The Allure of Jewelry

The Allure of Jewelry
As a woman, I have never understood why Eve wanted to eat the forbidden fruit. Why would she risk her life for some fruit? Now if that dreadful snake had offered her a beautiful gold necklace or a diamond tennis bracelet that would be a different story. We have always been tempted by the allure of jewelry whether it be the little girl who must have the elaborate set of Barbie glamour jewelry or the woman who must have a Tiffany bracelet. We simply cannot resist jewelry, never have and never will. It's like we have a jewelry gene that makes us crave gold, silver, or platinum to adorn ourselves. Since Eve had no clothes before the fall, she didn't even know what jewelry was, but I bet as soon as she put on the first set of fig leaves, it wasn't a week before she was adorning them with rocks she thought were pretty. So I guess we can say we aren't responsible for our cravings for jewelry. Just like everything else, the Devil made us do it.

As far back as BC times, people have worn jewelry for a variety of different reasons. The first jewelry was crafted from materials such as stones, feathers, shells, and even bones. Often in primitive times, jewelry was worn for one of three reasons: as a religious talisman, to show status, or to protect the wearer. The ancient Egyptians often wore various types of jewelry to encourage positive results like good luck. Unlike today's society, people did not wear jewelry simply because it was pretty. At least, that is, until the Roman times.

The Romans were notorious for their hedonistic lifestyle, and loved wearing jewelry crafted from gold and gems. They not only wore jewelry to show their social standing, they wore it because it was pleasing to the eye. These days, jewelry is worn by men, women and even children the world over. Just as in ages past, people today wear jewelry for a variety of reasons.

Birthstone jewelry is a popular type of jewelry commonly worn today. While the origin of the birthstone is a mystery, the tradition has held strong for ages upon ages. Each month of the year is assigned a birthstone. For example, January's birthstone is Garnet, while the birthstone of August is Peridot. Each gem is associated with certain qualities as well. Garnet is believed to protect the wearer from nightmares, depression and encourage lasting love. Peridot, for example, is symbolic of protection and success. Each birthstone has its own special qualities and folklore.

Just like in ancient times, much of the jewelry worn today is symbolic. The best example of this is of course the engagement ring and wedding band. The single diamond in an engagement ring not only symbolizes a promise, but also something rare and beautiful. The wedding ring symbolizes an unbroken circle and the sanctity of marriage. There are even promise rings that are given by boyfriends to their girlfriends as a symbol of their affection. High school students often exchange class rings for this purpose as well. And let's not forget about mothers' rings. These rings contain a birthstone for each child and symbolizes a mother's never-ending love and pride for her offspring.

Then again, there's jewelry that doesn't mean anything but is beautiful to behold. From expensive fine jewelry to cheap costume jewelry, you can find personal ornamentation to suit your every whim and match your every outfit. The allure of jewelry has existed since the beginning of mankind, and will surely continue to do so for ages to come.

Selecting and Caring for Antique Jewelry
Antique jewelry is defined by most experts as jewelry that is at least 100 years old. Often, people confuse antique jewelry with vintage jewelry. Vintage jewelry can be old, but is usually defined as jewelry that's made after 1920. There are a variety of places where you can find stunning pieces of antique jewelry to wear, collect, hand down, or even resell. Before beginning your search for antique jewelry, it helps to know more about the different eras and types of jewelry you might come across. Here is a brief guide to different jewelry eras:

Late Georgian (1760-1837)

Because necklines were often low, necklaces were designed to flatter them. Often, necklaces were multi-tiered designs featuring diamonds or gemstones. Cameos and other pendants were often worn this way as well, with rows of draping chain in between. Berlin Iron is a material that you may find from this era. Patriotic citizens donated their gold for the war effort, and were given ornate replicas crafted from this iron. Miniatures were popular as well, which were similar to today's lockets containing photographs, only the likeness was painted instead of photographed.

