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Archive for December, 2011

With a variety of durable materials to choose from, you can be assured that these jewelry boxes will live up to their function and exceed your expectations about the protection that they can offer to your most expensive jewelries. Manufacturers ensured that these jewelry boxes were made from materials of the highest quality because they will be playing an important role of keeping very valuable things, real or sentimental, and prevent any damage on befalling these precious possessions.

Hand crafted and hand painted, these jewelry boxes are as personalized as you can get and they contain unique features with each piece made. These jewelry boxes give their owner a sense of uniqueness for owning something that is like no other. Aside from keeping you valuable trinkets safe, these jewelry boxes can also be an elegant addition to your dresser or table, their intricate designs and craftsmanship of the highest quality makes them striking pieces of art that will beautify their surroundings wherever you choose to put them. These jewelry boxes can be treasures on their own because of the intricate designs and hand painted accents, as well as the superb workmanship in some jewelry boxes with an array of different semi precious gems and crystals that glisten mesmerizingly as light hits their surfaces. Made in a myriad of designs and colors, there are countless jewelry boxes even for people with the most discriminating taste, one will surely find a perfect fit.

After going over the jewelry boxes’ beautiful exterior, open them to uncover their well designed interiors that are both gorgeous and functional. Sophisticated looks and practical use go hand in hand with these jewelry boxes because they integrate functionality amidst an intricate work of art to make them as useful just as they are beautiful. The jewelry boxes’ interiors can accommodate a variety of their owners’ precious belongings, from necklaces, to earrings, to rings and bracelets, one can always find the perfect spot to store them in, if proper organization is applied. Some jewelry boxes come with specialized slots to contain a certain type of jewelry for a more visually pleasing presentation and added convenience to its owner. And because these jewelry boxes are made of the highest quality, they can easily last several lifetimes if given proper care, you can actually include them in your collection to be passed down from generation to generation in your family.

Thai Silver Jewelry is just as sought after for its variety and exclusivity as jewelry from any other part of the world. In fact, Thai Silver is likely even more popular than gold due to the obvious benefits of cost, durability and attractiveness Silver alone carries with it. With its light appearance, Silver has managed to capture the imagination of a wide variety of skillful artisans who have worked on it to create beautiful works of art which could be worn by any person from the ages of ten to ninety. It is because of this stylish aspect of Silver that it has become quite popular in Thailand. Ladies in Thailand adore the sophisticated look that Silver lends to them when they wear jewelry crafted from it. Not only this, Silver being more affordable that one imagines such a beautiful metal to be, is another factor that has given Silver such widespread popularity in today’s Thai silver market.

Thai Silver jewelry is known for its wide variety of ornamental offerings with the entire range being present in this market. Thai jewelry ranges from delicate earrings crafted to perfection in all shapes from big chunky ones that hold gemstones, to elegant, intricate ones which are light-weight and very comfortable to wear on a day-to-day basis for working women. However, these fashionable earrings are not limited only to the female audience since men these days are more adventurous when it comes to adorning their ears with silver studs.

Other types of Thai jewelry includes jewelry adorning every part of a lady’s body like the neck, ankles, wrists and fingers. All this jewelry can be either made from 925 sterling silver or with a combination of sterling Silver and gemstones of your liking. Thai Silver items like rings and necklaces are usually bought in combination with gemstones. Silver products made with a combination of gemstones like rubies, diamonds, emeralds, both fake and genuine are irresistible in their allure. The people of Thailand love to wear simple silver jewelry which increase their attractiveness without having to pay thousands of dollars for this pleasure. Thai silver jewelry also includes the presence of Silver anklets and bracelets which are quite dainty and a joy to behold on the pretty feet and wrists of women.

If you want to surprise your loved one with a token of your love and appreciation, a silver necklace or bracelet would be an ideal gift for him or her. And the best part is that you wouldn’t even have to worry about spending too much since most jewelry are quite affordable unless of course you buy those that come with gemstones embedded in them. Whatever your silver jewelry needs, Thai silver jewelry always has the right ornament that compliments you or your special one be it a dainty silver anklet adorned with rubies or the heavy, burnished pair of silver earrings which give the wearer a cool, retro look.

Hence, if you are a Thai who is looking for exquisite jewelry to gift or wear, you should definitely take a tour of the hundreds of varieties of Silver sets which are available in all patterns and sizes for those who desire the beauty only Thai Silver jewelry can give them.

The Jewish culture has a long ancient history that dates thousands of years ago. Throughout time, the Jewish people have been scattered all around the world, absorbing various cultures of Eastern and Western societies. However, the core of the Jewish culture has been preserved and managed to survive through turbulent times.

