For a long time, however, the traditional method of accomplishing this necessary task is the traditional casket burial in a cemetery. For many people this is just an honored tradition, but many people now are making plans that include cremation memorials, and becoming very creative with the way they depart this world. A cremation memorial can be a creative and loving way to celebrate the life of a departed friend or loved one, and there are as many options involved as you can create in your imagination
Cremation jewelry is a very popular choice among those who have chosen cremation as the means for final disposition of their loved one. Cremation jewelry usually includes both cremation necklaces and cremation bracelets. Both are made in a way that includes a small compartment, which can hold a tiny portion of the cremated ashes of a loved one.
Today you will find that there are many types of cremation jewelry and pendants to choose from and they range from religious symbols, such as a cross or Star of David, to animal figurines or even a simple, cylindrical shaped pendant. You can also choose from a variety of different metal compositions such as gold, silver, pewter and brass.
Types of Cremation Jewelry
An urn necklace can be worn just like a regular jewelry. All keepsake necklace designs have elegant and sophisticated touches that are a must for all jewelries. There are a wide number of remembrance jewelry designs available today. Urn jewelry comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. They are usually made of sterling silver, pewter, 14k gold, brass, cobalt or glass. Some higher end pieces of keepsake necklaces can be studded with gemstones such as onyx, ruby amethyst, or even diamonds.
Most remembrance jewelry makers offer the option of personalizing your keepsake necklace with the name of your loved one who passed away, their life dates and short messages you want engraved. You can even have your loved one's image engraved on the necklace. Personalized urn jewelry is surely an effective way to remind you to never forget.
Today this type of jewelry is becoming more popular as they not only combine the elegance of jewelry but the ability of holding part of a loved one close to you.
If you would like to know more about cremation jewelry then all you need do is search on the internet and you will soon see what is available to you. What a great way of remembering that one special person in your heart for the rest of your life.
2/18/2009
Cremation Jewelry
1/15/2009
Tips For Buying Engagement Diamonds Rings
Executive summary from Article By Frank Luca & James Jae Kook
Because engagement Diamonds rings consist of many features, the final cost of the rings usually goes higher for a buyer who is not well versed in the cost-effective ways of the shopping. There are expenses to be made on diamonds, metal band, settings and engravings and many more. The next, but main part of buying the ring is to make an extensive search for the ring of her choice. in searching such a jewelry piece, you should not loose focus on the price range you have already fixed according to the budget.
Another way to lower the costs is to make the engagement diamonds rings on your own. The advantage of designing of the ring is that you have the option of selecting a loose diamond with invisible flaws at low prices or a diamond with side blemishes at further lowered prices and you can cover the blemishes by metal on the ring.
Ask the jeweler about various settings as well. If you follow these basics of shopping for engagement rings, you are most likely to own an affordable and yet a glittering piece of jewelry.
The author has helped the jewelry customers immensely in enabling them to make informed purchasing of engagement rings, wedding rings, diamonds, gemstones and other items.
For details please visit Glimmerrocks.com
As the proposal is so unique, the ring should be unique too. A bespoke engagement ring tells the young man's intended he cared enough to give her a piece of jewelry that was completely original and designed to his specifications.
Choosing the Ring
The first step to designing a bespoke engagement ring is to determine what type of precious metal is to be used. The choices include platinum, gold, white gold as traditional choices and silver in rare circumstances. If your bride to be wears silver than consider platinum or white cold. Keep in mind that platinum will probably cost a bit more than gold so keep your budget in mind when designing the ring.
Choosing the Stone
The traditional engagement ring usually consists of a single diamond ranging from ½ carat up to 2 carats. When designing your bride's ring keep an open mind. As a matter of fact colored gemstones are becoming more and more popular for engagement rings. Try and choose a stone that suits the personality of your intended. A more traditional girl will prefer a diamond. When designing a bespoke engagement ring for your fiancée, keep in mind her personality and likes and dislikes. Remember to keep your budget in mind at all times and adjust your choices accordingly. Read More...
