Fashion and Jewelery Accessory Blog

Gemstones – An Introduction For You To Make An Informed Choice
 by: Rose Mary

Gemstones are mineral crystals or organic materials that have been cut and polished into beautiful items by skilled craftsmen. The minerals are naturally formed, solid, inorganic chemical compounds found in rocks. Each mineral has a fixed chemical composition and regular atomic structure, which gives it the specific hardness and color it possesses. Many natural crystals are attractive enough to be displayed. However, most of these crystals are faceted and polished to enhance their appearance.

Few gems, which are called organics, come from plants and animals. These gems include ivory, amber and pearl. There is a category of gemstones known as synthetics. They do not have any natural origin and are produce in laboratories. These artificial gems are cut to resemble the real ones. They have the same physical properties and chemical composition with natural gemstones. Gemstones are, typically, measured by their weight in carats.

To be considered a gemstone, it has to be rare, beautiful and durable. Gemstones, in its natural crystalline form, are rare, which means that they could only be found in certain parts of the world. Their scarcity makes them valuable in the market. The color of the minerals must be attractive, so that the gemstones will appear beautiful. Gemstones must be durable, which means that they should be hard enough to withstand scratches and damage.

The most valuable characteristic of gemstones is the color. Colorful gemstones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires are highly priced. Diamonds, though colorless, are made beautiful and brilliant by skillful forms of cutting. White light is made up of a combination of the spectrum of colors. When white light falls on a gemstone, some of the colors are absorbed while the rest are reflected back. Those colors that are reflected are what we see as color of the gemstone. As each mineral interacts with light differently, a wide variety of colors of gemstones is produced.

The physical properties of gemstones are their hardness, their specific gravity, and the way they break. These properties depend largely on the atomic structure and the chemical bonding of the stone. The hardness of a gemstone is measured by how well it resists scratching. The specific gravity or density of a gemstone is derived by assessing its weight base on the weight of an equal volume of water. Gemstones can break in two ways, either by cleaving or fracture. The way they break depends on the atomic structure of the stone. Gemstones that cleave will break along the planes of weak atomic bonding. Those that fracture will break along a surface which has no relation to its atomic structure.

Gem cutting is a form of art which is done to produce finely cut faceted gems. This art contributes to the beauty of the gemstone and its value. There has been much progress made in gem cutting and polishing methods. These improved methods, coupled with an increased knowledge of the way gemstones responds to light, have resulted in marked improvements made on the appearance of gemstones.

Gemologists are fascinated by gemstones. They study each gemstone in-depth, both in its natural state and after it has been cut and polished. Gemologists are able identify every individual gemstone, as well as distinguish between a natural stone and a fake one.

Since early times, gemstones are considered precious and are well sought after. In the past, gemstones are known to represent wealth and power. They are used not only as jewels to decorate crowns and robes but also as amulets, talisman and charms. Nowadays, gemstones are not only for the wealthy, but rather they are appreciated by anyone who finds them beautiful and charming. Gemstones are commonly used to make creative jewelry pieces which are widely worn as accessories for personal adornment. Gemstones are highly treasured by people from all walks of life because of their unfading beauty with time. Being captivated by the timeless beauty of gemstones, most people desire to possess them. Hence, some people buy gemstones for collection purposes, while others buy gemstone jewelry for personal adornment or as gifts for friends. Gems that represent birthstones are commonly used as birthday presents. Due to the wide variety of gemstone jewelry items available in the market, there are plenty of gift ideas to choose from.

More information on gemstones jewelry can be found in:- http://www.internetbizcenter.com/gemstone/index.htm

Swarovski – How To Recognize One
 by: Stan Smith

The magic of Swarovski crystal is ever fresh and has an immeasurable appeal. The bright sparkle of a crystal has always been a source of fascination for many. Swarovski has a world wide presence and the crystals it produces and launches are of very high quality in a wide range of styles, designs and directions. Crystals manufactured as per contemporary trends are consistently translated into product lines such as watches, jewelry, gift items, accessories, home decor products and collectible figurines with many new innovations and novelties every year. Swarovski, the world’s leading manufacturer of cut crystal was founded by Daniel Swarovski.

