Your Own Stone Settings
Stone setting in general is much more difficult than many might suspect. There are short courses in various sorts of jewelry work but those provide only a basic starting place and years of experience needed to become truly proficient in many areas. Fortunately, if a person devotes time to stone setting and does enough of one style of setting to become comfortable with it, moving on to similar styles is not nearly as difficult as those “first trials”.
As you likely know, stone setting is done in many different styles. Within those styles, one jeweler may use slightly different methods than would another jeweler doing the exact same job. There is room to experiment with methods but only after you have set a few stones and are pleased with the results. Once you have a feel for the metal and the gems, then you know enough not to totally mess-up by trying a slightly different method.
Stone Setting Styles. I will mention a few styles and recommend what I believe is the best place to begin.The prong settings using faceted stones. This is the best place to begin. Start with a round stone, perhaps 4mm to 7mm in diameter. Smaller stones are more difficult until you learn the “give and take” of the metal, while larger stones present other problems. Start with normal prongs, generally four or six to the setting.
There are lots of prong settings with fancy formed and decorated prongs but those are not the best with which to begin learning. I don't care if the prong settings are part of a pendant, ring or earrings. The idea is fairly plain and basic prong settings regardless of the jewelry type.
The Bezel Settings, is use a narrow area of metal around the girdle or waist of the stone to secure the stone in the setting. The most basic form is seen in typical southwestern turquoise jewelry, essentially a band of silver wrapped around the stone and pressed down toward the stone from the top.
The more dramatic and much more difficult bezel is “flush set”, where a gemstone is set directly into the surface of metal such as on a ring band and the metal is burnished or hammered to the stone then finished for smoothness. This last technique is quite difficult for a beginner and is best left until you feel ready for it and have the equipment to do the job.
Channel Settings. You have seen these settings in which rows of stones are set into a “groove” or channel of metal. This is also a difficult job and should not be attempted to start. To try a channel setting without lots of previous metal and seat cutting experience will lead to frustration and disappointment. Look at channel set stones at a jewelry store.
Inexpensive jewelry is a “fake job” and the stones are in a channel but held in place with little burs of metal pushed over opposite sides of the stone. Stones fall out of these settings! A real channel set has the metal along the channel pushed down onto the stones, all along the channel. You need to learn to bezel set before doing channel settings since some similar techniques are used.
Bead Set or Pave Setting. This setting is done with hand tools in the final stages, forming metal over one stone at a time and sometimes two at a time using “graver” tools. This is advanced technique. A setting style with a similar look uses “needle point” prongs formed to start with in the metal. We can talk about that sometime down the road.
Fancy Shaped Stones. Even when using prong settings, fancy shaped stones need added techniques. Essentially the same methods are used to cut seats and tighten prongs for emerald cuts as for round and oval stones. Marquise and pear shapes have a pointed end requiring a different seat cutting method to hold the pointed end securely without breaking the stone! The problem with emerald cuts is getting the stone level and straight and secure enough that the stone will not “turn” in the prongs.
The problem with stones with pointed ends or corners is cutting the seat and tightening without damage to the stone. Such fancy shape are not to be feared but understood to be more difficult, requiring practiced hand control before attempting.
Settings. I recommend starting with simple prong settings, generally found in four and six prong versions. Note, jewelers often use the words settings, heads, crowns and mountings to mean the same thing.
Stone Shapes. I recommend round faceted stones in sizes from perhaps 4mm to 7mm. You may try ovals stone, too, but do a few rounds first. With ovals, over tightening any prong can make the stone go sideways a bit in the prongs.
Stone Kinds. CZ's are good to start as are man-made birthstones. Most of the birthstones are synthetic sapphire (corundum) and are quite hard. The value of these stones is, they are pretty when set and are not expensive. The cuts are fairly uniform, too, compared to less expensive natural stones. Still, you need to practice on some stones which are not tough as the birthstones. For this, choose perhaps some inexpensive, meaning almost colorless, amethysts and inexpensive garnets.
