Tips for Giving Beautiful Artisan Made Jewellery

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your mother, wife, sister or daughter? Consider a gift of custom created artisan made jewellery, a gift sure to please any woman in your life. Not sure what kind of jewelry she’d like? These tips can help you select a piece of artisan made jewellery that she’ll treasure for decades to come.

Consider Her Personal Style

People have a general impression that artisan jewelry is funky, Bohemian or ethnic – all of which can be true. Artisan made jewellery can also be classic, conservative, feminine and sophisticated. In fact, there are nearly as many styles represented among artisans as there are artisans. Think about the way she dresses and the kinds of jewelry she typically wears. Understanding her look will help you choose jewelry that she’ll love.

Consider Her Birthstone

What girl doesn’t love a piece of jewelry set with her birthstone? Many artisans will customize gemstone rings or gemstone pendants with any of a wide variety of stones, including most birthstones. You can also choose earrings, bracelets, necklaces and even barrettes set with her birthstone or any other gem you know she loves.

Give a Set of Matched Artisan Made Jewellery

Instead of giving just a ring or a pair of earrings, put together a matched set of jewelry that she can wear on special occasions. It’s most common to match pendants or necklaces with earrings, but you don’t have to confine yourself to the customary. Barrettes, headbands or tiaras can set off matching earrings and choker, for example, or you might choose gemstone rings with a bangle bracelet inset with the same gemstone.

Consider Heritage

Ethnic and tribal designs are among the most popular styles of modern artisan made jewellery on the market. Appeal to her sense of pride in her heritage with bracelets, necklaces, earrings or other jewelry that draws on the traditional designs from her native lands. Today, you’ll find beautifully made jewelry that draws on Celtic traditions, Indian designs, African symbols and many other cultures.

When All Else Fails…

Buy her a piece of gemstone jewelry in her favorite color – or in a whole rainbow of them. Gemstone jewelry comes in a huge range of colors so you’re bound to find pieces in colors that she loves. From precious gems like emeralds, rubies and diamonds to semiprecious stones like turquoise, agate and tiger-eye, you can order your favorite artisan made jewellery in exactly the colors and gemstones she’ll want most.

High Fashion Artisan Made Jewellery

Far too often people equate hand-crafted and handmade with homemade and lesser quality items. When it comes to artisan made jewellery, nothing could be further from the truth. Beautifully crafted gemstone rings, bracelets, gemstone pendants, barrettes and earrings are always in style, and artisan made jewelry represents all that is original, creative and fashionable in adornment.  Costume jewelry has lost its luster when compared to the latest wave of beautiful high-fashion jewelry, crafted by hand and created by skilled artisans. Here’s a look at what’s most popular in the world of hand-crafted jewelry for the upcoming holiday season.

Gemstone Pendants

Unique combinations of handpicked gemstones and handcrafted settings are among the latest trends in the world of artisan jewelry. Some of the most desired pendants are those made of unexpected stones – translucent, iridescent labrodorite, deep blue iolite and vivid green chalcedony brighten beaded necklaces or hang from sterling silver chains.

Gemstone Rings

Faceted and cabochon gemstone rings are the perfect accent to any outfit – and with the enormous selection of gemstones available, you can choose a ring in any of your favorite colors. Many artisans will custom craft your ring so that you can mix and match ring settings with the gemstone of your choice.

Bracelet Styles

After falling out of fashion for a while, bracelets are back on the fashion runways with a vengeance. They range for delicate bead bracelets to thick cuff bracelets engraved with tribal designs and inset with precious gems. Choose a handful of thin bangles inset with faceted gems or make a statement with artisan crafted bracelets that combine crystals, glass beads and carefully polished gemstones.

Gemstone Earrings

With long hair or short, earrings call attention to your face and help create an aura of allure. Shoulder duster gemstone earrings with delicate silver chains and fiery faceted gemstones are among the most popular pieces of artisan made jewelry. They’re the ideal complement to your favorite semiformal or formal little black dress.