The success story of Swarovski is a hundred years old. However, the success story began in 1976 when Swarovski launched its sparkling animal figurines which became the most sought after in a very minimal time. As a result, a Swarovski collectors’ society was formed in 1987 representing about 500,000 members representing about 30 countries across the globe. This society provides a common platform to crystal enthusiasts all over the world. It also facilitates collectors to come together and enjoy exclusive privileges like access to annual limited editions of specially produced collectors’ items and exchanging experiences. Swarovski supports this society by organizing special events, meetings and trips. The society also launches its own “numbered edition pieces” - Eagle in 1995, Peacock in 1998, Wild Horses in 2001 and the Bull in 2004. Swarovski releases a limited edition masterpiece every three years and normally number about 10,000.

Swarovski crystal components are regarded as the best machine cut and polished crystal beads in the world made through high quality processes. However, the demand for luxury items unfortunately creates many imitators. The imitators and their products are strewn all over the Internet and can be seen at every bead show. Swarovski creates crystals with a custom made special compound that imitators have failed to duplicate. This compound adds to the incredible brilliance of Swarovski crystals. The intricate and delicate color palette is another property that differentiates a Swarovski crystal component from others.

With a host of crystal beads and components in the marketplace, is there a way to tell a Swarovski crystal component from the others? The following are a few tips that help determine genuine Swarovski crystals.

1. You will never find Swarovski crystals for sale that are strung. They are always sold loose.

2. Analyze the genuine Swarovski packaging. Depending on the size, bulk packages range from 10 gross to 1/2 gross in branded and sealed envelopes. The latest Swarovski bulk packages are sealed with an authentic silver toned hologram that says “CRYSTALLIZED.”

3. Swarovski crystals are always perfectly uniform. Owing to the machine cut, each crystal is the same. Look for the height, slope and width which should be consistent. Imitations being hand polished, they will not have the same uniform cut and the size and dimensions may vary from bead to bead.

4. Swarovski’s machinery is specialized and its crystals are precisely cut. All dimensions of a range of crystals are analyzed for light and reflective properties, modeled in 3D on a computer and the complex algorithms are then fed into the cutting machinery after being optimized. This complicated processes and sophisticated machinery in addition to the special compounding gives the Swarovski crystals their unique and fascinating brightness.

5. Similar to diamond faceting, Swarovski complex machinery facilitates each of its crystal to have its facet pointing up and meet exactly at the same point. No wonder a Swarovski crystal shines like a diamond.

6. Swarovski crystals always have a uniform surface luster and have no scratches. Most imitations scratches and swirl marks.

7. A Swarovski crystal comes without any bubbles in it. When you hold a crystal against light and find bubbles in it, be assured it is an imitation.

8. Due to the use of special glass compounds, a Swarovski crystal will always sparkle brighter than an imitation. Compare and check for yourself.

Always buy from reputed retailers and authentic Swarovski distributors. Be aware that many a retailers also display Swarovski (Swan) logo illegally. This swan logo is not to be used by Swarovski for selling beads or crystal components. It is only used for the Swarovski jewelry and gift line.

Swarovski Crystal Purse Evening Silver Handbag

My name is Stan Smith and my wife is Karen Michell Smith.

Bargains found by us is a very exclusive blog produced by my wife and I. She (we) love Swarovski Crystal on purses and handbags, together with highly stylized complementary jewelry and of course shoes, what more is there for a well matched outstandingly elegant woman? Updated every day with daily finds on the Internet. A blog for woman’s pleasure!

More on Swarovski Crystal at http://bargainsfoundby.us

Diamond – A Gemstone Of Love And Eternity
 by: Rose Mary

Diamond is a popular gemstone for all kinds of jewelry. Its incomparable hardness, superb luster and brilliant fire make it the most highly priced of all gems. Diamond is made up of pure carbon, however, it often contains traces of impurities such as nitrogen. Diamond is formed deep beneath the earth’s surface, at very high pressures and temperatures. Its name is obtained from the Greek word “adamas” meaning untamable or unconquerable. The name reflects very well the gemstone’s outstanding ability to withstand scratches. Diamond is the hardest natural substance known on earth. It is also known to be a good conductor of heat. This quality makes it cool to the touch.

