Nearly all discussions about jewelry start off with pieces for women. Men, however, usually wear at least a few pieces, so let’s talk about them.

While many people think of jewelry as being a woman's domain, there are actually plenty of men out there who enjoy wearing jewelry as well. There is a wide variety of men's jewelry available, and not all of it is geared towards the exceedingly wealthy. Gone are the days when the only piece of jewelry besides a wedding ring that a man would wear is a pinky ring – today's man can choose from many different types of bracelets, necklaces and right hand rings to wear as well.

One of the biggest trends in men's jewelry in recent years has been the use of alternative metals. Titanium jewelry has become popular for both men and women, but it is most often seen in men's jewelry. Bracelets made from this lightweight, strong metal are more likely to be wearer friendly, so many men prefer this type of jewelry over traditional gold or silver. Rings made of titanium are also lighter to wear – many men are also choosing this metal for their wedding rings. Other metals that are used in men's jewelry include stainless steel, a new choice for jewelry that has become popular in recent years.

Another trend in men's jewelry is the use of silver. Large gold chains are expensive, and many men can't afford to purchase such a luxury for themselves. If a man wants to show off his taste in jewelry with style, he can get one of the many pieces of sterling silver jewelry available today. These pieces can range from small chains and bracelets, to large pieces of “bling” complete with big medallions, charms and sparkly diamond-cut additions.

Men are also starting to become more interested in the type of wedding ring they wear. In addition to the newer titanium and stainless steel styles, some men are also opting for more ornate styles than may have been worn in the past. A plain gold band is still a popular sight for men's wedding rings, but some men are beginning to get rings that are carved or fillagreed, or even inlaid with diamonds and other gemstones. These rings often match the bridal set, and are popular with many couples because of the matching look.

Men's jewelry may never become as popular as women's pieces, but if men want to wear a necklace, bracelet or ring, they have many more choices than previous generations. The unique usage of different metals, combined with a lessening of the stereotypes of men who wear jewelry, means that men's jewelry is bound to see an explosion in popularity.

Jewelry tends to be somewhat cyclical. Looks go in and out of fashion. A new popular trend is a rather odd one. Chainmail has come back into fashion.

One of today's popular styles of jewelry has its origin in armor. Chainmail is a type of Medieval armor that was designed to protect its wearer from piercing blows. While not a surefire protection against serious injury, the development of this relatively lightweight armor (compared to full plate armor) meant that men in battle could move more freely while still protecting themselves. Today, the patterns used in making this armor have been translated into interesting jewelry pieces.

Chainmail is also called mail, or maille, and it refers to a pattern of interlocking metal rings that are woven together in order to create an impenetrable garment. It is not the term that is used for the actual armor or garment, rather, chainmail refers to the weave of the chain rings used to create the garment. The earliest examples of chainmail armor date back to the 4th century BC, although historians believe that the process of weaving metal together and wearing the armor may date to even earlier.

Chainmail is created by using metal rings, or links, that are created out of wire that was fashioned from wrought iron. The wire would have either been drawn through smaller and smaller openings (while hot) in order to create the correct thinness, or hammered out. Then, rings would have been formed. Before the 14th century, most chainmail was made of solid rings (that were fused together) and riveted rings. The riveted rings would have been opened, put onto the solid rings, and then closed and riveted together.

Today, this same method is used to make jewelry as well as modern chainmail armor, but different materials and techniques are used. The most traditional way of weaving together chainmail is to use a 4 in 1 pattern, where four rings are joined to a center ring. Most chainmail workers today use preformed rings, which have a split. These are pried open, and then fastened together, without riveting. The preferred metal used today is aluminum, which is lightweight (good for costuming or jewelry) as well as available in many different colors.

Places such as Renaissance Faires and other medieval reenactment societies are often the best place to find chainmail jewelry – many of these places will have little “shops” or craftspeople who are willing to make you a custom piece. If you want to show your love of the Middle Ages but don't want to wear armor, chainmail jewelry can make a great statement.

Many people like to buy birthstones and integrate them into their look. Turquoise gemstones fall within this category and give your jewelry a very distinct look.

