Category: Jewelry

All the jewelry I wear gives me a rash.” Can you relate to this statement? This allergic reaction to some metals is commonly referred to as dermatitis. The Nickel found in many types of jewelry is the cause of most forms of dermatitis. Allergies to Nickel are quite widespread. Nearly one in seven people experience an allergic reaction to Nickel. Women suffer more than men from Nickel allergies. This is probably due to the fact that more women wear jewelry then men, so they are more exposed to jewelry with Nickel content. So what types of jewelry metals should one avoid if they are allergic to Nickel?

Let’s firs take a look at Gold jewelry. Generally, jewelry made from yellow Gold (14 karat and above) usually doesn’t cause Dermatitis. However, white Gold may. White Gold contains Nickel and other “white” metals to produce its Silver coloring. One out of every nine people will react to the Nickel in white Gold. Another form of Gold jewelry is Gold-filled or “GF” jewelry. Gold-filled jewelry metal is created when a base metal is coated with a layer of Gold. This results in a much thicker layer of Gold in relation to Gold-plate jewelry. With Gold-filled jewelry, the amount of Gold contained in the jewelry is between 75-200 times higher in Gold content than in that of Gold-plated products.

For those that love the look of White Gold, but have allergies, Fine Silver or Sterling Silver is a great alternative. Fine Silver is by definition 99.9% pure Silver. Normally, jewelry is generally not made of Fine Silver because the metal is extremely soft and does not withstand normal wear and tear well. In general, most Silver jewelry is made from Sterling Silver. By definition, Sterling Silver is 92.5% pure Silver. Copper makes up the remaining 7.5%. To make the Silver more durable, Copper is alloyed with pure Silver. Since Copper is normally used, Sterling Silver is a great metal for Nickel allergic people. By law, all Sterling Silver must by hallmarked with a .925 symbol. This marking is common on manufactured pieces, but may not be present on artisan jewelry.

Another great choice of metal to consider if you have Nickel allergies, is Copper. Most Copper jewelry doesn’t contain Nickel and is made with 100% Copper. Surgical or Stainless Steel is commonly used in jewelry. As the name implies, Surgical Stainless Steel was designed to be used in the human body. Conversely, Nickel is used in Stainless Steel making up to as much as 8 to 12% of the alloy. People with sensitive skin should avoid Stainless Steel in that it does contain a high percentage of Nickel. Another choice “white” metal for those that suffer with Dermatitis is Platinum. It contains no Nickel and is chiefly composed of 95% Platinum and 5% Iridium. The last of the “safe” metals is Titanium. Titanium is a great metal for jewelry – it’s both hypoallergenic and durable. For those that suffer from Nickel allergies, Titanium jewelry is a sure bet.

Please be aware of these types of jewelry and metals when shopping if you commonly have skin problems. Nickel is frequently used to make Costume and Fashion jewelry. Fashion or Costume Jewelry typically contains high quantities of Nickel or German Silver. German Silver does not contain any Silver. In fact, “Silver” only refers to the color of the metal, and is no way related to metal compostion. The “Silver” appearance of German Silver is a result of melting Nickel, lead, zinc, or tin during the alloying process. If your are concerned that your jewelry may contain Nickel, the best way to determine this would be to buy a test kit available online. By asking a few questions and doing a little research upfront, you can save both time and money, and still allow be able to wear fashionable jewelry.

Continue Reading

Turquoise stones have been used in jewelry making for thousands of years. The soft green blue semiprecious gemstone is found around the world and has been associated with good luck, fertility and religious artifacts as well as for personal adornment. Here in the Southwest you will find that the Native American silver jewelry trade had it’s roots from Spain and South America. As you stroll the jewelry shops in Phoenix, Tucson, Santa Fe and Albuquerque do take notice of the beautiful craftsmanship that is evident in the turquoise studded creations. Also notice the combinations of color from not only turquoise stones but many other types of stones being used in the pieces you see displayed. Local native american tribes have their own distinct styles which are readily identifiable if you care to notice and I am sure you will.

