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Handmade Fine Jewelry

October 13, 2010 By 1 Comment
Brass Lily Pad Earrings - Handmade Jewelry

Brass Lily Pad Earrings

Elegant Handmade Jewelry

Handmade fine jewelry is an excellent gift choice for both men and women for practically any occasion. Rather than purchasing a piece of jewelry that has been mass produced by machine, a piece of jewelry made by hand offers an extra element of elegance and a personal touch.

Handmade Jewelry – Higher Quality Than Production Jewelry

Handmade fine jewelry is available from many artisans specializing in the craft. Jewelers who make each of their pieces by hand still use the same high quality materials as large manufacturers and in many instances they have a greater control over the quality of gemstones and other elements used, as they can inspect each element individually.

Serpentine Sterling Silver Chainmail Necklace - Handmade Jewelry

Serpentine Sterling Silver Chainmail Necklace

While purchasing handmade jewelry may cost more than purchasing one of the mass produced pieces, many people appreciate that there is value in knowing that each piece is unique and made with care. When a person is making something by hand, he tends to put more of himself into the piece, thereby producing a quality and personality not found in mass production pieces.

Handmade Jewelry Makes a Statement

Handmade jewelry often makes a stronger style statement than mass produced designs, so a little more care should go into deciding how to accessorize an outfit. Continuing to purchase pieces will fill a jewelry box full of options so no matter what someone wears, there will be hand crafted jewelry to go along with it. The right piece of handmade jewelry can take a drab outfit and add just the right amount of pizzaz to turn it into something fabulous.

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Filed Under: Gemstones, What's New Tagged With: Artisans, Earrings, Elegance, Fine Jewelry, Gemstones, Gift Choice, Hand Crafted Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, High Quality Materials, Instances, Jewelers, Jewelry Box, Jewelry Fine, Jewelry Handmade, Lily Pad, Mass Production, Men And Women, Personal Touch, Personality, Pizzaz, Production Pieces, Quality Jewelry, sterling silver, Style Statement

The Perfect Gift – Tips On How To Select Handmade Jewelry

July 19, 2010 By 1 Comment
Handmade Jewelry - Brass Lily Pad Earrings

Brass Lily Pad Earrings

Plan Ahead Before Shopping for Handmade Jewelry

Shopping for handmade jewelry can be difficult without the right forethought and planning. Before shopping online, at a boutique, or a gallery or jewelry store that specializes in handmade jewelry, take a moment to think about a few things. Knowing a woman or man’s taste in jewelry and what items they already own is a good start. Purchasing an addition to their collection can be a smart decision, so search through the jewelry that they already have and look for anything which they may be missing, or any materials and gemstones which they prefer. For example, if they favor gold, but only have a few gold earrings, then purchasing a pair will be a smart choice.

Choose Quality Over Quantity When Buying Handmade Jewelry

Choose quality over quantity every time. Purchasing a smaller, well-made piece, such as the three-tiered aluminum lily pad earrings from John S. Brana, is much better than buying a larger, poorer quality item for the same price. Speaking of price, those on a budget simply need to remember that good handmade jewelry is not always expensive. It is the quality and look that truly counts, not the amount paid.

Handmade Jewelry - Men's Redwood Sterling Silver Ring

Men's Redwood Sterling Silver Ring

Select Handmade Jewelry Appropriate for the Occasion

The jewelry purchased should suit the stage of the relationship which you are at. If things are not serious, do not buy anything too extravagant. Additionally, consider what each gem says. Sapphires represent friendship, rubies mean passion, and diamonds signify eternal love. For this reason, avoid diamond jewelry unless you are certain about your future relationship. Additionally, avoid rings unless proposing to prevent giving the wrong impression.

Choosing Handmade Jewelry Based on Facial Types

One final thing to consider is what style suits a woman’s face and neck. Some basic tips to remember are that v-shaped necklaces match heart-shaped faces, chokers are good for long necks, and petite women will look better in delicate jewelry. Also remember to have a good idea about wrist and ring sizes to avoid future embarrassment when buying handmade jewelry.

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Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: Aluminum, Diamond Jewelry, Diamonds, Fac, Forethought, Gemstones, Gold Earrings, Hand Made Jewelry, Handcrafted Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, Jewelry Handmade, Jewelry Shopping, Jewelry Store, John S Brana, Lily Pad, Nec, Passion, Perfect Gift, Ring Jewelry, rubies, Silver Jewelry, Smart Choice, Smart Decision, Sterling Silver Ring, Style Suits, Wrong Impression

Keishi Pearls

June 20, 2010 By 86 Comments
Keishi Cornflake Pearl Necklace

Keishi Cornflake Pearl Necklace

Keishi Pearls – A Brief History

Pearls have been a prized element for jewelry for thousands of years. Although the most expensive pearls earn their price for their regular shape, even lustre and smooth surface many “inferior” pearl shapes are now becoming popular for their unique appearance and striking style that they can add to handmade jewelry.

Pearls are produced by mollusks when a small irritant such as a grain of sand gets inside its shell. The mollusk feels this as an irritant and coats the particle with a lustrous substance known as “nacre”. Pearls tend to take on the shape of the original particle, which is why perfectly round natural pearls are so rare and valuable.

Keishi Cornflake Pearl Necklace with Amethyst

Keishi pearls are formed when the mollusk rejects the irritant before the cultivating process is completed but still produces the nacre in a freeform shape. They can also be formed alongside a cultured pearl in the mollusk. Originally cultivated by Japanese pearl harvesters in the 1920s, keishi pearls were once considered a by-product or a “mistake” since the irritant was expelled before a round pearl could be produced. But there’s no mistaking the reasons why keishi pearls have become so popular in modern jewelry making. Since they are made entirely of nacre, they have a beautiful shimmer and luster and come in a variety of naturally organic shapes, colors and sizes.

“Cornflake” Keishi Pearls

Keishi pearls are also known as “cornflake” pearls because of their irregular shapes and “poppy seed” pearls since the word “keishi” means poppy seed in Japanese. They are generally small in size but are also available in elongated shapes known as stick pearls. Their unique, asymmetrical shapes make them a favorite choice for those searching for pearl jewelry with one-of-a-kind flair and natural beauty. Once considered to be useless and common, keishi pearls are now cultivated mostly in China, Japan and the South Seas and have become a favorite among handmade jewelry designers. John S. Brana offers stunningly beautiful necklaces among his collection made from iridescent cornflake keishi pearls in varied colors, and complemented by sea glass, Swarovski crystals and fine silver.

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Filed Under: Gemstones, What's New Tagged With: Asymmetrical Shapes, Cultured Pearl, Grain Of Sand, Handmade Jewelry, Harvesters, Irregular Shapes, Irritant, Jewelry Handmade, Keishi Pearls, Lustre, Modern Jewelry, Mollusk, Mollusks, Natural Pearls, Organic Shapes, Pearl Jewelry, Pearl Necklace, Poppy Seed, Seed Pearls, Smooth Surface, Striking Style