How Cufflinks Came About ?

By Mary Michaels.

The 17th century witnessed the dawn of cuff links as an official symbol of fashion, social prestige and luxury. Everyone in the western world was fastening their shirtsleeves with ribbon or ordinary strings that time. The first few pieces of cuff links were made as fairly simple buttons, linked together by a small chain, and they were made of glass. A century hence, a new jewelry material was introduced-glass paste which was often used to form little gems.

Still another century and cufflinks became a part and parcel of men's accessory. New production techniques were also introduced. Electroplating and electro-metallurgy permitted more freedom for elaborate designs in gold and silver. These techniques also provided for the mass production of cufflinks making it available to the masses. Cufflinks were before accessories of affluent persons but the 19th century made cufflinks accessible to the steadily increasing bourgeoisie. Cheaper materials like metal alloys and imitation jewelries were used to create cheaper cufflinks. During the 1860s, famous jewelers like Child & Child in London and Krementz & Company in New York have modified their practice and targeted the masses and middle class as their cufflinks market. They sold each pair in a price that was just right for anyone to afford.

The French cuff, or the double cuff, shirt became stylish dresses for men in 1840s. This trend produced a higher demand for cufflinks. By 1887 Tiffany, Cartier and Faberge-all famous jewelry designers of that era-spontaneously invested on this trend and started designing different cufflinks designs to suit different occasions and mood. Different materials were used. Gold, mother of pearl, enamel, mosaics and other precious stones were utilized. These prestigious jewelers were then creating works of art that can be worn by men. Since then, shirts that were produced included slits and button holes which provided function and not just accessory to cufflinks.

Also during the 1920s, the Boyer company introduced the first rolling button, or the rod-type cufflink system. This type of cufflink is still being used today. They also mass produced tiepins and art inspired cufflinks made of enamel which took the male accessory a step further. And then another bigger step for cufflinks was made when women started wearing them during the early years of the 20th century. The freedom and vitality that was afforded to women allowed them to participate in the cufflinks industry, adorning their sleeves with fashion accessories which were previously acclimated to men.

A low point for the cufflink trade came during the beginning of the 20th century when shirt companies started mass producing shirts that already have buttons attached to their cuffs. This low point further challenged the cufflinks producers to create more elegant, classy and rare cufflinks. Cufflinks then started to take on a different image: a man who wears them is the quintessence of business and evening style. Van Cleef & Arpels started inventing designs-the channel setting-where stones are the primary designs but no metal support is visible. These, by far, are the most jeweled cufflinks that are still being produced up until today.

The rock and roll trend during the Beatles era inspired cufflinks that were made available in the market. Cartier exclusively produce heart shaped cufflinks, Bulgari perfected the diamond heart shaped cufflinks with blue enamel background, David Webb miniatured animal designs and Dinh Van incorporated a "zen" image into the industry. Every design that can be imagined was inscribed in cufflinks. The options were endless.

A Cufflink Museum in Conway, New Hampshire can be visited. It showcases the multihued history of cufflinks and boasts of 50,000 pairs of cufflinks from 212 countries all over the globe. It has been by far the most prominent cufflink museum in the world. Tourists, historians and cufflinks connoisseurs can follow in this museum the evolution of cufflinks over the centuries with the augmentation of technology, art, music and fashion.

For whatever purpose-showcasing individual style, imbibing elegance, or simply exhibiting your own personality-you can definitely find a cufflink that is a best match to fit your need. It is given: cufflinks are always, and always will be, the most indispensable wrist accessory for men that will embellish more sleeves for more generations to come.

Advantages of Buying Handmade Jewellery

By Rebecca Leeson .

Whether you are looking for a unique and lovely gift for someone who is important to you, or whether you just want to find a piece of jewellery that matches your style and personality, why not look into commissioning a piece of handmade jewellery? When most people think of jewellery, they often end up choosing mass produced jewellery that is so common in the high street shops. Often, mass produced jewellery not only has quality issues, but you're also likely to find that everyone else is wearing the same version of it. So why not take a moment and consider getting something much more personal?

Firstly, you'll often find that purchasing handmade jewellery will get you a piece of jewellery that is of significantly higher quality than you'll find in the high street shops. When you are dealing with a reputable jewellery maker, you're going to get the materials that you're paying for. In many cases, this is visible right away; for instance, when someone who is working by hand uses white gold, they can generally ensure a piece that has a clearer, truer colour to the metal than a mass produced piece sometimes has. If you want a piece of jewellery that will last you a lifetime, you want something that was made by hand.

Another reason to look into purchasing handcrafted jewellery is down to price. Too many people have the idea that handmade jewellery is prohibitively expensive, but this is not always true. When you purchase a piece from someone who is doing the work on their own, they will often have significantly lower overheads than a large company would need to deal with. So although the piece will take many hours instead of a few minutes to produce, the price can often still be lower; if a piece only passes through one pair of hands, only one person needs to make a profit and you can rest assured the quality will be high.

