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Thursday 25 June 2009

Creative Ways to Storing Jewellery

Do you have trouble trying to store jewellery without it getting all tangled, earrings separated from each other, tipping out your whole jewellery box just to find one piece of jewellery?? Well here are some tips for on storing your jewellery in a neat and decorative fashion.

Designing and selling jewellery both on a website and from home I need to be able to display my earrings in an organised and professional manner. There are some inspiration from the ideas include store earrings (hooks) around a wine glass for an instant neat and decorative look, a long string of pearls across the top of your mirror and hang your earrings in the gaps, a small storage box from the hardware shop, the ones that have little draws for nails etc, store earrings on a long piece of ribbon and tack the ends onto the back of a dresser/wardrobe, use a corkboard, with pins on it and the earrings and necklaces hang off the pins.

Or if you are feeling crafty you can decorate the frame of your cork board - remove the actual cork inside the frame, paint the frame and add some little decorations like sequins, beads, lace, ribbon etc staple a piece of mesh (tulle fabric or mesh from your hardware store) and staple that to the frame, this provides room to hold lots of earrings this idea also works with old picture frames as well.

To hold necklaces and bracelets simply screw in some little hooks (you can get these from hardware shops) around the frame.

Pearls Can Be Both Elegant and Affordable: Your Pearl Jewelry Primer

There are few accessories more elegant than pearl jewelry. Unfortunately, many people think that pearl jewelry is out of their price range, except perhaps for once-in-a-lifetime pearl bridal jewelry. The truth is, a pearl necklace, pearl stud earrings, fashion pearl jewelry, or even a pearl jewelry set can be affordable if you shop wisely. Here are some guidelines so you can know what to look for when you're selecting pearl accessories.

Natural or Cultured?

You've probably heard that some pearls are natural while others are freshwater pearls or cultured pearls. You've probably also heard that natural pearls are created around a grain of sand. In fact, an oyster usually creates a pearl as a result of something like a parasite or other irritant. Only about one in a hundred oysters naturally create a pearl, and of those, only about one in ten are quality pearls.

Cultured pearls are created in the same way - through the introduction of an irritant - but are done so in a controlled environment. As a result, cultured pearls are actually superior in quality to most natural pearls. So, rest assured that cultured pearl jewelry or freshwater pearl jewelry is just as desirable and elegant - if not more so - than natural pearl jewelry.

Grading Pearl Jewelry

Like diamonds, pearls are graded according to the different qualities they possess. Overall, pearls are graded either A, AA, or AAA, with AAA denoting the highest quality. If a pearl falls between the A and AA grades, or the AA and AAA grades, a plus sign (AA+) may also be used.

Pearl Quality

The environment in which pearls are grown affects their quality. A pearl's grade depends upon its luster, shape, and surface appearance. Luster refers to the reflection of light through the outer layers of the pearl. Larger pearls have more layers, and so have greater luster. High luster receives a higher grade than low luster.

Round pearls are the most difficult to grow, and thus are considered more valuable and receive a higher grade than those that are off-round. Although the classic pearl shape is round, fashion pearl jewelry often features unique pearl shapes that are just as beautiful and captivating as round pearls.

The pearl surface is graded according to the numbers and kinds of imperfections on the pearl. A pearl's blemish may appear as a bubble, a line, or a dark spot. Ninety-five percent of the surface of an AAA pearl is free from defects.

When you're shopping for pearl jewelry, keep in mind how pearls are grown and graded, but make your own decision about the qualities are important to you.

Pearl Jewelry: The Shape of Things to Come

Traditionally, the standard for pearl jewelry has been to use white or near-white cultured pearls, freshwater pearls, or natural pearls that are perfectly round. The white, round beauties have been treasured because, in the world of pearl jewelry, they are rare. Increasingly, however, women are appreciating the uniqueness and versatility of pearls in a variety of shapes and colors - just as nature makes them. If you've always thought of pearls as white and round, it's time to think again.

