Exceptional handcrafted jewelry is designed and handmade by talented jewelers and artisan-jewelers the world over. While many designers create entirely unique designs, others are deeply influenced by their region's historic cultural and traditional styles.

Jewelry expert Merlly Calisto works closely with hundreds of master artisan-designers in her homeland, Peru. There, she serves as regional director of Novica.com, a world arts website that assists thousands of artisans worldwide and features each artist's biography and handcrafted collection online.

In the following interview, Calisto discusses handcrafted jewelry as an art form, and traditional styles and materials of handmade jewelry in Peru. Calisto explains what she looks for when seeking new jewelry designers and collections, who she recommends, and how she became a jewelry expert.

CG: Why does Novica specialize in handcrafted jewelry, instead of machine-made jewelry? What advantages does handmade jewelry provide over mass-produced designs?

MC: Handcrafted jewelry is more challenging. You can feel the artist's soul in it. For artisans, handcrafted jewelry provides the chance to explore your creativity, to give more of yourself and to make it true, without requiring the artist to invest thousands to get his or her idea developed. With simple tools, basic raw materials, and talented hands, artists can express their feelings and beliefs in this art form, and show off their unique designs and their inherited culture. Machine-made jewelry, on the other hand, requires a significant investment in machines, employees, and many other related costs, while it removes the creative essence from this art.

CG: What are the typical styles of handcrafted jewelry a collector will find in Peru today?

MC: The typical styles for collectors of Peruvian jewelry include Pre-Inca, Traditional, Colonial, and even Modern. We are recognized for our gold and silver mines, which our ancestors put to use with considerable dedication. The most popular use was for the creation of exquisite, carefully handcrafted jewelry. Our ancestors captured their beliefs in their jewelry, and the symbols associated with those beliefs. You will popularly find Peruvian jewelry featuring royal birds, felines, the Sun God, and so forth. Peru is the Land of the Sun. Our Colonial jewelry, despite of being the result of the Conquest of the Americas, shows what our ancestors began to create after they learned an entirely new culture. So our Colonial jewelry merges our ancestor's unique talents with new beginnings, and typically features a heavier emphasis on flora, rather than the emphasis on fauna that their predecessors maintained. Nowadays the art of jewelry design is opening up further in Peru, becoming a more attractive field for new jewelers who prefer modern jewelry -- inspired by our roots, but featuring more abstract shapes and ideas. This means that the Peruvian artist may still express himself in a way that is inspired by our culture, but merged again with new beginnings.

CG: Can you describe more of the details one can expect to enjoy in Pre-Inca, Inca, and other Peruvian handcrafted jewelry designs?

MC: Pre-Inca and Inca jewelry share similarities, because the Inca Empire resulted from the conquest of various Pre-Inca cultures. Inca jewelry expresses the Inca's beliefs and cosmology. You will find images of felines, people, or birds decorated with snakes or sunbeams which express royalty, power and loyalty. Some of our Pre-Inca cultures used a simple, attractive style to express their beliefs, most of those are still commonly represented in artistry today, and not only in jewelry. Colonial style jewelry is considered an elegant style. A Colonial jewel design, or a Modern jewelry design inspired by colonial times, gives you the sense of seeing something designed for the Queen. Although we do not use diamonds, for example, you cannot confuse this style with a bijouterie -- you will feel it as a jewel. Colonial jewelry and Inca-style jewelry are typically stunning handmade works of art, perfect for collectors.

CG: What gemstones and metals are mined in Peru, and commonly found in handcrafted Peruvian jewelry? What about the quality level of those same Peruvian materials?

MC: Nice question, I love it. Do you know why? The Silver Institute has named Peru as the first world silver producer -- yes! -- followed by Mexico. Regarding gold, we are the first in Latin America, and the fifth in the world. About quality, we are considered one of the best. Regarding gemstones, we have a special stone, the Andean Opal. There is a lot of opal around the world, but Andean Opal is purely Peruvian. From this stone we have Crisocola, which was used by Pre-Incas in their jewelry. Other popular semiprecious stones are Sodalite, Onyx, Obsidian, Jasper, Serpentine, Angelite.

CG: When you are considering representing new handcrafted jewelry artisans, what do you look for, in their design style, materials, and quality? How do you determine those factors?

MC: What I look for first is the meaning of each design -- immediately I imagine someone wearing it. Who would be the customer? How does he or she look when wearing this piece? Is it design for a market where the customer looks for something different, to convey tradition, culture, and soul? I usually look for some aspect of our roots, whether the design is modern or traditional. If it expresses Peru in any of its ways, it is of initial interest to me. I find myself grateful when the materials are Peruvian, especially our silver, gold, and local stones. Then, of course it must be carefully crafted and meticulously finished.

CG: Can you please name a handful of your favorite handmade jewelry designers? Please describe why they are your favorites.

MC: IIlaria is one of my favorites. She leans toward the colonial style we discussed, and she really designs for the customer, not for herself. You can view her collection at Novica, to see what I mean.

Patricia Jara is another of my favorites, because most of her items are in the modern style that is nonetheless always inspired by Pre-Inca cultures. Claudia Llaury merges tradition with her way of expressing tradition, in a simple way, and she uses always local materials, including high quality silver. Juan Contreras creates lovely designs, especially his Inca-style designs, such as his "Veil of the Incas" collection. Claudia Lira's quality is very high, and her jewelry shows that Peruvian artists keep innovating. Anna Lia and Adrian feature a fusion of ethnic elegance and Art Deco, although they do not always use local gemstones. I feel very proud to represent these and many other extraordinary artisans and designers. They are each showcased individually within our Novica Handcrafted Jewelry division.

CG: What led to your experience in the handcrafted jewelry field? Did you begin as a jewelry artist yourself?

MC: I think I am more theoretical than practical. On a personal level, I love jewelry. On a professional level, my experience in jewelry began with a job promoting Peruvian jewelry abroad. For that, I visited many small and well-known workshops to learn about all aspects of jewelry production. I was involved with metal industry deals as well. I participated in expert meetings at the National Industries Society and Mining Society.

Personally, I noticed a lack of finishing expertise, especially in some of the smaller workshops, so I began to organize attendance for technical courses, and began designing educational workshops for small and new jewelers. I learned much over the years, but really never put this knowledge into practice as an artist myself. I have enjoyed participating in international jewelry fairs, including, for example, Iberjoya in Madrid, and I have attended international jewelry symposiums promoted by various international cooperation programs.

I have participated in an important local silver contest called Plata del Peru, sponsored by Patronato de la Plata, as an invited judge. My years with Novica have broadened my experience still further in many ways. Meanwhile, the market has enjoyed great growth, and I now feel myself closer to the market at Novica. New jewelry materials and concepts are always wandering around the world, so I keep learning about what's new.

I enjoy visiting the Mining Institute, where one can learn much about local gemstones. And I have enjoyed taking some handmade jewelry classes to become more practically involved with our artists. Every so often I visit jewelry suppliers to see what is new, and to be updated about prices. I must stay up-to-date on all prices so that I can better assist artists, and understand their cost needs. It is a complex and fascinating profession!

Even though we are a advanced civilization, millions of people throughout the world are susceptible to incapacitation because of a wide range of medical, environmental, and food borne ailments, which if left untreated, could lead to serious bodily injury, or even worse, death. Fortunately, these individuals have the option of carrying a card, wearing a tag, bracelet, or necklace which speaks for them when they are unable to speak for themselves.