Victorian (1837-1901)

The Victorian era is a highly popular one for antique jewelry collectors. Ornate gemstone jewelry, cameos, and shapes like hearts and flowers were highly popular. Serpents were another surprising motif, as they were considered good luck and a favorite of Queen Victoria. Diamonds became more accessible due to the discovery of plentiful mines, so more and more Victorians wore diamond jewelry. Onyx and jet were popular as well, and were often worn as mourning pieces.

Art Nouveau (1890-1915)

This period emerged in Paris during the last years of the reign of Queen Victoria. This era of jewelry making focused more on the style and form of a piece rather than the materials the jewelry was made from. Some popular materials included horn, bone, shell, ivory and glass. Semi-precious stones were popular as well, as were enamel and styles like cloisonne. Asian theme jewelry was popular also. You will even find opal and moonstone featured in jewelry from this time period.

It's likely that anything crafted after the Art Nouveau period would not be classified as antique jewelry, but vintage jewelry, depending on who you ask. When shopping for antique pieces, a good place to start is at estate sales. Auctions are also often great places to find antique jewelry from many different time periods. You may want to do some research before shopping, so you'll know what to look for and what denotes a piece as authentic.

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Should You Buy Diamonds On The Internet?

With the presence of so many scammers even outside the internet, many people would think that purchasing diamonds online would not be such a wise choice. However, online purchase of diamonds as long as you are careful may not cause problems at all.

It is very important that you think about why you want to purchase through the internet as compared to going to a jewelry store yourself. The most common reason would definitely be the price. Online wholesalers and jewelers can afford to sell diamonds at a much lower price as compared to your brick and mortar jewelry stores because of the lower overhead expenses. But one must be very careful. If you are suspicious and if the price is too low and too good to be true, then it is likely a scam.

The great thing about making your purchase online is the wide array of selections and choices to choose from. When you shop at your local shops and stores, you are basically limited to what the stores in your area have to offer. When it comes to the information highway, there is no limit to the available sources you could scour. You have to be extra careful though, for here you are transacting with people that you don't see and you haven't even met in person.

Before you go on your shopping, it would be wise to do your homework in advance and learn as much as you can about diamonds most especially its 4C's namely cut, clarity, color and carat. When armed with the necessary knowledge, it would be hard to have you fooled by a scammer.

Don't rush and take your time when doing your comparison shopping. Avoid being an impulsive buyer, jumping on to purchase the first diamond you see that you may like. Look for similar diamonds and compare prices. If you have already found the diamond that you like at the lowest possible price, it is time to make an investigation. Check the seller's credentials such as the jewelry associations that the seller is affiliated with or has received accreditation from. Print and read the seller's policies when it comes to returns, exchanges and upgrades. Check out other services that the seller may offer like setting, sizing, mounting, free shipping and others. Check for customer reviews as well as any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau online.

Before you finally make your purchase decision, you should ask for an independent diamond grading report from the GIA, EGL, HRD or AGS.

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Jewelry In Ancient Rome

Jewelry is a fascinating fashion accessory that has been popular from ancient times. It has played a variety of roles including political, religious and ornamental, and jewelry artefacts (joias) have helped modern historians shape pictures of the daily lives of ancient civilisations.

Jewelry in ancient Rome is no exception. There are literary accounts and pictorial depiction such as in the Regina tombstone, plus an abundance of other artefacts available that help us to understand the role jewelry played during this fascinating time.

Jewelry was worn by men and women though it was subject to conventions of the time; particularly with regards to the appearance of men. Male jewelry was typically practical in nature. Men usually wore a single ring. The ring would serve a functional purpose. Typically a signet ring, the male jewelry item was used to seal official documentation. The male signet ring was initially iron but was later produced in gold as it displayed status and wealth more clearly.

Other practical uses of the signet ring included the inlay being a type of key for a strong box. Literary evidence suggests that propriety regarding male jewelry was ignored by a minority of fashion fanatics, as with any other social group. Trends and attitudes also changed from the time of Emperor Augustus. The emperors were established with official state clothing during his reign which included jewelry as a display of status and power.

