Turquoise Jewelry

Turquoise is considered as a blessed stone that have been cherished and praised by mainly the native Mexican Indians & Americans. Many jewelers have published numerous books on crafts and culture implied through the turquoise stones and jewelry.

For centuries mans fascinations have has been consistent on turquoise stones. The stone of turquoise is a natural stone which has various shades between the ranges of blue to yellow. It is very significant not only for its ornamental but healing property also. The stone is found in country like Iran, China, Persia, Egypt, and Turkey. The color of stone is generally determined by different minerals present nearby the stones. The more presence of iron gives it a greenish tinge while copper adds blue color to the stone. And when zinc is presents the turquoise stone is found to be more yellow color. There are many kinds of turquoise colored stoned present which are chiefly employed in making unique ornaments.

Sleeping Beauty a very special beauty in stones is the lightest shade of sky blue color and is mined from the Beauty mines in the state of Arizona is incorporated in traditional jewelry and gives esthetic value as a precious stone.

Another Stone named White Buffalo Turquoise is also a marvelous kind of stone which is also used in jewelry are mined in the caves of Nevada. These are also very expensive and they add charismatic effect to the jewelry produced by the latest designers. The jewelry engraved using these stones are very rare and expensive as they are only found at caves of Nevada and if finished from there it will be lost for ever. People with subtle taste can only adore these jewels.

Persian turquoise also used chiefly in jewelry ever since primeval era mainly found in the Iran mines with gorgeous stone. It ranges in variety of color from pale green to sky blue. Many antique paintings are a proof that these were especially employed in all emperor jewelry to give them significant effect required.

Maintenance of the turquoise jewelry

Very special cares is employed to all the clean and preserve all turquoise jewelry since these stones are very porous. It is a popular belief that due to this reason only the stone has preserved it value till date. Whenever cleaning the stone you should take care to gently wipe the stone very gently with a soft cloth. A turquoise jewelry should never be submerged in any liquid to cleanse it because it is very porous and this liquid will cause deterioration in the value of the stone and the designed jewelry. The only gentle method of cleansing turquoise jewelry is to carefully clean the jewelry by making a rounded tip of any clean cloth and dip it in cleansing soap solution. Turquoise jewelry is never cleaned from any chemical or ultrasonic cleaners. So always respect your priced possessions. Whether turquoise jewelry is a traditional and antique heirloom or a recent formation modeled on conventional styles, turquoise jewelry is always considered a priced possession and a treasure for life time.

How to Care For Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Nothing can quite beat the sheer elegance of sterling silver. The brilliance of silver jewelry appeals to almost every person of any age, even regardless of gender. However, it also possesses that sublime sophistication that gold jewelry always seems to overdo.

If you seem to disagree with this simple statement, think of a person – any person, for that matter – wearing a load of just sterling silver jewelry. Let’s deck that person in a few sterling silver earrings. Then let’s try placing silver ropes around that person’s neck. We can add a couple of silver rings to go along. And for good measure, we will even throw in one or two silver toe rings. And what do you have? You see nothing more but everyday wear. Now, picture that same person wearing the same exact jewelry, only this time, turn every piece that we imagined into gold. Now what do you have? You see a person imitating a fully lit Christmas tree.

We are exaggerating, of course. Nonetheless, this fully illustrates the sublime sophistication which is found probably only in sterling silver jewelry. In fact, if you want, you can mix and match sterling silver jewelry with any other gem or mineral and it will still look pretty chic. Only few kinds of jewelry can achieve this kind of versatility while keeping a sort of utter sophistication and elegance. Cubic zirconia jewelry or CZ jewelry, particularly CZ rings and CZ earrings are often paired with silver. And you guessed it; this combination always manages to look wonderful.

