The Gemstone Blog

Irrespective of the choices of the wardrobe departments on some TV shows, a businesswoman dressed in halter tops and miniskirts and covered with glittering jewels is totally unrealistic. Or at least, it should be. No matter how full her jewelry box may be, the well-dressed professional will be tastefully conservative in her choice of accessories, especially when it comes to bangles, bracelets and earrings. This is not to say that no jewelry at all is to be worn to the office, just that it should be kept to a minimum: one or two tasteful pieces of gemstone jewelry or medium-length bead earrings, for example.

In terms of gemstones, color is more the deciding factor than size. The fact is, one of the oversize rings that are now seen everywhere are fine with a business suit, as long as it isn’t garish and doesn’t clash with the outfit. In other words, if you’re wearing a red power suit, you don’t want to slip a purple amethyst on your finger. Better to go with simple gold or silver, or neutral moonstones, diamonds or pearls.

Absolute no-nos are noisy charm bracelets whose jingling is anything but charming to fellow co-workers, anklets that give off a distinctly sleazy impression, and earrings that hit the shoulders. Always acceptable are tasteful pendants; tennis bracelets; one ring per hand; classy bead earrings; and of course, one or more strings of pearls, which can be worn with anything at any time.

The scarcity of jobs has made proper business dress more important than ever; applicants who show up looking unkempt, under or overdressed, or displaying overall poor taste in attire will surely be eliminated at first glance, regardless of qualifications. On the other hand, the man or woman who presents a professional appearance exudes confidence and is more likely to draw the attention of management. In fact, clothing has taken on so much importance in the workplace that many companies have instituted dress codes, which are strictly enforced. These rules are particularly important when employees interact directly with clients or customers, since they represent the company and its image.

Most businesses insist on a conservative look, with inconspicuous, tasteful jewelry used to accessorize. The only places that encourage trendy glitz are those that sell these items and use employees to model them. Otherwise, the watchword is “professional,” meaning muted colors; clean and well-pressed outfits; and unobtrusive accessories, including gemstone jewelry and handmade, beaded earrings.

Those who keep an eye on the red carpet and its denizens have noticed small, but significant changes in recent jewelry trends. For the most part, both beaded jewelry and handmade jewelry are still big and bold, but the look comes more from quantity rather than the size of individual pieces.

For example, rather than one big cuff, fashion conscious women are wearing several midsize bangles in various colors, layered from wrist to mid-arm or above. Necklaces follow the same trend: three or more pieces are seen worn together instead of the wide chin-to-clavicle collars featured in the past few years.

One fashion rule this year that has been largely ignored in recent years is that colors may differ, but materials should match. That is, silver, gold and enamel should not be mixed: choose one and stick to it seems to be the general rule. The same holds true for all pieces worn at the same time; they can be of various colors and in wildly interesting shapes, but they should all be made of the same material, regardless of the number a woman chooses to wear. And, it is important that each piece, when layered, does not compete, but rather complements the other pieces.

Silver chains are slightly more popular than gold this season, a trend which may reflect the faltering economy. They can, however, be as intricate and interesting as the wearer likes and can be combined with gemstone jewelry, as long as it too is set in silver. Earrings are becoming more extravagant than ever, longer and bolder, and big bold rings for any finger are still fashionable.

Color choices are important on two levels. First, of course, colored jewelry should complement an outfit, but it also sends subconscious signals of mood and status. For example, red signifies heat, which can reflect either anger or passion but is always an attention-getter. Blue delivers a message of dependability and a demeanor that says, in effect, “trust me”, which is one reason it is known to be the most popular color in the entire spectrum. Blue is closely followed by calm and peaceful green, probably the best bet for those indecisive times. To exude an aura of class and free-spirited creativity, purple is the way to go, while white is the all-purpose color that whispers cleanliness and purity. Orange seems to be a popular color this year as well, but one must take care in mixing this bold eye catcher with the rest of an outfit. Generally speaking, orange is being used as accent piece with an otherwise less ostentatious outfit. If large, it can be used as a stand-alone accessory. And of course, for the mysterious femme fatale effect, nothing says sophistication as clearly as black.