Artisan Made Jewellery for Your Hair

When you’re dressing up with gemstones and jewelry, don’t forget to crown your crowning glory. Handcrafted barrettes, clips and headbands are the perfect accent for any special occasion hairstyle. Delicate barrettes and clips inset with pearls, diamonds, agates and other precious and semiprecious gems can instantly add glamour to even the simplest hairdo.

If you’re looking for the perfect finishing touch for your holiday outfits, look no further than the beautiful selection of artisan made jewellery that’s available on the market today.

Dress for Success with Artisan Made Jewellery

Toss out your old dress for success notes. The power suit is out and comfortable clothes that work for women are in. Back in the bad old days, professional women had very few wardrobe choices if they wanted to be taken seriously. The rules called for black, gray, navy or brown man-suits with boxy jackets and tailored skirts. As far as jewelry, the rule was don’t. How things have changed! Today’s professional woman is free to express herself through her wardrobe, as long as she doesn’t overdo it. Bright colors, feminine touches and artisan made jewellery all offer ways for women to personalize their professional wardrobe.

Here are some ideas about wearing artisan made jewellery with your executive wardrobe in ways that feminize your wardrobe without neutralizing your power.

Avoid Cutesy Jewelry

Cutesy jewelry gives off a little-girl vibe and can make it hard for your co-workers and associates to take you seriously. There are some professions where you can get away with wearing skull-and-roses bracelets, of course. If you work in a creative industry, you’ve got a lot more leeway than if you have to stand and argue cases in front of a judge and jury. Remember, artisan made jewellery doesn’t always mean funky and out there, but it does always represent high quality craftsmanship.

Instead, choose striking, stylish pendants, gemstone rings and sophisticated earrings that work well with the colors and styles of the clothing you wear.

Always Choose Real Over Plastic

There’s been a trend toward plastic and resin jewelry that’s faddish and often cheap-looking. Instead of plastic, choose genuine gemstone and semiprecious stones that redefine elegance. Ropes of freshwater pearls, tiger-eye gems and turquoise beads can make an elegant statement that works beautifully with silk and linen.

Keep Jewelry Pieces in Scale

Tiny earrings may be cute, but if they’re matched up with chunky beads, it can be jarring. On the other hand, boxy jackets were made to wear with chunky beads and bold, oversize gemstone pendants. If you’re wearing a dainty peplum jacket, consider pairing it up with a delicate filigree pendant, slender bracelets and button pearl earrings. Consider your overall look when choosing artisan made jewellery and choose pieces that fit the scale of your outfit.

We’ve come a long way since the days when the only acceptable jewelry in the workplace was a discreet lapel pin, button earrings and a feminine wristwatch. Today’s professional woman can show off her flair and personal style. Choose distinctive and classy artisan made jewellery that makes a fashion statement

How to Care for Artisan Made Jewellery

Beautiful jewelry is more than a pretty possession. Finely crafted artisan made jewellery expresses your personality and has the potential to become a treasured family heirloom. Gemstone jewelry, especially rings, bracelets, pendants, earrings and other beautiful pieces made with semiprecious stones, often carry sentimental value, and may have special significance to those who believe in the power of natural elements. Of course, if you’re planning to hand down your artisan made jewellery, you’ll want to take special care of it. These tips can help you preserve your gemstone rings, gemstone pendants, silver chains and other delicate artisan made jewellery so you’ll get years of pleasure from it.

Wear your jewelry often, but take care not to expose it to damaging activities and substances. Avoid wearing precious and semiprecious stones when you swim, bathe or sunbathe – there are chemicals in the water that can damage the stones and tarnish the metals. If you’re planning to spend the day at the beach or the pool, leave your jewelry at home – or at least remove it and put it into a small pouch while you swim.

Watch out for vigorous physical activity. No one would suggest that you sit pretty as a picture when you’re wearing gemstone jewelry, but if you’re going to be engaging in vigorous physical activity – say rock-climbing or jogging – you’ll be exposing it to the risk of tangling, catching on objects or breaking. This is especially important for gemstone pendants on silver chains, which can easily break and get lost.

Avoid banging your jewelry against hard objects. Obviously, no one goes out with the intention of slamming their jewelry into things, but some activities make it more likely than others. If you’re moving furniture, for example, you might want to remove gemstone rings first to avoid the possibility of banging the stone against door jambs or getting it caught between walls and furniture.

