Posts Tagged ‘Antique Jewelry’

PostHeaderIcon Turquoise Necklace Facts and Beliefs

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‘Pieces of sky.’ That’s how turquoise was called by some Native American tribes. Indeed, it requires no great stretch of the imagination to understand why turquoise was referred to as such. Just as the heavens could be a peaceful or stormy blue, so could turquoise seem to express different moods with its different shades of blue and green. Wearing pieces of sky in a turquoise necklace is a provocative and attractive idea.

Known as the birthstone of December, turquoise can be opaque or translucent, and a turquoise necklace made of beads conveys an iridescent, whimsical effect. Some jewelry designers set their turquoise necklaces in platinum, silver, or gold; at times, they use other gemstones in conjunction with turquoise for a complementary, enhancing effect. Chokers or neckbands decorated with turquoise are also popular as fashion accessories.

Necklaces made from Persian or Iranian turquoise are the most expensive, since this variety of turquoise is considered to be of the highest quality. However, less expensive varieties are available from Mexican, Chinese, Egyptian and American sources. Turquoise necklaces are popular items in Native American and Southern jewelry collections, but by and large, they have found their way into mainstream culture. They are perfect for casual wear, especially during summer, but can also be worn combined with other jewels for more formal occasions. Socialite Nicky Hilton, country singer Lari White and actress Ali Landry are some of the celebrities who have been photographed wearing turquoise necklaces.

According to gemologists, turquoise is believed by people of different cultures to have healing, protective, and restorative powers. Folklore also tells us that turquoise would fade or change color when the wearer was in danger or if a lover had been unfaithful. Whether a person believes in such tales or not, the fact remains that a turquoise necklace and other pieces of turquoise jewelry are not only fashionable and beautiful dress accessories, they have also played a major role in the shaping of various cultures as well.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

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PostHeaderIcon Jewelry Cleaning

If you have a collection of antique jewelry you will be well aware that it needs your attention periodically. Here are a few helpful hints to keep your jewelry sparkling.

First, try to understand the nature of metals so that you can figure out the process for cleaning them. Gold is not prone to corrosion, flaking or any kind of weathering. It retains its shine over very long periods of time. Silver does not lose it shape over time but it can get tarnished when exposed to air.

Gold jewelry does not need any fancy cleaning agent. Just use warm soapy water to clean your antique gold jewelry. If the jewelry is studded with stones, take a used soft toothbrush and use it for cleaning the areas that are indented. Most gold jewelry that is made of 18 carats or of a higher grade does not corrode or tarnish even when exposed to household cleaning agents. However, jewelry made of lower grade gold can get affected by household chemicals.

When you store silver jewelry, wrap it up in acid-free paper and keep it away in a moisture free place. Never wrap up silver in newspaper as the printing ink leaves a stain behind on the metal. Silver that has been stored normally requires a polish. Most silver jewelry regains its original sparkle just by rubbing it with a soft cloth.

If you find that your antique silver jewelry has tarnished heavily, use a store-bought silver cleaning solution to clean it. Most silver cleaning creams and fluids need you to apply them on the silver and then polish using a soft cloth. These cleaning solutions contain a protective coating that stays on the silver and protects it from tarnishing further. If your jewelry is silver plated make sure you do not rub too vigorously else the plating will wear away.

Antique gemstone jewelry is always prone to the gemstones slipping out. This is why such jewelry should be placed in a bowl while cleaning it. Never clean such jewelry in the sink. Use an old soft toothbrush and warm soapy water to remove all traces of grime and dirt between the indentations and crevices of rings. You can safely use this method for diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and most other gemstones. Avoid using fabric to clean such jewelry as it can get caught between the gaps and weaken the grip of claws that hold the gemstone in place.

Allan enjoys providing articles on various interesting topics. Besides the above topic, he also likes to write on other interesting subjects. Do check out his latest site on tv mounts.

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PostHeaderIcon Marcel Boucher Vintage Costume Jewelry by Vanishing Vintage

Marcel Boucher: Costume Jewlery Designer EXTRAORDINAIRE!

For those that collect vintage cosutme jewelry Marcel Boucher jewrly is amongst the most desireable.
We have only had a small sampling of his tiny “Works of Art” although we look for it everywhere.

From fabulous Rhodium plated enamels to beautiful Sterling and the later gold tone with rhinestones, his imaginative pieces are coveted even today.

For more information about Marcel Boucher visit our BLOG:

http://vanishingvintage.blogspot.com/

We will feature other jewerly companies such as Trifari, Coro, Miriam Haskell and Mazer in the months to come.

To shop for some of the jewelry in our video visit us at:

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/vanishingvintage

Dazzling vintage jewlery from Whimsical to WOW!

Duration : 0:2:28

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