However, in order to maintain that brilliance, you should primarily know how to give your sterling silver jewelry the proper attention it needs. After all, how will you be able to enjoy your sterling silver jewelry if it is not in its ultimately best condition? The first thing that you should keep in mind is that you need to treat your silver exactly as it is worth. You certainly would not wear your best dress to do menial chores around the house or do harsh corrosive applications, now would you? You would want to treat your sterling silver jewelry basically the same way. It would be best if you could shield your jewelry from scratching or from harmful substances (like acids, bleaches, paint, etc.). The best option is probably to take your sterling silver jewelry off while in contact with these harmful substances.
Another thing that you should keep in mind is that an occasional cleaning with silver-safe jewelry cleaners could do you some good as well. Over time, a build up or residue from months (even years) of use can cause silver to tarnish and look aged (somewhat gray and yellow in discoloration.). With that said, you might want to schedule a habitual cleaning to keep your jewelry as clean as possible all the time. However, you should be careful when cleaning your sterling silver. This is especially if it is matched with other gemstones or minerals. Sterling silver jewelry indeed has an unparalleled sophistication and elegance. However, you should always maintain your jewelry to always keep it at its best.

Cleaning Your Diamond Jewelry

When you buy diamond jewelry you will find after time the brilliant shine will begin to fade. This happens due to the oils in your skin, lotions you use, and other things that come in contact with it. There are many ways you can clean your jewelry to make it look as brilliant as the day you purchased it. These ways include self cleaning, professional cleaning, and ultrasonic cleaning.

One of the best ways to clean you diamond jewelry yourself is with a soft bristle toothbrush. Use a mild soap and water to scrub. All you have to do is make a mild mixture of soap and water full of bubbles. Place your jewelry in the water and let it soak. Then you will scrub it softly. If you have a diamond watch that you cannot get wet you might consider a professional cleaner for your needs. A jeweler would be the best place to take it and many jewelers will clean it for free.

When you scrub your diamond jewelry you need to make sure that you use a scrubber that is soft. Many people like to use a soft toothbrush or some other type of brush. Just be sure the bristles are soft and not hard. Your goal is to bring out the shine and you don't want to scratch up the gold or make it look funny. You can buy a brush specifically designed for cleaning your jewelry from a jeweler or in a store.

If you are not sure about how to clean your own diamond jewelry and you want to be sure a professional does it the right way you can take it to just about any jeweler out there. Some will clean it for free and others may
have a small charge. The best part about it is that when you pick up your jewelry it will look as new as it was the first day you wore it. This is because jewelers have machines they can put your jewelry in that will clean it for you. These machines work appropriately and you can trust them. No jeweler would ever put your piece of jewelry in anything that would harm the piece. You can always trust the jeweler. In most cases, your diamond ring or other piece of jewelry will be ready within an hour of dropping it off.

Ultrasonic cleaning is another way to clean diamond jewelry. There are many different ultrasonic cleaners on the market you can choose from if you want to clean your own jewelry with the high tech machines the jewelers are using. These use a high frequency which results in a cleaning action. Always read instructions before putting any of your jewelry in a machine like this. Not all ultra sonic cleaners work the same way so be sure you know what you are doing before you put your jewelry in for cleaning.

Taking proper care of your jewelry means you will take the time to clean it. If your jewelry doesn't shine anymore like the day you first got it you will need to clean it. You can always restore the shine of gold and diamonds.

There are many ways to clean your diamond jewelry. If you want your jewelry to have the sparkle it did the day you first wore it then you can clean it on your own at home, take it to a professional jeweler, or even use an ultrasonic machine for cleaning. Your jewelry can maintain the brilliance for decades when you take proper care of it and clean it on a regular basis.

Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

Sterling silver hoop earrings have been around for what seems like forever--generation after generation has donned the circular ornaments to show style, wealth, and personal flair. Jewelry is a powerful statement and can say a great deal about a person's character, personality, and values. Even God described His favor and esteem for the Israelites in terms of beautiful jewelry: "And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head (Ezekiel 16:12). Unfortunately, God's people's outward adornment did not always agree with the state of their character; still, jewelry can tell all about its wearer by design, extravagance, and size.

Traditional large silver hoop earrings, for example, send a definite message: their wearer is bold, vibrant, and happy to be visible. A woman sporting this kind of jewelry is not trying to blend into the crowd or pass by without notice; she wants to be seen and remembered. A girl with smaller, more detailed earrings is probably of a different character: she doesn't want to be the center of attention, but she does want to be noticed by people with the right taste and to quietly, subtly express her own unique personality. A woman's earrings may say that she is funky and eccentric, classy and sophisticated, or low-maintenance and a lot of fun. Sterling silver hoop earrings come in so many shapes and sizes that they are a perfect jewelry choice for any girl, offering ornamentation both for every day wear and special occasions.

