Will you marry me

    Will you marry me

    Posted on by admin

    Will you marry me

    by Mark

    Engagement Ring Trends: Matrimony means new beginnings. A new life, a new family, new commitments, and a new best friend- the engagement ring! The engagement ring today has traveled a long way and is a far cry from the simple iron band introduced by the Romans in the 4th century. An engagement ring usually conjures the image of a single stone at the centre, usually a sparkling diamond set on a simple band. Did you know the first ever diamond engagement ring (Diamonds were considered to have magical powers requiting love, purity and fidelity) was given by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477?

    Matrimony means new beginnings. A new life, a new family, new commitments, and a new best friend- the engagement ring!

    The engagement ring today has traveled a long way and is a far cry from the simple iron band introduced by the Romans in the 4th century. An engagement ring usually conjures the image of a single stone at the centre, usually a sparkling diamond set on a simple band. Did you know the first ever diamond engagement ring (Diamonds were considered to have magical powers requiting love, purity and fidelity) was given by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477?

    Let’s take a walk down the memory lane. The first ever engagement ring may have been made from leather, plants, or other degradable material that suggested the union between the couple as well as their land. Romans used iron rings to symbolize a strong and eternal love, whilst the Greeks and Egyptians are credited with wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, where vein of love (vena amoris) connects to the heart.

    Engagement

    In the 9th century, Pope Nicolas I endorsed the idea of engagement rings by making gold ring mandatory to suggest the groom’s wealth and capability. Later, in 1215, Pope Innocent III widened the metal options to include silver and iron. The gimmal or bond ring originated during the Elizabethan period. It is a set of three interlocking rings to be worn by the groom to be, his betrothed and a witness, which were united on the wedding day. Gradually metal rings became more ornate with gemstones but diamonds remained too rare and exclusive to be available and affordable to all but the super wealthy and Royalty.In the 18th century diamonds were discovered in Brazil leading to cluster engagement rings among the wealthy. In the late 19th century diamonds were discovered abundantly in Africa and things were never the same again. Marilyn Monroe and Hollywood immortalized the diamond engagement ring in the song- ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ and DeBeers with their slogan- ‘A diamond is forever’ ensured that when you think of an engagement ring, you think of a diamond!

    Engagement rings today don’t conform to the norms anymore. From dyed-in-the-wool traditionalism to contemporary minimalism, the choices are vast and self expression and individual styles suggest many trends that exist today and will continue tomorrow. Let’s examine a few of them. Glamorous influences- The round brilliant cut remains the most popular shape but Hollywood and the fashion industry have made fancy shapes such as emerald, marquise, princess, heart and Asscher popular. Celebrity fancy-shaped engagement ring wearers include Ellen Pompeo (emerald), Katherine Heigl (pear), Eva Longoria Parker (emerald) and Victoria Beckham (marquise). Antique or vintage or vintage-inspired rings are popular with the glam set and are perfect for romantic and dreamy expressions. Stones that reflect an antique aesthetic include the cushion, round, pillow and Asscher cuts though these classic shapes and their larger facets radiate more fire under less light. Crafted in cool tones of platinum, palladium and white gold these rings go down well with the hopelessly romantic and find takers in Kate Walsh, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Colored diamonds are very expensive and rare and complement those who like to make a statement. Pink diamonds and red diamonds are the most expensive followed by canary yellow diamonds. A three diamond ring with a center yellow diamond and white diamond side stones has a special look some brides favor. Heidi Klum, Rebecca Romijn and Brooke Mueller sport yellow diamond rings.

    Five stone brilliant cut engagement rin

    Metal play

    With new metals such as palladium, tungsten, steel and titanium joining the existing palette of white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and platinum, the color play has widened. Texturing is popular with options of personal engraving, filigree, micro pave and mil grain on the shank as well as fancy prongs. Stacked, twisted and swirl Rings in a variety of colored metals, or alternatively different stones in each band provide interesting variations.

    Colour play

    Coloured diamonds are popular but unaffordable for most. Many brides favor a tourmaline and yellow sapphire to substitute the pink and yellow diamond respectively. The more adventurous ones may opt for stones that may be their birth stone.

    Kiss from a Rose

    Rose cut diamonds were popular in the 16th to 18th century, influenced by the return of vintage and estate jewelry are now popular once again. Crafted in heirloom styles with intricate metal work, they promise the glamour of yore. The subtle sparkle of the cut is a marked contrast to the contemporary cuts which offer dazzling fire and brilliance.

