How to Choose Wedding Day Jewellery

by: Richard Green

However quickly your wedding day might flash past, your memories of it (not to mention the photos) will last forever. You will want to remember it as the perfect day, and you will want to look your very best. Preparations often seem to focus around the dress, but there are many other elements of your look to consider. Most people build up a “look” or theme around one particular piece of their wedding day outfit. It might take a while to settle on a theme, and it may change several times before the big day, but at some point you will probably see a gorgeous pair of shoes, or an adorable bouquet of flowers that inspires the rest of your outfit, or even the whole wedding. Whatever your inspiration, it’s a good idea to try and get each piece of the outfit to sit harmoniously with everything else. Don’t feel that you have to colour match everything perfectly, but don’t buy things in isolation. How to shop for Wedding Day Jewellery and Wedding Rings Buying a wedding ring is not a purchase to be rushed. While wedding day jewellery is key to bringing together your look on the big day, you will wear your wedding ring forever. Many jewellers like H.Samuel ( http://www.hsamuel.co.uk )now have fantastic websites to complement their high street stores. This means that you can either research on the web and go into a store to buy your rings or vice versa. Websites are great for getting hold of unusually large or small sizes, and frequently offer delivery within a couple of days of your order. You can often find more information about jewellery around the site, and even view large photos of the pieces to be sure you are getting exactly what you want. The Blue Nile ( http://www.bluenile.com/ )website is also a good tool for investigating different styles of jewellery, especially engagement rings. What jewellery should I wear on my wedding day? What you wear on your wedding day will depend on the style of the occasion. Classic Blushing Bride If you are having a traditional, meringue-y wedding dress, then you can get away with big, eye-catching pieces. Try dazzling diamond earrings with a matching tennis bracelet and a delicate pendant. If you’re on a budget, you can get the same look for a fraction of the price with gorgeous cubic zirconia versions of classic jewellery pieces. To perfectly accessorize a strapless gown, try a loosely swept up-do to draw attention to your shoulders, along with some simple, elegant drop earrings that will move and twist and catch the light. Diamond earrings ( http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/browse/N/4294967245+63/ ) will frame and light up your face for all the photos to give you a radiant glow. Cool, Contemporary Woman It’s trickier to get the balance right when your dress is the sort of sleek, elegant creation that characterises the modern wedding. You might choose traditional jewellery to contrast with and soften the contemporary look of your dress. Pearls are a perennial favourite of blushing brides, even before they were worn by the stunning Grace Kelly at her wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. Pearls have a timeless elegance and they are available in a huge variety of shapes, colours and sizes. Make a statement with iridescent, blue-grey Tahitian pearls, or add a feminine touch with perfectly round pretty pink ones. Cultured pearls are readily available on the high street and are much more affordable wedding jewellery than natural pearls. Teardrop-shaped pearls are perfect for ladylike drop earrings or pendants, while a string of gorgeous pink pearls is a reliably feminine accessory. Indie Chick Not everyone goes for a traditional white wedding; some opt for genuine individuality and self-expression. Whether your unconventional wedding is planned around a medieval banquet style or a funky urban brunch, pearls and diamonds are unlikely to hit the spot. Jewellery stores (and websites) are full of pieces set with coloured stones, and you have the choice between genuine gems and simulated stones. Coloured cubic zirconia looks fabulous, and you’re bound to find just the right shade somewhere. To really make an impact, why not try accessorizing with funky, gothic-y, vintage-y jewellery? Marcasite jewellery or big black beads will add a striking accent to your wedding dress, whether it’s vintage Edwardian, elegant cream column, or a scarlet tea gown. Celebrity Weddings Celebrities through the ages have made their wedding days an occasion to make a style statement. Gwen Stefani, one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People of 2004, is famed for her unique but immensely successful style. When she married Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, she wore a stunning white and pink John Galliano creation. To accessorize her unusual, asymmetric gown, Gwen wore an elegantly simple white gold and diamond cross, which looked fabulous. The couple recreated their London wedding two weeks later in Los Angeles, where Gwen’s individual style shone out – she wore the same dress, but instead of the discreet cross, she chose a striking heart pendant of pink tourmalines, peridots and diamonds. Madonna is another big star who chose a simple cross as an accent to her Stella McCartney gown, although not many of us could afford to emulate that particular 37 carat Harry Winston piece. With this ring, I thee wed. Of course the most important pieces of jewellery on the big day are your engagement and wedding rings. Most couples opt for simple, timeless wedding bands that will look stylish forever (remember you’ll be wearing it every day for the rest of your life) and will perfectly complement the bride’s sparkling engagement ring. It is traditional to wear your engagement ring on the right hand throughout the ceremony, to leave the third finger of your left hand free for the most symbolic piece of jewellery you’ll ever own, your wedding ring.

