When most of us think of a metal such as gold or silver, cake batter doesn’t usually leap to mind. We don’t think of metals as being a mixture of ingredients, a metal “recipe” that, when the elements are combined, produce the delicious, gleaming, jewelry confection we wear around our neck or wrist. It is common, though, for jewelry metals to be joined with other substances to increase strength, durability, scratch-resistance, or to improve the color. when two or more metals are mixed together, it is called an alloy. The dictionary defines the noun alloy as 1: A substance composed of two or more metals, or 2: a less costly metal mixed with a more valuable one, or 3: A determination of quality or fineness. Here are some examples of alloys:

Steel – Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, and is often combined with other metal elements. there are many different kinds of steel “recipes,” the one most familiar to many of us is probably stainless steel, which is used for flatware, tools, knives, fencing, appliances, surgical instruments, and jewelry. Other types of steel may be used in hulls of ocean-going vessels, concrete supports for bridge or building construction, or for underground piping. Stainless steel can be polished to a brilliant shine that will not tarnish, and because of the composition, it makes an ideal sterling silver substitute for people who have metal sensitivities.

Bronze – One of the earliest alloys known, bronze is a dark brown color, and is made up of 75 percent copper and 25 percent tin or other metals. Bronze enjoyed a recent resurgence in the jewelry industry, as manufacturers found a way to lighten the mix, turning the bronze a lovely blush pink shade, making it a low-cost substitute for rose gold.

Brass – Brass is made of copper and zinc. It is a bright yellow color. A brass alloy can also include tin, lead, or aluminum. In some states, such as California, there are prohibitions against using brass or other metals containing lead, especially when used in jewelry. Brass is also used in home decor, plumbing fixtures, and musical instruments.

Titanium – Growing in popularity for use in jewelry, titanium is a silver colored metal that is very strong. It is also noted for having the highest tensile strength to density ratio of any other metal, and is very lightweight. Metals added to titanium include aluminum, vanadium, and iron. Because it is both strong and lightweight, as well as corrosion resistant, titanium is used for many industrial applications. Since it holds up well under lots of daily wear and tear, titanium has become popular, especially in men’s jewelry, as a preferred metal for wedding bands.

Sterling silver – Pure silver, also called fine silver, is very soft, and is seldom used for jewelry, at least, not as the primary metal. If pure silver is used in jewelry, it may be used for an intricate design detail or an embellishment, but without alloying, pure silver is easily damaged. Sterling silver is a grade of fineness that consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Because such a small percentage of other metal is needed to create the alloy, almost any other metal can be added, but the combination that best results in strength, durability, and high shine, without affecting the color, is silver mixed with copper.

Gold – Depending upon the fineness and desired color, 10kt, 14kt, or 18kt yellow, white, or rose gold, many “recipes” or combinations of metals are used to create a gold alloy. For example, 18kt yellow gold is usually 75 percent gold, 12.5 percent copper and 12.5 percent silver. However, palladium, zinc, nickel, and other metals are commonly added so as to attenuate metal colors, such as to lighten pure gold, to create green, purple, white, or rose gold, or to increase strength or scratch-resistance.

Alloying metal produces a variety of useful properties that make the combination ideal for greater heat or electrical conductivity, hardness, resistance to tarnish and corrosion, and strength. Whether used in medical instruments, electronics, aviation, aerospace, tools, or jewelry, pure metals benefit by combining with other metals or non-metal substances. Also, the absence of certain metals can enhance the wearability of jewelry, for example, when nickel is eliminated from the gold, silver, or steel alloys, the wearer can avoid metal hypersensitivity – the skin reaction that results from the presence of an ingredient that can cause irritation such as a rash, blisters, or skin discoloration at the point of contact.

There are almost as many alloys as there are uses for metal, and the percentage of the added ingredients can augment the usability of a metal for innumerable specific purposes, not the least of which is to enhance the beauty of a piece of jewelry. Now, that takes the cake!

Sparkle on!

