January’s birthstone, the garnet, is believed to have blood purification properties and to protect against poisoning. Actress Faye Dunaway and supermodel Kate Moss are two celebrities who were born in January.

The amethyst, the gem of the month for February, is a symbol of serenity and peace. In addition, it’s reputed to protect the wearer from intoxication. Princess Stephanie of Monaco, singer Roberta Flack and actress Drew Barrymore have amethysts in their birthstone jewelry.

March’s birthstone is the clear blue aquamarine. Perhaps because of its color, it is sacred among sailors, who believe that it will protect them from the perils of the sea. NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr. and singing legend Liza Minnelli are among the celebrities who are under the protection of the aquamarine.

The eternally stylish and elegant diamond is April’s birthstone. Believed to symbolize true love, it is the most popular gem used in wedding rings. Among the notables having diamond birthstone jewelry are England’s Queen Elizabeth II, actress Jessica Alba and tennis player Andre Agassi.

May’s birthstone is the enigmatic emerald. Some people believe that emeralds are magic and had the ability to make the wearer psychic. Famous people having the emerald as their birthstone include British Prime Minister Tony Blair, socialite Bianca Jagger and singer Janet Jackson.

The simple and classic pearl is the birthstone for June. It is viewed by various cultures as a symbol of power, love, purity and chastity. Pearl birthstone jewelry celebrities count sex symbols Marilyn Monroe and Angelina Jolie among their numbers.

The red ruby is July’s birthstone. It is believed to help in matters of love and to enhance sexual prowess. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, are among the celebrities born in July.

Birthstone jewelry for August includes the lime green peridot, is traditionally believed to give good sleep and protect the wearer from nightmares. Oscar winner Halle Berry and Grammy winner Whitney Houston are two of the women who count the peridot as their birthstone.

Sapphire is the birthstone for September. It is believed the give the power of precognition and is also linked to joy and peace. Two glamorous figures who can be poster babies for sapphire birthstone jewelry are actresses Brigitte Bardot and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The delicate opal is October’s birthstone. Some cultures believe the opal brings bad luck, while others associate it with innocence and purity. Tony-winning actress Julie Andrews and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton were born in October.

The topaz is central in November’s birthstone jewelry. Medicine men and women in some cultures used ground topaz in their concoctions to heal asthma, and the birthstone was also reputed to have a calming effect on the quick-tempered. The late Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco and Hollywood actress Demi Moore are two examples of famous November babies.

Finally, we have turquoise as December’s birthstone. The Indians of North America revered this gem because of its power to warn the wearer of danger and because of the luck it brought. Pop princess Britney Spears and film director Steven Spielberg celebrate their birthdays in December.

Wearing birthstone jewelry is a popular tradition that continues to this day. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches and many other dress accessories adorned with these gems are not only fashionable but also more meaningful for the wearer or for the recipients of such gifts. Also, having birthstone jewelry is a reminder that you have at least one thing in common with celebrities!

Take pearls, for instance. In the olden days, if a maiden wanted a man to fall in love with her, she would put pearls ground into a fine powder into a glass of wine and somehow get him to drink it. A pretty costly way to catch a man, that method. Nowadays, wearing pearls is believed to enhance one’s inner character and bring about peace and serenity. Gold is another example of bewitching jewelry. Since time immemorial, it has captured the fascination of all people, and is one of the cornerstones of the science of alchemy. Gold is used to enhance the power of other gemstones, hence its popular use as a setting. It is also believed to attract wealth and influence, because the wearer is perceived to be strong and powerful.

Bewitching jewelry is not confined to fashionable purposes. The Indian warriors of old used to have swords that were adorned with garnets, secure in the belief that this would bring them luck in battle. Today, garnet jewelry presented as a gift signifies the giver’s feelings of eternal love and commitment. It can also be worn as a charm to increase sensuality and sexuality. Similarly, diamonds are said to aid in the release of sexual tension and to help the wearer enjoy a fantastic sex life. I wonder what that says about girls who treat diamonds as their best friend?

Sapphires are benevolent examples of bewitching jewelry. Aside from preserving friendships and promoting loyalty, they are also believed to protect the wearer from capture. Turquoise is likewise popular as a talisman because of its alleged property of changing colors when the wearer is in peril. Plus, it is used in amulets in many cultures because it is believed to be a bringer of luck.

