Take Good Care of Your Artisan Made Jewellery

Beautiful jewelry deserves the best care. After all, you’ll get a lot of pleasure from wearing your pieces of artisan made jewellery, and taking good care of it ensures that you’ll get many years of enjoyment in wearing your gemstone rings, gemstone pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and even barrettes. These tips can help you preserve the beauty of artisan made jewellery so that it always looks its best.

Invest in Good Storage Solutions

The most important thing you can do for jewelry crafted by artisans is to store it properly between wearing it. A typical jewelry box is not necessarily the best place to store artisan made jewellery. Instead, use these storage solutions.

Gemstone Rings

Keep precious rings in soft cloth bags or wrap each ring separately in acid-free paper or cloth. Many semiprecious stones are soft and can be scratched or damaged if they come into contact with metal or with harder gemstones. Harder precious gems, such as diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, can scratch other jewelry if they’re not wrapped or cushioned.

Gemstone Pendants

Wrap gemstone pendants in soft cloth or acid free tissue paper to protect them from scratching and to protect their settings from tarnish. In many cases, it’s best to remove the pendant from its chain to avoid tangling. If you choose to leave the pendant on its chain or cord, carefully wrap the chain around a folded piece of acid free paper to keep it from tangling and knotting. Never hang items on chains. The weight of the pendant can put stress on the clasp or chain and weaken them.

Earrings

Store earrings in small, separate bags, preferably pushed through a cloth-lined piece of cardboard. This will help keep the earrings together without allowing them to rub against each other and scratch the stones or metal.

Barrettes

Clean barrettes carefully before storing them to remove any residue from oils or hair care products. Clip pairs over a piece of acid free paper to keep them from rubbing against other and scratching each other. Store each pair in a separate small cloth bag or wrap them in soft cloth to protect them from damage.

Bracelets

Store bangle bracelets in soft cloth to protect them from scratches and damage. Carefully wrap chains around folded, acid-free paper to keep them from tangling and knotting.

When you care for your artisan made jewellery pieces properly, you’ll get a lifetime of wear from them. It only takes a few minutes to put each piece away properly, and the time is well-spent in preserving your beautiful gems.

Give Artisan Made Jewellery A Place in Your Jewelry Box

Most people have no trouble defining the difference between fine jewelry and costume jewelry, but when it comes to defining jewelry items that fall between the two, it’s harder to find a consensus. In the jewelry industry, there are two terms used that fit the mid-priced niche between costume and fine jewelry: bridge jewelry and artisan made jewellery. What’s the difference between them and how do you tell one from the other?

Some Definitions

Fine Jewelry: gemstone rings, bracelets, pendants, barrettes and other adornments made with high quality gemstones and fine metals by skilled craftsman. These one-of-a-kind pieces transcend fashion trends and are designed to become heirlooms, handed down from one generation to the next.

Costume Jewelry: Rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry pieces that are mass-produced of base metals and synthetic gemstones or plastic. They are trendy and “disposable” but not necessarily “cheap.” They run the gamut from inexpensive plastic barrettes stamped in sheets to designer necklaces, pendants and earrings created by such names as Chanel, Monet and Dior.

Bridge Jewelry: Meant to be a bridge between inexpensive costume jewelry and high-priced fine jewelry, bridge jewelry is generally made of a precious metal, including sterling silver and gold-fill, and is set with semi-precious gemstones, crystals and pearls. Gemstone rings and gemstone pendants made with turquoise, opals, alexandrite, tiger-eye and other semi-precious stones often fit this category. Bridge jewelry is most often mass-produced and sold at fashion boutiques and better department stores.

Artisan Made Jewellery: Sometimes considered a segment of the bridge jewelry market, artisan made jewellery has one major difference that sets it apart from the typical items that are mass-produced in factories. Each piece is carefully crafted by hand using precious metals and semi-precious gemstones or pearls, and is either one-of-a-kind or one of a very limited edition. Since these pieces are not necessarily designed to appeal to a mass market, they often feature a distinctive style that really allows the wearer to express his or her individual style. The unique style can raise their value far above the intrinsic value of the materials.

