Month: May 2019

Top Questions About Gold Wire For Jewelry Makers

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As a new jewelry maker, you might be wondering about gold wire and what all the different terms mean. Here are some questions I often get from new jewelry makers:

What is gold wire useful for?

What’s the difference between gold solder and gold wire? And just how do i care for my gold jewelry?

There are numerous of types of gold wire.

Gold-plated wire is copper or some other base metal coated with a thin plate of 10 to 14 kt gold. The plate easily comes off over time, can be scratched off, etc. so I wouldn’t recommend using gold-plated wire.

Gold-filled wire is frequently used by jewelers and artisans. Gold-filled metal is made by pressure-bonding a layer of gold to a base metal core. Gold-fill usually has a copper base covered in thicker layer of gold, usually 14 kt. The gold does not easily get removed from the base. Jewelry made with gold-filled wire will look like new for a very long time and can be cleaned and polished without being damaged. This is the wire I use when I use gold in my designs.

Another term you may come across is vermeil.

Vermeil is gold-fill with a sterling silver base. to my knowledge, you can’t get vermeil wire.

All wire described above can be used in jewelry making. Wire wrapping, making bead links, making clasps, you name it. If you can make it with silver or craft wire, you can use gold wire.

Gold solder is something different entirely. Gold solder is used in the soldering process. Gold solder does come in wire form, as well as sheet, but never use gold solder wire for anything other than soldering. Gold solder is much too soft, and is meant to only be used to fuse gold components of a piece of jewelry together.

Caring for your gold jewelry is pretty straightforward. You may find a bit of tarnish. Gold itself doesn’t tarnish, but gold for jewelry is always an alloy – it’s the base metal the gold is mixed with that’s discoloring. Here are some cleaning tips:

Cleaning Gold Jewelry

To remove tarnish: To clean gold jewelry that does not include any soft gemstones, pearls or crystals put the gold jewelry into warm sudsy water containing a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid such as Dawn, Ivory or Simple Green, and rub gently with your fingers or a cotton swab. Do not use toothpaste or baking soda to clean gold jewelry. Rinse your gold jewelry thoroughly with warm water and dry with a cotton cloth. Before storing, let the gold jewelry lie flat and air dry completely, overnight if possible. Moisture speeds the tarnishing process so it’s important to make sure your gold jewelry is dry before putting it away.

Machine cleaning: If your gold jewelry still looks dark, it may need aggressive machine cleaning. Most jewelers have some type of automatic cleaning equipment, such as an ultrasonic, ionic or steam cleaner, and experience using it so they can give you advice about whether such cleaning is safe for your specific piece of gold jewelry.

Jewelry Industry Embargo On Zimbabwe’s Conflict Diamonds

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Apparently Zimbabwe’s plan to sell off the conflict diamonds from their Marange diamond fields is simply not going to come through as long as the HRW (Human Rights Watch) has any say in the matter. The HRW specifically instructed the leading diamond jewelry providers in the world to keep their distance from any diamonds from Zimbabwe. Specifically, Arvind Ganesan, Director of the Business & Human Rights Division at HRW, released an official warning regarding a full on embargo of Zimbabwe diamonds due to their many violations of serious human rights conditions. According to Arvind Ganesan, Zimbabwean diamonds are conflict diamonds in every sense of the term, and as such the HRW is requesting that jewelry retailers and jewelry consumers boycott these diamonds until the human rights infringements reach their end. In fact, Arvind Ganesan wrote a letter asking as much from leaders in the diamond jewelry industry, such as Cartier, Tiffany’s, and Zale.

Arvind Ganesan has turned to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme as well as the World Diamond Council in an attempt to expand the current definition of blood diamonds to contain diamonds acquired by governments in conflict and not only diamonds by rebel groups. In his letter, the Director of the Human Rights Watch requested that major diamond jewelry retailers issue public statements regarding refusal to purchase Zimbabwean diamonds. Such acts on the parts of the major players in the diamond retail community will surely have some significant long-term effects on diamond production from the Murowa diamond mine, as well as the River Ranch diamond mine, which are thought to be channels for the sale of diamonds from the Marange fields in Zimbabwe.

In the letter, Arvind Ganesan also appeals to the powerful members of the diamond industry to use their influence on the Kimberley Process to ensure that Zimbabwe is fully suspended from the group up to the point when they actually meet basic human rights standards. As per reports from HRW, such human rights infringements as killing, smuggling, and child labor have been going on until just this October and there are no signs of any considerable changes since then. These diamonds have been smuggled to neighboring countries mixing with diamonds from other nations and basically causing a situation where conflict diamonds are traded worldwide.

Hence, it is up to the jewelry retailers to be responsible enough to make sure that they do not vend such conflict diamonds to their jewelry consumers. As diamond consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about conflict diamonds and requesting certifications as to the origin of their diamonds, it was only a matter of time before Zimbabwean diamonds became too risky to be associated with.