Don’t leave gemstone jewelry in direct sunlight, which can fade many of the most popular stones.

Store your artisan made jewellery in the original box or pouch, if possible, keeping each item separate from the others to avoid tangling and nicking. While you’ll often seen pendants and necklaces displayed hanging, it’s not a good idea to store your necklaces that way. The weight of the gemstone pendants can put stress on the chain and the fasteners, making them more likely to break.

Always put your artisan made jewellery on last. Perfume, hair spray and cosmetics contain chemicals that can damage gemstones and metal. Put your barrettes on after you spray your hair and put earrings and necklaces on after you’ve finished putting on your makeup and perfume.

With proper care, your artisan made jewellery will look as lovely in 20 years as it did on the day you bought it.

Choose Artisan Made Jewellery to Accessorize Your Fall Wardrobe

It’s autumn! That means it’s time to refresh your fall wardrobe and update it with this year’s latest looks. One of the easiest ways to give your closet a new look is to add a few pieces of artisan made jewellery to your jewelry box. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings in this season’s hottest colors and patterns bring a fresh look to even your most dated little black dress and suit jacket. Not sure what you should buy? Here are a few of the autumn’s most versatile jewelry looks to consider.

Beads

Gemstone jewelry is still a big player on the runways, but beads are taking up most of the spotlight. Fun and funky beads make their appearance in necklaces, where they’re huge, angled and painted in colors that go with all of your outfits. Bracelets, on the other hand, sport row upon row of seed beads shaped into mosaics or randomly wound into bangles. Shoulder duster earrings are also high on the list of glam fashion artisan made jewellery, with crystal beads and stamped metal charms dangling on silver chains.

The Long and Short of It

While earrings are longer and more ostentatious than they have been in years, necklaces have definitely shortened. After a few seasons of chains that fall to the waist and below, this year’s necklaces and pendants hit just above the breastbone. That makes them absolutely perfect to wear with both modest necklines and off-the-shoulder styles. They also look great with suit blazers and unconstructed blazers.

Wrist Action

Bracelets are all over the runways this season – and all up and down your arms. Some of the hottest bracelet styles this season are hand-beaded bangle bracelets in tribal patterns and animal prints and thin bangles worn in triplets and more. Sleeveless dresses get a major update when you pair them up with arm cuffs worn above the elbow or strings of beads wound in a spiral around your upper arm.

Gemstone Rings

Flashy and splashy are the two words that best describe the trend in rings. Gemstone rings and birthstone rings are as popular as ever, but there are also offbeat styles making fashion news. Cocktail rings, with huge oblong and oval stones, worn on the index finger or middle finger call attention to fab manicures and are the perfect accent for evening wear and hitting the club scene.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to update your fall wardrobe, spark it up with artisan made jewellery and one-of-a-kind fashion jewelry finds. It’s an instant update that’s far more affordable than a whole new wardrobe.

Artisan Made Jewellery Requires Special Care

Handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces may be destined to become heirlooms, but only if they receive proper care. Beautifully crafted artisan made jewellery, set with beads, gemstones and pearls, is the perfect accessory for your own unique style. These tips will help you keep your silver chains, gemstone pendants, artisan-crafted earrings, bracelets, gemstone rings and other artisan jewellery looking as beautiful as the day you first put it on.

Handcrafted artisan made jewellery is generally more delicate than store-bought pieces, so don’t treat it like you do cheap pieces of costume jewelry. Keep in mind that soft metals and gemstones can be damaged by being banged against hard surfaces or being gouged by other hard items. That doesn’t mean you have to tiptoe around when you’re wearing it. It only means that you should take a few special measures to protect your artisan made jewellery both when you wear it and when you put it away. A little bit of care will ensure that your beautiful jewelry pieces will last for a lifetime.

Always put your jewelry on last, especially pieces, such as gemstone earrings and barrettes worn close to your face and hair. Apply your makeup and any hairspray or hair gel before you put on your jewelry – and let it dry before putting on your earrings or hairpieces to avoid getting harmful chemicals on the stones or metal.

