Black Jade Silver
Classic Jewelry: Gifts to Last a Lifetime
Jewelry makes a fabulous personal gift. From vintage and traditional to modern and chic, you'll encounter a number of different jewelry styles to suit anyone's personal taste. By remembering your friends' preferences—and your budget—you'll easily wind up with the right gift. Anyone can find jewelry to die for in this impeccable selection.
Regal Rings
For the perfect jewelry gift that can be worn with virtually any outfit, consider purchasing a fabulous ring with show-stopping style. The Sterling Silver Square Black Onyx Ring is an excellent choice, featuring a bold look with contemporary flair. Curving silver bands encase the black onyx cabochon that creates a striking look with a high polish and simple sophistication.Whether you are ready to pop the question or celebrating an anniversary, the 14 karat Gold Princess Diamond Engagement Ring will delight the woman you love with its sensational style. The princess-cut center diamond with prong setting is accented by 32 round brilliant side diamonds in the band. Sleek 14 karat white gold is in keeping with the latest trends in fashion jewelry, while the I1-I2 stone clarity ensures eye-catching sparkle. No matter what the occasion, a ring is the perfect way to impress the lady in your life.
Sultry Necklaces
Choose a gift that your special friend will never forget by browsing through stunning and stylish necklaces. With its design of beautiful simplicity, the 14 karat White Gold Black Diamond Solitaire Necklace will make a wonderful addition to any jewelry collection. The round-cut black diamond showcases the precise angles of its facets from a prong setting, while the 14 karat white gold and Singapore chain feature exquisite style. Any woman would love how this necklace can be worn to a casual lunch with friends or to a black tie event.Another popular option is the Pearl and Rose Quartz Cascade Strand Necklace with its airy, delicate appeal. Handmade in Thailand, this intricate piece displays a cascading illusion with rose quartz and pearls threaded on silk strands. This unique necklace will add layers of interesting texture to any outfit and makes a spectacular focal point. Give her something special that she can cherish for years to come with the perfect necklace.
Beautiful Bracelets
Nothing has the versatile appeal and wear-again potential like the right bracelet. The Black Jade Large Blessing Bracelet is handcrafted in China and features a carving of the blessing animal Pixiu to provide fortune and protection. Black jade produces a striking look and will coordinate with multiple options in any woman's wardrobe.Sleek and refined, the Moonlight Bracelet makes the perfect companion piece for a variety of occasions. Its hammered texture creates a modern sophistication while the superior craftsmanship hails from experienced artisans in Thailand. This rounded convex cuff consists of 0.925 sterling silver and has a high polish that evokes the ethereal beauty of moonlight.There are plenty of jewelry gifts out there ranging from high fashion to casual-chic, so select the bracelet that best complements your girlfriend's style.
Exquisite Earrings
Make her day with a pair of earrings with exceptional style as well as quality craftsmanship. Go the traditional route and buy your friend a pair of the 14 karat Gold Round Traditional Diamond Stud Earrings. You can't go wrong with the natural beauty and sparkle of round diamonds and classic 14 karat gold or white gold. Diamond stud earrings are a must-have for any woman's wardrobe, and therefore are the perfect present for any event from birthdays to graduations and anniversaries.Modern yet elegant, the Sterling Silver Freshwater Pearl Earrings are an instant hit. Delicate sterling silver scrolled shapes hold black and white cultured pearls for a fresh and new design that will stand out in a crowd. Rhodium plating ensures a lasting shine, while hooks will nicely secure these dangle earrings. Surprise the one you love with a beautiful pair of earrings, and she will not be disappointed.
Breathtaking Brooches
Any sweater or jacket will come alive when paired with an incredible pendant. With its fluid lines and delicate shapes, the Goldplated Natural Orchid Baby Green Stickpin will bring a touch of refinement to any look. A real orchid blossom is preserved in this piece, showing off soft green veins and natural beauty that is simply stunning. Finely crafted in Thailand, this vertical pin features 24 karat gold and magnificent leaf and scroll shapes for timeless style.Displaying remarkable detailing for lasting elegance, the Sterling Silver Marcasite and Onyx Pin delivers when it comes to both style and quality.
This brooch is reminiscent of vintage Hollywood glamour, with its Art Deco design and round black onyx stone. The swirl border consists of marcasite stones and shiny sterling silver, while the standard pin clasp will keep this daring pendant in place. Select a sensational brooch as your gift and your friend will thank you for it.Consider any of these breathtaking pieces the next time you look for a special gift for someone you love.