Gold Jewellery: a Prized Possession

By John Gibb

Gold is the most popular among the precious metals. No other metal has got such a fancy from mankind as Gold does. Gold Jewellery is the prized possession of the Humans from the ancient times. Gold jewellery is known for its beauty and grandeur. The character of Gold offering extreme malleability and ductility coupled with the man’s imagination and his ability to create wonderful and intricate designs has made Gold Jewellery a thing of beauty. Gold jewellery has become an expression of love and affection and sometimes it becomes a binding factor among the family members. It is considered the most auspicious thing in life by most of the cultures like the Oriental and Indians. A family’s wealth and status is measured by the quantity of Gold Jewellery held by it in these cultures. In ancient Egyptian civilizations, the Pharaohs wore Gold Jewellery all over their bodies as a part of their royal ceremonial Robes. These were buried with the Kings on their death with a belief and wish that their dead Kings should look rich and pompous even after their death. Such was the affinity shown to Gold Jewels during these times. Gold is mostly worn as Jewellery and the basic use is as Rings worn in the fingers of married and engaged People. Apart from this it is worn as ear rings, nose studs even in the tongue, belly button and other places on the body. But most of people use Gold Jewellery in their necks as Chains, Necklaces, Hip chains, Gold Bracelets and Bangles in their hands, as Ankle chains in their legs and toe rings in their legs. Changing Styles, invention of machinery that aids in the production of low weight Gold jewellery with highly intricate designs all lead to the rampant use of Gold even by the less affluent people of the Society. Gold jewellery is a craze amongst the younger generations also and the changing fashions give different types of use for the Gold jewellery which are worn more as a show of Wealth rather than for their utility. There are certain important things to be noted while purchasing Gold jewellery. The primary thing is the quality of the Gold metal measured by its purity in Carats. The higher the Carat value the purer the Gold. Pure Gold is mixed with other metals like Silver, Copper to give strength and other characters to the Jewellery made out of it. For low cost market, the Gold Jewels are made in less pure gold and they too come out in equally good designs and that has a got a good Market also. The third and cheapest of the Gold jewellery is the imitation Jewellery which looks equally elegant like the originals but have less than 1% of the gold content hence they are the cheapest ones among the Gold Jewellery ranges. John Gibb is the owner of gold jewellery sources , For more information on gold jewellery check out http://www.Gold-Jewellrey-Advice.Info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gibb

Moissanite Jewellery, Do they Match Diamonds?

By Angel Abdulnor

Moissanite is a crystal, originally found inside a meteorite, which is today created in a specialist lab to produce a gem which is virtually identical to a diamond. Created out of silicon and carbon using a thermal process, Moissanite can be cut into the familiar patterns of gems, and set into metals the same as any other kind of crystal. Since they are man made, Moissanite bracelets and other jewellery are a lot cheaper than items made with traditional gemstones such as diamonds. It is common to see Moissanite items compared with similar diamond jewellery; Moissanite wedding bands, for example, are often described as replacements for the traditional diamond ring. In fact, the crystal is very popular in its own right, being worn by both movie stars and catwalk models. The natural fire of Moissanite has attracted these celebrities, and a Moissanite bracelet looks as good as a diamond one. In fact, a platinum Moissanite ring is likely to have a better shine and lustre than a typical diamond, while still looking natural. Unlike Gem replacements such as cubic zirconia, moissanite jewellery actually has colour, which means that it does not have the fake, Christmas-cracker look of diamond replacement items. There are many good reasons to buy Moissanite. A Moissanite bracelet will be about the tenth of the price of a similar diamond bracelet, and the Moissanite is unlikely to fade in time. Moissanite is almost as hard as a diamond, and this scratch-resistance and durability means that it in the long term it is also cheaper than many of the fake diamonds on offer. Moissanite has a higher refractive content than a diamond, and this gives it the shine and brilliance which attracts many people to this gem. Moissanite actually has more fire and brilliance than a real diamond, and because it contains a slight amount of colour, even jewellers find it hard to tell the difference through appearance alone. Moissanite jewels can be cut into any gemstone cut, and from there mounted on any metal items, looking exactly like the much more expensive diamond encrusted jewellery. There is no reason, therefore, why a woman should not wear Moissanite bracelets or jewellery, assured that her items will not look fake, nor fade or loose value with time. As a fashion statement, or a perfect accessory, Moissanite can match diamonds for glitz, glamour and sustainability whatever the occasion. Moissanite Offers Moissanite diamonds engagement rings, moissanite wedding jewelry earrings, loose estate rings, wholesale moissanite. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_Abdulnor