    Settings

    An evolution of the Tiffany setting, options like delicate bows or fancy shaped stones mounted to highlight the centre stone are popular. This may also include diamonds surrounding the stones on sides to create more fire or give an illusion of a larger centre stone. Tension set diamonds or floating diamonds where the diamond appears magically suspended in the setting work as well.Another contemporary trend is scatter set diamonds. Scatter settings are minimalist contemporary engagement ring designs that feature multiple stones in unconnected arrangements where the stones are literally scattered across the band instead of having one focal point. Scatter set options are flush, bezel, half bezel and invisible. Lastly another practical setting for the working woman like the scatter setting is channel setting where the gemstones or diamonds are arranged in a linear pattern and set into the band of the ring. Engagement channel settings are becoming increasingly popular with gemstones as it prevents chipping or damage.

    Three stone rings and eternity bands- These styles refer to popular anniversary rings that have morphed into popular engagement rings. The three stone ring symbolized a couple’s past, present and future. Options include side stones with similar or lesser cartage than the centre stone, contrasting shapes such as princess cuts flanking a pear cut etc. as well as gemstones with a diamond centre stone.

    Diamonds in channel and bezel settings in white gold travel around the ring signifying a love that has no beginning and no end. Aptly called the eternity ring, this one is perfect for those why don’t shy away from forgoing the solitaire.

    To the men, if you intend to go down on your knees and ask the question, do some research and keep her personality in mind before you buy your engagement ring.

    Swarovski Crystals

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    Swarovski Crystals

    by Sheweta

    The sparkling beauty of original diamonds in the precision-cut lead crystal glass is introduced to the world by the luxury brand – Swarovski. All the products like decorative pieces and jewelries made from these branded crystal glass is breathtaking. The beauty of all Swarovski jewelry is simply exquisite. Every single piece is designed brilliantly keeping the feminine characteristics in mind therefore when it is worn it surely would make an average looking female changed into an attractive lady instantly. All precision-cut lead crystal glass products are produced only by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria.

    Swarovski -The Ultimate Beauty

    The sparkling beauty of original diamonds in the precision-cut lead crystal glass is introduced to the world by the luxury brand – Swarovski. All the products like decorative pieces and jewelries made from these branded crystal glass is breathtaking. The beauty of all Swarovski jewelry is simply exquisite. Every single piece is designed brilliantly keeping the feminine characteristics in mind therefore when it is worn it surely would make an average looking female changed into an attractive lady instantly. All precision-cut lead crystal glass products are produced only by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria.

    Swarovski Brooch Swarovski Rings Swarovski Earrings

    History

    Swarovski crystals were brought into existence by Daniel Swarovski, son of a glass cutter. In his young age, he worked in his father’s small factory where in the year 1892 he invented a special crystal cutting machine. This machine transfigured the crystal cutting process. He then established Swarovski Company in 1895 at Wattens, Tyrol. The company specialized in creating exclusive crystal decorative pieces for home decor. Since that year there was no looking back. Next break through was year 1956 when crystal got the colors and alluring Aurora Borealis crystal upshot was produced with the cooperation of French Designer Christian Dior. Later, year 1976 brought the famous silver crystal collection. Finally in 1977, company tried its hands on jewelry and fashion initiating with United States of America. Then it was United Kingdom followed by rest of the world. ‘Fashionistas’ and classic jewelry lovers simple could not hide their irresistible fondness for this splendid crystal jewelry pieces. It at once became the favorite of all rich and famous people including the stars walking the red carpet. Daniel Swarovski

    Why Crystal Sparkle

    The crystals used for creating fabulous sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor and chandeliers owe it luminous shine to 32% lead present in its chemical composition. Lead maximizes the light refraction that makes the crystal glitter. Some variant of this branded crystal are processed with chemicals to give diverse light emergence. Aurora Borealis Swarovski crystal variety emits the rainbow spectrum because it is coated with special metallic chemical. Similarly, different glass crystals are coated differently to give varied appearance. Few other types of coating are crystal transmission, volcano, aurum and dorado.