A first important question is "Why this kind of jewelry?" Why should a shopper choose large silver hoop earrings over others like gold and platinum, which are equally beautiful? One reason, of course, is cost--it is much cheaper than yellow and white gold. Another incentive, however, is that sterling silver is a strong, durable material that is highly functional and lasting, which is why manufacturers use it for many every day items like kitchen wear, medical tools, and musical instruments. Most households have sterling silver dining utensils in their kitchens because they are long-lasting and highly resistant to scratching and rusting.

Sterling silver is made by combining pure silver, a soft, easily damaged material, with another alloy, usually copper, in order to give it strength and durability; this alloy generally contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. While copper is what gives this material strength, it is also the cause of corrosion and tarnishing; silver itself is not reactive, but its copper is, causing tarnishing with time and wear. Therefore, shoppers should plan to buy a good cleaner for their sterling silver hoop earrings, which can be purchased at jewelry stores, hardware stores, and often even at regular department stores. Protecting this material from harsh chemicals like bleach and chlorine is important, so wearers should always remember to take off their earrings before jumping into a swimming pool. For extra protection, jewelers suggest storing this kind of jewelry in a location where it will not come into contact with other jewelry, either by putting it in a separate compartment or wrapping it in cloth.

A set of large silver hoop earrings may be the first item that comes to mind when one thinks of hoops, but there are so many other options! When browsing online or in a store, shoppers will find a dazzling assortment of hoops, varying dramatically both in price and style. There are the usual, simple department store hoops for $35 and the $2000 diamond pair-- and, thankfully, a great deal in between. The goal is to find a reasonably priced, high-quality pair that will last a long time, work with a variety of outfits, and never go out of style. These can be worn with jeans for dinner and a movie, with a nice dress or pants suit for work or dress-up occasions, or sometimes even with a T-shirt and hat on a day at the park.

Sterling silver hoop earrings are versatile, functional, and fun; that's why every woman needs a pair. However, women looking for hoops to match specific outfits will also find an abundance of choices to work with any ensemble or look. There are petites, Tiffany style, bangles, cushions, Designer style, and, of course, JLo inspired hoops. Hoops may be oval, continuous, or even wavy; may be plain or accented with gemstones or diamonds; may even have one's name in script running through the center; there are hoops with pearl drops, with turquoise studs, with floral filigree, with delicately woven hearts; hoops with diamond baguettes, with sapphires, with emeralds. Charm hoops are a unique option; in this category shoppers will find earrings with dangling stars or hearts or music notes--plenty of charms to express any personality.

Large silver hoop earrings may not be a good option for every woman, but shoppers are sure to find a pair of hoops that works for them. If the buyer is hoping to find inexpensive, simple sterling silver hoop earrings for every-day wear, she should check local department stores for special sales and browse wholesale online jewelry websites. One word of caution: although it may be cheap, buyers should always avoid plating, which is sure to rub off, giving the jewelry a dull, cheap appearance. Think quality first and foremost. Women hoping to find hoops that are a little fancier and more suited for specific outfits should look both in traditional jewelry stores and online stores specializing in sterling jewelry, as these are the most likely places to find high value earrings that will continue to be beautiful and fashionable for many years to come.

Where is Gold Headed Now?

Our predictions came true from 2006 when we hypothesized gold could soon reach $1,000 an once, in our article, The Rising Price of Gold and Retail Jewelry. But are we right in our predictions this time? With the world insecure about this political season's "#1 issue", the economy, no one truly knows the future state of gold. But, of course, we can speculate ...

When we wrote that article, back in April 2006, gold was at approx. $600 an ounce. By March of 2008, just under two years later, we witnessed gold exceed $1,000 per ounce for the first time in its history.

The thought of gold reaching $1,000 as quickly as it did, seemed unlikely to us. We had hoped it would take at least 3-4 years or more to get there. After all, we do not necessarily make more money as a jewelry retailer when gold prices increase. What happens instead is that our prices increase -- yet our margins remain approx. the same, since we too are purchasing jewelry at a higher cost from our gold manufacturers and suppliers.

As a company, Apples of Gold Jewelry actually wants gold prices to fall, therefore making gold jewelry more affordable for our customers.

But where is gold headed now? We can only guess, as we did before, but we are hearing in the media and print the quiet murmurings of a gold bubble. If that seems unlikely, it also seemed equally unlikely to us when we predicted gold $1,000 back in April, 2006.

