Care For Your Jewelry

You have to remove your jewelry whenever you are doing activities that are risky. These activities may cause an impact or expose the jewelry to chemicals. Don't wear your jewelry when you're playing sports or doing house hold chores.

If you have rings that can't be removed and you have to use strong cleaning products, particularly those with an Ammonia base, you can protect it (as well as your skin) by wearing gloves made of rubber. Rings and bracelets are jewelry that are often worn, earrings and necklaces are also prone to damages from chemicals, especially whenever they are worn while putting make-up, spraying fragrances and spritzing hair products.

A jeweler can also restring your pearl necklaces every two years. This should be done if it is your favorite jewelry. You can also clean your jewelry yourself by using mild and warm water with a soapy solution. Use a soft brush in cleaning the edges. Dry them using a soft cloth.

Be mindful of the loose clasps and gems before you wear your jewelry. You wouldn't want the stones dropping off. Neither would you want to lose the entire thing when you're walking down the street.

Don't pull the stones. Some women who wear jewelry pull on the stones whenever they are bored; just so their fingers have something to do. Well, this practice results to the gemstones being more prone to oil, dirt and sweat. You may even risk these because you loosen the setting on the metal.

It is also not advisable to store your jewelry in one big pile. This will cause the metal and the gems to scratch one another. Store your jewelry in separate sections. Wrap them in paper, silk or velvet. Put them in a jewelry box.

Here is a quick run-through on how to clean common gems:

1. Alexandrite
Clean using soapy water or commercially available products. The best is alcohol. You can also resort to mechanical cleaners.

2. Aquamarine
Steer clear of chemical cleaners and heat. These shouldn't be cleaned frequently as well. Use a soapy solution.

3. Diamond
Chemical and mechanical cleaners are said to be safe, but they should be avoided when cleaning diamonds because the stone could be fractured. Rinse the diamond dry and well after using a soapy solution.

4. Emerald
Don't use mechanical and chemical cleaners. It will only dissolve oils during the cleaning process. Emeralds must be cleaned using soapy water. Have a jeweler re-oil the gem once every year.

5. Garnet
Just use soapy water.

6. Jade
Soapy water is the best, safest and easiest solution. You can also resort to mechanical cleaners, just steer clear of the chemical ones.

7. Opal
Wipe the stone after every use with a slightly damp pr dry cloth. Do not wash or scrub hard.

8. Peridot
Don't use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Just use soapy water.

9. Ruby
Use soapy water or the cleaning solvents that are commercially available. Mechanical cleaners are also safe but these should be avoided because it may affect the clarity of the ruby.

10. Sapphire
Use soapy water and cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners are also safe but when these are used, they may affect the sapphires clarity.

11. Spinel
Use soapy water and the commercial cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners are to be avoided because these affect the clarity of the spinel.

12. Tanzanite
Don't use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Just use soapy water.

13. Topaz
Same with tanzanite, don't use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Soapy water is fine.

Caring for Your Pearls
Pearls are quite durable. Proper care keeps them lustrous and even more beautiful. Here are some general tips in doing so.

1. Wipe the pearls using a damp warm cloth. This removes dirt and body oils which harm the original color of the pearl. Do this before you put them away.

2. Pearls must be stored away from other jewelry and objects. Keeping them close to such could scratch the surface. Wrap them in soft cloth or linen and put them in pouches. Don't store your pearls in packages that are air tight because they might lose their moisture.

3. Wash them using mild soap and wipe them dry with soft cloth. You can use also use acetone polish remover.

Rarity is determined by the gem's color

If there is one appealing aspect of gemstones that up to this moment continuously lures women to be inclined toward it, that would be its bedazzling sparkle and exquisite colors. Among all gemstones the precious stones are the most dazzling of them all which includes sapphires, emeralds and rubies.

The aforementioned gemstones are popular due to their striking colors such as blue, red and green. While sapphires among the three other gemstones have other variety in terms of its color, which includes yellow, green and pink.

