Archive for January, 2012

Although it might seem relatively easy to choose an appropriate diamond or gemstone engagement ring for your lovely fiancée, especially now that many online venues are making these items more accessible, you might be surprised to realize how many components you have to look for. Since your bride-to-be will be wearing this piece for the rest of her life, it's only fair for you to do the necessary research before making the big purchase.

According to Pomerado News, cut, color, clarity and carat are the most important things to look out for when shopping for vintage engagement rings. You can easily save money on a quality stone by searching for old European cut diamonds, which are almost always reliable when it comes to color and clarity. If you hope to save a little money on the investment, go for a colored gemstone or diamond, which can look just as appealing as traditional choices.

Since the buying process can be relatively daunting for those who don't know much about jewelry, you should definitely make it a point to reference fashion magazines and professionals before endowing your fiancée with an engagement ring.

Now that Valentine's Day is on the horizon, you might be considering fine jewelry gifts to endow your sweetheart with. While you can just as easily walk into any store to purchase basic items, you would probably have more options by referring to online venues or local festivals. Luckily, since the demand for antique jewelry is up this time of year, many designers and manufacturers are taking part in local exhibitions and festivals, which can give you the knowledge necessary to make better gifting choices.

According to Beach Connection, local jewelers are organizing a jewelry festival known as Be Jeweled on February 11 in Newport, Oregon. This event will feature a number of unique vintage, exotic and costume jewelry pieces, offering plenty of options for Valentine's Day shoppers. In addition, all the proceeds will be donated to charity organizations, making the festival a beneficial experience for the entire community.

This time of year, jewelers everywhere will be making it a point to put their inventory out there at exhibitions. Take advantage of this activity by attending these events, if only for research and price comparisons.

Angelina Jolie, the beloved actress who is known best for her roles in action flicks like Tomb Raider and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, frequently appears in fashion magazines across the globe. It should come as no surprise that she makes waves during red carpet events.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jolie recently walked the red carpet of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she wore a dazzling black cocktail dress with ruffles that resembled fashions of the Roaring Twenties. She gave her alluring traditional ensemble a strong finishing touch with gold vintage jewelry pieces, including cocktail rings, an attractive bangle and a unique pair of dangling earrings. The gold earrings were comprised of gold hoops that hung from a smaller circular piece, and the hoop was etched with patterns of black onyx to exhibit an antique flair.

Ladies who wish to accommodate classy outfits might want to consider relying on the sheer radiance and durability of gold. Not only can these items complement practically any ensemble, but they will also provide the sophistication necessary to attract virtually every eye in the room.

Although jewelry items don’t necessarily become an integral part of a girl's apparel until she reaches a mature age, you might have a young daughter who is curious about lavish items like earrings and necklaces. While it may be true that you don't want to overwhelm her with expensive pieces she won't end up wearing often enough, there are certain items that are more suitable for those who are new to fine jewelry.

Children are often easily attracted to items such as colored gemstones, which are usually more affordable than things like diamonds yet are just as eye-catching. Consider buying your daughter cocktail rings that are infused with a birthstone, which can also give her a sense of personal identity and sentimentality.

Other items that young girls are generally attracted to are vintage jewelry pieces such as white gold bracelets or charm necklaces. Nametag necklaces are also popular jewelry accessories for teens.

Although you may not want to spoil your daughter rotten, there are luxuries in life that you should introduce her to at a young age. Why not help her establish a fashion sense with jewelry items she'll be happy to wear on a daily basis?

Many avid jewelry collectors go out of their way to obtain unique estate jewelry items, spending their entire lives prowling those auctions and antique exhibitions for the perfect Victorian pearl necklace or an elegant gemstone cocktail ring that's just right for a particular outfit. However, there are industry experts who are working on creative ways to make antique jewelry more accessible to the average consumer.

According to JCK, two jewelry manufacturers and business strategists, CEOs Kate Peterson and Patti Geolat, have coordinated an estate jewelry event that combines both buying and selling, creating more exposure for those rare pieces. They both make it a point to organize at least one buying and selling auction per month, and they have hosted 14 since last November.

"The idea of bringing together a buying and selling event in one has worked remarkably well for us and our clients," Peterson told the news source. "Many retail customers really like the estate and period jewelry expertise and inventory we bring to each event, with some store owners on their second or third event with us."

Even if you know exactly what you’re looking for, finding the perfect vintage jewelry piece can often be a daunting task. However, some items are worth the time and effort. If you’re hoping to speed up the process a little, you might want to do some necessary research and figure out which jewelry auctions or festivals are closest to you. This is perhaps the best way to accidentally stumble upon a new item to add to your collection.

According to Ventura County Star, events such as the antiques bazaar at the Goebel Senior Center in Thousand Oaks, California, can be a great way to find some rare pieces and have fun at the same time. Dozens of vendors will be present at this particular event, offering items ranging from antique clocks to toys and fine jewelry. There will even be door prizes, as well as a silent auction. Professional evaluators will be present in order to appraise platinum jewelry and other popular items.

"The concept is loosely similar to the well-known PBS program Antiques Roadshow," Andrea Koval, recreation supervisor at Goebel, told the news source. "It offers the visitor the chance of seeing the antique wares of many vendors all at one location."