Artistic Silver Jewelry dan Feng Shui Aksesoris

Kadar Emas
Satuan kadar adalah karat. Karat adalah satuan terkecil dari berat kalau diperdagangan logam mulia dan batu mulia. Emas murni disebut mempunyai kadar 24 karat dan biasanya disimpan dalam bentuk batangan atau disebut dengan gold ingot. 1 gram adalah 5 karat (carat) tetapi setelah menjadi perhiasan, emas selalu dilabel dengan misalnya 10 gram 18 karat.

Di dunia perhiasan emas sering dijual dengan kadar 9 karat, 16 karat, 18 karat dan 22 karat. Di Indonesia umumnya 18K dan 22K. K menunjukkan stamp atau cap pada perhiasan emas yang menunjukkan kadar emas bersangkutan.

Lanjut ...
18K berarti emas yang anda beli dari dagang perhiasan emas mempunyai kadar 75% dari 24 karat. Atau 18:24x100%=75% dalam dunia dagang atau antara pedagang sering disebut sebagai 750. Biasanya pedagang ngitungnya 3 angka dibelakang koma. Soalnya selisih 0.055 gram saja kalau harga Rp.140,000/gram ya sudah sama dengan lebih kurang ongkos pasang 1 permata. Ini berarti dalam emas 18K terdapat 25% campuran lain, campuran ini disebut alloy. Biasanya alloy campuran dari kuningan murni, tembaga murni, perak murni, seng murni dan campuran lain sesuai rahasia masing-masing pabrik yang memproduksinya.

Kadar Perak
Perhiasan perak dalam dunia perdagangan sering distamp atau cap 925. Ada yang lainnya yaitu 800 dan biasanya tanpa K di belakang 925. Angka 925 ini menunjukkan 92,5% dari kadar murni 100%. Biasanya perak murni adalah 99,99%. Tidak 100%. Bahan baku biasanya disimpan dalam bentuk biji yang disebut klicir atau granulation.

Kenapa perhiasan tidak dibuat murni?
Kalau murni, perak maupun emas mudah penyok-penyok dan cepat gores atau kusam. Kurang keras. Campuran membuat keras dan cling inilah rahasia masing-masing pabrik. Perhiasan biar tetap kilap atau cling tetapi keras.

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How to buy Jewelry

You can't wait to slip that engagement ring on her finger. You know mom will burst into tears at the sight of sapphires. Your friends will drool when you show off that right hand ring. There is no reason fine jewelry shopping should be anything but fun, informational and ultimately satisfying. But research shows consumers find buying fine jewelry one of the least enjoyable shopping experiences.
The following guide will not only tell you how to buy jewelry, but will give you gift giving tips every shopper should know before heading to the jewelry counter or making an online purchase. Our goal is to transform trepidation into confidence. Jewelry jitters be gone!


Know the facts:
We've all heard it before: knowledge is power. Buying jewelry can be one of the first major purchases in your lifetime, so it's important to know the facts before you face all the glitter. Click on the links below to educate yourself about gold, diamonds and gemstones. Thinking of popping the question? Be sure to check out our Bridal Tips as well. We promise it won't be as bad as algebra class.

* Gold Education
* Diamond Education
* Gemstone Education
* Bridal Tips

Gift Giving
Jewelry can be the most important gift you give a loved one. Feeling the pressure? We understand. Guys, in particular, pay attention to the following gift giving tips. We guarantee you'll impress her with your remarkable taste and insight.

Know your audience:
There's nothing like that look you get when you know you missed the mark. The slight grimace followed by the fake smile? The best way to avoid awkward gift giving is to study what your significant other likes. What does she usually wear? Has she complimented friends on their looks? You know how to make her laugh, you can surely pick up some tips on her personal style. Take notes and bring what you know on your shopping trip.

Know your budget:
There are many price points in the jewelry world - from $99 to $9999 and beyond. Don't get in over your head with a bauble that will break the bank or make her afraid to wear it. Also, bring what you learned about stone and metal quality to the store, so you won't be duped into thinking 'bigger is better'. Often, it's not.

