Bead Boulevard

Who wouldn't like to keep silver jewelry sparkling? Caring for your silver jewelry is not all that tough. Have you ever thought about the various ways in which you can care for your silver jewelry? Well, if you have not seriously thought about it, it must have definitely crossed your mind at some point in time. It is not all that complex, all you have to do is keep it as dry as you can. Silver by itself gets discolored gradually. There are a few jewelers that refer to the tarnish as patina. The tarnishing takes place when copper is added to the alloy. You must have heard of sterling silver, well it consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Did you know that copper oxidizes rather easily when it is...

Native Indian jewelry, especially of the Navajo and Zuni variety,is generating increasing interest for its beautiful and stunning design and workmanship. It is based on a tradition that is not that long, going back to about the middle of the 19th century. The emphasis here is on the silverwork that is employed in the making of the jewelry. There is a fascinating history which is worth looking into. It is an American legacy of the native Indians, from the time of the Spanish Conquest. So in that sense it is a tradition that goes back to the founding times of America. Native American Indian jewelry was, and is, generally classified into two main types - beadwork and metalwork. Beadwork has a longer...

Standing with you at your wedding are those most close to you. What gift do you give to a person who's meant so much to you in your life? It's always best to make it personal. The customary thing to do is to give the people who will be standing with you a unique and personal gift to show them how much you've appreciated the time and attention they've spent to make your special day. The wedding day will be focused on the bride and groom. The gifts are meant as a 'thank you'. Traditionally, gifts are given to the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, ring bearer and parents of the bride and groom. There are a few traditional gifts for each individual wedding helper. You must remember that the best gift...

Proper care and storage of your sterling silver jewelry means you will have many years of pleasure and your jewelry will continue to look like new. Sterling silver will tarnish over time and with a little care will continue to look beautiful. With some pieces, you may even wish to leave some "color" to enhance the contrasts or aged appearance of your jewelry Types of Cloths/Brushes Because sterling silver is a relatively soft metal, it will scratch easily. For best results use only use only soft, lint-free 100% cotton cloth. Terry cloth, synthetic fabrics or any coarse cloth may cause fine surface scratches which will trap tarnish, dirt and polish. This will cause your jewelry to lose its luster...

Rings are a very popular form of jewelry!  They can represent many things from culture, a commitment such as marriage, an achievement, or even a religious standard. Rings became popular during the medieval times. In those days they were made of silver, gold, copper and even iron. Jewels did not start appearing in rings until around the fourteenth century. It was fun to learn about the history of rings. Early Christians used a Greek symbol that looks like a fish, the formal name being the Icthus, to identify themselves among other believers. I especially enjoyed the story of how the engagement ring came about. There was an Irish man from Claddagh which is a fishing...

Before wristwatches became ubiquitous in our society, pocket watches were the standard for personal timekeeping. The first pocket watch is thought to have been made in Germany towards the end of the fifteenth century. Bearing a close resemblance to the traditional clock, early pocket watches operated in very much the same manner as their clock cousins. A deviation from traditional clock designs, pocket watches used the combination of a mainspring, hairspring and a balance wheel. This is in contrast to traditional clock designs that used a swinging pendulum and counter weights. Like today's wristwatches, pocket watches consist of two main components, the inner works and a metal case. Many different...

Of all the gems and stones available, a crystal is one of the most significant and popular one, that has been used for more than one reason. It has been chiefly used for cosmetic and decoration purposes. And apart from that, it has been used in future predictions, for healing people of various health related problems and also to make living conditions better. But all this is based on the different beliefs and perceptions towards life, of different people. Here we are going to look at the cosmetic uses of crystal. Crystals can be your key to razzle dazzle, shine and glitter. To add some life and spice to yourself for that 'oh-so-special' evening party, the ball dance party or the corporate party, you...

Before soldering there are three factors which must be considered. The design must lend itself to soldering, parts to be soldered must fit closely and accurately and the correct solder and flux must be used. Solders are typically classified according to their melting points - easy, medium and hard. This therefore refers to the ease of melting the solder. Hence an easy grade solder melts before a hard grade one. This can be used where a sequence of joints are to be made. Usually a solder must conform to the same hallmarking rules as the metal being joined - for example, a 9ct solder must contain at least 37.5% gold. However, there are some concessions such as Platinum Solders and some white gold...