    Jewelry

    The entire jewelry collection of this crystal jewelry is created based on some theme having solicitous shapes, colors and textures. Themes could be flower design that would have patterns of leaf, lily, lotus and dragon fly etc. There are special wedding collections created for brides that solely concentrate on making the particular dazzling moment into the remembrance that could be cherished for a lifetime. Thus, all the designs in this collection are quite detailed and elaborate. The craftsmanship in all the jewelry pieces is very impressive. Similarly, Gian Paolo Maria collection is the exclusive extravagant designer jewelry to be worn for only those special occasions. It is designed by Parisian master craftsmen Jean Marie and Paul Marie. They mostly bring the floral motifs in their designs that highlights refined romance in every single jewelry item.Classic theme is simpler and is to be worn throughout the year. It exhibits the everyday appeal that is the perfect blend of eternal fashion and novelty. Kenneth Jay Lane style is more close to animals’ designs like alligator, octopus and so on. This is more liked by people who feel extra attached to natural world. Dige Designs, also referred as Dragonfly Collection is enthused by nature. These are mostly handcrafted jewelry pieces that use superior quality of semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls along with Swarovski crystals as per the design requirements.

    Swarovski Decorative Item, Blue Bird

    One of the themes adored by the present young generation is Divine Rock. It reveals the strong feminine aesthetics. Therefore all the jewelry pieces in this collection have precision-cut organically-shaped crystals having vibrant color shades. The designs have gleaming erudition proffering a super-contemporary twirl. Lastly, it is the Staccato collection that reveals the bold, modern-day mood, more apt for the youth. The complete jewelry in all collection only uses crystals molded in 912 sterling silver and 18K or 22K yellow gold, white gold or platinum. All designs are innovative and very stylish. Every theme has the broad category of bangles, bracelets, brooches, clip earrings, hair jewels, necklaces, pendants, pierced earrings, rings and pendant sets.

    Fashion Accessories

    It includes belts, watches and handbags. Attractive belts are the evergreen fashion accessory sported by women as well as men. The crystals are set on leather, the base of every belt. Also it is placed amusingly on the buckles of the belt too. The setting of glass crystals completely depends on the design. Baguette, D:Light, Elis, Octea Lady, Octea Mini, Octea Sport and Piazza are the different varieties of Swarovski watches. The crystals are set in the dial as well as on the straps. Clutches, Shoulder bags and Tophandle are the three handbag variants available under this brand. All the handbags are made using the rich fabric. The clasp is either silver or gold plated according to the texture and color of the fabric and Swarovski crystals are set on it in different designs. Sometimes the crystals are glued on the fabric itself giving it more luxurious glance. Most of the clutch bags are sleek. Shoulder bags are like clutch but only difference is that it has the long chain attached to it through which it can be hanged on the shoulders. And Tophandle bags are having the handle through which it is carried and are usually little bigger in size than the clutch. The space is more shoulder and tophandle bags than the clutch.

    Swarovski Decorative Item, Love birds

    Every single product be it jewelry, handbags, accessories, sculptures, decorative pieces for home & office interiors and many more products have a Swarovski Swan logo that acts as a proof that it is much loved original Swarovski creation. Daniel Swarovski created a brand forever that symbolizes lavish standard of living and glamorous gift giving. Once any female get the craze for this glass crystal jewelry then she can’t ever take her mind away from it. Even the traditional gold jewelry or latest diamond platinum jewelry fades before the prominent aura of Swarovski crystal jewelry!!

    Tongue Piercing Pictures

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    Tongue pier

    Tongue piercing

    by Nasrina Parvin Khan

    Tongue piercing is a kind of oral piercing which is getting popular among the ‘generation-y’ just after eyebrow piercing. Modern adventurous teens are trying to get this piercing for a distinct identity. It is one of the most adventurous as well as sexy body piercing.

    ABOUT BODY PIERCING

    Body piercing jewelries have
    attained a popular place in Today’s
    fashion Scenario. To worn a body
    piercing jewelry a person should
    have a pierced hole in the
    particular part of his/her body.


    tongue piercing    Body piercing is a form of body art.
    Usually people get pierced and worn
    body piercing jewelry to give shapes
    and enhance the beauty of the parts
    of their body and get an attraction.

    The style of body piercing is a year
    old tradition and comes from tribal
    society at the beginning. There are
    various kinds of body piercing in
    the tribes, like-ears, nose, cheeks,
    throats etc. Body piercing have a
    cultural significant in many
    countries and communities.

    TONGUE PIERCING

    Tongue
    piercing is a kind of oral piercing
    which is getting popular among the
    ‘generation-y’ just after eyebrow
    piercing. Modern adventurous teens
    are trying to get this piercing for
    a distinct identity.

    HISTORY OF TONGUE PIERCING

    There is a history associate with
    tongue piercing. There was a ritual
    of tongue piercing in both Aztec and
    Maya cultures. Priests were piercing
    their tongue and then either drawing
    blood from it or passing rough
    cords, designed to inflict pain
    through the hole. But the permanent
    or long term tongue piercing was not
    practiced in Aztec or Maya cultures.

