Best Jewelry for Christmas

Amethyst Carnelian Prehnite Necklace - Christmas Jewelry

Amethyst Carnelian Prehnite Necklace

Jewelry – The Classic Christmas Present

Although it may seem like there is plenty of shopping time left until Christmas, the days have an annoying tendency to fly past. For this reason, it is important to start thinking about gifts for those you care about as soon as possible. Jewelry has always been a classic Christmas present, whether for your girlfriend, spouse, mother or sister, yet it is often one of the most difficult items to purchase. With a little thought and time however, you can find the perfect accessory for that special woman, and give her a holiday memory that she will cherish forever.

The warmth and timelessness of Christmas should be tied up within the jewelry that you buy. Show her that you care by purchasing an item that matches her personality and appearance in every way. For those confident, professional women, items such as gold fold formed earrings will show her that you know her inside-out. On the other hand, if your wife or mother is more bubbly and outgoing, maybe a gemstone necklace would more suit her style. This will all show her that you care enough to take the time out to purchase her the perfect gift.

Citrine Bronze Ring - Christmas Rings

Citrine Bronze Ring

This Christmas, Choose Jewelry That Will Make Her Look Stunning

Jewelry should be versatile enough to be worn on a number of occasions as well. In this way, she can remember the happy times that she had with you during the holidays whenever she wears your present. Accessories such as aluminum bracelets can be worn while at work, while eating out and even when dancing the night away in a club. This Christmas, choose carefully and pick an item that will make her look stunning in a wide variety of places. Let her gain the most benefit out of your chosen piece of jewelry and allow the spirit of Christmas to keep her company throughout the year ahead.

Any Christmas gift that you purchase for your special woman should be expertly crafted and made of high quality materials. Show her that she is worth any amount of money to you by giving her the best in gold or silver jewelry. This is the time for giving so you do not want to seem too sting. That is not to say that you have to blow your budget either, as there are plenty of quality items such as bronze rings and amber earrings that are well made and that will not cost you a fortune.

Lastly, when giving out your presents this Christmas, make sure that everything fits in with the occasion well. This is a magical time, and the gift and the act of giving itself have to suit the overall atmosphere and sentiment. With the right wrapping paper, a thoughtful card and warm, friendly surroundings, your gift will seem even more special. This will imbue the jewelry with an even better feeling, as she will be reminded of that happy moment whenever she looks at it. This Christmas, give her a beautiful piece of jewelry that makes her feel warm and happy inside whenever she wears it out and about.

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The Perfect Gift – Tips On How To Select Handmade Jewelry

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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Win a Free Pair of Handmade Fine Silver Earrings – May 2010 Jewelry Freebie

Hammered Fine Silver Earrings

Hammered Fine Silver Earrings

For May, win these beautiful Hammered Fine Silver Earrings with a slightly hammered finish by entering your email address on any pop-up hang-tag that appears on www.johnsbrana.com or on the entry form below. Your entry carries over month to month, so there’s no need to re-enter every month.

Each month will feature a different piece of jewelry, so enter now!

Click here to see the contest rules.

Congrats to our April 2010 Jewelry Freebie Winner – Kathy Jones of Ft Lauderdale, FL !!

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Handcrafted Fine Jewelry by John S. Brana Gets Ready for Spring Shopping Events

Corrugated Copper Fold Formed Earrings

After a whirlwind schedule of Valentine’s runway and theatrical shows wardrobing models and performers with dramatic jewelry, John S. Brana gears up for Spring shopping events for his fans. Look for his signature high end handcrafted fine jewelry collections including corrugated cuffs and layered gemstone necklaces at the Contemporary Crafts Market in San Francisco’s Fort Mason, March 14 and 15. Shoppers will also enjoy copper, sterling silver and 14K gold-filled designs priced under $150 at Appel and Frank’s Spring into Style Shopping Event, March 26 at the Regency Center.

"It’s times like these that make it even more important to stay in the public eye and to show your clients how much you appreciate them," described Brana who encourages shoppers to take advantage of free or discounted advance tickets for both events. For a limited time, guests may visit http://www.contemporarycraftsmarket.com/ to print passes for two free admissions to the 24th annual fair showcasing one-of-a-kind designs from over 250 diverse artists. Shoppers may also enjoy $5 admissions into the Appel and Frank event, which will feature over 70 designers, when purchasing two tickets online at http://www.appelandfrank.com/.
New and current fans of the San Francisco-inspired handcrafted jewelry designer will appreciate Brana’s latest experiments in metallic textures. Embossed plaques, corrugated leaves, spiraling shells, and light-as-a-feather links are just a sampling of the additions shoppers will enjoy this spring. To view John S. Brana’s complete jewelry collections, please visit his following websites: http://www.johnsbrana.com,  http://www.handcrafted-gold-jewelry.com, http://www.handmade­-silver-jewelry.com, http://www.handmadecopperjewelry.com. For all press and events inquires, please contact Karri Ann Frerichs, Altitude Promotions, at +1.402.490.2579 or info@altitudepromotion.com.
 
