There's a wedding coming up. You are invited. Someone you really care about is getting married and you are wondering what to buy. You don't want her to receive a gift she won't need and will have to throw away or worse – keep it around and detest it. Well, I've got the answer for you. Sterling silver jewelry – it's a gift she won't be able to forget, special and forever in her heart.

Selecting the bride's gift should be a delight. This experience should be dear to you as the person that is getting married is as well. Besides, buying sterling silver jewelry is not very difficult as there are many guides particularly written for this job. You can find online help or you can use your own instincts and a few tips this article will offer. The selection of a sterling silver jewelry gift is based on several criteria: the sum of money you are willing to spend, the location of the wedding and the wedding color theme if there is one.

You probably wouldn't want to pay attention to such trivial matters like money as your intention is to give the bride the perfect present. But, however dear this person is to you, sterling silver jewelry has to be picked out according to your budget. There is a large variety of silver jewelry: plain, with a certain style, with gems, all incredibly attractive. Depending on the quality, weight and gemstones, the silver jewelry may cost more than you expected. Everyone knows this precious metal is very fashionable and affordable by any pocket, but you would be amazed by how many options there are regarding sterling silver jewelry and by how much work is done to create a wonderful, perfect ornament. Just think about what you'll see and how you will have to make a decision. There will be sterling silver jewelry with flower or animal shapes, sterling silver jewelry with Gothic, Celtic, casual, contemporary and vintage style. Choosing a stone won't be easy as silver jewelry with diamonds, pearls, sapphires, rubies and so many more will be present in front of your eyes. So, money restrictions can be of help when deciding what to buy as each item will have a certain price depending on how well crafted it is and on what stone it has.

As unusual as it may seem, the location of the wedding is very important. Whether it takes place in a church, in a garden or on the beach, the event will have a certain style and the silver jewelry has to be appropriately chosen. And, if you think of style, then pay extra attention to the bride because she is the one that chooses her and her bridesmaids' dresses. The wedding gown and, more specifically, the neckline will tell you if a necklace is a good idea or not and what type to choose. Sterling silver jewelry for the neck is usually matched with earrings. Silver jewelry for the bride's neck is however a bad idea if the bride doesn't have a low or open neckline. Chandeliers are your primary focus in this case. Because the sterling silver jewelry is very important in the outfit of the bride, you have to be careful to the tone of the wedding. Don't buy sterling silver jewelry that is too casual or too formal for the environment!

Last, but not least, the theme color of the wedding can guide you in your quest for the perfect gift. Although sterling silver jewelry goes well with any bridal dress whether it is soft white, cream, ivory or any blush color, silver jewelry comes with gem stones that may have certain colors. They have to match with the theme color of the event or at least be appropriately chosen. Silver jewelry can have gems with vibrant colors that express vivacity or they can have pastel colors that remind of grace and innocence. The theme color can be seen in the outfits, in the linen tablecloths, in the balloons, ceremonial ribbons and decorative flowers. The silver jewelry doesn't have to be an exception, but it doesn't necessarily have to match either. Sterling silver jewelry with gems has to compliment the beauty of the bride, not detract from it. This is why the color of the skin, the haircut and hairstyle, the color of the eyes, the make-up and other tiny details you might overlook are very important. This is the moment to prove your love for color. You mustn't forget that this is her happiest day and you can contribute to her joy by making her a silver sterling jewelry present she will never forget.

As so many things come into play when buying the silver jewelry gift, a good idea would be to have someone else close to the bride to give you a second opinion and advice. It's not wise to do it all yourself because silver jewelry is a sensitive part of the wedding and you, as well as everyone else, want it to be perfect. The search, however attentive it may be, will surely be a pleasant one and an experience to keep with you for a long time.

White pearl collar necklaces have been around for centuries. This style reached its peak during the Victorian era, where women of high birth wore them to accentuate their necks or over their high-collars to accessorize their clothes. White pearl collar necklaces have recently been making a comeback and enjoying a new popularity with stylish women of all ages.

