The theme of your wedding You can use the theme of your wedding to think of many different
gift ideas for your bridesmaids. You may want to individualize them to reflect the personalities of your bridesmaids. Deciding on an overall plan is one way to make shopping for gifts easy. For example, you could keep it simple by getting everyone the same thing. You'd have to find a gift with wide appeal. You could add a personal touch by having their initials engraved or imprinted on their individual gifts in the main color scheme of your wedding. This way the gift would be tied to the wedding as well as personalized.
Pocket Watches: no wimpy tan line!For key wind and set watches, such as some of the antique
pocket watches, you will need to use a key to wind the mainspring and set the time. More modern pocket watches run on small batteries that keep very accurate time and only require replacement every two years or so. The drawback to batteries is that a jeweler is usually needed to remove the back of the watch, and that will incur a $10 to $20 charge whenever a battery needs changing. However, the positives outweigh the negatives because a pocket watch is better protected, less abused, and looks cooler than a wristwatch. It is a subtle statement of "individuality"!
Great To Wear Although jewelry is great to wear during the day time, it?s always not a great idea to wear when sleeping. Especially with those "special jewelry" everyone has such as an heirloom brooch or those really expensive dangle earrings, you?ll likely want to take it all off and put it away safely before you go to sleep. For those who only wear jewelry on special occasions, keeping a
jewelry box will likely come and handy and be quite essential for storing precious jewelry.
Why give gifts to the GroomsmenBeing part of a long tradition it is customary for the groom to give gifts to the best man, groomsmen and ushers. The groom gives gifts not just because of the tradition, but because they showed up for the wedding and they are suppose to be your good friends. A
groomsmen gift can be just about anything. Some of the more popular gifts are baseball bats and liquor.
Rings and Marriage The ancient Egyptian established the custom of placing a
ring on the finger of his wife. The ring was a sign that he had confidence in her ability to take care of his house. Greek and Roman bridegrooms often gave a ring to their bride's father, a practice reminiscent of primitive bride purchase. In the second century, the Roman bride was typically given a gold ring, which she would wear only in public, as it was much too precious to wear while tending to household chores. The groom gave her a second ring for use in the home. This ring was made of iron and had little knobs on it like a key. These "key rings" were weak and could only open easy locks, but they were of great symbolic value in that the wearer had the right to secure the giver's possessions.
The 4 C's of Diamond Shopping When shopping for
diamond wedding rings, look at cut, color, clarity, and carat, or weight. Cut is most important; a skillful cut is what unleashes the brilliant fire in a diamond. Cut refers to the faceting, not to the overall shape. Some terms for shape are marquise, oval, and princess, or square. Regarding color, grading begins at D. The further one goes into the alphabet, the poorer the color grade. Ask at the store to see loose diamonds on a sheet of pure white paper and note whether there is any contrast, which is undesirable. Superior clarity refers to the lack of inclusions such as bubbles, spots, or lines. Clarity is graded on a scale that ranges from flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect (I).
The Classic Jewelry Armoire A beautiful addition to your bedroom, the classic
jewelry armoire is the perfect solution for storing your treasured heirlooms. Typically, the top of this handsome piece of rich wood furniture opens up to reveal a mirror and felt-lined compartments. Originally the armoire was a simple board or tea table; the term was first used in the Middle Ages around 1571. Today the term often refers to a cupboard or wardrobe. The gorgeous jewelry armoire is a very special type of armoire specifically designed to hold precious jewelry.
Pearl necklaces and jewelry Pearl necklaces and other types of
pearl jewelry have been worn for thousands of years. Pearls have always come into and out of fashion. Now they have become very fashionable again, and people are wearing them for many different occasions. People all over the world are wearing all types of pearl jewelry. People are buying and wearing pearl jewelry, and giving these beautiful creations as gifts.
Taking Care of Your Jewelry Check your
jewelry often for loose stones by holding it up to your ear and gently tapping it with your finger. If you wear your pearls often, have them restrung every year or two. Clean fine jewelry often, about once a month, to keep it sparkling and to maintain its beauty. Fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking it for ten minutes in warm, soapy water, using a nondetergent soap. Use a soft brush on gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To dissolve greasy buildup on diamond jewelry, dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking it.
