Vintage Costume Jewelry: Yesterday's Fashion Today

Jewelry, whether fine or costume, has been a part of human culture since the earliest times. People wear jewelry to satisfy their vanity, to indulge their love for beautiful things, and to look good to others. Vintage costume jewelry fulfills all these criteria, but at a fraction of the cost of real or fine jewelry. It is an inexpensive alternative that does not sacrifice taste as well as style.

Vintage costume jewelry may be less expensive, but good quality ones are never seen as cheap. They are less costly because they are not made from precious gems. Designers of vintage costume jewelry use a variety of materials from cut glass, beads, semi-precious gems, faux gems -- even plastic! These pieces were created and released since the start of the Victorian era up to the 1960s. Vintage costume jewelry from the 1940s and 1950s are especially creative and eye-catching, since the designers of the era had to produce relatively inexpensive yet fashionable items that men and women could afford and appreciate during the war and post-war era.

Some of the most popular designers of vintage costume jewelry were fashion guru Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Miriam Haskell. Many of Schiaparelli’s bright and attractive creations were made from multi-colored rhinestones. Haskell, in her finely detailed work, almost always paid tribute to nature’s beauty and bounty. Chanel, the favorite of many celebrities, transformed the way costume jewelry was worn in the 1920s. Other pieces of vintage costume jewelry were made from materials that included beads, corals, faux pearls, and Bakelite -- a kind of polymeric plastic.

Vintage costume jewelry continues to be very much in vogue today, and it has inspired many designers to create ‘real’ pieces made from precious gems and metals. At the 2005 Academy Awards, the jewelry that many women celebrities wore were oversized and sparkly, a tribute to the jewelry designs of the 1940s. Stars such as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Julia Roberts are not only collectors of vintage costume jewelry and dress accessories; they actually wear them in public, too.

A person does not have to be a celebrity to appreciate vintage costume jewelry. Their uniqueness, aesthetic value and superb craftsmanship make them popular collectible items, and with proper care, they can be a good investment, too, since serious collectors will pay top dollar for vintage costume jewelry that is in mint condition. But more than that, the experience of owning and wearing a thing of beauty that comes from a bygone era is simply priceless.

read more “Vintage Costume Jewelry: Yesterday's Fashion Today”

The Metaphysical Estate Jewelry of Celebrities

Back to ancient times bewitching jewelry has been used by both men and women to adorn their body.  From gemstones to crystals talismans and amulets adorned the body.  And thanks to the celebrities who have taken up this trend once again.  Metaphysical estate jewelry amulets and talismans are once again gaining popularity.  No let me rephrase that they are “hot!”

From ancient times right through to modern day amulets and talismans are worn for their metaphysical properties.  They are believed to possess special powers such as keeping one safe, improving ones mind, finding love, or warding off evil.  Each gem is believed to contain its own magical powers.

Crystals are used to energize and balance the body and it is perfect for meditation.  They are also known for their healing powers.  Pearls are believed to attract love.  Amber is believed to purify, while amber enhances intuition and the third eye.

Diamonds release sexual tension while sapphires enhance friendship.  Carnelian awakens the senses and citrine promotes a happy disposition.  Emerald enhances dreams and enhances the spiritual body.

Goldstone stores the energy of those it touches, while hematite enhances one intellectual qualities.  Jade balance and encourages wisdom and Lapis increases your awareness.  Jasper protects and has a calming effect.  The star sapphire enhances creativity, self confidence, and awareness.

Malachite balances emotionally and relieves stress, moonstone aligns the emotions, and obsidian removes negativity.  Opal is known to enhance intuition, peridot relaxes, pink opal activates inner healing, and rose quartz is considered the love stone.

Smokey quartz removes negativity, Tigers eye increases intuitively and the third eye, and turquoise protects the wearer.  Garnet increases creativity and understanding and is said to bring success to business.