There are many, many other beliefs regarding the use of gemstones as bewitching jewelry. They may be worn as talismans, charms, amulets or simply as fashion accessories. But for many people today, as in the ancient times, jewels are chosen not only for their beauty, but for the perceived benefits that they will bring to the wearer as well.

Traditionally, jewelry manufacturers used platinum alloyed with metals from the platinum group metals (iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium). With the proper mix of these platinum group alloys, platinum becomes one of the hardest metals making it a strong and durable jewelry metal. Platinum will not rust or corrode and the platinum family metals make it hypoallergenic and ideal for persons with sensitive skin.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for platinum jewelry state that only items consisting of 950 part per thousand of pure platinum can be marked stamped “PLATINUM” or “PLAT” without more alloy information. From 750-950 Platinum, the platinum group metals must also be indicated. For example, PLAT900IRID for 10% Iridium alloy. Historically, the most common alloys in America were 95% Platinum with 5% Ruthenium or 5% Cobalt and 90% Platinum with 10% Iridium.

There is a misperception that the 950 platinum is better than the 900 platinum. However, pure platinum is very soft and the right alloy mix is what is important. Different alloys and different percentages produce better results for different jewelry purposes. Some alloy mixes work better for casting and some are better for handcrafting like bending the prongs over fragile diamond corners. Many artisans feel that PLAT900IRID is the best general-purpose alloy for diamond rings.

While platinum is best known for its use in jewelry, more than 60% of platinum is used for other industrial purposes such as catalytic converters in autos and pacemakers in the medical field. Because of its rarity and the rapidly increasing demand for this versatile metal, the price has soared in recent years.

The high price of platinum has caused some jewelry manufacturers to start using lower percentages of platinum and to use other alloy metals to lower the cost of the jewelry. Unfortunately, these new alloy mixes are reducing the very qualities that made platinum desirable. The new alloys produce more brittle platinum that is more susceptible to damage.

For example, metal that is stamped 585 Platinum is really only 58.5% pure platinum and 41.5% copper and cobalt with the result that it is more likely to crack, crater, discolor or irritate sensitive skin. Less scrupulous jewelry vendors remove the 585 stamp and complicate the situation, leading consumers to believe the metal is the traditional high quality platinum.

Historically the jewelry shopper did not have to be concerned about the purity of platinum because the alloy metals were in the platinum group the quality was uniform regardless of the particular alloy or percentage used.

Today’s jewelry shopper is at potential risk because the lower quality platinum looks the same as the higher quality platinum. While platinum looks similar regardless of the alloy, the weight of lower quality alloy mixes is lower because there is so much less of the dense platinum.

Currently there are no FTC guidelines for the new platinum alloys so it is up to the jeweler or appraiser to help the consumer determine if the platinum is well suited for its intended use. The consumer deserves a warning if sold lower quality platinum since it might not hold stones as well and is more susceptible to damage. However, do not expect the jeweler selling low quality platinum to point out this potential problem. As with any important purchases, it is up to the consumer to be knowledgeable and ask the right questions before making a purchase.

In times of old, body piercings were treated differently, depending on the culture. As most body piercings had ritual or ceremonial value, many cultures prohibited specific types of body piercing that were purely for the sake of adornment. The warriors of old Central and South American civilizations sported body piercings, specifically in the nose area, in order to appear more intimidating to their enemies. On the other hand, lip piercings and decorations were meant to enhance attractiveness, especially among women of the day and age.

And while body piercings were more or less common in ancient Egypt, the ancient Egyptian pharaohs actually appropriated specific types of piercings. For example, no one BUT members of the royal family should wear a belly ring, on pain of death! Talk about the price of vanity.

Nowadays there is still some stigma associated with body piercings, especially among young women. It may be true that piercing is not always a safe practice, but more and more tattoo parlors are adopting measures that will ensure that infection is at least avoided. The increasing popularity of body jewelry cannot be ignored, especially since things like the belly ring and lip ring are making their way to MTV!

