Jewellery Insurance Claims

Thinking about the possibility of a theft or loss of a favourite piece of jewellery is certainly not pleasant, however the possibility cannot be ignored. So often victims of a theft or loss find that claiming on their insurance is complicated and unsatisfactory. Insurance companies have an extraordinary ability to 'wriggle' when it comes to claims and the small print all of a sudden becomes far more important than it seemed at the time of signing the original contract.

How often do we hear that a victim of theft has been unable to claim compensation for a loss because the circumstances did not qualify the 'terms of the insurance policy', or that the amount paid out was not nearly enough to find a comparable replacement for the item lost. Then there are the insurance companies who refuse to pay out for the loss in cash, instead insisting that the customer must purchase jewellery to the value of the loss from 'associated' jewellery stores - many of which may stock jewellery that the claimant feels is inferior to the treasured item that was lost.

Much of this frustration can be avoided by taking a few simple, precautionary steps in advance of any unfortunate incident which may result in the necessity of making an insurance claim. Firstly, when purchasing jewellery, always ensure that you are provided with a purchase invoice or receipt. Check that the store selling you this jewellery provides a clear and detailed description of the goods purchased. This should include the type and grade of precious metal used including its weight. Any gemstones should be detailed with the quality, grades and weights. Finally the price must be stated preferably also showing the original shop price if a discount was given. This receipt must be safely retained in a filing system at home so that it can easily be found if a claim should become necessary at some date in the future.

It is not sufficient simply to have an original purchase invoice to identify and prove the value of a treasured item. As the years roll on the value of that item is likely to steadily increase. In order to maintain a clear idea of the value of the jewllery to be insured it is vitally important to maintain a current valuation. The value of the insured jewellery should be updated regularly every three to four years by a qualified jeweller. In the case of a loss the insurance valuation will have two important purposes:

• Firstly the detailed description will enable the police to clearly identify your lost jewellery if it is recovered. Without this proof the police are sometimes unable to return jewellery to 'a rightful owner' because it cannot be proved that the jewellery is actually theirs. The detailed weights and measurements, along with photographs, contained in a valid valuation leaves no room for doubt when identifying recovered items.

• Secondly a current valuation will enable you to check you have adequate insurance cover and that in the case of a loss the insurance company pays you out an amount that is realistic and up to date.

Unfortunately not everybody is as well prepared as this. What happens if you incur a loss and can't find the original purchase receipt or what if you never obtained a valuation certificate for the item?

All is not lost .. but be prepared to act quickly before submitting your claim to an insurance company! Find whatever information you DO have for the lost jewellery including any family snapshots etc that may help. Then approach a qualified jeweller and ask for a 'post loss valuation'. With the information you are able to supply the jeweller can build up a picture of the lost item and in this way produce a detailed valuation certificate based on the details you can remember. Insurance companies will normally accept a carefully constructed post loss valuation, produced in this manner, and it means that you do not leave yourself open to an unrealistically low valuation when your claim is eventually settled.

One of the biggest frustrations for insurance claimants is when insurance companies issue 'vouchers' for replacement jewellery. This imposes a serious restriction on finding a suitable replacement for the item lost. For example how can a treasured antique heirloom be replaced in a 'High Street' jewellery store belonging to one of the large multiples? Quite simply it cannot and for this reason the Insurance Ombudsman has made a ruling stating that, in principle, this is wrong. I can quote from the Insurance Ombudsman Bureau Report (1987 and restated in 2003):

"The option to replace jewellery is not properly exercised by offering a policy holder an authority to buy jewellery up to an agreed value at a particular jeweller's shop. That is wrong in principle, although it seems to have become a hallowed practice. It is in fact a denial of true indemnity."

AR(87) p.31

In a great many cases in which I have been asked to help with a claim, the claimant has received more favourable treatment once this ruling had been pointed out to Insurance Companies offering 'vouchers'. It is worth retaining a copy of this ruling should you need to quote from it in the future!

It is hoped that, with some forethought and a little planning, at least some of the distress and frustration of sustaining a loss can be avoided. The simple steps outlined in this article will prevent much of the pain and hopefully result in a more suitable jewellery replacement should the worst happen. When in doubt always seek the advice of a professional.

As a small family run business Paul Wright Jewelley has exhibited its handcrafted silver and gold jewelery throughout the United Kingdom since 1995. Paul Wright Jewellery offers a full jewellery valuation service and helps claimants with important claims. His website is

Handmade Silver Jewellery

Diamond Wedding Rings

Choose Your Metals Carefully When Buying Jewelery

The feeling of wearing exquisite jewelery is, for many, second to none - after all, a great piece of jewelery doesn't have the same rigid time scale on it as a fashionable dress or a trendy pair of shoes. But choosing jewelery can be a time consuming process, especially if you're trying to find a special necklace or bracelet for someone you care about. But buying jewelery doesn't have to be difficult; instead, if you focus on some key guidelines when making your choice you'll be able to find the perfect item of jewelery in no time.

Regardless of whether you're looking for earrings, bangles or rings, it's crucial to choose the right metal when buying jewelery and establish what your budget is. For instance, platinum is the most expensive type of metal you can buy, while nine carat gold will be more affordable than 18 carat gold if you're looking for gold jewelery.