1/13/2009
Inspirational Jewelry
Executive summary from Article by SUZANNE MACGUIRE & WAIN ROY
Welcome to the wonderful world of inspirational jewelry.
Inspirational jewelry enjoys a unique duality in its appeal to our aesthetic senses.
Inspirational jewelry happens to be a nice and convenient way of capturing your favorite inspirational quotes that would help you wear your belief forever.
Inspirational jewelry forms a popular part of bohemian culture where you wear your own belief and display it boldly in accessories.
Apart from embossing your favorite inspirational quote, you may also suspend pendants of your favorite symbols or totem which may very well act as your lucky charm. Instances of rich flora and fauna are also nicely portrayed in bracelets and bangles.
Inspirational jewelry comes with motivational words, phrases and lines etched on it that continue to inspire every time the eye meets them.
Most inspirational jewelries are nicely designed by professional designers and are customized to suit individual tastes. Popular inspirational jewelries include exotic rings, chakra necklaces and also mood rings.
Metallic Celtic rings are also quite popular in the genre of inspirational jewelries and are popularly worn by believers of Wicca and pagan philosophy.
The discussion about inspirational jewelries would remain incomplete without the mention of crystals. Crystal jewelry stuffs are believed to possess metaphysical properties and are a powerful tool that influence human mind. Well known varieties of crystals include Amethyst, Quartz, Hematite, Jade, Jasper, Obsidian and Fluorite. These individual types of crystals play different roles in manipulating physical as well as mental wellbeing of individuals.
From time immemorial, jewelries have always adorned the beauty of a woman. Traditional jewelry accentuates the sophistication of its possessor.
. Traditional ones highlight physical attributes and the trendy inspirational jewelries reflect the philosophy of one's mind.
Inspirational engraved jewelry gives you the unique opportunity to 'wear' poetry around your neck, on your ears and around your fingers
It can turn one's favorite lines of poetry into exquisite pieces of jewelry.
Inspirational jewelry makes a wonderful for about any reason and any season. If you are looking for a slightly unusual gift, something that will set your gift aside from the rest and will make a great impression with the recipient, try gifting a piece of hand engraved inspirational jewelry.
Just gift a beautiful piece of inspirational jewelry and watch their faces light up.
Inspirational jewelry has countless admirers the world over. Some of the well-known names today are great enthusiasts of inspirational jewelry, including Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Mick Jagger, Johnny Depp, Meg Ryan, Seal, Sheryl Crow and Debra Missing.
The Internet is a great place to start getting familiar with this unique brand of jewelry.
One of the best places to find a most dazzling array of inspirational jewelry is Jeanine Payer's online jewelry store.
. One of the best places to find a most dazzling array of inspirational jewelry is Jeanine Payer's online jewelry store. Feast your eyes on a most exquisite array of bracelets , rings, earrings and necklaces – each meticulously crafted from precious metals with words of gold etched on them for eternal inspiration and motivation. Jeanine Payer is a San Francisco-based jewelry designer of significant repute and her name has become associated with some of the finest creations in inspirational jewelry.
Inspirational jewelry happens to be a nice and convenient way of capturing your favorite inspirational quotes that would help you wear your belief forever.
Inspirational jewelry forms a popular part of bohemian culture where you wear your own belief and display it boldly in accessories.
Instances of rich flora and fauna are also nicely portrayed in bracelets and bangles
Inspirational jewelries not only reinforce personal beliefs of the wearer but can be a very special gift to a recipient.
Most inspirational jewelries are nicely designed by professional designers and are customized to suit individual tastes. Popular inspirational jewelries include exotic rings, chakra necklaces and also mood rings.
Metallic Celtic rings are also quite popular in the genre of inspirational jewelries and are popularly worn by believers of Wicca and pagan philosophy.