Diamond has a very high refractive index as well as high dispersion. These characteristics of the diamond, which are further enhanced by skillful cutting techniques, contribute to the superb brilliance and fire it is known to possess. A well-cut diamond optimizes this refracting ability to maximize its brilliance. Hence, a finely cut faceted diamond gem is extremely beautiful and highly valuable. Furthermore, through the development of better cutting and polishing methods, diamond is constantly improving its brilliance as well as popularity.

Diamond’s quality and value are determined by four factors, which are called the “four Cs”. They are color, clarity, cut and carat. Diamonds are found in a variety of colors due to the presence of impurities. The pure white or colorless diamond is the most valuable and highly priced. Colored diamonds are called fancy diamonds. Their colors include yellow, brown, green, blue, pink and red. Pure, colorless diamonds are rare as most diamonds show some trace of yellowish or brownish tint. The more yellow a diamond, the less it is worth. The clarity grade of a diamond indicates how clear the diamond is. It shows the extent of the presence of flaws in the diamond. The flaws are mainly very tiny imperfections which can only be seen through magnification. The flaws can be internal or external. The internal flaws are called inclusions while the external ones are called blemishes. The clarity grade is based on the number, size, visibility and location of these inclusions and blemishes of the stone. The cut of a diamond is important as it affects the sparkle of the diamond. There are several cutting styles the cutter can choose to use. The choice of cut depends on the particular diamond and how the cutter thinks that the brilliance of the stone can be maximized. If a gemstone is well-cut, the beauty and worth of the gemstone is increased. Cutting may affect the toughness of the stone. Some errors in cutting may increase the stone’s vulnerability to break. Carat is the unit of weight used to measure the weight of a diamond. Diamonds are sold by the carat. The larger the diamond, the more costly it is. Diamonds are graded by the four C’s and these grades determine the cost of the diamond.

Diamonds mainly come from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Australia, Russia, USA, Brazil and Canada. It is reported that only about 20 per cent of mined diamonds are suitable to be used as gemstones. The rest are used for other industrial purposes. Diamonds are useful in other industries because of its quality in hardness. They are used in saws, dentist drills, surgical scalpels and as coatings for lenses. Due to its good heat conductivity, it is also used as heat sinks in electronic industries.

According to history, diamonds were used in suits of armor for great knights, and crowns of kings and queens. This gemstone was considered as a symbol of courage and invincibility. Besides, diamond was known to have magical powers. It was believed that the wearer of this gemstone would be endowed with superior strength, bravery and courage. In the past, diamonds were also regarded as talismans that could enhance the love of the husband for his wife. Nowadays, diamond is known to symbolize love, loyalty and courage. Most commonly, diamond is believed to represent eternity and love. Hence, many people usually choose this gemstone for wedding and engagement rings.

Gemstones are considered beautiful, rare and durable. The beauty of a gemstone is undiminished with time. A gemstone could sparkle as brightly many years from now. It has lasting value and is well liked by many. Hence, beautiful pieces of gemstone jewelry are created and widely used for personal adornment as well as gifts for friends and loved ones. Presenting these beautiful items as gifts is always well loved and cherished. Some people buy gems for the purpose of collecting them. They find these gems fascinating and enjoy having a collection of the pieces that they like.

Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April. As such, a piece of jewelry with this gemstone makes a perfect elegant birthday present for those who were born in that month. Diamond is also the anniversary stone for the 10th and 60th year. A piece of jewelry with this gemstone can also be a great anniversary present in these years. You will be amazed how this beautiful gemstone can be made into different jewelry items such as rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, brooches and pendants. With such a wide variety of items, you will never experience any shortage of gift ideas.

More information on diamond jewelry can be found in:-

http://www.internetbizcenter.com/gemstone/index.htm