Additionally, you'll need to consider the personal taste and skin type of the person you're buying for. Not everyone likes yellow gold, while for others it might be all they consider when picking jewelery for themselves. Make sure you know what type of metal you're buying, and if you're not sure of the properties of a particular metal, ask someone who knows.

Choosing the right type of gold, for example, can be tricky. Gold can make a great finishing touch to an outfit, but make sure you don't go overboard. Pure gold is yellow and can look overpowering if worn in large quantities; opt for delicate yellow gold hoops - a piece of jewelery worn frequently by Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, to finish off a an outfit with an air of casual grace. Or, if you're looking for a larger piece of gold jewelery, opt for white or rose gold which tends to be more subtle in tone and often appeals to people who are reluctant to don flashier yellow gold items.

Conversely, if the person you're buying jewelery for prefers to stay away from gold altogether, opt for an alternative precious metal like silver, platinum or tungsten, now widely used in all types of jewelery including earrings and neckalces. Platinum is becoming increasingly popular as a jewelery metal, with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Hudson sporting platinum jewelery pieces at this year's Academy Awards.

Tungsten is also a rising star among the world's top jewellery designers, especially when it comes to men's jewellery. Tungsten rings are fast gaining currency with fashion-conscious men eager to set the trend - so if you're looking for jewellery for men, then tungsten is likely the best way to go. In fact, tungsten jewellery has received support from the likes of actors Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Sinise, while watch manufacturers like TAG Heuer and Baume et Mercier have been using tungsten in watches for years.

Another lesson that's essential to remember in any jewellery buying spree is to check the hallmark of the jewelery you've decided to buy. Particularly when purchasing gold jewelery, ensure that you check and understand the hallmark of the piece on question. A hallmark is a quality control mark that's placed on gold, silver and platinum and guarantees that the metal a consumer is about to buy lives up to legal standards.

Moreover, hallmark symbols allow you to identify quickly the carat of your jewellery, as well as its purity levels. And once you've approved the standards of the metal you've chosen, and the style of the piece of jewellery, there's only one thing left to do - make your purchase!

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist.

Designer Accessories

A gorgeous designer dress that fits you perfectly can be complemented with accessories that will accentuate not only the beauty of the dress but your features, skin color and body shape. Knowing yourself and the basics, knowing when to accessorize and what to use, will allow you to assemble a wardrobe that is fabulous and functional.

The right accessories and jewellery can embellish any outfit. From hats to hoses, scarves to shawls, shoes to slip-ons, one has to consider the current fashion trends, the season and the occasion you are going to attend.

Depending on the dress you are wearing, you could accessorize almost all of your visible areas like the neck, ears, wrist and shoulders. Choose a matching bracelet and necklace. A line of real or cultured pearls around the neck is classical, elegant and never fails. A tennis bracelet such as a single line of diamonds makes a bold and sexy statement. Or consider a nice designer watch instead of the bracelet. Pearl or diamond studs in the ears, vintage clip-ons, dangling or hoop earrings also work marvellously. Of course, depending on your neckline, you could choose to vary your accessories as well. For a V neck wear a necklace and stud earrings, for a closed neckline wear only striking earrings, for a halter wear long earrings.

Your jewellery can be real or costume jewellery. The latter is relatively inexpensive, but still look good and is available at all department stores and boutiques. While an ankle bracelet will highlight your legs, sparkling clips, tortoise shell barrettes, or fresh flowers adorned in your hair will enhance your looks.

Put on your fancy shoes no matter how elegant or expensive they may be. Choose stockings in a neutral color and if you want one with a design, choose a subtle one. If you are going to a ball or the races, wear gloves. A shawl or a scarf can lend glamorous style to the outfit; ensure that it matches in texture and color with the rest of the attire. Carry an evening purse or a beaded bag large enough to hold business cards, keys, cash and lipstick. Do not take anything bulky and inelegant.

Evaluate your formal outfit carefully. Is it simple and elegant? Does all the jewellery, scarf, shoes and stockings work together to give you a stunning ensemble? Accessories offer your outfit with style and dimension. Incredible fabrics and textures accent your wardrobe well with supple belts, woven scarves, impressive gloves and tantalizing hats.

William Brister - http://www.designerfashions.tv - We keep you up to date on fashion.

Latest Tattoo Designs?

If you are thinking of getting a tattoo, you should definitely check out and consider some of the latest tattoo designs. With so many people getting tattooed now days, it's important to do some research into finding a unique tattoo design that not many people have. Here are ways to find the latest tattoo designs:

1. Tattoo magazines.

You are going to find a lot of different designs in tattoo magazines, many of them current and unique. You may not want to get the exact tattoo that you see photographed on someone else, but it can definitely open up some ideas on designs and styles which you can further look into.

2. The Street.

Anytime you are at a public gathering or just out and about on the street, pay attention to recently inked individuals. Just like the magazines, you may be inspired to look further into a certain design or style. The good thing about seeking current designs off the street, is that you can approach the person and ask them where they had their work done. From there, you can hit the actual parlor, talk to the artist and see which current designs he recommends.

3. Online Tattoo Gallery.

Here's a real convenient, and easy way to view the latest tattoo designs right on your computer through the internet. There are tattoo gallery sites which are updated constantly, bringing you the latest designs that come out. Here you can view literally hundreds of different designs, making sure that you have seen everything available, before making the final decision on which tattoo to get permanently inked on.

