Pet Jewelry

"Pet Jewelry"

Pet jewelry is simply beautiful jewelry for your dog or cat to wear. There are many different types of pet jewelry for both cats and dogs including beaded, glitzy or other simple pieces. Pet jewelry is really quite beautiful and they are more better accessories than collars. Other types of pet jewelry can come in the form of bracelets as well. To learn more about pet jewelry and where you can find some click here. Pet jewelry

Jade Pendants

Jade Pendants

My daughter is in the process of planning her wedding. She has always been very detailed oriented and so she is trying to think of everything to make this a special event. She is also a romantic so she wants to carry forth traditions from our family as well as her fiancé’s. She has always been intrigued by the antique jade pendant that was given to me on my wedding day. I received the jade pendant from my mother. She was also very detailed oriented and she liked the way the pendant matched the dress that my maid of honor wore.

My daughter wore the jade pendant to her first prom and several other special functions through the years. I knew that it would be a very special gesture for me to give it to her on her wedding day, but I hated to part with it because I wear it so often myself. My husband suggested looking for a similar necklace to give to our daughter.

I knew that the jade in the pendant was from Hawaii. My mother had purchased it at an antique store that has since gone out of business. Both of my parents had passed away several years ago, so I could not get additional information from them. I had never done any research into the history of the necklace, so I decided to begin with a local dealer of antique jewelry to see what I could find out about it. When I brought the jade pendant to the dealer he was very impressed with it. Without doing any research he estimated that the jade pendant was from the late 1800’s. I was surprised to find out that it could be that old. My mother was not into antiques and I new she had purchased the necklace mainly for its color. The antique dealer told me that he would do some research and let me know what he discovered. I asked him to also look for a similar jade pendant I could purchase for my daughter.


Several days later the dealer called me to see if I would bring the jade pendant back to the shop for verification. When I arrived at the shop he examined the necklace more thoroughly than he had the first time. He showed me several details in the gold setting and stone that proved that it was authentic. He then showed me a picture of the same jade pendant that he had found on the internet. My necklace had been created for the wife of a wealthy plantation owner in Hawaii in 1887. The family had lost their fortune and articles from the estate, including my jade pendant had been sold off. He estimated the value to be in the thousands of dollars. He had located a very similar necklace that had been made in the 1920’s. This necklace was one of several that had been made, copied from my original pendant. I bought the replica for my daughter.

I cannot believe that I have been wearing a necklace that is considered priceless by many. I know that one day I will leave this heirloom to my daughter or her daughter. In the mean time I know she will be thrilled with the jade pendant that I will give her on her wedding day.

Italian Costume Jewelry

"Italian Costume Jewelry"

Italian Costume Jewelry and Italian jewelery are some of the most beautiful pieces in the world. Italians in general are so passionate about art and life itself so its no wonder their costume jewelry and jewelry pieces are a reflection of that. To learn more about Italian costume jewelry and Italian jewelry including it's history, and other famous pieces click here "Italian Costume Jewelry"

Sapphire Rings

Blue Sapphire Rings

Jewelry is something almost every woman adores. Having several rings, bracelets and pendants in her wardrobe allows a woman the versatility to change her look with just the addition of an accessory. With the affordability of many types of gemstones women are now looking at higher quality jewelry pieces.
Blue sapphire rings fit right into that category. They are stunning to look at and their price can fit almost any budget.


When you are shopping for blue sapphire rings the first thing you’ll notice is how varied the selection is. There are many different designs each has its own special appeal. Depending on your own sense of style you won’t have much trouble finding one to fall in love with.

A very attractive design in blue sapphire rings is the stack ring. This is a very thin ring that generally contains several small sapphires in a row. It can also have diamonds on the band. Stack rings are so appealing because they are designed to be worn with other stack rings. Some women choose to purchase a sapphire, ruby or diamond stack rings to be worn together. Another benefit of buying stack rings is that you can change your look day to day just be alternating the rings or wearing one at a time.

Blue sapphire rings that feature a solitaire stone in the center are also a great choice. These come in many different sizes depending on your preference and your budget. A very traditional look is to have an oval shaped sapphire stone surrounded by small diamonds. These types of blue sapphire rings are often worn as engagement rings. Many brides don’t want to go with the standard diamond solitaire and instead opt for blue sapphire rings.

One of the things you want to consider when you are thinking of buying blue sapphire rings is the setting. Although most people decide on a 10kt or 18kt gold setting, there are many other choices. Sterling silver blue sapphire rings are stunning. The silver balances the deep blue of the sapphire and with the cost of silver this can be a great choice if you are looking to spend less money.

Platinum blue sapphire rings are also available. Although these are more expensive they make a wonderful gift for a special woman.

Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September and if you are considering buying jewelry for a woman born that month than take a look at some blue sapphire rings. Not only will she love the fact that you bought her a ring she’ll be touched that you recognized it was her birthstone.

Vintage Costume Jewelry

Vintage Costume Jewelry

The price of fine jewelry made today leaves those of us with modest budgets at a disadvantage in rounding out a nice collection. Much of the discount store Vintage Costume Jewelry are poorly made of inferior materials. However, there is a middle ground, where beautiful quality pieces may be found without breaking the bank. This is the vintage jewelry market.


Some Vintage Costume Jewelry can be very expensive, but there are many beautiful pieces made with less expensive materials that are reasonably priced and a credit to any woman's jewelry box. Many women have made a sort of hobby of searching out these pieces, gathering jewelry pieces appropriate for almost any occasion.
When shopping for vintage jewelry, there are several pointers which will help you determine true value.

For our purposes, we'll look at vintage jewelry produced since the 1930's. These are the pieces most often found in today's Vintage Costume Jewelry shops.