These will not be the most beautiful gems but are wonderful for practice and can look pretty in earrings and pendants. You will likely discover the girdle or waist of inexpensive natural gems may be varied in thickness and the angles of the facets on the pavilion or bottom of the stone may vary. The idea is to get the stone level in the mounting so it looks level to the eye.
For the work to be done just like it should, stone seats need to be cut into the prongs to match the gemstone on hand. I suggest trying something in sterling silver. The metal is easy to bend and work. In fact, sterling is soft enough to “over bend” without due care. Gold is somewhat more springy and takes more effort to properly set than silver. However, gold is more forgiving than silver and certainly takes a better finish in the final steps. I suggest a sterling pendant, facet set stone in prongs. That is a good starting place.
Please, keep in mind the main idea is to have a finished piece that does look good to the eye! The stone should be safe and secure in the setting but that is not “seen”. What is seen is the finished jewelry. That is the impression both to you and to anyone who happens to see it. Set the stone at a pleasing depth in the prongs, stone set level, finish off the prongs so all is uniform and neatly done. It will take some time to get use to this kind of think, but when you do get use to this kind of thing you will have no problem fixing your jewelery, your families, maybe even some of your friends jewelery.
Search Engine Internet marketing Paradigm to Prosper in Little Online Home business
Aside from there is also a different booming idea that has collected wide spread acclamation and recognition is about the Online world advertising. But unlike the classic advertising and marketing, there are some essential facets that an particular person ought to know and develop previous to going for any on the internet promotion. Though a number of amongst us could possibly know but Online world marketing and advertising and lookup engine marketing are interrelated to a good extent. To draw more and more targeted traffic for raising the rank of a page that provides data about any on-line enterprise or products and solutions or even each, suitable implementation of the explained ideas facilitates a lot for the proprietor of the web-pages as clearly as the web pages on the Internet.
We all want facts and we all want answers. We could possibly be researching a distinct task or desire information about an even or we may well want directions to a movie theater. We get our answers from Google and sometimes from other research engines. The phrase Google it has develop into so favorite that it is now bundled in the dictionary. If you have a smallish enterprise then you will need to make confident that when somebody is hunting for the products or assistance that you deliver they should really be capable to discover your organization with the aid of a search motor.
If you have a jewellery shop then when another person styles wedding rings in a research motor like Google your webpage need to be at the best of the record of results. This is in which research engine optimization or Website positioning comes into perform. Seo is the course of action that allows develop the visibility of a website or webpage in research engines. If you have a little home business in Somerset than you should appear up Search engine optimization Somerset on the web and see what effects come up. An Seo business will aid you get extra business enterprise by growing the site visitors to your webpage.
Depending on which supply you browse, anyplace from thirty,000 to a hundred,000 new web-sites are printed any single day. And, this variety is only boosting, which prospects each and every compact business enterprise owner to wonder, “How in the community will my webpage at any time get discovered?” This is where by Search engine marketing material comes into perform.
Whilst the stats can be daunting, it is rather easy to get identified internet. Why is this? Given that the moment lots of little organizations publish their web-sites, they promptly forget them. This presents an great opportunity for savvy business owners who are eager to invest in potential customers-driving Website positioning information. Following are two types that every single web site really should have.
As implies of on the internet advertising and marketing, each Search engine optimization and PPC depend on the use of keyword phrases on research engines, these kinds of as Google, Yahoo!, AOL and MSN, to get appropriate Web site pages. Lookup engines use Website Crawlers or Spiders to scan the Community Wide World-wide-web for world wide web pages that have subject material and backlinks that are pertinent to the search keyword. Related pages are then detailed in the search result page in the purchase of their relevance as judged by the lookup engines.
This is critical since the terrific vast majority of Online world end users normally dont bother to go pretty deep in the lookup outcome pages. They commonly analysis only the 1st page of benefits…perhaps clicking on to the 2nd or 3rd pages. If a special search outcome doesnt give them what they want, theyre off to an additional keyword research.