This is one of the best Tattoo Online Galleries, which houses the latest, top quality, unique designs, many of which are not found anywhere else. Check out - http://top-tattoo-designs.blogspot.com/

Here you can browse through hundreds of designs at your leisure to find your ideal tattoo - http://top-tattoo-designs.blogspot.com/

Celtic Cross Tattoo Designs - A Complex and Powerful Design

Celtic cross tattoo designs are one of the most popular tattoo designs out there today. Seeing them on somebody is becoming commonplace. In this article, I want to tell you a little bit about the history of these Celtic cross tattoos and where to find the best designs for them.

The Celtic cross tattoo designs that we all see around today are derived from ancient Celtic drawings and pieces of art. Celtic artwork is very complex and often has very deep meaning behind it. Perhaps this is why they make such great tattoos.

Celtic designs, particularly the Celtic cross, are very strong in culture and history. The Celtic way of life ruled over Europe for many years and when that time ended, Christians took over. Thus the cross was blended with traditional Celtic art.

Now I want to explain to you where to find the best Celtic cross tattoo designs. The places to find them that I recommend very highly are printable tattoo design databases that exist on the internet. While the best ones will charge a small fee, you will get unlimited access to thousands of tattoo designs.

The level of convenience that these services provide is immense. You will save hours of time and find designs quickly to print and bring straight to the tattoo shop. While many websites supposedly offer tattoo designs, the prints will be very low quality and you will end up unsatisfied.

In closing, I highly recommend using a printable tattoo design database when looking for the best Celtic cross tattoo designs. This is a beautiful design and you want to make sure you get the best one for you. Enjoy getting your next ink without worrying about the design quality!

Check out the best Printable Tattoo Designs.

My blog, http://printtattoodesigns.blogspot.com, explores the best options for printable tattoo designs.

The History of Silver - As a Metal and in Jewelery

Silver - A Bright Metal

Today, women are seen wearing silver chains, silver pendants and silver earrings in the parties. Silver has become the trendy metal these days.

Silver has been widely used since the time immemorial. It is used in various forms like utensils, jewellery and currency. It is a soft lustrous metal which has its own look and shine which is widely admired by its users. Silver is a chemical element with a high electrical and thermal conductivity.

History and Discovery

The discovery of silver was done after the discovery of copper and gold in around 4000BC. At that time, silver was popularly used in making jewelry and also as a means of exchange.

Silver is commonly found in nature in a mixed state along with copper and lead. The Spanish people claim the discovery of silver mines in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia. By the 16th century, the South and Central America became the largest silver-producing areas. By 2000 BC, the silver-bearing lead categories were smelted and mined and an impure silver-lead alloy was obtained from the lead ores that were smelted. Later, they were refined by using fire and that process was known as "cupellation". The ancient silver mines were located in Greece at the Laurium lead-silver deposit.

With the advent of time, the "Patio" process was used for the new- world mines recovery. In this process, silver bearing ore was churned and mixed with roasted copper ore, salt and mercury. Therefore, silver was converted to a finely separated state and was finely dissolved by mercury. This was refined repeatedly by the process of cupellation.

In the 19th century, the Cyanidation procedures displaced the Patio process and Thum Balbach and Moebius electro refining procedures were introduced. A huge silver deposit was found in the mid 19^th century in Nevada. After that, by the end of the 20th century, the United States emerged as the largest producer of silver in the world.

Properties of Silver

The metal is a soft and mouldable metal that has superb lustre and is slightly harder than gold. Silver is white in colour and has the characteristic of having the highest optical reflectivity. Also, it remains stable in pure water and air. But, when silver is exposed to ozone, sulphur and hydrogen sulphide, it gets tarnished.

Silver jewellery- Girl's Best friend

Silver is widely used in jewellery as a precious metal like in silver earrings, silver chains, silver pendants and silver necklaces. Women also prefer wearing silver earrings that comes in different colours and designs. Various kinds of stones are embellished on silver earrings to give them a graceful look.

With the changing fashion, sterling silver is used massively. As silver is a soft metal, it is prone to damage. For this, 92.5 percent pure silver is mixed with 7.5 percent copper so that it becomes stronger. Also, while some people are allergic to gold or other metals, sterling silver does not have any side-effects on the skin and the body. Silver rings and silver pendants are demanded more by women these days so that their style and status is enhanced in the social gatherings.

You can find more info on sterling silver and sterling silver jewelry at http://www.DreamlandJewelry.com

Crystal - Your Shortcut To The Stars

There is something very mysterious about crystals. And, therefore, as soon as you don them, they lend a very enigmatic touch to your whole persona. Even if it is just one small little crystal, it can work wonders for you. No, this is no future prediction, though crystals have always been one of the favourite tools of soothsayers. But here, the point that is that even a small jewel encrusted with a tiny piece of crystal can make you look charming and, at times, mesmerising!

And it is due to this touch of glory that the crystal provides that it has enchanted the kings and queens since time immemorial. They have worn crystal on their fingers and as pendants in their lavaliere. However, crystal has most enjoyed its rightful place in many a royal crown. Towards the eastern and oriental part of the world, and in the middle east, crystal has beautified the turbans of the kings and princes.