White pearls are a favorite of women in the U.S. In Asia, women prefer silver-colored pearls. White has always been the color associated with pearls, even though they do come in a variety of shades and tones. White has remained a favorite over the years because of their simple and understated elegance.

Choosing pearl quality

One of the rarer pearls and the more expensive are natural pearls, produced ‘by accident’ when underwater irritants enter the shell of an oyster. Cultured pearls are the more common, since they are created using artificially planted ‘nuclei’. They are in no way inferior to natural pearls and in fact are quite valuable; they are just produced differently.

When choosing fine white pearls, remember several factors that contribute to its beauty and value: the nacre thickness, luster, surface texture, size and shape.

Nacre thickness is probably the most important factor to consider when buying white pearls. Nacre is the crystalline/organic substance that is excreted by the oyster or mollusk when an irritant or nucleus enters its shell. This substance coats the irritant in layers, until it becomes thick. This coated irritant or nuclei becomes the pearl.

Nacre thickness differentiates a high-quality pearl from a low-grade one. The thicker the nacre coating, the more durable and long-lasting the pearl is. Pearls with thinner nacres usually do not maintain their luster over the years and may in fact chip off.

Luster refers to the reflective quality of the pearl. The pearl has a mirror-like surface and the quality of its luster is directly affected by the thickness of the nacre. The thicker it is, the deeper the shine. High-quality white pearls reflect light and the surrounding objects best.

Surface texture refers to the clearness and smoothness of the pearl. It is the near absence of imperfection on the surface. No pearl has the perfect surface, but minimum and nearly imperceptible flaws affect its overall look and value. Pearls are graded depending on its imperfections, like spots, bumps, discolorations and other irregularities that show on its surface.

The size of the pearl is determined by its diameter and is measured in millimeters. Tiny pearls measure from 1mm and under while bigger pearls can reach a diameter of as much as 20mm, just below an inch. With all things being equal, size can mean a huge difference in the value of a pearl. The bigger ones, of course, fetch the higher price.

Pearls are never perfect. If one such is found, it is probably the rarest and the most expensive. Because pearls follow the general shape of its irritant or nucleus, it can come in a variety of shapes, from the spherical to the symmetrical to the baroque. Which one you pick for your pearl collar will depend on your preference.

Color and overtone

White pearls are white, right? Well, not quite. Aside from the similar silver color, there are also white pearls whose main body color is affected by its overtone. Overtones are hints of color that lie on top of the main body color of the pearl. Think of a pearl as a tiny white sphere and its overtone like a slightly colored clear plastic that is wrapped tightly and smoothly over it and you can imagine how slightly different the white would appear.

White pearls could have one or more overtones. These can enhance the beauty of white pearls and provide a unique glow to its iridescent quality. Some white pearls, for example can have pink or yellow overtones. Which one you choose is really just a matter of personal taste.

Why collar necklaces?

Collar necklaces have an old-time charm. If you look at paintings and illustrations that date back some centuries ago, you will find collar necklaces adorning the necks of women, even queens and princesses.

Collar necklaces are about 12 to 13 inches long and may be composed of three or more strands of pearls. These are worn to fit the middle of the neck snugly. They are best worn during semi-formal to formal occasions when they can accentuate a slender neck and draw a stop to a pointed chin.

Choosing the right-size pearls

When buying white pearl collar necklaces, it’s a good idea to consider the age, face shape and body composition of the wearer. Generally, smaller pearls look best for children and teens, medium pearls for women in the 20s to the 30s while older women may look best in bigger pearls.

A good thing to remember is that the pearl collar is worn as an accessory and thus should not overwhelm the face. Otherwise, nobody will notice the wearer anymore. It will only be the pearls that they will see. Worse, if the size isn’t right, it will look like your pearls are borrowed from someone else.

Beads are amongst the oldest human art and technology, dating back 30,000 years. They have been dated back to at least Roman times. Perhaps the earliest glass-like beads were Egyptian faience beads, a form of clay with a self-forming vitreous coating.

