Jewelry Gold and Diamonds - Some Facts About It

People have always adorned themselves with jewelry. From the beginning of recorded time people placed value on certain rocks and minerals, based on how scarce and hard they were to come by, as well as how beautiful they looked.

Jewelry gold and diamonds. Whenever one thinks of jewelry, one usually thinks of gold and diamonds, although of course silver and platinum are also popular metals with which to make jewelry, and along with diamonds there are rubies and emeralds. Diamonds, rubies and emeralds are "precious stones," pearls, also popular, are of course not stones but formed in the shells of various mollusk - as for example the oyster.

But jewelry (gold, diamond, and the like) rules the roost.

The price of gold is really going through the roof right now, although that is not quite as disastrous a fact for the jewelry market as it may be, as gold jewelry is not make from pure gold (24 karat gold) anyway. It can't be - pure gold is too soft and easily bendable. Instead, a percentage of copper is mixed into the gold to create an alloy. 22 karat gold is the most pure gold that can be worked into jewelry, but 10 karat gold jewelry is probably the most common, and of course it still looks beautiful.

Diamonds are a fascinating subject. When diamonds come out of the mines, they look nothing like the diamond you see on a ring or in an earring. Instead, the diamond has to be cut, to reveal its inner brilliance. Most diamonds originate in South Africa and Australia, with much smaller deposits found in only a few other places in the world.

Once the diamonds are removed from the earth, however, they are then sent to Antwerp, where they are cut, ready to be made into jewelry. Interestingly, 80% of the world's diamonds are sold in New York and the rest of the United States.

Gold, Silver And Platinum - They're Not Called 'Precious' Metals For Nothing

When it comes to jewellery, the three most precious metals are silver, gold and platinum - in that particular order. As a soft metal, silver needs to be alloyed with other metals before being made into jewellery, in order to make the metal stronger and more resistant. This small copper content means that silver jewellery is likely to tarnish, so if you're thinking about buying a sterling silver ring or bracelet, it's important to make sure you clean in properly. Further, to make sure the silver jewellery you've bought is high quality, ensure that it's been stamped with a purity mark (like 925) before you buy.

As with silver, gold is a soft metal and so also has to be alloyed with other metals to make it hard enough for jewellery making. Pure gold, for example is yellow, while white gold is gold that has been alloyed with nickel, copper and zinc, and can sometimes look similar to platinum. Generally speaking, platinum jewellery is 90% pure platinum and 10% iridium or palladium alloy. Moreover, jewellery that contains more than 95 per cent pure platinum is marked 'platinum' (950 plat or 950pt), whereas 85 percent pure platinum will be marked 850plat or 850pt. Platinum jewellery is rapidly gaining popularity and other related metals - like palladium and titanium - are, as a result being used with increasing frequency in jewellery-making. 

The Differences Between Gold, Silver, and Platinum Jewelry

Gold is the most popular option for fine jewelry. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold 100% gold. Yellow gold is richer in 18k gold compared to 10k gold. With white gold, the color usually is enhanced using rhodium, a hard and durable plating. Rose gold is mixed with copper which gives it the beautiful pink color.

When properly cared for, gold jewelry can last a lifetime. Gold jewelry should be stored separate from other pieces to avoid scratching. Removing jewelry pieces before strenuous activity can help prevent scratching. Gold can be cleaned with commercial jewelry cleaning products. A soft gold polishing cloth can be used for polishing.

Pure silver, also called fine silver, is soft and easily damaged so it is usually combined with other metals in order to be durable enough for jewelry. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Sterling silver is a good choice for jewelry because of its durability and beauty. Sterling silver can be marked with words such as sterling, sterling silver, ster, or.925 to show the quality

With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. Silver jewelry should be stored in a cloth pouch or separate compartment in your jewelry box to minimize scratches and other damage. Regular cleanings will keep your silver bright and shiny.

Platinum jewelry is most appealing because of its strength and durability. Other metals can wear down over time, but not platinum. It is the strongest of jewelry metals. Most fine jewelry made with platinum is 95% pure platinum with 5% other alloys.

Platinum jewelry is easy to care for. It will need less maintenance than gold or silver due to its durability.

The Differences Between Gold, Silver, and Platinum Jewelry

Gold is the most popular option for fine jewelry. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold 100% gold. Yellow gold is richer in 18k gold compared to 10k gold. With white gold, the color usually is enhanced using rhodium, a hard and durable plating. Rose gold is mixed with copper which gives it the beautiful pink color.

When properly cared for, gold jewelry can last a lifetime. Gold jewelry should be stored separate from other pieces to avoid scratching. Removing jewelry pieces before strenuous activity can help prevent scratching. Gold can be cleaned with commercial jewelry cleaning products. A soft gold polishing cloth can be used for polishing.