How Jewellers Polish Silver and Gold Jewellery

By Gary Hocking

You might wonder why you can never get your old jewellery to shine like new, or you might wonder why the $15 silver item in a market has nothing like the finish that you see on a $120 item in a jewellery shop. Well let me take you quickly through the process that I do to finish of my pieces of jewellery. Firstly, an item comes back from the casting process and it has some pieces of metal hanging off it and the finish is all crinkly or it looks like it has been sandblasted. Here are the steps I take: 1. I use a heavy file and remove all the dags or sharp bits of metal left over from casting. 2. I next use a light metal file and I file the item as smooth as I can. I also use round files and square files and triangular files to get into those hard to get places. 3. Next I use various grades of sandpaper starting with a medium grit and sanding all over the items. Then I use a finer grade to sand all over again. 4. Now I place the items in a tumbler of metal shot. It is a mixture of small ball bearings and pointy pieces of stainless steel. It is tumbled in this with a solution of water and polish. I leave it tumbling for several hours. 5. I now use string with polish on it to get into holes and crevices where my other tools cannot reach. I run the string through the holes and polish the inside of them. This takes a lot of time and I am not fond of doing it. 6. I now use a mechanical polisher with a grease called Tripoli which actually comes from Tripoli and I use this to polish the item. 7. Now I put this into an ultrasonic machine with a solution of hot water and detergent to clean the Tripoli polish from the item. 8. Now I use another polish on the machine called Rouge. It is a red polish and now this will give my item a high gleam. 9. Back into the ultrasonic for about twenty minutes and the rouge is removed. I then dry the item carefully with a soft cloth. 10. Finally I get a polish impregnated cloth and I hand polish the item for a magnificent sparkling finish. That’s all there is to it! I now slip the item into a jewellery box without touching it with my fingers. Sometimes I’ll wear a glove for this as I do not want my finger marks on the item. Now if you have been wearing your wedding ring 24/7 for ten years and you take it off and try to polish it by hand you’ll know why you’ll never catch up to me. Gary Hocking is a manufacturing jeweller from Australia. He has his own website http://www.jewelleryexpress.com.au You may copy and distribute this article as long as you keep the live link to his website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Hocking

Exclusive Wedding Jewellery

By R. Roger

Since its origin till now a wedding ceremony has a special significance in every society. Undoubtedly Wedding Jewellery is an indispensable aspect for a wedding ceremony. Wedding jewellery shops besically tries to provide you with jewellery which are gorgeous and at the same time easy to afford. Whether you are the bride, bridegroom or you want to attend a wedding ceremony, jewelleries collection would surely suit your purpose. Wedding Jewellery collection mainly consists of extremely beautiful Crystal, Pearl and Diamante jewellery. Whether you want earrings, bracelets, pendants etc for the bride or cufflinks for the bridegroom or something for yourself our crystal wedding jewellery consists of sophisticated designs with innumerable variety. You can opt for Angelic Lg Earrings and Pearl Sparkle Earrings which are likely to be worn in a wedding ceremony. Customers are provided with colours like blue, green, purple, bronze, azure and ruby crystals according to their choice. Matching earrings are available with Small Heart Pendant on Satin Cord. A customer, ready to attend a wedding ceremony, cannot help but purchase 279 cufflinks which sparkles with shimmering crystals on a silver base from our collection. We have many more items of Wedding Jewellery which is being made by crystals. Fresh water pearls are favourable to many people especially for a wedding occasion. Among the wedding jewelleries, exclusive pearl Wedding Jewellery collection is blended with both trend and tradition which are likely to suit customers' choice. The sparkling and shimmering Dazzle Lg Bracelet (available in either gold or silver), Eternal Lg Bracelet (available in both crystal and pearl) and Double Pearly Bracelet are some of our unique collection of pearl jewellery. Being worn with Dream Lg Earrings and Flower Earrings (available in sterling silver and plated gold), a bride would look even more gorgeous. You can find a more variety of necklaces, earrings and bracelets in the Diamante jewellery collection within affordable range. One can find the best Wedding Jewellery each of which are unique pieces of beauty and at the same time can give you a lavishing experience. http://www.ayedo.co.uk/wedding_jewellery.htm Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Roger