You should also consider how unique and creative your jewellery can be. Have you always wanted jewellery that allows you to stand out and that suits your personality? Do you find that this year's crop of fashion jewellery does nothing for you at all? Avoid that by requesting a personal piece that will always look good on you. Do you have a love of elegant Victorian designs, or do you love loose and modern geometric shapes? Do you need earrings that dangle and shine or do you prefer studs that have been worked very delicately? Getting bespoke jewellery is a good way to make sure you have exactly what you're looking for.

There are far too many people out there who simply "make do" with the jewellery that they can find rather than looking for a unique piece that can be made especially for them. Google 'handmade jewellery' today to find that exclusive piece of handmade jewellery you'll always love instead of making do with something you merely like.

How to Buy Fashion Jewelry Rings ?

By Chris Deltise.

Fashion jewelry never goes out of style but frequently when a new style comes out many replicas and knock offs hit the market trying to cash in on the latest trends. Many people purchase what they believe is high-end designer jewelry when in fact they are buying poor quality items made from cheap materials. If you want to invest your hard earned cash in genuine items whom can you trust?

The most important part is to shop at retailers with proven reputations. Go to well-known stores and retail chains that sell brand name fashion jewelry items. Stores like this depend on the reputation they have for only selling high quality brand name items. There is a lot less risk of being conned than when you buy from a shop that is not well known. Also check out the label on the item itself as added assurance.

If you design taste are for something more original in the way of fashion jewelry rings visit local jewelry designer shops. These types of places usually sell items they have made themselves so you can be certain of buying original pieces of fashion jewelry.

Shopping online is something many people do these days and you can look at larger variety of jewelry rings than you could locally. Use your common sense and on sites that offer seller feedback, like eBay, check out the sellers reputation.

Most importantly read and make sure you fully understand the returns policy so that if the item is not what you expected or desired you can return it for a refund. Also make sure the site offers secure card processing to ensure your information is safe. Common sense is ultimately the most vital aspect in buying fashion jewelry rings, or even anything where you are parting with money.

How to Recognize Fake Gold

By Drake Wildman

Here are various ways to differentiate fake gold from real gold. I have outlined some of those ways below.

Price test: The first test of real gold is to do a market survey of the current price of Gold. If the gold item you have is far cheaper then, that may be a sign to investigate more.

Visual test: This can be very deceiving but there is no way to recognize real gold without a visual test. The question then is "How does real gold look like?" First of all, look for some kind of marking. Every genuine gold has a marking showing the karat value. They usually appear as 14k, 18k, 22k and 24k. The karat system is used to express the percentage of pure gold in the item. The higher the karat value, the higher the percentage of gold. This means that 24k is pure gold, 18k is about 75% gold, 14k is about 59% gold while 10k is about 42% gold. Sometimes one may see GP or EP beside the markings. This means that the item is plated with gold. It is just covered with gold. This is not real gold because the gold plating may just be a very thin layer.

It is important to note that gold can come in different colors when they are mixed with different compounds. The examples include white gold which is produced when nickel is mixed with gold; Palladium used to create white gold for people allergic to nickel; green gold when silver is mixed with gold; and pink to red gold when different quantities of copper are mixed with gold.

Real gold has a percentage of sheen but should not be very shiny. When a gold jewelry is extremely shiny, it may not be real gold.

Acid test: The reaction of the item to nitric acid or hydrochloric acid will help to determine whether it is genuine or not. Real gold is not affected or does not form a reaction with nitric acid or hydrochloric acid. Most metals that are usually portrayed as gold when tested in hydrochloric acid form a reaction whereas real gold does not, that is why this has been established as the real test for gold.

Reputable Jeweler: It is always advisable to buy gold from a reputable jeweler because you can always request a test, check the markings and find some good advice about the product which you would not have got.

Discoloration: Fake gold, when worn can either cause discoloration of the skin or discoloration of the jewelry itself. Many people use this method as the simplest way of testing for real gold. And for those that have a warranty, they are simply returned when found to be fake.

Rust: Fake gold rusts in humid temperature, and also over time while real gold does not.
Bite the gold: Gold is soft and when bitten leaves a small mark. Fake gold is very strong and when bitten does not leave a mark.

Weight: Gold has a good amount of density. Put it in water and see the quantity of water that it displaces. The more density it has, then gold is likely present.

What is the Best Way to Clean Silver Jewelry?

By Sarah Carnegie

Most of us love to wear silver jewelry. One may choose delicate filigree pieces or chunky tribal pieces and everything in between, to suit one's taste. But it is soon noticed that the once shiny and lustrous silver pieces have become black or have tarnished, taking away its beauty completely. So what is the best way to clean silver jewelry?

Why Do Silver Get Black and Tarnish?

Let us first look at the reasons behind this tarnishing and blackening of silver jewelry. The sliver pieces blacken as and when they come in contact with water, perspiration, soap and chlorine. Other reasons for the blackening are the presence of humidity, sulfides and pollution in the air.

While we can do nothing about the kind of air it is exposed to when we wear it, there are a few things that can take care of it while it is being stored. Wipe the piece with a soft cloth before storing it. Remember to store it in a dry and dark place. It would be better if you could store it wrapped in tissue paper and sealed in zip lock pouches.

