Anna Lin

Monogrammed items are becoming all the rage when it comes to gift giving in today’s world. It seems as though every time you turn around there is someone offering to put your name on a towel, a cup, a washcloth, a place setting, a set of dishes, a brush, a mirror, a Christmas Tree ornament, a body part-you get the idea. Why is this so popular? Monograms are in vogue because it gives people a thrill to look at an object and have it proudly declaring for the world to see that it is theirs. It’s an alpha male thing going back to the days when humans were little more than animals.

With jewelry the monogram often serves two purposes. It can proclaim to the world the owner of the jewelry or it can proclaim the man or woman to whom the owner belongs. (Generally this is a man-most men do not choose to walk around with a piece of jewelry with a woman’s name or initial hanging around their neck unless it was given to them as a gift, and even then not willingly and not when she isn’t looking.) Either way, creating one of these pendants is fun and easy, and is an activity enjoyed by many. Remember, it does not have to necessarily be worn by you. Jewelry makes a great gift, and having some of it stockpiled aside when Christmas rolls around can go a long way towards making the stress of the holidays a little bit easier.

There are two ways you can make your own pendant. For those who are ambitious jewelers you can choose to purchase the silver yourself and shape it. There are many methods by which you can do this. The easiest method for the beginning silversmith is probably to purchase a mold, melt the silver down to its liquid form over a safe heat source (this is probably not something you want to attempt over your kitchen stove) and pour the silver into the mold. A ceramic crucible (remember your high school chemistry class?) and a torch is generally considered the safest and most effective method of melting down silver. While the silver is still hot, make a loop on the top that you can string a chain through. The chain you will probably want to purchase from a store unless you have a great deal of experience in jewelry making; small links are very difficult.

For those who are less inspired it is possible to simply buy an already finished charm from any craft store (or department store that has a craft section) and purchase a chain. These can be found in such retail establishments as Michael’s, JoAnn Fabrics or WalMart. This is much easier and safer than melting down the silver but does not afford the wearer nearly as much choice as if they had made their own.

Have you ever wondered what you should get your mother for Mother’s Day?  Ever despaired because everything on the market was trite, and had been done to death?  Have you ever looked and looked for the perfect gift but could not find it?  This is a problem that all of us have faced at some point or another, and one of the jewelry industry is working very hard to correct.  Gone are the days when all you could get mom for Mother’s Day was a silver necklace with a little heart at the end.  The silver industry has expanded its repertoire to encompass so much more when it introduced to the world the concept of card pendants.

In its simplest form a card pendant is a pendant that can be attached onto a card.  When used properly, however, it is so much more than that.  A card pendant can provide a unique and unforgettable gift for someone you love.  Card pendants in all shapes and sizes; therefore, it is simple to find one that is exactly right for the person it is intended for.  For example, if you were attempting to purchase a present for your sister and she was crazy about angels you could go out and buy her a card with an angel pendant attached.  Then on, not only would she be flattered that you had remembered her birthday that she would be attached to the heart that you had remembered something she genuinely cared about.

Card pendants can be found in all of the forms a regular pendants can be found.  This includes lockets.  Purchasing a locket for the woman that you love and inserting into it a picture which holds special meaning for both of you is a guaranteed way to bring a smile to the face of the woman in your life and to increase the bond that you obviously already share, and you’re taking the time to attempt to find her the perfect present.  Hint: this is an excellent gift for grandparents, new or old, as it gives them the opportunity to see the faces of their little darlings day in and day out.

One of the things that people can most treasure about a card pendant is its versatility.  The pendant is not doomed to spend the rest of its life sitting on a card up on a shelf where it will eventually be thrown away.  (Admit it, even the most sentimental of us eventually throw our cards out after the season is over and we are tired of having them take up space.) Instead, the pendant can be taken down off of the shelf in introduced into everyday life.  How?  Very simply.  All you have to do is buy a chain to go with that card that you bought for the woman that you love.  She can then take the pendant off the card, place it on the chain, place it around her neck and remember you and how special you are to her any time during the day.