Rhodonite reduces stress, jasper enhances ones awareness, and agate will help achieve closure. Aquamarine removes negativity, enhances clarity, and provides emotional balance.  Blue tourmaline will enhance your communication ability; green tourmaline will bring peaceful sleep and relaxation.

Gold enhances the power of the gem while silver is thought to be neutral.

Today these gems are worn for their beauty in jewelry and for their metaphysical powers.  Metaphysical jewelry is more than a fashion statement and celebrities are quick to recognize the additional powers that can be found by wearing specific gems.

Celebrities are often the first to recognize the beauty or charm of something.  They are usually the first to introduce a fashion that becomes popular.  Metaphysical jewelry is no different.  With more and more celebrities wearing metaphysical jewelry the general population’s interest has been awoken.

From Courtney Cox to Alicia Keys.  From Brad Pitt to Ben Afflek there are hundreds of celebrities and rock stars wearing metaphysical jewelry.  Perhaps they know something the rest of us have only read about.  Perhaps it’s time we found out why they find metaphysical gem amulets and talismans so popular.

When it comes to gemstone jewelry and the metaphysical qualities there are many beliefs.  What is known for certain is that these jewelry pieces are beautiful and the celebrities know how to mix beauty with mysticism so why not take lessons from them

read more “The Metaphysical Estate Jewelry of Celebrities”

The Power of Jewelry

History separates our president from his crown. I speak not of the power of office to slash and burn its citizenry. Instead it is the crown which represents the adornment of precious metals by leaders of the ancient world.  Once, jewelry was the ornamental expression of power. Ancient Egyptians were experts at gold production and jewelry design often expressing some tenant of their belief system. The Pharaohs would bury themselves with gold in order to enter the next life wealthily. The Greeks adorned jewelry as an symbol of greatness insisting on massive pieces set with gemstones. Kings and Queens throughout the history Europe have worn crowns, perhaps the most recognizable symbol of power as produced by goldsmiths and jewelry makers.

Along the way the powers that be have traded in their crowns for suits and thrones for bullet proof limousines. Jewelry has been regulated to personal expression of style and not necessarily a symbol of power. Crowns can be seen at a school play or museum when they once required anyone close enough to sink to his/her knees and kiss the hand of the ever loving master. Other than military garb there are almost no symbols of jewelry as an expression of power in developed civilizations. This change is due primarily to democratization of government in the west. Long ago the cycle of power remained within the confines of blood relatives. Then, the arrogance of power was outwardly displayed with crowns of gold, robes studded with glittering stones and polished rings set with precious metals.  

Fear of losing ones position of power has diminished the showing of excess. The first politician to show up in a crown and robe will surely be tossed from office after a duly extended period of ridicule. The expectation today is the more politically powerful one is the less flamboyant one should be. There is a difference, of course, between the substance of true power and the power of wealth. Those with real power make law and authorize wars. Purely wealthy people, like those in the entertainment field, are culturally influential and can be seen sporting the latest in Cartier watches fitted with obscenely expensive diamonds without fear of repercussion. Musicians, actresses and sports stars gallivant about with stones dangling from their ears, necks and wrists. They are not, of course, accountable in the same ways as the policy makers. They are judged mostly by their performances and as artists expected to be stylish, including the adornment of jewels.

Yet, why are the policymakers not allowed to be stylishly expressive. If his work is superior does it matter that Mr. Senator is wearing the latest in diamond stud earrings.  What about a crown? Why should the president be chastised for wearing one? It should only emphasis the grandeur that is the presidency. The vice president can carry a gold staff and pound the floor before speaking. In fact, many more people might be more interested in politics if senators and congressman dressed more stylishly and wore more ritualistic jewelry. We can praise our leaders for what they have always been. All hail the president king.

read more “The Power of Jewelry”

How to Find Cheap Fashion Jewelry that Looks Expensive

When it comes to style, you can use cheap fashion jewelry to create hundreds of different looks. There are many designs for you to choose from; rings, chokers, hair clips, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, bangles and earrings. You can mix and match to suit whatever mood the diva in you cares to express.

