Jewelry Weblog

Friday, March 14, 2008

Coin Pendants Contemporary Forever

Animal pattern, patterns that are found in everyday life, human faces and figure, religious symbols are all wrought inside a coin pendant. Depended heavy by people in the past and the present to give a trendy look, coin pendants are made of sterling silver, white gold, yellow gold, platinum, bronze, silver, etc. Coin pendants are available in various sizes and they are worn along with gold chains. Intricate patterns inside the coin pendants and coin bezels give coin pendants an elegant look. Coin pendants have been in fashion for centuries and are still in fashion owing to their classic look.

Used in ancient times as a cure to many diseases, coin pendants were considered as charms that bring good luck and protect from evil. Now, coin pendants have become a part of anybody's jewelry collections. Coin pendants have been in vogue for many centuries. Varieties of pendants are found in galore in the market.

Coin pendants look snazzy for all seasons. They give a rich look to the one who wears it. They are available in the market in various sizes. Thought the coin pendants are in the shape of the pendants, many innovations are made in the designing and patterning of the pendants. Pendants are made with many metals. Coin pendants can be designed uniquely with new designs being engraved and made inside the pendants. The pendants are attached to a small loop that holds the pendant and attaches it with a chain. Pendants must be chosen according to the patterns set in the chain with which it is worn. If the chains are trendy, the pendants must match it.

Coin pendants which are wrought with the motifs of human shapes, faces of human, animal shapes, etc. are still a hit among the people. Pendants with antique look that is deliberately wrought gives a classic look to the one who dons it. People even now, sport a coin pendant with a stylish outfit. Coin pendants have a subtle charm about them that has made it popular for ages.

The pendants can be made fashionable and contemporary by providing variations in the coin bezel. Coin bezels can be in the pattern of a rope, tear drop or can be serrated depending upon the design that it sports inside. A slight variation provided in the coin bezels endows the coin pendant with an exotic and trendy look. Coin pendants with patterns inside that reflect the person's personality can be very attractive. It can give a silent statement about the person's nature.

Coin pendants in yellow gold are still popular. Sovereign patterns in coins have been the static pattern used in making the coin pendants for centuries. Full sovereign and half sovereign pattern are still popular. Now, designs in enamel have become hot properties among pendants. With varying shades of colors in enamel and patterns that cater to the tastes of all kinds of people, enameled pendants in sterling silver gives a classy look.

For a more refined look, people opt for 14k white gold, 18k white gold coin pendants. Platinum has been a mush sought after metal for ages in jewelry making and coin pendants in platinum, with beautiful patterns inside complements a beautiful platinum chain. Platinum chains can also carry a gold coin pendant and vice-versa and that can be a unique style. Coin pendants can also reflect the ethnicity of a person. Coin pendants are subtle and opulent at the same time and that adds to its timeless beauty.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

The True Beauty Of XO Bracelets

When I think of some of the best bracelets out on the market I think of XO Bracelets. These bracelets are like no other when it comes to beauty. In fact, XO bracelets have become the favorite bracelet of most women world wide. If you are looking for that perfect way to tell a loved one that you love them, then you just need to get them some XO bracelets. This style of bracelet comes in many different forms, and because of that, you are sure to find the perfect gift for anyone. Although XO bracelets are most worn by females, I have seen some males that enjoy wearing them as well.

If you have never seen XO bracelets then you do not know what you are missing. These bracelets are the king (or queen) of the bracelet world. Whenever you first lay your eyes on one it is hard to take them off it. One thing that is so great about these bracelets is the fact that they make great gifts for just about anyone. The reason why XO bracelets make such great gifts is the fact that they have such a neat style. Also, XO bracelets also can cost as little or as much as you want them to. Because of that, it is easy to get some XO bracelets for a child or an adult. Usually the ones that cost more are made out of gold and have very pretty gems in between the X's. If you still do not understand what XO bracelets look like, let me break it down for you. The bracelet is made up if different links. The first link is an X shape, usually just solid gold. The next link would be round like an O. This is usually where you wold put the gem if the bracelet is going to have any gems in it.

