Jewelry Diamonds

Who are the Miao?

Do you think it’s possible to wear 30 pounds of pure silver jewelry from head to foot? Well, the Miao are a nation who proudly show off the beauty with their handmade, elaborately designed silver ornaments in a way that almost covers their entire body! The Miao are a minority group inhabiting the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, and for them silver is a symbol of wealth that can bring hope and prosperity. There are so many different kinds of Miao silver ornaments, here are just a few:

Silver headdresses

Miao silver headdresses are quite a sight and are worn only on very special occasions, like weddings or important holidays. They include three different parts: the horns, the hat, and the hood.

Silver horns: The silver horns are the most important part of a Miao silver headdress, and they are crafted to mimic the horns of an ox. The headpiece spans about three feet from one horn to another, and reaches almost the same height. So they are nearly half the height of the wearer!

The designs of the horn are very elaborate. They usually feature a pattern of two dragons playing with a ball. Women like to put a pair of white feathers onto the horn to make it higher and more impressive, or decorate the horn with other kinds of silver jewelry like butterflies and phoenixes.

Silver hat: A silver hat is the base of the headdress and can be a foot tall. It’s completely covered with silver flowers, birds, animals, bells, and

tassels. Behind the hat are twelve pieces of silver feathers hanging all the way down to their waist.

Silver hood: The silver hood hangs down from the hat and covers parts of the face and neck. In some Miao areas, the silver hood has five ornaments placed on it, with the biggest one in the middle dropping from the forehead and the others hanging around ears.

While in other areas, a silver hood has three layers. The highest layer sports 29 sparkling, round silver flowers. The middle layer features a round glass in the center, and 14 warriors riding horses stand on each side. The lowest layer is fringes.

Silver hairpins

Miao silver hairpins always feature flowers, birds, and butterflies. The most striking designs feature 10 silver flowers which look like a Chinese fan. Colorful beads glisten in the flowers and five silver phoenixes fly around the center.

Some hairpins look really cool, like chopsticks with tassels and silver bells glistening into them.

Silver combs

Miao women use a silver comb to decorate their hair. It's in fact a wooden comb covered with thin sliver slices. The image of a Bodhisattva, or designs of birds, flowers are often engraved on the surface. Some combs sport big silver chains dropping down.

Silver earrings

Huge Miao silver earrings are often shaped like flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, or plants. Miao women like to wear 3 or 4 pieces of silver earrings at the same time. Reaching directly to their shoulders, a single silver earring can weight 200 grams. But there are many small earrings which feature thin, almost invisible twisted threads.

Silver neckbands

Wide silver neckbands are similar to necklaces in the West, but they are rigid and have many pendants hanging down from them. There are many kinds of neckbands popular in the Miao areas.  A dragon silver neckband features two dragons playing with a ball and has 11 different ornaments hanging from it. Another kind of neckband has about 14 connected silver rings, with some silver flowers or birds falling from each ring.

Silver bracelets

The Miao silver bracelets are engraved with the images of flowers, fish, or dragons. A heavy, wide band is the characteristic of some bracelets. Miao women usually wear 4 or 5 pairs of silver bracelets on any given day, sometimes more during festivals or holidays.

Silver rings

A Miao silver ring is usually quite small and has fine pieces of silver bent and shaped into flowers, birds, or plants. Some Miao women wear rings on all eight of their fingers, only leaving their thumbs free. Some rings are big enough to cover half the length of their fingers.

Silver garments

Tiny silver slices or threads are commonly woven into the fabric of Miao clothing. There are about 40 square or round silver pieces that can be used.  When put on the front and back of a silver garment, the clothing gleams bright and catches the light when the Miao walk.

Each piece is engraved with amazing patterns such as phoenix, tigers, lions, butterflies, and flowers.

The garments sometimes have about 60 silver bells hanging, which make beautiful sounds when the Miao walk or dance.

Silver waistbands

A silver waistband features hundreds of silver images of Bodhisattvas sewn on a piece of cloth. The Miao wear it around their waist, and the images shine beautifully when the Miao walk or dance.

