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Affordable Designer Earrings

November 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Aluminum Brass Small Tear Drop Designer Earrings with Peridot

Aluminum Brass Small Tear Drop Earrings with Peridot

Don’t Be a Plain Jane – Wear Designer Earrings!

With a huge range of affordable designer earrings available now, there is no excuse to be a plain Jane! The period when jewelry was a luxury only pursued by the rich, famous and powerful is now long over. These days, anyone can afford to sport a pair of statement earrings thanks to the creativity of John S. Brana and other professional craftsmen. Their diverse collections are full of affordable handcrafted designer earrings that are perfect for anyone, regardless of their taste, personality, or budget.

Aluminum and Copper Make Great Cost-Effective Designer Earrings

By far, the most cost-effective earrings are made out of either aluminum or copper. While these may not seem to be very glamorous metals, they can form some stunning designs in the hands of a master jeweler. To see this, simply have a look at any online catalog of the more popular handcrafted jewelry designers.

Of course, if you are looking for affordable earrings that are a little more colorful, yet still within your budget, you can find what you are searching for in the range of gemstone earrings currently available. With a selection covering semi-precious stones such as amber, garnet, emeralds and pearls, you will be spoilt for choice when out jewelry shopping.

Serpentine Sterling Silver Chainmail Designer Earrings

Serpentine Sterling Silver Chainmail Earrings

Sterling Silver Designer Earrings Make a Great Buy

For those who have a bit more money to spend, but consider gold or platinum jewelry far too expensive, sterling silver handmade earrings can be a great buy. This dazzling metal can be shaped into a multitude of styles, ranging from hoop to chain maille designs, to form a classic look that will suit almost any sort of attire.

With this many choices out there, each as affordable as the next, it is a surprise to see that many women still are not donning a pair of dazzling handmade designer earrings when they are out and about. To find affordable handmade earrings that truly complement both your individual style and the clothing that you are wearing, have a look at the jewelry collections created that feature designer earrings by artisans such as John S. Brana today.

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Filed Under: Silver Jewelry, What's New Tagged With: Aluminum Brass, Chain Maille, Chainmail Earrings, Designer Earrings, drop earrings, Emeralds, freshwater pearls, Garnet, gemstone earrings, Handmade Earrings, Jewelry Designers, John S Brana, Lily Pad, Master Jeweler, Multitude, Online Catalog, Plain Jane, Platinum Jewelry, Professional Craftsmen, Semi Precious Stones, Serpentine, Silver Earrings, Sterling Earrings, Stunning Designs, Tear Drop

Emerald – May’s Birthstone

May 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brilliant Cut Emerald

Intense. Brilliant. Dazzling. How else could one describe the deep green color of May’s traditional birthstone, the emerald?

Emeralds are among the world’s oldest gemstones and have been discovered in many countries from as early as 1500 B.C. In the 1600s, the Emperor Jehangir of Persia owned a cup made from pure emerald which is now on display in New York City’s Museum of Natural History. In fact, Emeralds are featured in museum exhibits around the world and are also part of the Iranian National Treasury. Emeralds are also included among Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection and that of actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Emerald is actually a colorless mineral known as beryl and the intense color is derived from iron and chromium impurities. While natural emeralds come in many colors, green is the most commonly prized. Inclusions, or flaws are not unusual and in fact contribute to the character and fire of this gemstone. Fine emeralds are quite rare and are mined around the world in Brazil, Russia and India, while the most famous mines are located in Colombia and Zimbabwe.

14K Gold Fold Formed Earrings with Faceted Peridot

Emerald’s natural flaws make the stones relatively fragile. Jewelry cutters developed a special cut specifically named for this gemstone because it helped to enhance its sparkle and brilliance and lessened the possibility of damage to the stone.

Cut Emeralds of today are routinely treated with special oils to enhance their beauty and require special care to maintain their sparkle and luster. Emerald jewelry should not be exposed to solvents or detergents as these can remove the oil, and therefore lessen the beauty and fire of the stone.

This fiery gemstone has a long and colorful history around the world and it is still highly valued in present day. The larger the stone, the more sparkle and brilliance is on display which makes May’s birthstone, the emerald, more highly prized than diamonds by many with a taste for fine jewelry. Green Tourmaline, Tsavorite Garnet, and Carnelian along with Bright Green Gemstones are considered the Alternative birthstones by Gem Dealers, Jewelry Designers, and Jewelry Manufacturers. If you are interested in custom jewelry set with Emeralds or Tourmaline, please Contact Me to request an estimate.