The Art Deco jewelry style was popular in the days of Flappers and Prohibition, with multiple necklaces worn at once. Perhaps you remember seeing pictures of your grandmother in one of those fantastic short dresses with lots of fringe, and a bevy of bright necklaces “tied” in a loose knot near the end of the strands? New plastics, enamel accents and amber, along with bright colors are characteristic of the time. Chokers were another popular jewelry item.

The 1940's brought the Retro style, snapped up in Hollywood society. Large rings with large stones, precious or not became all the rage. Necklaces, bracelets and watches were large, elegant and flashy, a good backdrop to the sleek and tailored styles of the day.

In the post-World War II of the 1950's, costume jewelry provided a practical but glitzy alternative to their 1940's counterparts. Rhinestones took center stage, the faux diamond of the day, made of quartz mined from the Rhine River. Rhinestones replaced diamonds, appearing in abundance and decorating necklaces, pendants, bracelets and brooches. Gold plating meant a more affordable piece, and non-tarnishing Rhodium plating was used on silver colored pieces.

The 1960's ushered in a period of handmade jewelry by individual craftsmen, ranging from inexpensive but unusual designs of hammered over sized brass and silver earrings to Renaissance style ornate pendants and rings. Lost-wax casting was also a popular technique.

One French costume jewelry designer, Lea Stein, came on the scene in the late 1960's, making a big splash with her cellulose creations featuring cats, big and small, flower and leaf motifs, a variety of animals, music note designs and the like, formed into brooches that cinched her place in jewelry history. Her jewelry is a hot collection item, even today. Watch for these gems of your vintage jewelry searches!

So you see there's no need to settle for cheap, poor quality jewelry from a discount store. A little searching and perserverance, over time can make you the proud owner of some very classy vintage jewelry, with a fun new hobby to boot!

Making Beaded Jewelry

Making Beaded Jewelry
It seems that there are many crafting projects that will interest many people for a while and then something new will arrive on the scene and people will switch to that. Also people get tired of seeing everyone with the same item. One crafting project that has been around for centuries and is still strong today is beaded jewelry. The Native Americans have been doing beaded projects for years. The elaborate beading that they did on clothing and other articles is displayed in museums throughout the world. This beautiful crafting still inspires people today.

There is a renewed interest in Making Beaded Jewelry. There are beautiful pieces that involve all types of beads. The beaded jewelry will continue to be popular because no two pieces need to be the same. Several people can have on a piece of beaded jewelry and each one will be different. People like to feel unique, especially when it comes to personal choices such as jewelry. The type of jewelry a person wears is often an expression of their personality, with beaded jewelry you can personally chose what you want to express. This is done by choosing the beads that you want included in the jewelry, whether you are making it yourself or having someone to make it for you.

There is a large price range in beaded jewelry. The reason for this is the quality of the beads and the amount of time that is needed to create the piece. Some jewelers use beads that are formed out of semi precious stones. Another popular material for the more expensive beads is hand crafted glass beads. Many of the glass beads are hand painted to create a one of a kind design on each bead. When you string several of these time intensive beads into one piece of jewelry it is easy to understand why the pieces are worth more money. Some crafters also use carved wooden beads in various shapes and sizes. Varying shapes and sizes of beads is what lends to the uniqueness of the end product.

Beaded jewelry is a fun project to get your children involved in. You can purchase a variety of kits that include beads that are less expensive, but still look nice. The children can create pieces for themselves or to give as gifts. If this is a hobby that they enjoy you can begin buying higher quality beads. There are several DVD’s that have step by step instructions on how to create different pieces of beaded jewelry. There are also instruction sheets for those of us that learn more readily through reading.

Beaded jewelry is a one of a kind item. You have the option to create your own masterpiece or have another person create it for you. Which ever option you choose you will not be disappointed with your purchase.

Sterling Silver Wedding Rings

Sterling Silver Wedding Rings

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. It’s important to put careful thought into every aspect of your special day.

One of the issues that both the bride and groom will want to consult on is what type and design of rings complement them both. Although gold has been the standard choice there’s a renewed interest in sterling silver wedding rings in recent years.

Sterling silver wedding rings are a more economical choice than gold but their aesthetic value is at the same level as both gold and platinum. Many jewelers are recognizing that some couples have a deep interest in sterling silver wedding rings and they are designing new sets all the time.

Many couples dream of designing their own rings and with sterling silver wedding rings that dream is very attainable. Many jewelers have design experts on site that will sit down with the happy couple and draw out a design of their dream rings.

Every detail including the size and quality of the stones are discussed. The jewelry designer will craft an image of what the sterling silver wedding rings will look like upon completion. This way the couple has a clear view of what they will be receiving. It’s also a lovely way for the couple to have something unique for their wedding day.

If you aren’t interested in having someone design your rings for you there are many sterling silver wedding rings already available for purchase. One of the most popular designs are those in a weave pattern.


In these types of sterling silver wedding rings, each band has a matching design of woven silver. The design can be somewhat simple or very intricate. The reason these types of sterling silver wedding rings are so desirable is that some couples prefer a band that isn’t solid. They want something that has a flow to it and can be captivating even without a diamond. Sterling silver wedding rings with this type of woven design are eye catching.

If you do prefer the more traditional wedding band than you can also find that in sterling silver wedding rings. There are very plain and simple rings available that complement both the hand of the groom and the bride.

The bride might also wear a solitaire along with her band to complete her set. The man will generally just wear a band that matches his wife’s.

Sterling silver wedding rings are perfect for couples who want something different and affordable. They are a true reflection of the love that is shared between the two people wearing them.