Pairing Gold with Silver Equals Affordability

With the soaring price of gold and no indication that the prices will go down, prices have only escalated on jewelry. This translates into hesitation in purchasing gold jewelry since your buying power may be more limited.

An option that I would like to suggest and for you to consider, if you are looking to acquire a quality piece of jewelry with a limited budget, is to look at silver/gold combined jewelry.

Aesthetically it is a very attractive and a classy combination and also very practical since you can wear your existing gold and silver jewelry together with it. If you strictly wear white gold jewelry then this is a win-win combination since it will look like so natural beside your silver jewelry, as well, the accenting gold can also be white. You can choose which ever carat and color of gold you would like combined.

In our jewelry combinations, we use 9kt - 10kt gold because it keeps the price down. We also use pink gold since we find this color so attractive and alluring beside silver. The cool and sleek look of silver beside the warm and elegant glow of pink has such an appealing and elegant look together.

Most importantly, the AFFORDABILITY factor is the KEY reason for the co-blending of these two beautiful metals. The same gemstone gold ring can cost you hundreds more, say for example $450.00, while its alternative can cost you $150.00.

You see, purchasing a quality piece of jewelry can be quite affordable with a little ingenuity, leaving you with a nice chunk of change in your bank account :)

I welcome any inquiries or questions.

Stay in the positive,

Baya
http://www.eternalfinejewels.rubylane.com/
http://www.artisanjewelshop.com/

A Woman's Guide to Investing in Fundamental Jewelry Pieces - Part - 3

A good chain, whether a link or flat chain, completes a shirt or dress. A choker length chain displays better when worn with a scoop, tank or open neck shirt. If you choose a longer chain, you have the option of adding a ring to one of the links so you could adjust the length by wearing it at a shorter length. From one chain you can create two different lengths. With a longer chain, you can also add a pendant. If your chain is very long, you can wrap it around your neck once or twice.

If you see a design for a chain that you really like, you may wish to invest in two of the same chains. A shorter one for everyday and a longer one for special occasions. You could also wear the two together for two different looks.

There are so many unique chains on the market. If you you are a traveller, you may see something quite unusual on one of your journeys. As an example, if you travel to the Middle East, the gold is 24kt and has a rich color, the designs for chains are extraordinary. Don't miss out on an opportunity to purchase a chain if do see a spectacular one on one of your travels, you may regret later on not buying it. One of my customers, while she was single travelled a lot. One summer she spent travelling through Europe and discovered the beautiful jewelry of Florence, Italy. She saw a beautiful chain and while it was very affordable, she was undecided about purchasing it since she didn't want to part with all her cash. Fast forward several years and today she REGRETS that she didn't buy it. "I haven't seen a chain like it since, why was I so narrow minded", says Caroline.

You may wish to invest in a simple chain for everyday and a more decorative one for special occasions.

If you are a connoisseur of vintage/antique jewelry you may choose a very unique, handmade piece. There is something to be said about vintage jewelry--you do not see these pieces worn every day on the average person.

Consider your lifestyle, look through your wardrobe and then decide which chain would best suit you.

Any questions, I am e-mail away at: jewelbox57@live.com

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......

Painting Pictures of Jewelry on a White T-Shirt

Imagine this, a crisp white T-shirt layered with chains of various lengths, links, widths, sizes. Now, over your T-shirt, put on a classic blazer, or even your favorite jean jacket--feel like a million bucks, you probably look absolutely stunning. Only one thing, they are not the real deal, but have actually been painted on by you!

You can buy these wonderful shades of paints--gold, silver, and a rainbow of colors that stay on clothes permanently and are available in craft/hobby stores.

Using your imagination, you can create wearable works of art.

Gloss through pictures and choose some unique jewelry designs to paint on a white T-shirt.

You can paint beads, chains, chains with pendants or brooches.

Design something that reflects your personality and have fun.

Two-Tone Jewelry - Gold/Silver - Compliment Each Other For Upcoming Season

Combining your gold and silver jewelry is sure to be a big hit for the upcoming fall season. Whether you wear a gold/silver bangle bracelet on one arm, or gold ring on one finger and a silver ring on the other--they look stylish and very classic.

As well, gold/silver combined jewelry and watches are also very popular since you can wear either type of jewelry with them. Many automatic watches, as an example, are made from stainless steel and have silver/gold accents. Certain watches that are stainless steel have silver/gold accents. A very beautiful combination is wearing a watch with a bracelet on the same wrist.

If you have some silver/gold chains that are the same length, try intertwining them to look as one chain.

If you have an antique or vintage wedding band that is yellow gold, try pairing it with a silver band for an updated and oh so tres chic look.

Open your jewelry box and see what unique combination and ideas you can come up with.

Cufflinks As a Fashion Accessory for Women

As women like to borrow each other's clothes--especially within the same household--two sisters, mother-daughter, you might be asking to borrow something very soon from the male members of your family.