Artisan made jewellery like gemstone rings, bangle bracelets, dangle earrings and stamped barrettes are affordable, high quality jewelry items that deserve a place in your fashion wardrobe. You’ll find a wide selection of finely made jewelry crafted by artisans and skilled craftsmen from around the world when you shop online for beautiful jewelry.

Tis the Season for Artisan Made Jewellery

Don’t look now but it’s that time of year again. While it may seem that the retailers are rolling out the Christmas decorations earlier and earlier each year, chances are there’s at least one person on your shopping gift list for whom you need every extra second of buying time. There’s also a good chance that you’ll find exactly the right gift of artisan made jewellery for every hard-to-buy gift recipient on your Christmas wish list. Not sure what to buy? Here are some suggestions that just might please even the pickiest person on your gift list.

Gemstone Rings

Cocktail rings are the height of fashion this season, and you’ll find some stunning gemstone rings in cocktail settings that are sure to please. Look for birthstones in a variety of cuts and settings, or semiprecious stones in rings designed to fit an index finger or even a thumb. The only rule for cocktail gemstone rings this season is that there are no rules. Big and flashy is in, so go for the gusto.

Gemstone Pendants

Mix and match gemstone rings with gemstone pendants to create a distinctive set. One of the niftiest artisan made jewellery trends is to wear a pendant and ring with matching settings and different stones. It’s a charming, eclectic look that works beautifully with almost any style of dress.

Shoulder Duster Earrings

Got a free spirit on your gift list? Nothing pleases the Bohemian soul quite like a pair of long, dangly earrings. Shoulder duster earrings with tiny gemstones and crystals on silver chains never quite go out of style, and they’re back with a bang for the holiday season. They’re the perfect gift for the woman who has a free-wheeling, flirtatious spirit.

Bangle Bracelets

Ethnic jewelry is sure to please just about any woman on your gift list this holiday season, and nothing says ethnic quite the same way that bangle bracelets do. They’re available in a huge range of styles, colors and motifs, from thick cuffs engraved with tribal patterns to slender bangles meant to be worn in multiples.

Barrettes

Barrettes are not just for little girls. Big girls appreciate them, too. The right barrettes and hair jewelry can be the perfect finishing touch for any outfit. Shop around to find engraved, filigree or gemstone barrettes that will suit just about any woman’s style.

Artisan made jewellery is always a welcome gift. Distinctive, fresh and always up-to-date, it’s the ideal gift for even the hardest to please women on your gift list.

Artisan Made Jewellery Gifts for All Your Favorite Women: A Guide for Guys

It may seem early to be thinking about holiday giving, but those months are creeping up on us. In fact, this is the perfect time to be ordering gifts of artisan made jewellery for all the special women on your holiday gift-giving list. Once upon a time, it was considered rude to give gifts of jewelry to ladies unless you had an intimate relationship with them. Those rules don’t really apply when it comes to artisan made jewellery, which is often an affordable and very welcome alternative to impersonal cheap jewelry from the department store. If you’re not sure what kind of handmade jewelry would be most appropriate for the special women in your life, these suggestions can help you choose gifts that each of these special people will be sure to appreciate.

For Your Big Sister

You’ll win the perceptive brother of the year award when you choose a gift from an assortment of gemstone pendants for your big sister. Make it easy on yourself by checking out her jewelry box to see if she prefers big flashy pendants or smaller, more delicate pieces. Whatever her style, you’re sure to find gemstone pendants in her birthstone that will suit her perfectly.

For Your Preteen Daughter

Want to see daddy’s little girl light up with pure joy? Artisan made jewellery isn’t just beautiful – it’s deliciously grown up. Real gemstone rings are a very special way to say, “I can see you’re growing up” to your little girl. Make the gift extra special by choosing a semi-precious stone with a special meaning – a moonstone for your very creative little artist to court inspiration, for example, or a lovely green peridot which increases strength and vitality for your athletic, competitive daughter.

