Facts about Sterling Silver Jewelry

One of the benefits in using a silver item such as sterling silver jewelry is its inexpensive aspect. Such types of jewelry are known to have an impressive look even when mixed with other types of clothing. Yes, the difference with other types of jewelry made from gold or precious jewels and silver is that the pattern can be used in various types of clothing. This means that people would be able to enjoy any kind of pattern such as a cross or a heart by simply using silver in their designs. Since silver only needs a couple of washing or cleaning, then there would be no problem when it comes to shining it. This is actually the main concept when it comes to such types of jewelry. Through the use of silver, almost any kind of fashion can be used. Some can even use their casual clothing with the silver that they have bought.

A good combination for silver is in terms of formal functions. For instance, married couples can use silver rings rather than using the plain gold ones because it would look cooler and more efficient. Silver can also be used in terms wedding rings because they can be engraved and they can have various designs and applications. For instance, if the married couple would be happy having a silver design, they can simply give their specifications to the ring maker and the maker would do the rest. Another effective function for silver would be in terms of silver based necklaces. They can be used in suits and in formal attires such as in tuxedo and other formal ware. This is actually the main concept when it comes to such types of jewelry that is why a majority of men enjoy wearing silver.

Another unusual effect of silver is that it can be connected with other types of jewelry such as birthstones and colorful medallions. This is because a silver ring or a silver necklace has the ability to make any kind of design look special and brilliant. Somehow, most celebrities would even create their own design or their own style of silver. By simply connecting the silver design to a very sophisticated item, they are able to create a very good looking design that can be used in various types of jewelry or artwork. Hence, the use of silver in jewelry is still the best choice in terms of fashion.

Men on Silver Jewelry

Jewelries are often seen on females. It does not depend onto what age group the person is; as long as the person is female most likely jewelries will be a great part of her daily accessory. Jewelries come in many shapes, designs, sizes, and made. Prices also vary from the qualities that have just been mentioned. There are a great number of shapes for jewelry. It can take out the form of just anything, from inscribed names, wordings, to cartoon characters, and zodiac signs. Different symbols are also used for jewelry’s shape, and many other things. Jewelries can also be embedded by different stones, some are cheap stones and other is just expensive stones like diamonds, emerald, and other precious stones. Jewelries are also made from different materials, whereas the famous would be gold and silver, although other jewelries are also made from alloys metals, or also known as mixed-metals.

Among gold and silver jewelry, gold are the most famous among the two, but silver are the one mostly worn by people of different ages. Not only because silver are cheaper than gold, but also for the reason that silver jewelries have a non-biased color than can be worn to just about any color of clothes, unlike gold that has a yellowish color shade on it. From the types of silver jewelries, silver rings are one of the jewelry types that are also widely worn by male alike. It is the type of jewelry that can be considered as a unisex jewelry. Silver rings are actually mostly found in males than in females. Ever watched a gangster movie, or a movie that concerns hip-hop, or any action movie? Try to focus on the fingers of the actors and actresses. A silver ring or two can be seen mostly on actors than in actresses. Proving the point that rings made out of silver can be mostly seen worn by men than women. And the silver bracelets are also popular to the males as well. As for women, they are more fond wearing gold jewelries than silver, maybe for a reason that gold jewelries are more classy to wear and look at, giving a sense of elegant, compare to silver jewelries. And also, that is maybe one of the reason why men are fond in wearing silver jewelries, for opposite reason that silver jewelries are simpler to wear and to look at, leaving a touch of manliness even when wearing a silver jewelry.

Rawness in Golden Yellow Citrine

The name Citrine is derived from the Latin word Citrus, meaning “lemon”. Until the Middle Ages this name was used to designate a wide range of yellow stones. Citrine has been highly regarded as a gemstone and healing stone for almost six thousand years.


The soldiers in Caesar’s legions wore citrine on their chest because the stone was believed to have life-saving properties in battle. As befits its color, it is recognized as the stone of light, sun and life. (Did you know…..that the yellow amethyst and smoky quartz can be heated to artificially create citrine?)

Citrine is yellow to brownish quartz (silicon dioxide) and resembles yellow topaz. It is colorless by hydrous iron oxide, and is found in the same hexagonal crystals as the other varieties of crystalline quartz. Natural citrine is much less common than amethyst or smoky quartz, both of which can be heat treated to turn their color to of citrine.