    Permanent or long term tongue
    piercing is the part of contemporary
    culture. The origin of this piercing
    is associated with “Gauntlet”, the
    first professional body-piercing
    studio in the United States,
    formerly located in Los Angles,
    California. This piercing is
    practicing since the 1980s.
    Tongue Piercing

     

     

    PLACEMENT OF TONGUE PIERCING

    A tongue piercing is a type of
    piercing which is done through the
    tongue. It leaves a hole in the
    tongue in the middle of the tongue.
    A single piercing in the middle of
    the tongue is most common form of
    this piercing, but multiple piercing
    are also possible.

    The placement of the tongue piercing
    is more difficult than others. In
    time of tongue piercing the position
    of muscles, veins, nerves and the
    webbing below the tongue, known as
    the ‘frenulum’ should be taken into
    account. To reduce the risk of
    damage of teeth and gums, the
    position of jewelry must also be
    taken into account. Off-center
    piercing can be more risky and
    complicated because they pass
    through more muscle tissue.

    So, the best position of tongue
    piercing is the middle of the
    tongue, slightly towards front of
    the mouth, avoiding the two veins,
    which run along the lower sides of
    the tongue.

    RISKS AND PREVENTION

    To get a safely tongue piercing; it
    should be performed by a
    professional from a recognized
    piercing studio. It is dangerous for
    health to do piercing at home. The
    piercing should have done by an
    approved sterile body-piercing
    needle.

    If the piercing has done by correct
    equipment, it is not as painful as
    might be expected, like most others
    piercing.

    There are few risks in getting
    tongue piercing.

    Piercing with a non-sterile needle
    can cause of liver disease called
    Hepatitis-B, which is spread through
    person-to-person contact with
    infected blood or other body fluids.
    So, all piercing should be done
    professional who follow health and
    safely guidelines that prevent the
    spread of the disease.

    If the vein is hit, prolonged
    bleeding can occur. But a qualified
    pierce should have no problem
    avoiding blood vessels. Few bleeding
    is normal. A medical professional
    should be contacted if the bleeding
    cannot be controlled.

    Tongue piercing jewelry can cause
    damage of teethe and gums. But it
    can be reduce by proper placement
    and using proper sized jewelry.
    Avoiding of playing with the
    piercing will helpful.

    TONGUE PIERCING
    HEALING TIME

    Usually tongue piercing takes 4-6
    weeks to getting heal. There is a
    misconception that the tongue
    piercing is more infection prone and
    takes longer times than others to
    heal because of the dirty nature of
    the mouth. But the fact is that the
    highly effective antiseptic nature
    of saliva helps the pierce both to
    protect from the infection and
    promote healing. So the tongue
    piercing heals faster than other
    piercing.

     

    Pierced Tongue

    AFTERCARE REGIMEN

    Every piercing is infection prone as
    is tongue piercing. A little amount
    of soreness after tongue piercing
    can be expected to last up a day. A
    large amount of swelling may occur
    3-7 days afterwards in case of
    tongue piercing. It can be extremely
    uncomfortable. So, it is important
    to follow some special aftercare
    regimen in case of tongue piercing
    to prevent infection and heal
    faster. But the aftercare of tongue
    piercing is more complicated than
    other piercing.
    * Avoid the playing with tongue
    piercing and don’t touch the tongue
    for several weeks.
    * To keep the area clean use an
    antiseptic alcohol free mouthwash
    2-3 times daily, as the
    alcohol will irritate piercing and
    slow healing.
    * Rinse the pierce area with warm
    salt water.
    * Rinse the tongue eating after
    something.
    * Avoid eating hot, spicy foods,
    taking alcohol, hot drinks, smoking
    during the healing
    process.
    * Eat small amount of soft foods.
    * To prevent infection use a
    sterilized jewelry.
    * The swelling must be shortening by
    using a longer piece of initial
    jewelry. Later, this can
    be replaced by a shorter piece of
    jewelry to prevent the healed
    piercing from damaging of
    teeth and gums.
    * Clod water, sucking on ice will
    help to migrate the swelling and
    soreness.

    After the tongue is fully healed one
    can goes back to his/her regular
    routine.

    TONGUE PIERCING JEWELRY

    Tongue rings and tongue barbells are
    tongue-piercing jewelries. But the
    tongue barbells are far better than
    the rings because of the environment
    of the mouth. The size of the
    jewelry and comfort are important
    due the action of tongue (like-
    speech, eating, kissing etc).
    Usually tongue piercing has done
    with straight barbell style jewelry.
    The beads at the end of the barbell
    can be made of many decorative
    materials.