About the Author
Charles Russell is a freelance writer who writes about fashion apparel such as jewelry .
Sterling silver
Origin of the alloy metal
Although the origin of the word "sterling" is controversial, there is general agreement that the sterling alloy originated in continental Europe, and was being used for commerce as early as the 12th century in the area that is now northern Germany.
Etymology
The earliest attestation of the term is in Old French form esterlin, in a charter of the abbey of Praux, dating to either 1085 or 1104. The english chronicler Orderic Vitalis (1075 - c. 1142) uses the Latin forms libr sterilensium and libr sterilensis monet. The word in origin refers to the newly introduced Norman silver penny.
The most plausible etymology is derivation from a late Old English *steorling "[coin] with a star", as some early Norman pennies were imprinted with a small star.
There are a number of obsolete hypotheses. One suggests a connection with starling, and another supposed connection with easterling, a term for natives of the Baltic or the Hanse towns of eastern Germany. This etymology is itself medieval, suggested by Walter de Pinchebek (ca. 1300) with the explanation that the coin was originally made by moneyers from that region (OED).
A century of dining regalia: the silver craze of 1840 to 1940
19th-century Tiffany & Co. Pitcher. Circa 1871. Pitcher has paneled sides, and repousse design with shells, scrolls and flowers. Top edge is repousse arrowhead leaf design.
From about 1840 to somewhere around 1940 in the United States and Europe, sterling silver flatware became de rigueur when setting a proper table. In fact, there was a marked increase in the number of silver companies that emerged during that period.
The height of the silver craze was during the 50-year period from 1870 to 1920. Flatware lines during this period sometimes included up to 100 different types of pieces. In conjunction with this, the dinner went from three courses to sometimes ten or more. There was a soup course, a salad course, a fruit course, a cheese course, an antipasto course, a fish course, the main course and a pastry or dessert course.
Individual eating implements often included forks (dinner fork, place fork, salad fork, pastry fork, shrimp or cocktail fork), spoons (teaspoon, coffee spoon, demitasse spoon, bouillon spoon, gumbo soup spoon, iced tea spoon) and knives (dinner knife, place knife, butter spreader, fruit knife, cheese knife). This was especially true during the Victorian time period, when etiquette dictated that nothing should be touched with one's fingers.
Serving pieces were often elaborately decorated and pierced and embellished with ivory, and could include any or all of the following: carving knife and fork, salad knife and fork, cold meat fork, punch ladle, soup ladle, gravy ladle, casserole serving spoon, berry spoon, lasagna server, macaroni server, asparagus server, cucumber server, tomato server, olive spoon, cheese scoop, fish knife and fork, pastry server, petit four server, cake knife, bon bon spoon, tiny salt spoon, sugar sifter or caster and crumb remover with brush.
Flatware sets were often accompanied by tea services, hot water pots, chocolate pots, trays and salvers, goblets, demitasse cups and saucers, liqueur cups, bouillon cups, egg cups, sterling plates, napkin rings, water and wine pitchers and coasters, candelabra and even elaborate centerpieces.
In fact, the craze with sterling even extended to business (sterling page clips, mechanical pencils, letter openers, calling card boxes, cigarette cases), to the boudoir (sterling dresser trays, mirrors, hair and suit brushes, pill bottles, manicure sets, shoehorns, perfume bottles, powder bottles, hair clips) and even to children (cups, flatware, rattles, christening sets).
A number of factors converged to make sterling fall out of favor around the time of World War II. The cost of labor rose (sterling pieces were all still mostly hand-made, with only the basics being done by machine). Only the wealthy could afford the large number of servants required for fancy dining with ten courses. And changes in aesthetics resulted in people desiring simpler dinnerware that was easier to clean.
Hallmarks
Over the years, most countries in the world have developed their own systems of hallmarking silver. The purpose of hallmark application is manifold:
To indicate the purity of the silver alloy used in the manufacture or hand-crafting of the piece.
To identify the silversmith or company that made the piece.
To note the date and/or location of the manufacture.
Miscellaneous
In addition to the uses of sterling silver mentioned above, there are some little known uses of sterling:
Medical instruments: Evidence of silver and/or silver-alloy surgical and medical instruments has been found in civilisations as early as Ur, Hellenistic-era Egypt and Rome, and their use continued until largely replaced in Western countries in the mid to late 20th century by cheaper, disposable plastic items. Its natural malleability is an obvious physical advantage, but it also exhibits medically-specific utility, including the fact that it is naturally aseptic, and, in respect of modern medical practices, it is resistant to antiseptics, heat sterilisation and body fluids.