Pearl Shapes

Round - Traditional round cultured pearls are often used for pearl bridal jewelry, the traditional pearl necklace, and other cultured pearl jewelry, like pearl stud earrings. Rice - Rice pearls are small and shaped irregularly, and have crinkled surfaces. Potato - As its name implies, potato-shaped cultured pearls have irregular oblong shapes. Oval - Shaped like an egg, these saltwater or freshwater pearls are usually white. Mabe - This pearl is flat on one side, giving it a dome shape. Keshi - Also known as poppy seed pearls, these are tiny freshwater pearls. Button - This round freshwater pearl is flat on one side. Coin - Like the button pearl, except it is flat on both sides. Baroque - These freshwater pearls are completely free form, having no pre-determined shape. Circle - Also called the ring pearl, this saltwater pearl has concave, concentric lines.

Pearl Colors

Freshwater pearls, which are often used for fashion pearl jewelry, grow in virtually every color of the rainbow. They are an affordable - though no less beautiful - alternative to traditional white, round saltwater Akoya pearls. Black Tahitian pearls, which are also saltwater cultured pearls, have overtones of peacock and silver and are most often have semi-round, baroque, and circle shapes.

Pearl Fashion Jewelry - What's Hot Now

Freshwater pearl jewelry offers women an incredible variety of accessory options. This season, look for multi-strand keshi (seed) pearl necklaces that combine different colored pearls, such as pink, peach, hazel, and brown for a stunning fashion statement. For formal occasions, multi-strand necklaces featuring a single color of keshi pearls - such as gray or black - are the perfect accessories.

Black Tahitian pearl bracelets and shimmering oval freshwater pearl bracelets are adorning the wrists of fashionistas this season, while brides are selecting classic Akoya pearl stud earrings as well as fashion forward freshwater pearl wedding jewelry that incorporates light pink or golden pearls.

The next time you treat yourself - or someone special - to the gift of pearl jewelry, remember that the beauty of pearls comes in many shapes and colors.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Bridal Pearl Jewelry Provides Classic, Timeless Elegance on Your Special Day

Pearls hold a classic, timeless elegance, and are the perfect accessory on your wedding day. Best of all you, can incorporate pearl bridal jewelry so that it either prominent and eye-catching or subtle and subdued. Here are just a few of the ways you can add pearls to your special day.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry - Pearl Necklaces Pearl necklaces are typically divided into six lengths: collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera, and rope. A pearl collar is usually 12 to 13 inches long and is made of at least three strands of pearls. A pearl collar works best if your bridal gown has a plunging neckline, a V-neck or is strapless. A pearl choker is usually 14 to 16 inches long, and rests at the collarbone. Its classic length makes it the perfect accessory for bridals gowns. At 17 to 20 inches, the princess necklace is the classic pearl necklace length because of its versatility. It works well with both high and plunging necklines. The matinee pearl necklace is typically 20 to 25 inches, and works well with high necklines. This pearl necklace would be ideal if you're a bride for the second time, and your gown is cocktail length. At 27 to 36 inches, the opera pearl necklace drops to the waist, so it can be worn with a high neckline or wrapped into a double strand to form a choker.

The pearl rope necklace is longer still, at 40 to 72 inches or even longer. Its sheer length makes this pearl necklace a stunning accessory. It can be looped into a double or triple pearl strand, can be looped and worn at the wrist, or even worn down the back of a backless gown. Both versatile and daring, an opera-length pearl necklace will make a dramatic statement on your wedding day.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry - Pearl Stud Earrings If the style of your wedding gown doesn't lend itself to a pearl necklace, consider pearl earrings. Classic stud earrings lend a simple elegance to an ornate gown, while simple gowns call for dangle pearl earrings. Today, there are many settings from which to choose, including hearts, hoops, ribbons, and chains. You can also choose from among single pearl stud earrings or earrings that are designed with several pearls.