Laura

Let’s face it. We all can’t be Jenny from the block. Protestations of superstardom aside, Ms. Lopez can buy and sell us all ten times over, even though we’ve been admonished not to be fooled by the rocks that she got. She used to have a little and now she got a lot. She’s just Jenny from the block. Go Je-Lo. Thanks to the massive markup in the diamond industry that results in exorbitantly priced diamond jewelry, the only diamond most women will ever own is the one in their engagement or wedding ring. Still, we all want a bit of the bling, right? So, how do you get a little of the sizzle without any of the sting?

While it’s pretty tough to perfectly mimic the dazzling sparkle of a fine genuine diamond, there are a few alternatives that can get you close, and not all of them are flat-out fakes. Here are some alternatives to the real thing that might make a satisfying stand-in.

Cubic Zirconia: Cubic zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide, which occurs naturally. However, what is used in jewelry is not natural. This substance is very rare, and all cubic zirconia used in jewelry is man-made. There are similar sounding substances such as zircon, which is a zirconium silicate, zirconia, and zirconium, which are words often mistakenly confused with cubic zirconia. Because cubic zirconia, or CZ, as it’s called, closely resembles a natural diamond, is low cost and durable, it is probably the most popular substitute for a diamond since mass-production of CZ began in 1976.

Moissanite: In 1893, Henry Moissan was checking out mineral samples from a meteor crater in Arizona and discovered some sparkly rocks that he thought were diamonds. Sadly for him, no. Pouting face. About ten years later, the crystals were determined to be silicon carbide. However, since Mr. Moissan was kind enough to stumble across them, the crystals were named for him, hence, the name Moissanite. Smiling face with squinting eyes. Moissanite, in its natural form, is very rare. It has been discovered in only a few places, including, apparently, meteorites, so all Moissanite is synthesized. Moissanite was introduced to the jewelry market in 1998, and is now manufactured under several brand names. Some “gems” that are entirely man-made do share some optical properties with genuine diamonds, and in some instances, exceed those of a diamond, although under close scrutiny, they are easily revealed as the imposters they are.

For a nice example of a diamond dupe that is fo’ real, as the kids say, I offer you the white sapphire. Of course the first thing that leaps to mind when you consider a sapphire is that they are blue. Actually, sapphires can be found in every color of the rainbow, and the white sapphire is a lovely diamond alternative. It’s a precious gem, it can be found in abundance, and it’s really pretty. Granted, it does not sparkle in the same way a diamond does. One of the magical properties of a diamond is that when it sparkles, a diamond throws off a rainbow fire that is truly unmatched, which is why they are so desirable. However, if man-made isn’t your thing, then consider a natural white sapphire.

Another genuine gem you might consider when shopping for a diamond dupe is a clear, or colorless, topaz, also called a white topaz. topaz, as you probably already know, is most recognized for the colors of pale blue, called…wait for it…blue topaz, or a deeper, more saturated blue, referred to as a London blue topaz. When in a lemon yellow or golden color, it is called a citrine. Topaz is a member of the quartz family, and quartz is one of the most abundant mineral substances on the globe. White topaz is not as hard as a diamond or a sapphire, but it is far less expensive. The white topaz is not usually cut with as many facets as a diamond, but some very nice glitter can be brought out of a white topaz. Gemstone cutting is a precision process usually reserved for gems that, due to their crystalline structure, benefit by a multitude of facets that take advantage of light that ignites a stone’s brilliance. That’s why you don’t often see faceted opaque stones. Still, if you want the suggestion of a diamond in a genuine gemstone with a bit of bling, a white topaz is probably priced within most budgets. A reflective white topaz set into high-polished sterling silver is quite attractive.