Jewish religious articles and symbols have played an important role in maintaining the bond between Jewish communities from all around the world. Today Judaica art gives an expression to these common motifs that have sustained the collective unity of the Jewish people. One such example is the Star of David. Within the field of Judaica art, Jewish jewelry draws a wide audience who is fascinated with the original ways in which Jewish jewelry incorporates Jewish symbols and styles.

So what makes the Jewish jewelry so unique? Throughout history, the Jewish Diaspora has been exposed to diverse cultures. At the same time, prominent motifs in Jewish culture have been well preserved. Today we can find these multiple influences come to life in Judaica artworks with new interpretations. Contemporary Jewelry designers combine modern elements with ancient motifs to create pieces that express collective identity and religious faith. Judaica designers also celebrate the love of the Jewish people for the aesthetics by adding a dimension of their own creativity and imagination. The mix of elements results in unusual designs with symbolic significance that bring together the old and the new, Eastern and Western.

Jewish jewelry has enjoyed a growing popularity in the last few decades. Many people, including non-Jews, are drawn to this type of jewelry for its beauty and what it represents. In addition to its aesthetics, jewish jewelry carries a feel of something ancient and sacred. Many Jewish women and wear Jewish jewelry as a way of expressing their identification with Judaism and solidarity with Jewish nation and culture. The Star of David pendant or necklace is a great example. Wearing the Star of David is a common expression of faith, as well as it demonstrates the bond with the state of Israel as it decorates its national flag.

The Star of David is one of the several prominent symbols in Jewish tradition that are believed to protect the people who wear them on their hands and around their necks. Jewish people also believe that wearing a red string around the wrist wards off evil. The Book of Psalms, one of the most sacred texts in Judaism, is also a common motif in Jewish jewelry. Like other protective amulets, the Book of Psalms is believed to protect the ones carrying it.

Miniature versions of the Book of Psalms or quotations from the sacred text decorate many Jewish jewelry and other Judaica items. Today, Star of David pendants or Book of Psalms pendants make popular gifts for Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah.Hamsa jewelry is also given as a romantic gift between two lovers, as a way of showing someone you care for them and their safety.

The Hamsa hand is an excellent example of a symbol that the Jewish culture has absorbed that it is not derived from religious or biblical sources. The Hamsa hand has become a popular motif that decorates an array of Judiaca designs.

In addition to Hamsa designs, many jewelry items are inscribed with Hebrew words, letters or symbols with Kabbalist meanings, generally known as Kabbalah jewelry. Kabbalah is a Jewish school of thought concerned with the mystical aspect of Judaism. Kabbalah discusses the inner meaning of religious Jewish texts. The combination of the three Hebrew letters ‘Alef-Lamed-Dalet’, for example, spells out one of God’s sacred names and can be found on many pendants, rings and bracelets. There are many symbols in the Kabbalah amulets that are believed to bring good energies. In recent year Kabbalah jewelry has become wide spread with the growing interest of people, Jews and non-Jews, in spirituality.

The fact that the Diaspora Jews were constantly prosecuted for generations in the last centuries, reaching its peak during World War Two has also influenced the growth and development of the field of Jewish jewelry. In Post World War Two, many proud Jewish people have felt a need to show a sign of identification with their nation. The Star of David that was negatively used by the Nazis during World War Two has turned even more sharply into a sign of collective pride.

Large audiences are drawn to the spiritual aspects of symbolic jewelry. Judaica artists, in response to the growing demand, aspire to design jewelry that includes traditional motifs with an appropriate meaning. Today’s artifacts are inspired by old models of Jewish tradition with a modern twist.People enjoy wearing symbolic jewelry because they carry meaning and a touch of holiness. As these can be found in so many designs and styles, no wonder Jewish jewelry is so popular in so many places around the wor

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Jewelry making metals are an important part of the jewelry artist studio. The most commonly used metals are probably silver and gold, however there is a variety of jewelry making metals that give the jewelry artist flexibility when they are designing and creating their pieces.
With today’s scientific and technological advances you can integrate many other alloys into your work.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Metals You Want to Work With

Cost is probably the number one factor.
What style of jewelry you design. If you are mostly attracted to silver, you will gravitate towards incorporating silver in your work. There is also the possibility of mixing metals to give definition and texture to a piece of jewelry. Using bi-metals were a layer of gold is fused into sterling silver, can also save money and accomplish the quality you are looking for.
Different metals required the use of alternative equipment. You will need to factor in the amount of money you have to invest in tools and equipments to accomplish the type of jewelry designs you want to create

Metals have a variety of alloys that when added together provide the unique properties of each one.