    Girl with tongue pierced

    POPULARITY

    Tongue jewelry is visible only when
    a person talks to other. It can make
    an exotic, adorable impression with
    your words. Today’s generation is
    ready to accept the challenge to be
    adventurous about any fashion trend.
    So, tongue piercing is getting
    popular among them.
    Due to these reasons it is becoming
    widely accepted. Singers, Films and
    TV personalities are also following
    this trend. Mel B of ‘Spice
    Girls’ has a tongue pierce which
    indicates her adventurous
    personality.

    More Tongue Piercing Resources
    BBC: Tongue Piercing may be fatal

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    Nose Piercing Pictures

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    Nose Piercing Pictures

     

     



     


    Nose Piercing Pictures

    by Mark

    Nose Piercing Pictures

    3455743791_b2f6842cdd

     

     

     

     

     

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    Guide to Buying Platinum

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    Guide to Buying Platinum

    by Madhubanti Rudra

    Diamonds are forever, gold is conventional, sterling silver is chic, but jewelry wardrobes are incomplete without the special zest of silver-white platinum. Currently the fastest growing jewelry material, Platinum is ideal for making rings, bracelets and necklaces. Its natural whit luster makes it the perfect companion for dazzling diamonds. It happens to be the most expensive of all precious metals and widely employed by the designers as base metal for light colored gems, especially the pink and light blue varieties. But it is equally brilliant without any enhancement; a polished platinum piece is elegant and eye catching in its own right.

    It is gorgeous; it is exotic! It is the hardest; it is the most expensive! It is platinum, a precious metal that has been captivating the imagination of contemporary jewelry designers in a big way! Designers’ favorite element for fashioning wedding bands and engagement rings, Platinum has great aesthetic as well practical value. Below are few platinum facts that a first time buyer will find extremely helpful.

    Diamonds are forever, gold is conventional, sterling silver is chic, but jewelry wardrobes are incomplete without the special zest of silver-white platinum. Currently the fastest growing jewelry material, Platinum is ideal for making rings, bracelets and necklaces. Its natural whit luster makes it the perfect companion for dazzling diamonds. It happens to be the most expensive of all precious metals and widely employed by the designers as base metal for light colored gems, especially the pink and light blue varieties. But it is equally brilliant without any enhancement; a polished platinum piece is elegant and eye catching in its own right.

    Platinum Rings

    Why go for platinum?

    The heavy and enduring metal, Platinum is used by world’s renowned jewelry designers for creating inspired jewelry pieces. Here are a few reasons why you should consider an investment in this highly expensive metal. Platinum’s chemical properties make it a dense, extremely heavy and remarkably enduring metal. Al these qualities make a platinum jewelry an aesthetically pleasing and monetarily valuable possession.On the practical side, Platinum jewelry pieces are subject to minimum wear and tear effects. Common household chemicals like chlorine, bleach, or detergents fail to tarnish its color or damage it in any other ways. Due to all these reasons, platinum is considered much more stable element than gold and silver. With an unquestionable longevity, platinum jewelry retains its cosmetic value for generations. Platinum looks brilliant when teamed up with diamonds or other colored gemstones. This remarkably strong metal is particularly good at holding gemstones firmly in place. As prongs and other setting components, Platinum is the best metal to work with.

    Platinum Blue diamond Ring

    Then, platinum is considered the best metal to make diamond jewelry. While teamed up with yellow gold, the metal leaves a yellow tint on the colorless diamond and this can bring down the value of the piece. But platinum’s silver-white luster rightly complements the brilliance of diamond and as a result, platinum-diamond combination makes the hottest pair in jewelry designing circuit. So it comes as no surprise when world’s top jewelry houses like Cartier, Faberge and Tiffany choose platinum as base metal for creating their striking diamond jewelry pieces. Although a tough metal, it is alloyed with some tougher metal to prevent it from bending. But as compared to traditional gold and silver jewelry pieces, platinum pieces have very little alloy in them— usually not exceeding 10%. As a result, platinum is largely hypoallergenic.