Yes, we’re talking about Britney Spears and her belly rings. We’re talking about the famous “stars and moon” dangling belly ring she wore to the MTV music awards last year. We’re also talking about Christina Aguilera and her “Nirvana nipple ring,” among lots of other unconventional accessories — made slightly less unconventional by their appearance on international TV.

Belly rings are popular among young people who like to get together and dance. Dancers on TV are popularizing it as a sexy accessory. There are no pharaohs nowadays who would want to lop off Britney Spears’ head for donning this spectacularly alluring piece of jewelry. From a status symbol to a sexy fashion accessory, the belly ring sure has come a long way.

The bells are made using the “lost wax method” which means, we make a rubber mold from an original carved wax, a wax copy is then made for each body, bail and clapper. The parts are then attached (sprued up) to a wax tree. A temperature resistant plaster of Paris type material (investment) is poured around each tree in a rubber cup (this step is called investing). When the material hardens, it is removed from the cup and put into a kiln, which reaches a temperature of 1350° F. The wax is vaporized leaving a plaster mold into which molten silver is poured, making the bells. They are removed, cut from the tree and go through numerous processes before the 3 pieces are assembled by hand, making a completed bell. Each bell is then given a final polish before being sent to our retailers.

We are currently sold in more than 800 stores in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The Bell Collection is sold in every kind of store from The National Cathedral in Washington D.C. to family owned stores in small rural towns. We have been truly blessed throughout our entire journey. With an incredible staff and great stores, we continue to come up with fresh new ideas while staying true to our mission statement.

It is the mission of the staff at Jewelry John to bring joy into the lives of others with our craft and to honor God in all our endeavors by always putting God and family first, by providing prompt and courteous customer service and by building our customer’s trust by creating heirloom quality hand crafted jewelry of remarkable artistry and craftsmanship with a message that will touch people’s lives.

Fortunately, earrings don’t have to be fancy, or expensive, or made of just one extravagant material — or a combination thereof. A person can be elegant without spending a lot of money, and a person can be elegant without looking so metallic!

American Indians used to create very elaborate beaded jewelry for different purposes. Among them were dream catchers — ritual items placed on cradles and other sleeping areas in order to drive away bad dreams — and beaded earrings for the women. A common stone involved in the making of bead jewelry is turquoise, which is said to lend strength of conviction and character to the wearer.

Some beads are made of semi-precious stones, and as such make beaded earrings that are comparable to earrings made from other kinds of exotic materials — like hemp. Beads come in virtually every hue of the color spectrum, so it is no problem to find or make beaded earrings to catch one’s fancy.

To achieve the natural, native look, go for beaded earrings. They are certainly unique and attention-catching. Choose from a variety of multicolored or monochromatic designs, mix and match according to your clothing, and existing jewelry. If you already have bead necklaces or bracelets — or even beaded shirts! — why not wear beaded earrings to match?

Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Marie Osmond and “Law and Order” actress Elisabeth Rohm have all purchased and sported beaded jewelry at one time or another, and it has worked very well for them indeed!

Beaded earrings are easily very colorful and elegant, with a touch of that old world charm. If you want a change from the traditional metal-and-stone ensembles in most jewelry outfits, beaded accessories are the way to go.

When it comes to style and skill, one of the world’s class footballers David Beckham is probably the envy of most men. No other man has put mens’ jewellery firmly on the style map like Beckham has. Let’s face it most men wouldn’t turn a blind eye if Beckham was all style and no skill on the pitch. But Beckham is blessed with style, substance and most importantly he ranks high because of his skill with the ball on the pitch.

You’ve probably seen all the pictures. First, there were the winning haircuts; floppy blonde, shaved head and the mohican. Then the tabloids captured him appearing at a nightclub in a sarong to reveal both body and the legs.

But it was when Beckham started wearing expensive diamond watches, jewellery and diamond earrings? Not just one diamond stud piercing an earlobe but two diamond earrings. It’s a head-turning remarkable style triumph by Beckham who effortlessly gave men permission to wear mens’ jewellery. Had another man tried to pull off wearing earrings he may have not been as successful.

At the Beckhams’ pre-World Cup party, again mens jewellery was on dazzling display. England’s full-back Ashley Cole arrived in his version of “Full length and Fabulous”. Naked from the waist up, Ashley Cole’s dinner jacket was replaced with mens’ jewellery.