Up until now, it has been countries in the western part of the world who have determined how its citizens should wear its jewelry. Now another voice is being heard. From the wild plains of Africa a new rhythm is echoing throughout the land. The wild tribal jewelry worn by these plainspeople is becoming increasingly popular across the globe.

Apart from its flamboyant style, there is something else that is helping to put the jewelry of South Africa on the map-tanzanite. Tanzanite is a precious gem that can only be recovered from the mines of Tanzania, and its unique nature has made it a growing fad throughout the jewelry industry. Diamonds, with their cold cores and icy perfection, have been the jewel of choice throughout history. They have also been the most coveted, hence the phrase, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” Many of the most famous jewel thefts throughout history have involved diamonds. Remember the theft of the jewels from the world’s largest diamond cutter in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2003 that was reputed to be the biggest jewel heist in history?

No longer is this the case. With the advent of a new society that prefers its people free spirited as opposed to cloistered and meek has come a preference for a new type of jewel, one that has the heat of its people down within its core. This need has been realized through the use of Tanzanite. With its brilliant, deep blue flecked with purple color Tanzanite seems to spring to life as the wearer stares down into it, drawing the soul as well as the eye.

Tanzanite has become a particular favorite for use by those who work in silver. In its purest form Tanzanite actually possesses a yellowish-brown hue rather than the brilliant blue it is revered for. While this color can be baked out by the use of an extremely hot oven, occasionally hints of the hue still remain. These hints are only accented by setting the gem in gold. Silver, on the other hand, draws forth from the stone its brilliant blue due to the contrast. Many silversmiths favor it for use in silver pendants, bracelets, earrings and rings, where its mysterious beauty will only serve to accentuate the beauty of its wearer.

For those who believe in such things Tanzanite is also believed to be the bearer of certain strong, metaphysical properties. It is used as a calming stone for those whose life is in chaos, a characteristic that is believed to be strengthened when it is set in silver, as silver is believed to be able to draw forth the energies of a stone. It is also worn as a protective charm, keeping its bearer safe; a characteristic that was particularly important to the warring tribes of Africa, and its various powers are believed to be equally important to those who live in today’s fast-paced world.

The term Marcasite is actually a jewelry trade name because of the confusion between marcasite and white iron pyrite, and the term is applied to the small and faceted stones that are inlayed in Sterling silver.  The bright metallic luster of this opaque crystal, once faceted is a nice complement when paired with silver.

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Even in today’s fast-paced world there are some things which never change.  Women love their jewelry, and the more exotic and unique that jewelry can be the better.  In this day and age it seems as though diamonds have become redundant.  Other more colorful and difficult to acquire gems have become the jewels of choice.

Among these is the gem tanzanite. Found only in the East African country Tanzania took the world by storm in the 60’s and 70’s following its discovery and subsequent introduction to the New York City jeweler Tiffany’s.  Its color, dark blue surrounded by just a hint of purple, presented a stark, fiery and contrast to the cold fa?ade of the diamond, previously the gem chosen to grace the figure of the elite.

Part of the intrigue surrounding the use of tanzanite is its ability to appear to be a different color depending on the angle from which it is viewed.  The raw form of tanzanite contains a not so aesthetically pleasing yellowish brown color.  An experienced jeweler can rid themselves of this unfortunate color by placing the stone in an oven heater to 500°F and removing it as soon as the stone begins to turn blue.  Unlike the diamond tanzanite is not a particularly hard gem, rating only 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. For this reason, it is important to take special care when working with this gem.  It must never be exposed to acid and should never be washed in an ultrasonic bath.

Tanzanite possesses the ability to be cut into almost any imaginable shape and form, although it may be very difficult for even the most experienced jeweler to work with because the cleavage of this gem tends to be very pronounced in one direction.  While its unique color allows it to blend with any type of metal the hints of yellow and brown found in the unheated gem may result in an unfortunate clash of setting the stone in gold.  Sterling silver, on the other hand, presents a striking contrast to tanzanite in all of its forms.