Silver Alloys: Silver, has the highest thermal conductivity.
Fine-Silver is about 99.9% pure. In this form it is a lustrous and soft.
Sterling-Silver is an alloy containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other components, usually copper.
Argentium Silver is a tarnish resistant silver and firescale free. It is perfectly malleable once annealed, and is almost twice as hard as traditional sterling silver.

Most high quality silver items are stamped with a “fineness” or “quality” mark. This mark designates the content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be accompanied by a maker’s mark or registered trademark. The most important thing is that silver is more affordable than gold and makes wonderful jewelry!

Pure Gold: is 24 Karats, which is the reason for the high price on jewelry made with 24K.
The solution to making gold consumer-friendly is to mix it with another material, creating an alloy that results in a stronger and frequently less-expensive piece.

Carats (also written as karats and abbreviated as kt) are the measure of the ratio of gold to other metals contained within the alloy. The more gold an alloy contains, the higher the caratage is.

Gold alloys typically span a range from 8 to 18 carats. An 8 carat alloy means that the gold content is 1/3 and an 18 carat piece is 75% gold. Other common caratages of gold jewelry alloys are 10 kt and 14 kt.

Gold Overlay or Bi-Metal: Gold overlay is an application of gold on a base metal piece. This technique gives an item the expensive look of gold for a fraction of the price. A piece of gold overlay jewelry is always stamped indicating the process and the gold’s karat quality.
Gold Plate: This technique chemically bonds a layer of gold to a base metal using electrolysis. It is created when the base metal is coated with layer of gold with at least 10 karats.

Gold Filled: This is the process in which a metal is layered with at least 10-karat gold by using heat and pressure. In order for jewelry to be “gold filled,” the gold content must compose at least 1/20th of the item’s total weight.

Gold over Silver: This is a gold overlay using a silver base metal. Jewelry made with Silver covered with a layer of yellow gold is considered to be the most luxurious of the bi-metals. You can use this metal with confidence because it is durable and to gives jewelry a more expensive rich look.

Copper: is a great alternative to the skyrocketing prices in the precious metal market. Many jewelry artists and designers have discovered Copper as exciting alternative. Copper jewelry making can be very versatile, not only because of the cost, but also because Copper is one of the easiest metal to work with. Copper is also very pliable and thus easy to cut, form and fold. Copper jewelry making is easier than ever because of the accessibility of the metal. Copper can be found at jewelry supply and metal supply stores. Like many of the other metals, Copper can be purchased in many forms: Wire, sheet, tube, chain, beads and jewelry components.

Platifina: Introduced in 2005, platifina is a new sterling silver alloy comprised of 92.5 percent silver, 1 percent platinum and 6.5 percent other metals (that’s a trade secret). This new alloy creates a metal that is brighter in color than either silver or pure platinum and is guaranteed tarnish-resistant, yet platifina jewelry is much more affordable than platinum jewelry.

Karatium: Alloys are a new family of alloys containing a percentage of gold and have been formulated in response to industry demand for less expensive metals. They are available in Yellow which contains 20% gold, Pink and White options which contain 10% gold as well as a sterling silver alloy which contains 2.5% gold. Although Karatium alloys polish to a high luster much like traditional karat gold alloys, they can be priced considerably less than 10kt gold and are an attractive alternative to gold filled products since they are a true “Alloy” and not a clad product with a base metal layer making up the majority of your jewelry. Karatium alloys also have the advantage over gold filled that the gold layer will never wear off. Karatium alloys are formulated to work well for all jewelry applications and can be cast, formed and fabricated just like karat gold alloys. All Karatium metal jewelry supplies have been formulated for optimum tarnish resistance. These qualities make Karatium a jewelry making material to investigate and experiment with.

Stainless Steel: Has recently gained in popularity as a jewelry making material, Stainless steel was developed in the 19th Century and is a combination of iron-carbon alloy. It has been used in tools, structures and manufacturing. Jewelry artists have recently started using it because its resistance to Its attractive grey color, strength and low cost, has made stainless steel a good alternative metal for making jewelry.

Titanium: Titanium is probably the strongest available. It is an industrial metal that has been recently introduce into the jewelry industry. Titanium has an attractive gray tone and gives jewelry a modern look. It is corrosion, tarnish and discoloration resistant. Titanium can be fabricated into different designs and has become a great alternative for wedding and engagement rings.

Tungsten: Also called wolfram, is formed from super dense alloys and is used in products ranging from golf club heads to weapons. This metal is as strong as steel and about twice the weight, making this metal almost wear proof and a perfect alternative for jewelry making.