Glass beads are usually categorized by the method used to manipulate the glass. Most fall into three main categories: wound, drawn, and moulded. There are composites, such as millefiori, where cross-sections of a drawn glass cane are applied to a wound glass core. A very minor industry in blown glass beads also existed in 19th century Venice and France.

It is believed that the Egyptians first used faience (a glazed fused quartz composite) but later developed the core, wound and mosaic methods of using glass to make beads and other decorations. They were the first culture to have glass-making guilds.

Glass beads, however, were not limited to the Egyptians in ancient times. There have been glass beads found in archaeological sites dated between 2,000BC and 10AD in both Austria and Switzerland.

In modern times, they have become a popular form of jewellery, especially in African cultures with necklaces,bracelets, and anklets made of these materials. They can be extremely colourful and bright, making them fashionable and popular in modern times for all cultures.

There are many types of beads and all are named according to the way they are made, including wound, drawn, moulded,lampwork, Dichroic, furnace and lead crystal.

The Types of glass used to construct these include rod, sheet, soda lime, lead, and borosilicate. The material chosen often depends on the hardness, colour, durability, and size required.

Nowadays the Czech Republic is a well-known and reputable producer of these object. Both online and in stores worldwide, Czech glass beads will be sold for a much high price on average than most other types of glass beads. These Czech pieces are often used in necklaces and bracelets and are sold in renowned jewellers across the globe. The Czech's have a reputation for creating beautiful yet durable glass beads consistently.

Many people enjoy making their own jewellery . There are even stores where one can pay to make their own jewellery with glass beads that are provided for them. This has become a popular hobby for many people and has increased the recognition of glass beads across the world. In addition , Lampwork and other artictic craftybeads are back in vogue on the jewellery ciruit.

White pearl necklaces are always a beautiful, classic gift and will fit right in with any occasion, whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, anniversary or just about any day that calls for giving. White pearls have an elegance and quiet beauty that is appreciated by any woman of any age. When cared for properly, they can last for years and years, which is no wonder that in any heirloom, pearls are one of those which stand out.

Traditionally, white pearls were given during weddings. It was believed that a gift of pearls ensured the happiness of married couples. Nowadays, white pearls are worn anywhere – in board rooms, parties, family get-togethers, bars – in just about any special occasion that calls for dressing up without dressing too much.

Natural vs. Cultured

Natural pearls, as their name implies, are produced naturally by oysters or mollusks. They start off as irritants (a grain of sand, piece of food or a parasite) that enter the shell of a living oyster. As a reaction to this invasion, the oyster produces nacre to contain the irritant. This coating is put over it in multiple layers until the irritant is completely covered and a shining pearl is born.

Since natural pearls are made ‘accidentally’ and therefore quite difficult to come by, cultured pearls were developed to meet the growing demand for pearls and to protect pearl oysters from over-harvest and extinction. Cultured pearls are also real pearls, except that instead of waiting for an irritant to invade an oyster, pearl farmers introduce a ‘nucleus’ to stimulate the production of a pearl.

Choosing the right length

White pearl necklaces come in varying lengths for different styles and occasions. When buying one, it’s worth remembering that a white pearl necklace is an accessory and can enhance or affect the entire look of the wearer.

Longer strands are used to make short necks appear longer, while shorter strands flatter longer necks. The most common lengths that white pearl necklaces come in are: the collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera and rope.

Collar pearls are the shortest at 14 to 16 inches long and may be worn with formal or semi-formal evening wear or semi-formal day wear. Chokers are 16 to 18 inches long and are the common choice for dances and balls. Princess necklaces are the most popular length at 18 to 20 inches long and look great on any outfit.

Matinee pearl necklaces are 20 to 24 inches long and can be worn for work because it goes well with work and business suits. Opera pearls are 28 to 34 inches long are often worn during formal parties.

Rope pearls are the longest, starting at 37 inches, although they don’t necessarily need to be worn just hanging from the neck. Like opera pearls, rope pearls may be knotted or doubled and may even be worn as a wide pearl bracelet.

