Beauty Tips Guides

Among the oldest human art forms, bead making dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, where glass beads were fashioned from clay with a vitreous coating. In 1500 B.C., the traditional mosaic methods of bead making were developed. Glass bead making’s three major eras occurred in Egypt, Rome and the Eastern Mediterranean. The most renowned glass bead making era developed in Venice - the famous Murano glass beads.

One of the earliest forms of glass bead making, the wound method begins by heating glass at a temperature that makes it easy to work with. Wound around a steel wire in ancient times, the bead is shaped with the manipulation of wood, graphite, steel, or other tools. Often, the bead is further decorated with items such as colored glass.

During the Roman period of bead making, glass working centers were located throughout the Empire. One of the most significant bead making methods, drawn glass, came about with the invention of the blow pipe. Used to make drawn beads, the process is accomplished by pulling a strand from a gather of glass so as to create a bubble in the center of the strand which serves as the bead’s hole. This method proved to be faster and cheaper in making mass beads than the wound method before it. An artisan employing the pipe method was also able to expand a bead from the inside - eliminating the amount of glass needed as opposed to other methods. These refined methods of glass bead making allowed artisans to produce more glass beads during the 1st century, A.D. than had been made in the previous 1500 years.

Inspired by the Roman bead designs, the Franks, who controlled Western Europe in the late 5th century to early 9th century, also drew inspiration from Celtic designs. The Celt designs dated some 1500 years earlier, but were so admired the Franks harvested the beads from Celtic burial grounds to carry around for luck.

Europe was not the only place to give rise to innovative bead making. Middle Easterners also created beautiful beads also influenced by their cultural styles. During the Middle Eastern/Islamic dominance in the Mediterranean, bead making bears the influence of the Islamic religion. Beads were created using distinctive methods including trailing, feathering, and folding techniques. This Islamic period of glass bead making came to an abrupt halt with the Mongol invasion in 1401, followed by the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Perhaps the most well known era of glass making took place in Venice. Glass making had been going on for some time in Venice, but in 1292 the glass making industry was centralized to the island of Murano in an effort to reduce the risk of fire to the city and to protect the guarded secrets of glassmaking. In fact, Venice took its glass making industry so seriously, glassmaker could face death for revealing their secrets or attempting to start a business elsewhere. During this time, glass bead making experienced a huge boom, as artisans revived many of the earlier methods which had been lost with time.

By the early 1600s, Venice already boasted more than 250 bead producers. Methods associated with the Venetian era include the seed bead, Cornaline “white heart” beads, and the chevron “Rosetta” beads, which are all various types of drawn beads.

Murano beads are typically made using the lampworking or torch and mandrel technique, a method devised by a Murano glass master in the 1700s. The most time consuming method, lampwork requires that each bead is fashioned individually. Once the ideal shape is achieved, layers of colored glass and gold and silver leaf are applied. As the bead reaches the cooling stage, it is removed from a rod which produces the hole for stringing.

To achieve the brilliant colors of Murano’s famous beads, a glass maker must conduct the mixing of chemical compounds with extreme accuracy. For instance, aquamarine is accomplished through the use of copper and cobalt. The use of gold as a coloring agent is required to produce ruby red. Specific materials are used by the glass maker to create Murano’s amazing colored beads.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms, and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.

The internet offers many opportunities to buy diamonds. Buying diamonds on the internet also gives you many benefits. However, even with all these benefits, there are some things that you need to be vigilant about so you buy in confidence a product which is both genuine and one you are happy with.

Staying safe with buying diamonds on the internet is not all about before you purchase, but also during and after the purchase. Luckily there are many ways that you can protect yourself, and as you read every word of this article, you can take action with peace of mind.

Buying diamonds is an important process. You are not buying a television or even something small. You likely are buying a diamond for a special occasion. It could be a wedding ring, and as such, you want to make sure that your purchase is one which will bring you the item you expect.

When buying diamonds on the internet, you will want to check out several key things. Is the online store new or is it old? How long have they been in business? This information will allow you to know whether it is best to buy or not. After all, if a store has only been running for a few months, is it really a place to spend potentially thousands of dollars with?

Do they give you a telephone number to call? Even though this is not absolutely essential, especially with buying diamonds on the internet, however it is good to know. Whenever I make a purchase only for a high ticket item, I always make sure to call.

I suggest you do too. It will create peace of mind and show you how professional a store selling diamond online really is. If you can’t find an email, try sending an email. Some stores not offer live help, which can be a great way to gauge how well there customer services are, and potentially how well and prompt they will deal with your purchase.