Today, you can wear a crystal by embedding it firmly into your necklace, ring or just about any kind of jewellery. It is the age of experimentation and people are trying to spice up their look with different kinds of combination, especially in jewellery. You can try wearing crystal on your bracelet, on your anklet, and even as a pendant in your belt or tiara. A belt studded with crystal droplets would set the dance floor on fire, as soon as you step on it.

Not just your jewellery or accessories, you can also try crystals on your dress. A crystal can prove to be a great accompaniment along with evening gowns or halter tops, affirming what a diva you are! Just get a glam doll look instantly, with crystals. Even a plain dress or a simple look can turn vibrant with small beads of crystals that give you a starry glow and shine. And if you are going for that elaborate dinner party, the ballroom dance or hitting the discotheque, then don't forget your shortcut to razzle dazzle - Crystal.

Paul Shane cherishes a hobby of studying and collecting jewellery, to dig out the making and story behind them, especially the rare or exquisite ones, also the Crystal being used for manufacturing the jewellery. He also loves studying consumer behaviour related to jewellery selecting and buying. At present he is associated with a leading group called E-Beads Limited.

Fashion Jewelry Online Is Becoming Vital For Business

Fashion jewellery is an essential part to augment one’s personality. Not only clothes that a woman wears add up to her personality but the matching accessories sum up a distinct aura. Fashion jewelry comes into many line and styles. The approach of jewelry is to enhance a woman’s outlook by giving her different look altogether. Different occasions, situations and places are symbolized with different type of jewelry. It doesn’t matter how much jewelry she wears before buying any other. If it is in fashion, it goes in with the other fashion accessories.

Fashion Jewellery through online selling comes into different varieties such as beaded, silver jewellery, gold and diamond jewellery. Its very well said that diamonds are forever the girl’s best friend. But now the time has come to look beyond diamonds as silver and beaded jewelry has come into the market. These semi precious jewellery are not only cost effective and economical but one can wear them by frequently changing them according to the dress color and design. Many fashion stores are equipped with vintage as well as contemporary jewelry starting from the most expensive to affordable prices. Nowadays many prominent brands are introduced in the market with their share of fashionable jewelry designed exclusively by the best designers in the industry. Experts in fashion industry knows, big potential of their clothes lining and fashion accessories exists in the middle class ,any brands are revealing their lines keeping in mind the cost that suits the middle class and upper middle class households.

In today’s world of instantaneous delivery at your door step, concept of internet has grown into phenomenal rate. Therefore shrinking the colossal earth into tiny global village where every information is available online without any whatsoever cost. The buyer could see the catalog, exact snap shots of the jewelry just the way by sitting comfortably at his home. The buyer could select them and places the order online from his local end. The delivery is done with in the mentioned time. The major advantage is that it saves time and money of the buyer instead of going to the showroom physically to purchase the jewelry .The buyer could easily login to the website goes through all the options and choices, with their price tags and select the most desirable one. Many companies are in market showing their online presence for capturing the potential customers from both International as well as local market. They offer the jewelleries at reasonable prices. Thus the key to success is to capture the demand of the trade by incorporating varied style and ranges of jewelry so that the customer can have many choices to choose from. The varied choices could be anything that goes with the look and it is in fashion starting from diamonds to junk jewelry and bone jewelry.

Sonal Silva gives the complete feel of how the online fashion jewellery has become a trend. Nilachal manufacturers offers varied amount of beaded,horn.bone,junk and silver jewelry. For more information please log on to http://www.nilachalmanufacturers.com

Beaded Jewels - 5 Must Have Glass Beads for Jewellery

Whether you pick up your favourite glossy magazine or visit a local jewellery store, beaded jewellery is heavily featured and often worn by celebrities. You may not know however that beads have been made for over 100,000 years and beads found in Algeria and Israel date back to as much as 130,000 years. Shells were the first form of beads to be used and came with read-made holes formed by parasites. As time went on, people became more creative and started to use other types of beads, including seeds, bone and teeth. Now you will see jewellery made from metal beads, plastic beads and glass beads.

Glass beads are often used as they offer great value for money and also appear in various sizes and shapes. There are many to choose from including lamp work, Murano, Millefiori, Dichroic and Swarovski.

Lampwork – Lampwork is amongst the most vibrant and exciting of beads and are only limited by the artists’ imaginations. A high level of skill is required and the artist has to practice this technique often to perfect it. To make lampwork beads, the artist has to melt two rods of glass round what is called a mandrel.

Murano Glass – The glassworks in Venice were considered a fire-risk by the Venetian Republic in 1921. So it was decided that the works be relocated to Murano. Murano is now internationally recognised as a producer of quality glass-ware. Products not only include jewellery, but also lampshades, chandeliers and mirrors.

Millefiori – Developed by the Romans in the 1st century BC, the glass artist uses rods of Murano glass and heats it with a torch flame. Translated into English, Millefiori means "thousands of flowers". If you have seen Millefiore in person you will agree that this is a very appropriate name.

Dichroic – This is the most high-tech of glass as it was developed by NASA for use on space-craft windows, solar cells, astronaut visors and aerospace optics. The bead is formed with a multi-layer coating on glass and fired to extremely high temperatures. This is an immensely popular form of glass as it has stunning qualities. When you tilt the jewellery an amazing array of colours appear.