For Your Bohemian, Creative Cousin

Nothing says, “I get you – and I love you the way you are” like a pair of deliciously crafted earrings made of sparkling gemstones and delicate silver chains. Every few years, the fashion mavens declare that shoulder duster earrings and chandelier earrings are back in style – but creative young women know the truth. They never really go out of style, especially when they’re part of a collection of beautiful, hand-crafted artisan made jewellery. Make it even more special by including a pair of matching bangle bracelets.

For Your Little Sister

Little girls start appreciating hand-crafted, artisan made jewellery at an early age, but rings, bracelets and pendants aren’t always appropriate gifts for the youngest women in your life. Look for delicately crafted barrettes for her to wear in her hair. You’ll find very affordable gemstone barrettes, stamped barrettes and other hair jewelry alongside gemstone rings and other handcrafted artisan made jewellery at your favorite online jewelry sites.

Artisan Made Jewellery for All Your Many Moods

Among the most popular articles about artisan made jewellery online are “trends” articles – the type that tell you this year, it’s all about skinny bracelets or bold, colorful pendants or beads strung on silver chains. And while that might be helpful for the trendy and fashion-conscious, it actually is contrary to the very essence of artisan made jewellery – its individuality and uniqueness. When you buy a piece of hand-crafted jewelry, you are literally purchasing a one-of-a-kind item that is the embodiment of the artisan’s creative vision. If you want to be unique, why would you then obfuscate the beauty by following a trend?

Therein lies the conundrum of buying “trendy artisan made” pieces. Of course, there will be trends and fashions. And following the trends or choosing jewelry that’s in fashion this season doesn’t negate the creative vision of the artists who make the jewelry. They each bring their own unique point of view to a popular material or a style that’s suddenly in demand. The trend may be for bold, quirky necklaces and Flintstones beads, but there are limitless ways to interpret that trend. Necklaces made of oversized faceted beads have a completely different look and feel than necklaces crafted of carefully chosen and polished gemstones even though they both fit the general trend.

That’s the essence of choosing trendy, fashionable artisan made jewellery – finding pieces that stretch the trend without breaking it and show off your own quirky, delightful, delicate and beautiful personality. Not sure how to do that? Consider some of these suggestions for ways to take a trend and make it your own.

Gemstone Rings

From faceted birthstones to polished, enormous cabochons, gemstone rings are a major player in fashion jewelry this year. The trend is giving jewelry designers a wide range of fun interpretations to play with, from swirl settings to stunning semi-precious stones that really show off their beauty in larger cabochon cuts. Lapis lazuli, chalcedony and lace agates are examples of gemstones that seldom make it into the fashion jewelry lines because their unique natural characteristics make it impossible to offer a “standard” look. Choose offbeat gemstones and mix them with settings that suit your personality and make you feel gorgeous.

Pendants and Charms

Pendants are another major artisan made jewellery trend this year, and another trend that is very easy to personalize and make your own. The length for necklaces this year is breastbone, but the pendant can be just about anything that strikes your fancy. One of the most exotic looks is the perfume bottle pendant – a very grown-up and sophisticated version of bubble pendants. Others include stamped metal pendants and with matching charms for bracelets.

Don’t be afraid of trends in artisan made jewellery. Consider them an opportunity to show off your personality and your own personal style.

Trends in Artisan Made Jewellery for the Holidays

Artisan made jewellery has made a comeback in a big way over the past couple of years. Gone are the days when the only jewelry you saw on the runways was major bling from big name jewelry stores. These days, the models are far more likely to be sporting earrings and bracelets and pendants that have been lovingly hand-crafted. If you’re looking for the hottest fashion jewelry trends to top off your outfits this year, these are some of the trends you should be looking for in artisan made jewellery.