Information You Should Know When Looking to Buy Jewellery

by: Peter Roberts

For the average person looking at jewellery can be exciting, but confusing. What do all these terms mean? Jewellery terms, especially relating to actual Gem stones, are very important because the price of the final item is dictated by the stone quality and cut. Following are some of the terms you'll come across. Blemish: Imperfections found on the surface of a Diamond. Brilliance: describes how well a diamond reflects white light. Carat: is a unit of weight measurement used for weighing diamonds. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds Clarity:How "clear" the diamond is. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds Cloud: Most diamond defects are dark. This however is a milky colour, and a lot less noticable as a result. Colour: The tint of the diamond. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds Crown: The upper surface of a cut diamond. CT or CTS: Carat Total Weight of a diamond. CTW: Carat Total Weight of a diamonds on piece of jewelry. Cut: The shape of a finished diamond. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds Eye Clean: Diamond looks clear to the naked eye. For more information see The 4 Cs of Diamonds Facets:The number of angles cut into a diamond. The more facets the shinier the diamonds appearence. Finish: As you may expect, this is the quality of the diamond's workmanship. Make: The cut and proportion of a diamond. Polish: How well buffed the facets of the diamond are. Symmetry: Good diamonds have been cut symetrical. Table:Top surface of a cut diamond. Flat like a table top. I trust this will help you when next looking to spend some of your hard earned money.

Bridal Fashion Jewelry — Weddings — Holidays & Special Occasions

By Lisa Arons

Jewellery (spelled jewelry in American English) refers to ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. Costume jewelry is made from less valuable materials. However, jewelry can and has been made out of almost every kind of material. Examples include bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings, as well as items like hair ornaments or body piercing jewelry. Jewelry, particularly when made with precious materials, is generally considered valuable and desirable. Some cultures have a practice of keeping large amounts of wealth stored in the form of jewelry. Jewelry can also be symbolic, as in the case of Christians wearing a crucifix in the form of jewelry, or, as is the case in many Western cultures, married people wearing a wedding ring. And what can symbolize love and, of course, the wedding ceremony more than a diamond?
Diamonds are graded by four characteristics: cut, carat (weight), clarity, and color. All four of these properties determine how much a diamond is worth.
Cut - What is the proportion of the diamond? Round brilliant diamonds are commonly cut with 58 facets. The better proportioned these facets are on the diamond, the more light will be reflected back to the viewer's eye. This is extremely important. When cut properly, the diamond will sparkle more. Diamond cuts are measured by the table percentage, so always ask for it. Cut also refers to the shape such as: round, pear, and oval.
Carat - How big is the diamond? Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. There are 100 points to a carat. Hence a 50 point diamond is 1/2 a carat. (There are 5 carats to a gram.)
Clarity - How clear is the stone? Clarity ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). Here is a summary:
Color: Diamond colors generally range from D - X for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become "Fancy" yellow Diamonds. One can also find green, pink, red, blue and brown diamonds - though these are usually irradiated.
Diamonds are often treated. If you are concerned about getting true value for your money, know what you are getting. Be sure to read the fine print.
Diamonds with inclusions are sometimes filled with glass to make them appear clearer. An inclusion is an imperfection internal to the diamond. Filler can be damaged by heat, ultrasonic cleaning, and by re-tipping. The filling does not repair the inclusion, it just makes it less visible. They can be painted to offset a yellow tinge. The paint wears off rather quickly.
Finally, now that you have that precious stone, here are some tips as to how to take care of it. Diamonds are often thought to be unshatterable. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Diamonds are brittle: If you hit a diamond hard, they WILL crack or chip if mishandled. Don't wear your diamond when doing rough work.
Storage: Store diamonds separately. When stored with other jewelry, diamonds may scratch other jewelry (or each other).
Cleaning: The best method for cleaning is a jeweler's polishing cloth. Many jewelers will clean your diamond ring for free if you are making another purchase in the store.
More on Holidays & Special Occasions and Weddings can be found here. Get this article to go