Jewelry also had a protective function in ancient Rome. Boys wore an item of jewelry known as a bullah. This was worn from being a baby. It was worn around the neck and was a form of chain with a pouch which contained an amulet. This was a jewelry item worn by most classes, but the rich upper class had bullahs made of gold. The amulet was often phallic in design, as boys were considered to be the stronger species and so needed protection. Another jewelry item worn by boys was a small gold ring which was again carved with a phallus for good luck

With regards to women, jewelry was first and foremost a display of wealth and status. Women had no obvious status distinction through their dress like Roman men. Therefore, hairstyles and jewelry were the only distinction possible. The importance of jewelry to the status of women is apparent through certain historical events. When the Oppian law was passed in 195BC curbing the use of jewelry and suggesting it be handed over for war materials, women demonstrated against this in the streets. During the campaigns of Marcus Curellius, women chose to donate their jewelry to get enough gold to send a huge gold vase as an offering to Delphi. Their behaviour was rewarded with speeches at funerals which had previously been only for men.

The type and amount of jewelry worn by women varied, but the richest women were the most flamboyant in terms of amount and style. Amber jewelry was only worn by lower class women and was thought vulgar by the wealthy who favoured gold jewelry. Other items used to make jewelry include pearls, coloured glass beads and polished stones. These would be inset in gold and would vary in size and style, depending upon status. It was possible to tell a lot about a woman in ancient rome by the jewelry she wore.

The types of jewelry worn include necklaces with adornments such as pendants, amulets. Fibula which are similar to safety pins were used as fasteners and so were often adorned to make them a piece of jewelry that was both function and beautiful. Earrings were popular and came in both hoop and drop styles. Rings were usually inset with stones or carvings.

Particularly popular jewelry items (joias) were engraved gems which were referred to as intaglio. These were gems such as carnelian, jasper and chalcedony that had a sunken or engraved image, created with the use of wheels and drills.

Tomb jewelry findings suggest that bracelets were usually worn in pairs with one on each arm. Some tombs have revealed up to 7 items of jewelry on each arm which shows how the conventions for men and women differed. Even gold thread hairnets have been discovered.

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The Beauty of Celtic Jewelry

The ancient Celtic people are famous to this day because of their incredible style of jewelry and ornamentation. The centerpiece of Celtic jewelry is the Celtic knot, which has no beginning and no end. This type of ornamental knot work was found adorning ancient manuscripts and monuments, often in the form of the Celtic cross. To this day, Celtic jewelry is a beloved and popular style of jewelry worn by people all over the world.

The Celtic cross is often worn as a pendant on a chain or silk cord. The Celtic cross features the trademark knotwork, and although it looks similar in structure to the traditional Christian cross, it sports a circle surrounding the intersection. Celtic crosses can be crafted from a variety of materials, although silver is often a popular choice.

Then there's the claddagh. This ring can either be a symbol of friendship or love. It features two hands holding a heart with a crown on top. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty, and the heart represents love. Often, the way the ring is worn designates the romantic status of the wearer. If the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart pointing to the hand, it means the wearer is in a relationship. If the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart pointing away from the hand, it means the wearer is available. Wearing the claddagh on the left hand designates either engagement or marriage. Claddaghs are normally crafted from silver or gold. Sometimes, they can feature gemstones as well.

Another popular type of Celtic jewelry is the ingot. The ingot is a rectangular shaped pendant usually made from silver or gold which bears engraved symbols. Then there are pieces of jewelry shaped like shamrocks, Irish dance shoes, Irish harps, and Gaelic coins. The beauty of Celtic jewelry is not only in its attractive appearance, but in the fact that everything has a deep and often spiritual meaning.

To browse and shop for Celtic jewelry, check out simplyirish.com. Here you'll discover a wide variety of gorgeous pieces of all kinds, including rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and much more!