Citrine occurs principally in localities that produce amethyst, and it is sometimes found as a zone of citrine in amethyst, when it is known as ametrine. Gem-quality citrine is found in a few places around the world such as on the Isle of Arran, Scotland; in the Ural Mountains of Russia; near Hyderabad, India; in Dauphine, France; and in Minas Gerais, Brazil.



This new specimen just arrived from the mineral company today and is huge (at least to me it is!); measuring about 18"x 16" in diameter in an irregular shape and 3"-4" thick in some places (and is quite heavy).


The large chunk is still in its raw form; jagged crystal cylinders, rough edges…the stories it could tell. This piece of citrine is from Artigas, Uruguay; rich in colors of the golden yellow sun with the light bands of white around the edges and bottom of gray ground.


The chunks of each crystal cylinder are gorgeous; defiantly add this one to your collection of minerals or just to ‘showcase’ in your den or study.

Summer In Dichroic

This new summer piece features triangular dichroic glass in matching pendant and earrings! At the focal I’ve used a lovely dichroic glass pendant in wild colors of pink, copper, green and some gold and touch a red....the bail is hand wire wrapped in brass non-tarnish wire and left with swirling coils.


The pendant is then accented with tons of charms…all twisted by hand onto brass colored headpins in faceted crystals of green, yellow, peach and pink and all strung onto a light olive colored silk cord! The matching earrings dangle with same cluster of crystals and tiny dichroic pendants.








Visit our online Timeless Designs store at Ruby Lane to browse and purchase our artisan crafted designs!

Gifts are Going Silver

There are a million things you can give someone on scores of occasions. You can give your friends airplanes like Elvis did, or you can give a gift of sterling silver jewelry. You can be sure it will be received with as much enthusiasm as would airplanes. There are a lot of things that come in between. Jewelry itself holds many and numerous possibilities. Silver jewelry, we daresay, holds a place of its own by being trendy, fashionable and, most of all, inexpensive. Gone are the days when silver jewelry was looked down upon. With the economic condition being on the brink for many people, silver ornaments have gained a respectable place in the life of man.

Contrary to popular belief, silver is harder than gold to touch when it is transformed into sterling silver and sterling silver jewelry is even harder, so you can be sure that your gift will remain in circulation for long. Unless, of course, in the unlikely event of the recipient losing it, or throwing it away.

Silver jewelry has the facility to look businesslike as well as casual. It can transform itself into something serious and be at home as part of a millionaire's attire. It can also take the look of a casual wearer like a college student on a night out. The sophisticated aura of the rich man will rub off on sterling silver jewelry and enhance its appeal. The college kid will pass on his casual attitude to the silver jewelry, thereby making him blend in with the general atmosphere. That is the malleability of silver jewelry. It can thus be an ideal gift to both high end business people and low end and frivolous teenagers. The people who fall between the two categories too can be brought into an amenable lot.

No wedding is complete without a wedding ring. Many a couple these days prefer inexpensive yet trendy silver jewelry to traditional gold and diamonds. We would like to congratulate them for their sensible decision. If you give them a silver wedding ring, it would be just the thing they need. You may even give the attendants a thoughtful set of silver jewelry at a little extra cost, but the goodwill you earn will surely be immense.

Before buying a gift, however, you would do well to try and find out what silver jewelry the intended recipient already owns. This way, you can make a gift of something he/she does not already have in his/her possession.

Caring For Your Gemstone Jewelry

You have bought or received as a gift the most incredible piece of gemstone jewelry, now how to keep it that way. Caring for your gemstone jewelry is an essential necessity for any jewelry owner, as gemstones are a durable material, and they do require care, so that when handed down as heirlooms in the years to come, they are just as brilliantly remarkable as they are to you now, to be cherished forever.


Most transparent and hard gemstones can endure being cared for by simply cleaning the jewelry with mild nonabrasive hand detergent and a soft bristled toothbrush; then dried with a soft clean cloth. It is wise to place a soft washcloth in the sink covering the drain, as doing so will aid in preventing any gemstones from becoming chipped or falling down the drain while you are cleaning your jewelry.