A Guide To Buying Jewellery Online

Because an item of jewellery tends to be an expensive purchase it is no wonder that some people feel nervous buying goods from the internet. If it is used correctly the internet opens up a new way of shopping for millions offering convenience, ease of use and a huge source of information to help you make an informed purchase. Many people still do not have confidence in the system having heard negative reports of identity theft, money being handed over and goods never arriving. For this reason we have put together some advice and guidance for purchasing diamond jewellery on the internet. The two main pros for purchasing on line is that you can access jewellers from all over the world and therefore have an amazing range of products to choose from: and prices tend to be lower than the high street stores because internet jewellers have low overheads with no high street shop to maintain and they are often able to offer near break even prices. Also because the internet opens up the world as their marketplace, the competition is fierce and their volumes tend to be very high. Packaging and presentation tends to be superior quality. Internet retailing does not permit the usual face to face sales techniques and deals can be harder to close. Online jewellers should therefore offer an excellent customer and after sales service to make their products the most attractive to prospective purchasers. But the cons are:
•How do you know they are a legitimate trader? •You cannot see what you are buying. •If you are purchasing a diamond ring you might want to customise it and select an elaborate setting which can be quite tricky on the internet. •Although it may be a glitzy-looking website, a less reputable online vendor might be operating out of their bedroom and shut down at any given moment.
The best ways of avoiding the cons are to put the following safeguards in place: 1.The vendor should have a RETAIL PREMISES ADDRESS. This should be a physical address with street name and postcode. Avoid those sites with just a PO Box number. 2.TELEPHONE NUMBER should always be a landline number, preferably an 0845 / 0800 number providing a dedicated customer service line. Always ring this to make sure it is authentic, manned during the specified hours and use it to have a chat with the customer service representatives to ascertain if they are helpful, professional and knowledgeable. If a mobile number is provided as the contact point treat this with caution. 3.EMAIL ADDRESS should be supplied to provide a direct link between the visitor and the customer service team. Always send an email using the facility asking them to contact you so that you can see how long they take to respond. If they take more than 24 hours to get back to you then the indication is that internet customers are not their priority. They should also offer an order tracking service via email. 4.COMPANY DETAILS. A UK company will have a VAT and company number on display and be registered at Companies House so that their details can easily be checked through that website. 5.CREDENTIALS. A reputable company will be a member of one of their industry trade associations having to abide by a Code of Ethics. You can check on the website of the trade association named that they are a full member. For example, a UK based online jeweller should ideally be a member of the British Jeweller’s Association (BJA) 6. PAYMENT An online payment facility is a good sign as it means that the company has been reviewed by one of the leading banks. But payment must made via a secure encrypted server which should be highlighted on the payments page along with the list of credit and debit cards that are accepted. The advantage of paying by credit card is that if anything does go wrong with a purchase in the UK the buyer is covered by the UK Consumer Credit Act 1974. 7. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE Distance selling regulations in the UK mean that a website is obliged to offer a minimum of a 7 day money back guarantee on the items it sells. The longer the refund period offered (14 or 30 days) the better it is for the customer. Make sure that you fully understand and agree the return and refund policy before placing your order. 8.TESTIMONIALS. There is no guarantee that any testimonials displayed on a website are genuine and vendors should have no objection if you request to be put in contact with one of reference sells. 9.PRODUCT WARRANTIES /GUARANTEES As it is not possible to physically touch and examine an item when purchasing online it needs to come with as much supporting documentation as possible. If you are buying diamond jewellery then it should have a Diamond Grading Certificates from one of the leading independent grading laboratories such as the IGI, GIA, AGS and EGLUSA. It is also worth checking that the vendor has some sort of proof that the stones are not conflict or blood diamonds. All the above points are basic guidelines to help you establish whether an internet retailer is legitimate, reputable and professional. By working to these guidelines and carrying out product research you should be in a position to confidently make a successful online jewellery purchase. Gary Ingram is the owner of The Diamond Store.co.uk an internet based online jewellers that sells all types of a Diamond Jewellery Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Ingram

A Fresh Look at Titanium Jewellery

By Morgan Hamilton


Do you like collecting jewellery? I've been living with few jewellery collectors so I am pretty well aware of the routine and habits that go with it. I have seen it all, from white gold, to sterling silver, to yellow gold, to platinum. They all come in various shapes and sizes and frequently have decorations made of rare stones of all kinds. Those women just love having tons of jewellery. From my personal experience I know they never go with only a new necklace, bracelet or earrings; it is probably a pair of shoes and a matching handbag to go with it, as well. Anyway, jewellery is one of the things that everyone around the world enjoys having. History shows that jewellery has been popular for centuries and my humble opinion is that it is not going out soon. Of course, jewellery has been changed a bit during the ages. For instance, there have been a few nuances in the classic spectrum of gold, platinum and pearls. Nowadays you can even purchase stronger form of jewellery. I suppose you've heard about jewellery made of true manly metals such as titanium. They are becoming more and more popular every single day. Are you aware of titanium jewellery? Do you know anything about it? I personally know that there are some rings and bracelet constructed from this superior metal available on the market. Even though I am not fan of jewellery and I never approved men wearing jewellery that new titanium jewellery just caught my attention. I usually considered that a watch and a wedding band are more than enough jewellery for a man to wear. I thought that jewellery just like make up was meant for the softer gender. Of course, I see many men who have chosen to have some more jewellery as there is such a variety of them created especially for the men of the world. I personally didn't even want to wear a wedding band as I didn't feel comfortable with it. However, when my lady and I decided to get married, I didn't have much choice. Then I started browsing the Internet for rings. I was amazed to find out that there was a whole new world out there. Titanium jewellery was offered all over the place. Once I set eyes on it, I knew that was the kind of jewellery I wanted to have. I certainly didn't mind having to wear a titanium ring on my finger. I should admit that I have always been a huge fan of this particular steel. It is light but very resilient and strong. That's how I found the perfect jewellery for myself, one I grew very fond of. These days I always wear my titanium wedding band and I love the feeling. What is really great about titanium jewellery is that it doesn't get banged up like the gold and silver jewellery. If you also share my passion for titanium jewellery it is best to hop online check the latest deals. Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning jewelry. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Titanium Jewellery Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

