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Gemstones For Jewellery
http://the-real-way.com
People are fond of gemstones partly because they are expensive and partly because they are gorgeous. Gemstones have the particular quality of being able to reflect and sometimes even refract to make the stone glitter.
Precious stones are also intended to express love and esteem. People also use them as a way of storing wealth rather than putting the money in the bank, particularly in Third World countries. However, investment jewellery and costume jewellery are not always the same.
People have their own favourite gemstones, but emeralds and diamonds are the most costly stones and so are among the most well-liked. However,deep blue sapphires and opals are also hugely well-liked.
The most prevalent jewellery are engagement and wedding rings, followed by earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches. Brooches frequently have numerous small stones arranged in a pattern that will reflect light and glitter brightly.
Bizarrely, brooches in the shape of animals like cats, butterflies and even lizards are very popular. Flowers and bouquets of flowers are also common. Pendants and necklaces tend to have a larger stone or not so many small stones as a brooch.
Tiaras are experiencing a comeback after decades in the wilderness; hair grips are also well-liked articles of jewellery for women. Men tend to go for tie pins and watches. In some regions of southern Europe, diamond-studded, retractable toothpicks are popular.
The setting or mounting of the gemstone is almost as important as the precious stone itself, although not usually as costly, particularly with rarer stones. Gold, platinum and silver are the most common metals used for setting the precious stone in jewellery.
If you are not buying gemstones for their value, you might choose to purchase your birthstone. If this is your goal, but you do not especially like your birthstone, keep in mind that there are three or four different lists of birthstones from different countries and different eras.
if you do not like your birthstone from perhaps the American list, you might like your birthstone from the Ayurvedic or the Tibetan lists. There is some overlap, but in general the lists are completely different giving you more choice.
If you would like something different again, you could investigate amber. Amber is not stone, but has similar properties. It is in fact ancient to prehistoric tree resin. Some articles have small animals trapped inside them and can be very valuable.
If you wished an unusual holiday, you could travel to Poland's Baltic shoreline where much of Europe's amber is washed up onto the beaches. Wouldn't it be great to find your own 'gemstone' and then have it polished and mounted by a jeweller?
However, the stone does not have to be valuable. When my brother was twelve, he found a pretty little pebble on the beach and, with my Dad's assistance, had it polished and mounted. My mother thought almost as much of that unique article of jewellery as she did of her wedding and engagement rings.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a variety of topics, and is now involved with Good Diamond Quality. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Jewellry and Watches.
Article submitted Friday, December 23, 2011 & read 81 times.
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» left by Christofer French (142 days 2 hours ago.)
As always I learn from your articles. My pride in ignorance in this kind of thing is a thing of the past.
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» left by Owen Jones(195)
I had to learn recently, because we had to go out yesterday and buy $1,500 worth of jewellery for my wife's son to bribe his girlfriend to marry him with.
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» left by Owen Jones(195)
Hi Christopher,
I don't know why I was just notified about your comment again, but it does give me the opportunity to say that it has been nice meeting you.
I have been relegated to another blog of Bruce's and may not post on this one anymore, because my articles have 'commercial intent'.
All the best,
Owen.
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