Cufflinks, have always been the accessory for gentlemen. It gives a polished and professional look to a cufflink, as well as a touch of class and elegance to a shirt.

These days, more ladies are discovering that cufflinks are a fashion accessory for themselves. It completes an outfit and depending on the type of cufflinks you wear, can give the outfit the look you wish to achieve.

I personally love the older vintage cufflinks not only because they are from another era, but because they are truly distinct in character.

The one pictured above is very old, and does not have any engraving on the faces. Since the design is very neutral, it could grace the cuff of a ladies crisp white shirt or favorite denim shirt. You could have initials, symbol, or design engraved on the the front.

If you have a blazer with a few buttons, you could remove the last button and put the cufflink through the button hole. You would have to add another button hole for proper insertion.

Another unique look, this would take a little modification on a shirt, would be to replace two existing buttons with a cufflink. You would have to make a second button hole.

I am confident that if you look through your wardrobe, you will find some innovative ways to wear and accessorize cufflinks.

Cufflinks are available in so many materials--gold, silver,platinum, plastic, metal. Some have gemstones, others have unique shapes, animal heads, initials, etc).

Whether you choose to borrow a cufflink from one of the male member of your family, or choose to buy one for yourself, it will add a diverse look to any outfit.

Calling all Ladies with Charm Bracelets

I remember as a child receiving my first charm bracelet with a charm. My "first charm", oh yes, my father with his great sense of humour, took my "first tooth" and encased it in a small gold setting and that was my first charm. As the years passed, each charm that I received reflected a part of me--ballet slippers, trophy, my first ring, etc.

Charm bracelets are as unique as your signature and no two are alike. I enjoyed wearing my charm bracelet throughout my growing years, but after a while, I can honestly say that I got bored of it.

It was tucked away for several years and when I started wearing it again as a young adult, it became an annoyance--it got caught in things and jingled all the time. Too bad I never thought to wear it around the Christmas season--Santa and I would have had a lot of jingle belling in common :)

Well, it got put away again for a few more years.....but when I rediscovered it, I looked at it in a whole new light. Instead of wearing it as a bracelet, I thought how about wearing it as a "charm necklace"?

With a simple modification, the closures were removed and a chain was soldered to each end of the bracelet. Today, I wear it as one of my signature pieces of jewelery. It is not tucked away in my jewelery box, but worn in its full glory.

Another suggestion would be to have the charms removed and wear them as individual pendants, or have them individually soldered to a chain with large links. Not only would you have a new neck-piece, but a new bracelet.

And yes, I still get questions about that tooth......

Positively Always,

Baya

Rediscovering the HIdden Treasures in Your Jewelry Box

When was the last time that you

really looked inside your jewelry

box? I don't just mean opening your

box and taking a quick glance, but

emptying it out and looking at

each individual piece of

jewelry. With the soaring price of gold,

and believe me, it is only going

up, and economic hardships,

many people are not acquiring

or adding as many pieces

of jewels to their collection.

Formerly cufflinks and now earrings

So what is a girl to do when she wants to add a new little treasure to her collection, but is limited because of finances and doesn't want to break the piggy bank? I can promise you, that by opening your jewelry box and "rediscovering" your pieces, you are going to be surprised at what you will find--a treasure of goodies that can be recreated, recombined, redesigned, remodelled, or my favorite "renovated", into something new and outstanding.

Over the years, our clients have brought in their jewelery, literally thrown into plastic bags

emptied onto our showcases as if they were junk. As we started to look at each individual piece

and showing them what could be done, they were in awe, of all the possibilities. Now all of a sudden that old vintage brooch, could be looked at in a different light. Most importantly, they would have a new "bling, bling" at a fraction of the cost.

Original setting was removed

from a brooch and made into

this elegant ring

Let me share a couple of recent "jewel reno" stories with you.

One of our clients recently brought in her "goody bag of gold". She had rings from the Victorian and Art Deco period, an older brooch she never worn and a very heavy plain gold bangle bracelet, as well as many odd and broken pieces of jewels. We recreated an entirely new brooch from her existing brooch by cutting off the settings from the rings and adding them to the brooch as well as adding diamonds throughout. Her plain gold bangle bracelet became an "eternity" bracelet because we set it with diamonds. Her reaction when she saw the finished pieces were, AWE, SPEECHLESSNESS AND COMPLETELY OVER THE MOON. Yes, she was one happy lady.

Another one of our customers sent us several rings, as she lives out of town. One of the rings was her mother's multi diamond engagement ring. We removed the large diamond in the center and reset it into a beautiful rose gold ring which originally had a ruby in it. Into her mother's engagement ring, we set a beautiful rich garnet in the center, which was surrounded by smaller diamonds. The little ruby was set into another gold ring which originally had a glass stone. When she received all the ring she emailed me with the subject line 'Christmas in March'. She loved all her 'new rings' and did not which which one to wear first.

Stay tuned to this dial, cause I have a lot to share on this topic.

Remember, stay positive because you will be prosperous in all aspects of your life :)

Baya