case for male rings and also rings that have a fine and delicate design.

(5) Long Term Durability: Get complete design details of your custom jewelry and ask for comments of the seller. The gemstone mounting, gold weight and design details will all work together to decide the durability of your custom jewelry. A good jeweler will provide complete guidance and advice before you make the buying decision. If your jeweler seems over eager about pushing you to order without complete information, get another jeweler.

(6) Design Flexibility: Since custom jewelry is supposed to be specially made, you should have the option to request for any design modifications that you need. There should be no limitation on this and a good custom jeweler should allow you to send in your own designs to be custom made too. A jeweler who tries to restrict design flexibility is most likely trying to sell you a standard jewel as a custom jewel. All you end up getting is a higher price. Watch out for such gimmicks and avoid such jewelers.

(7) Value The Jeweler: Not all jewelry buyers are experts, few buyers have in-depth knowledge about gemstones and various jewelry design technics. In most cases you would have to rely on the advice of your jeweler so, get one that you can trust. Spend time reading the feedback from customers of your jeweler, this would point to important information regarding the capability of your jeweler. It is rightly said that, in the case of custom jewelry you need to value the jeweler before you value the jewelry.

Buying Silver Jewelry

Silver is very soft metal in its pure form so it is mixed with some alloys so that it can be moulded in Jewelry and other widgets.

The allergy that occurs by wearing original or artificial jewelry is referred as Nickel dermatitis or Contact dermatitis or Nickel allergy.

It is basically a contact allergy. It can happen anytime at any age. Every single human body reacts to different degree with nickel depending upon the tolerance and susceptibility level.
The main cause of these allergies is the nickel content present in the gold and silver ornaments.
Pure gold and silver metal are too soft to be mounted into any form therefore, jeweler mix nickel, zinc and copper into the pure metal to make it little hard enabling to give the desired shape to the metal.
Zinc and copper do not harm the skin but skin is always sensitive to nickel. People wearing jewelries are allergic to nickel and not with the Jewelry Gold itself is reactive and causes allergy but, mostly nickel is the main reason. Gold of any karat would contain nickel like 14K, 18K etc. In the same way silver is also mixed with nickel and copper to attain hardness and durability required to make the jewelry items.

Nickel is commonly used for gold and silver jewels as it costs less, gives better hardness and has strong lustrous effect.
Another reason for the allergy is sweat. During the sunny days, when jewelry is worn for a longer duration, skin perspires under the jewelry. This perspiration comes in the contact with the jewelry metal, dissolves the nickel present in the metal and form nickel salts. Salt reacts with the skin and leads to the allergy. Women suffer more with this allergy than men.

The Symptoms of these Allergies are :

[1] Bleeding.
[2] Pierced hole in ear or nose swells and yellow coloured liquid known as pus comes out.
[3] There is a constant itching and burning sensation around the area where the skin comes in direct contact with the jewelry item. For example – Gold chain in the neck, earrings in the ear etc.
[4] Few people get a blue coloured patch in their finger, which is visible after the ring is removed. And also skin discolouration takes place.
[5] Rashes or patchy red marks appear on the skin under the jewelry.

Being extra cautious while taking bath or washing hands can avoid these problems. Always ensure to wipe off the soap and water from the body fully.
To protect the fingers from the allergies, apply several coats of clear or transparent nail polish at the back of the ring. In same way nail polish can be applied to other jewelry items too. The problem of allergies will be solved.

Few other precautions that can be taken to avoid allergy are – apply talcum powder before wearing the jewelry to prevent the moisture. Do not wear tight earrings or rings or chains, leave little space so that air passes through it. These precautions and care the allergy can be avoided and they can continue to look good by wearing the fascinating jewelry items.

If you are concerned about the jewelry you already own, you can test it for the presence of nickel. Just ask your pharmacist or dermatologist for a "nickel testing" kit. Test your jewelry risk free from damage.