One of the alternate birthstones for December, turquoise is a unique gemstone with variable colors and other properties. An opaque gemstone that is made of copper and aluminum in a phosphate, turquoise has been prized throughout the world because of its unique color – unlike any other gemstone. The name turquoise comes from the French, who called the gem after the place it was most frequently traded in – Turkey.

Turquoise is not a very hard stone, in fact, it cracks under the same amount of pressure as window glass. Lesser quality stones will crack under even less pressure, and the quality of turquoise is extremely variable. The color of turquoise is also variable – there is a large range of colors that can be found within the blue-green turquoise spectrum. Stones can be colored in ways from light robin's egg blue to a darker, green color. Turquoise can be treated, both chemically and with heat, in order to change the color of a particular stone, and the gemstone may also be waxed or coated in order to make it appear more valuable.

Most of the world's highest grade turquoise actually comes from Iran, with a deposit here that is considered a “perfect color” deposit (a natural beautiful blue, and green when heated). Turquoise is also found on the nearby Sinai Peninsula and Egypt, but the gem is not mined commercially in these areas. China and Australia have also been found to have small amounts of turquoise in veins running throughout the countries, but they are considered minor sources.

One of the world's biggest sources of turquoise comes from the United States, specifically in Arizona. Most of the turquoise found in the US is not of a very high quality, and it is of the type known as chalk turquoise. Of the gems that are jewelry quality, many of the turquoise pieces found here are greener in color, and have a mottled appearance. Pre-Columbian Native Americans were the first to find and use this turquoise, and today the gem is still often seen in Native American jewelry and artifacts.

If you are looking to purchase turquoise, Arizona and Nevada are the two states where you are most likely to find large amounts of the gem in jewelry settings. Be wary of extremely blue turquoise, which may look dyed or fake. These may be simulated turquoise, which can be made from chalk turquoise (dyed) or even plastic resin.

The Miriam Webster dictionary defines an artisan as one that produces something in limited quantities often using traditional methods. We have seen artisan bread, artisan cheese and artisan beer in recent years. The term has come to connote something unusual and of high quality.

Artisan jewelry is designed and created by an artisan and either made as one-of-a-kind or limited edition presentations. It is not enough, though that it is hand crafted or one-of-a-kind. The jewelry customer should still expect a high level of creativity and craftsmanship using the best quality materials.

Creativity

A piece of artisan jewelry should stand out from the crowd. Artisan jewelry is not a stone set in a purchased casting or a collection of purchased charms on a purchased chain. It is a piece of jewelry that is designed and created by a skilled artisan.

An artisan piece may use an unusual combination of materials or interesting juxtaposition of techniques. It may be an utterly simple, fanciful, concept or extravagantly detailed piece of jewelry. Frequently we see an artisan’s jewelry evolve over a period of time as he or she pushes the techniques and materials to another level and explores the possibilities for an innovative expression of his or her vision.

Craftsmanship

The piece should be well finished with no burrs, plier marks or rough edges. Any ends of wire or stringing material should be tucked in or covered so they do not catch on anything or become damaged.

The piece should be sturdy enough to stand up to the rigors of being worn. This sturdiness has to do both with the construction of the item and the materials used. A substantial weight for the size of the piece is an indication that the designer planned for wear ability of the piece.

Any solder joints should be smooth, well fitted and secure. Solder should match the metals it is securing. Any prongs should be sturdy, well placed and in good condition to hold a stone without damaging it or catching on your clothing.

If it is wire jewelry, the wires should be parallel, not damaged and fastened securely with the ends tucked in and filed smooth.

Artisan jewelry is created one piece at a time and that gives each step a chance to be inspected and adjusted before the next step is taken. This should provide you with a quality, long-lasting piece of jewelry that is unusual and appealing.

Materials

Artisan jewelry can be fine jewelry, bridge jewelry or fashion jewelry. Any of these three classifications of jewelry can be artisan made, individually designed and created by a skilled artisan. Fine jewelry is generally made of precious metals and precious or semi-precious stones. Bridge jewelry is normally created with semiprecious metals and semi precious stones. Fashion jewelry is composed of base metals, fibers, plastic or other synthetic stones and components. Today's artisan jeweler has access to an almost unlimited supply of unusual and interesting materials to work with in creating the jewelry. While artisan jewelry may not always hold intrinsic value just from the materials, an artisan made piece has high value due to a unique and individually created combination of the artisan's creativity, craftsmanship and choice of materials. If the piece is signed, that is a plus. You never know what "name" may break away and become valuable as a collectible.