Swarovski – In 1862 when Daniel Swarovski was still a young boy he was fascinated by how light reflected off crystal. Then when he was just 21 years old he was inspired to develop technology to cut the crystal to match the beauty of diamonds. Swarovski is now amongst the world’s most respected crystal manufacturers and not only produces stunning jewellery but also figurines and other decorative objects.

If you are buying glass beads to make your own jewellery and are lucky enough to live near a craft shop which sells a good selection of beads, this is advisable before buying on the internet. This will allow you to see what the bead looks like and what the actual size is. Unfortunately it can be difficult to find a good craft-shop and the internet may be your only option. Sometimes it can be a disappointment to find that the bead is smaller than expected. So make sure you have read exactly what you are buying. Don’t be afraid of emailing the shop for more info if you are unsure of any details.

Shake it Baby is an online store selling bead jewellery, designer fashion jewellery from Pilgrim and flower jewellery from Paradise made from real orchids.

Palladium - Is This The Future For White Metal?

It's no surprise that palladium has been given a resurgence in popularity since its fall from grace after the end of the second world war. Due to the extraordinarily high prices of gold and platinum, jewellers are being forced to find alternatives at a price point that appeals to the consumer.

Palladium joins the ranks of Titanium and Zirconium to become the next designer metal due to its ease of workability, value for money, bright white colour and the craving of the public for something different.

With a density lower than platinum, palladium lends itself to designs where weight is an important factor, for example earrings and necklaces. Bolder designs become more affordable and comfortable to wear and the ease of stone setting benefits many pieces.

Casting palladium does not present much of a problem to casters familiar with working platinum. Although the melting temperature (1552°C) is nowhere near that of platinum, it still requires a highly controlled process in order to produce good consistent quality castings and it is advisable to treat it as you would platinum.

Palladium should not be marketed as a competitor to platinum. If it must have an equivalent then perhaps it should be compared to 14K white gold with the added advantage of a brighter white colour and the lack of need to rhodium plate, which, incidently, is the single biggest complaint from the public about white gold when ugly yellow patches start to appear where it was once bright white. Imagine your joy as a retailer not having to see the disappointed look on your customers face when they appear in your shop clutching an item of jewellery that needs replating.

It does truly seem that this time palladium could be here for some time yet.

The Diamond Yacht Club - Jewellers Directory and Resource.
http://www.diamond-yachtclub.com

Looking for a jeweller or a supplier of Titanium rings and wedding rings? The first port of call for all your jewellery needs.

Fashion Trends For Women Autumn Winter 2007-8

This season neutral colours highlighted with bold colours is the biggest style trend. This creates a chic minimalist look but give you room to be feminine and playful and creative with your personality. This season will see new and interesting colour combinations, so be bold and have fun!

The most important thing in fashion is to take what is on the catwalks and adapt it to your own style, and to the occasion. An easy and cost effective way to do this is with jewellery. Here are some hints and tips to accenting your own style with this seasons trends.

For the smart/casual look, which gives you the most individual choice as to whether to wear a dress or trouser suit and offers you many colours and styles, go for autumn neutral colours, for example moss green, grey-blue, or this seasons biggest colour a gentle violet. For a more striking look go monochrome or layer different textures of black, or warm coffee browns offer a gentler alternative to black.

If you have seen a particular colour on the catwalk that you like but feel is too overpowering for you then take it and add it to your neutrals in the form of jewellery. Purple and turquoise are the two of the most widely seen colours this season so go for a turquoise broach instead of the full coloured dress or a set of matching earrings and necklace.

For a cocktail party, where the cocktail dress can be your opportunity to take advantage of the bold colours. Turquoise suits all skin tones, purple can be used in any shade this season so pick on to suit you. To stand out from the crowd chili red or a bold flower pattern dress.

When accessorizing go for a simple, elegant chocker and matching earrings. Or a broach and cocktail ring. The important thing here is to let the dress shine on its own, keep the jewellery understated.

The classic dress, retro forties/fifties glamour is for the black tie do. Either tone down a bright dress with clear crystal or add a splash of colour to a black or neutral dress. Go for the matching set of jewellery to create a complete film star look.

The white tie occasion is your chance to go for all out glitz and glamour. Again the complete jewellery set and vintage fashion works well. Hair should be pinned up and extra long earrings worn for elegance. A large ring and large pendant to add sparkle.
When wearing a V-neck mirror this with a V or Y shaped necklace, a chocker is also elegant or, if not wearing a necklace a broach at the base of the V will add colour or sparkle.

A strapless dress provides a blanc canvass for a large necklace which can be bold or glitzy or for long chandelier earrings. Pick up the detail with a crystal bracelet or broach.
A short chocker or very long necklace suits a square neckline and again long earrings. Thin straps can be matched with delicate jewellery.

A round neck suits a large broach or extra long necklace. Go for lady-like chic especially with a polo neck, a round pearl necklace will match the shape beautifully.
Lastly, for an asymmetric neckline don't wear a necklace at all, instead go for a bold pair of earrings or bracelet.

Sunshine Jewellery
For illustrations of these styles visit me here:
http://www.squidoo.com/fashiontrtendsforwomen/

The Torc – a Symbolic Necklace from Ancient Times

A torc is a rigid necklace which was made from woven metallic rope. So the craftsmen would get strands of metal and twist them around each other like rope and that’s where the name comes from. The Latin word to twist gives us the word torc and torque as we know the word today.