And an exquisite diamond encrusted watch was the costliest item at the Beckhams’ charity auction created by Jacob Arabo, the sparklingly talented young jewellery designer whose name has fast become well-known in celebrity circles.

Arabo’s exquisite mens’ jewellery is much-loved by his clients not simply for being expensive but for transcending the classic designs. He takes credit for changing male attitudes to wearing jewellery. Pop stars and celebrities alike wear some of his creations like diamond-covered dice or mobile phones to stand out in photo shoots and pop videos.

Men’s jewellery has been reported to have risen by twenty percent. And the demand for diamonds has risen too, not surprising given the number of celebrities keen to flash a bit of bling for the cameras.

So there you have it. It’s official. Jewellery is not just for women anymore. For the trend conscious, urban, metrosexual man, wearing a piece of mens’ jewellery is the ultimate to looking cool. You only have to look at the growing array of mens’ jewellery; bracelets, earrings, chains and pendants being paraded in this year‘s catwalks. Men may even have their very own jewellery boxes soon to keep their prized pieces.

Gone are the days of the medallion man: all gold chains embedded in chest hair, a sore sight for any woman’s eyes. Numbered are the days when a young man will expose matted chest hair, allow his toned stomach to turn into a paunch, sprout nose hair and leave his nails uncut. Slowly yet surely grooming and mens’ jewellery are causing ripples in the male universe.

So whether it’s platinum or a combination of metals, diamond encrusted rings earrings or trinkets, jewellery designers are getting in on the act. Manufacturers in fine jewellery are expanding their lines for men’s jewellery too. So it looks as if the trend for mens’ jewellery is set to stay – diamonds or no diamonds.

If you are a first time knotter, I would recommend knotting for a while without worrying about putting a clasp on, just so you can get the hang of it. You can then cut the practice strand apart when you are happy with how your knots look. Even if you are an experienced knotter, I recommend doing a few practice knots to make sure that you are happy with the size of the knots on the thread you have chosen. Once you have found the right size thread you are ready for the next step: attaching the clasp.

There are several ways of attaching clasps. I prefer to use French wire over bead tips because it is more secure and has a more finished look. First you tie a slip knot at the end of the thread and string your bead onto the silk. Then you string on about ¼ to ½ inch of appropriately sized French wire. You want the wire to be large enough that it does not slide into the hole of the bead but small enough that the clasp will fit onto it. If you are stringing beads with very large holes and large thread you may not be able to find French wire that will fit onto the thread. In that case, since the thread is so large I simply use the thread to attach the clasp. In any case once you have strung on the bead, the French wire and the clasp, you string the needle back through the hole in the bead that it just came through so that the French wire forms a loop with the clasp on it. This will leave you with a clasp on one side of your bead and a slip knot and your needle with thread on the other side. After you have attached the clasp and strung the needle and thread back through you are ready for the next step: stringing and knotting.

Many people use tools to help them knot between the beads when they are making a necklace or bracelet. The only tool that I ever use when knotting is an awl. I usually knot using the next bead in line to make the knot tight. You can either string all of the beads/pearls onto the thread/silk or you can string just a few on at a time. I then take the end that has the clasp on it in my left hand and tie a knot keeping the loop fairly large until it is close to the bead with the clasp on the end of it. As you get the knot/loop closer to the bead you make it smaller and smaller until you are right against the bead and then you bring it tight against the bead. Then you slide the following bead down onto the knot to make it extra tight. Then you do the same for all the rest of the beads. You may run into a few problems in your knotting process. If you pull the knot too tight while it is too far away from the bead you will want to use an awl to loosen the knot and bring it closer to the bead. You must be careful not to tie any knot too tight when it is too far from the bead because you will not be able to fix it. If the knot is too far away and you are unable to loosen it to move it you may try tying another knot to make it closer. It will be slightly larger than the other knots but it will salvage your necklace or bracelet. Be sure not to knot the between the final two beads because you are going to need that space for when you attach the clasp. When you have knotted between all of the beads except the last two you are ready for the final step: finishing the necklace or bracelet.