The discussion about inspirational jewelries would remain incomplete without the mention of crystals. Crystal jewelry stuffs are believed to possess metaphysical properties and are a powerful tool that influence human mind. Well known varieties of crystals include Amethyst, Quartz, Hematite, Jade, Jasper, Obsidian and Fluorite. These individual types of crystals play different roles in manipulating physical as well as mental wellbeing of individuals.
From time immemorial, jewelries have always adorned the beauty of a woman. Traditional jewelry accentuates the sophistication of its possessor. Contemporary jewelries on the other hand bring forth the beauty of your thoughts. Traditional ones highlight physical attributes and the trendy inspirational jewelries reflect the philosophy of one's mind.
Check out my other guide engagement diamonds or Cremation Jewelry
1/06/2009
The Stories Meanings and Origins of Gemstone
Ever wondered what your birthstone means? Since the beginning of early times, many people had assumed that different gemstones have their own meanings and properties of healing. Whether what they said is accurate or not, it was believed that every gemstone held its own energy and through the chakra system is able to motivate the human body.
Gemstone meanings
Gems have always been the storehouses of power, and can only be imparted in your body through physical contact. Royal families especially the crowned kings and queens wore several pieces of gemstones to obtain their influences on the people. They had believed that as rulers, they can be guided by cosmic energies by connecting them with special forces.
Priests too had the same concept with the monarchs. They wore rings with gemstones as they had conceptualized on the idea that the power exhibited by the gemstones could be beneficial for them.
The power of the gemstones
Vijaya Kumar, a professor of computer and electrical engineering, wrote an overview on the power of gems:
1. All gemstones generate magnetic powers and many are considered beneficial to man.
2. A man's whole being is strongly influenced by the gemstones frequencies and vibration.
3. These stones are used for transforming and healing the mind, body and soul.
4. They trigger our abilities, soothe, and comfort us though the chastity of their rays.
5. Most precious stones have their own way of treating unbalanced emotions.
6. Gemstones which are always in contact with a person transmit their healing properties to him or her.
Birthstone meanings and origins
Years ago, some people had believed that certain gemstones generate more vibration power at a certain time of the year. That is why the month the stones power is stronger determines our birthstones. Also, other people have said that the original link between the gemstones and the twelve months of the year developed from the twelve stones which are pointed out in the Bible while others believe that they symbolize the twelve stones. For this reason, several gemstones are associated with each month.
In our time, the powers of gemstones are appreciated in the industrial uses of crystals in lasers, watches and computers.
The Gem Stone Mining and Making Process
So you're wondering how exactly your jewelry came to be. Well, that's a normal question any jewelry enthusiast would ask. You do question how these gems are placed into metal. You also question where exactly these gems came from.
There are gem stone mines everywhere around the world. The most popular are in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay and Africa. There are also mines in Europe and the United States, depending on what kind of gem stone you are looking for.
Amethyst
Amethyst is the most valuable kind of quartz. It is found everywhere around the world. For this very reason, it is one of the most affordable. The quality of amethyst is quite unique, depending on where it was obtained. Amethyst that are found in the United States are larger compared to those found in Africa. However, the latter has higher saturation when it comes to their colors.
Amethysts with the highest saturation are those found in Australia. There are also amethyst found in Brazil are usually large and have hues and cuts.
Emerald
Emeralds are mostly found in Mexico. Two main sources are the mines in Guerrero and Vera Cruz. Emeralds found there have the tendency to have lighter shades and are clearer than those found in other countries. The stones have lighter hues and the crystals are phantomed with a transparent interior and a saturated exterior.
Emeralds that are found in Guerrero are saturated dark green. They have a visible termination of their interior color saturation and exterior transparency. The highly saturated emeralds are the most elegant.
Sapphire
The most notable source of Sapphires are those found in Brazil from Minas Gerais, Bahia, Maraba and Rio Grande do Sul. Among those containing the best sapphires are the large pockets that are formed by the volcanic material.