Gemstone simulants can be found in a variety of materials, from glass to resin to lead crystal. Swarovski, a company headquartered in Austria and founded in 1895, created what are now considered the jewelry industry’s premier brand of cut crystals. The founder, Daniel Swarovski, sought to make a “diamond for everyone,” by making crystals affordable. Swarovski crystals are now used throughout the fashion jewelry industry, as home decor items such as chandeliers and figurines, and another division of the company manufactures optical instruments such as binoculars and telescopes. Just a few years ago, the Swarovski company created “Zillion,” a copyrighted cut that adds maximum sparkle to their lead crystal “gemstones.” Coatings and backings are also used to bring out the rainbow reflectivity of their beautiful crystal objects.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the technique of diamond cutting into metal, which is a finishing technique whereby a diamond-tipped cutting tool is used to cut micro facets into metal surfaces, can add sparkle to a jewelry design without stones. Precision diamond cutting can, at a glance, create the illusion of glittery diamonds set into metal, when really the silver, white gold, or platinum is not set with stones at all.

When it comes to genuine diamonds, the expression “fake it ’til you make it” is probably apt. When your ship comes in and you hit the big time, say hi to Jenny for me. Until then, sparkle on!

Laura

Jewelry styles are as diverse as the people who wear it. As is the case with apparel, often, jewelry styles are categorized as belonging to a specific era. If you have an affinity for, or have lived through a particular time period, you may or may not have an appreciation for that style. Most of us associate different decades of our lives with clothing styles, such as the hippie or bohemmian look of the sixties, where tie-dye and love beads were the rage. if you were a child of the seventies, then you may have sported bell bottom jeans or wore your hair “feathered back,” in homage to everyone’s favorite poster girl at the time, who was one of the stars of a popular TV show. The eighties graced us with designer jeans and big hair. The nineties? I have only one word: Grunge. Cringing yet?

Jewelry styles, like fashion, has its time periods as well. Nowadays, it is popular to characterize the work of a designer or artist as having a particular “esthetic,” which is a way to describe in general terms the attributes most favored by the artisan in the design or craft of their products. Some of the terms used may be familiar, and are evocative of specific qualities or traits that make a jewelry piece instantly recognizable. Other terms are more nebulous, and are open to interpretation. I’ll begin by describing one of those.

The terms “contemporary,” or “modern” usually refers to a jewelry style that is of the moment. It may not necessarily mean what is trending, but it does point to jewelry that is current. Since what is happening now is fluid, and every moment is a new “now,” describing jewelry as contemporary doesn’t typically bring to mind a singular attribute or feature that would be emblematic of today. However, anything described as modern or contemporary may still share characteristics of older examples, especially since style is cyclical.

Vintage, on the other hand, does have a specific meaning. Vintage jewelry is jewelry that is 20 to 50 years old. It’ doesn’t have to be distressed,, or look old, but it is definitely reminiscent of a period at least two or more decades past.

A piece of jewelry that is described as “vintage-style” is not 20-50 years old, but it may have been designed to appear that way. It could have been made yesterday, but metal treatments, finishes, or oxidation may be applied to give the appearance of age. Use of components recycled from existing jewelry is common, or the design may be a blatant copy of an older original.

The word “retro” is used to describe jewelry that is associated with a very specific time period. A popular watch brand that everyone was wearing in the seventies might be called retro. Huge hoop earrings are sometimes thought of as retro, because they have been popular on and off in various decades past. Remember the mood ring? Retro is a style that is easily identifiable, because you could point to an object that is perfectly representative of everything you associate with a particular time period, and say: “OMG, that is so 50’s,” or whatever.

Art Deco refers to jewelry that belongs to the period of the 1920’s and 30’s. Like the style of architecture of the time, art deco is characterized by bold lines and geometric shapes.

Again, art, architecture, and fashion were influenced by another specific time period, the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, during the art nouveau period. Art nouveau jewelry mimics the popular art of the time, which featured free-flowing natural elements, stylized flowers and other natural forms.

Organic is another jewelry style that takes its inspiration from nature and natural forms. Organic jewelry can be amorphous and freeform, with flowing curves and irregular surfaces, just like in nature.

If you love classical music, then you probably love compositions from the Baroque period. Baroque art is characterized by intricate details, curves and swirls and ornate embellishments. The only time I have ever seen jewelry I would call Baroque was in a museum.

Antique jewelry is a category all its own. Often imitated, or crafted in the “antique style,” a true antique piece of jewelry is 100 or more years old. Chances are, if you have a piece of jewelry that is a genuine antique, it was passed down through your family and is considered a treasured heirloom.

