Saturday, 14. November 2009
Silver is probably one of the most liked materials for jewelry. This could be due to the fact that it’s the so-called middle ground between cheap and classy. It is not so flamboyant as gold, and yet it’s not so shabby as bronze. There’s something nice about silver that makes it a great choice of material for jewelry that people can wear everyday. However, when buying silver jewelry, you must have a bit of know-how about its qualities. This is so you do not get tricked about the quality of the jewelry you will buy.
Stamp of Authenticity
In accordance with the law, silver will have to be marked with either 925 or “sterling”. Basically, this says that the piece of jewelry you are buying is made of 92.5% silver, the other term for which is “sterling silver”. If you’re purchasing a necklace, then you should look at the clasp for this stamp. The same principle holds for pieces of jewelry with silver chains. If you’re purchasing a ring or a bracelet, search for the stamp on the interior of the piece of jewelry.
The Nitric Test Read more... (428 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Louise Kingston -
Friday, 23. October 2009
Silverware is so very popular and in demand today because of it’s exquisite glow and luster which makes it perfect for jewelry to adorn oneself or for even simple silverware used as cooking utensils in most households. Necklaces made from silver are the perfect pieces of adornment and are part of every fashion conscious woman’s jewels collection.
Silver serves so many other purposes today besides just being there to compliment your wardrobe or attire or just to make a fashion statement. Tarnishing is not alien to silver. Silver like all other elements goes thorough tarnishing the discoloration. The hydrogen sulphide compounds and the sulphur content in the atmosphere react with silver and make it lose it actual color and glow. If you take proper care to store and clean your silverware then it can keep on glowing endlessly for years to come.
It is best to store silver jewels and other silverware away from chemicals such as ammonia, bleaching agents, alcohol, nail polish removers and turpentine and many such hard substances which can only cause irreversible damage to your silver items. Also be careful not to spray perfume or hairspray after you have worn your silver jewelley because they most certainly will cause unforeseen chemical reactions. Read more... (573 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Kevin Lawrence -
Sunday, 23. August 2009
by Clare Liu
The Miao minority group in southwestern China have many different tribes. Some are well known for their fascinating silver jewelry, while some are distinguished by their unique costumes. The Magpie Miao, with a population of 8600, inhabit six villages on the mountain. They got their name magpie because of their unique costume which looks like the plume of a magpie.
Women’s clothes are characterized by two contrasting main colors: black and white. Their pleated skirt from the waist to the bottom consists of 3 parts. The top part is blue, which symbolizes the sky and the sea. The batik middle part shows beautiful patterns of fields, rivers, and lakes in their hometown. And lowest part is embroidered, which has images of mountains, pathways, and rivers their ancestors once crossed.
Little girls wear a black-and-white cloth band attached to their shirt. When they reach 16, they will have their long hair shaped into a hair bun and adorn it with a comb on the top.
Men’s shirts have two tails at the back, like the tail of a magpie.
As the local people are fond of magpies, it’s not allowed to hunt this bird in their area. Read more... (407 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Clare Liu -
Monday, 27. July 2009
by Yanida Atmaja
Dating all the way back to many ancient and venerable civilizations, jewelry has been an integral part of society and culture. The fine jewelry of a people often reflects the artistry, the values and the humanity of the particular time and can give many clues about the daily life, economics and even about wars and conquests. While jewelry can be enlightening in this way, the jewelry boxes of different eras are also artifacts to learn from and to be treasured.
In fact, it is fair to declare that the history and the significance of the intricate jewelry boxes date back for as many centuries as the pieces of jewelry. Especially in ancient cultures, fine jewelry was revered and was often used to display the position and the power of a particular person or family. In addition, fashion jewelry and embellished items, such as various gemstone and diamond jewelry pieces have always been, as they are today, outward expressions of wealth. Read more... (574 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Yanida Atmaja -
