Amber Jewelry 101

22 Sep 2008 In: Jewelry, Jewelry Shopping

The alluring amber has always attracted the gemstone lovers with its potential for creating artistic jewelries. In the vintage collections as well as in the modern designs you will come across ample use of this bright luminescent stone. Starting from necklace and earrings or finger rings to pendants and bracelets, amber can add a touch of class in all types of jewelry.

Before you invest in an exquisite piece of amber jewelry, equip yourself with some basic information about amber. 

Origin

The most interesting part of amber is that: it fascinates men from all strata of society. It interests the geologists and jewelry lovers alike. This is because of the unique origin of this gemstone. Amber is in the nature of fossils and is born out of the resins of ancient trees that grew in the amber forests millions of years ago.

Variety

The largest deposit of amber can be found in the Baltic region. Though amber is also found in the other parts of the world, the Baltic amber is the most sought after variety so far jewelry making is concerned.

Color and Clarity

When you are going to make jewelry with any gemstone, the first two things you have to check are color and clarity of the stone.

So far as the color of amber is concerned, this beautiful gemstone closely resembles the golden yellow color of honey. However, the color may range to burnt red or rich orange to a reddish brown. However, though rare, it is not unusual to find amber in blue, green or even different shades of black.

Translucency is a much desired quality in amber. Depending on the degree of transparency, amber may be cloudy or clear. The transparent ambers are found with golden yellow or reddish yellow hues. When the amber is semi-transparent or opaque, it appears cloudy. Depending on their color and clarity, the amber stones are categorized as fatty, bone (or osseous) or foamy (or frothy).

So how will you choose a piece of amber to get your dream piece of jewelry? Remember, while translucency is a desired quality in any gemstone, the inclusions make the stones even more interesting and hence more expensive. Amber with high clarity is expensive; but even more prized is the amber with slight inclusions having unique charm of its own. Depending on the types of inclusions the amber is known by such names as fatty, bone, bastard amber and so on.

A fragile stone

The last but most important information about amber jewelry: due to its organic origin, this fascinating gemstone is not a long lasting one. However, with proper care and maintenance you can significantly add to its life span. Store your amber jewelries in cotton lined jewel box separately. Do not expose it to direct sunlight and heat. Avoid using harsh chemicals; clean it in lukewarm water with soft clothes. You can apply olive oil from time to time to retain the shine and polish of the stone.

Amber no doubt renders value to your jewelry wardrobe. Their unique color makes them fit for both formal as well as casual look. Its typical physical and chemical properties make it a darling with modern designers who can experiment with the cut and design of this stone to their heart’s content. With amber jewelry you can also experiment a lot.

Consider making your own fashion statement with an exquisite piece of amber jewelry; online shops are the great place to catch the latest trends in amber jewelry.

Click here to find exquisite amber jewelry

When most people hear titanium the first things that come to mind are probably golf clubs, medical plates or rods and aircraft. This naturally occurring element has various uses including a relatively new application in jewelry making.

In 1791, titanium was first discovered near Cornwall, England by pastor William Gregor who was an amateur geologist and unaware of what he had uncovered. In 1795 this metal was rediscovered and given its name which comes from the Titans in Greek mythology. Although titanium can be found around the world in abundance it is always bonded to other elements making the process to recover it is fairly extensive. The Kroll Process named after William Kroll in 1946 was and still is today used to produce titanium for commercial use.

Titanium is known for its strength in fact it is the strongest naturally occurring metal known (steel is not a pure natural element). This strength makes titanium resistant to dings, scratches, dents and bending that most other metals are prone to. Another advantage of this strength is that titanium jewelers are able to created designs by carving, grooving or inlaying without causes damage to the integrity of the piece.

This silver or grayish white metal is very lightweight, strong and 100% hypoallergenic. In fact titanium is biocompatible in that it will not cause reactions or irritations with your skin or cause a discoloration which is common with many other metals.

Although titanium does not corrode or rust it does respond to an oxidation process that enables you to get titanium in many different colors that are not possible with platinum or gold. For instance these color variations can give you a silver ring that in different lights or at different angels can appear blue or purple. If you like color variations it is also possible to find rings that are made from a combination of metals for instance gold and titanium.

Since titanium is not a precious metal, jewelry made from it are among the most affordable available. In fact you can purchase rings of basic design for under a hundred dollars, making them an extremely good buy.

One characteristic that you must be aware of when purchasing a titanium ring is that in most cases they can not be resized. In some cases jewelers may be able to size up by a very small amount but it is safer to assume that the size of ring you buy is the one you are going to have to keep. By the same token it is important to know what grade of titanium your ring is made of because in an emergency situation not all grades can be cut off very easily.

Titanium Jewelry for Men at Ridiculously Low Prices! While Supplies Last!

With all of the potential for scams concerning loose diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

The vast selection is one of the ideal things about buying online. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. Be very careful when you decide to fork over all that cash to someone who you just met!

Learn as much as you possibly can about diamonds before deciding to buy. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds on sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about synthetic diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

Find the greatest selection and most affordable prices on diamond jewelry.

Welcome to Silver Bracelet News

Silver Bracelet News is about more than silver bracelets. It's about jewelry design and fashion, jewelry making and supplies, jewelry care and repair. You'll find tips to help you select the best pieces of jewelry for you. You will learn how to properly care for them so that they last you a long, long time. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy. :-)


Sponsors

Great Jewelry Deals

Buyz.com Jewelry Superstore