The problem is that generally speaking, jewelry providers can’t just boycott their diamond jewelry items, but then again, nobody wants to be linked to conflict diamonds either. It looks like we’ll just have to wait and see how the major members of the diamond jewelry community intend to comply with the demands of the Human Rights Watch.

Fine Jewelry Store For Gold Diamond Jewelry Lovers

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Jewelry is an important ingredient of our life. Here I would like to share my views about various forms and fashions of jewelry. The trends keep changing but always for the better.

Gold costume jewelry is a bit that has fascinated roughly one and all on this globe and the lone object that will in no way slack its rage. Prices of gold jewelry continue bombarding up day by day but have slight consequence on the fascination of buying it. Gold is acknowledged to be purest form of metal and has made an enormous gist in our lives from the time when it was revealed. One of the most practical reasons behind gold being most frequently used in jewelry and stuff is that it does not retort with the human skin whereas supplementary metals do. Purest gold besides with silver and diamonds are collectively used as jewelry. An added excelling attribute of this yellow metal is its capability to figure up as preferred and still being sturdy. This enables the goldsmith to whittle gold into dazzling designs. Karat (K) is the constraint with which the clarity of gold jewelry is patented. 24 K is the purest form of gold. Pure gold is assorted with a number of other metals to make it further hard-wearing. In various cases just a varnish of gold is also used to make artificial jewelry appear comparable to gold jewelry.

Gold jewelry is also well thought-out as fortunate and is very universally used as a gift to the near and dear once. Buying gold though requires a scrupulous learning. So many new designs keep varying the trends and its hard to opt from. Keeping limpidness as well as variety into concern, most people buy gold jewelry only from apparent close by stores and reliable sources online.

Another most common ingredient of jewelry is Diamonds. Diamonds are one of the most gorgeous possessions in this globe and can intrigue nearly each person. Diamonds are expensive but still they are bought and sold on an incredible velocity. This can very well verify the connotation of diamond jewelry in our lives. Everyone in particular females has an allure for diamonds and consequently somebody extremely appropriately said that diamonds are womens top associates. Diamond jewelry lift a sagacity of unexplainable exhilaration and just a peep of a diamond can fetch a smile. Diamonds are well transformed into jewelry by craftsmen and that further amplifies its grandeur by countless folds.

Diamonds are pricey and are not gettable for all segments of society but their appeal is such that they cant go unnoticed at all. On weddings and alike exceptional junctures, diamonds play a chief component. Gifting of diamond jewelry to someone close to your spirit has been a long lived practice. Diamonds are stunning, high-priced and enduring. Precisely talking diamonds are the hardest probable structure of stone. But who cares what unerringly it is, till the time it augments the attractiveness of your near and dears.

While buying a diamond one have to think about all the sources to make certain that you get the finest designs alongside with cleanness and that too at fairly fewer prices. There are loads of trusted trademark names that deal in diamond jewelry. One must put exceptional importance on factors like shade, mass, lucidity and caret of the diamond you obtain.

Fun And Passionate Vintage Jewelry Collecting And Hardware Clues

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The Fun Of Collecting is in the Hunt for Beautiful and Affordable Costume, Vintage Treasures from Bygone Years. Know that in Whatever Direction your Collecting passion lies, Whether it be a Signed or Unsigned piece of Costume Jewelry or Vintage Piece, You MUST like the Piece you are Purchasing. The FUN part of Collecting is to OWN pieces you like and pieces you are proud of.

There are several Clues to collecting.Vintage Earring Hardware Clues…* Screw-back type earrings were patented around 1894, and were popular into the 1950’s. * Clip-on type earrings were patented around 1934, and were popular in the 1950’s & 1960’s. * Fish-hook type earrings were used before 1900, and are still used today. * Kidney wire type earrings have been in use since 1870. * Threaded Stud type earrings have been used since 1890, but, are uncommon today.

Pin Clasps Hardware Clues …* Locking C-Clasp, patented in 1901. Widely used for jewelry in 1910. Remains Popular Today. * Plain C-Clasps, uncommon today. Similar to the Locking-C, but, no spinning locking mechanism. * Tube Clasp, patented in 1850, used for jewelry only until after World War II.

Quick Tips For Purchasing …* Be sure all the fasteners are original and are in working order. Look for older Screw-back or Clip-on Earrings. * Plain C-Clasps and the Tube Clasps usually indicate that piece of Jewelry is an older piece. * A long Pin Stem is often an indication of an older brooch or Pin. Vintage Pins sometimes have rivets holding the different layers together. * A Copyright Symbol usually dates the Jewelry piece after 1954. * So, shop, compare and beware.

Vintage Signed pieces of Jewelry are fun to look for. One even might find a booked piece that could be worth a lot of money. It can be time consuming researching a piece, but, in the end there is satisfaction, by being able to add a piece of vintage jewelry to your new collection or add to an existing collection, or, resell. One never knows what you may find. Whatever type of jewelry your looking for, you can find it…almost anywhere, yard sales, estate sales, even on Ebay. Have Fun and Happy Searching!