Great Custom Jewelry Ideas
Custom jewelry is perfect for anyone seeking jewelry that has true significance and meaning. Custom jewelry is also ideal for someone seeking a truly one-of-a-kind piece. There are many different places where you can have custom pieces created. One of the best has to be Limoges. Since 1985, Limoges Jewelry has been a symbol of craftsmanship and quality. Here are some highlights of what you'll find at Limoges Jewelry.

Sterling Silver Family Name and Birthstone Ring

This gorgeous sterling silver ring features oval-cut, high quality Austrian crystals in the birthstones of your choice. You can choose two to four stones, as well as two to four names to be engraved into the ring. Names are engraved in cursive script and can contain up to ten letters. This ring would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day!

Sterling Silver Engraved Name Band

This gorgeous sterling silver band is ideal for a wedding, anniversary or birthday gift. It can be engraved with script up to 12 letters. Script is in black.

Sterling Silver Personalized Couples Heart Ring

This incredible sterling silver ring features two intertwined hearts, two names in cursive script, and two birthstones. This is a perfect gift for couples who want to celebrate their love!

14K Mom and Daughter Shareable Pendant

This solid 14k gold round pendant can be worn whole, or broken in half and worn by mother and daughter. This pendant comes with one eighteen-inch 14k gold chain. You have the option of ordering an additional chain at an affordable price.

Filigree Family Tree Birthstone Pendant

This tree shaped pendant is 14k gold plated and has room for a birthstone symbolizing each member of your family, up to ten. Birthstones are crafted from sparkling Austrian crystal. Pendant measures one inch tall and 11/16 of an inch wide.

Sterling Silver Engraved Dog Tag Pendant

This gorgeous sterling silver rectangular dog tag pendant can be engraved with a personal message of your choice. The message can be six lines with 12 characters per line. The pendant comes complete with a 20 inch ball chain.

These represent only a few of the customized jewelry choices available from Limoges Jewelry. This company makes jewelry of the highest quality, and has been doing so for over 100 years! Take a look for yourself at limogesjewelry.com.
A Guide to Diamond Jewelry
Diamonds are probably the most popular and recognizable gemstones in the world. One reason why diamond jewelry is so beloved is because of its heritage and history. The very youngest diamond in the world is 900 million years old, created even before the age of the dinosaurs. Diamonds are famous for being the hardest stone -- their name comes from the Greek for 'unconquerable.' Maybe this is why diamonds are given as a symbol of engagement. One of the most famous taglines for a diamond company is 'A diamond is forever,' and it's actually true!

One of the newest trends in diamond jewelry is the right hand ring for women. The traditional diamond solitaire engagement ring is always worn on the left hand and symbolizes love and commitment. However, the right hand diamond ring is flashier, showier and a symbol of feminine empowerment and independence. It's not uncommon for a woman to have a diamond engagement ring on her left hand and a right hand ring on the other hand.

Diamonds are measured in carats. The term carat derives from carob seed, which was used in ancient times to measure diamond weight. Only five percent or less of the diamonds made into jewelry weigh more than one carat. Diamonds are judged using what's known as the four C's: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. Let's take a look at each one of these factors.

There are many different cuts available when it comes to diamonds. Examples of cuts include round, marquis, emerald, princess, pear, and even heart-shaped. The cut of a stone has a lot to do with its vibrancy and beauty. Clarity refers to how flawed a diamond is. While a flawless diamond is extremely rare, you will want to choose a diamond that has as few inclusions, or flaws, as possible. The clarity of a diamond is designated by an alphanumeric scale that your jeweler can explain to you in detail. Color is another factor to consider when choosing a diamond. While white diamonds are the most common and popular, diamonds come in all colors including yellow, pink, blue and even red. Then there's carat, which is how the weight of a diamond is measured. It's estimated that fewer than one percent of women own an engagement ring larger than one carat.

Diamond jewelry is not limited to engagement and right hand rings. Tennis bracelets, diamond pendants, and gemstone rings flocked with diamonds are just a few other ways diamonds are used for jewelry. When shopping for diamonds, consult with an experienced jeweler. He or she can educate you further on the diamond selection process and help you choose the perfect one for you!

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