There are many more styles of jewelry, but these few are probably most familiar. Jewelry styles such as “steampunk,”Victorian,” “minimalist,” or “Edwardian,” and others will be the subject of future posts, but I’ll stop here for now. Do you have a favorite style of jewelry that has become your signature? Whatever style you love to wear…sparkle on!

Laura

I’ve been polling my social media audience in an effort to learn what you’d like to read about here on the blog. Jewelry terms? Style how-tos? Jewelry news and trends? Detailed descriptions of gemstone attributes? Based upon the responses I’ve received so far, the answer seems to be all of the above, please.

That’s a pretty large topic area, so I tell you what: I’ll just write about jewelry stuff, and you can let me know what you want more or less of. Jewelry is one of my favorite topics, so I could talk about it all day, but the idea is to share with you what I know and love, while somehow managing not to bore you to death. A tall order, I know.

So, I think I’ll post a few more general jewelry topics at first, then drill down to some of the minutiae, which, in the case of jewelry, usually means the plethora of parts and pieces that make up the beautiful, glittering whole. The truth is, there’s tons of information already out there, and any hope I may have of being original is a vain hope for sure, but one thing I can do is to describe some aspect of jewelry in a way that is meaningful to someone with vision loss.

If one can be considered fortunate at having lost their eyesight altogether, then I guess I am among the fortunate, simply because my vision loss is caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa, which for those in the know means that I have lost my eyesight slowly over time. While I was born legally blind, and my RP symptoms manifested very early on, I do have the advantage of at one time being able to see at least some detail. So, unlike those who were either born blind, or who lost their vision completely at a very early age, I have been able to fully perceive colors, and combined with usable vision, at least up to my college years, I believe I will be able to communicate a certain amount of nuance. I will leave it up to you to let me know if you require additional information.

For most of us who are blind or visually impaired, it’s not always easy to grasp the entirety of an object simply by way of a description if we haven’t held it in our hands. Sometimes, we know exactly what is being referred to, we just didn’t connect the object with a specific term. My goal is to bring together a thorough description as well as definitions, so next time you are holding a piece of jewelry, you will recognize the various parts, and can refer to them by name. I thought I’d begin the first jewelry blog subcategory I’ll tentatively call “parts and pieces,” where I describe a jewelry finding or component. Mental note: Remember to define “finding” and “component.”

Today I’m going to describe a type of jewelry clasp called a spring ring. First, I’ll say that a jewelry clasp is exactly what you think it is…a way to secure a piece of jewelry around your neck or wrist, a closure or connection that keeps the piece on you, and not on the ground or languishing in a box of items lost and found. there are many different types of clasps, and the spring ring is probably one of the most commonly used. You’ll find a spring ring clasp securing both bracelets and necklaces.

A spring ring clasp is almost always round. It is very small, smaller than a dime, anywhere from 1/8 of an inch in diameter and up. It is actually a tiny hollow tube formed into a ring. A spring ring is a continuous circle up to the point at which the circle opens to allow for a link to be threaded onto it, namely, the link at the other end of the chain. At one end of the open/close mechanism is a tiny lever that, when it is pulled back,a small section of the circle separates, sliding back inside the tube,. Think of a pocket door sliding into the wall. After you thread the link at the opposite end of the chain through the opening of the clasp, you release the lever and the movable section slides, or springs, back into place, closing the circle completely, securing the chain. That is how this type of clasp gets its name – from the fact that a tiny spring inside the tubing enables the opening to spring closed after the lever mechanism is released. Pulling back the tiny lever compresses the coil, creating tension, and when you release the lever, the coil expands and springs the sliding metal section back into place.

Because spring ring clasps are usually very small, and often lightweight, they are not the strongest, most reliable clasps. Also, due to the tiny moving parts and the coil inside the ring that allows for the circle to be opened and closed, these clasps can easily cease to function. Once the spring fails, the clasp can come open, and losing your jewelry is practically inevitable. On the other hand, this type of clasp is usually less expensive than alternatives, and because a spring ring clasp is smaller, it is a better balance, both in terms of size and weight, proportional to a dainty jewelry item. Spring ring clasps come in all sizes and finishes, and are easily purchased in bulk if you are making your own jewelry, or if you need to scoop one up to make a quick repair of a broken clasp.