There are many quality manufactures of high-end or 'fine' fashion jewelry that produce lines of 'costume' jewelry that are much more affordable but look expensive. When you are shopping for cheap fashion jewelry, look at the materials, colored glass beads will stand the test of time better than beads that are painted. You can find lots of natural, semi-precious stones, such as agate, shell and turquoise made into wonderful cheap fashion jewelry accessories. Design styles that use metal wire for connecting beads instead of plastic or string will also make your cheap fashion jewelry look like it cost a lot more than you paid for it.

Cheap fashion jewelry can be an expression of a fun-loving free spirit; using plastic jewelry for a girl's night out can be a wonderful way of focusing more on having a great time than how you look. When you want to impress, choose cheap fashion jewelry that has sparkle and glitter. And nothing works better than cubic zirconia - it has that expensive look of diamonds that can make you feel like a million dollars - without the cost.

With so much of our fashion style being shaped by celebrities we see on television, in music videos or films, you can find cheap fashion jewelry in every category from lower-priced replicas of celebrity 'bling bling', those oversized, extravagant accessories from the hip-hop culture scene to body jewelry made famous by punk and heavy metal followers in both pierced and non-pierced types. You can use cheap fashion jewelry to keep in step with the latest fashion trends. Pile on the bangles and necklaces in the hot color combos of the season: brown with pink, navy with orange or chocolate brown with baby blue.

In your quest to find the best cheap fashion jewelry, don't limit yourself to retail stores in the real world. You will find that there are many online shopping sites that offer the latest styles in cheap jewelry fashions plated in gold and silver with faux pearls beads, crystals and semi precious jewels.

Women all over the world want to look beautiful and wealthy without spending fortune. While the United States has hundreds of manufacturers, your cheap fashion jewelry collection will benefit if you look to the jewelry manufacturers of Asia and Europe as well. Many of the companies in Europe have been exporting their cheap fashion jewelry for years, but some like Russia, Slovenia and Bulgaria are fairly new in the marketplace. Taiwan, Japan and China are all producing cheap fashion jewelry in unique designs and  in every type of accessory you can imagine at prices that are hard to believe.

read more “How to Find Cheap Fashion Jewelry that Looks Expensive”

Green Amber Jewelry - What is Green Amber?

Green amber is a form of natural Baltic amber that has a very dark, rich green color. Amber of any color is formed from fossilized resin produced by pine trees, and most amber is between forty and sixty million years old. The green occurs when organic material from plants is trapped within the natural amber, giving the green color. The various chemical compositions and variations on the plant materials that became covered with the thick and sticky resin provide the variations and patterns in green amber.

The tones and shades of green will vary within the amber, and the unique rich colors will captivate the eye and draw attention to the beauty of the gem itself. Green amber is considered to be more valuable than the more common brown amber, but the most valuable and rarest of ambers is the clear and completely transparent amber.

Amber and legend

In many ancient traditions and religions, amber is seen to have a special place. The ancient Chinese defined amber as “tigers soul” and wearing amber was believed to give the wearer the strength and courage of a tiger. The ancient Greeks believed that amber represented the tears of Apollo’s daughters, and considered the gems to ward off evil spirits.

Due to the amber’s chemical composition, it first attracted mystics with its properties of transparency and the appearance of movement within the gem as the light hit from different directions. In addition amber would burn if heated in a fire, and this added to its qualities and uniqueness.

Amber jewelry has been found that dated to the Paleolithic area, around 12,000 B.C.  Both the Celts and the Romans used amber as a rare commodity in trading. In the 1100’s Gdansk was the major center of amber production, and the Baltic area continues to be the largest producer of amber to this day.

Green amber in jewelry

The beautiful rich colors of green amber make it a natural match for both silver and gold jewelry. Green amber (like all amber), while considered a gemstone, is one of the few gems that is not of mineral origin. The more colored and patterned the green amber is the more the jeweler can use these patterns to work into the setting of the gem. Green amber that also contains fossilized material is very rare and very valuable.

