Friday, October 30, 2009

Read this before buying silver jewellery

There are many different names for silver jewellery on the market today. So, what are all these types of silver and what do they mean?

This article will educate you so you understand what the different terminologies are when you are buying Wholesale silver jewelry or silver gemstone jewelry.

What silver?

Silver is a metal which has been used for hundreds of years. Silver is mined from many countries but the biggest producers are Mexico, Peru and Australia.

Silver in its pure form, is normally considered too soft for everyday use. Therefore, other metals are added to the pure silver such as cooper.

The different types of ¡°Silver¡±

Sterling silver is the main type of silver used in jewellery, ornaments & dinnerware today. This is solid silver. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloy.

Sterling silver is hallmarked as ¡°925¡±.

Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and is normally considered too soft to use for most items. It is also solid silver.

Silver plating is common and sometimes dishonest sellers try to pass this off as sterling silver. It¡¯s also call electroplated silver or silver coated as well. Silver plated items are made using a base metal, normally brass or nickel, which is then put through an electroplating process. Electroplating is a process which adheres a very thin layer of pure silver onto the base metal.

The result is a sterling silver looking item at a, much reduced price. It may look like sterling silver but the silver plating tends to wear off quite quickly exposing the less than beautiful base metal.

Alpaca Silvered or German Silver is not actually silver at all. It is a greyish looking alloy which resembles silver. It is sometimes termed nickel silver, paktong, and new silver. It is also used as a base for silver plated items because of its appearance. If you want real silver, stay away from this. Also, beware of sellers selling this as ¡°fashion jewellery¡± to consumers that don¡¯t know the difference between sterling silver and alpaca silver.

Mexican Silver silver is used to describe silver made in Mexico. It must have more than 90% pure silver content to be Mexican silver. Most silver jewellery from Mexico today is actually sterling silver.

Britannia Silver has a pure silver content of 95.85% and no more than 4.16% copper. This silvered is marked in the U.K. and Ireland as "958 silver." It is an even more pure form of silver than sterling silver. Hence it¡¯s higher valuer.

Antiquing of Sterling Silver Jewelry
Antiquing is very common in the silver industry today and is the practice of applying a finishing process to sterling silver to give the item an appearance of age. As well as giving the item an appearance of age, it also helps to produce a contrast which makes the details of intricate designs stand out better.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Design Your Own Ring Online: follow your heart

You don’t have to go downtown to get fine jewelry any more; you can design your own ring online. If you spend a little time researching this important investment, you can have a rewarding experience as exclusive as the love you share with your sweetheart. Browse through your favorite magazine, talk to your friends and shop the windows at the mall to see what you like and you don’t like. Try on different styles. You might not think a piece looks very good on you, only to be surprised at how lovely it is on your hand once you are wearing it. The shape of your hand, the color of your skin, they all affect the appearance of this most special item of jewelry.

Next, educate yourself about the four Cs: carat, color, cut and clarity of diamonds. Learn about flaws and inclusions that can affect the cost and quality of your investment. You might opt out of diamonds and choose something different for your ring. Sapphires are a terrific second choice for an engagement ring and graced the hand of the late Princess Diana. Or, consider an emerald. No one can forget the fabulous green on actress Angelina Jolie at the Oscars earlier this year.

Once you select the stone, learn about all the metals that can hold the ring in place. Platinum and gold in yellow or white are the most popular choices for modern brides. Since you’ve decided to design your own ring online, why limit yourself? Combine any of these metals for a one of a kind creation that speaks to the love you share.

Lastly, ask yourself if you would like to accent your central stone with others. A smaller focal point can be enhanced in a truly sparkly way with smaller stones beside it. These stones can sit on either side, or they can cascade all the way around the band for a fiery display. Make sure you keep your wedding band in mind when you go through this process. Some custom rings might not be compatible with traditional wedding bands. You might consider both of these as you explore all the possibilities when you design your own ring online.

Choosing Jewellery for Women

It is obvious that when a person buys jewelry for a woman, that woman must be special in some way. Generally there is a lot of thought put into the process of choosing jewelry. Also there is a tendency to pour a lot of money into such a gift. But it should be kept in mind that it is not a good idea to buy gifts that are too expensive to afford. The woman who received the gift might not even adorn herself with it if it does not appeal to her.

There are many factors to keep in mind before buying jewelry. An important thing to keep in mind is whether the woman is allergic to certain materials, such as gold or silver. If your gift ends up giving her hand a rash, she will not exactly be pleased with it. Another important consideration is to buy her something she does not already have. Most women possess plenty of diamonds and pearls, and might be happier if given a different gift such as a ruby or a gemstone. Also, many a times, a diamond ring might make her a lot happier than extensive and expensive costume jewelry.

For women of the traditional category, traditional gifts such as a trinity ring or diamond wishbone are generally highly appreciated. The occasion for giving the gift should also be kept in mind. The birth of a child might be celebrated by giving an eternity ring. Various types of gemstones are popular as anniversary or birthday gifts.

It is also necessary to choose jewelry that suits her style of dressing, whether it is contemporary or vintage. Jewelry should also suit the features of a woman. Women with long necks, for example, are better suited to long, chandelier type earrings. Those with shorter necks are fans of short, pretty earrings.

While choosing rings, it is useful to know the diameter of the woman’s finger. This will ensure that the ring fits, and will also determine which type of ring will suit her hand. For example, rings with a sleekly cut diamond transform short, stubby fingers, and make them look longer. But rings with huge diamonds can make the fingers look shorter than they are. In general, intricate, delicate designs should be limited to long, delicate fingers, while large, showy and simple designs should be reserved for thicker fingers, on a larger hand.
Jewelry should also be given in accordance with the woman’s profession, if she is expected to wear the jewelry everyday. Flashy jewelry might look quite out-of-place in certain professions. For example, a judge wearing a diamond tiara would undoubtedly look unusual.