The Hamsa Hand (Arabic) or Hamesh Hand (Hebrew) is an ancient and a renowned lucky amulet for magical protection from the resentful or evil eyes. The term "Hamsa" or "Hamesh" means "five" and denotes the fingers of the hand. Another Islamic name for this lucky charm is the Hand of Fatima, in reference to the daughter of Mohammed. Another Jewish name for it is the Hand of Miriam, referring to the sister of Moses and Aaron. The Hamsa Hand appears in a two-thumbed fixture of joint symmetrical form, or in a more creative form containing only one thumb. A good archaeological proof implies that the downward-pointing protective Hamsa/Hamesh hand predates both Islam and Judaism. However, many Hamsa Hands...

The Dan Kasoff Company first began to produce jewelry in the 1930's; however, the name Florenza was first used in 1948. The company ceased operation in 1981. Florenza jewelry has a style and design all his own, easily identifiable. Antique looking settings give the jewelry a Victorian look. Florenza always used the highest quality materials and rhinestones. He also used the large beautiful stones as the center piece in his designs and rhinestones an inch or larger were also common. More so than just a designer of vintage jewelry, Florenza made picture frames and trinket boxes to jeweled pillboxes and pincushions. The Florenza mark on back of his jewelry pieces is in script with the copyright...

A great deal of silver jewellery available today is called 925 silver. Have you ever wandered why we in the jewellery trade add the number 925 in front of sterling silver? Before you part with your hard-earned money buying jewellery for yourself, or as a gift for someone else, it is worth finding out what exactly 925 silver is. Furthermore, it is important to understand why you must always insist that your silver jewellery is up to the high 925 standard. Before we look at what 925 silver is, we must first consider the properties of this fascinating metal. Pure silver is extremely malleable and therefore can easily damage. It also softens over time, even at room temperature. Obviously, in this state...

If you want to make your own jewelry at home as a hobby, you need to find your own jewelry making supplies online so you can put together the trinkets you want without spending a lot of money. Handmade jewelry is the most beautiful you can own because it's made by a caring person - and it's a piece of art. Luckily, jewelry making supplies are easy to find on the Internet. Simply do a search for "jewelry making supplies" and you should come across tons of sites that sell exactly what you need for low prices. In fact, if you're into making handmade jewelry, you'll have more choice than you'd expect, and will need to take some time sifting through the different stores and their wares. It's easy and...

If you decide for a classic and traditional look on an engagement ring you can opt for a diamond with a gold band. But to add a little twist to it, you can choose a white gold diamond engagement ring. White gold is actually the result of an alloy that is added with a white metal. This metal may be palladium or nickel and this gives it the white and slight yellow tinge to it. Like gold, white gold is also measured in carats. The best carat for making a white gold diamond engagement ring is 18 carat white gold which is combined with palladium, meanwhile a 14 carat white gold will not have the enough strength to hold precious stones thus; it can be used for other types of jewelry like for plain...

Profit demands are reducing the sources for quality wholesale custom sterling silver jewelry manufacturers daily. Some now prefer to produce the more lucrative gold jewelry and most of the others will only accept very large orders. is one of the few quality wholesale custom sterling silver jewelry manufacturers that will produce small quantities of custom designs at a reasonable price. Quality wholesale custom sterling silver jewelry manufacturing starts with good craftsmanship and materials. The basic information needed to create wholesale custom sterling silver jewelry are the designs, the volume of the order, the metal weight and, for the manufacturer to properly calculate silver weight and cost...

Wedding is the most important moment in everyone's life. Talk of wedding and the next thing you would remember is a wedding ring. It is used as a part of the wedding ritual. Exchanging a wedding ring is a symbolic representation of a bond between the couple. The moment when the ring is exchanged is very important and dear to the couple. Most of the couples exchange and engagement ring at the time of the engagement. Thus after the marriage the wedding ring is worn along with the engagement ring. The wedding ring is usually worn on the base of left ring finger. In some countries of the world it is worn on the right ring finger also. A wedding ring is also known as a wedding band. It is always made of...