The spring ring clasp is just one of many types of clasps used to secure jewelry. Some are more utilitarian, such as the spring ring, other clasps are ornate and decorative. I’ll be writing about lots of different types of clasps, so check back for more info on jewelry parts and pieces!

Sparkle on!

Laura

About Laura:

Laura Legendary is a speaker, author and educator specializing in disability awareness, accessibility, advocacy, and assistive technology. She is also the owner of Elegant Insights Braille Creations elegantinsightsjewelry.com/. Feel free to use the contact form on the home page to ask a question, make a suggestion, or to discuss a custom jewelry design idea. Just don’t be a big big meanie. She’s super nice.

Whether we’re talking about the famous necklace dropped to the bottom of the sea by a character in the film Titanic, the engagement ring presented to a soon-to-be royal princess, a bauble in a blue box that came from that place where Audrey Hepburn had breakfast, or the singular design innovation for which a jewelry brand became a household word, there are certain pieces of jewelry that are instantly recognizable. One of the ongoing features of the Sparkle On blog I plan to share are descriptions of iconic jewelry designs that have become synonymous with a style, brand, or image, so that you can learn to identify the attributes that characterize a classic piece of jewelry. While most of us do not live the lifestyle of a character in the old TV drama Dynasty, these are the pieces that launched a thousand knock-offs. You may not aspire to own that museum timepiece, or, drat it all, you’ve long since forgotten where you hid the darn key to the family jewelry vault, but you may aspire to get the look for less. Here, I’ll tell you the story, or history, behind some of the most memorable jewelry designs, and how you can capture the essence of the original without the price tag. or, where to get the real thing if money is no object.

What leaps to mind first and foremost in this category is the diamond tennis bracelet.

The classic design that we associate with the name “tennis bracelet ” has been around since the 1920’s. Originally called a line bracelet, it only became known as a tennis bracelet in the 1970’s when it is said that tennis champion Chris Evert wore her diamond jewelry on the court, even while playing in professional matches. During one of these matches, her bracelet broke and went flying, and the match had to be halted while she looked for it. How the name tennis bracelet actually stuck is a matter of some debate. Either it was because Evert herself referred to the bracelet as her “tennis bracelet,” because she wore it during her tennis matches, or because someone else referred to it as such, no one is sure, but it has been called a tennis bracelet ever since.

A tennis or line bracelet is characterized by diamonds of the same shape, size, and cut lined up in a single row and set closely together. Depending upon the specific design, each stone is set into an individual setting of precious metal, then linked together, usually with tiny hinge pins, making the bracelet flexible. The effect is an unbroken line of sparkle around the wrist, which is why the line bracelet is sometimes also called an eternity bracelet. When the stones are set into white gold or platinum, the diamond line bracelet is dazzling. The design is very simple, which is usually what makes anything a classic.

A diamond tennis bracelet is aspirational for most of us because of the cost. Since the diamonds used are typically very small, many stones are needed to wrap all the way around the wrist, which can add up to multiple carats of gem weight. The stones must be very similar in clarity and color, since they are set immediately adjacent to one another. A single stone of poor color quality would visually break the line and ruin the effect. also, sourcing and setting so many nearly identical stones for a single piece of jewelry is labor-intensive. All of these factors, along with desirability, contribute to the sky-high price tag.