Here is something else I bet you did not know. Some of the best quality
turquoise today comes from other countries besides the USA, also more importing of lower quality jewelry is occurring from outside of the USA, so do be careful when shopping and try to inquire as to the origin of products you are shopping for. If you want a more expensive sterling silver jewelry items then look for a stamp mark or some clarification of the product. You should be prepared to see your jewelry tarnish, because this is a natural occurring event as the silver is exposed to oxygen. When the silver ore is mined it comes out black and you would never think that it could be the same shiny metal that you see in the stores. Well, hope you learned something from my article which will be of benefit to you on your next visit to the jewelry store or when you browse the net for those last minute Christmas gifts. These are just a few of the interesting facts that you can learn about when you visit our web site.

Continue Reading

Whether you buy costume jewelry for your own collection, for investment or for resale, its important to know when to repair a piece that has damage or missing stones, and when to walk away. Whether you intend to wear it, or plan to sell it as is will determine the wisdom of repairing it. If you plan to repair the piece and then sell it, be sure to factor in the cost of repairs to see if its worth fixing.

If you have a piece of costume jewelry that youd like to wear, but has loose or missing stones, or has other condition issues, what are the best ways to repair it so you can safely enjoy wearing it?

Ive found that some issues are easy to address, others require more time, patience and money, and still others benefit from the attention of a professional.

If youd like to repair your jewelry yourself, there are a few things you should invest in. If you dont already have a jewelers loupe, or strong magnifying glass, you should get one. I have two one stays on my desk, and the other stays in my purse, so I always have one handy, whether Im working at home or out shopping for jewelry. Another handy magnifier is one that straps on your head, leaving your hands free.

The most common problem I see in costume jewelry is with the stones rhinestones, crystal, glass or plastic, they may come out of their settings, be loose, or crack or dull. Older pieces may be set with glue that has dried and let the stone fall out. Its important to use the right kind of adhesive, and to not use too much. Krazy Glue or Super Glue is not recommended, as it may break down when attached to glass. Super Glue may be especially damaging to vintage pieces a film may develop if it reacts to old metal and plating. If you get it on the surface of the stone, its difficult to remove. Never use hot glue it can expand and contract with temperature changes and may crack the jewelry or loosen the stone. The best adhesive to use would be one designed specifically for jewelry, which can be found in craft stores and on jewelry supply web sites.

Be careful not to use too much glue when replacing stones. The glue will not dry properly, and the adhesive will flow out around the stone and onto the metal. I use a toothpick dipped in a little pool of glue to drop minute bits of glue into the setting, a drop at a time, using as little as possible.

Putting the stone back into the setting is a delicate process you can wet the tip of your finger to make the stone stick and then carefully drop it into the setting.

Save your old broken jewelry, or any unmatched earrings for their stones. You might find broken pieces at flea markets, yard sales and antique shops. Its hard to exactly match a missing stone, but if you build up a collection of orphan pieces, the right size and color just might be available. You can also access jewelry suppliers for stones. Keep in mind that whatever you purchase for repairs should be factored into the price if the piece is for resale.

One way to make old jewelry look new again is replating. Replating can be costly, and should only be done if you are keeping the piece for yourself to wear. Replating may diminish the value of vintage jewelry, just as refinishing antique furniture would decrease its value. An Internet search should provide the names of jewelry restorers in your area.

Now, what about that green stuff that you sometimes see on vintage jewelry? Some jewelry collectors simply pass on pieces that have green verdigris on them, as it can indicate corrosion that cant be cleaned off. You can try to clean it with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar, but if the metal is heavily coated and degraded, you may need to gently chip the green away, taking care to not damage the metal beneath. Wipe the piece with a damp cloth and let it air dry completely. You can also try the same process with ammonia. Be careful to never immerse the piece of jewelry in liquid, as the stones may loosen or discolor due to water getting into the setting.

Costume jewelry is made to be worn and enjoyed. Replacing missing stones and cleaning the metal will give your vintage jewelry sparkle and glow and many more years of wear.