If you own any gold pieces less than 12 carats, chances are it contains nickel.
There is a simple and inexpensive solution to your jewelry allergies...wear Sterling Silver that is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper alloy.

For those who are nickel sensitive, fine silver and sterling silver are great choices for "white" metals.

2008 CMT Music Awards

Monday’s CMT Country Music Awards showcased a boat load of celebrities from all over the entertainment industry!

With Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift dominating the winner’s circle, the evening was packed with rockin’ tunes and celebrity style!

Some great fashion hit the red carpet for this star filled night, from a beautifully pregnant Nicole Kidman in a red braided YSL gown to the stunning LeAnn Rimes in a silver Julia Clancey flapper dress. Check out Miss Rimes and cz stud earrings!

I’m a big fan of Faith Hill and I got chills during her performance at the show…especially when her and hubby Tim McGraw kissed…. Faith is always stunning, especially with her great taste in cubic zirconia hoop earrings!

The CMT Awards may not be for everyone, but you’d be missing out on some great celebrity fashion if you didn’t watch it!

2008 Cannes Film Festival Opening

The 2008 Cannes Film Festival kicked off in Southern France with all the heavy hitters of the film industry making their appearances.

The festival is a great way to see an array of fashion from all over the world. From chic and classy to the most horrific, the Cannes Festival has it all!

Among the fabulous were Mischa Barton, Natalie Portman, and Cate Blanchett. All wearing exquisite dresses and flashy jewelry!

You gotta love the stars and their accessories, though! Cate Blanchett’s stunning circle crop earrings can easily be found with cubic zirconia stones.

Eva Longoria was flashing some bling on her fingers at the festival’s opening too! Now I know you can easily get the same effect with a simple cz ring. Oh! And how could you miss Mischa’s gorgeous sapphire drop necklace?

All in all, I think it was a great start to a glamorous event. I’m excited to see what else will pop up during the rest of the festival. I hope to see some more great fashions and possibly some unique silver jewelry.

Custome Jewelry

There is virtually no difference between costume jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume Jewelry dates back to the 1930s. By the definition of antique that would also make it antique jewelry. However, most jewelry experts have come to agree that antique jewelry predates the 1930s.

Costume Jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap disposable jewelry meant to be worn with a specific outfit, but not meant to be handed down through generations. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, out date itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit purchase, or with a new fashion style. It became available in large quantities during the 30s.

Cheap jewelry also existed prior to the 1930s. Paste or glass jewelry as far back as the 1700s. The rich had their fine jewelry duplicated for a variety of reasons, using paste or glass stones.
By the mid 1800s with the growth of the middle class there were now different levels of jewelry being manufactured using fine, semi-precious and base materials. Fine jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems such as emeralds and saphires continued to be made. Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin layer of gold attached to a base metal, entered the market for the middle class. This jewelry was often set with semi-precious gems such as amethyst, coral or pearls, and was much more affordable. And then there was jewelry that most anyone could afford, consisting of glass stones and base metals made to look like gold. All three types were intended to be passed down to future generations.

There are usually clues that can help one identify what era a piece of jewelry is from. Style, material, the type of piece. For example dress clips came in in the 1930s and were out of style by the 1950s. Jewelry reflects styles, designs, colors and stones of the era. For example from 1910 to 1930 silver was the favorite color for metal, so jewelry was found in platinum, white gold, silver or a base metal colored to look like silver. By World War II, gold was popular again but in short supply, since it was vital to the war effort. What gold was available was made into very thin sheets and usually bonded to silver (called vermeil) before being turned into jewelry. By the 1930s rhinestones popularity was ever increasing in Europe. It was not available to the Americans until the 1940s. As a result, many of the pieces from this period tend to feature lots of metal and a single stone or a small cluster of tiny rhinestones.

Today is certainly not much different from past times. We still have fine jewelry, semi precious jewelry, and of course costume jewelry available to us.
Costume jewelry can add the finishing touch and show your fashion sense. Costume Jewelry styles of past years are now becoming very fashionable and many are being reproduced. Even with costume jewelry there is a difference in quality. Many of the new pieces do not have the vibrance in the stones or the weight of the older pieces.