Nonetheless, all gemstones have their own respective appealing color which adds to its daintiness. As an example, we may take the pearls which have several colors like pink, red and white while aquamarine is known for being bluish green. The amethyst for that matter is known for being stained with the shades of purple, while garnets are known to be green, purple and red. Gems also have other color variations like red, green and blue.

Your desire matters

An exceptional advantage that is offered by gemstones to its clients is that they have all the freedom to select the color which they prefer. In line to that, most of the gems that are intense and richest in terms of its color merit higher market value as compared to others. This is the very reason why other gemstones even though it is of the same kind has different price depending on its color.

For instance the emerald is known for its various shades of green, however the most famous color is the bluish green which also happens to be the most expensive kind.

Finding treasure

If you think that those adorable gemstones are beautiful from the very start then you are wrong, because when they are located inside the mines they might probably end up on long list of your most precious objects. The beauty of the gem only is discovered after it is polished and cut out by the stores which are to sell these gems to the public.

The richer the color of the stone the more precious it is. But of course once it undergoes the proper polishing measures, its sparkle also contributes to its potential market value. However, you ought to be reminded that the stones of the richest colors are very rare, which results to the lessening of the client's standards and leads them to settle for gems with lighter colors.

Rejuvenating the lost sparkle

Women should realize that wearing those shining crystals every single day leads to the loss of the crystal's glint. So now we must face the reality that, most women prefer Swarovski crystal jewelry because they are known for having only the best quality. As you are searching for the ideal jewelry for you, it is normal to be lured by the eye-catching glint of a Swarovski crystal.

But you ought to be informed that wearing these beautiful crystals most of the time tends to make them appear to be monotonous, which deviates from the same sparkle that it had the day you brought it home. On the net you will be able to find several tips on how to find the most attractive jewelry of them all; however there are only a handful of tips on how to maintain the brilliance of those treasures.

Damaging factors

Unknown to most of us, what snatches the beauty of our treasures are basically those things that we put on to nurture ourselves. To remind you, those include lotions, hairsprays, make-up and sometimes the oil from our own skin that might rest on the face of our treasure might just dampen the brightness of our Swarovski crystal jewelry which is the very reason for its exclusivity.

Keeping the beauty

Moving on to the good news, you won't really need to spend too much in maintaining these treasures, because the things that you need in maintaining its brilliance might be already be available in your homes or it could be easily bought from a nearby grocery store.

Of if you have babies, then you are one step higher than the ones who don't because you have those baby wipes at your home. This is the first option for you to take in cleaning your treasure. You only need to wipe or roll back and forth till the crystal gets cleaned.

The next option is to make a solution of rubbing alcohol, water and dish soap. This is probably the easiest option, aside from the fact that it will guarantee your crystals to be free from any kind of abrasions as you remove the hairsprays and oils that have stuck to it.

After knowing those options to clean your treasures, you won't ever need to worry about your crystals losing their original glint.

Tips When Aiming to Buy Rough Diamonds

Diamonds are women's best friends. The most important jewelry and accessories almost always have diamonds as gemstones. Diamonds are known as the hardest substance on the planet. They can't always be cut and broken down easily. Diamonds are used to cut other diamonds.

Aside from that property, diamonds are considered as among the most important elegant substances on earth. The substance isn't an element because it isn't pure, but it is known to be a product of the pressure applied to carbon. Diamonds aren't easily found in mines and it is very rare that explorers and miners are fortunate enough to find diamond mines.

Rough diamonds are diamonds in their unaltered state. Rough diamonds are literally rough because they aren't yet cut and smoothed for jewelry purposes. Jewelers and designers strive to secure and acquire diamonds in their rough state. That is because they will cut the substance according to their design plan. They then shape the rough diamond according to the design and fit the stone to the jewelry they choose.

Jewelers aren't the only people who regular buy rough diamonds. You could also strive to attempt to acquire such items. If you are aiming to customize your diamond jewelry according to your designs and preferred shapes, then, it is high time you buy rough diamonds. Here are some practical tips that will help you when buying rough diamonds on the market.