Choosing the right style

Pearls are quite adaptable and will work well with almost any kind of gemstone. Alone or in combination with another gem, white pearls look stunning. White pearl necklaces come in several major styles: the bib, dog collar, graduated and uniform.

The bib is made of several strands, usually three or more, that varies in length and fall over the chest like, well, a bib. The pearls on the strands may either be graduated or uniformly-sized.

The dog collar, like its name, is made of several strands and is worn to fit above the base of the neck, right in the middle of the throat. The pearls that make up the strands are uniform in size and may either be small or medium-sized.

The graduated necklace is made up of either a single strand or several, with pearls of graduated sizes. Usually, the middle pearl is the largest in the strand. The uniform necklace uses the same size pearls in its strands and is probably the most common.

Choosing the right size

White pearls come in different sizes, with the most commonly used and sold ranging from 6.5mm to 7.5mm, while really small pearls measure 1mm or less. Some of the bigger pearls are in the 14 to 18mm range.

Generally, smaller pearls are best for younger women and children while medium to bigger pearls are flattering for older women. One of the reasons for this is tradition. In the past, the size of the pearl reflected the woman’s maturity and social status and so she wore the kind of pearls that were deemed appropriate for her.

The other reason is aesthetics. Younger women tend to have younger necks and the best way to show this off is to wear smaller pearls. Pearls of this size also do not look borrowed and women don’t seem to be playing ‘dress up’ with their mother’s jewelry. Older women are better off with medium to bigger-sized pearls, which also imply that she has reached a certain status in life.

Cubic Zirconia also known as CZ or CZ diamonds was created as affordable alternative for genuine diamonds. It is the most prominent choice among all fake diamonds. They come in every color imaginable at a fraction of the cost of other precious gemstones.

Chemically, cubic zirconia made up of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. The process however is quite complicated. When combined, the two chemicals create a beautiful, radiant crystal. It takes almost 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit to melt the two chemicals together and then they are cooled in a specific manner. The chemicals must be carefully cooled in order to create flawless CZ crystals.

History of Cubic Zirconia CZ Jewelry

In 1937, two German mineralogists discovered the cubic form of zirconium oxide. But it wasn't until the 1970s when Soviet scientists learned how to prepare this mineral in the laboratory. After this, Cubic Zirconia or CZ became popular with jewelry designers and manufacturers.

Cubic Zirconia is chemically comprised of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. Though individually, both of these materials are opaque, but when they are melted together under the right conditions, they form brilliant Cubic Zirconia CZ.

Properties

Cubic Zirconias are not artificial diamonds, they are genuine Cubic Zirconia. CZs are an art in themselves. Manufacturers created the colorful Cubic zirconias CZ that we have today after the white Cubic Zirconias became so popular. The Cubic Zirconia CZ is very dense and solid and would weigh 1.7 times more than a diamond of the exact size. They are cut the same way as diamonds. The only difference is that Cubic Zirconias CZ are flawless and very affordable. With proper care, they will not lose their brilliance. Cubic Zirconias CZ set in rhodium finished sterling silver looks just like diamonds set in platinum, and it will never tarnish.

The Cubic Zirconia CZ is a great substitute for diamonds when someone cannot afford a real diamond or just simply prefer not to spend the money on diamonds. CZ jewelry has a little less sparkle and brilliance, but has more fire and color. Cubic zirconia CZ stones are durable, brilliant, and beautiful. People often cannot tell the difference between cubic zirconia jewelry and diamond jewelry. Also, a cubic zirconia weighs 75% more than diamonds with the same carat weight. One way to tell the difference between CZs and diamonds is doing a specific gravity test on an un-mounted stone, or marking ink on the top of the stone (the ink beads up on a cubic zirconia), when gem-printed a cubic zirconia photograph's reflective patterns, and when measuring heat conductivity, a cubic zirconia registers red on the indicator (a diamond is green).

Cubic zirconia has a hardness of 8.5 of the Moh's scale of hardness. Cubic zirconia is clear and is brilliant. There are even some cubic zirconias that come in just about every color of the rainbow.