Antique and vintage costume jewelry are both fun to collect and fun to wear. No longer is costume jewelry simply "collectable." It is "in style, and" "fashionable," and a terrific conversation starter. Dress to impress!

Wholesale Sterling Silver Jewelry

Q.) How Do I Start A Jewelry Store?

A.) It is hard to estimate how much money any store will bring in, so in relative terms you should always start small and work your way up. We were in retail for 8 years, traveling and vending from place to place and what we have learned is, the more stuff you carry, the more sales you make. But try not to start to small, $100 dollars of sterling silver is not going to get you too far. You are actually going to need around $2000 to get a good start and go up from there.

Q.)Just starting to carry jewelry?

A.) There are a few factors you have to consider.
1.) What is your market.
2.) Who will be buying from you.
Lets explore your possibilities. If you are considering getting a mall store, then your market will consist of mainly 16-50 years old. (this is just an assumption) You will want to carry something for everyone, which means a lot of money to start your store, right? WRONG ! All you need to do is carry the basics. Never pick for your yourself, because what you like, many customers may not. Example: You may like big bulky jewelry, that is bold and makes a statement. That may be fine for some people, but in our travels, Most people are not looking for that. They are looking for simple or elegant, not flashy and showy. Keep it simple.

Q.) What should I carry?

A.) It is really difficult when first starting out to get everything you want to carry. We have discovered that the basics that sell well first is always Earrings, Bracelets, Pendants, Necklaces, Charms, and Chains. The reason for this is that, all these items except, bracelets and chains, you do not need to know the persons size in order to sell them. If you are going to sell rings , you need every size from small to large. Don't think that everyone that is going to come into your store is going to be your size. The average size for rings these days is a 7, but that is for a ring finger and most women already have that one covered. So you either need bigger for a middle finger or smaller for a pinkie finger. That is why when you are selling rings you need every size from 5 through 10 if possible. Also don't forget the men. Men's rings are real popular too especially the spin rings and design bands. Men's fingers generally range from a size 9 through size 13.

Tips For Caring Gemstone Jewelry

The world is full of rocks and minerals. It is an amazing art that how some of these natural rocks are cutted and polished into a brilliant gemstone. There are specialized persons who convert the rough rocks into brilliant gemstones. There are many different types of gemstones such as Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Topaz amongst many. All of these require specific care and cleaning procedures. However, there are some general care and cleaning rules which apply to all gemstone jewelry.

- Gemstones are always wiped with soft cloth. Take a clean soft cloth, moisten it a bit and clean your gemstone. This will enhance the luster and ensure that your prized possession of jewelry/gemstone is always clean.

- Avoid having grease paints on the gemstone. Your fingers are the main source of having grease stones.

- Store gemstones and jewelry individually in soft pouches.

- Do not use harmful chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners, solvents to clean opaque gemstones, such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli and opals. They are a porous stone and may absorb chemicals, which build up inside the stone and cause discoloration.

- Apply makeup, hairsprays, perfumes, deodorants etc before putting on jewelry. The gemstones do not like too much of chemical interference on their body.

- Do not heat/coolen your gemstone jewelry. You may be surprised to know how discoloring can happen if gemstones are subjected to large temperature changes.

- Do not immerse setting jewelry in water. The setting may loosen as a result of this.

- Do not expose gemstones to salt water, abrasive solvents or detergents. These chemicals will erode the finish and polish of gemstone.

- Avoid wearing gemstone jewelry while doing heavy duty works. Some stones like garnet etc. are brittle in nature and can get damaged.

- Do not try to adjust your gemstone in the setting manually. You are not an expert and chances are you may get two broken pieces in hand.

- If you have a worn out gemstone, take it to an expert for re-polish. A few dollars investment here will elongate your gemstone jewelry's life and will give it a new look.