Some would suggest using ultrasonic cleaners, while this may be the fastest method for cleaning your jewelry; it is also the quickest way to damage your gemstones. Be very careful when using an ultrasonic cleaner, make sure that your gemstones can withstand such cleaning before using this type of method.




Here are some suggestions for cleaning and caring for your gemstone jewelry.


•Use 2 cleaning bowls. One that has warm water plus the cleaning liquid and one that has only warm water to rinse.
Note: If you are using sinks, place a soft washcloth over the drains, this will help to keep stones from going down the drains and also help to prevent possible chipping.
•Use lukewarm water, never use hot water.
•Use a mild dishwashing liquid or mild jewelry cleaning solution. One that is safe for your specific jewelry gemstones and metals.
•Several soft, clean, dry cloths (1-for cleaning and 1-drying)
•Small, unused soft bristled toothbrush


The process is simple, fill your sink with warm water, add a little drop of mild dishwashing liquid and swish around to make bubbles. Carefully, place a few pieces at a time in the sink allowing them to soak a few minutes (don’t overload the sink as this may cause jewelry to hit against each other causing chips, cracks and/or damage). Then take each piece out and carefully clean with the soft bristled toothbrush.


Caution, you only need to use a toothbrush if you have a piece of jewelry that has tiny cracks, holes, and small places where dust and dirt can get in; otherwise, there is really no need to use a toothbrush. Rinse in a separate sink that only contains warm water. Place the jewelry on a soft cloth and carefully dry your jewelry pieces. As a side note, allow an hour or so for your jewelry to 'air dry' to make sure that all water is gone before placing back into their jewelry box or containers.


Cleaning your jewelry doesn’t have to be done often, but several times a year to protect your gemstones. As a rule of thumb and if in doubt, clean your gemstone jewelry with warm, soapy water. Avoid harsh chemicals or high heat which can cause gemstones to fade or crack. And try to store your gemstone jewelry in a clean jewelry case out of the reach of harsh light or sun to prevent fading and possible damage to your gemstones.


As a last note, it is also wise to have a jeweler check any gemstones that have been put in settings at least once a year. This is to make sure that the prongs are secure and your gems are safe. When in doubt, ask a professional jeweler about the care and cleaning of your new gemstone jewelry.

Hot Hoop Dangles For Summer

 


New style of hoop earrings that dangle for the summer! 


These earrings are light and breezy and feature coral colored chips, lapis and turquoise…see these and other styles just added to our online store!













 
















Browse and shop our custom crafted jewelry collections at our Timeless Designs store on Ruby Lane!

Silver Jewelry Care Tips

Since the prices of platinum and gold are very high there are many who have turned to buying sterling silver jewelry. Silver is the most white metal and the whiteness of silver even exceeds that of rhodium or platinum. This is the reason why a silver surface that is flat and polished resembles a perfect mirror. The only problem with silver is that it gets tarnished.

This is because the molecules of silver on its surface combine with oxygen and the result is the formation of silver oxide that is blackish in color. This is a big contrast with the whitish appearance of silver. That is why when making a mirror; the silver is usually covered using glass. Glass is used to block oxygen and this prevents tarnishing. Since it is not possible to buy silver jewelry that is coated with glass, it will tarnish after some time.

There is some silver jewelry that is plated using rhodium to prevent the tarnishing. This kind of silver should not be polished as this will remove the rhodium plating. Although rhodium is in the platinum group of metals, it does not have a whitish appearance as silver does, so it is at times an advantage to acquire silver jewelry that is in its natural state. When buying silver jewelry from a store, it is important to ask whether the piece is coated with rhodium so that it is clear about how it should be cleaned.

There is some silver jewelry that does not need to be polished regularly because tarnishing is prevented by the skin oils and frequent washing. This means that jewelry that is worn close to the skin like a chain, a ring or cross tends to remain untarnished. The tarnishing only occurs when the jewelry is exposed to harsh chemicals that increase the rate of oxidation.

A good illustration is when someone who is wearing a silver cross on the neck swims in a pool that has chlorinated water, the jewelry will quickly turn black. Swimming in a pool that draws water from a spring or a lake does not tarnish the sterling silver jewelry. Silver is highly reactive and it reacts when it gets into contact with oxygen, chlorine or sulfur.