Though stone treatment has gone on for centuries, new techniques and methods are now available and many gemstones are treated to improve their appearance and make them more marketable. While it is common knowledge within the gem trade that stones are enhanced through treatment, the buying public has known little about the treatments until recently.

As long as the consumer realizes that the stone has been treated, and the value adjusted accordingly, this is not a deceptive or underhanded practice. Treatments can do such things as change or enhance color, make the stone more durable and enhance the character of the stone. Unless the stone is stated to be natural, we can almost always assume that the stone has been treated with the common treatments used on that type of gemstone. Natural precious stones with no treatment at all are a rarity and are often very expensive.

Treatment maybe as simple as the old treatment of soaking chalcedony in honey then ageing it on the roof of the house so the honey caramelized and changed the color. When the stone turned black, it was called Black Onyx. Gemstones can be treated with heat, laser treatment, radiation, bleaching, stabilization, putting in acid, applying pressure, oiling, impregnation, dyeing, or combinations of any of these techniques. Here are just a few examples of common stone treatments:

1. Chalcedony is treated with heat to become Carnelian, and when it is dyed black, we call it Black Onyx.

2. Aquamarine is sometimes heated at a low temperature to bring out the blues and lessen the naturally occurring yellows, which make greens appear in the stone.

3. Rubies are rarely available these days that have not been heat treated, but if you can find natural rubies, the value is at least 30% better than that of a treated stone.

4. Diamonds in colors have become quite popular. Many of these are treated with radiation or a combination of pressure and heat. Naturally colored diamonds are far more valuable than their treated counterparts.

5. Emeralds can be treated with oil or impregnated with polymers, even dyed polymers to enhance color.

6. Tanzanite is naturally brown and when it is treated with heat the characteristic blue with violet undertones becomes apparent.

7. Sapphires are sometimes heat treated at a high temperature to bring out the dark blues and enhance the clarity of the stones.

8. The Padparadscha Sapphire is most often treated with heat to enhance the brilliance of the color.

9. Pearls have been bleached, waxed, heated, dyed and irradiated to enhance their color and luster.

10. Citrine is frequently heat-treated amethyst or smoky quarts. Natural citrine is usually a light yellow.

11. Topaz is often irradiated or heated to bring out the brilliant blues. It is also sometimes sliced and layered by color to give an almost iridescent color. This topaz is usually called Mystic Topaz.

12. Turquoise can be dyed, stabilized, have the matrix enhanced and even backed with plastic when it is mounted.

If the price of any of these stones seems too good to be true, you are probably looking at a treated stone. If no deception is practiced and the buyer and seller are both happy with the transaction gemstone treatment is not an unethical or deceptive practice.

Cleaning Your Diamond

A diamond is very durable and strong, considering how delicate and beautiful they are, and they can last a lifetime and beyond if they are cared for properly.

Caring for a diamond is fairly simple and there are just a few things to keep in mind when caring for your precious stone. there are different cleaning options that will help keep it as sparkling and brilliant as the first time your wore it.

there are a number of cleaning procedures that you can do at home on a regular basis, but you can also return to your jeweler where you made your diamond purchase and ask for a professional cleaning. This may be included in your warranty agreement at no charge. It is also wise to return to your jeweler at least once a year to have your diamond cleaned, and also have the setting checked to make sure your diamond is still secure.

Detergent Bath

The most popularly used routine of diamond care is to simply place your diamond in a mild, warm water detergent bath. Use a bowl filled with warm water, then add in a mild detergent that you already have in your home. Common choices are dish detergent or a mild bathroom cleaner. Using a soft brush, gently brush your diamond using the sudsy water to loosen any oil or dirt that may have collected around your diamond. Be sure to use a soft brush, so as not to scratch the setting. Rinse your diamond by placing it in a fine strainer and running it under warm water so as to remove all the soap. Do not used chlorine bleach which can be harmful to your diamond and the setting.

