June 2018 – Page 2 – Jewelry POC

Costume Jewelry Care Tips For Worn Out Costume Jewelry

Posted on June 17, 2018 by blogger

If you have old, worn out, seen better days costume jewelry just lying around gathering dust don’t throw it out. You can revitalize those dirty, outdated and broken pieces by following a few simple steps:

Worn out gold or silver plating:

Because typical costume jewelry plating is very thin it can eventually rub off from wear or become damaged from the use of harsh chemicals, creams, or perfumes. If this happens there are several options in gold and silver re-plating solutions that can be found online. Some are fairly simple and can be performed without the use of heat or electricity while others are a little more complex. I found one website in particular that offers a very good variety of plating options (e.g. immersion plating, pen plating) and general plating instructions for precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, and rhodium. It is www.shorinternational.com. Click on the contents and search box and then plating gateway. One word of caution: I would recommend buying only cyanide free plating solutions as cyanide is poisonous. For silver lovers there is one product that I have personally used that has worked well for me and it is called Silver Brite. This is an all in one cream that cleans, polishes, and re-plates worn silver on jewelry and other items. It is very easy to use and fairly inexpensive. Just rub the cream on with an applicator sponge or a Q-tip for small items and rub off with the buffing cloth that is included with the kit. The result is a clean, sparking silver finish.

Tarnished or dirty:

Cleaning costume jewelry is simple but choose your cleaner wisely. Only use a jewelry cleaner that specifically states that it is safe for costume jewelry and read the ingredients to make sure that it does not contain alcohol, acids, or ammonia because these can strip the gold or silver plate. Use a children’s soft bristle tooth brush for cleaning around costume jewelry stones. Its probably not be a good idea to immerse rhinestone jewelry because the stones can become unglued.

If your costume jewelry items are only lightly tarnished a good buffing with a soft dry jewelry cloth may do the trick. A good jewelry polish works great in restoring heavily tarnished items.

Loose or missing stones:

If a stone such as a cubic zirconia, plastic, or glass has become loose or fallen out a drop or two of super glue will do the trick. Just be careful not to use too much. You certainly don’t want the glue to leak out and cause the piece to stick to your skin or another object. Most of the time a single drop will suffice unless it is a very large stone in which case you may want to use two drops. If you cannot find the missing stone there are companies online that sell loose cz stones if you have a special chain or ring band you want to salvage. Simply do an internet search for cz stones.

Broken clasp:

If your necklace or bracelet has a broken clasp make sure it is the actual clasp that is broken. Be sure to check the jump ring which is a small metal ring with an open spot where the clasp attaches to the chain. If this is the problem it can be easily fixed. First identify what kind of clasp it is. There are several types (e.g. lobster clasp which is shaped like a lobster claw and has a tiny spring loaded lever, a magnetic clasp which is just as it sounds) then visit your local craft store or do a search online for jewelry clasps and you should find what you need. If the clasp is soldered on you will need to contact a jewelry repair professional.

Outdated:

If you simply want to add a new flair to your old costume jewelry pieces you can simply mix and match. If you have a pendant with sentimental value bring it to life with a more modern chain. Add new charms to your favorite bracelet or re-plate that old silver necklace with a shiny new gold finish. Be creative!

Choose The Best Military Jewelry Store

Posted on June 15, 2018 by blogger

There are many people who are very interested in keeping different forms of jewelry like that of Military Jewelry and the like. Well, you need to make a good research on the website in order to find it online. You would find lots of websites that gives you this type of jewelry at different prices. But you need to make sure that you get the best one for your and that too at the most reasonable price. You should try to get hold of a good Military Jewelry Store that showcases the different designs for you. You can be really very proud when you showcase it to your guests who arrive at your place. You should not stick to a particular website when you choose to buy one for you because you never know that you might be paying much money in that particular product than you would have got it from another website. So you need to be very alert about it. You can find lots of ancient jewelries online if you are able to make a good search on the Internet.

There are also different types of jewelry like Air Force jewelry or even childrens jewelry as well. You can also go for purchasing earrings and gold chains. So you should try to have a good look at the jewelry and then you can order it online by providing your full details. You would be glad to find your ordered product delivered to your specified address without any delay. Also you would find that the product has been carefully packed so as to avoid any scratches. You should make sure that you have provided all your information of your credit cards to a verified and genuine website. There are different jewelries and that too with unique designs that would suit your personality. So try to choose the best stores that would help you to get the best jewelry suiting your budget. You would definitely be able to get the best one if you are able to take some time for a good research in the market.