Cinderella Slipper Jewellery Box

By S. Roberts

Cinderella is a popular Christmas pantomime. It’s a heart-warming tale where the handsome prince whisks the girl off her feet and saves her from her evil stepmother and the ugly sisters. There's a lot of fun with Buttons and all the 'He's behind you' traditions of a Christmas panto. Cinderella of course looses her Glass Slipper, which is how her handsome prince eventually finds her. Every would-be princess should have one of these cute Cinderella slipper jewellery boxes, however this one is made from card and plastic not glass. All you will need is: Thin card, A clear round plastic bottle, paint, glue, pegs, Selotape and fur fabric. Don't forget to print out the pattern for the pieces (the link below will take you to the pattern that you can print out). Cut out the pattern pieces To begin, the main part of the slippers needs to be cut out. Fold the piece of card in half and draw around the pattern piece with the 'toe' of the pattern on the fold of the card so that the main piece turns out to be a long symmetrical piece. Join this piece in a loop with some selotape at the heel. Curve the toe and heel as necessary to form a shoe shape. Curve the toe end and cut out a slipper sole from card using the pattern and score the fold marks. Now fold them. These folds allow the sole to fit around the shaping of the main part. Put the sole in place on the bottom of the slipper and hold it in place with some selotape. Cover the outside of the slipper with one layer of paper mache, to give the slipper a nice surface to paint. Once the paper mache is dry, paint the slipper in the desired colour. Cut out a second main part, but this time put the heel on the fold. Cut out this piece to be slightly smaller all around. Stick this main part onto a piece of fur fabric which is 1cm larger than the card all round, except at the heel shaping. Put some glue on the over hanging fabric and bend it over the card and stick it on the other side of the card. Use pegs to hold it in place until the glue dries. Cut out a second card sole (again cut out this piece to be slightly smaller all around) and cover one side of it in fur fabric as you did for the main part. When the glue is dry remove all the pegs. Glue the fur sole inside the slipper at the bottom. Then curve the fur main around and glue it in place inside the slipper. To make the top of Cinderella's slipper cut out a top piece in card and paint one side the same colour as the base. Cut out two more slightly smaller top pieces. Cover one with fur fabric as you did with the other slipper parts and leave it to dry. Cut the top and bottom of a clear round fizzy drinks bottle and cut up the middle so that the bottle opens out flat. Wash and dry the bottle. Selotape the slipper upper to the plastic and cut it out. Glue the marked part (Sticking Edge) of the slipper upper so that it curves round and sticks to the underside of the painted top. Use bits of Selotape to hold the plastic in place until the glue dries. Stick the third top piece over the selotape and bottle bits. Hold in place with pegs. Finally, stick the fur-covered top on the underside of the top piece with the plastic. This is now the lid to the Cinderella jewellery box. You could make the slipper all from card and cover it in red glitter to make a ruby slipper from the Wizard of Oz.