Quick-Dip

There are also cleaners on the market specifically created for this use. If you choose one of these, read the instructions and follow them with care for dipping your diamond into the solution. After cleaning, handle carefully and avoid touching the diamond and transferring oil from your skin. Allow it to dry completely before wearing or returning to wherever you store it.

Cold Water Soak
Another method of diamond cleaning it the cold water soak. Use a solution of half cold water and half household ammonia. Place your diamond in this cold water soak for at least 30 minutes. Allow to dry on a piece of fine tissue paper.

Diamond Tips and Cautions

1. When cleaning your diamond, always make sure the sink drain is closed. As an extra precaution, place a washcloth over the closed drain.
2. When using a brush, make sure it has very soft bristles. Your diamond is very durable, but the setting around it may be damaged or scratched.
3. Never use chlorine bleach. This is harmful.
4. Remove jewelry and diamonds when cleaning around the house with harsh cleaners, or wear protective gloves.
5. Don't wear your diamond in swimming pools or hot tubs that have chlorine added to the water.
6. During cleaning, take this occasion to check the prongs in your setting to see that your diamond is seated securely.
7. Once a year schedule a professional cleaning at your jeweler and have the setting checked while you are there.
8. Hair spray, lotions, oil from skin and the dirt encountered everyday can make your diamond look dull. Enjoy the fire and brilliance of your beautiful stone by keeping it clean.

Storing Diamonds

Store your diamond carefully, to keep it safe, but also to safeguard your other fine jewelry items. A jewelery box with lined dividers is best, but if you are storing in a common compartment, wrap your diamond first in soft tissue or cloth. Storing an uncovered diamond next to other jewelry items could cause damage due to scratching the other pieces.

Over the last few years, the Internet has quickly become one of the most important venues for purchasing all types of jewelry in all price ranges. There are great opportunities for a smart buyer to find some fabulous deals, but also the possibility of being overcharged or outright defrauded if you are not careful. Dealers selling jewelry online have much less overhead than traditional jewelry stores and they often have more direct sources for their products. This means that they really can sell for less. But buying something that you can’t see in person and touch from somebody that you don’t know is obviously fraught with danger. This article will provide you with some of the basic things you need to consider before you go shopping on-line for the ultimate jewelry bargain.

First of all, just as if you were buying in a brick and mortar store, you need to inform yourself ahead of time about the product that you are buying. If you are interested in buying gemstone jewelry, do some research on the internet regarding what makes one gemstone better than another. Learn a little about what the 4 C’s mean. Briefly, they stand for color, clarity, cut and carets. Those are the 4 attributes of a gemstone that determine its quality. Its quality combined with supply and demand, determine its value. Armed with a little knowledge, you’ll know what attributes to look for in the ads and listings you come across and you’ll know what questions to ask. The ruby in a particular ring may be large and a nice shade of red, but if it has serious inclusions (flaws) or it is not well faceted to achieve maximum brilliance, it may not be worth much. Also do some research on gemstone treatments. Many if not most gemstones on the market today have been treated in some way to enhance their color or clarity. Some enhancements are considered acceptable. Some are not! Some may not even be permanent. Dealers must disclose any treatments done to the gemstones they are selling. Be sure and ask.

Also familiarize yourself with common jewelry related terminology. For example make sure you understand the differences between 10 Karat gold and 14 Karat gold, Gold filled and gold plated, etc. The differences in value and quality are considerable! Make sure you understand the meanings of terms like genuine, natural, simulated, created and imitation. The differences are often subtle, but important. Read all the sales copy carefully.

As much as possible, know who you are dealing with. If you are shopping on eBay or some similar site, check the seller’s feedback carefully. If it is an independent website, look to see if they have any professional affiliations. Find out how long they have been in business. Do they list a phone number on their site so you can call them directly if there is a problem or question. Also note where they are located. If they are doing business in another country, they may be trustworthy, honest people, but if they aren’t you may not have any recourse once they have you’re money. You can often get a much lower price buying from some less developed country, but in my opinion, the risks are much greater.

