Jewelry Topics!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Earrings to Flatter Any Hair Cut or Style

Choosing a pair of nice earrings is an easy task for any average Jane, but choosing a pair of earrings that flatter your hair cut and style, now that's another story. Earrings can be worn to draw attention to your hair and face and can really get you noticed, so be sure to choose styles and settings that are complementary.

If you have short hair, such as a pixie cut (like Rhianna) or a bob (like Victoria Beckham), then the features of your face are already dominant. The earrings you choose will be another focal point, so be careful not to overwhelm. You can wear a piece of bold statement jewelry, but you should take into consideration your hair color. For example, brunettes can usually pull off bold jewelry in deep colors for a dramatic look. Try a pair of beaded drop earrings or large hoops. Blondes on the other hand, can also wear strong jewelry, but it will have a different effect, as it contrasts your natural features. Red heads look great in turquoise or aquamarine earrings.

If you have medium length hair, then your jewelry should balance out your features. Stud earrings will do the trick or try ones that have a small teardrop.

If you have long hair, then your hair and your jewelry might be competing against each other. To avoid this, try pulling hair halfway back to accentuate your accessories. Or, you can wear oversized hoops or a pair of eccentric chandelier earrings. Simple studs are subtle, while pairing them with a choker necklace can achieve drama. Alternatively, you can pull your hair to one side to show off a pair of fancy rhinestone earrings. This lets the jewelry take center stage and is a very romantic style.

Earrings especially can bring out the best looking you, while complimenting your hair style and color. It's just a matter of knowing what works and what should be avoided.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

How to Tell if a Pearl is Real

In order to be able to tell the difference between genuine and artificial pearls, it's helpful to understand a bit about how real pearls are made. A pearl begins as an irritant in a mollusk. In nature, it might any bit of matter. At a pearl farm, the pearl starts when a farmer inserts a tiny, perfectly round irritant in the oyster or mussel. In either case, the mollusk secretes a nacre, which hardens around the small foreign invader. After months or years (depending on the mollusk species and the desired pearl size), enough nacre is hardened around the original irritant that a lustrous, prized pearl is formed.

This process of creating pearls through months or years of setting down layers of nacre creates a different texture than any of the factory procedures for making artificial pearls. This difference in texture is what allows one to differentiate between real and fake pearls easily and quickly.

Give it a Rub

If there's more than one pearl available to test, the easiest method is the Rub Test. Simply take two of the pearls and rub them gently together, moving the pearls in circles against each other. If the pearls are artificial, the surfaces will be glassy smooth. If the pearls are genuine, the surfaces will have a bit of texture, a bit of tooth. This slight roughness isn't discernible just by feeling the surface of the pearl, but it is noticeable when two genuine pearls are rubbed together.

The Tooth Test

Suppose there's only one pearl in question—the Rub Test isn't possible. Instead, rub the pearl gently against a top incisor, one of the large front teeth. When rubbing a genuine pearl against the tooth, that slight natural texture will be discernible. An artificial pearl, whether made of glass or plastic, will feels completely slick and smooth.

Practical Application

Either of these tests is particularly useful in situations where decisions need to be made quickly, or where information about a product is either unavailable or unreliable. For example, genuine pearl jewelry is often found in garage sales, estate sales, and auction houses, jumbled in with costume jewelry. Buyers can use these methods to determine if an asking price is justified or a spectacular deal. Sellers can accurately price pearl jewelry and ensure quality.

A Word of Caution

Sellers unfamiliar with the Tooth Test don't take kindly to having their products put in the mouths of potential customers. Either get permission before trying the Tooth Test or do it discreetly. It can be useful to wear a piece of genuine pearl jewelry or carry a small pearl around if it's likely a pearl will need to be tested.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Designer Jewelries for Men & Business System Top Pick

Gone are days when jewelries were meant primarily for women.

They now form an integral aspect of a men's fashion as well. However, the idea of men using jewelries to add an extra spark to their attire is not entirely modern. A look at the past will reveal that men considered jewelry as a symbol of royalty and well-being. As years have gone by, the designs have evolved to compliment the contemporary fashion. Men's designer jewelries are handcrafted to go with their corporate, professional and casual styles.
Rings belong to the class of most popular forms of men's jewelry.
They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit the style of diverse fashion preferences of men. Usually men's rings look heavier and bolder as compared to women's. Inscribed, hand-engraved rings adds a new dimension altogether. A short piece of poetry or even one's name engraved on a ring gives it an identity of its own.
Who said that necklaces are meant for women? They are meant for men too.
Unlike women, men usually do not prefer to wear a glittering necklace. Even though they may be golden, beaded or having glass, a certain element of boldness is always there to give it a look that is meant exclusively for men. A lot depends on the kind of occasion when the necklace is to be worn. Wedding or any royal affair can definitely have a sparkling designer necklace whereas darker and colorful necklace go down pretty well with casual attire.
Bracelets are another form of popular men's jewelry.
Men are always conscious about their wrists and that explains why they like to sport snazzy watches. Hand engraved designer bracelets adds up as good decorative for the wrist. Men with good forearms can sport a broad bracelet and the ones with small frame can go for the narrower ones.
Designer jewelry for men has increasing become very popular due to the celebrities.
Rings, body piercing, necklaces, bracelets and even earring have become fashionable for men. The variety is diverse and what matters is to choose the right kind of jewelry that compliments one's personality perfectly.