As I write this article, I hardly believe that gold will go significantly lower, but at the same time, history shows that gold, like many other commodities that have run high, will eventually decrease in value, especially as the economy stabilizes. Gold did see around $800 per ounce back in the 1980s, and later it dropped to the mid $200s after being elevated to such high levels. Will gold at some point in the near future have a mini-crash back down to $500 or $600 per ounce?

This can depend on several factors, including the U.S. and world economy, the strength of the dollar, the price of oil, the housing market, political change, and many other factors. The "buzz" on the street that we are hearing is that investors should "hold" gold, but not purchase anymore. What many investors are saying is that gold has had its run and now is too late to get in the market. Gold is a great investment when times are tough, when the dollar is down, when the economy is showing signs of trouble. Will that turn around soon? That is the question that we will have to wait and let economic history and world affairs play themselves out.

Then again, some are still brazen enough to predict gold will reach $2,000 per ounce in the near future -- but those voices are now fewer and farther in between.

All we can tell you is that the general mood of the market is that gold may go a little higher still, but then again, it may stabilize or head lower. No one is really sure at this pivot point in the gold market.

We were right once two years ago. We're not sure if we will be right again.

The Princess Cut Diamond

The princess cut diamond was developed in the 1960s. This square diamond makes use of the brilliant style of diamond cutting rather than traditional step-cut configurations of traditional squares such as the emerald. The extra faceting causes the princess to have more natural diamond brilliance and scintillation. The enhanced performance hides inclusions and makes color less noticeable. It is, in effect, a square version of the round brilliant, technically recognized as a square modified brilliant cut.

Applications

Square diamonds like the princess cut work well in many design applications. Eternity ring squares can be set in one continuous line with no gaps, as occurs with round stones. The geometrics of the square allow for different looks and easily stand alone or combine with round & other shapes. Rings that are ‘starset’ (meaning the square diamond's shape is turned so the points are N-S-E-W) have a distinctly different look.

Princess Cut Diamond Assessment

Unlike round diamonds (or Hearts & Arrows diamonds), the performance of fancy shape diamonds cannot be predicted using only proportions or static reflector photography. Experienced sellers can recommend a favored range of parameters, and it is possible to make broad conclusions from photography and reflector images, but these shapes must be seen live for decisive evaluation. This is why no lab awarded a cut grade for the princess diamond until 2005, when the American Gem Society introduced the industry’s first-ever scientific cut grade based on actual light performance. For this reason it is imperative to work with an expert you trust on princess cut diamond selection.

Configurations

Several diamond configurations exist for the princess. The main differences are in pavilion construction, where 2, 3 or 4 ‘chevrons’ can be seen. As diamond facets get smaller, broad dispersion is reduced in favor of smaller, rapid scintillation. When choosing a princess cut diamond it is prudent to keep size and construction in mind to arrive at the balance of performance qualities you desire.

crown

pavilion

Princess Cut Diamond Corners

Any sharp point on a square diamond or other gemstone is vulnerable. For this reason the setting process is critical with princess cuts and should be done by a skilled professional worthy of trust. Princess cut diamond points can be set into pre-cut ‘seats’ in the setting. Some manufacturers ‘chamfer’ the corners slightly and others are producing 'clipped-corners' to improve the diamond's durability.

For square diamonds that have sharp corners or points, chamfering is allowed to the extent that it improves durability without obviously changing the shape of the stone.

Princess Cut Diamond History

The forerunner of the princess cut diamond was the Barion cut diamond, developed by Basil Watermeyer of South Africa (nicknamed after his wife Marion). The term princess cut was previously applied to what is now known as the profile cut, developed in 1961, but the profile cut was used for very flat diamonds and differs from the modern princess.

Diamond Rough

Every piece of diamond rough is different and some pieces will finish best as a shape other than round. The diamond cutter makes decisions based on what will make the most attractive diamond while allowing most yield from the rough. The princess cut diamond works well with steep rough and much of the material best suited for square shapes may finish better as a princess, rather than a square baguette or emerald cut.

Expert Selection

It is critical to work with an expert you trust on locating and selecting the best diamond available, particularly in fancy shapes - which must be seen to be decisively assessed.