Likewise, remove your jewelry before doing household tasks that might expose it to harsh cleaners or chemicals, and avoid immersing gemstone jewelry in water. Many gemstones can be softened, discolored or damaged by water or cleaning chemicals. For the same reason, don’t wear your gemstone jewelry in swimming, especially in salt water or in chlorinated pools, and take your jewelry pieces off before you shower or bathe.

Don’t wear your jewelry when you garden or do household tasks that might subject it to being banged or scratched against hard surfaces. Those knocks and bangs can gouge the metal or chip the stones.

When you remove your jewelry at the end of the day, wipe each piece gently with a cotton cloth to remove skin oils, make up and any stray dirt that might damage or discolor the stones and the finish of the metal. Wrap delicate pieces in soft cotton or acid-free paper before putting it away in a jewelry box away from the light, which can tarnish and discolor it.

Avoid storing artisan made jewellery in places where they will be subjected to extremes of heat or cold. Don’t put your jewelry box on a window sill, next to a heating vent or leave it in your car. Temperature extremes can cause gemstones to crack.

When storing necklaces of beads strung on silk, always store them flat to prevent the silk thread from stretching or knots from coming loose. Prevent tangles by wrapping chains and beads around a folded paper before tucking them into separate jewelry pouches or individual compartments in your jewelry box.

If you take the few extra minutes to care for your artisan made jewellery, you’ll be rewarded with years of compliments on its beauty when you wear it.

Give Her Birthstone Silver Jewelry She’ll Love

Are you looking for a foolproof way to choose just the right silver jewelry for a special lady in your life? Silver makes the perfect setting for each of the monthly birthstones, but if you want a little more hint about exactly what kind of silver birthstone jewelry your particular diva will love, check out these suggestions based on the characteristics of the month in which she was born.

January

January girls may seem frosty, but that’s just a façade that hides their simmering inner passion. They’re strong, loyal friends who believe in tradition. Your January girl will love classic styles with a long history, so look for silver bracelets, such as tennis bracelets inset with cabochon garnets, or silver pendants engraved with Victorian filigree.

February

February girls may seem delicate and sensitive, but they have spiritual strength that will carry them through anything. Their birthstone, amethyst, imparts clear thinking and insight, and encourages spirituality. Give her a pair of silver earrings with amethyst crystals dangling from slim silver chains. They’ll appeal to her New Age style and her sense of beauty.

March

March ladies have an affinity for water and strong emotions, and aquamarines fit them perfectly. With a color ranging from icy blue to deep, rich turquoise, aquamarines sparkle against a silver background. Just like their birthstone, March girls have a strong sense of individuality, so appeal to it with handmade silver jewelry. You’ll find some stunning silver pendants inset with aquamarines that capture the light and reflect it like the ocean.

April

Lucky April girls get to rock diamonds as their birthstone. They’re fun-loving and youthful, no matter their chronological age, so look for something kicky and unusual to please your April girl. Consider a pair of silver barrettes shaped like butterflies inset with pave diamonds to commemorate the beginning of spring.

May

Women born in May are earthy and real, sensual and practical all at once. It’s no surprise that their emerald birthstone is one of the toughest and most beautiful stones known to man, nor that it’s associated with Venus, the goddess of love and is known as the healers’ stone. Flatter the earthy May beauty in your life with silver rings, especially a silver Claddagh ring inset with an emerald heart to reflect her love of the earth and her loyalty to living things.

June

 June girls have a choice of three birthstones – and one of them comes in a variety of colors. No surprise there for anyone who knows a Gemini June girl with her changeable nature. While pearls are elegant and beautiful in silver jewelry, and moonstones appeal to the June lady’s mysterious side, the birthstone that will really appeal to most June-born women is the alexandrite, with its changeable nature. Look for silver bracelets inset with alexandrite that changes color from green to pink or purple in sunlight.

Next month, look for a follow-up with silver jewelry suggestions for girls born in the second half of the year. Every girl deserves silver jewelry – these suggestions can help you pick the perfect style and piece.