Shop Online For Murano Glass Jewelry

Posted on June 13, 2018 by blogger

Has Murano glass jewelry been your favorite style, but never gotten the opportunity to visit a store that offers a wide range of beaded jewelry at an affordable price? Thanks to the exposure that Cyberspace has provided every business with you could new shop for glass jewelry online. When you are shopping online, there are numerous advantages that you could benefit from rather than when you shop for the same in a brick and mortar store. Not only are the prices friendlier, the collection is much more extensive. So if you are in the market for buying Murano glass jewelry, dont look any further than from the source to receive one of a kind piece.

The kind of collection you could get in this line of jewelry is unsurpassed by any other line for you could get a glass pendant, glass necklace,or glass bead that would be just apt for any occasion. This truly eclectic collection would definitely make many heads turn when you sport them and attend an important social gathering.

Beaded jewelry also makes a wonderful gifting item too for any occasion to your loved ones. The exquisite glass bead collection and the glass necklace collection would definitely win many hearts and would want to buy more and more of the same in different colors. Finding Murano beaded jewelry has become easy thanks to the internet and are an item worth treasuring for ones lifetime. The hand-crafted glass jewelry bespeaks Italian tradition that dates back to centuries and yet remain an all time favorite of every woman.

Getting customized beaded jewelry like glass pendant, glass necklace, or bracelet lets you flaunt your style too. The unique feature of the turning and revolving ability of Murano glass bead is what catches the attention of one and all. Glass Jewelry Source is an online store that specializes in an entire range of Murano glass jewelry that is authentic in every aspect. Browse through the entire collection that the online store has on its display array and place your order online. Go for the complete look with Murano glass jewelry and raise quite a few eyebrows with your distinct style.

Victorian Jewelry

Posted on June 10, 2018 by blogger

Many people find it hard to believe that the inception of jewelry occurred 100,000 years ago as evidenced by mollusk jewelry found in South Africa. Mollusks are small snails and clams, and their shells were used to fashion this jewelry, although it was no doubt for more functional purposes (such as holding a garment together) than it was for adorning people. In the earliest days, natural material was used, such as animal teeth, shells, bone, wood and stone.

The first period during which jewelry was used extensively to adorn people was the Georgian era beginning in the 1760’s. Larger size jewelry from the past was replaced by delicate smaller forms. It is very difficult to locate jewelry from this period, but jewelry from the Victorian period beginning in the mid 1800’s under the reign of Queen Victoria is a different story. The Victorian era ended in 1901 upon the death of the Queen.

The young Queen, who was crowned at eighteen, not only loved jewelry, but also designed it. In favor were cameos carved of conch shells by Italians. Women were known to travel to Italy to purchase necklaces, earrings, and brooches of cameo designs, and lava jewelry made from colored lava of Mt. Vesuvius. Soon the industrial revolution saw the manufacture of jewelry, and resulted in the end of the hand carving.

The Queen also got credit for the charm bracelet, and had a number of charms designed. She often gave jewelry as gifts to family and friends. Jewelry had been a status symbol of the wealthy, or to accompany fashionable outfits, but the emergence of the middle class created a demand for a larger quantities being produced. Queen Victoria continued to set the trend for other women, and her romantic nature as well as nature itself were reflected in jewelry designed with birds, hearts, butterflies, dragonflies, gemstone embellished flowers, ribbons, and bows. Jewelry containing the hair of both the living and dead was especially popular. Some of these pieces were very intricate in their design. Lockets were also used to hold the hair or pictures of the deceased.

Victoria also preferred serpent designs, a symbol of eternal love, and her engagement ring from Prince Albert in 1840 was a serpent designed with an emerald in its head. Terms of endearment such as “dearest” or “regard” often appeared on engagement rings. A brooch of sapphires and diamonds, a gift from her husband-to-be, adorned her wedding dress. The Queen also favored opals, but other affordable semi-precious stones appealed to the mass market such as amethyst, coral, pearls, turquoise and garnet. Ivory, seed pearls, bog oak, smoky quartz, jasper, agate, enamel, ,petrified wood, marble, as well as gold and silver found in Scottish jewelry were also popular with the public, as tartan plaids became fashionable after the Queen’s children started wearing them.