While the line bracelet is a classic, and can stand on its own, wearing it alongside a watch is tres chic. Want to wear diamonds with an edge? If bracelets are your jam, then you have probably indulged in the stacking trend. Stacking bracelets in multiples on one or both arms can elevate the look of an otherwise demure piece of jewelry. That barely visible diamond chip bracelet that you saved up for forever while in college can benefit by adding several sparkly siblings to create lots of drama. Although a diamond line bracelet may be a whisper-thin thread around the wrist, it is such an iconic look, not to mention a status symbol, that it requires no additional embellishment. I’ll never forget a photo I once saw in a magazine of Barbra Streisand wearing a diamond line bracelet as her only piece of jewelry, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

Gentlemen, if you are enraptured by a woman who loves jewelry, you are all but guaranteed to be asked for a diamond tennis bracelet as a gift. Even if you are currently dating no such woman, I’d start saving now, because you can expect to spend thousands of dollars, depending upon how many gems and total carat weight is used to make up the design, and in what type of metal the stones are set. Doing a quick search, I saw a jewelry reseller named for a big blue river offering bracelets that start around $3,000, set in gold, and a high-end design house with a revered name that starts with a C is offering them starting at $20,000.00. I’ll take the one in rose gold, please.

Sparkle on!

Laura

You say tomato, I say tomahto, you say potato, I say potahto, and we all say carrot, karat, and carat. When referring to jewelry, you often hear a word that sounds like “carrot” used to describe what seems to be some mystifying attribute, but what does it actually mean? If you are using a screen reader, let me take a moment to spell each of these variations. Yes, the three words sound identical, but they are spelled differently. The orange vegetable consumed in vast quantities by a certain cartoon bunny wabbit is spelled C A R R O T. When referring to gold, it is spelled K A R A T. When talking about gemstones, it is spelled C A R A T.

Quick note: For those of you who do not use a screen reader, the above may have been superfluous, but screen reader users are hearing this text as it is being read aloud, so spelling each word for readers who are blind or who are audio learners may be helpful.

A carat, spelled with a C and one R, is a unit of weight for precious and semi-precious gemstones. You often see it abbreviated as “cttw,” which is short for carat total weight. So, if a gemstone is one-half carat, it will be abbreviated as .50 cttw. A carat is the mass equivalent of 200 milligrams. The word ‘carat” is thought to be derived from the word “carob,” which is a type of tree. these trees produced seeds that were nearly identical in size and weight, making them a popular unit of measure for traders in Europe and the Middle East thousands of years ago. The more seeds required to balance scales used to measure the weight of a gem, the heavier, and therefore more valuable the gem. In the early 1900’s, the Council on Weights and Measures adopted the metric carat as the standard for measuring gemstone weight. One metric carat is about the weight of a paper clip.

A karat, spelled with a K and one R, is the unit of measurement used to identify gold purity. pure gold is said to be 24 karat gold. Gold that is part gold, part other metals is expressed as parts of 24. For example, 18 karat gold is 18 parts pure gold, 6 parts other metals, so it is 75 percent pure gold, the other 25 percent is other metals. If you are wearing a piece of jewelry that is 14 karat gold, you are wearing an item that is about 58.3 percent gold, the rest is other metals. The “other metals”, usually some combination of nickel, copper, and zinc, are added to gold as it is liquefied so as to enhance strength and durability. Pure 24 karat gold is very soft. The lower the number describing the gold purity, the stronger, more durable, and more scratch-resistant the gold becomes, because it contains a lower amount of pure gold, and a greater amount of other metals. Often, the term karat is abbreviated as kt, so gold that is 75 percent pure gold, the rest other metals is expressed as 18 kt. In the US, 14 karat gold is the standard, in Europe, 18 karat gold is preferred. It is very rare to find 24 kt gold in a retail store here in the US, but it is popular in India and a few other countries, although it is usually mixed with copper or silver to add just a bit more durability, making it 22karat gold.

In researching the etymology of the word karat, it appears from some sources that carat with a C and karat with a K have the same origins, but language differences changed the spellings and ultimately the meaning. However, I was able to find one source that indicated that karat with a K was a unit of measure equivalent to the Roman siliqua, which was 1/24th of a golden solidus of Constantine, which is thought to be the reason a karat took on the proportion of 1/24, and became a measure of gold purity.

If you would like to hear a bit of additional info, I published a podcast for The Fashionability Channel, where I host a program called All That Glitters. I posted a show on gold, including colors, characteristics, and other uses.