Knowledge for a Common Men about Diamond cut
Everyone would agree that diamonds make a wonderful gift for a special person in your life. For many people, a diamond is the largest purchase of their life. When choosing diamond jewellery, one of the most important aspects to consider is the quality of cut of the gemstone. Did you know that the term diamond cut does not refer to its shape? In a gemologist’s term “cut” means proportions of diamond, like its depth and width and uniformity of its facets-all characteristics that control brilliancy, stability and other features we seek for in a diamond. A kind of design guide is used while shaping any diamond. A diamond’s cut is not only about its shape, but how effectively the stone can return light back to the viewer’s eye. A well-cut diamond appears brilliant and fiery, while a badly cut diamond looks dull and lifeless, despite having a good color and clarity grade.
The process of cutting the diamond is also essential when determining its cost, quality, and value. Jewelers take several years to simply cut one gem. Girdle is the widest section of the diamond. The most famous cut is round cut, in any jewellery. Round cuts achieve the most brilliance and are a great choice for diamond earrings. The Hearts and Arrows diamond gives the impression of arrows when viewed from the top, and hearts when viewed from below. When a diamond has a high quality cut, the light will enter through the top, where it reflects from one side to the other before bouncing back out of the diamond’s table toward the observer’s eye in an even dispersion. This phenomenon is referred to as “light return” which affects a diamond’s brightness, brilliance, and dispersion. Light traveling through a shallow cut diamond is lost out of the bottom of the stone and does not back into sight. The lack of light play makes shallow cut diamonds appear lifeless. The Cut is a set of measurements based on how light travels within the diamond and exits from the top. The Cut is the only “man-made” C of the 4C’s.
Most unique of all diamond cuts is triangle cut. It can have rounded or pointed corners and is commonly used for stud or pendant diamond earrings. Diamond initiated to be more superior as people started to polish them, creating slight facet. During Middle Ages diamond was used in their row states.
Lots of diamond shapes exist in market all these days like round shape, oval shape and cushion shapes; Princess, Emerald, Asscher Diamond Shapes; Marquise and Radiant Diamond Shapes; Pear and Heart Diamond Shapes and many more.
Choosing diamond jewellery is something more than just picking the size and color of the rock. It is important to pay attention to the way in which it was cut. It may seem difficult to the eyes of a common person, but we should not forget that we are not alone when deciding to buy jewellery. This is something we would usually do in a jewellery shop due to the multiple benefits they offer. So before buying any diamond product you should contact any professional or you can also search about all your doubts by one click on your internet enabled computer.
What Is The Ideal Present For The Lady In Your Life? Discover The Way To Her Heart. Ladies, This Is The One.
How many times have we all struggled to buy a present? Spent countless hours looking for inspiration and failed miserably. The age old present question “what can I buy for her that she wants?” has challenged us all over the years. Every man knows that it's virtually impossible to understand the mind of a woman or decipher their indecipherable clues.
How about a couple of our old favourites? Chocolates, the safe bet but not very inspired and they are gone in an instant. Flowers, also ok but they droop and die in a week or so. Women are always moved by a present that has been thought about and considered. Hence the phrase “It's the thought that counts”.
So what do women love? They love a gift that lasts and makes them feel special. They love a present that has been chosen with care and Thought. They love a gift that they can show off to their friends.
So what is this magical gift that fills her with joy and gets you bundles of brownie points to boot? The answer is quite simply, jewellery jewellery jewellery.
So, that's the first part of the puzzle solved, the present. The next part is choosing the right piece [this is the "It's the thought that counts" bit]. This has often been the sticking point and got a lot of us giving up and reaching for the flowers and chocolates. But now this can be a thing of the past.
Read on to discover the five simple easy to follow steps that should overcome the mysteries of choosing the right piece of beautiful jewellery for ever.
1. Which metal to choose
There are many metals that jewellery is made from, but only three to really consider here. They are Platinum, gold and Silver. Because these metals are relatively soft they are mixed with other metals to make them workable and more durable.