19th Century Sapphire Jewelry The sapphire was the most valued stone up to the end of the thirteenth century, when the ruby surpassed it in both symbolic value and price. In the late Middle Ages, the
diamond became the most valuable and sought after of all stones, except in Spain and Portugal, where the emerald was held superior due to the typical Iberian fondness for emeralds. Pearls, sold by weight, were circulated in huge quantities. The European market imported pearls from the East and sold them to Venice. In the 13th century, Venice was not only Europe?s biggest market, but also a principal center of forgery. For example, Byzantine-style glass cameos produced in Venice were a cause of concern for 14th-century Paris buyers.
Charm from Italy Italian charm bracelets are the latest rave in Europe. With European retailers stocking up on
Italian charm bracelets, wholesale bracelets are hitting U.S. retail stores. The 18K gold charm bracelet and the polished stainless steel version both add a beautiful and incredibly versatile accessory to your wardrobe options. The silver charm bracelet is constructed to stretch so that a charm can be easily popped on or off. An Italian charm bracelet lies flat, unlike the clip-on dangling charm bracelet, and makes a truly outrageous fashion statement for the fashion conscious.
How To Clean Your Emeralds Clean your emeralds with a soft damp cloth and warm water and a soft brush. Softly clean your gems with soft circular motions. Do not use mechanical cleaners and above all else avoid chemicals and heat. Using chemicals may dissolve the oils used during cutting and processing to conceal inclusions. To be on the safe side take your
gem jewelry and emeralds to a professional jeweler. Have a jeweler re-oil your emerald every few years.
The Mother?s Ring The mother is the most important woman in a person?s life. You can celebrate your love for your mother with a
mother's ring. Your mother loves you and will love you always, regardless of what you do. Since you were born, she has cared for you and loved you unconditionally. You know it wasn't always easy; it is a wonder she was able to do all the things she did. You probably didn't make it any easier for her either, if you are like most of us! Now is your chance to show her that you recognize all she did to give you the best she could. A mother's ring is more than just a piece of jewelry. It represents the love you have for your mother.
An Abundant Element Used For Jewelry Titanium, a lustrous gray metallic element, is used most often to make lightweight, corrosion-resistant alloys. It has many desirable properties, most notably its durability and incredible strength. Titanium is abundant on earth and has been detected in meteorites and in the sun and other stars. Titanium oxide (TiO2)bands are especially visible in the spectra of M-type stars. Titanium, a transitional element of the periodic table, is also found on the moon. Rocks obtained during the Apollo 17 mission showed the presence of titanium oxide. To learn more about
titanium jewelry.
What Sterling Silver Is Made Of Did you know silver in its natural form is harder than gold. even though silver is still still considered too soft for use in fine jewelry. What jewelers do to make it harder and more usable for jewelry is to mix it with other metals. This mixing process gives it strength. Sterling silver is composed of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. This mixture makes the metal harder and more durable. Mexico, the United States, Peru, Australia, and Canada is where most of the world's silver comes from. Common pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver are necklace,
Italian charm bracelets and rings.
Measuring Diamonds The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, with one carat weighing 0.2 grams. One hundred points (or 200 milligrams) comprise one carat. The IGI scales, with an accuracy within 1/100,000 of a carat, provide a precise measurement of the weight of a diamond. This weight is specified on the Diamond Report to two decimal places. Many stores note the diamond?s weight on the price tag. Sometimes it is also stamped on the jewelry along with the gold quality mark and the registered trademark. for more information about
diamond engagement rings.
Comparing Diamonds Many diamond grading labs are in operation. Many of these labs produce their own grading reports based on their own grading standards. Some labs will have more lenient standards than other labs. Doing your own shopping for graded
loose diamonds allows you to make informed choices about your selections and do comparison shopping. You can compare one diamond of a specific weight and quality with other similar loose diamonds to determine which one offers the better value.
Charming Individuality A
charm bracelet allows you to express your individuality. By selecting and wearing interlocking charms, you can create your own unique piece of jewelry. You have thousands of charms in dozens of styles to choose from. You can also create your own custom charms. The combinations are literally endless. No one will ever have the same bracelet as yours.
Pricing Gold A piece of
gold jewelry is priced according to a number of factors, including the number of karats, the weight in grams, the design, and the craftsmanship. The number of karats and gram weight reveal how much gold is in a piece, but these two factors alone don't determine price. The amount of work that goes into a piece is also a major factor, along with the jewelry's construction and design. The techniques used in construction can make a piece more flexible and comfortable as well as durable and give many years of enjoyment. A unique design with intricate details, gemstones, and special settings or a clasp will also raise the price. Properly cared for, such a piece will last a lifetime.
