I spotted this cool idea over at MSN a while back. Why not display your jewelry as art instead of keeping it locked up in a small box on your dresser?

This particular version is a few manzanita branches in a simple vase and then the tree is decorated with your fine jewelry. You get an interesting display that keeps your jewelry from getting all tangled up, and it’s asy to see what you have to choose from when getting ready for you power day. And think of the possibilities when asking fro “decorations” for your tree!

Never Forget is a fabulous project to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Project Never Forget is offering every family who has lost a soldier in the war one personalized 3-D photo charm. You can submit your request to Project Never Forget by going to their website and filling out the forms. Priority is given to wives and mothers of the fallen soldiers, but additional charms are available.

What Is channel setting?

Very simply, channel setting is where diamonds or other gemstones are carefully placed next to each other in a channel or “groove” then the metal is forced over the stones in order to hold them in place.

One of the advantages of this type of setting, such as in the picture of the princess diamond channel band to the right, is that there are no prongs. No prongs to catch on things or wear away. All of the stones are “recessed” into the actual ring affording them better protection from everyday wear and tear. Channel setting will typically involve multiple stones but the technique can also be utilized to secure single stones in a pendant for example.

Another type of channel setting is what is called bar channel setting. The picture to the left illustrates a bar set channel band. Instead of a single groove or channel, the stones are placed in individual channels creating small “bars” between the stones which are forced over the stones in order to secure them.

Titanium wedding bands are an increasingly popular choice by couples for their wedding band. They are very lightweight, extremely durable, and very reasonably priced when compared to traditional gold or platinum wedding bands. These are the advantages.

The disadvantages are when it comes to sizing. Titanium wedding bands cannot be cut and sized down so please take extra care when having your finger sized. They can however, be sized slightly larger by grinding out a small amount of metal from the inside. Many titanium bands can also be stretched larger. Be sure and check with your local jeweler to make sure they are experienced and comfortable stretching titanium bands.

Cutting Titanium Bands Off

In the unfortunate event that your titanium wedding band gets stuck on your finger, don’t fret, it can be cut off. Just keep in mind that the ring cannot be reassembled or repaired once cut off so you will need to replace it. Jewelers and emergency or medical personnel have tools specifically for this. The band can be cut on opposite sides so that it easily comes off in 2 pieces.

Recently in our forum, a member posted a suggestion about having a jeweler cut off a titanium ring using a separating disc. Have been a jeweler for more than 20 years and having used a separating disc thousands upon thousands of times, I can tell you first hand that this is exceptionally bad advice.

It was bad enough that this suggestion was a cut, copy and paste from another website, but what was even worse was that this very bad advice is being offered by e-weddingbands. Here’s the quote from their site…

…In our own jewelry shop, we used a separating disc and flexible shaft tool-items commonly found in nearly all jewelry shops that work with gold, silver, and platinum–to cut through one of our 5mm domed and comfort fit titanium rings. Cutting it all the way through took only 20 seconds…
…Nonetheless, if you ever need your Titanium ring cut off; just contact a local jeweler that uses separating discs…

This is not only horrible advice, it’s irresponsible. Anything that can through a titanium band that quickly WILL cut into your finger and through the bone at lightning speed. Not to mention the heat that is caused by this process will very badly burn your finger.

First things first, if you ever find that your titanium ring is very uncomfortably tight, causing any kind of discoloration or tingling in your finger, DO NOT CONTACT A JEWELER! Seek medical attention immediately!

Secondly, if your titanium wedding band is simply stuck on your finger, there are specific tools that can be used to safely remove it and I assure you that tool is NOT a separating disc. If a jeweler ever suggests or offers to cut off ANY ring with a separating disc and flex shaft… RUN AWAY!

Ever wonder why we wear a wedding band on our 4th or ring finger? There’s a few explanations as to why but here’s one that I found particularly cute.

Place your hands, palms facing each other, with your middle fingers bent and together and your remaining finger tips toughing each other just like the image above.

Your thumbs represent your parents.
Your second or index fingers represent your siblings.
Your middle fingers represent your Self.
Your fourth or ring fingers represent your life partner.
Your last or little fingers represent your children.

With your hands together just like in the image, try and separate your thumbs.

Your thumbs will open because your parents are not destined to live with you all your life and will have to leave you sooner or later.

Place your thumbs back together and try and separate just your index fingers.