Silver anklets

Last but not least are small but sturdy silver anklets that clasp above the foot. Miao children wear silver anklets to keep off evil spirits.

When you close your eyes and envision a pearl necklace, what pops up in your head? Chances are, it is a perfectly matched necklace of round, vibrant pearls- and if so, they are the famous Akoya pearl! Ever since Mikimoto revolutionized the glamorous world of jewelry by commercializing the first cultured Akoya pearls, this gorgeous gem has gained attention and won the hearts of men and women around the world.

The cultured pearl was born out of Japan during the 1900’s as the result of many years of researching through various methods by three Japanese men: Nishikawa Mikimoto, Tatsuhei Mise and Tokishi Nishikawa. Experimenting independently on various nucleation methods with the Pinctada martensii oyster (the indigenous saltwater oyster that produces Akoya pearls) the researchers each found the surgical nucleation techniques that will force the oyster to create a pearl- this is the same technique used still today by nucleation technicians worldwide, known as the Nise-Mishekawa method. However, it was Mikimoto who used his business savvy to market the new pearls worldwide, and sparked a love affair that is still going strong with jewelry lovers everywhere.

For years the Japanese maintained a monopoly on the Akoya pearl trade, guarding their cultivation and processing techniques jealously. They were- and are- acknowledged as the masters of their trade; to this day the Japanese Akoya pearl is considered the finest in the world. Harvest periods (the amount of time that the oyster was allowed to secrete nacre over the nucleus) were approximately 3-5 years per pearl, ensuring thick, lustrous nacre layers that gave the pearls their renowned glow and shine. This has also made the nacre on the pearls harder to damage from products like cosmetics and soaps.

However, as with any monopoly, it would not last forever. In order to satisfy a growing demand for their beautiful pearls- which had quickly staked their place as a staple of every woman’s wardrobe throughout the 1940’s and 50’s- the Japanese began cutting their growth times in order to accommodate the burgeoning market’s requirements, and quality began to suffer. Other factors such as water pollution and farmed oyster stocks that have become vulnerable to disease through decreased genetic diversity also play a large part in the weakening of the Japanese grip on the international Akoya pearl market. With an eye toward the future, the Japanese have begun to culture larger pearls measuring over 8.0mm almost exclusively, focusing their efforts on maintaining their position as a leader, and the best source for gem-quality cultured pearls today.

China began culturing Akoya pearls as well starting in the 1960’s, although they had a long road ahead of them because their harvests were still inferior to the Japanese harvests. However, the Chinese pearl farmers learned what it took to become successful in an industry that was considered to be unshakeable. Concentrating their efforts on perfecting the smaller pearl sizes of 4.0mm to 8.0mm- as they have not yet mastered culturing the larger sizes that Japan is renowned for.  Utilizing their vastly cheaper production costs than that of Japan, and adopting a wiser, more long-term approach in terms of pearl quality and reputation, China has found their way to the top in the pearling world.

Can you tell the difference between these Rolex Datona models?

Rolex made known its first chronograph models around 1937.  In 1960, Rolex gave the chronograph line a major facelift with the introduction of the Cosmograph (model 6239), a Rolex trademarked term which is similar to the chronograph–the cosmetic difference being that the ‘tachymeter scale’ is printed (or engraved) on the bezel rather than on the outer rim of the dial.

The spectacular Rolex Cosmograph “Daytona” wristwatch traces back to the early months of 1961, when Rolex began creating the Rolex Cosmograph. At the time, Rolex was a sponsor of the race titled the 24 hours of Daytona, and named its new chronograph watch after that well known race (seemed to make sense didn’t it?). Because of their usefulness in calculating average lap speed, the watch’s popularity took off in the motor racing community. This smart marketing maneuver would later become printed in marketing case study textbooks worldwide on how to successfully market a product.