The sapphires that are produced here vary in their color saturation which ranging from pale up to medium blue. Those that are navy blue are the sapphires that have the highest saturation.
Diamond
Africa is known to be a producer of diamonds, thus the inspiration of the recently released blood diamond. There are diamond deposits in Zambia and Namibia. The diamonds found in Africa can be as large as an egg and are outstandingly clear.
Jade
The United States has various gems. In Maine, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Montana and Colorado, the most popular stone is the Jade. The color depends from the medium saturation. It may be smoky or translucent, depending on where it was obtained.
Jade from Maine and North Carolina are usually dark while those found in Montana or Colorado have a green tint.
Now, the next question, how are the jewelry is made. Diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and jade are only a handful of precious gemstones out there. Some of them are very valuable because of their rare appearance.
How are these gemstones formed? Well, they are formed underneath the Earth. The process involves vary in each gem stone. The stones react with the minerals, specifically water. This is how they are dissolved. When the solution evaporates and cools down, these minerals are formed.
The water then mixes with the silica-rich rocks like sandstone. This produces the gemstones like amethyst, opals, agates, sapphires, jade and topaz to name a few. When the copper-rich rocks mix with the water, it bears the minerals like turquoise, malachite and azurite.
Emeralds and tourmalines are formed from rain water or the water that is from cooling bodies like magma that is mixed with the minerals and crystallized in cavities or open cracks. These spaces are filled with minerals which create the hydrothermal deposits needed in the formation of these gem stones.
There are also gemstones that are formed directly from the mantle. They consist up to 70% of Earths total mass. They are usually made up of magnesium, silicon, iron, oxygen, silicate and aluminum compounds. The upper layer of the Earths mantle has a volume of the olivine which is quite common in the whole procedure.
Whenever you hear the word metamorphic it means the change of form of these rocks. Metamorphic gems are garnet, emerald, ruby, aquamarine, sapphire, onyx and zircon. They are formed over a long period of time because they wait for the rocks to be altered with such pressure and intense heat in order to interact with the other solutions.
In addition, these gemstones have been used to promote physical healing in the human body by helping a person to balance his human emotions
Check out my other guide on
old fashioned cut becomes classic or Inspirational Jewelry
12/29/2008
How to Rarity is determine and the price value by the gem's color ?
How to Determine the Price Value of Color in Gemstones
Gemstones may come in a rainbow of colors, but the jewelry industry uses a universally defined system to grade it. Color accompanies clarity, cut, and carat weight to make up the 4C's and can greatly affect the aesthetic value of gemstones. Use the following tips to accurately evaluate the color of gemstones by yourself.
Evaluating Color of Gemstones by Using the GIA or Munsell Color Grading System
It utilizes a plastic set made up of 324 color pieces to serve as standard references. If a certain color is found missing from the system, interpolation can be performed to come up with more than 760 additional shades.
The GIA or Munsell system is made ideal for judging the color of gemstones because they are built with 3D plastic pieces that resemble faceted gemstones.
Elements of Color
The color of gemstones should be judged according to the three main elements:
Hue This is the first impression we obtain from viewing colors. It is what makes rubies red, sapphires blue, emeralds green, and amethysts purple. Hues have a natural order and they are red, yellow, green, blue, and lastly purple. Chroma or Saturation This element refers to the vividness, purity, strength, or intensity of a given color. Gemstones with low chroma are referred to as weak while those with high levels of saturation are called vivid or strong. Saturation of colored gemstones may be classified as the following in ascending order: grayish or brownish, slightly brownish or grayish, very slightly grayish or brownish, moderately strong, strong, and lastly vivid.
Value or Tone This is what makes you think of red as light or dark red. Gray as well as black and white are referred to as neutral or achromatic colors because they don't possess any hue. Colors with hues are referred to as achromatic colors. GIA uses a numerical system, with its written definitions, to evaluate neutral and achromatic colors alike. For transparent colored gemstones, however, only grades or tones two to eight are considered.