When you have strung and knotted all of your beads or pearls leaving one space unknotted at the end you simply go through the same process that you went through initially to attach the other end of the clasp. String on an appropriately sized piece of French wire and the other end of the clasp and string the thread back through. Then you want to divide the thread and tie a secure jeweler’s knot between the first two beads on each end. A jeweler’s knot is when you tie just like you’re tying the first step in a shoelace (not the bow part) but instead of looping through once you loop through twice. If you tie two jeweler’s knots on each end your necklace or bracelet will be both balanced and secure. I then use watch crystal cement to glue these knots and make it extra secure. Then leave the glue to dry for a day or so and clip the excess thread/silk as close to the knot as possible and your necklace or bracelet is all ready to go.

Category 1: Diamonds with inclusion1 and blemishes2 which is visible to our naked eye.

The easiest way to know whether a diamond is of good quality is by simply asking the jeweler, but due to scams this tactic seems not to be reliable, still. By knowing the Clarity Grade Standard of a diamond you will be guided.

Category 2: Diamonds which are definitely clear.

A. Start on investing flawless diamonds, gives you a good start. It should be really flawless internally and externally.

B. VS1 and VS2 are the recommended highest grade one could wear

C. SI1- it is simply named as it is because it has little problems which will not give any difference to its appearance.

Buying a diamond can be really tricky. Be very sensitive when it comes with this. You must be paying for its worth as possible. Be smart than its sellers, jewelers used to trick people for their own benefit.

For you to be able to enjoy what you are spending for regardless if its for your collection or simply for accessory purposes to yourself or home, you should everything that you should know in buying one.

Some are very regardless when it comes to this matter. They used to be or sometimes as always tend to be an impulsive buyer which should everyone avoid. They are like somewhat attracted to a light, what seems to be appealing to their eyes, they buy it at ones without even taking in consideration the quality itself.

In buying precious jewelry such as diamonds extra precautions should be observe, so that you will not find it to be just wasting both of your money and time but enjoying it more than you’ve expected to enjoy it

Appraising is a profession that implies responsibility. The alexandrite appraisal states the value of a gem or jewel and it is used later on for other legalities. Because anyone can state that they are true alexandrite appraisal experts, one has to be careful and not let himself be fooled by any statement. It is up to the client to determine if the alexandrite appraisal is done by a professional and not by anyone.

Having taken courses and passed tests about theories, ethics and product knowledge, an alexandrite appraisal expert is almost always an educated person, with lots of information, expertise and experience. A professional will continuously try to stay one step ahead of the market by teaching himself. Viewing alexandrite appraisal as a passion and trying to put their best efforts into making the most accurate evaluations, experts are dedicated to their job. Most of them have been alexandrite appraisal experts from generation to generation and have viewed their assignment with a lot of respect. This is the type of person you are looking for to make an alexandrite appraisal.

Alexandrite appraisal can be done online and Randy G. Lander is the owner of a site that can help you in this direction. This might not be a traditional way to go, but it can be just as effective. Besides, most of these experts are affiliated with a site that gathers all these alexandrite appraisal experts under one organized form that makes sure they are professionals and the job gets done properly and with care. If they are not affiliated, some other certificate that proves their qualifications is just as good. However, the client has to pay interest and check the background of the people he deals with.

What should an alexandrite appraisal contain?
-A detailed description of the alexandrite jewel
-A document that accurately and completely explains the type of sought value (purpose) and the function or assigned use of the appraisal
-The resources and market analysis on which the alexandrite appraisal is based
-The qualifications of the expert
-The date and location of the alexandrite appraisal inspection
-A signed statement that proves the alexandrite appraisal expert has no interest in the value of the jewel or that any kind of interest is made known in the report

What shouldn’t an alexandrite appraisal be like?
-it shouldn’t be hand written and lack the signature of the alexandrite appraisal
-it shouldn’t miss the fixed fee or not be based on the value of the jewel
-it shouldn’t miss the right purpose and assignment use
-it shouldn’t be beyond the alexandrite appraisal professional’s expertise
In addition, the alexandrite appraisal expert has to be able and willing to defend the appraisal in court.

With this information and additional research, finding the right person to do an alexandrite appraisal won’t be difficult at all. The task isn’t complicated, but being new at anything implies risks. However, as this is the age of the Internet, it should be easy to find out everything one needs to know by simply visiting several sites.