Early models were introduced in 1961 using a Valjoux 72 manual-wind 3-register chronograph movement, the Cosmograph, Cosmograph Daytona and Oyster Cosmograph Daytona were produced continuously until 1988. Relatively unpopular, they were replaced by a bigger Daytona featuring self-winding movements, using a slightly modified version of Zenith’s El Primero caliber, under the name Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph. In 2000 Rolex replaced the Zenith movement with a 3-register chronograph movement entirely of its own design, the Rolex 4130 caliber (model number: 116520). Thanks to its increasing popularity & limited production, the stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona series is considered one of the most sought after watches of the century.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most expensive watches marketed enough to be readily recognized by non-enthusiasts, and is often worn for this reason, The Rolex Daytona comes in several models, these can be diagnosticated by the color of the watch face, the type of metal employed, and the type of strap, these include, white gold strap with white face; and stainless steel strap with black face amongst others.

It is fact that Paul Newman himself had worn the Daytona style of Rolex watch from the time he fell in love with automobile racing up until his death in 2008. Paul Newman was quoted as receiving a Daytona model from his wife in 1972.His watch was similar looking to some he had worn in movies and posters before but the 1972 watch was the real thing. Unlike typical celebrities, Paul Newman was not endorsed by Rolex, he just always wore one because he liked it.

The Daytona has a devout international following.  It is the most spoken about and looked after timepiece. Ironically this was Hans Wilsdorf legacy to Rolex, most likely to become a complete flop but, instead it became Rolex’s biggest success. Even though this watch deteriorated NASA’s tough requirements for the moon it’s success still has skyrocketed.

a breakdown of the 115 pieces that move in a Rolex

The video above is great in demonstrating just how many pieces go into these accomplishments of engineering. At least 115 small parts are engineered to the highest of standards to create just the moving pieces of these works of art. Genuine Rolex watches are nearly impeccable, with smooth edges, and perfectly finished parts fitted with tolerances measured in microns. When they say it’s made from gold, they mean from solid gold parts from the case, right down to the bracelet screws. Here is what the main Rolex video has to say about what goes into every Rolex watch.

At Rolex the pursuit of excellence is a passion, & at the heart of every timer is the Rolex movement. 100% exclusive it actually takes over 1 year to execute. The patented creation starts with hundreds of precisely manufactured components. Once pieced together all that remains is the careful positioning of the oscillator. This is the heartbeat of every Rolex. This is not just a watch, its technology emboldened by the human spirit with its entirely Swiss made jewel. They consider this piece likened to the pearl in every oyster.

Rolex Blue PARACHROM hairspring – This parachrom hairspring’s registered name comes from the fact that the alloy is paramagnetic and that it is colored (CHROM in Greek). It is made from niobium, zirconium and an oxygen alloy.

This hairspring development required 5 years of research by physicists and materials engineers and called for the most advanced observation and analysis techniques. This resulted in the submission of applications for 2 patents, one for the shielding of the chemical composition of the alloy, the other the way of refashioning the surface of the hairspring to preserve its properties (blue coloring). The blue color of the hairspring augments the distinction of the watch. As a matter of fact, in the history of watch making, bluing a hairspring was an operation done only for the most accurate and sophisticated watches. This is exclusive to Rolex and only Rolex. 100% conceived, patented and produced by Rolex. They have set a new standard for watch movement that is precise enough to be on a Rolex.

Everose Gold – Some may call it an obsession. At Rolex it’s just a passion. Finding a pink gold that wouldn’t fade over time was another challenge. Scientists discovered by adding a touch of platinum, the most noble of metals Rolex created a new allow, title Everose gold. It will remain pink forever. Only Rolex could have created something as ingenious as this.

Ceramic Bezel – The most durable bezel in the world. The bezel is superheated to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit & then bombarded by gold, atom by atom. It is then polished until only the numerals remain, permanently. Impervious to scratches now it actually takes more than 40 hours to create these Superman bezels.

904L Steel – So difficult to machine, special equipment had to be built to work it & only one watchmaker would even consider using it. Rolex needed a metal that achieved maximum resistance to corrosion. This 904L steel easily met those demands, it’s virtually inextirpable, and highly polishable. Rolex almost treats steel as if it were a prized jewel.

This is what makes a Rolex watch unique since 2007. Rolex continues to invest heavily into research & development to find the next big thing to improve upon the perfection that is known worldwide as, Rolex.  Looking to save money on a Rolex? Check out Gray & Sons, selling premium used Rolex watches for over 30 years in Miami, FL.