Pearl Wedding Jewelry - Bridal Party Gifts Pearl jewelry is the perfect gift for bridesmaids and groomsmen alike. Pearl cufflinks are a gift that will last a lifetime, while bridesmaids will delight in one of any number of pearl gifts. Pearl jewelry is available at virtually every price point, so you can find both heirloom quality pearl jewelry sets and fashion pearl jewelry. Pearl pendants, bracelets, and earrings - as well as strands - make perfect pearl jewelry remembrances for your special day.

Choosing Pearl Stud Earrings

Pearl stud earrings are as understated as they are elegant. They are low-key and beautiful and not loud accessories at all. They are a great complement to any wardrobe, be it a stylish gown or a simple blouse and jeans. Worn day or night, pearl stud earrings are a wonderful fashion statement. It is also the kind of design that a woman of any face shape can carry off well.

Here are a few tips on picking the pearl stud earrings to add to your collection:

Pearl quality
A simple stud earring is only as beautiful as the pearl attached to it. When buying pearls, there are several things that you might want to consider: shape, size, color, texture and luster.
Shape – pearls come in different shapes and the three main categories are spherical, symmetrical and baroque. Round pearls and near-round pearls are considered spherical. Drop, oval and button pearls are considered symmetrical while baroque pearls are those that are irregular and abstract in shape.
Size – the pearl’s size is determined by its diameter measured in millimeters. Generally, the bigger the pearl, the more valuable it is. Most of the pearls you can find in the market are in the range of 6.5 to 7.5 mm. Compared to that, the largest pearl ever found was a black one which measured 25mm.
Color – depending on the mollusk or oyster that produced it, a pearl can have a different color ranging from the usual white and cream to green, gold, blue and black. Color is determined by two things: body color and overtone. Body color is the main color of the pearl while overtone is the iridescent tint that is found on its surface, on top of the main color.
Texture – there is no such thing as a pearl with a perfect surface. There will always be certain imperfections on it. The only way to determine the pearl’s value is whether or not the imperfections are obvious. Bumps, spots and irregularities can affect the quality of the pearl. Cracks, chips and gaps are considered serious flaws.
Luster – refers to the brilliance of the pearl’s surface and is one of the most important characteristics in grading. Pearls are made up of a substance called nacre, which is naturally produced by the oyster or mollusk as a reaction to an irritation, usually a grain of sand or parasite in the case of natural pearls and an implanted nucleus in the case of cultured pearls.
Luster affects the reflectivity of the pearl. The better it reflects light and surrounding objects, the better its quality. Dull, cloudy surfaces are a sign of inferior quality.

Choosing your findings

Posts are the type of studs that go through the ear and are closed securely with a nut. These are the most common choice for pierced ears. For unpierced lobes, ear clips and screw-backs may be used, both of which are held in place by friction.

Pearl stud earring combination

Pearls are the kind of gemstones that can work well when combined with other precious and semi-precious stones. It can work well with smaller diamonds, rubies or emeralds and can even shine with jade, garnet or moonstone. By itself, pearl stud earrings are still an elegant choice.

Caring for your pearl stud earrings

Pearls are delicate organic gemstones and must be treated with special care. They are softer and easily scratched or cracked and once damage is done, there is nothing you can do to bring the pearl’s beauty back.

Try to keep them away from your harder-type jewelry. If in case they are rubbed together, pearls are more likely to get scratched. Store your pearl stud earrings in a separate container, preferably the box it came with. Make sure it’s lined and covered to provide better protection for your gems.

Also try to avoid dropping your pearl stud earrings as this can contribute to scratching and cracking. Pearls are also affected by sweat, body oils and cosmetics. These can actually cause your pearls to lose their luster and promote discoloration. So the next time you plan to wear your pearls, be sure to put on make up, hair spray and perfume first before you put your pearls on. This way, you minimize pearl contact with chemicals.

One of the most overlooked things when caring for stud earrings is the nut or close. People automatically store their earrings and forget about the nuts. Worn at the back of the earlobe, the nut can accumulate body oils, dirt and yes, loose skin. To keep them in good condition, clean them with a soft cloth or soft-bristled brush.