I don’t know about you but every time I go shopping for clothes and accessories I end up at the jewelry counter. I am dazzled by sparkling this and shiny that but when I take a closer look, I am not as enchanted as I was a minute ago. Perhaps we are trained to like shiny things at first sight. However, I don’t want to fill up my jewelry collection with the stuff you see everywhere and on everyone. The same is true in most jewelry stores. I take a walk around the room and see what catches my eye and I see beautiful and expensive stones but I see nothing really interesting.

Most people want their pieces to be unique. Most would like them to be artistic and creative. Jewelry isn’t something to just have to have but something that expresses something about us. When I buy and really invest in a piece of jewelry, I am investing in a piece of art, something that I will pass down for generations and that will be special to each member of my family who wears it. Jewelry is a treasure. So why would I want to shell out a ton of money for something common and like everyone else’s?

In choosing jewelry always look for something exceptional and imaginative. I love going to craft fairs and artisan fairs to try to find just that special something. Now, with the World Wide Web, you can look for cool stuff right at home. Searching on-line is a start. Check local newspapers and alternative papers as well. You will always be able to find the more well known designers in your area as well as those up and coming. For example, you may know of Judith Ripka or other off-the-beaten trail jewelry makers like her that manage to be successful but not over-exposed. For 30 years Judith Ripka jewelry has won tremendous loyalty of those customers that cross her path. With a few boutique stores and products available on-line, she has won over many customers. People in the “know” enjoy all her pieces from Judith Ripka rings to pins to bangles. Judith Ripka 18k jewelry, as well as diamonds and semi precious stones, is not only glamorous but also tasteful. You won’t get the gaudy, ”Hey, look at me, I am showing off” stuff but you will enjoy very fine quality and naturally attention calling pieces.

What we wear on our bodies is an outward expression of who we are and what turns us on. Not just the style of our clothes or hair, but our jewelry also plays a part. In fact, jewelry as it is a more subtle part or our wardrobe, gives us an opportunity to really display our uniqueness. The gentle pendent or the striking ring adds to us just the right flare to accentuate our personalities. Jewelry is more than just something we throw on because it matches and it is more than flashing valuables at people. It is an art form.