When it comes to shopping for gemstone jewelry, the possibilities are quite endless for finding an absolutely gorgeous piece that will be cherished and treasured for many years to come. It is easy to find a piece to suit any occasion or purpose as you can find something in almost any color or shade. You will love wearing gemstone jewelry for formal or informal affairs and there is something to fit every budget.

Gemstone jewelry is colorful and extremely versatile. Gemstones are less expensive than diamonds but just as beautiful. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds are highly respected as precious and semiprecious stones. They are rich in color and are available in a wide variety of settings. There is no doubt that one can be found that you can cherish a lifetime.

Sapphire rings are available in shades of blue along with several other colors, although the deep blue remains the most popular color of sapphires, which are the birthstone for the month of September and one of the hardest of all gemstones second only to diamonds.

Deep, rich, red rubies have been worn and coveted by emperors and kings all over the world for centuries. They have traditionally been the gemstone that represents love and passion and power. Rubies are the birthstone for July births. They rank extremely high on the Mohs scale which measures the hardness of a mineral. 

Emeralds are spectacular gemstones and among the most expensive of all. But, gemstone jewelry made with emeralds can take your breath away. Typically, an emeralds value can be determined by the depth and richness of the color; that is to say the deeper the green, the higher the value. If you love emeralds but are on a budget, you can find man made stones that look quite real but are less expensive.

In regards to the ever important matter of the stone’s actual cut, gemstone jewelry can be found in a wide variety of differing cuts, each used to accentuate the stone’s natural brilliance in some way. Brilliant-cut is one of the most popular for larger stones and allows the maximum amount of light to pass through and be reflected back out. Brilliant cuts can be used for round, oval, marquise, even pear shaped stones. Other popular cuts for gemstone jewelry include princess, heart, emerald, radiant, and trillion .

Some gemstone rings may feature a single, solitary stone with either a plain band or one that’s encrusted with other stones, while many others have groups of stones that can be identical or completely different.

Whatever type of gemstone jewelry strikes your fancy the most, always take the time to find out exactly how to care for the colorful stones as some are rather durable and will need little care, but others will require special measures in terms of what to use for cleaning and how to properly store your jewelry

And finally, remember to never clean your gemstone rings, or any other type of jewelry for that matter, over or near a sink, use a bowl instead to be extra sure you won’t ever lose your most favorite piece down the drain .

The Birth of Your Ring

Buying an engagement ring is something that most people only want to do once in a lifetime. However, buying an diamond engagement ring is a bit more complicated than buying a new pair of shoes or even a new car. Potential ring buyers have to get an understanding not only the qualities and intricacies of a diamond, but the style and tastes of the recipient. The buyer must then figure out how to make those two things meet at a cost which is within the buyer’s budget. Honestly, there are a lot of things to consider when buying an engagement ring.

Fortunately, many people are able to trust the knowledge of their jeweler, helping to mitigate potential unforeseen circumstances when shopping for an engagement ring. However, there is one variable which neither the jeweler nor guesswork should be used for: ring size.

This is a detail which seems too important to overlook, and yet many people do. One of the most common justifications given for simply estimating a future-fiancés ring size is the need for surprise and the willingness to “just have the ring resized later.” This logic has one rather significant problem with it – not all rings can be resized.

To understand why, it helps to know how rings are actually resized. First, it’s crucial to know if the engagement ring is being made smaller or larger. For a minor enlargement, a jeweler can sometimes just stretch a ring. However, for major adjustments in size, a jeweler must actually cut the ring. To make a wedding band or any ring smaller, the ring is cut and a piece is removed. To make a ring bigger, the ring is cut and more metal is placed into the ring. The ring is then welded back into one piece, massaged back into a circle, polished to hide the cuts, and finally buffed to a shine.

In a perfect world, the process is easy and quick and the results are not noticeable. But, this obviously cannot be applied to all rings. Why not? Well, there are two critical flaws which can prevent a ring from being resized.