Contemporary Crafts Market at the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA.  Saturday, March 14th through Sunday, March 15th, 2009. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.   http://www.contemporarycraftsmarket.com

Appel and Frank’s Spring /nto Style Event at the Regency Center, Sutter Room, 1270 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA.    Thursday, March 26th 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  http://www.appelandfrank.com

 

Corrugated Sterling Silver Leaf Earrings

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The Skinny on Designer Handmade Jewelry

2801474001_af2c92f14dWhat’s the difference between manufactured jewelry and designer handmade jewelry? Well, for starters, mass-market manufactured jewelry is obviously going to be cheaper, usually of lower quality, and also lacks uniqueness and creativity. Have you ever purchased a piece of mass market manufactured jewelry, gone to a party, and seen several other women wearing a similar piece of jewelry?

This definitely won’t be the case if you purchase designer handmade jewelry.  Chances are you have a unique piece, or one of only a number of limited edition pieces, and you’ll never have to worry about bumping into someone at a party and seeing that same piece of jewelry on another woman’s wrist or around her neck.

Mass market jewelry is stuff that’s stamped out by the thousands, with little or no human contact.  Designer handmade jewelry, on the other hand…is  something totally different. Of course it’s going to cost a little more, but you can be assured that when a designer hallmarks their handmade jewelry, they are guaranteeing you a certain level of quality and trust.  The designer’s name, brand, and reputation are on the line.  This seldom occurs in mass manufactured jewelry. 

Handmade jewelry is also much more labor intensive.  Numerous hours can go into creating, designing, and fabricating a single piece of jewelry, and that’s why the cost for designer handmade jewelry is usually higher than mass produced pieces. 

Maintenance of your designer handmade jewelry is relatively easy.  Over time, your silver jewelry will tarnish due to the copper content in Sterling Silver. There are several commercial products you can purchase at your local drug store or hardware store that will restore your silver to a sparkling shine.   The most versatile is a polishing cloth or rouge cloth that can be used on gold, silver, and copper jewelry.  For those more intricate silver pieces like filigree or chain, all you need is baking soda.  First, make sure you do this in a well ventilated area.  Place the chain in an aluminum pan, and cover thoroughly with baking soda. Then, pour boiling water, slowly,  into the pan.   A chemical reaction will occur and the tarnish will be removed.  Copper jewelry can be easily cleaned with these cleaning methods.  One of the added benefits of buying designer jewelry is that most designers offer cleaning services.  Customers of John S. Brana – Handcrafted Fine Jewelry can send their jewelry in at anytime for a free cleaning.

 

Click Here To Get Your Hands On Designer Handmade Jewelry

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Muir Woods Sterling Silver and Aluminum Jewelry

Karri Ann Frerichs introduces Muir Woods Sterling Silver and Aluminum jewelry by jewelry designer John S. Brana. Uniquely designed leaf earrings inspired by Muir Woods handcrafted in a wide variety of sleek and contemporary styles.

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Accessorizing with the Right Jewelry – Part 1

Accessorizing with jewelry is one of the most simplest and effective ways to make any outfit look great. Selecting a few choice pieces of handcrafted jewelry is no different than choosing your wardrobe. In fact, most stylists and image consultants refer to your overall jewelry collection as a wardrobe, since your jewelry is just as important as the clothes you wear. Just like a picture frame enhances and draws attention to the photo within, selecting the appropriate jewelry emphasizes your best features.

How best then to wear the jewelry you currently own? Taking stock of your existing jewelry wardrobe will help you immediately identify pieces you no longer wear, and more importantly, gives you a sense of what looks best for you and your overall comfort zone. Over time, you’ve probably developed a sense of likes and dislikes, favoring gold over silver or necklaces over bracelets.

Generally, brunettes, redheads, and grays should wear silver jewelry, while blondes look best in gold and copper. If you are brunette, and warm colors suit you, wearing gold would work just as well. Women with black hair usually look good in all three metals… gold, silver, and copper. However, there are no hard and fast rules. If you absolutely love silver and you’re a blond, or a brunette, redhead, or gray and love gold or copper, go for it!

Try not to mix styles. A modern silver cuff won’t look right paired with antique gold filigree earrings. Stick with a matching bracelet and earring set or two similar necklaces also looks great. Until recently, it was taboo to mix metals. This was one of those old-school rules that most designers now ignore. The trick is if you want to mix metals, keep the style of jewelry the same. A simple hammered chain necklace of silver and gold, or silver and copper links looks absolutely stunning and is very fashion-forward. Stacking rings or bracelets also lends perfectly to the mixing of metals. You can even stack square or round rings or bangles in different shades of gold, silver or copper.

Stay tuned for the rest of this article on December 29th…

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John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry

I am finally proud to announce the completion and launch of John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry. You can now preview my online gallery of premium custom handcrafted jewelry, wire sculpted jewelry, and fused silver and gold jewelry for both men and women, and locate a retail store near you where you will be able to view and purchase my jewelry.

Selected collections are currently available at Residents Apparel Gallery , Porcelynne Boutique & Gallery in San Francisco and Marlowe & Company Jewellers in St. Helena. For the remainder of 2006, I will be expanding my retail distribution throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and nationally in 2007. If you would like to be notified of store openings, upcoming trunk shows, or new collections, please feel free to add yourself to my Contact Form

John S. Brana

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