You can listen to the episode here.

Do you have a favorite piece of gold jewelry? Is it a keepsake, a fashion statement, or your everyday go-to, such as a timepiece?

Sparkle on!

Laura

If you think of yourself as a person with a strong sense of style, then you probably adhere to certain fashion “rules.” Perhaps you refuse to violate the “no white after Labor Day” dictum, or maybe you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a synthetic fabric, or maybe it would be unthinkable that you would outfit yourself in anything other than a top designer brand. In today’s “anything goes” fashion free-for-all, however, most of those style statutes have gone the way of rotary dial telephones.

The same is true of jewelry, and those who love it. If you are a die-hard gold girl, then it doesn’t matter to you how cute a jewelry design is,, if it isn’t available in 14 karat gold, at the very least, then you don’t even want to look at it. On the other hand, if sterling silver suits you, both in the way of skin tone, lifestyle, and budget, then you bypass gold with a dismissive wave of your shiny silver stack ringed and bangle braceleted hand. But what if you are the type of person who zeroes in on design, who gravitates toward symbolism or sentiment that really speaks to you, regardless of the materials used? Maybe you have a strong preference for a type of metal or material, but are jewelry curious, and wonder if it’s okay to mix fashion and fine jewelry. Does it really matter what a piece of jewelry is made of, so long as it rings your bell? So what if you love that bracelet made of bike chain, or a necklace crafted of cork? Isn’t that considered fashionable? And what of this distinction between fashion and fine jewelry? If it’s fashionable and produced in platinum, or has sentimental value and made from recycled materials, if it’s fine jewelry to you, who really cares, right? What’s the difference between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry?

Actually, there are a few distinctions to be aware of, so in case you are wondering where to draw a line between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry, read on.

Jewelry purists will tell you that fine jewelry can only be crafted of gold or platinum metals, and can only be set with precious gems, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires. In the strictest terms, this definition leaves out sterling silver. However, if one is willing to move the line just a bit, sterling silver is considered to be a noble metal, and can be included in the ‘fine” jewelry category.

What about gold, platinum, or silver plating? These jewelry items would not be considered fine jewelry, even if they are set with precious gemstones. yes, you can easily find jewelry crafted of sterling silver plated with gold or platinum, and set with genuine gems, but these pieces are still not considered fine jewelry. So, you can see where that line is starting to get a little blurry at this point.

Fashion jewelry is a catch-all term that is inclusive of any jewelry that does not fit into the strictest definition of fine jewelry above. A sterling silver ring plated in platinum and set with a ruby is considered to be fashion jewelry. So, then what is costume jewelry? The term “costume jewelry” originated from live theater, where actors needed to appear adorned in finery, yet were actually wearing props made of base metals or glass “gems,” so the costume departments didn’t have to worry about expense, loss, or theft, since the costume pieces were of little or no value. So, the term fashion jewelry is just a more modern way of referring to costume jewelry. Again, however, the line between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry, or what is colloquially called “junk jewelry” is a bit fuzzy. “Junk” connotes trash, garbage, detritus or debris that is disposable, and without value. However, some fashion jewelry can be quite costly, especially if it is labeled with a designer brand name, or is manufactured using complex tooling or techniques, such as metal mesh, or, conversely, jewelry that is entirely hand crafted, such as Bali silver, or native American jewelry. If you purchased any of this type of jewelry, for which you may have spent hundreds of dollars, would you consider it “junk?

To allow for a certain amount of wiggle-room with respect to categorizing jewelry, you may sometimes hear another term used. Semi-fine, or bridge jewelry is a relatively modern way of characterizing jewelry that falls somewhere in between the two most extreme ends of the jewelry spectrum. Jewelry made of copper, which is a metal mined from the earth and found on the Periodic Table of Elements, is often set with semi-precious gemstones, either transparent or opaque, and is an example of jewelry that can be placed firmly in the “bridge,” or semi-fine category. Southwestern jewelry often uses this particular combination of materials, along with sterling silver, and if you have ever traveled to Albuquerque or Santa Fe, and shopped the galleries filled with authentic local artisan jewelry, then you know it can be incredibly expensive.