Layered Pendants

Last year, pendants were long, clunky and funky, featuring gemstones and beads in fanciful colors and patterns. Those pendants are still in fashion, but they’re only part of the story. They range in size from miniature charms to oversize beads and gemstones, often in multiple. The big news in jewelry styling? Layers of necklaces in different lengths all worn together to create a fashion statement.

Long, Fabulous Earrings

Length is still a big factor in artisan made jewellery, but this year it’s all about the earrings. Shoulder dusters and chandeliers are the next big thing and you’ll see them everywhere from the runways to the office. Look for delicate silver chains with crystal beads in an array of colors to go with every outfit in your wardrobe.

Go for Baroque

The last few years have featured conservative jewelry – button earrings, slim bracelets and understated necklaces. This year, baroque is busting out all over. You’ll see news anchors sporting oversize, chunky pink beads, jewel-encrusted bangle bracelets and gemstone rings that make the crown jewels look sedate.

Shine It On

Forget the antiqued metal finishes. This year, it’s all about the shine and shimmer. It doesn’t matter what the metal is as long as it’s polished to a mirror-bright finish. From the office to the dance floor, you’ll be seeing a lot more flashy, fabulous metals polished to the chrome finishes.

Stamp It Out

Hand-stamped metal jewelry is still big this season, and you’ll see lots of examples. Mother’s pendants, hand-crafted charms and commemorative artisan crafted jewellery pieces are destined to outlast the trends and become hand-me-down heirlooms.

More than anything else, this season’s biggest trend is the hand-crafted look. This year, look for artisan made jewellery that looks like it was crafted by hand. It’s a welcome and refreshing change from the years of cookie-cutter costume jewelry trends.

Five Household Remedies to Clean Your Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry always looks its best if you wear it daily. It picks up a warm sheen, and the exposure to the open air tends to prevent corrosion and tarnish. There are times, though, that your silver jewelry may need cleaning, whether because it’s been stored away and developed tarnish or from a buildup of dirt and oils from daily wear. Most jewelers advise against using chemical cleaners on silver rings, silver bracelets, silver chains and other silvery jewelry. They can corrode and pit the surface of the metal and destroy any finish the piece may have. There are, however, a number of ways household remedies you can use to make your silver pieces gleam like new.

The Tin Foil Method

It sounds like magical thinking, but it really works. Mix warm water with table salt until the water won’t absorb anymore salt. Line a bowl or pan with aluminum foil and pour the salt water into it. Add your silver chains, silver pendants or other silver jewelry and let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rub gently with a soft, non-abrasive cloth to remove any loosened soil or tarnish that remains. Fair warning: do not use this method with silver jewelry set with opals, pearls and other soft stones that can be damaged by water.

Soap and Water

One of the best cleaning methods for plain silver jewelry is plain old soap and water. Choose a gentle washing up liquid or dishwashing liquid and add it to warm water. Dip a soft cloth into the soapy water and gently clean your silver jewelry. You can use a bit of energy on the rubbing – just be sure you’re using a soft, non-abrasive cloth, like an old, worn T-shirt.

Vinegar

Silver earrings, silver barrettes and other silver jewelry worn in or around the hair sometimes collect a build-up of hairspray which can resist other methods of cleaning. Try this method, often used by beauty pageant contestants to clean their silver tiaras and crowns. Wet a corner of a soft, non-abrasive cloth with plain white vinegar and gently rub until the hairspray dissolves. Rinse with clear water.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth will work just the way that vinegar does. Just wet a corner of a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently rub until the hairspray or cosmetic residue dissolves.

Spray Bottle

Silver chains can be time-consuming and difficult to clean, but this method makes cleaning your chains a breeze. Mix up a cup of vinegar with a cup of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Loop your silver chains over a broomstick between two chairs or a hanger and put newspaper or a towel on the floor. Spray the chains liberally with the vinegar solution and let it drip off, taking dirt and grease with it.

Silver jewelry is always most beautiful when it’s clean. These methods of cleaning cost you practically nothing and will clean the jewelry safely.