The reaction leads to formation of compounds that are blackish. Those who use water that has a high content of sulfur or has traces of chlorine will notice that their silver jewelry will keep tarnishing. The same thing happens if the person wearing the jewel has chemicals in the skin oil due to diet or body chemistry

How to Sell Sterling Silver Jewelry Online

Silver is becoming one of the most popular metals in the jewelry industry. New buyers seem to come on board all the time with something much needed for a business, especially a new one. If you are thinking of starting a business online, selling sterling silver jewelry could just be one of the best options that you have at your disposal. This is thanks to the ever improving technology which is making every impossible thing possible. With the internet you have a completely unlimited customer base, as you can access and market your products in any part of the world. Below are some of the ways you can use to utilize the internet technology to your advantage to sell sterling silver jewelry.

A well built ecommerce website: For those whose budgets are not fixed, the best thing to do is to put some money into building a silver jewelry website. A well designed and attractive website will always attract visitors and it is out of these visitors that you will get potential buyers. You may also want to employ a few people to handle the marketing, sales and taking care of the website.

EBay: If your budget is a little bit tight, you may need to opt for EBay. Although you will still need to put in some money, as you will need necessities like a computer, some simple application knowledge, an internet connection (a fast one will be of advantage because slow connections sometimes disappoint), especially if you are chatting with a client.

Social network sites: Many people go to social sites to make friends and when they come up with a product to sell, they normally forget about the social network that they have online. Social network sites like Facebook, Tagged, Twitter and Myspace can be the best places to build a customer base. Just let everyone in your network know you are selling sterling silver jewelry and you will be surprised how fast the information is distributed. You can offer your network members commissions if someone buys from you through them.

With the above options you can always succeed in your sterling silver jewelry business online. The more successful sales you make the more your customer base will expand, as word of mouth will also be playing a part in marketing your products. Just like in any other business, you may not make money as fast as you expect, but a little bit of patience and time dedicated to the business will always see you progress.

How to Ensure that the Sterling Silver Jewelry is Genuine

For a long time, silver has been used to bring an aura of class to the wearer. As far as making a fashion statement is concerned, sterling silver jewelry does it beautifully - as long as it is genuine. It would be very embarrassing to buy fake sterling silver jewelry and have it fade in glamour, compared to the genuine ones. Ensuring that you have bought genuine sterling silver jewelry will enhance your social standing and it will also give you value for your money. In any case, you will feel more confident with the genuine type.

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of fake silver jewelry on the market. It is therefore important that you are careful when you are buying the jewelry. That notwithstanding, there are ways in which you can ensure that the piece you have is of the genuine type. The following is an outline of these tips:

• Carrying out the acid test - due to the influx of cheap imitations of sterling silver jewelry in the market, it has become imperative that consumers take a lot of care when they are buying this precious metal. A nitric acid test can be used to determine the authenticity of the jewelry. You can do the test by on your own, although it is highly recommended that you leave it to a jeweler, as he has the necessary expertise. Rubbing a small portion of the silver jewelry vigorously and then applying small amounts of nitric acid will determine the genuineness of the piece. Authentic pieces will produce a cloudy grey color, while fakes turn the liquid green. It is important however that you use a part that would not be noticed easily.
• Relate to the stamp law - it is important that you acknowledge that the law has made it obligatory that silver jewelry makers incorporate a 925 stamp on their pieces. The 925 signifies that the piece has 92.5 % silver. Alternatively, it could be stamped ‘sterling’. It is important to note that the stamp could be at any point and therefore you need to check carefully.
• Buying only from vendors of repute - getting the sterling silver jewelry from vendors of good repute is important as far as ensuring that the pieces are genuine. It would definitely be important that you do some research to help you in this endeavor. Consulting friends and relatives could help you in this.

Summer – A Little Bold Chic or Traditional

Summer is here and with it new jewerly designs.......these are just a few of the newest additions from our studio and are perfect for the summer season! Bright, bold and somewhat a little more traditional they are both light-weight necklaces using a mixture of natural stone, ceramic & crystals beads and even a little bit of bone.







Boldly bright shades of green turquoise (stabilized) chips, creamy irregular rondelle bone beads, with a little splash of ‘bling’ in crystals. The necklace features a lovely smaller agate pendant from Brazil; it is almost clear with a center color of olive and slight crystallization. I have hand wire wrapped it in non-tarnish brass wire to bring out the more earthy tones.


