Torcs are familiar to us as bronze age jewellery and reached from around 1000BC until about 300AD but were still worn before and after that in perhaps less serious ways. They are best known as Celtic jewellery but they were worn by other races such as the French German and Spanish.

Another feature of the torc is that it is open at one end. It is round and goes around the neck but it does not close like necklaces of today. The ends were often ornamented with tiny heads or sculptured shapes.

Torcs were not just for ornamentation but had a special role as war ornamentation and they were taken off the body of the vanquished by the victor, so if you lost your torc it usually meant that you also lost your life or certainly your freedom. The torc was often connected with your tribe or family and was inscribed with family history and symbols.

Sometimes torcs were worn on the arm or on the wrist but they were mainly worn around the neck. They were often hinged at the back of the neck and occasionally they were able to be closed but the traditional torc was worn around the neck, was of woven or twisted strands of bronze or gold, sometimes silver and was open with some kind of ornamentation on the ends such s the heads of birds or animals or mythical animals such as dragons.

Torcs were often heavy and looking at them I am astounded as to how these ancient craftsmen could make such things

The torc is another from of ancient and functional jewellery. It served a purpose as a symbol or statement of who you were, what you were worth, and where you came from.

Gary Hocking makes custom jewellery specializing in Australian opals. He has his own website http://www.jewelleryexpress.com.au Feel free to use this article as long as you keep the bio and the live link to his website.

Why Should We Avoid Conflict or Blood Diamonds?

Should we be concerned about buying conflict or blood diamonds? What are the moral and financial implications of buying blood diamonds?

Buying diamonds for most people comes at a time when they are buying an item of jewellery such as diamond earrings, an engagement ring etc. This not only involves a major financial investment but an emotional one as well. The jewellery is likely to be kept in the family for years to come and so being confident about what you are buying is paramount.

In a way you need to feel that you are not only buying your diamonds from a reputable source but also that your supplier, whether it be an online retailer or traditional high street shop, obtains it’s goods from sources that also meet certain social, political and environmental responsibilities.

Most people have heard the term Blood Diamond or Conflict diamond but do you know what they are? In essence there are diamonds that have been purchased from rebel movements, terrorists or thieves. In the majority of cases the money made from theses diamonds ends up funding terrorist movements and civil wars.

With this in mind it is important that you buy your diamonds from a retailer who is able to confirm that your jewellery has passed the “Kimberley Process”.

The Kimberley Process is an International Certification Scheme that regulates the trade of rough (unpolished) diamonds.
Given the current political climate and the events of the last few years the last thing that anyone wants is be to be inadvertently funding these shocking activities throughout the world. That is the reason why they are called “blood diamonds” as literally people (in some cases many people) have been murdered as a result of the theft of these diamonds from their original source.

The Blood Diamonds are normally smuggled out as rough diamonds which have yet to resemble anything that we see in a shop window! The main countries where these diamonds originate are the Central and West African countries such as Sierra Leone. You will usually find that wherever there is conflict and diamonds are easy to mine there are blood diamonds.

In reality there is little that can be done to stop the smuggling of these diamonds from their original sources. However we can do what we can to stop the trade of these diamonds and therefore making smuggling them pointless. To do this we need to make sure that we are purchasing our jewellery from legitimate sources and that they can prove the origin of the diamonds they are supplying.

Gary Ingram is a partner at the UK based, online jewllery website http://www.diamondearrings.co.uk A niche jewellery website that specializes in selling all kinds of Diamond Earrings.

Quartz is the Biggest Mineral Group on the Planet

There are two types or forms of quartz: crystalline which comes in a single crystal and chalcedony which is formed from millions of microcrystals.

Quartz may derive its name from the German word Quarz. It is extremely widespread across the earth and comes in just about every colour and form.

Of the crystalline form Amethyst and Citrine are the most popular and the most well known. Rose quartz and rock crystal are also well known and commonly used as gemstones in jewellery. Rock crystal is colorless and is the clear quartz that we often see carved and polished into gorgeous shapes such as skulls and crystal balls.

The microcrystal from provides us with the chalcedony group. Of these are the very common and well known agates such as jasper, chrysoprase, onyx, carnelian and sard. These are very beautiful stones and not expensive. They have been used over the centuries as minerals to make adornments and items of jewellery to be worn by kings and queens as well as the common people.

Quartz has a hardness of seven on the Mohs’ scale of hardness and that make it a good stone to make jewellery from.

I particularly like large pear shape pieces of lemon, smoky or brown quartz for making modern pendants. It is affordable enough to use large pieces and can be set in gold or silver and goes well with diamond accents.

Quartz is used extensively in industry and was used in radios and most of all it had its impact in the watch industry. Since the thirteen hundred watches made no significant changes in their development although they were constantly improved but in the 1970s along came the quartz crystal that changed the watch industry forever. It was the development of the watch which flashed the numbers of the time of day with LEDs.

Many cultures have recognized the healing quality of quartz crystals and you only have to go to a health exhibition or fair to find booths with mystical looking and colorfully dressed people selling an array of crystals. So crystals can be functional jewellery as well as adornment of the body.

Gary Hocking makes custom jewellery specializing in Australian opals. He has his own website http://www.jewelleryexpress.com.au Feel free to use this article as long as you keep the bio and the live link to his website.