How to Choose Wedding Day Jewellery

by: Richard Green

However quickly your wedding day might flash past, your memories of it (not to mention the photos) will last forever. You will want to remember it as the perfect day, and you will want to look your very best. Preparations often seem to focus around the dress, but there are many other elements of your look to consider. Most people build up a “look” or theme around one particular piece of their wedding day outfit. It might take a while to settle on a theme, and it may change several times before the big day, but at some point you will probably see a gorgeous pair of shoes, or an adorable bouquet of flowers that inspires the rest of your outfit, or even the whole wedding. Whatever your inspiration, it’s a good idea to try and get each piece of the outfit to sit harmoniously with everything else. Don’t feel that you have to colour match everything perfectly, but don’t buy things in isolation. How to shop for Wedding Day Jewellery and Wedding Rings Buying a wedding ring is not a purchase to be rushed. While wedding day jewellery is key to bringing together your look on the big day, you will wear your wedding ring forever. Many jewellers like H.Samuel ( http://www.hsamuel.co.uk )now have fantastic websites to complement their high street stores. This means that you can either research on the web and go into a store to buy your rings or vice versa. Websites are great for getting hold of unusually large or small sizes, and frequently offer delivery within a couple of days of your order. You can often find more information about jewellery around the site, and even view large photos of the pieces to be sure you are getting exactly what you want. The Blue Nile ( http://www.bluenile.com/ )website is also a good tool for investigating different styles of jewellery, especially engagement rings. What jewellery should I wear on my wedding day? What you wear on your wedding day will depend on the style of the occasion. Classic Blushing Bride If you are having a traditional, meringue-y wedding dress, then you can get away with big, eye-catching pieces. Try dazzling diamond earrings with a matching tennis bracelet and a delicate pendant. If you’re on a budget, you can get the same look for a fraction of the price with gorgeous cubic zirconia versions of classic jewellery pieces. To perfectly accessorize a strapless gown, try a loosely swept up-do to draw attention to your shoulders, along with some simple, elegant drop earrings that will move and twist and catch the light. Diamond earrings ( http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/browse/N/4294967245+63/ ) will frame and light up your face for all the photos to give you a radiant glow. Cool, Contemporary Woman It’s trickier to get the balance right when your dress is the sort of sleek, elegant creation that characterises the modern wedding. You might choose traditional jewellery to contrast with and soften the contemporary look of your dress. Pearls are a perennial favourite of blushing brides, even before they were worn by the stunning Grace Kelly at her wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. Pearls have a timeless elegance and they are available in a huge variety of shapes, colours and sizes. Make a statement with iridescent, blue-grey Tahitian pearls, or add a feminine touch with perfectly round pretty pink ones. Cultured pearls are readily available on the high street and are much more affordable wedding jewellery than natural pearls. Teardrop-shaped pearls are perfect for ladylike drop earrings or pendants, while a string of gorgeous pink pearls is a reliably feminine accessory. Indie Chick Not everyone goes for a traditional white wedding; some opt for genuine individuality and self-expression. Whether your unconventional wedding is planned around a medieval banquet style or a funky urban brunch, pearls and diamonds are unlikely to hit the spot. Jewellery stores (and websites) are full of pieces set with coloured stones, and you have the choice between genuine gems and simulated stones. Coloured cubic zirconia looks fabulous, and you’re bound to find just the right shade somewhere. To really make an impact, why not try accessorizing with funky, gothic-y, vintage-y jewellery? Marcasite jewellery or big black beads will add a striking accent to your wedding dress, whether it’s vintage Edwardian, elegant cream column, or a scarlet tea gown. Celebrity Weddings Celebrities through the ages have made their wedding days an occasion to make a style statement. Gwen Stefani, one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People of 2004, is famed for her unique but immensely successful style. When she married Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, she wore a stunning white and pink John Galliano creation. To accessorize her unusual, asymmetric gown, Gwen wore an elegantly simple white gold and diamond cross, which looked fabulous. The couple recreated their London wedding two weeks later in Los Angeles, where Gwen’s individual style shone out – she wore the same dress, but instead of the discreet cross, she chose a striking heart pendant of pink tourmalines, peridots and diamonds. Madonna is another big star who chose a simple cross as an accent to her Stella McCartney gown, although not many of us could afford to emulate that particular 37 carat Harry Winston piece. With this ring, I thee wed. Of course the most important pieces of jewellery on the big day are your engagement and wedding rings. Most couples opt for simple, timeless wedding bands that will look stylish forever (remember you’ll be wearing it every day for the rest of your life) and will perfectly complement the bride’s sparkling engagement ring. It is traditional to wear your engagement ring on the right hand throughout the ceremony, to leave the third finger of your left hand free for the most symbolic piece of jewellery you’ll ever own, your wedding ring.