To show their purity they are stamped with marks. Platinum and silver is marked by 3 numbers to show how many parts per thousand they contain. Gold is marked either as above or with a K followed by one or two numbers that represent the percentage of purity. As a rule of thumb, the higher the purity, the higher the price.
Platinum is a rare silver coloured metal that carries a very high price tag but is more durable than gold. It normally comes in two grades 950 and 980.
Gold is as its name suggests is gold in colour and has been the main choice up until the last few years, but is now fast pricing itself out of the market as it has risen sharply in price over the last few years and can expect to pay £50 plus a gram for 9kt. It's most common grades are 9k [37.5%purity] 18k [75%purity] and 22k [91.6%purity]. The one thing to note with gold is the higher the purity the lower the durability.
Silver is as the name suggests silver in colour with a beautiful shine and is more durable than gold. It has always been very popular and though its price is steadily rising it is still very affordable and is great value as it is around £4 a gram. The only two grades that you should consider for silver jewellery are 925 which is known as “sterling silver” and 950. A great way to get the look of platinum or gold without the extra cost is to buy silver that has been overlaid with platinum or gold.
2. The piece of jewellery to select
This part involves you looking at the styles of jewellery and colours of the clothes she wears. If you select the same styles of jewellery that she already wears, you know she already likes it. And if pick the colours of the gemstones that are in the colours of her clothes you know they will match.
3. How to understand ring sizes and chain lengths
There are two different scales for ring sizes, one uses letters and the other numbers. Here are some of the popular sizes and their diameters in mm.
L 5 ½ 16.10mm
M 6 16.51mm
N 6 ½ 16.92mm
O 7 17.35mm
P 7 ½ 17.75mm [this is to give you an idea and actual sizes may vary]
Chains come in many different lengths. For bracelets the normal length is
7 ½” [19cm] and for neck chains the usual length is 18″ [46cm]. If you want a pendant to sit higher, then 16″ [41cm] is a good length and is close on being a choker and if you want it to sit lower then 20″, 22″, 24″ chains are available.
4. Which jewellery to choose
The five main jewellery items are pendants, earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets.
Pendants are the safest bet. They are sold with and without chains, but try and buy with a chain as it can be worn straight from the box. The chain that comes with it is normally chosen to look right with the pendant and match its design.
Earrings come in two main types, for pierced and non-pierced ears [just have a quick look to see if her ears are pierced or not]. Earrings for pierced ears generally come with three different types of fixings. Hook which just hooks into the piercing. Post that slides through the piercing and is fixed at the to the post and lever back which have a hook that passes through the ear and is secured to a hinged lever that folds up from the back of the earring.
Rings can be a mine field if you do not know her size , but this can be overcome by including a voucher you can make saying something like “you include ring resizing as part of the gift”, just in case you get it wrong. A good local jeweller will resize most rings up or down 2 or 3 sizes for a small charge.
Necklaces come as one piece and will not allow you to change the chain.
Bracelets can sometimes need a little research as wrists vary in size and though the normal size for a bracelet is 7 ½ ” there are smaller and larger sizes. If in doubt measure a bracelet she already owns.
5. High street or online jewellery Shop
The high street jewellery shop is normally more expensive than an online jewellery shop because they have much higher overheads but you do get the benefit of seeing the piece there and then.
The online jewellery shops often have a greater range to choose from with clearer details [gemstone sizes and origins, metal weight and if a chain is included] and good pictures to print off if you need to. They are open 24hrs a day and the bonus of delivery straight to your door.
Some quick final tips.
Look for a store that includes a presentation box in the price.
Gemstones that are translucent give a better sparkle than opaque.
Silver jewellery is great value at the moment.
If you really want to impress when choosing the gemstone then have a look at a birthstone chart to get the stone for her month of birth.
There Is More to a Jewelry Store than Jewelry
So you're thinking about opening a jewelry store. Have you given some thought to all of the elements that go into your plan? If you've only thought as far as the jewelry and the building, you're just getting started. There are literally hundreds of components that go into creating a successful, customer-friendly jewelry store.