Due to its unique coloring it is often most prudent to make tanzanite jewelry in sets rather than in individual pieces; it can be all but impossible to find other jewelry to coordinate with an unmatched piece. The most sought after jewelry sets include necklaces with jeweled pendants, rings and earrings. While the traditional round, square and marquis cuts serve to accent the hidden beauty of the tanzanite other, more original cuts have been created with a great deal of success. A jeweler choosing to use a bit of ingenuity can use tanzanite to create incredible, one of a kind pieces of jewelry.

Tanzanite strikingly accentuates the looks of men, women and children of any age and will bring in a sizable profit out on the open jewelry market. The very nature of this stone’s exclusivity and the difficulty encountered by those attempting to obtain it make it one of the most sought after gems in the business.

There is nothing in the world more stressful than attempting to complete all of your Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. After fighting through crowds to pick through sparse leftovers in hundreds of stores for the perfect gift, eventually settling on a gift that is “good enough”, and then standing in line for an hour in an attempt to pay for that gift even a lobotomy may seem preferable; after all, you at least get to be knocked out for that!

With the busy schedule of the people of today, however, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for individuals to get ahead in the holiday rush. After all, stores have established hours which generally conveniently coincide with the time that most of the world’s population has to be at work. (More than one individual has speculated that this is not, in fact, a coincidence.) Deliberate or no, it is difficult for many to do their shopping in an actual store. Because of this, virtual stores are on the rise as people enjoy the ability to shop at any hour of the day or night from the relative comfort of their homes.

Shopping on the internet does not, however, eliminate one of the most pressing problems facing holiday shoppers: deciding what they should buy. For years the jewelry industry has done their best to provide shoppers with an all in one opportunity to select gifts for the special people in their life: a ring for Mom, a tie tack for Dad, a necklace for baby sister Sarah. It seems as though regardless of the individual or their personality there is something for them in the vast network of jewelry shops.

Buying the same gifts year after year can get monotonous, however, and jewelry stores have to constantly fight to stay on top of the market. They are consistently coming up with popular new products to attract in the needy consumer, and they have done it again with the advent of silver card pendants. Silver card pendants are pendants that attach to a card and can be worn as a necklace after they are given as a gift. Simple, right? The best thing is that regardless of who you are shopping for there is a silver card pendant that suits the occasion! Is your mother’s birthday coming up? Buy her a pendant sporting a birthday cake. Mother’s Day right around the corner and you haven’t even started thinking about what you’re going to get your mother? Buy her a pendant that says “I love you Mom” and send it with a card. Is your sister-in-law a new mom? Buy her a pendant that allows her to slip in a photo of her new bundle of joy and carry him or her with her wherever she goes.

As you can see, regardless of the occasion a silver card pendant makes the perfect gift. These can be purchased from almost any online specialty retailer; you have only to go looking.

For centuries, man has used gems for a variety of purpose other than mere ornamentation. Gems were used to soothe and to strengthen, to bring good luck and to ensure a loved one a safe journey. Over time, cynicism has drawn man away from the mystical properties that were believed to inhabit each stone; however, with the renewal of many of the old beliefs concerning spirituality and the ever-increasing popularity of stone pendants men, women and children are beginning to once again learn about the hidden properties of the stones they wear.

- Amethyst is believed to aid in addictions and alcoholism. It is also believed that amethyst possesses soothing properties to aid an individual in distress. It enhances psychic ability and aids in meditation.

- Topaz is believed to help lift depression. It will also help the wearer to find great success and true love, and opens to them their inner creativity that may have previously been stifled.

- Chrysocolla will help soothe a person’s allergies. It also helps purify its wearer’s external environment and promotes inner harmony.

- Carnelian will help a person overcome their anger and achieve a cooler head.

- Copper will help to soothe the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.

- Aquamarine is the choice of any who are going into a situation that will require them to display great courage. It also possesses certain protective properties and will help its wearer use their intellect.