    The chemical properties that bring out the magic in platinum

    Platinum belongs to Platinum Group of Metals, or PGM. PGM again consists of six related metals including Platinum, Iridium, Palladium, Ruthenium, Rhodium and Osmium. Now all these metals belonging to PGM family have very high melting point. This is because at the time of melting, the PGM metals require oxygen to be mixed with the fuel. A unique feature of PGM metals is: they do not require flux when soldering and also resist tarnishing. It is possible to cast these metals, but that requires extra investment due to their high melting point. To date Russia is the biggest supplier of platinum. The lion’s share of the produce goes into making jewelry; the rest is used in medical industry and the automotive industry.

    Platinum Diamond Rings

    Understanding platinum content and marking

    When it comes to buy metal jewelry, you have to consider the purity of the metal. To know how pure your platinum is, you must have a basic idea about its content and markings. This is important because it helps you choose the right combination that is most suitable for the platinum jewelry you are purchasing. Metals in their raw forms are not suitable for making jewelry—in order to make them stronger, other alloys are added to them. How pure a metal is depends on the amount of alloys mixed with it. US Federal Government has stipulated specific standards for different types of metals. Let’s take the instance of gold. So far as gold is concerned, you can refer to the following standard to judge its purity. 24kt: 100% gold, 18kt: 75% gold, 14kt: 58% gold, 12kt: 50% goldSo far as platinum jewelry pieces are concerned, they can contain different percentages of pure platinum. The ratio of pure platinum and alloys is expressed in “parts per thousand”. According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determined marking standards, if a jewelry piece is said to contain 950 parts per thousand of pure platinum, it will be regarded as “pure platinum jewelry”. A couple of example will help you understand the platinum marking more clearly. The jewelry is made of “950 Pt” platinum means: it uses a metal that has 95% pure platinum in the mix and 5% other metals.

    The jewelry is “650 Pt. 350 Ir” means: it has 650 parts pure platinum and 350 parts iridium. Similarly a marking such as “550Pt. 350Pd. 50Ir” means the jewelry has 550 parts pure platinum. The rest of the mix contains 350 parts palladium and 50 parts iridium.

    Platinum Bar

    According to the long standing FTP guidelines, jewelry pieces must contain at least 85% pure platinum or 850 parts per thousand to be considered pure platinum jewelry. But designers have been demanding a correction in the current FTP standards so that jewelry pieces containing less than 85% platinum are also regarded as “pure platinum” jewelry. If lower percentage is accepted by the US Federal Government, it will open up greater opportunities for the small jewelers, who are often kept out of the market due to platinum’s prohibitive price.

    When it comes to create stand-alone pieces, jewelry designers would invariably pick platinum. Platinum is far more expensive than pure gold and it has higher and faster appreciation than gold. It is the metal’s rarity that add to its exorbitant price—it is 30 times rarer than gold. Platinum jewelry pieces are most popular as engagement rings and wedding bands. It is great to send or receive platinum jewelry gift—after all platinum is something that few can possess.

    Italian Charm Bracelets

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    Italian Charm Bracelets

    by Madubanti Rudra

    They can be chic and fun at one go, they can be worn for a cause or simply worn to make an individual fashion statement—in any form, Italian charm bracelets can add value and personality to your jewelry wardrobe. The article throws light on many aspects of this versatile accessory.

    They can be chic and fun at one go, they can be worn for a cause or simply worn to make an individual fashion statement—in any form, Italian charm bracelets can add value and personality to your jewelry wardrobe. The article throws light on many aspects of this versatile accessory.

    Oprah Winfrey is reported as being floored by their charms, Singer Mariah Carey is known for her obsession with these dangling beauties, makeup and skin care Empress Trish McEvoy has been reported to have built a second empire on these very trinkets, Keira Knightley clings to hers for luck– celebrities and non-celebrities across the globe seem to share same passion as it comes to adding up to their collection of charm bracelets and Italian charms.

    Italian charm bracelets: Looking back

    Italian charm bracelets, as their name suggests, were actually born in Europe but they were made popular by Americans. During the mid 1980’s European soccer players started wearing these bracelets with the emblem of their national flags on them. In response to the soccer fans’ growing interests in these pieces, jewelry giant Nominations decided to launch its first ever line of modular charm bracelets and these became the most worn jewelry pieces in Italy in other parts of Europe. They also caught the attention of American vacationers in the Mediterranean and they carried the style across the Atlantic.

    italian charm bracelet

    The rest, as they say was history, the 90’s saw the rise of Italian charm bracelets as the must-have accessories among the jewelry collectors and consumers of all ages and at the turn of the new millennium, the demand for Italian charm bracelets shaped into a veritable craze among the fashion-bitten Americans. Let’s flash back a bit in order to dig dipper in the past and we will see the early Christians carrying the “ichthys” (fish) charm, under their garments to identify themselves with the fellow members of the secret society, while Jewish scholars during that time used to carry golden amulets containing parchments with laws scribbled on them. Through the middle ages, the Christian fighters would wear them on belts to ward off the evil as well as to flaunt their pedigree.