The three most vital things to be considered are packaging, display options and security. If you aren't prepared for it, it is easy to get overwhelmed when faced with the task of assembling your store. Here are a few things to consider as you begin planning:
Packaging: You can have the finest diamonds in the world. But what is the customer going to carry them home in? The jewelry box is one of the most recognizable trademarks of the industry. And you're going to need a lot of them. Your best bet will be to buy wholesale jewelry boxes in the most common shapes and styles, so that you're prepared for anything.
If you are trying to establish your brand, you can have your wholesale jewelry boxes custom printed to fit your name and logo. You can also buy jewelry boxes in a wide variety of colors to fit the scheme of your business. A uniform line of wholesale jewelry boxes will go a long way towards building a professional image in the mind of your customers.
Display: Jewelry display cases are second only to a quality product when it comes to factors affecting a successful sale. Part of the attraction to a particular piece is the way it is presented. Choosing which jewelry display cases are right for your store will depend largely on the amount of room that you have to work with. If you have the room, it is always best to go with a setup that allows the customer to view all of the jewelry at the same level. Most mall stores have their jewelry display cases lined up in such a way.
If space is an issue, a vertical 360º jewelry display case is another attractive option. The 360º display case will conserve space, add depth to a room, and allow your jewelry to shine from all angles. You can even get L-shaped jewelry display cases to turn a corner when necessary. The most important thing is that you pick your display case based on the space you have available.
Security: One of the most important components of operating a successful jewelry store is an effective security system. And that starts with security cameras. A real or fake security camera can go a long way to deterring theft and burglary. Installing even a fake security camera sends a message to would-be criminals that their actions are being watched closely. If you can, a series of real security cameras is your best option. But you can also mix and match a few fake security cameras along with your real system. Just make sure the real security cameras are installed in the areas of most concern.
Of course in the jewelry industry, security goes beyond the cameras. It would also be a good idea to install a door entry chime to alert your staff when a customer enters the store. You can cover a greater range with your security cameras if they are behind a mirrored globe in the ceiling. It is hard to avoid a camera when you aren't sure which direction it is pointing. Jewelry store owners would also be well advised to install some sort of alarm system to deter after-hours theft.
All of this information is still just a starting point when it comes to setting up your store. But considering all of the variables up front will save you a lot of headaches down the line. For more information on the products discussed here, and for more jewelry store supplies, visit www.hand-made-jewelry.com
How To Easily Set Up Your Own Online Jewelry Store
Have you thought about opening up your own jewelry store? These days it is easier than ever with the internet. You can now open your own online jewelry store even if you don't own a piece of jewelry, as a matter of fact you can own your on store online and never stock a single piece of jewelry. In the age of marketing on the internet you can now have a store up and running ready to do business in under a day. You could literally start in the morning and be collecting sales by the afternoon; all you have to do is market your new store so people know how to find you.
The first thing you will want to do will be to find jewelry wholesalers to get your jewelry from for resale. To be able to put your business on autopilot without a lot of upfront expenses like I mentioned above you should seek a wholesale supplier that is willing to drop ship straight to your clients. This is truly a beautiful thing, you never have to deal with the customers, you never stock merchandise, all you do is collect the money and the wholesaler does the rest! Just get your website up and market it, get visitors coming to your site, when they order the orders are automatically forwarded to the supplier who then fulfills the orders for you. How sweet is that?
When you first get started many wholesalers will require you to pay for the merchandise upfront or pay a deposit to get started doing business with them. Paying upfront really isn't a big deal since you get paid before by the customer when they place the order, you send the supplier the wholesale amount for the item and you keep the difference.
With most suppliers you are allowed to set your own prices so you can charge whatever the market will bear, but some will make you stay within certain parameters especially if you are marketing a line that bears their name and you are mentioning the name in your marketing and advertising.