Choose The Best Components And Metal Findings For Jewelry

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HOBBY CRAFTS

Besides the numerous professional products, Punto Accessori also makes it possible for haberdasher’s and crafts lovers to create jewelry on their own. In fact, more than 700 items are available in convenient pouches bearing our logo and containing small amounts. Give free reign to your imagination and make your own personal jewelry accessory. You can choose only the best components and metal findings for jewelry or show off your own ethnic jewelry creations which are all the rage. The materials that can be used range from the classic metal components for jewelry to glass, from shell to wood, from semi-precious stones to bone.

You can decide whether to make classic bead jewelry or create jewelry like none that has ever been seen before, perhaps in mother-of-pearl. On the site you will find everything you need, you only add your imagination. Moreover, if you get your friends involved, you could place orders for amounts that let you make the most of the advantages Punto Accessori offers: check out the table of discounts!!

For those who wish to set up a special area for these products in their haberdashery shop, contact us for vertical display cases for the pouches or table stands for the spools of chain. So what are you waiting for? Creating your own jewelry accessories has never been this easy.

GLUES

In any production sector, having the right tools is essential to achieving the best results. Punto Accessori has selected the best glues, produced by the best manufacturers, to offer you only the best. For gluing any type of fabric we recommend Bison Textile; for gluing anything else, whether it be accessories for leather goods, shoes or anything else, you can count on Uhu Plus.

SETTINGS

A fundamental metal finding for jewelry, the setting is the base used to work up the accessory. They come in brass and zamak, with or without prongs, and range from the classical to the most extravagant shapes. They are extremely useful in producing accessories for shoes, leather goods or clothing. Settings are a key element for jewelry making.

CHAINS

The jewelry-making chain is a balance between esthetic beauty, processing technique and production quality. The broad sector for such items ranges from the smallest chains, wires and links to mesh sheets, from brass to steel or aluminum, with beads or with strass. They come in so many shapes that some chains, fit with a normal necklace clasp, can easily become a simple, trendy belt or a complete jewelry accessory.

METAL FINDINGS

One of the largest sections on the entire site, metal findings for jewelry-making are fundamental components for creating jewelry and much more. The numerous sections range from the lynchpins of the trade such as earring wires and backings, necklace clasps and end pieces, brooches, key chains, rods, wires and filigree; in other words the building blocks of jewelry-making materials. If you want to create any accessory for shoes, clothing or leather goods in general, this is your starting point.

PARTS IN PLASTIC AND ABS

This section presents the classical items such as plastic beads, the pioneer of the first bead jewelry, or cameos and plastic cabochons, and other more complex parts that take on a new role in compositions using glass beads or sequins. ABS is a separate chapter. This material is quite in vogue today since it maintains its shape and offers the benefits of plastic but, like metals, it can be given a galvanized color effect.

LACQUERED PARTS

Highly unusual parts, ideal for ethnic jewelry, the Chinese lacquers can be divided into 2 basic categories. The black lacquers set particular ornamental decorations on a dark glossy, refined background; the red lacquers are used in relief, again set on a dark background to create contrasting parts that are of undisputed effect.

RESINS

This section is dedicated to items made completely of resins or which are simply resin-coated. They offer an alternative idea for jewelry accessories that are different from the usual. Creating is easy: all you need is jewelry wire, some resin item, a necklace clasp and voil.

NATURAL MATERIALS

More than 1100 items of natural origin such as: bone, horn, wood, semi-precious stones, semi natural elements, bark, trimmings and glass. From the materials to the widest range of shapes, a splendid variety to wear nature and create ethnic or semi-precious stone jewelry and have a custom-designed jewelry accessory.

SHELLS

A category specially dedicated to the world of shells. The numerous items start with the simple shapes found in nature and move on to the most complex, sophisticated applications. We propose shells, set on jewelry wire, as natural trim for particular applications such as furniture. Simple items made of other materials are skillfully covered with shell work to become precious parts for jewelry accessories or leather goods and clothing.

Murrina glass:

This is the largest section of the entire site, offering 3000 different items of murrina glass, all of our manufacture. Creating glass jewelry has never been easier. The items range from solid color to the “millefiori” murrina glass, always created on a copper base, and on to the classical transparent, baseless glass “mini-bricks” that impart significant light-color effects.

GLASS

A wide range of parts for creating glass jewelry that ranges from classic beads, whether smooth or cut glass, to multicolor compositions, pendants and sequins. Ideal for decorating and enhancing clothing or leather goods or for creating true and proper jewelry accessories.

HANDBAGS ACCESSORIES

A selection of exclusive items for handbags including, handles, mirrors or metal terminal pieces. The category, destined not only for leather goods suppliers but also others, offers handles in wood, bamboo, bone, covered with shell or enameled, to give the accessory a final design effect or a discrete touch of class.

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