Palladium: Is a lustrous silvery white jewelry making material used in electronics, jewelry, and certain other industries. Palladium is considered to be a precious metal. With its bright color and durable nature is the perfect metal to use for wedding jewelry which is expected to keep its appearance for decades.

Bronze: An early copper alloy; so early, in fact, that an entire era – the Bronze Age – was named for it. Bronze was used for making bracelets, ankles, and earrings, and beaded necklaces. Bronze is gaining in popularity because of its color and the easiness to create interesting textures.

Brass: Combine copper with zinc and you see the golden luster of brass. Brass is a malleable, and has a high-luster, that gives it the appearance of gold. Bronze was used primarily to create functional items such as door knobs and picture frames. Brass has now gained in popularity as a metal amongst jewelry designers

Some of the metals, such as, bronze, copper and silver can be etched by using a prepared solution of ferric chloride which also contains hydrochloric acid. This process allows you to create unique textures and designs. Make sure you follow instructions when etching any of these three metals and that you dispose of the solution properly.

Alpaca (Alpacca): Not to be confused with the animal, alpaca is a relatively new metal jewelry making supply, predominantly made of copper alloyed with nickel, zinc, and tin. The reduced expense of alpaca makes it a natural jewelry making material substitute for silver in fashion jewelry.

Pewter: As copper alloyed with tin became bronze, tin alloyed with copper and lead resulted in pewter. Pewter was mostly used in the manufacturing of tableware as well as being a base metal often used for rings and pendants. When polished to a high luster, pewter approaches the elegant sheen of fine silver.

Now that you are familiar with the different types of jewelry making metals, you can begin to enhance you designs.

Jewelry making materials usually come from jewelry supply companies, don’t they? Well, not necessarily – especially as offbeat components for creating jewelry are becoming more popular.

As the prices of silver, gold, and other traditional jewelry metals have risen, jewelry artists have begun using unusual and totally non-traditional jewelry making materials for their creations. Although this trend started because of the soaring cost of metal, its popularity has grown quickly as jewelry artists and their customers have discovered the fabulous possibilities of jewelry created from odds and ends.

When money is tight, jewelry customers want colorful, cheery ways to perk up their wardrobe without breaking the bank. So some of the most popular new bracelet, necklace, and earring designs are made from jewelry making materials such as:

* Cloth, fiber, cord, or rope – especially in bracelets that wrap, knot, tie, or cinch.
* Paper products / ephemera – often in tiny frames, mixed media, or collage.
* Wood jewelry components – either natural or colored.
* Buttons – of every size, shape, and vintage.
* Parts from older jewelry, combined with other elements and remade into new pieces.
* Seashells of all types, colors, and sizes – especially in earrings and necklaces.
* Colorful metals – especially colored or patinaed brass and copper.
* Repurposed items of all sorts – cut down, stripped, cleaned up, and turned into jewelry components.

How to Find Unusual Jewelry Making Materials

Instead of going out in search of a specific item, go with an open mind and be ready for serendipity to show you some crafty possibilities. Look at things with your creative eye, see past any accumulated dust and grime, and imagine what you can do with various items you come across.

Be prepared to sort through things. Bags, boxes, and drawers of miscellaneous objects are often where you’ll find some of the best jewelry making materials.

Go through the clearance aisles and bins of craft stores, hardware stores, and home improvement stores.

Tell your friends and family about the types of “junk” you’re looking to use for making jewelry. They’ll think it’s fun to keep an out for these things for you. Our loved ones often enjoy participating in the treasure hunt, and they may come across some fantastic finds we’d never see otherwise!

Bring a flashlight and magnifying glass on your treasure hunts. Look closely at the condition of older or secondhand items before you buy them.

While you’re hunting for jewelry making materials, also keep an eye out for things you can use to display your jewelry. Boxes, trunks, baskets, fabrics, gloves, dolls, racks, wig stands, picture frames, etc. can be cleaned up, repainted or refinished into interesting jewelry displays.

Look at everything in yard sales, tag sales, estate sales, etc. The “merchandise” at these events isn’t always organized, so you never know where a stash of potential jewelry making materials may turn up. The best deals are when the event is winding down, when the owners just want to quickly unload their remaining stuff.

Visit antique, resale, and thrift shops and ask whether they have a newsletter or an announcements mailing list for their events, sales, and new arrivals. If they do, have them add your name and address (or email) to the list. It’s a good way to be one of the first people to see their new inventory – and any possible jewelry making materials. Owners of these shops are usually helpful, and will likely keep an eye out for anything in particular if you let them know about your interests.

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