If you are brand new to the internet and are unfamiliar with how to set up a website there are many suppliers who offer turnkey packages where you can just input some personal information and be up and running immediately. Usually these companies will charge you for the service and it can be a one time fee or a monthly fee. One problem that I don't like about these kinds of sites is that they usually all look alike and you really want your site to stand out.
An option I would consider is to set up a store through eBay. They do charge for the service but they allow you a lot of customization that will make your store unique and original. This is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get a business online today.
Jewelry Basics: Getting The Best Fit Possible
When you shop for jewelry, it’s important to look for more than just the latest trend or the piece with the smallest price tag. While both style and price are important, it’s also essential that you choose the best fit for your body. This article is designed to show you how.
Determining Your Ring Size
If you don’t already know your ring size, don’t fret. The process is simple and, best of all, it will only take a few moments of your time. Your first step is to cut a strip of paper that’s approximately 5″ in length and 1″ in width. Next, take the strip of paper and wrap it around the finger that you want to size. Using a pen, mark the point on the paper where the ends meet. Next, take a ruler and measure the distance from the edge of the paper to your pen mark and compare it to the list below:
* If your finger measures 1-7/8″ in circumference, you should wear a size 4
* If your finger measures 2″ in circumference, you should wear a size 5
* If your finger measures 2-1/8″ in circumference, you should wear a size 6
* If your finger measures 2-1/4″ in circumference, you should wear a size 7
* If your finger measures 2-3/8″ in circumference, you should wear a size 8
* If your finger measures 2-1/2″ in circumference, you should wear a size 9
As a general rule, each 1/8″ in circumference translates into one full ring size. Using this simple method, you can easily discover the size for any finger on your hand.
Choosing The Perfect Clasp
There are many different types of clasps, including lobster claw, spring ring, toggle, slide insert safety, magnetic, etc. Whether you are choosing a necklace, bracelet or even an anklet, it’s important to know which clasp will work best for you.
A spring ring clasp is the smallest of all clasps and is typically reserved for fine link chains. This type of clasp is not recommended for heavier weight jewelry, unless it is an oversized spring ring that’s capable of supporting the chain’s weight.
A lobster claw clasp is one of the more popular clasps for use on jewelry of substance. It’s fairly easy to open and is a stronger variation of the spring ring clasp. A lobster claw clasp may cost a little more than a spring ring clasp, but you will have the benefit of added peace of mind for your heavier jewelry.
A magnetic clasp is just as it sounds – a clasp that attaches with the help of a magnet. This is one of the easiest and most popular designs in jewelry today. It’s simple, effortless design is ideal for anyone whose in a hurry and doesn’t have time to fuss with a clasp, or for anyone who has trouble with traditional clasps. Even if your jewelry doesn’t already have a magnetic clasp, many manufacturers offer extenders that attach to either a spring ring or lobster claw in order to convert your otherwise traditional clasp into a magnetic clasp.
Necklace Knowhow
When shopping for a necklace, it’s important to choose the right length for your intended wear. For instance, a shorter 16″ of 17″ necklace is ideal for a blouse or dress with a lower neckline. This allows for your jewelry to be showcased without getting tangled up in your outfit. If you are wearing a turtleneck, an 18″ to 24″ necklace will be perfect for showcasing your favorite pendants without getting lost in the fold of your sweater.
If you find yourself in a situation where you simply don’t have the right length for your outfit, consider purchasing an extender to add some length to your necklace. If what you need, on the other hand, is a shorter length, it may be possible depending on your style of necklace. A rolo chain, for instance, can easily be shortened by simply fastening the clasp into one of the links to make the necklace shorter.
Almost Diamonds, a popular online retailer specializing in sterling silver jewelry, has a complete line of items featuring cubic zirconia and genuine gemstones in a variety of styles to choose from. If you are looking to maximize your jewelry collection without minimizing your wallet, consider the affordable option of sterling silver. Not only is this a precious metal that’s designed to last forever, but it also is an economical way to get the look of platinum or white gold without spending a fortune.