Nowadays, there is such a wide range of jewelry style that just about anyone can wear what speaks to them. Some fashion jewelry can so closely mimic the real thing that the average person couldn’t tell the difference, even with a trained eye, without the use of jeweler’s tools. in fact, arguably the world’s most renown diamond producer, De Beers, recently shook up the jewelry world by announcing their new lab-grown diamonds, sold by the carat with prices that for some, make that line between fine and fashion jewelry barely discernible. So, whether you consider yourself a designer brand diva, a fashion jewelry fashionista, or if you prefer conflict-free and sustainable style, there’s definitely something out there for everyone’s taste and budget.

Sparkle on!

Laura

Have you ever taken on a challenge that was just far enough outside your comfort zone that getting to the goal line seemed all but impossible? Of course you have. We can all relate to the feeling of standing at the foot of that proverbial insurmountable peak and thinking it’s just too high a hill to climb. Well, that was me, rebuilding Elegant Insights.

Unless one is a programmer, a software developer, code jockey, or whatever you want to call it, most people who want to build a web site these days use a platform such as Word Press, which allows for a certain amount of cobbling together parts and pieces of desired features, a sort of modular approach, to creating a complete picture – that of an online destination that is inviting to visitors. you know, sort of like digital Leggo. Or, maybe Tetris would be the better analogy, since the idea is to make all the pieces fit together seamlessly.

There was a great deal to take into consideration for the new Elegant Insights online boutique, not the least of which was to identify accessible solutions for web site features that were not only usable by my site visitors, but usable for me. Of course, it all has to actually function, but accessibility was of prime importance for me, and that meant using some of those building blocks that were not necessarily the most popular versions of that particular feature set. The long and the short of it is, it seemed to take forever to finish, and I’m still not really done.

I’m implementing a suggestions box opportunity that I’m calling “Feedback Fridays.” Each week in October, I’ll ask you to take a look at a specific feature on the web site that is either new, or has been changed, so you can let me know if the aesthetics, accessibility, or workflow works for you. Or, frankly, works at all. In fact, I discovered, only after a customer attempted to use the new wish list, that it wasn’t working well. Sometimes, it’s more effective for a user who hasn’t been up to their eyeballs in a project to find the real-world usability issues. Thanks to her feedback, I was able to identify a code conflict about which I had not known. It was necessary to scrap the wish list module that I had been building on, and to start over with something else. Offering feedback will not require anything of you other than to poke around and tell me what you think, and if I need some help from you for testing purposes, I’ll ask, “okay, how is this?” Or, “does it work now?”

After I’m comfortable that the web site seems to be functioning in a way that is acceptable to a majority, I’ll focus on writing content for the blog. I’ve already received a great suggestion for a blog topic, so feel free to send ideas my way if you can think of something jewelry or style related that would be valuable to you. After all, it’s really about the jewelry!

Thanks for reading, and sparkle on!

Laura

Greetings!

Welcome to the home of my new Sparkle On blog, which is a new feature of the new Elegant Insights online boutique. That’s a lot of new!

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Laura, and I am the owner, manager, marketer, chief bottle-washer and janitor for Elegant Insights. I’m also the designer of all the products that you’ll see on the site. However, my customers and staff contribute their genius as well, so if you ever have a design idea, we can help you to bring it to life.

As I re-launch the site, I wanted to create a place where we can share our love of jewelry, and chat about Elegant Insights products. I also plan to include jewelry industry news, latest jewelry and accessories trends, how-to-wear and where-to-buy tips, and plenty of jewelry educational information, too. Got a request? If you have any burning jewelry questions, feel free to send them my way, along with any blog topic ideas.

By the way, if you are already subscribed to the Elegant Insights newsletters via the old site, there’s no need to resubscribe. However, if you want to be sure to get all of our latest news, and you have not previously subscribed, I promise to work really hard to win your respect and admiration, and ultimately, your shameless adoration.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the blog. Sparkle on!

xoxo
Laura