Third, make sure the seller has a reasonable return policy. You are buying something that you can’t see or hold in your hand. Even the most honest seller is trying to present his merchandise in the best light. Even the best photographs don’t tell the whole story. Colors can vary from one computer monitor to another. It is fair and reasonable that you should have the opportunity to return your purchase if it doesn’t live up to your expectations. You will probably be responsible for paying the shipping for returned merchandise and some dealers charge a restocking fee. Just make sure you know before you send your money, what the seller’s return policy is.

Cultured Pearl Jewelry has always fascinated women all over the world. Love for pearl jewelry and its beauty dazzled many known celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Princess Diana. Queens and princesses have adorned themselves with all kinds of pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and other pearl jewelry.

Designers make pearl jewelry with all types and quality of pearls such as freshwater pearls, akoya pearls, Tahitian and south seawater pearls. Each type of pearl comes from different type of oysters’ family. Pearl farms try every season to perfect the culturing techniques and bring the best quality pearls in the market. Value of any pearl jewelry is evaluated by the quality, size, shape and type of pearls. Normally bigger the size of pearl, higher goes the price but cultured pearl jewelry designed with small size pearls can fetch more value because of its excellent quality than the bigger size pearl which lack luster and have many blemishes.

Difference in cultured and natural pearls can’t be made with naked eyes; however, distinction becomes very prominent when seen through x-rays. Cultured pearls are used in pearl jewelry as well as in cosmetics. One should also be careful about imitation pearls.

Pearls, pearl necklaces - pearl jewelry are always alluring and dazzling because of their natural and lustrous appeal. Pearl Jewelry is one of the most romantic jewelry gifts. Pearls are not only the symbol of purity, virtue and modesty but are real organic gems on this earth. Cultured pearls are more than just jewels. If diamonds are forever, pearls are timeless fashion statement. Pearl Jewelry is always in fashion and always in style.

The variety of colors, shapes, sizes, quality and origin makes pearl jewelry most fascinating. Cultured Pearl Jewelry is designed with very selective hand picked lustrous pearls and to make a nice beautiful pearl necklace it takes about 40-50 pearl beads stringed together. Women often go for matching set of pearl necklace, pearl earrings and pearl bracelet. Each piece of cultured pearl jewelry can be worn individually or separately. Cultured pearl jewelry go very well with most style of dresses from casual to party wears.

Pink pearl jewelry is designed with cultured pearls. White color is traditional and classic when you speak of pearl jewelry but now pearls can be color-enhanced to various attractive colors. Pink pearl jewelry is very much in fashion now. Pink pearl jewelry is a very popular Valentine’s Day gift also. After white color, pink and black are two preferred choices of most women. Due to wide array of gorgeous pastel colors available now in pearl jewelry, pink or rose overtones pearl necklaces are truly very romantic and look very dainty and delicate. Pink pearl jewelry enhances beauty and charm and since pearls are natural gems, its luminous appeal is really adorable.

Women have passion for beauty and buy jewelry to enhance their beauty and show styles. One piece of jewelry, however expensive, is not sufficient. Women need variety in jewelry to go along with various dresses. Among other types of jewelry such as diamond, platinum, gold and gemstones jewelry, pearl jewelry is one of the favorite and preferred choices for many women. Pink pearl jewelry is one of the favorites and preferred choice of many women, especially among young. Pink pearl jewelry looks very subtle and attractive yet eye-catching and it compliments with most outfits.

Brides love pink pearl jewelry and go very well with designer bridal gowns. Depending on styles like open neckline, drop shoulder and spaghetti straps or strapless gowns various pearl necklace lengths are chosen to fit the outfit and the mood. Pink pearl jewelry is also a perfect gift for wedding, graduation, valentines, anniversary or birthday.

Pearl is natural gem. A tiny mental tissue or bead is implanted in oyster and then left to grow in the waters. It secretes layers upon layers of nacre to form a lustrous pearl. It takes about 2- 5 years to grow nice quality cultured pearls. The natural hues of the pearls are the result of the kind of oyster it is cultivated in and the climatic conditions of water around it. The lucent overtones of pearl tends to add depth to the main body color, giving the pearl a certain glow and intensity.