Even with all the care that you may bestow on your silver jewelry you can not protect it entirely from tarnishing or blackening. You will need to clean your silver jewelry periodically to maintain its beauty and shine. There are many ways to do it.

The Best Ways to Keep Your Silver Clean

The best way to keep your silver jewelry in good condition is to shine it with a soft cloth. Normally a good buffing with a soft cloth is enough to get back the old shine. More over it is the best way as it does not remove the patina from the silver pieces.

Another good home remedy to clean your silver jewelry is to use the mundane toothpaste. Yes you can use a non abrasive tooth paste to bring back the shine on your silver pieces. You need to use a very soft bristled toothbrush to clean it. Once you have buffed it wash it clean with water. Wipe it dry and use the Sunshine cloth to dry it and buff it.

You can even use some baking powder and hot water to clean your precious jewelry. Line a basin with aluminum foil and place the pieces on it. Dust the pieces liberally with baking soda and then pour hot boiling water over it. Keep turning the pieces; remove them after a maximum of two minutes. Wash with clean water, dry and buff them.

As a last resort to clean really stubborn tarnish you can opt for cleaning fluids that are available in the market. Use them only if nothing else works on the tarnish. These dips take away the patina of the silver pieces and the pieces acquire a too shiny look. Don't leave your silver jewelry in the dip. Just dip it in and pull it out. These commercial solutions can harm soft gemstones. Remember to wash them clean and then dry and buff them.

Jewelry Trends - 4 Easy Ways to Add Fresh Flair to an Old Outfit

By Jamie Jefferson.

Nothing adds fresh flair to an old outfit faster than updated jewelry, and the new jewelry trends allow a lot of room for creativity and personal expression.

Here are four easy and inexpensive ways to spice up your wardrobe by adding new jewelry styles.

New-Hued Pearls
Pearls have always been a natural choice for women who want to add class to their outfit. This season, the pearls are taking on a whole new look. Yellow, gold and other autumn colors are making their appearance in pearls. Chocolate brown pearls are also a huge new trend.

The new hues don't stop in the warm shades. Kiwi, raspberry, gray and champagne are all very popular pearl colors, as well. These colors are being used individually or together for unique necklace looks.

Stacked Bracelets
If pearl necklaces aren't your thing, you will like the next popular trend: stacked bracelets. The more bracelets, the better. It doesn't matter what material they are made from: Gold, silver, pearls, and leather are all being used together or in groups of similar colors.

The best thing about stacks of bracelets is that you can take the look in several different ways. You can look for sleek and sophisticated bracelets for a classy look. You can find local artisan bracelets if you want a more bohemian and trendy look. Or you can try chunky beaded bracelets paired with sleek, thin metal bracelets. This jewelry trend lends itself well to mixing and matching, so have fun with it.

Men's Style Watches
Women's watches are always popular, but, this season, the trend in women's watches is men's watches. We're seeing watches that are chunkier than in previous years. Watch bands are available in many different types of leather, as well as some that incorporate metal and stone elements.

Chandelier Earrings
Chandelier earrings are a great way to lengthen the look of your neck and add drama to your look. Chandeliers have come and gone when it comes to fashion, but now they are very popular again. The earrings have a single post and then a long chain with either a drop pearl or another type of jewel. They can either have a single stone or an intricate multi-chain design that are set up similar to real chandeliers.

Have fun this season mixing and matching these new jewelry styles into your existing wardrobe. By splurging on just a couple of new jewelry pieces each season, you can take even a simple black dress to the cutting edge of fashion.

Tips to Buy Perfect Diamond Earrings

By Larry Brin

Diamond earrings are the first choice of woman who is fond of earrings because diamonds are classic and never go out of style. You can wear diamond earring when are out in night or during the daytime when you are at your work. But purchasing a diamond earring is a very daunting task and you must be very careful.

Here are few guidelines which will help you in purchasing a perfect diamond earring.

Before purchasing your earring you must consider the style. You can find wide variety of styles in earring such as diamond stud earrings, hoop earrings, fancy stud earrings and many more. But before selecting any one of these styles you must think of your partner's taste and preference. Another thing which you must think of before selecting the style is the hair. If she has long hair then always remember that diamond stud earrings will not be seen. And if she is on phone a lot then dangling earring will hurt her. If you are looking for simple style then chandelier earrings are the best example of simple earrings and if you want to present something different and classic then diamond stud earrings are the best.

You must also think of the metal and if you are thinking of yellow gold then you there is no need to buy colourless diamond because the yellow colour of the gold will be seen in the earrings. You can also find earrings made of gemstone, beads, and silver. But before selecting the metal of your earring you must think of your partner's choice also.

And at last you must also think of your budget before buying your diamond earring because diamonds are expensive and purchasing a diamond earring means two or three month's salary. Therefore it is good to set your budget beforehand. And if your budget is low then you can buy your earring from online stores. By surfing the internet you can find many online stores offering high quality of diamond earring at reasonable prices.