A medical alert tag not only lists the ailment, but it can also list your 24 hour emergency response number, which has all of your medical history in their databases. When medical staff has access to this information, it can save precious time. Some of the more common declarations you might find on medical alert tags:

ADD/ADHD
Alzheimer's, Dementia, or Memory impairment
Allergies (Food, Insect, Dust, Plants, Pollen, Pollution, Pet Dander)
Anemia
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Asthma
Autism
Bariatric surgery patients
Blood type or disorders
Blood thinners/anticoagulants (Coumadin/Warfarin)/including aspirin
Breathing disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Clinical trial patients
COPD
Cystic Fibrosis
Diabetes
Dialysis patient
Drug/Medicine allergies
Emphysema
Epilepsy/Seizures
Hearing, Visual, or Mental impairment
Heart disease (angina, atrial fibrillation, pacemakers)
Hypertension
Insect allergies
Kidney failure
Mental health patients
Multiple medications
Multiple Sclerosis
Pacemaker
Parkinson's Disease
Multiple medications
Rare diseases
Special needs children
Stroke risk
Transplant or cancer patients
Tourette Syndrome


What's really neat is that those who suffer from any of these or other ailments (particularly children), no longer have to wear a boring or awkward piece of jewelry which attracts negative attention, or promotes teasing or taunting by other children. Bands can be made with a variety of colors, character beads, crystals etc. to personalize it. The bands are made with 2 clasps, making it easy to change to match any outfit. Medical alert jewelry can now be worn with pride.

I've seen it time and time again. Customers come to have estimates or appraisals done for their lost, stolen, or damaged jewelry. They ask if the appraisal can be done without seeing the jewelry or if it can be done based on their recollection of what it used to look like. Unfortunately insurance companies will not accept this form of evaluation or appraisal, and certainly not after the fact. In the following article I will explain what to do in order to properly appraise and insure your jewelry.

Creditable Appraisals
Insurance companies require that your jewelry policy be based on official and creditable appraisals done by a reputable jeweler. Jewelers that have studied or have been train by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will provide the most acceptable appraisals. Being trained by GIA ensures a conservative grading analysis and a correct evaluation of the jewelry’s worth. Most insurance companies do not require that you have your jewelry appraised by GIA graduates however; it’s always better to have one done by someone with these credentials.

Your appraisal should include the information regarding the precious metal content including it’s weight, karat purity, and color. The diamonds and gemstones should be described in terms of shape, carat weight, color, clarity, and cut grade. If the diamonds are pre-certified by a grading laboratory then you should give a copy of the certification to the appraiser and ask them to list this information on the appraisal. If possible have the appraiser photograph the items and attach this photograph to the appraisal when submitting to the insurance company. Always keep a copy in a safe deposit box or in a fire proof safe.

Jewelry appraisals should be reassessed every 7-10 years to determine if the value of the items has appreciated. Jewelry is a commodity and like all commodities they are subject to fluctuations in value. In recent years the value of certain diamonds have actually doubled in price because of shortages in the marketplace for high demand shapes and sizes. A loss after such a gain in value without proper reassessments will result in gaps in your jewelry coverage when trying to replace the item.

Choosing the Proper Insurance Coverage
The biggest mistake consumers’ make is assuming that their homeowners insurance will cover them in the event of a loss. This could be further from the truth. The typical home insurance only allows $1500 - $5000 for personal articles and with that is a deductible of $500 - $1500. Along with that is the fact that some homeowners’ insurance policies do not allow for loss of the item, damage, or diamond loss from the setting. The best way to insure your jewelry is to get a personal articles policy written by your agent. This policy should include loss of the item, theft of item, damage, and loss of gemstones & diamonds. Ask your insurance agent to quote the policy with no deductible and with the above coverage. The going rate for jewelry insurance is $1.50 - $1.85 per hundred and if you’re quote higher then your probably paying too much. To calculate the annual premium take the appraised value of the jewelry and multiply is by the rate and then divide it by 100. Example (appraised value $10,000 X $1.50 = $15,000 Divide by 100 = $150 per year).

Some local insurance agents aren’t familiar with jewelry insurance policies and you may feel like you’re not getting the proper assistance. There are a couple of jewelry insurance companies that provide superior service and if your agent fails to give you proper assistance I recommend you give them a call. The two I like most are CHUBB Insurance and Jewelers Mutual. These companies specialize in personal articles policies and generally have the lowest rates with the best coverage.

Insurance is one of those things that you have to think about until you really need it. I will say though that a jewelry insurance policy makes a lot of sense. Let say you have a wedding set worth $5000 that you wear every day. How often do walk around with $5000 cash in your pocket? Almost never right? Well is some cases you walk around with the jewelry equivalent all the time. If you have valuable jewelry that you wear everyday then you are certainly increasing your chances of having an unfortunate loss. Jewelry valued at $5000 can cost as little as $75 per year to insure. It’s worth every penny to give you the peace of mind to wear it with pride and without worry.

I've seen it time and time again. Customers come to have estimates or appraisals done for their lost, stolen, or damaged jewelry. They ask if the appraisal can be done without seeing the jewelry or if it can be done based on their recollection of what it used to look like. Unfortunately insurance companies will not accept this form of evaluation or appraisal, and certainly not after the fact. In the following article I will explain what to do in order to properly appraise and insure your jewelry.

Creditable Appraisals
Insurance companies require that your jewelry policy be based on official and creditable appraisals done by a reputable jeweler. Jewelers that have studied or have been train by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will provide the most acceptable appraisals. Being trained by GIA ensures a conservative grading analysis and a correct evaluation of the jewelry’s worth. Most insurance companies do not require that you have your jewelry appraised by GIA graduates however; it’s always better to have one done by someone with these credentials.

Your appraisal should include the information regarding the precious metal content including it’s weight, karat purity, and color. The diamonds and gemstones should be described in terms of shape, carat weight, color, clarity, and cut grade. If the diamonds are pre-certified by a grading laboratory then you should give a copy of the certification to the appraiser and ask them to list this information on the appraisal. If possible have the appraiser photograph the items and attach this photograph to the appraisal when submitting to the insurance company. Always keep a copy in a safe deposit box or in a fire proof safe.

Jewelry appraisals should be reassessed every 7-10 years to determine if the value of the items has appreciated. Jewelry is a commodity and like all commodities they are subject to fluctuations in value. In recent years the value of certain diamonds have actually doubled in price because of shortages in the marketplace for high demand shapes and sizes. A loss after such a gain in value without proper reassessments will result in gaps in your jewelry coverage when trying to replace the item.

Choosing the Proper Insurance Coverage
The biggest mistake consumers’ make is assuming that their homeowners insurance will cover them in the event of a loss. This could be further from the truth. The typical home insurance only allows $1500 - $5000 for personal articles and with that is a deductible of $500 - $1500. Along with that is the fact that some homeowners’ insurance policies do not allow for loss of the item, damage, or diamond loss from the setting. The best way to insure your jewelry is to get a personal articles policy written by your agent. This policy should include loss of the item, theft of item, damage, and loss of gemstones & diamonds. Ask your insurance agent to quote the policy with no deductible and with the above coverage. The going rate for jewelry insurance is $1.50 - $1.85 per hundred and if you’re quote higher then your probably paying too much. To calculate the annual premium take the appraised value of the jewelry and multiply is by the rate and then divide it by 100. Example (appraised value $10,000 X $1.50 = $15,000 Divide by 100 = $150 per year).

Some local insurance agents aren’t familiar with jewelry insurance policies and you may feel like you’re not getting the proper assistance. There are a couple of jewelry insurance companies that provide superior service and if your agent fails to give you proper assistance I recommend you give them a call. The two I like most are CHUBB Insurance and Jewelers Mutual. These companies specialize in personal articles policies and generally have the lowest rates with the best coverage.