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Filed Under: Gemstones, What's New Tagged With: 1600s, Actress Elizabeth Taylor, Birthstone, Chromium Impurities, Colorful History, Colorless Mineral, Elizabeth Ii, Emerald, Emerald Emeralds, Emerald Jewelry, Emeralds, Fiery Gemstone, Intense Color, Iranian National, Jehangir, May Birthstone, Museum Exhibits, Museum Of Natural History, National Treasury, Natural Flaws, Personal Collection, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth Ii, Traditional Birthstone

Enjoy Beaded Gemstone Jewelry Every Day

November 5, 2009 By 9 Comments
Amethyst Vermiel Neckalce

Amethyst Vermiel Neckalce

Few things are more alluring than a lack of complexity. A simple strand with a small jewel speaks volumes. When it comes to jewelry, a strand of silver or gold adorned with a diminutive gem is enough for most events. But, there are times when you don’t feel the need to be elegant, or want to show off something that conveys your mood, your style, and your personality. Whether you are going out for a night on the town, out on a date, or even at work, something that is more exceptional and more “you” is suitable. Beaded gemstone jewelry is some of the most exclusive type of jewelry available, and virtually infinite in styles and character.

Beaded gemstone jewelry is usually a amalgamation of semi-precious gemstones and silver or gold. Just because the gemstones are semi-precious does not suggest that they aren’t important by the owner. This organization of stones is not based on how stylish or costly the gems are, but more exactly how rare they are on the face of the earth.The rarer gemstones – diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires – are considered to be precious stones because of their rarity.

African Opal Citrine Necklace

African Opal Citrine Necklace

Semi-precious stones include those which are usually found in lower-priced jewelry, such as serpentine, peridot, and amazonite. Although these stones are often less expensive, that does not suggest that they’re in any way inferior in quality to traditional precious stones. As a matter of fact, many quality jewelers will combine precious and semi-precious stones in one piece.

The stones found in beaded gemstone jewelry can be found in a variety different forms. Even though a good number of pieces will be small in size, they may or may not be polished or consistent in size. With semi-precious stones, the rarity of their color, clarity, or other qualities may add to their value – and jewelry designers often do not want to buff out those qualities.

Gems used in beaded jewelry may or may not be polished and refined. Modern styles in amethyst jewelry, for instance, favor less uniform stones. In numerous cases, the more extraordinary the stones are, the more expensive the piece of jewelry. Alternatively, pieces that include absolutely uniform beads of semi-precious stones can be quite costly and cherished by the wearer.

Beaded gemstone jewelry is a superb addition to any attire. It is often the jewelry of preference for daywear, but when worn with the right outfit, it can show off any outfit. The styles and designs are so diverse, that this variety of jewelry is fitting for practically any occasion.

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Filed Under: Gemstones, What's New Tagged With: Amalgamation, Amazonite, Beaded Jewelry, Color Clarity, Complexity, Emeralds, Face Of The Earth, Gems, Gemstone Jewelry, Jewel, Matter Of Fact, Peridot, Personality, Quality Jewelers, Rarity, rubies, Sapphires, Semi Precious Gemstones, Semi Precious Stones, Strand

The Best of Both Worlds: Gold Gemstone Jewelry

March 25, 2009 By 5 Comments
Gemstone Handmade Jewelry by John S. Brana

Amber and Crystal Beaded Gemstone Necklace by John S. Brana Handmade Jewelry

If you are looking for sheer elegance and class, nothing beats gold gemstone jewelry. These pieces combine the simple glamor of gold with distinctive gemstones that reflect the personality and style of the wearer. When buying this type of jewelry, there are several things you need to pay attention to.

The quality of the gold that makes up any kind of gold gemstone jewelry is essential. Of course, you want the highest quality gold, which is measured in karats. No piece of jewelry will ever be made with 24k gold, so beware any jeweler who tries to sell you “24k gold”. This type of gold is too pure and too malleable to be worked into jewelry, and quite frankly, is too expensive. Only a king or queen would ever have anything made from 24k gold!

Most quality gold used in jewelry ranges from 10k to 22k. The higher the rating, the higher the price. It is typical for most jewelry to be made from 14k gold, although 18k is preferred by most quality jewelers.

Gemstones have their own rating system. Diamonds are also measured in carats (with a “c” instead of a “k”), and the higher the rating, the higher the price. Diamonds fall under the category of “precious stones”, along with emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. A lot of gemstone jewelry, however, is made from semi-precious stones which are not as expensive, but can be equally beautiful and unique.

Gold gemstone jewelry made from semi-precious gemstones such as jade, lapis, onyx, turquoise, opals, and amber can be as beautiful as any piece including diamonds or sapphires. The quality of the gold, the uniqueness of the gemstone, and the exemplary craftsmanship of a master jeweler can make this type of jewelry worth wearing for a lifetime and handing down to your children.

Click Here To Find Gold Gemstone Jewelry

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Filed Under: Gemstones, Gold Jewelry Tagged With: 14K Gold Jewelry, 18K Gold Jewelry, Best Of Both Worlds, Carats, craftsmanship, Emeralds, Fine Gemstone Jewelry, Gemstone Jewelry, Glamor, Gold Gemstone Jewelry, Gold Jewelry, Handcrafted Silver Jewelry, Handmade Gemstone Jewelry, Handmade Sterling Silver Jewelry, Jade, Jewelers, Jewelry Ranges, Master Jeweler, Opals, Price Diamonds, Quality Gold, Quality Jewelers, rubies, Semi Precious Gemstones, Semi Precious Stones, Sheer Elegance, Uniqueness, Worlds Gold