Musical instruments: Due to sterling silver having a special sound character, some brasswind instrument manufacturers use 92.5% sterling silver as the material for making their instruments, including the flute and saxophones. For example, some leading saxophone manufactuers such as Selmer and Yanagisawa have crafted some of their saxophones from sterling silver, which they believe will make the instruments more resonant and colorful in timbre.
Tarnish and corrosion
As the purity of the silver decreases, the problem of corrosion or tarnishing increases.
Chemically, silver is not very reactivet does not react with oxygen or water at ordinary temperatures, so does not easily form a silver oxide. However, other metals in the alloy, usually copper, may react with oxygen in the air.
The black silver sulfide (Ag2S) is among the most insoluble salts in aqueous solution, a property that is exploited for separating silver ions from other positive ions.
Sodium chloride (NaCl) or common table salt is known to corrode silver-copper alloy, typically seen in silver salt shakers where corrosion appears around the holes in the top.
The Wikibook Do-It-Yourself has a page on the topic of
Polishing silver
Several products have been developed for the purpose of polishing silver that serve to remove sulfur from the metal without damaging or warping it. Because harsh polishing and buffing can permanently damage and devalue a piece of antique silver, valuable items are typically hand-polished to preserve the unique patinas of older pieces. Techniques such as wheel polishing, which are typically performed by professional jewelers or silver repair companies, are reserved for extreme tarnish or corrosion. See also Tarnish, Removal.
References
All About Antique Silver with International Hallmarks, 2nd printing (2007), by Diana Sanders Cinamon, AAA Publishing, San Bernardino, CA.
Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, by lexicographer Eric Partridge.
The Oxford English Dictionary, by John Simpson and Edmund Weiner.
Silver in America, 18401940: A Century of Splendor, third edition (1997), by Charles L. Venable; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, NY.
Tiffany Silver Flatware, 18451905: When Dining Was an Art, by William P. Hood, Jr.; 1999; published by the Antique Collectors Club Ltd., Suffolk, England.
The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, revised fourth edition (1998), by Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield; Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, PA.
The Book of Old Silver, English American Foreign, With All Available Hallmarks Including Sheffield Plate Marks, by Seymour B. Wyler; 1937; Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, NY.
International Hallmarks on Silver Collected by Tardy, 5th English Language reprint (2000); original publication date unknown, date of first softcover publication 1985; author unknown; publisher unknown.
External links
Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Maker's Marks, an award-winning site.
v d e
Jewelery
Forms
Anklet Belt buckle Belly chain Bracelet Brooch Chatelaine Crown Cufflink Earring lapel pin Necklace Pendant Ring Tiara Tie clip Watch (pocket)
Making
People
Bench jeweler Goldsmith Jewelry designer Lapidary Watchmaker
Processes
Casting (centrifugal, lost-wax, vacuum) Enameling Engraving Filigree Metal clay Plating Polishing Repouss and chasing Soldering Stonesetting Wire wrapping
Tools
Draw plate File Hammer Mandrel Pliers
Materials
Precious metals
Gold Palladium Platinum Rhodium Silver
Precious metal alloys
Britannia silver Colored gold Crown gold Electrum Platinum sterling Shakudo Shibuichi Sterling silver Tumbaga
Base metals/alloys
Brass Bronze Copper Kuromido Pewter Stainless steel Titanium
Mineral gemstones
Aventurine Agate Alexandrite Amethyst Aquamarine Carnelian Citrine Diamond Emerald Garnet Jade Jasper Malachite Lapis lazuli Moonstone Obsidian Onyx Opal Peridot Quartz Ruby Sapphire Sodalite Sunstone Tanzanite Tiger's Eye Topaz Tourmaline
Organic gemstones
Amber Copal Coral Jet Pearl Abalone
Terms
Carat (unit) Carat (purity) Finding Millesimal fineness
Related topics: Body piercing Fashion Gemology Metalworking Wearable art
Categories: Jewellery | Silversmithing | Silver | Jewellery making | Alloys | Precious metal alloysHidden categories: Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2009 | All articles lacking in-text citations
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I am an expert from China Crafts Suppliers, usually analyzes all kind of industries situation, such as reflective rain suit , plastic rain poncho.
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