5 Ways To Reuse Your Old Jewellery

We all have a box or drawer somewhere full of old jewellery that we never wear. It seems a shame to throw it away, but it might be too worn or broken to send to a charity shop. The best thing to do is to reuse it in a useful way; old jewellery is actually a ready-made craft supply for all of your projects. You probably couldn't find the beads and stones anywhere else, making them the perfect materials to use again to create something unique.

Make Some New Jewellery

The most obvious idea is to make your own jewellery. Using basic tools like pliers and scissors, you can cut up your old jewellery and reuse the beads and fastenings to make something new. You might have to buy some new threading material or memory wire, but apart from that it's easy to refresh your jewellery collection.

Add Interest To Your Clothing

If you're any good with a sewing machine you could add beads and sparkles to your clothing. Old Swarovski and diamante jewellery is perfect for this if you can get the crystals out. Just use some special fabric glue to attach the crystals to your clothing in your own design or pattern. This is especially striking on a black outfit if you're going for a night out. Try doing the same to an old black handbag to make a matching set.

Brooches Make Great Shoe Buckles

Brooches are out of fashion at the moment and they're often quite difficult to take apart, so the perfect way to reuse them is on your shoes. They can hide scuffs and marks and give you a vintage-look pair at no cost whatsoever! A large crystal brooch makes a statement and there's nothing better than a striking pair of shoes!

Make Personalised Cards

Homemade cards are better-quality than you find in shops and are cheaper to make too. All you need is some good quality card and whatever trimmings you like to create a design. Old glass and crystal stones can be added to paper flowers or butterflies to give some extra sparkle. Card-making is a popular hobby and you'll have a supply of handmade cards to give to friends and family for the year to come. It's also a great craft to do with the kids and they'll love to join in and help.

Make A Home Decoration

From glass vases to candle arrangements, your old jewellery can spice up all of your home ornaments. Often these are sold in shops to add some interest to your room, but they're always very neutral to go with a wide range of decor. Your old beads and stones are the perfect way to make them your own. Sprinkled round the base of your candles or used to fill up a glass vase, their colours and familiarity will make your room feel more like home. At xmas-time they're particularly useful for your tree and table decorations and again, this is another craft that the kids will love.

Sylvia Kittens lives in Harrogate, England

Opal and White Gold the Perfect Match

I am going to write a little bit of information on opal and white gold which are items of jewelery. If you are interested in buying any there is a link below that I use. Just click it and one of the ads if you are interested in browsing the site I use.

Opal

Opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at a low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock. It is most commonly found with limonite, sandstone and basalt. The water content of opal can be as high as 20% with a variety of colours from white to orange and to black. Reds against the black are the rarest and the most expensive because of growth size into the red and infrared wavelengths; these ones are precious opal. Opal is the national gemstone of Australia. Opal is used in a wide range of jewellery such as rings, earrings, pendants, cufflinks and bangles. The most common piece of jewellery to see opal and white gold together would be in a ring.

white gold

White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, usually nickel or palladium. Like yellow gold, the purity of white gold is given in carats. White gold's properties vary depending on the metals and proportions used. A nickel alloy is hard and strong and therefore good for rings. The highest quality white gold is usually at 18 karat and made up of gold and palladium. Sometimes other metals like copper, silver and platinum are added for weight and durability, although this often requires specialized goldsmiths.

opal and white gold are my favourite items of jewellery. Opal is Australia's National gem stone so most Australian jewellers are experts in opal. If you are interested in buying of the site I use click the link below and one of the ads to be directed to it.

http://opalandwhitegold.blogspot.com if you are interested in buying jewellery click one of the ads in the link to an Australian expert jeweller site I recommend.

How To Find That Perfect Piece Of Jewellery

Ok, lets face it, we cant all look like Victoria Beckham or Kate Moss and who cares anyway... we are who we are and we look the way we look... we are beautiful... but there are things that can help the process of self belief and they come in the form of elegant rings, beautiful bracelets, dazzling diamonds!

The old saying 'diamonds are a girls best friend' will normally strike a cord with most of us girls and can often be a great solution for the guy that wants to impress his loved one.

Some girls like big flash jewellery, others prefer more understated pieces but whatever you do like at least we have a huge selection to choose from out there.

There is yellow gold, white gold, platinum, titanium... plain or with stones.. if so which ones, maybe you prefer diamonds, maybe you like sapphires, topaz, emeralds.

There is also a huge variety of earrings, there are studs, hoops, diamonds (again!), clip-on if your ears aren't pierced... the manufacturers really do consider everyone, every option, every style and every budget.

Engagement rings, wedding rings, eternity rings, promise rings, watches... the list truly is endless.

Have you bought your partner or mother or sister a piece of jewellery and watched the sheer delight on their face when they open their gift? and you don't always have to spend a fortune.

Remember even the smallest piece of jewellery can make you feel glamorous and you can wear it in the knowledge that someone thought about you enough to make such a personal purchase.

I spent hours looking for a nice piece of jewellery for my mum and I got so fed up with flicking back & forth through web sites that I decided to have a web site that runs from the e-bay listings which only shows the jewellery for sale, how much and how long you have got to buy. The site is constantly updated so you always have a great choice of quality jewellery.