Insurance is one of those things that you have to think about until you really need it. I will say though that a jewelry insurance policy makes a lot of sense. Let say you have a wedding set worth $5000 that you wear every day. How often do walk around with $5000 cash in your pocket? Almost never right? Well is some cases you walk around with the jewelry equivalent all the time. If you have valuable jewelry that you wear everyday then you are certainly increasing your chances of having an unfortunate loss. Jewelry valued at $5000 can cost as little as $75 per year to insure. It’s worth every penny to give you the peace of mind to wear it with pride and without worry.

Capodimonte porcelain has actually been around for quite a long time. The 1740’s to be exact. It started out in Naples and was under explicit orders from the King of Italy to produce porcelain superior to the famous Meissen factory in Germany. It did for a while but then the factory was moved to Spain; it burned down; and later it was restarted in Italy only to be destroyed again during the French invasion of 1798.

In the period of its glory as a royal business it turned out porcelains of such gorgeous quality that they were used only by Royal families because of the high cost of production. After it was looted and destroyed during the French invasion, it was again rebuilt. But during the French interregnum in Italy its production was halted and porcelain production was sold to a group of local businessmen. It's fate is as dull as the years of its existence, apart from saying it produced magnificent porcelain. It more or less disappeared from view for a while.

Fortunately, it was resuscitated by some local businessmen who wanted to keep the Capdimonte tradition alive. A few factories in Italy still create these masterpieces of another day as well as our own time - a variety of home decor items ranging from stunning candlestick holders to breathtaking chandeliers with lots of flowers, birds, and animals in between.

Today, Capodimonte is quite simply the finest and most perfect grade of Italian artistic pottery, one that is cherished for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. And that goes for its subsidiaries discussed in the following paragraphs.

The new outfit, along with V. Sabadin and A. Santini, under the Capodimonte imprimatur is Cevik Glass and Porcelain. The products of each of these companies are all registered and stamped to protect the public against fraud. A buyer always knows that he or she is purchasing an authentic piece.

Cevik was established in Vicenza, Italy by Scaggiari Maurizio in 1971. The Cevik Company in Italy produces hand-crafted and hand-blown glass and crystal. Crystal, of course, is the elite of all glass. It has the uniqueness of letting the light show all of its glorious brilliance. Each individual piece of Cevik crystal is then fully integrated with exquisite porcelain to produce an item of sheer artistic beauty. These days the company concentrates on crystal vases. These are among the finest glass and porcelain vases available anywhere. So fine in fact that you will be hard pressed to find them for sale in the United States or in Europe. When you acquire a Cevik piece as a gift or to occupy a special place in your own home, You are getting an item of matchless beauty.

If your preference is for figurines, look closely at the A. Santini collection. Amilcare Santini founded the company near Florence in 1910 after a long apprenticeship to a famous sculptor of his day. Working at first in clay which Santini used to mold statues of great beauty, he attended the university in Florence where he was instrumental in developing the process of combining marble, alabaster, and resin. This material was poured into molds made by Santini and allowed to harden to room temperature; then the figure was taken out and completely finished using the very old techniques and styles known to the great Italian masters of marble.

Amilcare Santini died in 1975 and the company has since been run in the Santini tradition by succeeding generations of the Santini family. The great Amilcare Santini tradition of producing exquisite objets d'art continues through four renowned sculptors who are active in the company. Each pursues a different specialty: classical and religious figurines, handpainted figurines and animals, Art Deco and nude figures, and creches and holy images. In addition they reproduce original pieces by Amilcare Santini. Altogether they continue to be known for quality, beauty, and craftsmanship under the rubric of A. Santini.

Santini sculptures represent some of the most prestigious museum lines of quality in the world.

Except that he was a great sculptor, little else of note can be said of Vittorio Sabadin. Exquisite, delightful, whimsical, humorous - all of these are words that come to mind when you talk about his pieces. His ladies, dancers, clowns, and animals speak to the multifarious nature of his creative mind. It's easy to understand why people simply fall in love with his little pieces. They bring out the humanity in us all.

In this world of advanced technology it is almost impossible to simply look at a diamond and determine whether it is real or not – especially if you don’t know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond, however.

First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists, walk away.

Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low quality metals. Take a close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable – natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on the planet. Look forscratches or nicks. After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a fake diamond, you may be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate for the diamond. No two stones are alike.

* If a cubic zirconia is mounted in a high-quality diamond mount made of 18-karat gold or platinum, you are not likely to be able to spot the fake diamond unless you're an expert.

* These days, some of the best imitation diamonds are made of moissanite. This substance, which didn't come on the market until 1998, so closely resembles a diamond that even experts have a hard time telling the two stones apart without a special instrument. Moissanite sells for about one-tenth the price of diamonds.

* When purchasing "diamonds" online or buying stones you have not seen or had independently appraised, make sure the sale is accompanied by a grading report provided by an independent lab like the GIA. When you do make a purchase, get everything in writing.

Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond, and it is important to know how to grade the

clarity of a diamond before you buy one. It Is actually quite easy to learn how to grade the clarity of a diamond.

There are basically two things that you must understand: Diamonds with visual inclusions and blemishes, and those that are ‘eye clean’ meaning that there are no inclusions or blemishes that can be seen with the naked eye. From there, the clarity of a diamond is further broken down into subcategories. Many people mistakenly think that diamond clarity refers to how clear it is. This isn’t so.

Clarity actually refers to the internal and external imperfections of the diamond. The best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL or IF – Flawless or Internally Flawless – meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the worst.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means that the diamond is very, very slightly imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and SI-2, which means that the diamond is slightly imperfect.

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into – unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself – when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape – also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut – the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

Diamond Brands and What They Mean Diamonds are one of the few products that simply cannot be ‘branded.’ Even though there are different cuts, different grades, and different values placed on each and every diamond in existence, no diamond is any specific brand – just as gold is not a specific brand. Branding is actually based on who owns the diamond. For instance, if DeBeers owns the diamond, it is a DeBeers Diamond – but it is still just a diamond. If the diamond was cut by a specific well known cutter, then it might be branded in that way as well – but it usually isn’t. It is still branded based on who owns it at the time. So basically, when it comes down to it – diamond brands mean absolutely nothing at all.

Do not allow a jeweler to try to talk you into paying an exorbitant price on a diamond because it is a specific brand. This is a bit of trickery used by unscrupulous jewelers when they know that they are dealing with people who don’t know much about diamonds. Remember that diamonds are not actually branded – unless mother nature has her own brand!

Smith & Wesson first opened its doors in 1852 and since then, gained a reputation for high-performance, high-quality precision and rugged products. The company have focused on designing and manufacturing innovative solutions that are unparalleled in the field of personal safety and protection. Almost every major law enforcement and military agency in the world has used Smith & Wesson products, and to this day, most police departments in the United States depend on their firearms and accessories.

Smith & Wesson is one of the world's most recognizable brands, and for good reason. No wonder, the company is now branching out into other areas such as outdoor products, watches and more.

The Smith & Wesson Tritium watches are the easiest in the world to read in low light conditions and even in total darkness. This military watch style is an excellent choice for sportsman, police and the military. Smith & Wesson Tritium watches have a self activated light source that is 100 times brighter then any previous available. The light emitting devices require no battery power or any other form of charging, and never need servicing or maintenance.

Smith & Wesson watches are equipped with a tritium light source. These small, airtight ampules, sealed under high pressure, are resistant to oil, water and the most corrosive materials. Unlike the old style radium watch dials, tritium is not hazardous, since the particles used cannot even pass through a piece of paper.

