THE EIGHT CLASSIC AND TIMELESS JEWELS IN A WOMAN’S JEWELERY COLLECTION - PART 2

Hoop earrings are the all time earrings—from babies, flamenco dancers, to tribesman in Africa—they have universal appeal. While the round hoop is among the most popular, they come in a variety of other geometric shapes and are available in a variety of sizes and widths. You can also accessorize hoops by adding charms to them. Hoop earrings will compliment everything in your wardrobe.

Another one of our customers wears her hoop earrings 24-7 because of their versatility. “Whether I have on my jeans, or am in Court, my hoops are multi-functional and project a different look with whatever I wear”.

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 round loop to one of the links so you could adjust the length by wearing it at a shorter length—from one chain you could wear it at two different lengths. With a longer chain, you can also add a pendant.

Part 3 - Continued

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.

The Significance of Giving and Wearing Symbolic Jewelry

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Your first piece of symbolic jewelry could have been given to you at your Christening or to your mother to mark your birth.

Symbolic jewelry represents or signifies a special occasion, accomplishment, celebration, to honour someone, achievement, awareness of a cause or stand.

Religious medallions, Diploma's, Numbers, Child's Profile, Sayings are examples of symbolic pieces of jewelery.

Many are engarved with special and personal inscriptions, including the date to commemerate the occasion.

They speak volumes when given--"I am proud of you", "Welcome to the World, Oh Precious One", "Congratulations on Your Achievements/Graduation", "You've Reached a Milestone".

One of my dearest and most cherished pieces is my first tooth that is encased in a gold setting and is worn as a charm on my bracelet.

For the person giving it to you, it symbolizes for them, what you mean to them, how proud they are of you, they stand by you and support you, they honour you.

When a person wears a symbolic piece, it is part of who they are--a collage of their life. You wear them throughout your lifetime. They are conversation pieces too, especially if the symbol is unique. A story begins to unfold as you relive experiences and share your stories with people. Good memories, shared memories--a reflection of your past--eternal in your heart.

The picture of the sterling silver keys up above are examples of symbolic jewelry.

The KEY can symbolize the KEY to one's heart, the KEY of life, hard work is the KEY of success and so on.

Exciting New Ideas For Your Earrings

Everyone loves earrings and whether you have pierced ears or non-pierced ears, you can give your earrings a whole new dimension in design. If you have a pair of pearl studs and a pair of diamond stud earrings, why not combine them as one. The diamond solitaire, depending on size, could be set at the base of the pearl. Of course, the backing has to be removed and redesigned. This can also be applied with any combination of gemstone stud earrings. You may have a unique cut or color gemstone that would look exquisite combined together. Imagine rose quartz with amethyst, black onyx and tiger-eye, blue topaz and sapphires, diamonds and everything.


Chandeier earrings are glamorous as well as very tres chic. If you have a pair of dangle earrings that are short and wide, they would make a good base. Now see what you have in other dangle earrings. If you have 3 or 4 earrings that yo do not wear, imagine what a spectacular pair can be created. The add-ons dangle at different levels.

If there are earrings you don't wish to wear any more such as a pair of gold hoops, why not have them soldered together horizontally or vertically and have the birthstones of your children or grandchildren set in the center for a one-of-a-kind pendant.

With an odd 1/2 pair of stud earrings, you can have it modified to wear as a ring by adding a shank. If they were dangle earrings, you can have the closure removed, add a bale and have it redesigned into a charm or pendant. If you don't want to wear your earrings as studs, why not convert them into a dangling pair. As well, you can have an odd pair of earrings made into a tie or hat pin.

Again with an odd 1/2 pair or several pairs, you could have the backings removed and have them spaced apart and soldered on a chain . Now if you have a link chain, they could be set between the links at various inches apart. Imagine how beautiful it would look as a jeweled neck-piece. A single earring could be added to the center of a chain simply by having the chain cut in half and soldering each half to the earring. Wouldn't an odd diamond solitaire that has been sitting in your jewelery box look gorgeous as a beautiful diamond solitaire necklace.

I hope I have inspired you with these new ideas. Have fun looking through your earring collection. Let me know what you have come up with. I would love to hear from you.

Positively,
Baya

Several New Ideas for Wedding Bands

As you gaze into each other's eyes on your wedding day, and exchange vows and slip on your new, shining wedding bands.........fast forward a few years and your new shiney wedding band is well broken in.

After 18 years of marriage, not only is my wedding band well broken in, but so is my iron.....

The day, I said I do, I also inherited the joys of ironing my husband's business shirts--I loathe ironing.

He knows not to come near me when I have a hot iron in my hands.

As our 5 year anniversary was approaching, I was rather vocal about acquiring a new diamond wedding band, aka, eternity ring. Well my beloved, heard me loud and clear.....I was cutting out pictures and posting them in his car and on his bathroom mirror. He showed them to my father, and basically had my father make one for me.

On the evening of our anniversary, my Romeo (aka Les), took me out for a beautiful romantic dinner, got down on his knees, and proposed again--with my beautiful eternity band. I must say, he was not nervous the second time around.... :)

If you wish to have a diamond eternity band, but do not wish to purchase one, you can have diamonds added to your original wedding band. If you have an extra band, perhaps one that you have inherited, you can have diamonds added to that one. The advantage here is that your original wedding band is not altered, and you have a "new ring" from an "old ring". You can wear the two rings together, or three if you wear it with your engagement ring. Or wear your eternity band and engagement ring together for a real sparkling combination.

Two or more narrow wedding bands can be soldered together at the seams to create one band. You could wear it with your wedding band or on your other hand.

If you have several thin bands which are similar in width, they could all be connected and worn as a rolling/puzzle ring. A perfect example is the classic tricolor pink, yellow and gold rolling band. Imagine how elegant it would look if one of the thin bands was an eternity band and was blended with two other two tone bands.

A larger wedding band, such as a gentlemens, can have a gemstone set into the center, a bale added and worn as a pendant.

A plain gold band can have a totally new look by adding small designs on the ring. For example, you could have twisted wire added along the edges or small beads soldered to the surface. If the ring is thick enough why not have a design cut out all the way around. The words "I Love You" could be engraved all the way around your band, especially if it is wide enough.

Sentimental at heart? Your parents or grandparents wedding bands might be very dear to you and they are just sitting in your jewelry box. The smaller could could be slightly cut, interlocked with the larger ring, a bale added and you could then wear it as a pendant.

Positively,

Baya