Pure silver, also called fine silver, is soft and easily damaged so it is usually combined with other metals in order to be durable enough for jewelry. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Sterling silver is a good choice for jewelry because of its durability and beauty. Sterling silver can be marked with words such as sterling, sterling silver, ster, or.925 to show the quality

With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. Silver jewelry should be stored in a cloth pouch or separate compartment in your jewelry box to minimize scratches and other damage. Regular cleanings will keep your silver bright and shiny.

Platinum jewelry is most appealing because of its strength and durability. Other metals can wear down over time, but not platinum. It is the strongest of jewelry metals. Most fine jewelry made with platinum is 95% pure platinum with 5% other alloys.

Platinum jewelry is easy to care for. It will need less maintenance than gold or silver due to its durability.

Why Mens Beaded Bracelets Make Awesome Gifts

Any woman who has been in a serious relationship with a man will tell you just how difficult it can be to buy a man a great gift. We all want to be remembered for giving great gifts, especially to the important man in our lives.

If you are looking for a great gift, you can't go wrong with mens beaded bracelets. Here's why mens beaded bracelets make awesome gifts:

1) Bracelets are a great addition to your overall look: Bracelets are such an understated way to accessorize a look. There's no need for a real man to wear flashy jewelry to prove how manly he is. Nothing says relaxed but stylish quite like a mens beaded bracelet. 2) The variety of bracelets available is astounding: There is a huge range of bracelets available today. From the imposing, to the delightful, mens bracelets come in every imaginable design, shape and material.

A handmade mens beaded bracelet is one if the most thoughtful gifts you can buy for a man. 4) Make a grand gesture, or a small one: Bracelets make great gifts for the men in your life, whether it's your husband, boyfriend, brother or father, a simple beaded bracelet or an extravagant high quality bracelet. You can easily find cheap bracelets that are great for a modest budget, or you can splurge on some of the top of the range designer bracelets. 5) Everyone can appreciate a beaded bracelet: No matter what age or size or style, any man will appreciate a beaded bracelet as a gift.

There's no doubt about it, beaded bracelets make great gifts. 

Earrings From Antiquity to the Present - 2500 Years of Earrings by D Mascetti and A Triossi

Earrings From Antiquity to the Present: 2500 Years of Earrings (available in hard cover or paperback) presents a history of these important components of a woman's and man's appearance. The authors are specialists in the history and archeology of jewelry. Etruscans amassed great wealth and fashioned elaborate jewelry decorated with tiny sculptures of birds, rosettes, and chains with pearls. The elaborate headdresses, high collars, and complex hair styles of the Middle Ages left little room for earrings.

During the Renaissance women began to wear earrings again. The 18th and 19th Centuries show a myriad of earring designs, many of them wild and wonderful: dangles made to resemble a bushel basket full of (ruby) apples, onyx hens sitting on (ivory) eggs in a woven gold basket, carved faces of Greek gods, a 5-inch long earring set with kite-shaped aquamarines. Jane Shafrin has been conducting a love affair with jewelry since her childhood. She designs jewelry, collects and sells vintage jewelry, and her web site, Beads by Mail, contains pages full of information about gemstones, beads, how to make jewelry, and publishes free bead patterns. 

"I Can Only Wear Gold Jewelry" - The Truth About Jewelry Allergies

"I can only wear gold jewelry, everything else breaks me out." My mother, like many people, develops contact dermatitis when her skin comes in contact with some types of jewelry. The dermatitis is a result of an allergic reaction to the nickel found in many types of jewelry. Nickel allergies are very common. More women tend to suffer from nickel allergies than men. First I looked at gold jewelry. However white gold may. White gold alloys contain nickel and other "white" metals to produce its silver coloring. Gold filled jewelry metal is created when a base metal is coated with a layer of gold. Gold filled differs from gold plated by the amount of gold applied. The layer used in gold filled jewelry is typically 50 to 100 time thicker that the layer used to coat gold plated products.

Next I looked at silver jewelry. For those who are nickel sensitive, fine silver and sterling silver are great choices for "white" metals.

Fine silver is by definition 99.9% pure silver. Typically silver jewelry is made of sterling silver. Sterling silver is by definition 92.5% pure silver. Since copper is the normal metal used, sterling silver is a great metal for nickel allergic people. Some other metals that are considered safe for people with nickel allergies are:

Copper - Copper jewelry is generally considered pure and not mixed with nickel or nickel alloys.

Platinum - Platinum jewelry contains 95% platinum and 5% of a secondary metal typically iridium.

Titanium - Titanium jewelry is both hypoallergenic and durable. It is a highly recommended metal for those who suffer from nickel allergies.

Fashion or costume jewelry typically contains base metals that include nickel.

German silver or nickel silver is a metal to stay away from where jewelry is concerned. German silver does not contain any silver. The silver refers to the silver coloration of the metal. If you do buy a piece of jewelry and are concerned that it may contain nickel, commercial test kits are available online. April Williams is the owner of Eluna Jewelry Designs, widely known for an exquisite selection of gemstone pendants, sterling silver earrings, and reproduction sea glass jewelry.