These qualities have made Smith & Wesson Tritium watches an absolute must in the emergency, safety, and protection areas, as well as in the armed forces, but they are also ideal for fans of adventure and sport. Smith & Wesson watches are top quality Swiss component watches, extremely strong, and famously trustworthy. A choice of fashionable colors and timeless, bold designs complete these remarkable timepieces.

The most important postulate says of: decoration, must correspond general style of Your clothes, taking into account make-up. Choosing jeweler decorations it is necessary to pay attention to the price and quality. All must be beautifully harmoniously. Decorations must combine with Your appearance and be his inalienable part. Their basic task - to underline Your beauty and individuality, complement appearance, introduce new paints in it.

If with a rumour to walk up to the question of choice and take into account the above-stated moments you, without doubts, will come into to itself the notice of surrounding people, and will enrapture only. It is also important to take into account, for what aims you acquire to or other decoration. If a corporate evening-party coming you in an informal situation, the merry are fully appropriate will be, bright, not fully ordinary decorations. If you pick up decorations under the business office suit, it is better to give a preference the classics, not very much to the large, not eye-catching decorations.

Also it is not needed to put on too many decorations. In our time surprising plenty of gold is difficult, therefore it is not good similar demonstration of the riches. “If you want to be elegant, will replace an amount quality, and always from put on you better yet to clean anything, what to add”, - such rule of carrying of decoration was followed by famous Coco Chanel. And it, as nobody other, understood style.

And the last rule, never mix up in the appearance a decoration from gold and silver. Even the most beautiful decorations lose the attractiveness at wrong combination. Therefore if facilities allow, better at once to acquire wares in a set. In this case the question of compatibility of decorations between itself for you will lose the actuality.

It is important not to forget that style of decorations is directly related to age. Young girls do not need to carry heavy and superfluously dear decorations: massive rings, finger-rings with bulky stone, too long ear-rings. And, vice versa, on a grown man woman scarcely ultra-fashion plastic knick-knackeries will look at oneself appropriately.

It is the most basic rules of carrying of decorations. Following them, you will always look attractively. Pick up the individual style, adhere to it and be wonderful!

For years custom designed jewelry has been created using old world techniques dating as far back as the 1800’s. Until recently, almost all-custom designed jewelry was created using these methods. The introduction of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) has changed all that and in it’s wake ushered in a whole new universe of possibilities. Designs that were never thought possible can be made to the highest quality standards.

How is Custom Designed Jewelry Made? Before learning about the benefits of 3D-CAD you’ll need to know more about the custom jewelry design process. Most jewelry is made using a method called lost wax casting. A skilled artisan/jeweler hand carves a jewelry prototype out of jewelers wax using small scalpels and knives. This wax prototype also known as a “model” is placed in a flask and plaster called “investment” is poured all around the model. Once the investment hardens an exact impression of the model is formed inside of the flask. The wax model is burned out of the flask leaving a cavity of the jewelry design.

Next molten metal is injected in the flask mold using vacuum or centrifugal casting. When the metal cools and hardens the investment is broken away revealing the un-finished jewelry casting. This casting is filed, polished and prepped for assembly, which may include setting the gemstones or welding other precious metal parts to the casting.

The process of hand carving the wax prototype has always been the accepted process for creating custom jewelry. The problem with this process is that the human hand can’t be as precise as a computer-aided machine when carving the model. Precision equates to more design possibilities and much higher quality jewelry production. In the end you’ll have a product that looks crisper and won’t be prone to stone loss or breakage.

What is Computer Aided Design? Computer Aided Design is a sophisticated modeling process using advanced software to plot coordinates for mechanical drawings. These drawings can be exported to various types of prototyping machines called CNC mills or growing machines. CNC mills cut-away material from a block of wax to make the jewelry model. The growing machines layer material from side to side much like a printer to build the model, samples of this process can be viewed at http://www.andrewsjewelers.com/ .The precision of these models exceeds what any human could do while hand carving the jewelry model. Design possibilities become limitless because the 3D-CAD software enables the designer to create parts and design elements that aren’t possible using outmoded tools and methods.

Another benefit of 3D-CAD jewelry design is the ability to see a computer rendering before the final completion of the jewelry. In old methods the jeweler would create crude counter sketches of your concept and the rest would be left to your imagination. Now the designs that the jeweler creates in 3D-CAD can be rendered to photo-realistic images for you to view before making your final decisions.

Choosing a Jeweler for Custom Jewelry Design Like any other occupation or trade there are good jewelry craftsmen and there are bad ones. It is important to pre-screen your jeweler to determine if he/she is skilled at making custom designed jewelry. Ask to see their portfolio and examine their designs to determine if the flair they have for jewelry design matches your style requirements. Also, pay close attention to their communication and interpretation skills because much can get lost in the translation of your ideas if you’re not careful. Once the jewelry is made its too late to make changes and the typical jeweler will not re-make it again without added fees.

At this point higher qualified and better skilled custom jewelry designers have moved to using 3D-CAD to create their designs. If you feel 2 jewelers are equally matched in aptitude and skills then you should choose the one that is using 3D-CAD design. You’ll pay a little more to have your jewelry created in 3D-CAD but the final results will be amazing. The jewelry will look 1000% better than if it were hand carved and it will last much longer because of the precision of the jewelry model.

The most important postulate says of: decoration, must correspond general style of Your clothes, taking into account make-up. Choosing jeweler decorations it is necessary to pay attention to the price and quality. All must be beautifully harmoniously. Decorations must combine with Your appearance and be his inalienable part. Their basic task - to underline Your beauty and individuality, complement appearance, introduce new paints in it.

If with a rumour to walk up to the question of choice and take into account the above-stated moments you, without doubts, will come into to itself the notice of surrounding people, and will enrapture only. It is also important to take into account, for what aims you acquire to or other decoration. If a corporate evening-party coming you in an informal situation, the merry are fully appropriate will be, bright, not fully ordinary decorations. If you pick up decorations under the business office suit, it is better to give a preference the classics, not very much to the large, not eye-catching decorations.

Also it is not needed to put on too many decorations. In our time surprising plenty of gold is difficult, therefore it is not good similar demonstration of the riches. “If you want to be elegant, will replace an amount quality, and always from put on you better yet to clean anything, what to add”, - such rule of carrying of decoration was followed by famous Coco Chanel. And it, as nobody other, understood style.

And the last rule, never mix up in the appearance a decoration from gold and silver. Even the most beautiful decorations lose the attractiveness at wrong combination. Therefore if facilities allow, better at once to acquire wares in a set. In this case the question of compatibility of decorations between itself for you will lose the actuality.

It is important not to forget that style of decorations is directly related to age. Young girls do not need to carry heavy and superfluously dear decorations: massive rings, finger-rings with bulky stone, too long ear-rings. And, vice versa, on a grown man woman scarcely ultra-fashion plastic knick-knackeries will look at oneself appropriately.

It is the most basic rules of carrying of decorations. Following them, you will always look attractively. Pick up the individual style, adhere to it and be wonderful!

Capodimonte porcelain has actually been around for quite a long time. The 1740’s to be exact. It started out in Naples and was under explicit orders from the King of Italy to produce porcelain superior to the famous Meissen factory in Germany. It did for a while but then the factory was moved to Spain; it burned down; and later it was restarted in Italy only to be destroyed again during the French invasion of 1798.

