One Piece of Jewellery - Many Different Looks

Imagine owning a single piece of jewellery and wearing it in many different unique ways--what a great investment for your money!

This single amethyst necklace, as an example can be worn at is original long length. Worn over a closed shirt or turtle neck, it would look quite very elegant. Now, imagine wearing an open neck shirt, or sundress and wrapping it around your neck twice--instant choker. It looks likes like such a substantial piece with such a different look. Another option is to wrap it around your neck once and let the longer section hang down--a choker and long chain in one. If you love bracelets, why not wrap it around your wrist and you have quite a dramatic multil chain gemstone bracelet.

If the chain is long enough, could be worn as a belt too.

Why not attach a single cufflink in the center of a shirt, for a unique look. The same look can also be achieved with stud earrings, again the size of both of these need to be taken into consideration.

If you have a brooch/pin, you can have a bale added to it to wear it as a pendant so you have the versatility to wear it either way. If you do not want to add a bale then depending on the design, you can pull a piece of ribbon, cord or chain through the back pin at the closure. Make sure it is closed securely.

Discover all the potential in your jewellery collection.

The Luxury of Layering Necklaces

Accessorizing with layers of chains or beads is one of the most hottest looks this season and one that will be around for a while.

Vision a simple black or white T-shirt and how it will explode with style when you add layers of necklaces to it. You have transformed it from plain to magnificent. You could achieve the same look with a turtle neck or closed shirt.

I personally love the look and feel of chains/beads against skin. It definitely projects a different look, one of sexiness, playfulness or 5 star elegance.

Here are some ideas on how to achieve some unique layering looks:

Chains can be layered at varying lengths, i.e. choker, mid length and long dangling. If your chains are similar in thickness/width, it would flow very nicely. Wearing an assortment of textures, i.e. simple fine chain, medium link chain, large wide chain, would give another unique look.

You can wear the same metal colors together, i.e. gold with gold, silver with silver, or mix and match both. The advantage of mixing is that the rest of your jewellery can be mixed and match too. You could add a silver pair of earrings, while your rings are gold.

To break up the look of the chains, you can add a strand of beads to add color to a matching outfit. So playing with that suggestion, lets say you have a short necklace, add mid length beads and a then a longer chain. Or, mid length chain and long beads--the ideas are endless.

Layering with pendants is another unique look. Imagine beads mixed with pendants, or a couple of simple chains and then a WOW pendant added with a long chain.

Theme layering is also quite unique, i.e. if you have necklaces that have certain designs, i.e. floral, constellation (moon/stars), romance (hearts), animals, could create a unique look.

Mix vintage and antique pieces together with contemporary pieces for another look from another era.

Pearls are always a wonderful accent because of their classic look since pearls can be worn with every outfit for every occasion.

If you can, try to plan ahead the look you want to achieve. Look at what you are going to wear and then see what works with the garment. You don't want to create a 'thrown together' look, unless you want a Bohemian look, then go ahead :)

Have fun in putting together your own signature look.

Reinventing the Charm Bracelet - A New Way to Wear Them

My dearest and most treasured first piece of jewelery was my childhood charm bracelet. I remember receiving the bracelet with a chewed little gold heart (the heart was a pendant that I wore all the time as a very small child--you can see in the pictures the rough surface--first day of school is to blame--separation anxiety from my mother :( . The other charm that accompanied my bracelet, was my first tooth, which my father encased in a bezel setting.

As the years passed, each charm that I received reflected my individuality and what and where I was going in my life. A few that you can see are a ballerina, boat, Christmas tree, and the most recent one, Mother.

No two charm bracelets are alike and that is what makes them as unique as your signature.

My charm bracelet was not worn for many years because it got caught in things and jingled too much.

I missed wearing it because of the personal history behind it and because it was such a sentimental and endearing piece--charms given to me by my parents.

One day as I was admiring it, a light went on in my head--a brainstorm, a great idea--that would allow me to wear it again, in its fully glory!

I had the bracelet transformed into a charm necklace. Originally when I had it modified, I took a simple gold necklace, had my father cut it in half, and each half was soldered to both ends of the bracelet.

After several years of wearing it this way, I once again, wanted to update its look--the result can be seen in the photos above.

For many years, I wore my vintage choker round link necklace on its own. This time, the charms were removed and individually added to the links on my choker.

You can see how elegant and classic this piece looks. It has given my charms a whole new dimension, as well as new necklace for me. Not to mention, that I have a new gold bracelet, charm free, which is now going to be given to my little girl, for her to begin her own collection.

Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent......

Long Chains Go a Long Way in Useage

One necklace, 3 different looks, actually 4, if you choose to hang a pendant on the chain.

Take a look at your chains and see which one is the longest one. Then start to wrap it around your wrist and see if you can double or even triple it around your neck.

Imagine, a new choker chain or a new bracelet without breaking your piggy bank, just from finding a wonderful long chain in your jewel box.

New life ignitied into a long chain :)