When actually going through with your purchase, make sure that the diamonds have hallmark details. Most stores online will show a picture of the hallmark, on occasion you can even see a picture of that particular diamond you are looking to buy online.

In the process of buying diamonds on the internet, you will want to make sure that there is some form of encryption. This is easy to know as with your web browser, you will see the address bar change from http to https, when you are actually going through the process of payment.

Encryption is essential, as it means that no one can see your payment details. This applies to the store also. For example, paying via PayPal will mean that the only information a person may see is that you placed an order, but the actual payment details only a computer will know.

Buying diamonds on the internet offers many benefits; you can get great prices, and get the diamond delivered to your home. With these points finding and buying diamonds on the internet is easy and will result in a safe purchase.

Click this link to see a picture of one of the biggest diamonds - the Star of Africa Diamond or these links to do window shopping and buying diamonds on the internet.

When it comes to gift buying, one of the most moving and personal gifts to give is jewellery. There is a fine art to choosing this type of present for someone, for a start you have to know them well, to understand their taste and make sure you get them something they will want to wear. As a gift, jewellery is something that is accepted and treasured and will last a person a lifetime, quite possibly becoming an heirloom. Precious stones are a favourite addition to good quality gold, but with so many settings and stones to choose from, how exactly should one go about finding the perfect gift for a loved one?

As a fashion editor I have over the years come to understand and appreciate the difference between novelty costume jewels and a timeless accessory. For fashion purposes, it is okay to pick up the occasional piece of cheap jewellery with mock stones as long as the quality is high. When it comes to a more grown up, or treasured item, then quality and authenticity is a must. Always use a reputable jeweller that deals in certificated stones and has a history of creating beautiful and classic yet unique designs. As far as gifts go, my favourites to give are diamond bracelets.

A diamond is regarded as a timeless and classic stone that holds its value as much as it’s sparkle, and everyone remembers their first. For this reason a diamond bracelet as a sweet sixteen present is ideal ; it will catch the heart and eye of the birthday girl and remind her forever of the moment she felt grown up.

If you are looking for something a little more personal than just diamonds and the occasion is incredibly special, then the ultimate personalised gift is a birthday stone bracelet. Each sign of the zodiac corresponds with a certain gem, and each person has three of these signs in their birth chart at the time of birth (it is easy to find out what these are as long as you know the time and date of birth), and each stone has its own attributes. This makes a truly unique and personal gift that will be treasured forever.

Here is a list of the traditional birthstones with their holistic essences described; you can use it to create a birthday bracelet or to construct one with another meaning, bringing the wearer health, vitality, luck or love.

January, Garnet: Balances emotions and enhances the imagination. February, Amethyst: Good for meditation, brings inspiration, love and intuition into the wearers life. March, Jasper: Brings about spiritual grounding and is has rejuvenating effects on internal organs. April, Diamond: Symbolises purity and brings clarity to the wearer by enhancing energy levels.

May, Agate: This stone brings the wearer the courage to succeed and acceptance of one’s fate. June, Emerald: Said to inspire love, this stone also brings prosperity to the wearer. July, Onyx: Good for bringing balance in a relationship or in a confused mind. August, Sapphire: Give this stone to inspire loyalty and enhance the psychic mind of the wearer.

September, Peridot: Reduces stress and stimulates the mind whilst bringing opportunities for success. October, Tourmaline: Good for those who suffer from bad dreams by dispelling fear and bringing calm. November, Topaz: This stone aids meditation by bringing tranquillity, allowing esoteric expression. December, Ruby: Strengthens mental health and fires up passion for an overall mind and body balance.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the jewellery and fashion industry.
Find out more about diamond bracelets and how to create a perfect gift at Diamond Manufacturers.

The diamond industry is worth literally billions of pounds a year in the trade of wholesale gems to industry and the domestic market. The way these markets work vary dramatically; one has a high demand for the physical properties of the stone as the hardest natural material, the other has a high demand created by the desirability of a rare and beautiful gem.

Diamonds are actually not as rare as we are led to believe and the market is a highly organised infrastructure to keep prices stable and demand high. Couple this with the wholesale trade of illegal or ‘blood’ diamonds and the financial structure of diamond market becomes increasingly complicated.

Until the late 1800s diamonds were a rare gemstone and highly prised. Only the wealthiest could afford a good quality gem and owning diamond jewellery was a status symbol or sign of wealth. There was a small commercial trade in diamonds from Africa and Australia, with other diamonds entering the market as second hand jewellery.