In the period of its glory as a royal business it turned out porcelains of such gorgeous quality that they were used only by Royal families because of the high cost of production. After it was looted and destroyed during the French invasion, it was again rebuilt. But during the French interregnum in Italy its production was halted and porcelain production was sold to a group of local businessmen. It's fate is as dull as the years of its existence, apart from saying it produced magnificent porcelain. It more or less disappeared from view for a while.

Fortunately, it was resuscitated by some local businessmen who wanted to keep the Capdimonte tradition alive. A few factories in Italy still create these masterpieces of another day as well as our own time - a variety of home decor items ranging from stunning candlestick holders to breathtaking chandeliers with lots of flowers, birds, and animals in between.

Today, Capodimonte is quite simply the finest and most perfect grade of Italian artistic pottery, one that is cherished for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. And that goes for its subsidiaries discussed in the following paragraphs.

The new outfit, along with V. Sabadin and A. Santini, under the Capodimonte imprimatur is Cevik Glass and Porcelain. The products of each of these companies are all registered and stamped to protect the public against fraud. A buyer always knows that he or she is purchasing an authentic piece.

Cevik was established in Vicenza, Italy by Scaggiari Maurizio in 1971. The Cevik Company in Italy produces hand-crafted and hand-blown glass and crystal. Crystal, of course, is the elite of all glass. It has the uniqueness of letting the light show all of its glorious brilliance. Each individual piece of Cevik crystal is then fully integrated with exquisite porcelain to produce an item of sheer artistic beauty. These days the company concentrates on crystal vases. These are among the finest glass and porcelain vases available anywhere. So fine in fact that you will be hard pressed to find them for sale in the United States or in Europe. When you acquire a Cevik piece as a gift or to occupy a special place in your own home, You are getting an item of matchless beauty.

If your preference is for figurines, look closely at the A. Santini collection. Amilcare Santini founded the company near Florence in 1910 after a long apprenticeship to a famous sculptor of his day. Working at first in clay which Santini used to mold statues of great beauty, he attended the university in Florence where he was instrumental in developing the process of combining marble, alabaster, and resin. This material was poured into molds made by Santini and allowed to harden to room temperature; then the figure was taken out and completely finished using the very old techniques and styles known to the great Italian masters of marble.

Amilcare Santini died in 1975 and the company has since been run in the Santini tradition by succeeding generations of the Santini family. The great Amilcare Santini tradition of producing exquisite objets d'art continues through four renowned sculptors who are active in the company. Each pursues a different specialty: classical and religious figurines, handpainted figurines and animals, Art Deco and nude figures, and creches and holy images. In addition they reproduce original pieces by Amilcare Santini. Altogether they continue to be known for quality, beauty, and craftsmanship under the rubric of A. Santini.

Santini sculptures represent some of the most prestigious museum lines of quality in the world.

Except that he was a great sculptor, little else of note can be said of Vittorio Sabadin. Exquisite, delightful, whimsical, humorous - all of these are words that come to mind when you talk about his pieces. His ladies, dancers, clowns, and animals speak to the multifarious nature of his creative mind. It's easy to understand why people simply fall in love with his little pieces. They bring out the humanity in us all.

I've seen it time and time again. Customers come to have estimates or appraisals done for their lost, stolen, or damaged jewelry. They ask if the appraisal can be done without seeing the jewelry or if it can be done based on their recollection of what it used to look like. Unfortunately insurance companies will not accept this form of evaluation or appraisal, and certainly not after the fact. In the following article I will explain what to do in order to properly appraise and insure your jewelry.

Creditable Appraisals
Insurance companies require that your jewelry policy be based on official and creditable appraisals done by a reputable jeweler. Jewelers that have studied or have been train by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will provide the most acceptable appraisals. Being trained by GIA ensures a conservative grading analysis and a correct evaluation of the jewelry’s worth. Most insurance companies do not require that you have your jewelry appraised by GIA graduates however; it’s always better to have one done by someone with these credentials.

Your appraisal should include the information regarding the precious metal content including it’s weight, karat purity, and color. The diamonds and gemstones should be described in terms of shape, carat weight, color, clarity, and cut grade. If the diamonds are pre-certified by a grading laboratory then you should give a copy of the certification to the appraiser and ask them to list this information on the appraisal. If possible have the appraiser photograph the items and attach this photograph to the appraisal when submitting to the insurance company. Always keep a copy in a safe deposit box or in a fire proof safe.

Jewelry appraisals should be reassessed every 7-10 years to determine if the value of the items has appreciated. Jewelry is a commodity and like all commodities they are subject to fluctuations in value. In recent years the value of certain diamonds have actually doubled in price because of shortages in the marketplace for high demand shapes and sizes. A loss after such a gain in value without proper reassessments will result in gaps in your jewelry coverage when trying to replace the item.

Choosing the Proper Insurance Coverage
The biggest mistake consumers’ make is assuming that their homeowners insurance will cover them in the event of a loss. This could be further from the truth. The typical home insurance only allows $1500 - $5000 for personal articles and with that is a deductible of $500 - $1500. Along with that is the fact that some homeowners’ insurance policies do not allow for loss of the item, damage, or diamond loss from the setting. The best way to insure your jewelry is to get a personal articles policy written by your agent. This policy should include loss of the item, theft of item, damage, and loss of gemstones & diamonds. Ask your insurance agent to quote the policy with no deductible and with the above coverage. The going rate for jewelry insurance is $1.50 - $1.85 per hundred and if you’re quote higher then your probably paying too much. To calculate the annual premium take the appraised value of the jewelry and multiply is by the rate and then divide it by 100. Example (appraised value $10,000 X $1.50 = $15,000 Divide by 100 = $150 per year).

Some local insurance agents aren’t familiar with jewelry insurance policies and you may feel like you’re not getting the proper assistance. There are a couple of jewelry insurance companies that provide superior service and if your agent fails to give you proper assistance I recommend you give them a call. The two I like most are CHUBB Insurance and Jewelers Mutual. These companies specialize in personal articles policies and generally have the lowest rates with the best coverage.

Insurance is one of those things that you have to think about until you really need it. I will say though that a jewelry insurance policy makes a lot of sense. Let say you have a wedding set worth $5000 that you wear every day. How often do walk around with $5000 cash in your pocket? Almost never right? Well is some cases you walk around with the jewelry equivalent all the time. If you have valuable jewelry that you wear everyday then you are certainly increasing your chances of having an unfortunate loss. Jewelry valued at $5000 can cost as little as $75 per year to insure. It’s worth every penny to give you the peace of mind to wear it with pride and without worry.

I've seen it time and time again. Customers come to have estimates or appraisals done for their lost, stolen, or damaged jewelry. They ask if the appraisal can be done without seeing the jewelry or if it can be done based on their recollection of what it used to look like. Unfortunately insurance companies will not accept this form of evaluation or appraisal, and certainly not after the fact. In the following article I will explain what to do in order to properly appraise and insure your jewelry.

Creditable Appraisals
Insurance companies require that your jewelry policy be based on official and creditable appraisals done by a reputable jeweler. Jewelers that have studied or have been train by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will provide the most acceptable appraisals. Being trained by GIA ensures a conservative grading analysis and a correct evaluation of the jewelry’s worth. Most insurance companies do not require that you have your jewelry appraised by GIA graduates however; it’s always better to have one done by someone with these credentials.

Your appraisal should include the information regarding the precious metal content including it’s weight, karat purity, and color. The diamonds and gemstones should be described in terms of shape, carat weight, color, clarity, and cut grade. If the diamonds are pre-certified by a grading laboratory then you should give a copy of the certification to the appraiser and ask them to list this information on the appraisal. If possible have the appraiser photograph the items and attach this photograph to the appraisal when submitting to the insurance company. Always keep a copy in a safe deposit box or in a fire proof safe.