Continue Reading

Placing your handmade copper jewelry in re-sealable plastic bags along with anti-tarnish jewelry paper will keep it bright and shinny flor a long time. Before storing your handmade copper jewelry, make sure it is clean and moisture free. Look for handmade copper jewelry that has been treated with a protective coating that resists tarnishing. Copper jewelry that comes in direct contact with the skin, such as rings, necklaces, cuffs, and bracelets will tarnish faster than earrings due to constant abrasion that wears off the protective coating.It’s surprisingly easy to care for handmade copper jewelry once the protective coating wears off, just as it is for caring for Sterling Silver jewelry. The only kind of metal that won’t tarnish, but is way too soft for most jewelry applications, are 24K Gold or Fine Silver. Copper acts as an oxidation catalyst, but due to its strength, is commonly alloyed with most metals.

One of the simplest ways to bring back shine to your handmade copper jewelry is by using a jewelry polishing cloth that can be purchased at most local drugstores or from your local jeweller. A jewelry cloth (commonly referred to as a rogue cloth) is well worth having, since it can last for years. For those more delicate pieces, have a professional jeweler steam clean or use an ultrasonic cleaner. If the piece is set with gemstones, don’t attempt to clean the piece yourself, or you could damage the piece and reduce the value. Quite a few gemstones can be easily damaged by using an ultrasonic cleaner, so you might save a few dollars by cleaning your jewelry yourself, but you might end up with a worthless piece. If your are unsure, take your jewelry to a professional. Touch base with the artist you bought your handmade copper jewelry from. Most artists will clean their own work for a nominal fee, or sometimes even for free.

If you are short on time and need a quick fix to spruce up your handmade copper jewelry, you can use any of these easy solutions (not to be used on jewelry with gemstones or pearls):

* Vinegar – (White, Apple Cider, Wine, Balsamic) – Set the jewelry in a plastic or glass container. Make sure you don’t use metal. Pour enough vinegar into the container until it covers the entire piece of jewelry. Let stand four about 10-15 minutes. Rinse under warm water, dry off, and your finished!

*Lime or Lemon Juice – Same directions as above for vinegar, but throw in a dash of salt as a catalyst.

*Ketchup or Worcestershire Sauce – Squeeze a dab onto a soft cloth or toothbrush, then rinse throughly under lukewarm water. Make sure not to expose gemstones, as they should not be exposed to any natural or chemical cleaners.

Continue Reading

Forecast of the industry in general, the jewelry spend sum of Chinese and Indian market is expected to catch up to U.S.A market by 2015. China will become the worlds biggest and the great developing potential of jewelry consumer market.But, China jewelry industry is still not mature, the whole industrial concentration is very low, in general, a huge market demand but a mess supply chains, and market split phenomenon is obvious. Outlook 2011, how the China jewelry industry movements? In this regard, the industry has said that jewelry enterprises will hasten to expand network sale market, the next 3 to 5 years, the share of network of sales will accounted for 20% of China jewelry industry; the e-commerce of China jewelry industry will appear and develop rapidly.

Statistics of Gemmological Association of China show that, China has become the world’s second largest jewelry consumer market, but the construction of social faith system needs a process, formation of the habit to buy jewelry online still takes some time.That makes the share of network of sales just accounted for less than 5%, it has great room for growth. The industry is expected, jewelry marketing will enhance greatly in 2011, and network of sales is expected to 21.7 billion, and will grow 155% on year. The next 3 to 5 years, the share of network of sales will accounted for 20% of China Jewelry industry.

The sale share of jewelry e-commerce is increasing these years, however, some jewelry e-commerce enterprises are struggling to survive. The gross profit of the industry leader, like Diamond Bird, Devine, the Nine, looks not good in recent years. There are not many jewelry e- commerce enterprises can highlight oneself value, more than that are making price war, just to be another new channel of commodity circulation. An industry Mr. Huang said that malicious competition of price caused online stores had started to die constantly during 2008 and 2010.Concerned expert expresses jewelry e-commerce industry represents a new way of the global jewelry industry, there will be many China jewelry e-commerce enterprises get rid of the burden of operating loss, begin to realize gain in 2011. In the year of expect to usher in a new stage of development, China e-commerce will may be appear a blockbuster development.

Continue Reading