New finds of gold resulted in creating different methods of gold processing, and gold jewelry became more affordable. Diamonds, because of South Africa diamond mines opening, were also becoming within the reach of the middle class. In 1861, Victoria’s husband Prince Albert died, and so-called mourning jewelry made of black stones such as onyx, jet and black enamel were in vogue. They were commonly worn by relatives of the deceased. Jet was carved into necklaces, earrings, and pins. The suffragette movement was beginning and the black jewelry continued to be fashionable. Sets of jewelry were introduced during this period.

Today Victorian jewelry can be found in antique shops and at estate sales. Some reproductions of the jewelry are also sold as Victorian jewelry still has an allure for the public.

How To Repair Costume Jewelry

Posted on June 8, 2018 by blogger

Whether you buy costume jewelry for your own collection, for investment or for resale, its important to know when to repair a piece that has damage or missing stones, and when to walk away. Whether you intend to wear it, or plan to sell it as is will determine the wisdom of repairing it. If you plan to repair the piece and then sell it, be sure to factor in the cost of repairs to see if its worth fixing.

If you have a piece of costume jewelry that youd like to wear, but has loose or missing stones, or has other condition issues, what are the best ways to repair it so you can safely enjoy wearing it?

Ive found that some issues are easy to address, others require more time, patience and money, and still others benefit from the attention of a professional.

If youd like to repair your jewelry yourself, there are a few things you should invest in. If you dont already have a jewelers loupe, or strong magnifying glass, you should get one. I have two one stays on my desk, and the other stays in my purse, so I always have one handy, whether Im working at home or out shopping for jewelry. Another handy magnifier is one that straps on your head, leaving your hands free.

The most common problem I see in costume jewelry is with the stones rhinestones, crystal, glass or plastic, they may come out of their settings, be loose, or crack or dull. Older pieces may be set with glue that has dried and let the stone fall out. Its important to use the right kind of adhesive, and to not use too much. Krazy Glue or Super Glue is not recommended, as it may break down when attached to glass. Super Glue may be especially damaging to vintage pieces a film may develop if it reacts to old metal and plating. If you get it on the surface of the stone, its difficult to remove. Never use hot glue it can expand and contract with temperature changes and may crack the jewelry or loosen the stone. The best adhesive to use would be one designed specifically for jewelry, which can be found in craft stores and on jewelry supply web sites.

Be careful not to use too much glue when replacing stones. The glue will not dry properly, and the adhesive will flow out around the stone and onto the metal. I use a toothpick dipped in a little pool of glue to drop minute bits of glue into the setting, a drop at a time, using as little as possible.

Putting the stone back into the setting is a delicate process you can wet the tip of your finger to make the stone stick and then carefully drop it into the setting.

Save your old broken jewelry, or any unmatched earrings for their stones. You might find broken pieces at flea markets, yard sales and antique shops. Its hard to exactly match a missing stone, but if you build up a collection of orphan pieces, the right size and color just might be available. You can also access jewelry suppliers for stones. Keep in mind that whatever you purchase for repairs should be factored into the price if the piece is for resale.

One way to make old jewelry look new again is replating. Replating can be costly, and should only be done if you are keeping the piece for yourself to wear. Replating may diminish the value of vintage jewelry, just as refinishing antique furniture would decrease its value. An Internet search should provide the names of jewelry restorers in your area.

Now, what about that green stuff that you sometimes see on vintage jewelry? Some jewelry collectors simply pass on pieces that have green verdigris on them, as it can indicate corrosion that cant be cleaned off. You can try to clean it with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar, but if the metal is heavily coated and degraded, you may need to gently chip the green away, taking care to not damage the metal beneath. Wipe the piece with a damp cloth and let it air dry completely. You can also try the same process with ammonia. Be careful to never immerse the piece of jewelry in liquid, as the stones may loosen or discolor due to water getting into the setting.

Costume jewelry is made to be worn and enjoyed. Replacing missing stones and cleaning the metal will give your vintage jewelry sparkle and glow and many more years of wear.