Jewelry appraisals should be reassessed every 7-10 years to determine if the value of the items has appreciated. Jewelry is a commodity and like all commodities they are subject to fluctuations in value. In recent years the value of certain diamonds have actually doubled in price because of shortages in the marketplace for high demand shapes and sizes. A loss after such a gain in value without proper reassessments will result in gaps in your jewelry coverage when trying to replace the item.

Choosing the Proper Insurance Coverage
The biggest mistake consumers’ make is assuming that their homeowners insurance will cover them in the event of a loss. This could be further from the truth. The typical home insurance only allows $1500 - $5000 for personal articles and with that is a deductible of $500 - $1500. Along with that is the fact that some homeowners’ insurance policies do not allow for loss of the item, damage, or diamond loss from the setting. The best way to insure your jewelry is to get a personal articles policy written by your agent. This policy should include loss of the item, theft of item, damage, and loss of gemstones & diamonds. Ask your insurance agent to quote the policy with no deductible and with the above coverage. The going rate for jewelry insurance is $1.50 - $1.85 per hundred and if you’re quote higher then your probably paying too much. To calculate the annual premium take the appraised value of the jewelry and multiply is by the rate and then divide it by 100. Example (appraised value $10,000 X $1.50 = $15,000 Divide by 100 = $150 per year).

Some local insurance agents aren’t familiar with jewelry insurance policies and you may feel like you’re not getting the proper assistance. There are a couple of jewelry insurance companies that provide superior service and if your agent fails to give you proper assistance I recommend you give them a call. The two I like most are CHUBB Insurance and Jewelers Mutual. These companies specialize in personal articles policies and generally have the lowest rates with the best coverage.

Insurance is one of those things that you have to think about until you really need it. I will say though that a jewelry insurance policy makes a lot of sense. Let say you have a wedding set worth $5000 that you wear every day. How often do walk around with $5000 cash in your pocket? Almost never right? Well is some cases you walk around with the jewelry equivalent all the time. If you have valuable jewelry that you wear everyday then you are certainly increasing your chances of having an unfortunate loss. Jewelry valued at $5000 can cost as little as $75 per year to insure. It’s worth every penny to give you the peace of mind to wear it with pride and without worry.

Even though we are a advanced civilization, millions of people throughout the world are susceptible to incapacitation because of a wide range of medical, environmental, and food borne ailments, which if left untreated, could lead to serious bodily injury, or even worse, death. Fortunately, these individuals have the option of carrying a card, wearing a tag, bracelet, or necklace which speaks for them when they are unable to speak for themselves.

A medical alert tag not only lists the ailment, but it can also list your 24 hour emergency response number, which has all of your medical history in their databases. When medical staff has access to this information, it can save precious time. Some of the more common declarations you might find on medical alert tags:

ADD/ADHD
Alzheimer's, Dementia, or Memory impairment
Allergies (Food, Insect, Dust, Plants, Pollen, Pollution, Pet Dander)
Anemia
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Asthma
Autism
Bariatric surgery patients
Blood type or disorders
Blood thinners/anticoagulants (Coumadin/Warfarin)/including aspirin
Breathing disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Clinical trial patients
COPD
Cystic Fibrosis
Diabetes
Dialysis patient
Drug/Medicine allergies
Emphysema
Epilepsy/Seizures
Hearing, Visual, or Mental impairment
Heart disease (angina, atrial fibrillation, pacemakers)
Hypertension
Insect allergies
Kidney failure
Mental health patients
Multiple medications
Multiple Sclerosis
Pacemaker
Parkinson's Disease
Multiple medications
Rare diseases
Special needs children
Stroke risk
Transplant or cancer patients
Tourette Syndrome

What's really neat is that those who suffer from any of these or other ailments (particularly children), no longer have to wear a boring or awkward piece of jewelry which attracts negative attention, or promotes teasing or taunting by other children. Bands can be made with a variety of colors, character beads, crystals etc. to personalize it. The bands are made with 2 clasps, making it easy to change to match any outfit. Medical alert jewelry can now be worn with pride.

Exceptional handcrafted jewelry is designed and handmade by talented jewelers and artisan-jewelers the world over. While many designers create entirely unique designs, others are deeply influenced by their region's historic cultural and traditional styles.

Jewelry expert Merlly Calisto works closely with hundreds of master artisan-designers in her homeland, Peru. There, she serves as regional director of Novica.com, a world arts website that assists thousands of artisans worldwide and features each artist's biography and handcrafted collection online.

In the following interview, Calisto discusses handcrafted jewelry as an art form, and traditional styles and materials of handmade jewelry in Peru. Calisto explains what she looks for when seeking new jewelry designers and collections, who she recommends, and how she became a jewelry expert.

CG: Why does Novica specialize in handcrafted jewelry, instead of machine-made jewelry? What advantages does handmade jewelry provide over mass-produced designs?

MC: Handcrafted jewelry is more challenging. You can feel the artist's soul in it. For artisans, handcrafted jewelry provides the chance to explore your creativity, to give more of yourself and to make it true, without requiring the artist to invest thousands to get his or her idea developed. With simple tools, basic raw materials, and talented hands, artists can express their feelings and beliefs in this art form, and show off their unique designs and their inherited culture. Machine-made jewelry, on the other hand, requires a significant investment in machines, employees, and many other related costs, while it removes the creative essence from this art.

CG: What are the typical styles of handcrafted jewelry a collector will find in Peru today?

MC: The typical styles for collectors of Peruvian jewelry include Pre-Inca, Traditional, Colonial, and even Modern. We are recognized for our gold and silver mines, which our ancestors put to use with considerable dedication. The most popular use was for the creation of exquisite, carefully handcrafted jewelry. Our ancestors captured their beliefs in their jewelry, and the symbols associated with those beliefs. You will popularly find Peruvian jewelry featuring royal birds, felines, the Sun God, and so forth. Peru is the Land of the Sun. Our Colonial jewelry, despite of being the result of the Conquest of the Americas, shows what our ancestors began to create after they learned an entirely new culture. So our Colonial jewelry merges our ancestor's unique talents with new beginnings, and typically features a heavier emphasis on flora, rather than the emphasis on fauna that their predecessors maintained. Nowadays the art of jewelry design is opening up further in Peru, becoming a more attractive field for new jewelers who prefer modern jewelry -- inspired by our roots, but featuring more abstract shapes and ideas. This means that the Peruvian artist may still express himself in a way that is inspired by our culture, but merged again with new beginnings.

CG: Can you describe more of the details one can expect to enjoy in Pre-Inca, Inca, and other Peruvian handcrafted jewelry designs?

MC: Pre-Inca and Inca jewelry share similarities, because the Inca Empire resulted from the conquest of various Pre-Inca cultures. Inca jewelry expresses the Inca's beliefs and cosmology. You will find images of felines, people, or birds decorated with snakes or sunbeams which express royalty, power and loyalty. Some of our Pre-Inca cultures used a simple, attractive style to express their beliefs, most of those are still commonly represented in artistry today, and not only in jewelry. Colonial style jewelry is considered an elegant style. A Colonial jewel design, or a Modern jewelry design inspired by colonial times, gives you the sense of seeing something designed for the Queen. Although we do not use diamonds, for example, you cannot confuse this style with a bijouterie -- you will feel it as a jewel. Colonial jewelry and Inca-style jewelry are typically stunning handmade works of art, perfect for collectors.

CG: What gemstones and metals are mined in Peru, and commonly found in handcrafted Peruvian jewelry? What about the quality level of those same Peruvian materials?