    During the Renaissance, the popularity of charm bracelets receded among the wealthy class. But in the Twentieth century, it was the English Queen, who contributed to the revival of the charm bracelet, but this time as a fashion accessory and not as something with a talismanic value. In the twenty first century, Italian charm bracelets triggered off one of the biggest fashion trends of recent times.

    Italian Charm bracelet: A unique piece of jewelry

    In its look, it is a flat, colorful band; in its feel it exudes a strong personalized and even emotional statement. Italian charm bracelets are nothing but a collection of small rectangular pieces adorned with emblems or designs snapped together on a stainless steel base to make a bracelet.

    A model wearing Italian charm bracelet

    An Italian Charm bracelet is a kind of flat band comprising of a series of individual modular links. The traditional Italian charm bracelets flaunt as many as eighteen charm links, each of which has a separate charm design soldered onto the surface of the actual flat link. While the charm link bases are made of high quality stainless steel, the charm faces that are soldered on the top are usually made of 18K gold or are often gold-plated.

    The face of the charm featuring the design is sometimes glued to the stainless steel link. The more expensive charm faces are adorned with colorful gemstones as part of their design schemes. The flat Italian charm bracelets are very different from their dangling cousins; on the former, the links are made to pop on and off of its stretchy band. You can add charms to empty slots or insert charms to complement your ensemble. You can wear them to promote a cause or you can just wear your mood with specially selected charms. Options are unlimited as it comes to sporting this particular piece of jewelry.

    Making personalized statement with Italian charm bracelets is easy

    As opposed to traditional charm bracelets, the Italian charms do not dangle from a chain. Here the individual charms are soldered on the flat surface of the eighteen blank links. The modular design makes room for interchangeable charms. Just replace one charm for another to rightly complement your ensemble, mood or the occasion. You can build your personalized collection of charms on different themes and styles, starting from an event, particular sport, animal or a particular hobby as a theme to a combination of styles including hand-painted, laser or photo Italian charms. Due to the standardized sizing, Italian charms are compatible with bracelets belonging to renowned brands such as Zoppini, Nomination and Disney. With over 6,000 Italian charm designs making the rounds, it is easy to pick and choose to create a personalized Italian Charm bracelet to reflect your personal style in incredible detail.
    Italian charms can range from very high end to inexpensive pieces. This is the reason why they are loved by masses and classes alike. Branded Italian charms from the house of Louis Vuitton or Nomination using high quality anti-allergic stainless steel and 18K gold can range from anywhere between $15 to $100. However, regardless of their price and origin, at the end charm bracelets are fun to wear, great to gift and exciting to swap between friends. If you are heavily into e-shopping, then e-Bay is the place to make some cool bargains on vintage Italian charm bracelets. If the internet fails to impress you, then hit the local Hallmark stores or Ashley Averys for getting the special charm for your bracelet.

    Rose Gold Jewelry

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    Rose Gold Jewelry

    by Madunbanti

    Women have changed, their preferences have changed, so have changed the color of gold. It has been long since the designers have started thinking beyond yellow and they have come up with the options of colors in gold. Pink is essentially identified with everything that is soft and feminine and the designers are making the most of it in their lines of rose gold jewelry. No wonder, rose gold jewelry tops the chart as one of the most desired Valentine gifts and most coveted possession for the betrothed couples.

    Breaking the Clich; Switching From Yellow to Rose Gold

    Women have changed, their preferences have changed, so have changed the color of gold. It has been long since the designers have started thinking beyond yellow and they have come up with the options of colors in gold. Pink is essentially identified with everything that is soft and feminine and the designers are making the most of it in their lines of rose gold jewelry. No wonder, rose gold jewelry tops the chart as one of the most desired Valentine gifts and most coveted possession for the betrothed couples.
    Dressy and glitzy, gold jewelry pieces were always meant for the special occasions; but not anymore. “From showroom to the darkness of bank vault” is passé. Gen-X designers are more in favor of “sick and chic”, so that the gold jewelry pieces can be used as stylish accessories by twenty-first century women. Thanks to a lot of innovation by the leading designers, gold has crossed the threshold of kitty party circles and stepped into the corporate world. Today’s women can choose from a wide array of design and even colors. Yes, yellow is no longer the only color associated with gold jewelry—you can find fine jewelry pieces in white, green and rose gold.