Now I know you are starting to think that these XO bracelets must make great gifts, where can you get some? Well you could find some in your local stores, but the only problem is that you are going to end up spending way too much on it. To find the best deals on XO bracelets you need to go online. By looking online you are going to be able to compare different prices of XO bracelets from all around the world. This insures that you get the best bracelet for the amount of money you spent on it. After all, no one likes to be ripped off.

The next time you find yourself with the hard task of getting someone in your family a great gift think of the XO bracelets. These bracelets aim to please and are not going to let you down. I am sure that whoever you give this type of bracelet to is going to love it so much that you are going to be on top of the world. They are going to repay you in so many ways that you are going to feel like a hero. To think this all happen because you chose to get some XO bracelets. So start your search online now, it is never to late to start shopping for some great bracelets. You can buy one now, and save it for a big holiday to give as a gift. After all, it seems like there is a holiday around every conner. Good luck on your search for some of the best bracelets to ever be made.

Monday, September 10, 2007

2007 Oscar Earrings - The All Important Item of Jewelry

Why are earrings the most important item of jewelry? By important I mean the piece of jewelry that will do the most for your appearance. As with all jewelry it should blend with your overall attraction. You don’t want the first comment to be about your great jewelry and then you come in second. Your overall look is what needs to be fabulous, then after the comments of how stunning you look, they can notice your cool jewelry. Later we will look at what style of earrings the stars wore to the Oscars.

Earrings are what frames your face, along with hair, if the colour and style of your earrings are right they will be like two spotlights adding a glow to your face, making it brighter and more alive. Earrings with a decoration on the front of the post, covering the pierced hole, has the reflected light starting from the right point. Earrings with a shepherd hook usually start from a lower aspect and part of the effect can be lost. Also with the shepherd hook if the earring is heavy it shows up the drag on the lobe, these earrings are probably better suited for lighter more casual wear.

Looking at the Oscars 2007. On the Red Carpet almost all of the earrings that the stars wore were decorated from the front of the post, very few were shepherd hook earrings. Most earrings at the Oscars were quite elaborate but not overly so. Some like Nicole Kidman only wore tiny studs. I only saw one star, where the first thing that stood out was her jewelry, the rest were very tasteful.

More Fashion Earrings from the Oscars 2007
  • Cate Blanchett – black stone on the lobe with a larger stone dropped from the first
  • Emily Blunt – Stud earrings
  • Gwyneth Paltrow – Stone on the lobe with a large elaborate diamond shaped drop
  • Helen Mirren – Medium button style
  • Jennifer Hudson – Long drop earring with the piercing covered
  • Jennifer Lopez – Long drop earring with the piercing covered
  • Nicole Kidman – Tiny stud
  • Penelope Cruz – Large flower shaped button style
  • Portia de Rossi – A short drop from a smaller stone on the lobe
  • Jada Pinkett Smith – Large diamond shaped drop from a covered piercing
  • Maggie Gyllenhaal – A medium retro hoop with a filigree decorated boat at the bottom of the hoop – piercing was exposed.
  • Rachel Weisz – Stud earring
  • Kate Winslett – an elaborate button style

My vote goes to Penelope Cruz for making her earrings work for her, there are some photos on my Blog, the link is below, go and leave your comment.

Earrings have a long history and date back to the earliest of times. From ancient countries the earrings recovered have nearly all been a variation of the hoop earring, a style that has remained popular to this day. In Cyprus, from the middle of the 2nd Millennium BC, the popular earrings were painted terracotta in the form of stylised nude females. Earlobes were pierced 2 or 3 times and large terracotta hoops suspended from them...

Now, as seen at the Oscars, styles are very diverse from studs to shoulder dusters. Fortunately for us we do not have to pay as much for beautiful earrings as the stars do. With today’s technology the quality of man-made gemstones is very good. Resulting in beautiful and much more economical earrings, and other jewelry. Good quality inexpensive jewelry can look as good as the expensive items. For example the cubic zirconia which is made from minerals, resembles the much more expensive diamond. Cubic zirconia is not quite as hard as a diamond but it can be cut and faceted in the same beautiful designs that a diamond can be cut in. Cubic zirconia can be colored to resemble ruby, emerald, sapphire or any other stone. Another cost cutting technique is to quality plate Sterling Silver with 18k Gold. This gives the benefits of gold at a Sterling Silver price. The choice is yours, try all styles and see which does the best for you. Enjoy your earrings and look fabulous.