MC: Nice question, I love it. Do you know why? The Silver Institute has named Peru as the first world silver producer -- yes! -- followed by Mexico. Regarding gold, we are the first in Latin America, and the fifth in the world. About quality, we are considered one of the best. Regarding gemstones, we have a special stone, the Andean Opal. There is a lot of opal around the world, but Andean Opal is purely Peruvian. From this stone we have Crisocola, which was used by Pre-Incas in their jewelry. Other popular semiprecious stones are Sodalite, Onyx, Obsidian, Jasper, Serpentine, Angelite.

CG: When you are considering representing new handcrafted jewelry artisans, what do you look for, in their design style, materials, and quality? How do you determine those factors?

MC: What I look for first is the meaning of each design -- immediately I imagine someone wearing it. Who would be the customer? How does he or she look when wearing this piece? Is it design for a market where the customer looks for something different, to convey tradition, culture, and soul? I usually look for some aspect of our roots, whether the design is modern or traditional. If it expresses Peru in any of its ways, it is of initial interest to me. I find myself grateful when the materials are Peruvian, especially our silver, gold, and local stones. Then, of course it must be carefully crafted and meticulously finished.

CG: Can you please name a handful of your favorite handmade jewelry designers? Please describe why they are your favorites.

MC: IIlaria is one of my favorites. She leans toward the colonial style we discussed, and she really designs for the customer, not for herself. You can view her collection at Novica, to see what I mean.

Patricia Jara is another of my favorites, because most of her items are in the modern style that is nonetheless always inspired by Pre-Inca cultures. Claudia Llaury merges tradition with her way of expressing tradition, in a simple way, and she uses always local materials, including high quality silver. Juan Contreras creates lovely designs, especially his Inca-style designs, such as his "Veil of the Incas" collection. Claudia Lira's quality is very high, and her jewelry shows that Peruvian artists keep innovating. Anna Lia and Adrian feature a fusion of ethnic elegance and Art Deco, although they do not always use local gemstones. I feel very proud to represent these and many other extraordinary artisans and designers. They are each showcased individually within our Novica Handcrafted Jewelry division.

CG: What led to your experience in the handcrafted jewelry field? Did you begin as a jewelry artist yourself?

MC: I think I am more theoretical than practical. On a personal level, I love jewelry. On a professional level, my experience in jewelry began with a job promoting Peruvian jewelry abroad. For that, I visited many small and well-known workshops to learn about all aspects of jewelry production. I was involved with metal industry deals as well. I participated in expert meetings at the National Industries Society and Mining Society.

Personally, I noticed a lack of finishing expertise, especially in some of the smaller workshops, so I began to organize attendance for technical courses, and began designing educational workshops for small and new jewelers. I learned much over the years, but really never put this knowledge into practice as an artist myself. I have enjoyed participating in international jewelry fairs, including, for example, Iberjoya in Madrid, and I have attended international jewelry symposiums promoted by various international cooperation programs.

I have participated in an important local silver contest called Plata del Peru, sponsored by Patronato de la Plata, as an invited judge. My years with Novica have broadened my experience still further in many ways. Meanwhile, the market has enjoyed great growth, and I now feel myself closer to the market at Novica. New jewelry materials and concepts are always wandering around the world, so I keep learning about what's new.

I enjoy visiting the Mining Institute, where one can learn much about local gemstones. And I have enjoyed taking some handmade jewelry classes to become more practically involved with our artists. Every so often I visit jewelry suppliers to see what is new, and to be updated about prices. I must stay up-to-date on all prices so that I can better assist artists, and understand their cost needs. It is a complex and fascinating profession!

Choosing a bridal engagement ring set can be a daunting task for any future groom-to-be, Most men (no insult intended, gents) are not well versed in the area of women’s jewelry; in fact, the majority are rather clueless. So if you happen to be one of the latter, let’s just start with the basics. An engagement set consists of the central engagement ring and a coordinating wedding band. Once you have got that down, know the following guidelines before you begin your search for the perfect engagement set.

Style – Whether custom made or chosen from the stock of a jeweler, the style of the ring should emulate the style and personality of your fiance. The popular trend today is couples going ring shopping together, but if you are more of a conventionalist and want to surprise her, you may have to do some checking up for a couple of weeks. Pay attention to what type of jewelry she wears. Does she prefer silver and platinum or gold? Vintage, trendy jewelry to classic, understated pieces? You can even enlist the help of a family member or close friend of hers, just make sure you swear them to secrecy!

Picking a Jeweler – Your search for the best jeweler should begin with endorsements from friends and family; suggestions by word of mouth are often the most reliable and accurate recommendations. If that does not net you any leads, you can inquire about industry organization affiliates. Try jewelers that are accredited by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the Jewelers of America. Also bigger, more distinguished chains are dependable, have more inventory, and offer sales. A good, reputable jeweler will steer clear of rings you cannot afford and help you cut costs while remaining true to your vision. Make sure you know the return policy in case the ring is not quite what your sweetheart wanted.

Shape & Setting – The shape of the diamond refers to the actual form of the diamond, not the cut which indicates the facets of the stone. The setting is the metal structure in which the diamond is placed. With countless of designs to choose from, the shape of the stone and the setting should complement one another. A high caliber setting completely sets the tone for a ring; certain settings can even enhance the shape of a diamond.

Budget –Forget what you have heard about the myth that a ring should cost you roughly two months of your salary. The only thing you need to remember is you should buy the best ring that fits within your budget without going into any major debt. You can cut costs a number of ways including buying a diamond just under a carat (0.8 instead of 1) or choosing a setting that has a little larger surface, or table; the ring will look much larger than it really is if the stone is not set very deep. And when it comes to clarity, blemishes are often not noticeable to the naked eye, so buy just shy of flawless.

Before you purchase a diamond, ask the jeweler for a diamond-grading certificate issued by an independent association such as the American Gem Society or the GIA. Anything that could affect the value of the diamond (the 4C’s, cosmetic enhancements, custom designed, etc.) should be noted on the certificate.

Choosing a bridal engagement ring set can be a daunting task for any future groom-to-be, Most men (no insult intended, gents) are not well versed in the area of women’s jewelry; in fact, the majority are rather clueless. So if you happen to be one of the latter, let’s just start with the basics. An engagement set consists of the central engagement ring and a coordinating wedding band. Once you have got that down, know the following guidelines before you begin your search for the perfect engagement set.

Style – Whether custom made or chosen from the stock of a jeweler, the style of the ring should emulate the style and personality of your fiance. The popular trend today is couples going ring shopping together, but if you are more of a conventionalist and want to surprise her, you may have to do some checking up for a couple of weeks. Pay attention to what type of jewelry she wears. Does she prefer silver and platinum or gold? Vintage, trendy jewelry to classic, understated pieces? You can even enlist the help of a family member or close friend of hers, just make sure you swear them to secrecy!

Picking a Jeweler – Your search for the best jeweler should begin with endorsements from friends and family; suggestions by word of mouth are often the most reliable and accurate recommendations. If that does not net you any leads, you can inquire about industry organization affiliates. Try jewelers that are accredited by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the Jewelers of America. Also bigger, more distinguished chains are dependable, have more inventory, and offer sales. A good, reputable jeweler will steer clear of rings you cannot afford and help you cut costs while remaining true to your vision. Make sure you know the return policy in case the ring is not quite what your sweetheart wanted.

Shape & Setting – The shape of the diamond refers to the actual form of the diamond, not the cut which indicates the facets of the stone. The setting is the metal structure in which the diamond is placed. With countless of designs to choose from, the shape of the stone and the setting should complement one another. A high caliber setting completely sets the tone for a ring; certain settings can even enhance the shape of a diamond.