Congratulations-You are getting married! Now that you have begun your search for the wedding ring of your dreams, you have some decisions to make, starting with the choice of metal. Titanium is the perfect choice for a wedding ring today. No other item of jewelry has played such important role in demonstrating affection as the wedding ring. Of the precious metals used to create wedding rings, titanium has merits that supersede gold or platinum in its beauty, quality and value that make it an ideal choice as the symbol of your love. Why a Titanium Wedding Ring? While titanium has been known to us for many years, it was originally used in aerospace and salt water projects, becoming widely used in...

Myths and legends have always brought more glamour to gemstones. Though mineralogy has a lot to do with the decision of buying jewelery, the mystery that surrounds their stones or metal makes them even more attractive. Let's take for example an alexandrite ring. What can make a woman want such a jewel? The reasons why a woman should have alexandrite rings in her collection of jewels are many and, trying to explain, will be a very interesting journey through time and beliefs. The discovery of the alexandrite is very important for any alexandrite ring owner because, by knowing its history and characteristics, true value can be apreciated. Alexandrite rings with original gemstones are very rare and...

Custom designed jewelry came into existence as far back as the 1800s. In some cases today, some of these old techniques have been modified and are still being used. However, after the introduction of computer technology, and along with a technique called Computer Aided Design, custom designed jewelry has a new standard or level. With the help of CAD and Computer Aided Manufacturing, designs that were not even imagined, can now be created with ease. Along with excellent designs, using these techniques has helped to provide customers with more choices of design and ultimately higher quality products. Are you familiar with the process of making custom designed jewelry? This process is called lost wax...

Did you know that silver is one of the precious metals? A precious metal is by definition rare and has high worth economically. It is scarce but it is the most available of all the precious metals and it is also the most affordable. To me, that makes silver one of the best investments a person could make. Whether it is in the actual investing of the stock market or in pieces of jewelry, it is a smart and solid choice to go with. Silver can signify a status or wealth. It is simply elegant by itself or enhances its worth when combined with other gemstones. It goes with the flow of the fashion trends and the constant changing of styles. There is rich history not only the value of silver monetarily but...

Daily Market Commentary for August 12, 2008 from Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher added to the negative sentiment when he commented that the U.S. economy was in a prolonged period of slow growth and could shrink further, later this year. U.S. trade deficit surprisingly shrank in June and adds one more piece of evidence that we are, in fact in a recession. (read more) At the NYSE closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange, here is how the major world indices and major U.S. stock indices ended the session on the world market as well as the emerging markets including the stock market closing bell price: DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) triple digit loss of 139.96 points on...

If perfect timing is a gift successful entrepreneurs have naturally, consider Michael H. Gusky naturally gifted. The Weston-based businessman, who last year sold his leading gold jewelry manufacturing company, Aurafin, to billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, launched online gold buyer GoldFellow on Feb. 6. This came just as the price of gold was hitting historic highs and consumers were paying more attention to it. During March, his Web site reported 43,000 visitors. Gusky's idea is to offer consumers a fast, more secure way to sell their gold, platinum and silver; pay better than most competitors; and boost business by educating people about the cash potential in gold jewelry...

Adorning the body with gold is a sensual experience. Gold jewelry for body piercing is extremely popular today, a revival from a long history from the earliest humans on earth. Whether your interest in body piercing stems from the desire to be fashionable, as a status symbol or to heighten your sexual enjoyment, popular demand has increased the number of piercing studios and choices in gold body jewelry. Today's body piercing evolved from different cultures across the globe. This ancient art could well be the most widely practiced form of body adornment. It was also practiced by the Romans who saw nipple piercing as a sign of courage, in addition to using them to attach their cloaks. The Kama Sutra...

Tacori Engagement Rings Tacori is considered as a pacesetter in the design and formation of the premium platinum bridal ornaments. Even after 25 years, Tacori continues to make every effort to create the platinum jewelry of superior class. Tacori platinum nuptial costume jewelry prove to be something more than a mere fashion statement. It emphasizes your astute taste and fashion sense. Tacori stands for unbending eminence and eternal value, thus goes beyond just style. Although others may try, none can match up to the excellence of the Tacori jewelries, because only Tacori promises the precision of contents. Tacori designers are recurrently making fashionable collections formed from only the...