Traditional and chic southwest style necklace featuring a beautiful turquoise (dyed) colored agate from Brazil; the pendant has natural citrine color with a few cream streaks and has been hand wire wrapped in non-tarnish silver wire. It is hung from strands of natural citrine chip/nuggets, a few ceramic Tibetan beads and blue Arizona turquoise (stabilized) and accenting metals.







Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents. 
Citrine: Intuition, comfort, protection, creativity, physical energy, wealth, mental awakening.
Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.

See more summer designs…..just browse and shop our artisan crafted jewelry collections at our Timeless Designs online store!

How to Choose Sterling Silver Jewelry for Christmas

Each year, there are a lot of festivities at the Christmas period. It is at this time that people exchange various gifts that are opened on Boxing Day. Sterling silver jewelry is among the best gifts that one can offer during Christmas. Offering jewelry is an indication of emotion. Jewelry also shows the character of a person, personal accomplishment, life habits and psychological quality.

The kind of jewelry that is offered to different people varies greatly depending on the person and the relationship between the two. It is important to take time and choose the suitable jewelry. The age of the person who is going to receive the gift should be among the top considerations. People are in several age groups like adults, teenagers, children or babies.

The adults can either be young, old or middle aged. Each age group needs a type of jewelry that is special. The natural choice of jewelry for the old is that which is made of silver. This is the same for the middle-aged people. Although the young adults and teenagers like trying various types of fashionable jewelry, silver jewelry has not escaped their attention and it is something that one can comfortably send to someone special on Christmas Day.

When offering jewelry as a gift, it is vital to find the kind that is shiny and will maintain the original look for a long time. No one feels good if the jewelry tarnishes soon after it is worn. It is important to determine if the jewelry that is on sale is made of genuine silver. The law demands that metal should be marked by marker and metal quality. For sterling, this mark will be 925 (which means that is 92.5 percent silver which is the sterling) or “sterling" stamped in words.

The mark can be placed close to the clasp or at the chain’s end. The mark is also placed on a ring, hence it is better to check around. It is possible to tell whether jewelry is made of sterling silver by testing it. An acid test can be done by the jeweler. This means that the buyer has to pay extra cash for this service.

Although the test does not cost a lot of money some feel that it is not worth it. However this depends on the amount paid for the silver jewelry. The safest bet when buying silver jewelry as a Christmas gift is to shop at established stores. Such stores cannot risk losing their reputation by selling fake items.

The Glamour and Elegance that Silver Jewelry Holds

Since the olden days of ancient civilizations, jewelry has been linked to elegance, glamour, status, power, wealth and beauty. Silver jewelry has undoubtedly revolutionized the whole fashion industry by giving gold jewelry very stiff competition. This is because silver is cost effective and fashionable at the same time. At the present time, the price of silver jewelry has sky rocketed but, surprisingly, demand has continued to increase day by day. Since time immemorial, this precious metal has been used for jewelry and adornments because of its white color that gleams and its exceptional brightness.

Currency that was used worldwide a few centuries back was mainly excellently crafted silver coins. This shows that silver was very valuable even back then. Silver has also been thought to have mythological powers. It was believed that silver had an ability to repel vampires and that is mostly why it is used in the coating of mirror borders. Apart from silver jewelry, silver has been used over time in the manufacturing of precious antiques that people of status cherished very much. Nonetheless, sterling silver jewelry is what made this precious metal very significant.

Silver jewelry has made a comeback in the fashion industry that has even threatened the place of gold. Designers nowadays fuse silver jewelry with precious stones such as rubies to create very elegant ornaments. The versatility used in the designs also deserves accolades. This is because designers have managed to mix the modern culture of ornaments with traditional concepts to come up with jewelry that appeal to all. Silver jewelry consists of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, rings, chokers, anklets, armlets and bangles. These jewelry designs normally change with the rate of fashion trends.

In conclusion, the perfect finish (which also shows in the brightness of silver jewelry) is the determinant of the level of perfection. It is always advisable to buy silver jewelry from trusted sources so that you do not get imitations or coated pieces. There are plenty of deceitful jewelers out there who will con people out of their hard earned money. There are also various tests that will enable you to identify the real from the fake. There is a famous acid test that you can use on the jewelry to establish its authenticity. There is also the luster and color factor that you should train your eye well to see, to be able to identify real silver jewelry.