All women have their favorite pieces of jewelry and pearl jewelry is one of them. Pink pearl necklace with matching pink pearl earrings radiates a certain mystical charm and is a perfect buy or gift for loved ones.

Good news is that pearls have become affordable and the quality has improved. There was a time when natural pearls cost a fortune and were domain of rich and famous people but not any more. More and more people are buying pearls because of its natural lustrous appeal. But natural pearls are rare and all pearls sold in the domestic and international markets are all cultured pearls and are known by various names such as freshwater pearls, akoya pearls or akoya seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls, South sea pearls.

What are cultured pearls then? A Japanese man named Kokichi Mikimoto back in early 20th Century developed the culturing technique. He had mastered the culturing technology in growing the pearls naturally in seawaters but with little human help. This technique of growing cultured pearls is popularly known as the bead-nucleating technology. Ever since there has been great demand for these cultured pearls which are worn everyday by all women around the world.

A very small mantle tissue beads are implanted inside the mollusks or oysters to form beautiful pearls. Pearls are formed inside the body of oysters. The mollusk deposits layer of nacre, a combination of crystalline and organic substances, when any irritant or parasite enters or placed inside its body. Over a period of time with nacre building up in layers upon layers, the pearl is formed.

Difference in cultured and natural pearls can’t be made with naked eyes; however, distinction becomes very prominent when seen through x-rays. Cultured pearls are used in pearl jewelry as well as in cosmetics.

Pearls are evaluated by the quality, size, shape and type of pearls. Luster is the hallmark for any pearl. Although white color is synonymous with pearls but they do come in various other natural shades link cream, rose overtones, pink, gray, peacock black, golden and lavender etc.

Women have always been enchanted by the beautiful and the gorgeous appeal of fine pearl jewelry. Each piece of fine pearl jewelry stands for its own beauty and style. Pearl jewelry is considered to be the best and perfect gifts for loved ones among other jewelry. Pearls natural shine is very appealing and adding the complete pearl set to any wardrobe is an excellent choice by many.

When it comes to a bride’s wedding day, she wants everything to be not only special, but beautiful as well. Most of all, her wedding attire should set the tone for the entire wedding. There is nothing more special than finding the perfect wedding dress. After finding her wedding gown, the bride’s next step is to accessorize. Wedding jewelry helps to complete the overall appearance of the bride and is an essential element to her bridal ensemble. Fortunately, buying wedding jewelry is not a difficult task. Below are a few helpful guidelines to follow:

Buying Wedding Jewelry Tip #1 Theme
Before buying wedding jewelry, it is best to consider the theme of your wedding. If you are incorporating a beach theme into your special day, then beach wedding jewelry is an appropriate choice. If your wedding is more formal, then your wedding colors should dictate the type of bridal jewelry that you should purchase. For example, silver jewelry greatly enhances colors that fall with in the blue family (i.e. periwinkle, powder blue, indigo, etc.).

Buying Wedding Jewelry Tip #2 Cost
While any bride would probably love to wear diamond wedding jewelry that is set in pure white or yellow gold, it is not always cost effective—especially when one is planning an inexpensive wedding. Fortunately, there are a lot of beautiful wedding jewelry options that are made of Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, and other metals and precious stones. Many of these alternatives are just as beautiful but significantly less expensive. In fact, some of the most unique selections and affordable prices can be found online.

Buying Wedding Jewelry Tip #3 Style
Try to avoid purchasing your accessories before buying your wedding gown. When buying wedding jewelry, a bride should consider the style of her gown and look for accessories that will complement its style—not over power it. It is best to try on several different jewelry types before settling.

Buying Wedding Jewelry Tip #4 Pre-Owned
Believe it or not, many women are willing to sell their wedding jewelry after their big day. Fortunately, brides that are on a strict budget can purchase previously owned wedding jewelry to complement their wedding gown. The money that is saved on the bride’s accessories can be put toward the honeymoon!

Bridal jewelry is just as important as a wedding gown. Accessories are the key to completing any attire. These are a just a few tips to help guide brides through the process of purchasing wedding jewelry. These guidelines can help any bride-to-be find something beautiful and affordable for her special day.