Your index fingers, representing your siblings, will separate because your brothers and sisters will grow to have their own family and will need to lead separate lives.

Place your index fingers back together and try and separate your little fingers representing your children. They too will separate because your children will grow, get married and settle down with their own families someday.

Place your little fingers back together and try and separate just your ring fingers.

You can’t do it can you? Your ring fingers represent husband and wife, life partners that are to stay together through thick and thin.

One of our previous jewelry tips discussed the importance of having your jewelry inspected by a professional on a regular and ongoing basis. Far too often chains get neglected when it comes to jewelry inspections.

Chain ends, clasps, and jump rings can and do become very worn. So much so that in many cases they become very susceptable to breaking and falling off your neck or wrist unnoticed. You could easily lose, not only the chain or bracelet, but the pendant or charms you wear on them as well.

It’s very important to have your chains, especially the clasps and chain ends, inspected just like all of your other jewelry. Equally important, is to keep them clean. A dirty spring ring or any other type of clasp, may not close completely allowing it to come unclasped very easily.

Help to prevent a potential loss and have your chains and bracelets inspected on a regular basis just like all of your other jewelry.

Are you one of those ladies who carefully wraps their jewelry in tissue, place it in an envelope, carefully fold that envelope, then place it in your purse?

Well, STOP DOING THAT!

Just recently I had a client stop by for me to examine some jewelry that was in need of repair. Upon arriving, she sat down and went into her purse to retrieve her jewelry she so carefully wrapped in tissue. It wasn’t there! Frantically, she dumped the entire contents of her purse on my desk and began sorting through all of it trying to find her jewelry. Just then, she remembered that she had cleaned out her purse the night before. She grabbed her wallet and keys, leaving everything else on my desk, and raced for home.

Fortunately, there in her garbage can, was her jewelry, still carefully wrapped in the tissue.

There are plenty of small jewelry pouches made of silk or velour specifically designed for jewelry. Use one of those instead of taking the chance of unknowingly or accidentally discarding your jewelry.

Besides, do you really want me to see the entire contents of your purse?

The two common weight scales used for gold jewelry or other precious metal jewelry is pennyweight and gram. Pennyweight is abbreviated DWT and gram is usually abbreviated with a g. There are 1.555 grams to a DWT and 20 DWT in an ounce. There are 31.103 grams in an ounce. Many jewelers prefer using pennyweight as the math is simpler.

Although the weight of a piece of jewelry is a large determining factor in its price because of the high price of the metals in it, it is not the only determining factor. The price of actually making the piece can often be more than the price of the metal itself. Such things as machine made chain can have a far lower production cost and thus cost less per gram or DWT than a chain that’s handmade. Polishing, finishing and assembling the finished piece of jewelry also factor into the final price.

Knowing the weight of a piece of jewelry can help you compare apples to apples. Just remember, not all things are created equal so the price per weight will vary from piece to piece.

It’s not uncommon for an engagement ring to snag on something. This not necessarily an indication that something is wrong or that you’re going to lose your stone. The very first thing to do is take it to your favorite jeweler and have it professionally inspected. It could be something as simple as a small bur or a slightly raised prong tip that’s easily and quickly repaired.

In the winter months, when you’re wearing a lot of sweaters, you might see this happening more often. Remember, any time you have metal prongs or beads the potential for snags will always be there. It’s a good idea to put your engagement ring, and any other jewelry, on last to try and avoid snagging.

Another comment I hear very often is that engagement rings are causing runs in nylons or hosiery. Again, it’s a good idea to put your rings on after you put on your nylons. But if you don’t want to take your engagement ring off, try rolling the stones over to the palm side of your hand when you put your nylons or hosiery on. I think you’ll find this helps prevent snagging and runs.

With the price of gold currently in excess of $650 an ounce, you’re likely to find more and more jewelry in 10K gold than you may be used to seeing. The lower gold content can make for a more affordable price but is there some jewelry made from 10K gold you might want want to avoid?

In my opinion, yes. The lower gold content may make the price of 10K gold jewelry more affordable, but it can also make the piece a little less flexible or brittle. While this may not have a dramatic effect on a gents ring, a 10K gold chain or bracelet can be a problem. A good example of this would be a herringbone chain. These types of chains when they bend or flex from normal wear and tear, can start to exhibit cracking along the edges or down the middle easier if they are 10K gold. If this starts to happen there is very little that can be done to repair the chain and keep it looking new.