To display one’s jewelry to its fullest effect, it should be worn against a backdrop of a simple ensemble. On the other hand, a high-fashion designer dress should not be overpowered by jewels that scream for attention. Needless to say, the occasion for which one is dressing plays a large part in the selection of jewelry as well; gaudy accessories at the office do not lead to promotions, and of course wedding dresses should stand alone and accessorized with smaller jewelry pieces. Possibly the best advice when a choice is difficult: you can never go wrong with pearls, which by the way, are again very in vogue this year.

In the world of gemstone jewelry, sometimes the true quality of the bauble under consideration is less than meets the eye. For consumers who are purchasing higher quality jewelry here are some important questions:

• Is it real or synthetic? Real stones are scarcer because they are made by nature. It is a time intensive process that requires just the right ingredients to produce a gemstone, and of course, this is what makes them more expensive. Synthetics are made in labs where conditions are simulated. The can be produced in fairly large quantities in short time periods making them less expensive. This is the law of supply and demand in action.

• Do the stones look perfect? Believe it or not, in this case, since natural stones have been tossed about by their environment, less than perfect is an indication of real and is more desirable. The flaws make each gemstone a one-of-a-kind piece – and one-of-a-kind is always more valuable. Synthetics are produced in a controlled lab environment and so there are no flaws; making them perfect, but indistinguishable from every other stone of the same batch.

• How sparkly are they? Synthetics often sparkle more due to all that burnishing and lack of inclusions (other minerals or flaws).

• How heavy are the stones? Synthetics tend to be heavier in the hand because they are denser; however unless you are holding a pretty large stone, this is difficult to perceive.

If gold jewelry is the target, buyers should be aware that “gold” jewelry from China, Hong Kong, and many other countries and vendors tends to be gold-plated, not the genuine article Be sure to check for the carat mark on the gold, and never assume the gold is solid.

If the goal is simply to obtain something fun, attractive and relatively inexpensive, today’s excellent synthetics, such as Moissanite, a man-made diamond, should be perfectly acceptable. In fact, the more synthetics that are produced, the better the quality of those found online and in the stores. For the discerning buyer though or those who regularly shop for good or handmade gemstone jewelry, shopping from a reputable dealer is a must, as they will tell you if you are looking at real or synthetic; and you should also consider getting equipped with some jewelry detective equipment – a gold tester and a jeweler’s loupe at the very least. It is a good idea to have a grasp of how experts judge gemstone quality. Both diamonds and gemstones are scrutinized for cut, caret weight, color and clarity; though color and clarity are judged differently for gemstones:

• Color – including hue (are other colors mixed in?), tone (light? Medium? Dark?), and saturation (a measure of how much brown or gray hues are present)

• Clarity – the Gem Institute of America has classified gemstones into three classes, with one being the clearest (think Aquamarines) to three, exemplified by Emeralds.

Some enhancements or treatments are accepted as normal, provided the modifications are of a permanent nature, such as heating, oiling, waxing, irradiation, bleaching or dying to alter color or clarity. In fact, these treatments are pretty much the norm. However, again, an untreated, natural gemstone is the scarcest and if exceptional, the most expensive.

“Buyer beware” is still a valid admonition. Get educated; do your homework on the merchant in question and then, once you know what you are purchasing, whether real or synthetic, enjoy!

How much did you spend on your last Ed Hardy bag? Or that Gucci dress? Enough that it made a dent in your paycheck, I’m sure. And now the dress doesn’t fit like it used to or maybe you rarely use the bag. But you don’t have to just get rid of your designer fashion. You can often re-purpose the material for other uses so that you get your money’s worth.