The stones from Australia are famed for being the hardest in the world, and so have been designated for industrial use, whereas the African gems are desired for their aesthetics, making them destined for the jewellery market. Suddenly, due to the discovery of a new mine in South Africa, the market became flooded with new gem quality stones, and the value of the diamond dropped dramatically.

It took a massive advertising campaign by the De Beers group, one of the world leaders in diamond mining to stabilise sales and persuade the public to keep hold of the diamonds they have as well as controlling the rate of wholesale stones appearing on the market. Firstly, the control of supply was at the source, only allowing a certain percentage of the mineral onto the market.

This then allowed the price to be stabilised; because demand was kept high by restricted supply, the major companies could set a nominal value for an end product. For example, the price of a reasonably sized diamond engagement ring should remain at around three months wages.

The other factor that needed to be addressed was the second hand market. De Beers at this point launched one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time by essentially persuading the public that ‘a diamond is forever’, implying that rather than ever selling a piece of jewellery with the gemstone in, it should be kept as a precious heir loom. Starving the market of these antique pieces not only boosted the demand for new rocks, but increased the popularity and affected the actual worth of the stone at the point of wholesale.

The trade of so called blood diamonds does not fit into this category, and where there is demand, there is an opportunity to supply on the black market. The way these stones differ is that the money raised from them goes directly into the pockets of the war lords that run the mines. The people in the areas where the mines are get little if any money at all, and commonly the level of conflict over the commodity leads to bloodshed. To curb the trade from illegal sources, a classification and certification system has been introduced.

Now all official diamonds are registered so they can be traced from the source to sale. The catalogued stones are engraved with a laser to identify them to any expert under magnification. This is going a long way to ensure that consumers are not unintentionally funding criminal activity, but as with any black market commodity, restricted supply still creates a demand. While diamonds are considered the gem du jour, there will always be those willing to spill blood to take their share of the profits.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the jewellery and diamond industry.
Find out more about wholesale diamonds and the importance of buying a certified conflict free diamonds at diamond manufacturers.

Go into any newsagent and pick up a glossy mag aimed at women; you are likely to find celebrity splattered pages of fashion statements, disasters and downright dullness. In fact, go into any newsagent and pick up a mag aimed at men, you will find the same thing; celebrity endorsed accessories and outfits. Some fashions would never see the light of day if they hadn’t been seen on David Beckham or Jennifer Lopez. The red carpet is the perfect place for designers to promote their latest designs and to influence the high street fashion of the coming season. From silk dresses to diamond encrusted chokers, the fashions we choose are dictated by the not so subtle pulp of the printers.

David Beckham is a one man walking endorsement for designer labels. I’m sure it is under the unrelenting pressure of his fashion obsessed wife, but the bloke has promoted everything from Police sunglasses to Dolce and Gabbana pants. The influence of his celebrity status means that if he’s seen with a Tesco flannel on his head, rest assured everyone in the world will be wearing the ‘flannelette hat’ the following week. Ok, I exaggerate slightly, but he did manage to make the sarong a fashion choice for men; burly white British men at that, that is quite a feat! What he is probably most famed for however is the introduction of the diamond stud into the range of acceptable attire for men.

You would be innocently mistaken if you thought I was referring to football studs, as Mr. Beckham is obviously as famed for his football as he is his fashion. And of course, a diamond is hard as Vinny Jones and would probably make for a rather effective and equally flamboyant football boot accessory. The notion of a diamond studs for football boots would also fit into the crazy paradigm that Posh and Becks choose to live; a place where it’s not unlikely that unicorn pelt is used to polish the family silver. Alas, such decadence is yet to manifest, I am just talking of the humble diamond stud earring.

It did make quite a tabloid splash though, and it was not long before Golden Balls himself had inspired a generation of young boys, ageing men, rap stars and rockers to wear a sparkler in the lobe. Justin Timberlake, Michael Jordan, P Diddy, Fify cent and Ten Bob (Okay, I made that last one up) have all been seen with a 9 carat stone set in 24 carat white gold; that’s more carats than Bugs Bunny can quaff in a week! This fashion fad was neither a flop nor a faux pas, and has remained acceptable attire; despite gaining the undivided attention of boys who sport Burberry caps and shell suits. As a super successful football star, it is not surprising that Beckham has such unwavering influence over the youth of today, and we should all be glad that his wife is in charge of his wardrobe or it could be socks and sandals from dusk till dawn.