Necklaces and pendants in the sterling silver variety certainly wouldn't serve much use without chains. Which is why an assortment of sterling silver chains-some can even worn by themselves-to help replace lost or broken sterling silver chains to continue to wear favorite sterling silver necklaces and pendants. Rolled silver and multi-strand necklaces to silk chords to bali chains are all part of the beautiful array of sterling silver jewelry. Humans have created jewelry for generations. There is a vast collection of necklaces, pendants and chains worn for traditional, religious or social purposes. These pieces of jewelry can normally come in many forms, adorned on any clothing or part of the body...

WHAT TYPE OF DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING SETTING IS BEST? Diamonds can be set into a ring in many different ways. You options may include:- - Cluster setting; An array of stones set around a centre stone. - Channel setting; A row of stones set into a channel cut out of a ring shank. - Multistone setting;Two or more stones set in a ring. - Pavé setting; Numerous small diamonds are set close together into the metal and secured by beads of metal to create a glistening surface. - Solitaire; A single stone set into a ring shank - Prong setting; A number of metal prongs hold a stone in place - Rub-over setting; The stone is set into a collar of metal by "rubbing" over a thin layer of metal onto the stone...

People, particularly women love jewelries. They admire it, wear it and they would always feel beautiful while flaunting it. All types of jewelry need to be taken care of to maintain that glow and luster. Though durable and strong, these pieces of accessories are exposed to a lot of things daily that can make it dull and old. Now, how do you make them beautiful and sparkling for many years to come? Below are some tips you should follow to make your jewelry looking at its best always. Tip #1: Make it a habit to clean your jewelries There are many jewelry cleaners and polishers available in the market. Nevertheless, when you choose a cleaner, make sure that these cleaners are specially made for the...

In today's business world, flexibility is one of the smartest ways to success, especially for small and mid-size businesses. A large business may have enough total resources and leverage to make it on a few core services, but smaller businesses almost always need to be able to diversify in order to survive. In order to allow a reasonable amount of flexibility for the company, one will need to apply that flexibility in each separate area of their business, not only including the capabilities of your employees, but also the very layout of their offices. This type of all around flexibility will allow one's business to adjust in whatever ways a certain situation may go. One of the easiest ways to...

This week the focus of our blog is going to be on that ever so popular metal known as silver. It is extremely desired these days in the jewelry industry and its value has tripled in the past few years. We will cover the history of silver, the popular uses for it especially within the jewelry industry, its value, and finally we will show case how Gilbert and Frech incorporates silver into their unique designs. The history of silver dates all the way back to 4,000 BC. Anatolia, which happens to be known as modern Turkey these days, was considered to be one of the first major sources to mine. Its influence and value spread quickly into Western Cultures particularly in Asia Minor as well as the Greek...

Discovery of silver The discovery of metals to leave the great leap forward for human civilization. The first to be discovered were the native metals such as gold, silver and copper that occurs naturally in a pure form. "As each metal was discovered, the companies were transformed." Silver occurs as ductile, twisted, branching masses of metal that native silver tarnish the gray and black, or silver sulfide as argentite. It is found most often combined with the sulfides of lead, copper and zinc (galena, sphalerite, and Calcopirita). In its native form, as usually occurs silver star-shaped or tree-like clusters, the dendrites and wire-like forms, or as compact masses. It is occasionally crystallizes...

One of the worse things that can happen is seeing beloved handmade rings become permanently damaged when it was totally preventable. Silver and gold rings should be cared for with the same care that they were produced with, so they can last a lifetime. To avoid having to explain to mother why the handmade gold ring that has been passed down for generations is ruined, there are simple steps that should be followed. The first steps to caring for silver rings and gold rings is to protect them from begin scratched, dented, chemically damaged or warped from extreme hot and cold. People should store their handmade rings separately and remove them when doing things like gardening and cleaning. A handmade...

Whatever Happened to Winding? Depending on your age, you may or may not remember seeing your father wind his watch each night before going to bed. If he did not, he would surely wake to a watch that had stopped. Those days became history with the advent of the automatic watch. What makes it automatic? It still has the same basic mechanism to keep the watch working, but how that mechanism is powered changed the way we cared for our watches. All mechanical watches work in a similar manner. They require a movement of a series of gears to "tick" of increments of time, which in turn registers as movements of the hands on the face of the watch. A rotor in the watch sits on a staff in the middle of the...