0 colorless or white
1 extremely light
2 very light
3 dark
4 very dark
Treatments Used for Changing Colors of Gemstones
When shopping for colored gemstones, another question you should definitely ask and one you couldn't evaluate without a definite honest answer is if the color is natural or applied. There are several commonly used and accepted color treatments that are applied to gemstones in order to change their appearance like heat treatment, irradiation, dyeing, and straining.
Heat Treatment This is the most commonly utilized and one of the oldest treatments for modifying the color of gemstones today. This treatment may use temperature ranging from 100 degrees Celsius to more than 2000 degrees Celsius and improves color distribution as well as reducing visibility of flaws.
Irradiation Low or high electromagnetic waves or energy particles are used to change the color of a given gemstone. With irradiation, certain gemstones have their colors enhanced. Bleached, off-color pearls will obtain a darker tint. Brown or light yellow diamonds can become colored. Colorless quartz may turn into smoky quartz. Colorless as well as pale pink and dark blue beryl may become yellow or maxixe-type respectively. Time, light, and heat may, however, cause the color for treated beryl jewelry to fade.
Dyeing and Straining This is the major term used to refer to various techniques utilizing a foreign and differently colored substance to modify the color of a given gemstone. Rarity is determined by the gem's color
If there is one appealing aspect of gemstones that up to this moment continuously lures women to be inclined toward it, that would be its bedazzling sparkle and exquisite colors. Among all gemstones the precious stones are the most dazzling of them all which includes sapphires, emeralds and rubies.
The aforementioned gemstones are popular due to their striking colors such as blue, red and green. While sapphires among the three other gemstones have other variety in terms of its color, which includes yellow, green and pink.
Nonetheless, all gemstones have their own respective appealing color which adds to its daintiness. Gems also have other color variations like red, green and blue.
Your desire matters
An exceptional advantage that is offered by gemstones to its clients is that they have all the freedom to select the color which they prefer. In line to that, most of the gems that are intense and richest in terms of its color merit higher market value as compared to others. For instance the emerald is known for its various shades of green, however the most famous color is the bluish green which also happens to be the most expensive kind.
Related post understanding clarity and transparency
12/18/2008
The "Term" Gemstone Genuine & How to spot an authentic jewelry store
Is Your Gemstone Genuine?
It takes training and the right equipment to determine if a gemstone is genuine. The term "genuine " means that the gemstone doesn't only look as expected, it should also meet the physical and chemical characteristics unique to that gemstone. Before going any further, are treated gemstones still genuine? Some gemstones are treated to enhance their appearance and decorative value.
Yes, there are professionals to perform the tests that determine if a gemstone is genuine or not but it is a valuable asset to any gemstone buyer to know the attributes to be tested.
1.0 Chemical composition and atomic structure
The stone's hardness, and light reflection is dependent on the atomic structure. Gemstones usually have crystalline structures.
2.0 Hardness and durability
Testing Laboratories
American Gemological Society (AGS)
American Gem Trade Laboratory of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). AGTA the largest trade organization of gemstone traders
American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
European Gemological Laboratory
Advancements in science have produced synthetic "gemstones" which cost just a fraction of the genuine gemstones.
How to spot an authentic jewelry store
Watch for the papers
Authentic jewelry comes with a price for a reason. So if you were to buy a real diamond ring, don't buy it without the essential papers. These authentic pieces of jewelry come with a product registration card and signed certificate of authenticity. If the store fails to give you these papers, they might be selling fake or imitation jewelry.
Beware of online stores or eBay
Not all pieces of jewelry fetch a high price. So if a store is selling a 1-carat diamond for a low price, be suspicious.
Finding authentic jewelry stores may be a big challenge for an amateur, so asking around or consulting a professional jewelry maker will help a lot. Don't be lured by words or sweet-nothings, but certainly watch out for these tips in finding an authentic jewelry store.
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