The first such mistake is related to metal of the ring. In order for a jeweler to insert new material to enlarge a ring, the jeweler must know exactly what metal, or blends of metals, that the ring is made of. For this reason, most antique rings, family heirlooms particularly, cannot and should not be resized. However, this can extend to white gold rings if the composition of the alloy isn’t known. Mismatching metals can result in spotted or stained rings. Even if metal isn’t being added to a ring, not knowing the composition can cause spotting or staining when the jeweler attempts to melt and buff the ring back to the correct shape.

The 2nd reason some rings aren’t meant to be resized all comes down to the simple process of buffing and reshaping. Rings which have detail lines or contain stones around the band would cause design inconsistencies if metal was to be taken away or added. Stones could be damaged, lost, or destroyed, decorative lines and details smudged, blurred, or even smooshed beyond recognition, and the ring essentially ruined.

Yes, there are other options to resizing. If the ring had purchased new, a jeweler might be convinced to swap out a ring. Ring guards, a metal piece inserted into a ring to make it smaller by taking up space, can be used for rings that are too large. However, these are missing one very important fact – when you’re kneeling and gazing up at the one who just became your partner for life, you want her to wear the ring right away. And believe me, you want it to fit.

The big lesson is that ring size isn’t what you should guess about, nor is it something that you should decide is an easy fix at a later date. Finding a ring size discretely might not be easiest task, but seconds after you pop the question, it will certainly be worth it.

Throughout history pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given as rare and expensive gifts. Traditionally worn by brides on their wedding day, they have long been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls of all shapes, sizes and colours are ‘cultured’ on farms around the world and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be has no trouble finding the perfect pearls to match her wedding gown. In fact there are so many varieties that it can be difficult to know which to choose, so here are a few pointers of what to look out for:

Pearl type – There are two types of pearl, saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are farmed in the sea, and are usually bigger, rounder and clearer than their freshwater cousins. They also usually cost more for this reason. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.

Size – When it comes to pearls, size makes a huge difference. The bigger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more it will cost. Saltwater pearls are usually bigger than freshwater, and are therefore more highly sought after.

Nacre – Pearls take years to form inside an oyster shell. When an irritant gets into the shell the oyster produces layers of nacre, which gradually build up forming the pearl. The thicker the nacre coating, the longer the pearl will last as jewellery. Some cultured saltwater pearls are made with a ‘beaded’ large nucleus which speeds up the process and ensure a round shape. Natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which accounts for their more irregular shape.

Luster – No pearl is as smooth and shiny as a mirror but they do have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls with this shimmery surface are the most desired.

Colour – The natural colours of pearls are various shades of white, pink and lilac although nowadays cultured pearls are often dyed so they are available in the colour of your choice. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.

Shape – When we think of the ideal pearls, we normally imagine that they are all perfectly round and shiny. In reality this is rare, and these round pearls are hugely sought after and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to coax it into a round shape. Irregularly shaped pearls are also used to make unique jewellery and pendants.

Matching – It can be hard to find enough pearls of the same size, shape and colour to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular naturally coloured pearls is more desirable and will be more expensive.

Charm bracelets are more like a story of your life with each one of those charms representing some significant moment in your life. Although the charms that you have on the charm bracelet look lovely, more than likely they mean more than just a little charm on your bracelet. They are the milestones of your life.

Generally people like starting a charm bracelet to mark a significant event in their lives or most of the times such charm bracelets are gifted. The actual bracelets are known as the starter bracelets. Then, once a big even happens, you can add on a charm to the bracelet to help you remember that time. For example a charm bracelet can be gifted to a mother to be who can use the bracelet to mark the important milestones in her baby’s life through various charms like pacifier, booties, teddy bear etc.

Believe it or not charms and charm bracelets have been around for many years. These bracelets were earlier used as amulets to banish evil eye and other supernatural evil forces. The bracelets were worn in Egypt by the pharaohs as a symbol of their status as well. Then Queen Victoria made them popular in the 20th century and beyond, wearing charm bracelets with charms such as crests on them.