Jewelry for Fashion & Gifts

Jewelry Photography Lighting Tips

Have you heard the term candela? Yes, it has to do with light that is part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that the human eye can see. So what has candela to do with jewelry photography?

Well, everyone knows that photography is a form of art made possible by light. Without light, there is no photography. Understanding and controlling light have always been the most essential aspects of great jewelry photography.


Tungsten Carbide Ring Photo

The biggest mistake amateurs make when taking pictures is expecting to capture the same range of light on a digital back as seen by the eye. Not so fast: the amount of light you see is a broader range than the amount of light a digital back can capture. While the eye can see a wide range at the same time, digital chips cannot. The difference is that a digital chip can capture light all across the light spectrum, but not all at the same time like your eye can. Let's examine a few lighting techniques used in digital jewelry photography.

FRONT LIGHTING

This is the simplest form of lighting for jewelry photography. It is achieved by placing the light source around the camera lens pointing towards the jewelry to be photographed. For example, flash units on top of cameras, ring lights, or soft boxes next to the lens. Front lighting is flat, and is best used for illustrative purposes. When used for jewelry photography, front light is unexciting and sometimes causes glare from certain areas on the reflective surface that reflects the light from opposing angles.

SIDE LIGHTING

Side lighting gives the impression of three dimensions. By illuminating the jewelry from the side, the viewer gets the impression of depth, as opposed to the flat, two-dimensional effect of front lighting. Side lighting can be most effective in accentuating the surface textures of jewelry. When using side lighting in jewelry photography one must be careful in placing the light to avoid unwanted reflections.

AVAILABLE NATURAL LIGHT

Available natural light completely surrounds a subject. This lighting situation is very even and already exists in an indoor or outdoor setting without adding any artificial illumination by the jewelry photographer. When combined with other reflective surfaces such as silver cards, it can be an effective technique in jewelry photography to achieve soft and pronounced edges on metals and gemstones.

DIRECT LIGHTING

Direct lighting results in high contrast, especially when it's coming from a single source such as the Sun or a fixture equipped with a fresnel lens. It produces high contrast captures with deep shadows and overall drama. In jewelry photography it's mostly used in combination with other softer light sources in order to add a certain creative effect to the general capture. Using high contrast lighting adds impact and accentuates jewelry textures. It can also be used to light through diffusing surfaces such as acrylic or cloth to create softer shadows.

DIFFUSED LIGHTING

Diffused scattered light rays, produce softer light, lessen contrast, and smoothes out details in the jewelry. The resulting images tend to be dreamy and romantic. This technique is very good for showing overall and shadow details. It is the most widely used method in jewelry photography.

SPOT LIGHTING

Spotlighting is a useful tool to focus attention on a certain area of the jewelry. Direct spotlighting is very dramatic, however, in jewelry photography most surfaces are reflective; therefore special techniques must be applied when spotlighting to diffuse and control the reflections and glare. The end result can yield compelling and dramatic jewelry photography.

Avi Roth's photography can be seen in publications such as Vogue Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Los Angeles Weddings. His work ranges from advertising to fine art, single products to complex sets, and single models to large crowds. Roth describes his artistic approach as follows: "Every photograph is a story written with light. Like a story without words, it evolves from a concept, thought, or emotion in my mind's eye, into a latent image, a silhouette of shapes and forms. This shadow-less three-dimensional space is the genesis of my artistic interpretation. I use my personal 'palette' of light to create shadow, color, and space, and blend backgrounds to complete my visual composition." Roth has received numerous awards recognizing his professional virtuosity and fascination with elegance. He attended Tel-Aviv Polytechnic and graduated with honors from the London Film School. Avi Roth is the founder of Digital Jeweller: Digital Jewelry Photography Solutions.

For more jewelry photography tips and info go to www.jewelryphotographyonly.com