Gemstones and Jewellery

By Gary Hocking

What is a gemstone? A gemstone is a rock or mineral or matter of another kind such as a natural resin which once cut and polished can be held and admired by collectors or used to make jewellery. Since cave man days minerals and rocks have been worn to adorn the wearer or for religious and spiritual protection and also as a statement of authority. Even today kings and queens almost always have the best jewels and jewellery. There nearly four thousand known minerals but only between twenty and fifty of these are commonly made into gemstones. To be made into gemstones a mineral, rock or other matter must meet certain criteria. Appearance is the most important factor. Possessing beauty because of its colour such as opals or for its perfection such as a white sparkling diamond, or for its inherent interesting qualities such as amber are attributes which a matter must have before it will be collected as a gemstone. It will have to be durable enough to be worn. There are many of minerals which are too soft to be worn even though they are very beautiful. Then it will need to be big enough to be cut and polished and made into some form of jewellery. For instance, we know that we can cut extremely small diamonds and they are still attractive but if we cut opal into tiny pieces like the smallest diamonds then it would be worthless as it wouldn’t be able to show its magnificent colours. Next, gemstone material needs to be plentiful enough to mine or harvest. If there are only very small deposits then it would not warrant millions spent on exploration and mining operations as the returns would be too small. Almost a contradiction of that is the fact that the gemstone has to be rare. If it was found everywhere like sand then it would just become part of the landscape and have no realistic monetary value. Gemstones can be natural like a mineral, organic like coral, amber, ivory and pearl and they can be synthetic such as glass, moissanite and cubic zirconia. They must be beautiful, colorful, display some particular interesting quality, display perfection of form and be available enough to manufacture or mine and they must be rare at the same time. Gary Hocking makes custom jewellery specializing in Australian opals. He has his own website http://www.jewelleryexpress.com.au Feel free to use this article as long as you keep the bio and the live link to his website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Hocking

Choosing Jewellery for Women

By Gary Ingram

When you are buying jewellery for a woman it normally means that the person is special to you (sister, mother, lover, wife or whatever) and that you might be going to spend quite a large sum of money. Because buying something so personal is never easy we have put some thoughts together on things you should take into account before making the final choice. You are making a statement of affection to someone by giving them jewellery. It does not have to be an exclusive or expensive gift as focusing on the cost is a recipe for disaster. Also what can you realistically afford? If you try to be flash and she knows you don’t really have the cash, once she has got over the shock of how much you have spent she will still won’t wear it if she doesn’t like it! So once you have set your budget there are a few basics to take into account: Does she have any allergies (eg: does gold or silver bring her out in a rash?) if in doubt opt for platinum which is hypoallergenic. What jewellery has she already got lots of? A girl only needs so many diamonds or pearls – and she might prefer coloured gemstones such as emeralds, rubies or sapphires for a change. Does she really want costume jewellery? Don’t buy her something from Theo Fennell or Butler and Wilson if she really wants you to put a diamond ring on her finger. Is she the sort of lady who would prefer something with a bit of tradition behind it? For example the three stone or trinity ring symbolises the past, present and future of a relationship, an eternity ring is what is says it is and a diamond horseshoe or wishbone symbolise good luck. What style of jewellery does she wear? Is it contemporary with bold styling or does she prefer the vintage or classic look? The best indication of her taste is the jewellery she wears all the time because these are the pieces she feels most comfortable with. Buy jewellery which fits her actual size, not the size you think she is. If she has a short neck she will probably prefer stud or huggy earrings to the long chandelier design; a short neck needs a necklace or pendant that will complement it and not be too tight – remember “choker” is not the literal meaning! Think of the shape of her fingers when buying rings: does she have slim delicate fingers or small square hands? You can get her ring size by tracing around the inside of one of her current rings and measuring this on a ring sizer guide. This has an enormous impact on whether you buy an elaborate, modern or plain ring – although a diamond solitaire looks good on any finger! An elongated diamond like a marquise or oval cut can make short fingers look sleeker -but be careful not to overdo the look or it could have the opposite effect. A setting that's extremely delicate could get lost on large hands, over-emphasizing their size and making the ring look smaller. How will the jewellery fit in with her lifestyle? Does she work in a profession where fussy jewellery would look out of place? A pointed gem with high prong setting could snag clothing (and people) and is harder to keep clean. Save that type of jewellery for gifts that will be worn on special occasions and not every day. Is it for a special occasion? Eternity rings are usually given to mark the birth of a child and various named gemstones are accepted as birthstones and anniversary gifts. If you are buying pearls take her colouring into account as rose/pink pearls suit pale complexions and blonde hair; off white and cream pearls bring out the tones in dark skin and brunettes and unflattering tones of greens and browns should be avoided. Anything with diamonds should be purchased with the 4C’s in mind – cut, clarity, carat and colour. Whatever your final choice, the most important thing is that she feels you have given it some thought, got the right size and made a real effort in selecting the piece of jewellery. So don’t blow it on the presentation … every women loves to receive a gift that is beautifully wrapped with some ribbon and bows … and give it to her properly and confidently without muttering that she “can change it if she doesn’t like it” or “a woman at work has got one just the same and I thought it looked nice on her!”. Leave her in no doubt that you chose the jewellery yourself and are giving it because you want her to know how much you care about her or love her. Gary Ingram is the Managing Director of The Diamond Store.co.uk which specializes in the sale of all types of diamond jewellery including of course Diamond Rings. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Ingram