It is without a doubt that David has got his finger on the collective pulse when it comes to fashionable attire. Regardless of whether it’s the missus with the good taste, there is no disputing that the high street is taking its style tips from the wonder-boy’s wardrobe. The rails of River Island and Top Man look like they have been stripped directly from the closets of Beckingham Palace; thank the fashion gods that they’ve left those family jewels alone!

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the jewellery and fashion industry.
Find out more about diamond studs and see the styles the stars choose at Diamond Manufacturers.

Jewelry collectors of the world know that often a piece of jewelry’s value lies not only its karat worth but also its past - where it came from, how it was acquired and the intrigue it has created through the years. These individual pieces, brought together, form prized collections that hold stories of conquest and mystery.

Considered to be one of the world’s most valuable and largest collections, the Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran is comprised of an exhaustive number of tiaras, crowns, thrones, and the world’s largest collection of emeralds, rubies, spinels, and yellow diamonds. Representing nearly 2,500 years of Shah rule in Iran, most of the items were acquired by the Safavid shahs who ruled from 1502-1736 A.D. The collection is so invaluable it backs Iranian currency as a reserve.

This Persian treasure also boasts the world’s largest spinel. The Samarian Spinel is a 500-carat, blood-red stone currently held at the National Jewelry Museum of Iran in Tehran. Like many treasures of its magnitude, the Samarian Spinel has a unique legend which tells of its use around the neck of the gold calf built by the Israelites while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments.

Equally breathtaking, the collection’s Pahlavi Crown sports a 60-carat brilliant-cut yellow diamond and was created in the early 1920s for the last ruler of the Imperial Dynasty. The crown is also studded with 3,380 diamonds which total 1,144 carats and is made with red velvet. The official crown of the Qajar Dynasty, which ruled from 1796 to 1925, the Kiani Crown features 1,800 pearls and rubies, as well as emeralds and diamonds.

During the Iranian Revolution in 1979 that caused the collapse of the Pahlavi Dynasty, rumors spread that the Imperial Crown Jewels had been stolen and sold abroad. While a few smaller pieces had indeed been stolen and smuggled out of the country, most of the collection remained intact. Unfortunately, while the smugglers and their booty were caught by Pakistani authorities, the stolen items have yet to be returned to Iran.

One of America’s most famous jewelers, Harry Winston created a jewelry empire that now includes salons in New York, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Dallas, Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Winston really began his collection with the acquisition of Arabella Huntington’s jewelry collection. Wife of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, Arabella’s collection was one of the world’s most prestigious. The jewelry, whose style was considered largely old fashioned, was redesigned by Winston into more contemporary styles.

In addition, Winston was the owner of some of the world’s most precious diamonds known to man. The Hope Diamond, which appears brilliant blue to the naked eye, was donated by Winston to the Smithsonian Institution. A curse was believed to have been placed on the diamond, creating financial ruin and heartbreak to anyone who owned it. Winston never believed in the curse of the diamond, which was once owned by Marie Antoinette. Today it is part of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection.

Also in the collection, the Napoleon Diamond Necklace was given to Empress Marie-Louise by her husband Napoleon. Made of 47 diamonds weighing a total of 275 carats, the necklace was passed down through the Empress’ family for generations. It eventually reached Winston in 1960 who sold it two years later to Marjorie Merriweather Post. Today, it is also on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

Purchased by Winston in 1935, the Jonker was originally discovered as a 726-carat rough crystal and represented the first a diamond of its caliber to be cleaved in the United States. The Jonker, the largest diamond of the crystal, was much beloved by Winston who refused to sell it for many years. Instead, he displayed the diamond at exhibitions. Winston eventually sold the diamond to King Farouk of Egypt, who sold the diamond to the Queen of Nepal. Eventually, the Jonker was sold at a Hong Kong auction for $4 million.

The personal jewelry collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is conservatively valued at $57 million. Most of the pieces were given as gifts to the Queen. A magnificent piece of the collection is the Timur Ruby, a splendid 352.50-carat spinel. The piece is inscribed with the names of previous owners who were Mughal emperors. The Prince Albert Brooch is a magnificent sapphire which was presented to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert on their wedding day. Other notable pieces include a suite of emerald jewelry, large ruby earrings owned by Queen Mary, and a handful of diamonds cut from the Cullinan, which produced the Stars of Africa and other well-known diamonds.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms, and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.