    rose gold

    Rose gold jewelry is in-thing in fashion circuit

    Yellow and white gold are undoubtedly the top-scorers in the contemporary jewelry design. But the Gen-X designers are keen more on bringing out the versatility of gold than sticking to the traditional yellow version. And that explains the colored gold’s bold invasion of the contemporary fashion circuit. The color pink is quintessentially associated with everything soft and feminine and rose gold jewelry can help you flaunt your feminine charms to the best effect. Russia is regarded as the birthplace of rose gold and as such it is often referred to as Russian gold. Russian artisans were believed to introduce rose gold jewelry in the early 19thcentury. By 1920’s it took Europe by storm. It has made a bold come back in the 21st century. A soothing color and vintage feel make rose-gold very attractive and is commonly manufactured throughout the globe.

    Rose gold purity

    Consumers are easily attracted to the beautiful non-conventional gold jewelry pieces created with colored gold. But the concept of colored gold often confuses the consumers to the hilt and very often, confusion stems from their ignorance about the value and purity of colored gold. Gold is essentially yellow in its purest form; when we speak of colored gold, we simply refer to the gold alloys that are white, brown, green, pink and even red in colors. So far as rose gold is concerned, its pink shade often puzzles the gold buyers. A gold jewelry that is not yellow, but pink in color—how’s this possible! A class of consumer just refuses to believe that gold can be available in other than its regular yellow version. Some believe rose gold is plain imitation. In reality, pink colored gold is a kind of gold-alloy that goes by the name, rose-gold. It is a variety of colored gold that borrows its color from other metals.Pure gold is too soft to be used for making jewelry—other metals are to be mixed with gold to make it fit for manufacturing jewelry. Rose gold gets its color from a slight overdose of copper and it is as real and valuable as its yellow sibling. So far as gold is concerned, 24 K gold is regarded as pure gold or 100% gold. Gold jewelry pieces are commonly made with 18K gold that contains 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of other metals. In terms of percentage 18K gold means 75% gold.

    Now rose gold jewelry pieces are available in 18K, 14K and 9K gold. Rose gold obtains its distinctive pinkish hues from the blend of gold and copper. Copper is added to make traditional yellow gold jewelry, but in case of rose-gold, the proportion of copper is much higher. More copper is added to bring out its unique rosey hues.

    Know your pink gold better

    So now you know what rose gold actually means: it is a gold alloy with pinkish coloration. It helps at the time of purchase, if you have a basic understanding of how rose gold is made. It is simple to produce rose gold. Gold alloys are basically mixture of gold, silver and copper. While white gold is created with high concentration of nickel, it is the high proportion of copper that renders a rosy tint to gold. By increasing the proportion of copper to a certain point, it is possible to create rose-colored gold alloy. In order to maintain the purity gold, the proportion of silver is decreased, when copper proportion is raised.Now when you are going to buy your rose gold jewelry, make sure the gold is pink in color and not red. Red coloration means higher share of copper in the alloy and less silver and gold. Scrupulous jewelers used to resort to this practice in the past to increase their profits as copper is cheaper than silver. They simply took advantage of the belief of a class of gold buyers that red gold are old gold and as such better gold.

    However, there is actually no connection between gold’s being old and of better quality. The gold with a red tone indicates a bigger proportion of copper in the alloy. So when buying a rose gold jewelry piece, make sure the piece comes in a delicate pink shade or deep rose shade. In rose gold jewelry, the alloy is usually made of one part of copper to three parts of 24K gold. Like the idea of wearing gold in pink shades? You can consider choosing your rose gold jewelry from the collection of Black Hills Gold. This is a world famous brand for colored gold alloys. Black Hills manufacture rose gold jewelry in 10K or 12K gold alloys. Often the gold alloys in shades of yellow, pink, and green are used to create fine jewelry pieces and the design schemes most commonly involve leaves, grape clusters and vines. The style originated in the Black Hills of South Dakota and thus acquires its name, Black Hills gold.

    Bling Jewellery

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    Bling jewellery is primarily a form of jewellery which are worn by singers, rockers, rappers and stars but with its gaining popularity it also means large statement making pieces with gemstones worn by society ladies and celebrities. Over the years this line of Bling jewellery now is no more restricted with rappers and singers. Many personalities from different walks of life love this ice effect on them. Soccer stars, Tennis stars, celebrated names from the film industry use Bling accessories and ornaments to adorn themselves. ….