- Azurite is excellent for clearing the psyche and increasing psychic awareness.

- Emeralds help increase the strength of the wearer’s memory retention and helps them achieve mental clarity. This is a particularly good stone for the elderly.

- Diamonds give their wearer confidence and mental clarity. They also bring inspiration.

- Obsidian is a grounding stone with protective properties. It will help reveal to the wearer their flaws and find the means by which to fix them.

- Jade will help to cure loneliness. It also helps the wearer to achieve a deep sleep and to recall any dreams which they may have had throughout the night which have escaped from their consciousness.

- Trilobyte will grant its wearer patience.

- Lepidolyte will help to counter the physical afflictions caused by stress and help the wearer overcome the outside world and attain inner peace.

- Turquoise will grant its protective powers to its wearer.

- Rubies represent love, wealth and protection for their wearer.

- Tigereyes are grounding, and allow their wearer to obtain a deeper insight into their inner self. This is also a stone to encourage continued optimism in life.

- Sapphires bring their wearer joy and peace, as well as prosperity.

- Onyx will aid in the grieving process for those whose hearts are troubled.

The metals in which the stones are set possess metaphysical properties all their own. Gold is well known for its reputable healing powers and its ability to attract positive energy. Gold encourages understanding. Silver is cleansing, providing a mirror to the soul and aiding the stones that it sets in retaining the full strength of their metaphysical properties; for this reason, silver is the preferred metal when creating jewelry with the various stones above.

Silver jewelry is all the rage on a jewelry market that is just beginning to discover its uses.  Whereas up until now gold has dominated the market, silver just now beginning to show its potential.  As a result, high quality sterling silver is much in demand.  This demand makes the competition for low-priced silver great.  In order to avoid paying a good deal on sterling silver it is important that that you be alert to the loopholes in the marketplace and know where to look to find these loopholes.

Inevitably, the prices at the jewelry store are not going to be the lowest prices available on the market.  Just as with many other endeavors the most prudent choice when seeking to obtain a bargain price on objects with silver festoons and or silver pendants is to look to wholesalers. A wholesaler is a person who sells supplies to a retail outlet. How does this help you save money?

Simple. Figure that when a retailer is figuring out the price of its inventory they do it using a set system.  The retail company has to pay good money out of their pocket to purchase the product from a wholesaler.  They must then calculate the cost of the product and the cost of the freight to ship the product to their store.  Once they have that number they will calculate how much profit they want to make a map product and add that on to the cost.  That will give you the retail cost of your product.  For example, say that Harry is buying a flat of silver jewelry for his novelty shop from Silver Co. Inc. The flat of jewelry cost him $100 and there are 25 pieces of jewelry in the flat.  Freight costs for the flat to be shipped to his store were $15.  Therefore, the total cost of the flat of jewelry to Harry was $115.
Here he would then determine the cost per individual piece of jewelry to himself (115 divided by 25, or $4.60 per piece) and the amount of profit that he needs to make on each piece of jewelry in order to keep his shop afloat.  For example’s sake we will say that Kerry needs to make $100 profit from the entire flat of jewelry.  This means that he needs to make four dollars in profit for every piece of jewelry he sells.  Therefore, even though hair he only paid $4.60 for each individual piece of silver jewelry with the consumer unwise enough to show an interest in any one of those pieces of jewelry is going to pay $8.60 to be able to take it home.

Working with a wholesaler simply serves to cut out the middleman.  Let’s say that the consumer decides to remove Harry from the equation and simply purchase their jewelry from a wholesaler.  Rather than placing four dollars in Harry’s pocket the consumer can keep their four dollars and purchase the flat of jewelry for $100 plus freight rather than $216.  That is a great deal of money remaining in the consumer’s wallet.

How can you find a repeatable wholesaler?  Hopefully before you are attempting to take the creation of jewelry and other novelties to a professional level you will have come to know some of the other people in the business.  Other jewelers and many jewelry shops that sell sterling silver will be able to refer you to a repeatable wholesaler.