- Make sure to do transactions with accredited and popular sellers. Rough diamonds are still expensive even if they aren't yet cut and shaped. Thus, expect to shoulder a significant investment on the purchase transaction. You should stay away from suspicious and unreliable sources because you might end up buying fake diamonds.

- Secure experts' advice. If you can take an expert with you while doing the transaction, the better. Experts can easily tell whether the product is genuine or whether the price tag is practical and appropriate.

- Make the legal and necessary actions to ensure that your rough diamond won't be replaced or altered when you bring it to a jeweler for customization.

Rough diamonds aren't yet shaped and smoothed but they have the potential to be pricey. Rough diamonds are good buys because they are cheaper and are more practical. You can do whatever you like with these diamonds.

How to spot an authentic jewelry store

There are so many jewelry stores and almost every store has the same pieces of jewelry. It's almost impossible for an amateur buyer to determine if the store sells authentic jewelry or not. Some stores trick their buyers into buying fake jewelry, so here are some helpful tips in spotting an authentic jewelry store.

Watch for the papers

Authentic jewelry comes with a price for a reason. They are genuine and some are even rare. So if you were to buy a real diamond ring, don't buy it without the essential papers. These authentic pieces of jewelry come with a product registration card and signed certificate of authenticity. Carefully read the papers given to you and look for signs that they are the real thing. Things to watch out for are the signature, stamp, and the quality of the papers given to you.

If the store fails to give you these papers, they might be selling fake or imitation jewelry.

Beware of online stores or eBay

Don't be fooled by the sweet words given to you by online stores or eBay sellers. What they say may be what you might not get. Sure, there really are honest sellers on the Internet, but its tough to take on the risk by buying something you're not sure of. Talking to someone who has bought off the Internet would be a good gauge to finding out if the seller or online store is honest.

Be observant

The appearance of a jewelry store tells a lot about what it has inside. Observation is the key. Look for a security guard in front of the store if it's not inside a mall. The personnel should be well-trained and know what they're talking about. Then look at the pieces of jewelry with a critical eye.

Also determine if the shop is associated with any well-respected organization in the area.

Price relative to the make

Not all pieces of jewelry fetch a high price. Of course, it depends on what its make is or how many carats the diamond has. So if a store is selling a 1-carat diamond for a low price, be suspicious.

Finding authentic jewelry stores may be a big challenge for an amateur, so asking around or consulting a professional jewelry maker will help a lot. There are a lot of shady tactics and strategies in selling someone fake jewelry, so watch out. Don't be lured by words or sweet-nothings, but certainly watch out for these tips in finding an authentic jewelry store.

Handmade Jewelry As A Hobby and Business

What is handmade jewelry and why is it becoming so popular?

Handmade jewelry is made by individuals with the aid of simple tools. To be truly handmade, nothing should be machine made and as such, it is truly unique. The uniqueness is what makes handmade jewelry valuable and popular in this age of mass production and computer aided designs. Handmade jewelry is a work of art.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of handmade jewelry?

Advantages

1. It is unique, no one else has the same item. No two items are alike and there are people who are willing to pay for the uniqueness of handmade jewelry.

2. Generally, more durable than the machine made jewelry. Many who are in the handmade jewelry business are there not just to make money but also to practice something they love doing. Since they love jewelry making, their creations are usually made with the utmost care and dedication.

3. Makes for an interesting conversation piece because there is usually a story behind most handmade jewelry.

4. An expression of one's individualism. There are handmade jewelry pieces that the majority wouldn't care to wear but there are those who see them as an expression of who they are. And since no one else has that item, then the wearer is truly unique.

5. Could be a valuable item in time particularly if the creator becomes a popular artist. This has happened in other art forms where the value of the items go up with their creator's rise to fame. It sometimes pays to invest in really good pieces of art.

Disadvantages

1. More expensive than a mass produced item of almost the same model. This is understandable since everything in a handmade jewelry is really handmade. You can't buy machine-made parts, assemble them manually and consider the finished item as handmade.