Green amber is a soft gem, and is very warm to both the touch and to wear. It is not cold against the skin like other gems, and amber collects and stores static electricity. Very lightweight, amber is an excellent gem for earrings as it adds little weight to the metal that it is set in.

Green amber is used in making bracelets, necklaces, rings and all other forms of jewelry.  Green amber is easily cared for with simple polishing or buffing to remove the slight scratches that may occur on the surface of this soft gem.

read more “Green Amber Jewelry - What is Green Amber?”

Estate Jewelry is Ready For Teen Fashions

If you’ve ever gone shopping with a teenage girl you know that teenagers can be a very picky bunch!  Their physical and mental growth has them experimenting with all kinds of fashion items to improve their image and their look.  Teenage girls have a fashion statement to make too!  And estate jewelry is ready for teen fashions!

A teen’s fashion statement which includes both clothing and jewelry plays a role in their identity, how they fit, how they feel, how they blend.  It has a big role on their self esteem during those developmental years.  And moms and dads they don’t want your input!  This is a time of discovery and you can be guaranteed if you like it they’ll toss the idea out the door in ten seconds or less.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t subtly steer them.  Estate jewelry and fashion jewelry are affordable choices that can work well for teens.  So just gently lead them in the right direction and let them make their own discoveries.

Teen girls are busy picking up clues and tips from their favorite celebrities.  The celebrities that teenagers watch in their favorite music videos, movies or television show greatly influence what a teen girl will see as fashion and trendy jewelry.  And these days more and more of the celebrities are choosing estate jewelry because it is unique and does make a statement of individuality.  So don’t be surprised if you teen finds estate jewelry attractive.

These days we hear allot about hip hop jewelry trends and we see plenty of bling bling replicas on the market.  Manufacturers have replaced the real diamonds and gems worn by the celebrities with cheaper stones and metals so that teen girls can have jewelry that looks much like their favorite stars but at a much more affordable price.

Pierced and non pierced body jewelry has also grown in popularity. Teen girls are using it to make their fashion statement.  The good news is that there’s a great selection available at an affordable price so mom and dad won’t go broke.

Friendship bracelets hit the streets about 10 years ago and they continue to grow in popularity being one of the hottest jewelry fads for teens.  Friends exchange these friendship bracelets and wear them all the time.  There style can be of the most basic twist or more elaborate with beads and sparkling faux gems.
Beaded jewelry is also very popular.  Teens love the big and bold look of large beads and love to mix them up adding color and flare to their wardrobe.  Estate jewelry is perfect for picking up a terrific mix of beaded jewelry for a very low price.  And the girls love it because it is different and unique unlike the modern stuff found on the shelves.  And because their favorite Celebs are choosing it, it becomes an option for them as well.

Another teen fad between friends is a necklace that’s similar worn by all members of the group.  This identifies them as their own little clique.  Their necklaces may have pendants or rings attached or just be plain.

Fashion rings are also very big with teens.  Good news is you can buy estate jewelry rings and fashion rings for as little as $5.00.  Your teenager will love them, wear them, break them, and forget about them and you’ll know they got their moneys worth.

The teen years are a time of growth and becoming independent so let your teen girls wings open and let her experiment with her fashion style.  Remember you did it too many years ago.  And remember to let your teenager know there are many options when it comes to jewelry.  Estate jewelry is one of the most sought after jewelry by celebrities and if your teen is like most teens what the stars wear they want to wear.

read more “Estate Jewelry is Ready For Teen Fashions”

Creating Your Own Jewelry

Do you have a better way to accessorize yourself than with a nice piece of jewelry? The problem is that sometimes costume jewelry can also be extremely expensive. Nevertheless, you have another alternative to buying them you can make them. It is easy to learn how to create your own jewelry. And sometimes it is even better than buying them because you can make them to match your outfits and your personality. This way you are not only going to save money, you are also going to have fun.