Do You Know What Wearing Silver Jewelry Says About You?

The popularity of silver jewelry as an accessory has been soaring in the recent past. In most cases, the metal jewelry is worn when one intends to make a fashion statement. This does not undermine the fact that there are people who prefer other types of jewelry. It is important to acknowledge that the popularity of sterling silver jewelry mainly stems from its glamorous nature. However, it is important to acknowledge that silver has many meanings. If anyone was to see you wearing silver jewelry, several things would clock in their mind. As much as you may have your own intentions for wearing the jewelry, there are some inevitable meanings that it would have.

To start with, it would create a meaning as to your wish to mingle with the crowd or feel like you belong to them. As much as gold may be more conventional, it puts an element of exclusivity or implying that you are in a class of your own and are better off in secluded places. This is unlike silver which, while making a fashion statement, allows for this element of familiarity.

Sterling silver jewelry could also create an impression as to your confidence in yourself. Being in a position to wear it is enough to create this impression. This, however, would not be interpreted as being boastful or as an attention seeker. While there are other types of jewelry that would still make statements about your confidence, silver jewelry accomplishes this in a more or less composed manner.

In addition, silver can be interpreted as being simplistic. As indicated before, sterling silver jewelry can show you are confident in yourself in a composed manner. Silver jewelry brings out the beauty in people in a simple manner. One thing that you should appreciate about silver jewelry is that it comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and forms. Nevertheless, it should be possible to find some that accommodates your tastes, while also being captivating in its elegance.

Investing in sterling silver jewelry would definitely complement your image. However, it is important that you ensure that the pieces are genuine, as fake pieces would do more harm than good. In addition, it would be important that you ensure that the silver jewelry is well cleaned and properly stored. This will ensure that the jewelry retains its glamour. It is important that you store it in zip bags, as this will prevent air from reacting with the jewelry and thus tarnish.

Discover the Appropriate Method for Cleaning Your Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry has been used as an accessory for quite some time. One thing that you should appreciate about the metal is that it looks clean and has a shiny glamour which adds to one’s individual style. It is important to note, however, that the glamour will not remain if the sterling silver jewelry is not taken care of properly, or cleaned in the right manner. It is important to note that silver is a soft metal, so it will tarnish especially if it is not well cleaned or maintained in the right manner.

Cleaning silver jewelry regularly and properly prevents the metal from tarnishing. Cleaning of the jewelry is done only using a soft cotton cloth or a soft flannel. In addition, you could make use of a wide range of silver cleaning cloths that can be bought. The good thing about silver cleaning cloths is that they come with some chemicals which prevent silver jewelry from tarnishing. The cloths are ideal for quick cleaning of the sterling silver jewelry before they are worn, as well as intensive cleaning when you want to store them.

Cleaning the silver jewelry could also be done by the use of soap in liquid form. This soap is added to heated warm water and the solution is applied to the silver jewelry using the soft cloth. Make sure you have wiped away the dirt and rinse it using warm water before properly drying it. It is important that you take care of any intricate details incorporated in the pieces. Cleaning these would necessitate the use of a toothbrush with soft bristles and not the cloth.

If the sterling silver jewelry has become tarnished, it is imperative that you make use of a specialized silver cleaner. You can get these in two forms - either as a paste or as a liquid. Should you want to make use of the paste form, you would have to scoop small amounts with the soft cloth and gently rub it on the sterling jewelry in straight lines to prevent scratching the piece. Allow the paste cleaner to dry on the piece before rubbing away the excess. To ensure it is completely clean, it is important that warm water be used to rinse the piece. However, ensure that the paste was completely dry before being rubbed off. As pertaining to the use of the liquid form, you only have to dip the silver jewelry in the solution then rinse it before drying it properly. This method is preferred because it produces results quickly.

Tiger’s Eye of My Son

My son joined me this year on my Tucson trip, which was the best ever! We had so much fun and while there, he picked up quite a bit of fossils and this strand of tiger’s eye, his favorite stone. I told him I would design something for him using this faceted stone and maybe mix in a little bit of bone that I had purchased too. The result is this really unique necklace fit for a young man…and he tells me that he really likes it!