2. Requires more time, skill and concentration. Yes, the process is slow and requires the skills of a crafter.

3. The jewelry looks just like the hundreds or thousands that have been mass-produced.

4. Loses its value with time.

Handmade Jewelry as a Business

With the growing popularity of handmade jewelry, there is also a growing demand for it. Since not everyone has the knack for actually making handmade jewelry, this is the time for the hobbyists to become entrepreneurs. Going into business is also a chance to earn doing something you truly enjoy.

Categories of Gemstones

There are many different types of gemstones, and knowing the different categories can help a collector or enthusiast expand his repertoire greatly. Some precious gemstones are so unique in chemical composition and crystalline structure that they fall into their own categories, while others can be collectively lumped into one. Here are the major types of precious and semi precious gemstones:

Diamond - diamond is it's own type of gemstone, and is well known for being the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Diamonds are primarily high-carbon crystals that were fused under extremes of pressure and heat.

Diamonds themselves aren't especially rare, with thousands being mined throughout the world every year; however, large diamonds of high quality are extremely rare, and it is these which are well known for setting the standards of diamond gemstones as the world's most precious stone.

Corundum - this is the second hardest type of gemstone, and is primarily defined as being composed of aluminum oxide and various trace minerals. The trace minerals create different types of corundum, and perhaps the two most well known examples of this type of stone are rubies and sapphires. Rough corundum isn't used as a gemstone, but is used as an industrial strength abrasive element due to it's tough nature.

Chrysoberyl - this is the third hardest gemstone, and while it uses aluminum oxide as a base element like corundums, it has high quantities of beryllium mixed in with it. Appearance wise, chrysoberyls often come in a green to yellow shade, though their appearance is best known for having the tendency to actually change color somewhat under different types of lighting. Cat's eye and alexandrite are two common chrysoberyls used in jewelry.

Quartz - this is actually one of the most common types of mineral in the world and comes in a wide variety of colors. It's main tendency is to form in hexagonal shapes and it makes an excellent prism if unflawed.

The main reason quartz can still be categorized as a valuable gemstone is that, while it IS easy to find quartz stones, finding a large, perfect, and unflawed quartz crystal of jewelry quality is extremely rare. Some examples of quartz gems commonly used in jewelry are onyx, amethysts, citrines, and carnelians.

Beryl - this is a stone well known for it's beauty and has elements in common with both chrysoberyl and quartz. It's basic chemical composition is similar to chrysoberyl, with beryllium and aluminum prevalent but mixed in with other trace elements. It's basic crystalline structure, on the other hand, is closer to quartz, being hexagonal in nature.

At it's simplest, beryl is actually transparent, while it's other colored variants include emeralds and aquamarines. It can come in yellow and red shades as well, and these are referred to as "red" or "yellow" emeralds.

Jade - this is one type of gemstone originally lumped into the same category as beryl. The main reasons for this are because both can be mined in similar places and they possess similar textures, opacity, and appearance (just different colors).

Later on, chemical analysis showed that the elements which made up the different forms of precious jade, namely nephrite and jadeite, were different from beryl completely, thus earning jade it's own category among gemstone collectors. Jade based stones are often composed of calcium and magnesium elements.

Feldspar - this is a unique type of gemstone whose base material is tectonic in nature. It is often found in areas of high geographic instability like earthquake faults and volcanic chains. Feldspar's basic chemical composition is made up of very common elements found deep inside the earth's crust.

What makes it valuable as a gemstone is the same factor that makes a diamond much more valuable than a lump of coal that would normally contain the same elements as diamond. That is, with sufficient heat and pressure applied, the tectonic elements fuse together to make a rare red gemstone known as feldspar.

Organic Gemstones - the most famous examples of this are pearls and amber. Basically, organic gemstones are ones which occur naturally in organic sources as opposed to mineral sources. Pearls are formed from oysters, while amber is a yellow stone formed from fossilized tree sap. While not gemstones per se, organic gemstones are still used heavily in jewelry so are included in this list.