Jewelry Box

Three or four years ago I had an unfortunate accident in the kitchen that involved the loss of my wedding band.  I had just gotten home from work, and was washing a couple dishes in the sink, when suddenly my blue topaz ring slipped off and fell down the drain. My first instinct was of course to panic. I called my husband hysterical and told him what had happened, and he said to turn off the water, and just leave the sink alone. When he got home we called a plumber to see what could be done. The plumber said as long as the ring hadn’t been flushed out of the pipes, it would still be under the sink.  The next day the plumber arrived, took apart most of the sink, and after some time pulled out my wedding band.  I was so relieved, that I think I hugged him.

I learned my lesson, and would put it to any women or men out there who have a thought of washing dishes with their wedding ring on… don’t!

Some may say there’s no such thing as love at first site, but for me and my husband Jerome it happened. I had been a single Mom for five years, my love life was a joke, and I was beginning to feel like I would never find the right man. Last autumn a girlfriend of mine invited me to her annual family picnic. I really wasn’t looking forward to it, but that day I prepared my famous deviled eggs, packed up my son and set out for the park where the picnic was being held. Well, I ended up having a great time. My friend’s family was amazing. And, as the sun set and the day neared an end, my son begged me to let him have a hot dog before we left.

II was there at the grill that I met Jerome. As he looked up from flipping a few burgers, we made eye contact, and I just knew I would marry this man. Six months to the day later he proposed to me, presenting me with an antique 14k yellow gold ring that had been in his grandmothers. We have been married for almost a year now, and I know that for me at least, love-at-first site exists.

I would never claim to be a fashion expert, but I’ve picked up a few personal tips and pointers about which accessories work with which outfits. Most women prefer to pick out the wardrobe first before picking out jewelry that complements the look. Depending on the occasion, I’ll go with a silver or gold theme, never mixing the two. Some say that gold is overly flashy in an informal setting, and I tend to agree.

In my experience, sterling silver goes with practically any gesilver hoop earringsm stones, and it is subtle enough to pair with most clothing ensembles. My pair of silver hoop earrings sees frequent use, especially when I need something to accentuate the features of my face. Whether I’m out on the town with that special someone or dressing to impress at a fancy dinner party, I know the silver earrings won’t steer me wrong.

Sterling silver is a bright, eye-catching metal that looks great with any skin tone and outfit. The only time it doesn’t look great is when it’s tarnished! You’ll want to take good care of your sterling silver jewelry so it always looks brand new. You don’t need to buy expensive cleaner to do this; you can easily clean your jewelry using a few household items.

You’ll need baking soda, aluminum foil, a glass dish, boiling water, a plastic or wood utensil, an absorbent towel and a soft cloth. Line the dish with aluminum foil and place a sterling silver necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings on the aluminum. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the jewelry, and then pour enough boiling water to immerse the jewelry. There should be bubbling and a rotten-egg smell - those are sulfuric gases being released as the tarnish is dislodged from the silver and binds with the aluminum. Use the utensil to move the jewelry around to make all parts of it come in contact with the aluminum. Once all parts of the jewelry become bright again, rinse it under tap water and wipe it with an absorbent towel. Polish it with a soft cloth and it’ll be just like new!

Amethysts are a beautiful and brilliant variety of quartz, often purple in color. And because the stone has been around for so long, there are many oddities and superstitions that surround them.

To begin with, amethyst derives from the Ancient Greek for “not intoxicated,” because ancient wearers believed that amethysts were imbued with the power to stop drunkenness. For that reason, they were even known to fashion drinking cups out of the stone. Ancient Egyptians were also fond of amethysts and were known to wear them often. Medieval Europeans continued the tradition of wearing amethysts for their purported powers. At times, they wore amethyst pendants into battle with the steadfast belief that they could keep them out of harm’s way.

Today, the stone a popular and beautiful embellishment for rings, earrings or an amethyst necklace. Amethyst is the official birthstone of February, so it remains a perfect gift for the modern woman as well.

More and more often couples are tiring of traditional wedding themes, and looking for unique alternatives. An Irish or Celtic wedding theme, for example, is a way of getting in touch with Irish heritage, while keeping your ceremony different from other ceremonies. Throughout history most Celtic wedding ceremonies were held during one of the four major festivals; Beltane, Lughnassadh, Samhain, or Imbolc. For couples planning winter wedding themes, planning the wedding during Imbolc, which starts on Feb. 1, would be the logical choice.

Many looking forward to a Celtic-themed wedding will choose Celtic-love-knot wedding bands, or an emerald ring to symbolize the Emerald Isle. Those couples also may choose to don traditional Irish dress for the ceremony. Brides who decide to wear a traditional Celtic wedding dress may also wear a colorful Kinsale cloak. Grooms may wear traditional Celtic garb to match the bride, or a green cummerbund and tie.

While the words carat and karat might SOUND indistinguishable, it’s often easy to tell the difference through context. For example, someone who mentions carats in the context of a diamond ring is most likely referring to the weight of the gemstones. Karats, on the other hand, are a measure of purity in precious metals such as white gold. Of course things become a bit tricky when you’re talking about a 14k white gold necklace with opulent diamonds.

It’s important to note that no piece of gold jewelry can be 100 percent pure, owing to the fact that solid gold is too soft and malleable by itself. Alloys such as zinc are often added to strengthen the gold and add a touch of color as well. White gold is the result of nickel or palladium alloys being added to the mix, while yellow gold is most likely the result of copper and zinc additives.

One of the staples of any woman’s wardrobe is the classic black dress. The garment is touted for its sleek appearance and versatility. Although the “little black dress” literally goes with anything, there are few jewelry options that fully complement the piece by having black in their design.

Originally used in ancient Greek and Rome, onyx is one of the oldest used forms of quartz. Today you can find quality black onyx earrings and rings to accompany any black ensemble. Add rich black color to your jewelry while maintaining elegance with this ancient gemstone.

What do copper, silver, brass and aluminum have in common, besides the fact that they’re all metals that indispensable for human use? Each one will develop a layer of corrosion known as tarnish over time. This form of oxidization creeps in at a much slower and less conspicuous rate than rust, but it’s just as detrimental to the beautiful shine of your jewelry. You wouldn’t show off your rusty old car to friends, so why flaunt a tarnished necklace?

There are literally dozens of ways to remove tarnish from a sterling silver pendant, and each has its benefits and drawbacks. Your best bet is to add a thin layer of polish to prevent the tarnish from forming in the first place. Abrasive materials like sandpaper or steel wool are sometimes used, but that should be a last resort. Anytime you scrub the tarnish off a piece of metal, you’re also losing bits of the silver itself.

As gold prices continue to rise, so does the price of jewelry. With this is mind, it is important to pick pieces of jewelry that not only look great but are versatile as well. What good is spending hundreds of dollars on earrings or a necklace if you can only wear them a couple of times a year?

For your next jewelry purchase look for simple designs that are appropriate for a variety of occasions. Choosing something causal yet elegant will allow you to enjoy the piece during the workweek, not just on special occasions. 14k yellow gold necklaces and chains are simple and can be paired with virtually any bracelets, watches or rings.