The necklace is crafted of faceted round tiger's eye stones, a mix of creamy bone rondelles and gold tone metal disks.


Tiger’s Eye quartz is a semiprecious variety of quartz exhibiting chatoyancy, a vertical luminescent band like that of a cat’s eye. Unlike cat’s eye quartz, tiger’s eye is formed when parallel veins of crocidolite (blue asbestos) fibers are first altered to iron oxides and then replaced by silica. As a result, it is more opaque and has a rich yellow to brown color and when cut and polished, the stone has a fine luster. The major source of tiger’s eye is Griquatown West, in South Africa, but it has also been found in Wittenoom Gorge, Western Australia.

 





Legend says that the stone takes its name from its resemblance to the eye. This appears when the brown inclusions are cut in a certain way, just like the cat’s eye and falcon’s eye stones. For about a hundred years it has been highly sought after and used for jewelry or for therapeutic purposes.















The traditional properties of the tiger’s eye say that is an effective healing stone for bronchial problems, helpful in the cases of headaches and migraines and effective in lifting depression and promoting concentration.




Browse and shop our Timeless Designs store for your own custom artisan crafted jewelry!

Difference between Sterling Silver and Silver Plated Jewelry

It is important to know the difference between silver, sterling silver and silver plated jewelry, as it makes a big difference to the pieces that one chooses to buy. Price is a good indicator of the item’s make-up, although it can be relied upon at all times. There is a wide range of prices as it depends on the jeweler.

The price also depends on the type of material that is used to make the jewelry. Although all jewels that are made of silver might seem to have been made using the same material, there is some difference between sterling silver and silver plated jewelry.

Pure silver
Pure silver is malleable and soft .This prevents it from molding properly so as to create a product that is usable. Pure silver takes a shape that cannot survive the necessary shaping. This is why it is mixed with other elements to strengthen it. If there is a jeweler who says that the products on sale are made of pure silver, the person is telling a lie or the item is not worth purchasing.

Sterling Silver
Unlike the pure silver, the sterling silver has been mixed with another metal to make it stronger and durable. Sterling silver has 7.5 percent alloys. It is made up of metals like copper, zinc and nickel. However, the silver content is still high at 92.5 percent. Sterling silver jewelry is marked with 92.5, .925 or 925 at some point on the piece. Sterling silver does not tarnish, but it has an advantage of being shinier than the silver jewelry. The jewelry that is made using sterling silver can be kept in its best form if it remains dry. When it is not being worn it should be stored in a small plastic bag that is sealed.

Silver Plated
When jewelry is describes as being ‘silver plated’ it means that it has a silver coating on top but the material that has been used to make it can vary. This is the method that is used for cheap jewelry. This jewelry is mostly made using metal that is poor quality. Jewelry that is made using such material stretches, bends, and breaks easily. The finish also wears off easily.

Before purchasing silver jewelry, it is important to establish the jeweler’s reputation. There are some jewelers who coat the sterling silver products using pure silver to prevent it from tarnishing. The secret to getting the best sterling silver jewelry is to determine the coating thickness. Jewelry that has a thicker coating lasts for a longer time.

Ancient Fossils of Ammonite

Ammonites are one of the most popular of the fossils, both for collectors and jewelry designers. They are mostly from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Peridos that evolved into a great variety of forms. They can be found in a vast range of different shapes, sizes and structures. The movement of different species may have depended on their shape. Some of them are big and round, while others are thin and disc-shaped, some have shells that are quite small and others are very large. Ammonites are marine creatures that may have moved freely in the water, though some of the largest may have browsed more on the seabed.











The spiral coiling of the ammonite shell does not usually extend upwards. Instead it is coiled in a flat plane, with both sides of the shell depressed in the center. The ammonite shell itself has a large body chamber at the shell opening. This chamber reaches back for about half a whorl. Usually the animal lived with the body chamber at the lowest point, and the rest of the shell above.


 






We often feature many designs using the ammonites; which are hand wire wrapped.  The range of soft earthy colors or sold balck are perfect for any seasons!

Browse and shop our custom jewelry collections at Timeless Designs on Ruby Lane!