Are you interested in making necklaces? The simplest way to do this is using beads. You will see that you can create a variety of beautiful necklaces just using some heavy string and a various beads of different colors. In the case you are going to cover the whole circumference with beads you may even substitute the heavy string by a dental floss. You should always bear in mind what are you going to wear the necklace with. This way you can compliment the color of the necklace with the color of the dress you are wearing. Once you know the colors, you should start thinking about the pattern, which can be achieved by alternating colors or shapes, or making all of the beads the same size and color.

The most important thing at the moment of making your necklace is to be creative. But you should not forget to keep the theme in mind when you start making it. When you go to buy beads you can buy the ones you always use plus some focal point beads that are bigger that the rest. These bigger beads can be use when you choose to employ wire instead of string for your necklace, just one or two beads for the whole piece are enough and the wire show through. Usually you can choose from a great variety of attractive beads, such as wooden, ceramic and glass pieces.

If you are thinking of making beads, you have a lot to do. You only need beads and wire to make a great variety of rings. What you have to do is to twist various strands of wire together making a circle that fits your finger. You have to remember to maintain the ends long in order to string beads on the edges. Just make a ball of wire to maintain the final bead on each strand in its place and then keep the beaded strands as individuals strands or twist them into a ball. And use it with whatever you want!

Another option is to make earrings. It is not difficult because the majority of craft stores sell earring components that can be used right away; the only thing you have to do is add the decorations that you choose. You can buy almost twenty pairs of earrings for no more than three dollars. You can also include some ribbons or a strand of beads. Just be creative and you will be able to attend any party.

Similar techniques can be used to create bracelets and anklets. You have just to twist together bare wire and beaded wire to make a nice combination or create attractive wire shapes with just a pair of needle-nosed pliers. You only need to include a nice object that fits and make some loops in the wire and create your own charm bracelet.

It does not matter whether you are a teenager or an adult, you can have a lot of fun making jewelry. It is also a great activity for whole families and a creative way to entertain girls at a birthday party. It is a nice way to create the pieces of jewelry that go with the things you wear. What is more important in creating your own jewelry is that it is a real expression of your creative side.

read more “Creating Your Own Jewelry”

How to Pick Romantic Personalized Jewelry

Looking for a great romantic present for your wife, girlfriend or fiance? We recommend personalized jewelry - personalized jewelry is a very romantic gift and it could be personalized with different things, such as a name or the first initial. Your gift recipient knows how special she is, because the gift with her name or initial on it is just for them.

We have put together these tips to help you find a perfect piece of personalized jewelry for that special woman in your life. Here are our tips to help you find that perfect personalized jewelry:

- Personalized Rings. Personalized rings make great gifts. You may personalized a ring with different things. Personalized couples rings may include first initials or birthstones of both people in a couple.

Or, personalize that ring just for her - there are many possibilities. Rings personalized with a birthstone are great, so are initials rings (a ring personalized with her first initial), or name rings, rings with her name on it.

- Personalized Necklaces and Pendants. Personalized necklaces are very popular; necklaces personalized with a first name of the wearer used to be all the rage a few years ago, and they are still pretty popular.

There are many different personalizations to choose from. You may pick for the name to be written in regular letters or script letters, and you may pick a birthstone to be added to the necklace. Personalized necklaces and pendants come in many different looks and concepts. Take a look at a few different ones, and pick the one that reflects the style of the woman you love.

- Personalized Bracelets are also very popular, and there are many to choose from. Some bracelets are personalized with the recipient's name. Others may be personalized with both of your names. Yet, others may have her birthstone or a few of her birthstones on it, making it one of a kind bracelet just for her.

Next time when you are looking for a romantic gift for the one you love, get her a personalized piece of jewelry. You will be glad you did - she will love it!

read more “How to Pick Romantic Personalized Jewelry”