There really isn't anywhere else you need to go. http://jewellerystock.com

Branded Logo Designs - Elements Of Branded Logo Designs

Branded logo designs are in these days. Many a times, people are confused between logo designs and brand logo designs. Brand logo designs are logo designs which have been authorized by your organization and then printed on most of your company’s products. Another feature of branded logo designs is that they relate to one product of your company at a time. For instance, if your company has four products to offer, then every product has a separate branded logo. The reason for this is that whenever the branded logo of a particular product is out there in the market, people would easily recognize it and relate it to that very individual product.

We have many examples of branded logo designs in front of us. Let’s take the example of Armani. There are nearly fours parts of it namely Giorgio Armani, Armani Exchange, Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani. Now, simply whenever a pair of Armani Exchange’s jeans will be in the market it will have its own branded logo design and any buyer can recognize that is by Armani Exchange and not by ‘Amrani’.

However, the components of branded logo designs are the same like any other logo except that the name of the company’s branch should be written there.

Branded logo designs are unique and are dignified identities of your products. Branded logo designs offer a more powerful and impressive image of your company to the clients. It shows that your company is offering high standard products.

My name is Sania, media and corporate contact for http://www.logo-brands.com, we believe in making our clients happy by giving them personalized attention 24 hours and an incredible professional service that lives up to their standards.

Most importantly we off 0% risk, $0 to initiate any logo design package http://www.logo-brands.com

How To Make Jewellery - First Projects

Once you have assembled you basic toolkit your first projects will allow you to become familiar with the basic jewelery making skills.

Necklaces: Firstly, decide how long you want your necklace to be. A rough guide for adults is chokers: 14 inches, necklaces 16 - 18 inches, long chains 22 - 24 inches, but obviously the length you want is up to you.

Next lay out your beads in the desired pattern and when you are happy, start by tying the jump ring (a complete circle of wire) onto one end then thread the beads onto your linen or nylon thread. Depending on the thickness of the thread a needle may be useful but note that the smaller beads will not always pass over the eye of the needle. You may find something called a jewellery needle, but this is just a needle with a small eye and is not particularly specialised for jewellery making.

Be careful when adding the bolt ring (necklace fastening with the lever) to the other end. If you tie a necklace too loosely then the beads move around, too tightly and they bunch together. A small amount of practice may be required before you can feel how tight it should be.

My top tip is clear nail varnish. When attaching findings to the ends of your necklaces or bracelets coat the knot with nail varnish to make it stronger. Also, I feed the thread back through the last few beads again and tie another knot there to be sure the piece is strong enough to be worn.

A bracelet can be made in the same way but shorter thread depending on the size of your wrist.

Earrings: Arrange the beads you want on a head pin then cut off the excess with the wire cutters leaving around 1cm above the beads. Then using the round-nosed pliers curl the excess wire into a loop and pinch closed if necessary with the flat-nosed pliers. Attach this to the base of your fish hook to complete the earring.

When making jewellery always keep in mind that it has to be worn. Heavy earrings may be uncomfortable, heavy or unbalanced necklaces may break, any loops made but not closed properly could come loose and be lost. Making jewellery sturdy enough to wear is as important as making jewellery that looks good.

Discover more jewellery making tips here:
http://www.squidoo.com/jewellery-making-for-beginners/

Supporting the UK Jewellery Industry

The British shopper is a strange beast. It seems that our love affair with high street
shopping may have peaked this year yet our trends to shopping on the web look to
be increasing even further. Recent statistics released suggest we are far more likely
to buy on the internet than our European or even American cousins. The irony
though is that although the UK is benefiting from an internet sales boom our UK
manufacturers continue to struggle.

Many industries in the UK have suffered as a result of cheap imported foreign goods
and as a result of the strength of the pound against other currencies.

Whilst there are undoubtedly some excellent quality imported goods there are
equally as many poor quality, poor value goods. A good example in this area is in
the manufacture of jewellery and our UK market has been flooded with cheap
foreign rubbish, much of which comes from the far east and is probably produced in
less than desirable working conditions. The jewellery is usually of the costume
variety, the quality is not great so it won’t last and the materials used are cheap and
can produce allergic reactions.

Why not support some of our local home grown talent? Here in the UK we have many
talented, skilled independent jewellery designers who struggle to make a living.
These people handcraft all types of jewellery from all types of materials including
precious metals and gemstones and many pieces will be unique. Most designers are
happy to produce one off commissions at very reasonable prices enabling you to
own a beautiful piece of UK made designer jewellery.

For your handcrafted jewellery made here in the UK, why not consider using the
internet to make your purchase from a secure e commerce shop.

It is predicted that this year there will be bumper on line sales in the UK of over £4
billion pounds which is in stark contrast to high street retail sales which have a
taken a bit of a knock. On line shopping is growing some 26 times faster than the
High Street with half the UK, some 21 million people choosing to shop for Xmas
presents on the internet with an average spend of £220.

By shopping on the internet customers avoid the hassle of busy shops, parking
problems, out of stock situations and trawling from shop to shop trying to find what
they are looking for.

You can browse the internet from the comfort of your home, compare prices you
have more choices and all at the click of a mouse but try to remember to support
the British manufacturing industry.

Written by John Lewis

Of Love2Have

Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer jewellery made here in the UK by small independent designers.