Budget –Forget what you have heard about the myth that a ring should cost you roughly two months of your salary. The only thing you need to remember is you should buy the best ring that fits within your budget without going into any major debt. You can cut costs a number of ways including buying a diamond just under a carat (0.8 instead of 1) or choosing a setting that has a little larger surface, or table; the ring will look much larger than it really is if the stone is not set very deep. And when it comes to clarity, blemishes are often not noticeable to the naked eye, so buy just shy of flawless.

Before you purchase a diamond, ask the jeweler for a diamond-grading certificate issued by an independent association such as the American Gem Society or the GIA. Anything that could affect the value of the diamond (the 4C’s, cosmetic enhancements, custom designed, etc.) should be noted on the certificate.

Pricing most products is quite easy. Determine how much it costs to make the item, how much it costs to market that item, and then mark it up by 15 – 30% or more. Simple, right? Well, pricing diamonds isn’t quite that simple. There are many factors that are considered when diamonds are priced.

Diamond prices are determined first by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond, and all other costs necessary to turn the rough diamond into a marketable diamond. Depending on the importance of the diamond, an independent company may be called in to certify the grade of the diamond based on color, cut, clarity, and weight.

At this point, the diamond becomes more expensive each time it changes hands, until it finally reaches a retailer, where the price is raised a bit more. Before reaching the retailer, however, the diamond must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, to the independent grading company, and then to the Primary market. Once it has reached the primary market, it will be purchased by diamond dealers and wholesalers, and from there it will be sold to retailers.

As you can see, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of the diamond will be – but not the value. The value is based on what the diamond will sell for in the market place – through a retailer.

If you own a diamond, and you have no idea how much it is worth, you can have it appraised, but the appraisal may not be accurate. You will be better off obtaining a certificate through GIA – Gemological Institute of America. With the information on this certificate, you can use a cutter’s guide to accurately determine what your diamond is worth.

There are also many diamond price calculators available. These can be found on the Internet, and many diamond dealers use these as well. You must realize, however, that before you can accurately price a diamond, without a Diamond Grade Report, you need to know quite a bit about diamonds, such as different cuts, clarity, color, and weight – and how each of those aspects adds to the value of a diamond, or decreases the value of the diamond as the case may be.

Again, you will be better off if you get a Diamond Grading Report on the diamond, and use that information to look up the price in one of the guides that the diamond cutting industry uses. This will give you the most accurate value of the diamond in your possession, or of the diamond you are considering purchasing.

Keeping your gemstones clean and brilliant is as important as taking care and cleaning your gold jewelry. In case you are not sure of the best way to clean your gemstones below you will find a guide to cleaning the most common types of gems.
Alexandrite: Clean this gem with soapy water, alcohol or commercially available products. You can also use mechanical cleaners.Aquamarine: Be careful with this gem. Do not use chemical cleaners, avoid heat and avoid frequent cleanings. The best way to clean aquamarine is with soapy water.Diamond: Mechanical and chemical cleaners are generally safe for diamonds but they should not be used if your stone has fractures. If you use soapy water to clean the diamonds, then rinse and dry them well.Emerald: Do not use chemical or mechanical cleaners when cleaning your emeralds. These chemicals can dissolve the oils used during the processing of emerald to fill inclusions. Clean your emeralds with soapy water and have your jeweler re-oil them.Garnet: Use a soapy water solution.Jade: Soapy water solution is the easiest and safest cleaning solution for jade. Mechanical cleaners are also okay but don't use chemical cleaners.Opal: Caution, never wash or scrub opals. Wipe them after use with soft dry or slightly damp cloth. Pearl: Wipe pearls with a soft dry or damp cloth after wearing them.You can also use a soapy water solution to clean them.Peridot: Don't use mechanical or chemical cleaners for these gems. Rather, use a soapy water solution.
So there is it is. Before you rush off to clean any gemstone, consult the list and choose the best cleaning method for that particular gem.

Gold has been valued by humanity since the dawn of civilization and gold jewelry never goes out of style. However, in order to make the best possible choice when buying gold jewelry it is good to know some of the basic facts as well as the “jargon" of the jewelry trade. The first thing to know is that gold is as wearer-friendly as it is beautiful. Pure gold doesn't react with other elements to create tarnish. While some people may have an allergy or staining problem with metals combined with gold, gold itself is rarely a problem.
Gold can be worked into most shapes ranging from tiny strands to very thin sheets. One ounce of gold can even be hammered into a thin sheet spreading out over ten feet square. In short, gold can be manipulated in virtually any way the jeweler or artist wants.
How Pure Is Your Gold?
Gold is used in many ways and there are varying degrees of purity in gold jewelry. Gold jewelry is marked 18K, 14K, or 10K, with the K standing for karat.
The karat system is used to describe the percentage of pure gold in jewelry.
The higher the karat number, the higher the percentage of gold:
24K gold is pure gold.
18K gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of one or other metals, equaling 75% gold.
14K gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of one or other metals, making it 58.3% gold.
12K gold contains 12 parts gold and 12 parts of one or other metals, making it 50% gold.
10K gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts of one or other metals, making it 41.7% gold.
In the United States, 10K gold is the minimum karat that can be called "gold."
European Karat System
In Europe a different karat system is used to indicate the percentage of gold in a piece of jewelry. Here is the system:
18K gold is marked 750 to indicate 75% gold
14K gold is marked 585 for 58.5%
10K gold is marked 417 for 41.7%
There are other markings that are commonly found on gold. The karat marking should be accompanied by a hallmark or trademark identifying the maker and the country of origin is sometimes included as well.
Why Mix Other Metals With Gold?
This is a good question. Pure gold is soft and it wouldn’t be practical for daily wear. Combining other metals with it makes the gold more durable and the jewelry less expensive.
However, adding other metals changes color of the gold. For example by adding nickel a jeweler is able to create “white gold." By adding copper the jeweler is able to create a “rose gold" with a pink tint, and when silver is added to gold it creates a greenish color.
Metals added to the gold result in an alloy. An alloy is the term given to a blended mixture of metals. However, the term “solid gold" can be used to describe jewelry of at least 10K in the U.S. In addition, a gold alloy of 18K or 14K can also be called “solid gold."
Gold is also used as a coating which is placed on top of less expensive metals. There are many ways to coat another metal with gold and this generally reduces the cost of the item. The thicker the layer of gold that is applied, the less likely it is to wear away, and vice versa.
Gold-Filled Jewelry is the term given to jewelry that has a gold layer.
Newer gold-filled items have markings which indicate how much and what type of gold is used for the layer. The typical marking is: 1/20 12K G.F which means that the item has at least 1/20th 12K gold by weight.
Gold Plated Jewelry is another term used to indicate jewelry with a gold layer on top of other metal. The gold layer in gold-plated jewelry is thinner than the layer in gold filled jewelry, and it wears away more quickly.
Finally there is a type of jewelry designated as “gold washed." Here the layer of gold is very thin and it won’t last very long.
So, what should you buy? Solid gold is durable and the better choice if you wish to wear your jewelry on a regular basis, but it is very expensive. If you have allergies to nickel or other metals then you should choose jewelry that has a high gold content, such as 18K or 22K gold.
Gold filled or gold plated jewelry is suitable for occasional wear but everyday use would diminish the gold layer exposing the metal beneath it. This could stain the skin or result in an allergic reaction. So, if you want to have a lifetime of use then choose the highest quality of gold that you can afford.