First for designer fashions with easy to cut fabrics like shirts, dresses, pants and even scarves, you have a multitude of options. You can sew certain patterns into throw pillows. It’s easy to make the pouch out of a single piece or by combining like patterns and colors. Just add a stuffing of some kind (goose feathers or polyester pillow stuffing). You can also follow the same sort of idea of adding a little colorful, designer comfort to your home by making a pet bed. Maybe the idea of having your pet lay on your Fendi scarves makes you cringe but if you aren’t using them anymore, or if they have a stain or two that makes them unwearable, you might as well throw it to the dogs, literally.

Re-purposing fashion handbags can be a bit trickier, but it’s very possible to turn them into something great. You can actually take the thin straps of your handbags and turn them into jewelry. Fabric necklaces and bracelets are on trend, so why not take that leather and turn it into a great neck piece for the next time you go out? Or cut it down to your size and tie it as a bracelet. The more design to the strap (chains, beads, studs) the more it works as an accessory. You can also reuse straps as belts, whether to actually keep your pants up or in a stylish, over the waist style to keep that billowy top from making you look too matronly.

No matter what designer fashions you have that are laying around, you can definitely reuse them and get your money’s worth. If it seems you really can’t find another use, then do the good thing and don’t just toss that great leather bag away. Donate it to someone in need. Whether it’s your local Goodwill or a program that gives dress and business clothing to those who need it, your designer fashions can go to good use instead of laying in your garbage.

Fashion58.com is your best online source for designer fashion accessories from Ed Hardy apparel and other top brands!

by James Glower

Last weekend while roaming in one of the fashion malls of the city, I went to the boys section, where some boys were busy in choosing various trendy ornaments for them. Were quite confused but curious to bye the ornaments displayed into that ‘Boy’s jewelry section’, want to make themselves appear trendy as per the current fashion.

This shows men’s interest for Jewelry and the like things. These days wide range of jewelry is available for both the sexes – men as well as women. Jewelry for men include cuff links, belt buckles, tie accessories, key rings, money clips, watch bands, identification bracelets etc. Some men like to wear ring, chain, lapel pins etc.

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While roaming into the market or in any crowded place we can see many of the boys wearing ornaments like stones or rings in the ear, fingers, rings above the eye-brows, variety of chains and lockets around the neck. Though it is in fashion these days, it is not anything which is new. If we peep into our mythology or into the tale books of Arabian nights, we could find emperors, rulers and kings loaded with many precious stones & jewelry. Jewelry is a precious possession that is designed and crafted to last lifetime. Since centuries people have been buying jewelry as investment and identity marker.

Jewelry is the one of the oldest form of body ornament. Various pieces and forms of Jewelry dating thousand years back have been found by the archeologists, which reveal man’s love for the jewelry and ornaments since pre-historic times. In ancient time man used to adorn himself using various natural materials, such as bones, animal teeth, shells, wood and carved stones.

Trends in jewelry design keep on changing with times. Jewelry designs are also sensitive to fashion. It adds stimulating dimension to the world of fashion. These days many types of jewelries are available. It might be expensive fine jewelry or inexpensive costume or fashion jewelry. Wide range of qualities and styles are available in different ranges of price. Artificial jewelry, costume jewelry, fashion and imitation jewelry, pearl jewelry, gemstone jewelry, and antique jewelry are the various kinds of jewelry for ever fashion conscious people round the globe.

The industry of gems & jewelry is the ever sparkling and lustrous industry, which is widen & rising up every day. This is giving chance to many designers to rise in this lustrous industry. Designers in this industry use every opportunity to create numerous innovative and exotic shapes and designs. They are always trying to experiment with various combinations of different metals and gemstones.

Precious metals and precious gemstones are used in making fine expensive jewelry. Whereas fashion jewelry can be made from variety of base metals, ceramic or wood and can be set with imitation or semiprecious stone. These days’ beads of large and small size are frequently used in jewelry. Beaded Jewelry commonly encompasses necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, and rings.

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