These days people prefer charms and charms bracelets for different reasons. Some like them as keepsakes and others like them due to the fashion statement they make. No matter the occasion, charms and charm bracelets make wonderful gifts. You can gift charms to mark your daughter’s graduation day or her first job. Many best friends wear identical charms bracelets to represent their friendship. There are moms that have these charm bracelets and charms for each child as well.

You can find charm bracelets at various online stores and regular stores as well and they come in a variety of different sizes. If you are looking for good charms, try a flea market or check out gift shops when you can.

There are different sizes of charm bracelets. The size determines the available links that you can use. However, you are able to remove or add on more links if you need to. Each charm has a meaning of it’s own, meaning you need to be careful about the charm you choose. For instance a key represents a happy home while an elephant means treasured memories. A ballerina means that you will realize all your dreams one day.

Charm bracelets grow with time. As the charms get added on to the bracelet they almost become a part of the owner’s personality. People use different kinds of themes for their charms bracelets. Sea lovers like charms bracelets with anchors, shells and other related charms. People who love animals like having charm bracelets with animal charms like lions, bears and other animals.

Charm bracelets and their charms can become family heirlooms as well and may be passed down through the family. These are definitely bracelets that are very cherished, since they have history that has been passed down for many generations.

Posted on May 17th, 2009 by Lindsey Harper

Wow!  I just love it when I come across incredible deals at Internet auction sites!  Hey!  Its Lindsey here, and boy do I have an amazing deal for you!

Do you love ruby jewelry?  If so, you won’t want to miss out on the chance to bid on this huge loose ruby at Internet auction!In fact, this is just one of a slew of loose gemstone auctions that I ran across in my research today.

From India, this oval cut ruby pictured above weighs in at 172 carats!  Rubies are precious stones, and rubies of this size can go for millions – not thousands, millions!Would you believe, as of this writing, you can bid on this gorgeous stone for a starting bid of $90.Don't waste time, the auction is finished on May 19!  Loose jewels of this type go fast.

Loose Ruby Jewelry

Wholesale jewelry that is sold to the public is one of the best ways to get good quality jewelry for less.  Bid on this ruby and if you’re lucky you can have it cut to be placed in jewelry pieces or use it in some other way.  You can be sure you are bidding on a genuine loose ruby, too.

Where did I find this great deal?  At Government Auction Network.  They present listings on ruby jewelry and other jewelry, like diamond jewelry, as well as real estate and vehicles.  You just can’t go wrong with the information that Government Auction Network presents.

I’m anxious to help you with whatever questions you may have about this wholesale jewelry.  All you have to do is click on “About Lindsey” and then click on “Just Ask Me.” You will find some great deals at Government Auction Network.

Government Auction Network – Internet auction – wholesale jewelry – ruby jewelry

Rings are a symbol of eternity and are often given as gifts to declare eternal love. A tiffany inspired ring is something you can be proud about and cherish. These rings are made of .925 sterling silver, the elegant and sleek metal accentuates any invaluable stone that is used as accents. With its quality craftsmanship and elegant designs, it’s often a wonder how these rings can be so inexpensive.

If you are searching for variety and en vogue design, a tiffany inspired ring is just like the original. Many gift givers are cost conscious but still want quality and class. This makes sterling silver rings a perfect gift. It will surely make your loved one happy, after all this is what you want.

It is not that difficult to look for a tiffany inspired ring that will fit any occasion. The first step is to consider the personality of the person. Does she love simple or muted designs? Does she like to grab attention or get noticed when in a gathering or event? Or is she moody, she can be very bright and sunny one day then shy and reserved the next. Regardless of what type of personality your loved one has you can always be sure to have a ring that will be appropriate to her personality and moods.

Second and more important for people who are buying gifts is the price. It has to fit your budget. The best advantage of a tiffany inspired ring is that the price is going to be the least of your worries. These rings are so low-priced you won’t twitch giving your loved one a gift any day of the week. It’s probably even cheaper than taking her out to dinner and a night in the movies.

A tiffany inpired ring is the perfect gift for your loved one. It’s exquisite, inexpensive and long-lasting. Make your special someone happy today. Visit http://www.overstocksilver.com/ and present her a pleasant surprise for no reason at all.