Know her size (mainly for ring purchases):
There's nothing like wowing her with a diamond ring she'll just have to wait three weeks to wear. Guys, break out your inner sleuth for this one. Find a ring she currently wears, trace the inside and bring it to your jeweler. You can always size a ring, but delayed satisfaction doesn't always fly when it comes to jewelry.

Know the occasion:
* If you're not about commitment but want to impress her with a gift of jewelry, word to the wise: stay away from the ring category. A ring, no matter what the design, is loaded with symbolism that screams "I'm in it for the long haul." A nice pair of diamond studs might be the better choice in this case.
* Right Hand Rings are the perfect self-gifting occasion to celebrate a promotion, graduation, or 'just because'. It's also a great friend-to-friend or mother-to daughter gift. Think female power!
* The 'go big' calendar moments are of course Valentine's Day and the December holidays. If she's expecting a ring, and you're thinking peridot earrings to match her eyes?you might want to think again.

Know the return policy:
Even with all of Jewelry.com's words to the wise, there is ultimately no guarantee your jewelry gift is going to hit a home run. Most stores - whether they are online or in the mall - have a return policy. Don't be afraid to ask your salesperson.

With a little preparation, education and thought, we guarantee buying jewelry will move decidedly from "a little better than a root canal" to "right up there with no calorie ice cream and winning the lottery". Happy Shopping!

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It is in the Stars

It is somewhat debated, but back in the remote recesses of time the idea of Gem Power was first cultivated in the societies of ancient India and Babylonia. Both of these ancient peoples elevated the idea and ascribed many magical powers and virtues to gemstones. In these times for these peoples this was no mean, primitive superstition, but a science, a complex and sophisticated system of beliefs. In the ancient cultures, jewelers were almost never the first consultants in matters of gem collection/purchases. The royal houses and the landed rich (really the only ones who could afford to trade in gems) would almost always consult an astrologer. Usually these sages were on retainer to the best houses of the land. Once their advice was heeded, then one visited a jeweler for assistance with these recommendations based off the buyer's horoscope.

In India, wise sages used gems as a practical means of attunement to life forces and spiritual cleansing. Wearing these stones would align the wearer with the life energies and the currents the gems exerted. From these practices evolved the nine-gem Vedic system of birthstone matching. This system is still in use in many Eastern cultures as The Vedas are the foundations of Hinduism. To the astrologers of ancient Babylonia (Chaldean's they were called), gemstones were imbued with powerful metaphysical properties. In both the Indian and Babylonian systems the ruling planets' link to their related stones laid the groundwork for our Western birth month, sign and stone traditions.

From the ancient Eastern Cultures this birthstone tradition found its way into what would become the foundations of western religious ideology through Judeo-Christian teachings. The famous Breastplate of Aaron, the brother of Moses and the first priest of The Arc Of The Covenant, was constructed at Moses' command to specifications given him by God. Over the last 3500 years Both Jewish and Christian theologians have interpreted the significance of the 12 gems used in the breastplate's construction. Josephus, the great Jewish historian, described the protective armor in detail and this description is believed to be the real origin of our modern birthstone record. It was not until the late 1500's that religious scholars and "enlightened" scientist began to attack the idea of gems as magical repositories of alchemical energies. The jewelry establishment aided by the more superstitious underpinnings of society in this era was able to hold off the naysayers for a long while. But by 1600 this Western Zodiacal tradition started to lose ground in the battle and by 1700 most people scoffed at the idea.

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Birthstones: Rockin Through The Ages

For more than 45 centuries (3000 BC up to the 1500s), the acquisition of gems for their aesthetic qualities was a minor consideration. Though gem beauty is the dominant reason for the purchases in today's world, in the ancient world, gems were not luxuries at all. They were considered necessary to daily life.
The idea that gems contain special properties and powers is a concept that has survived for countless thousands of years, and lives on our modern birthstone charts. It is in fact the oldest of jewelry traditions to link a birth date to a particular stone and to accept the gem's ability to influence the wearer's life.

The awe that the ancients felt for the gems they wore is a race memory passed down to we moderns, and is a great deal of what our desire for precious jewelry is all about. The Birthstone tradition links our time to a time when man was more at peace with nature and more in tune with the world around him. To better understand the properties associated with birthstone (as well as other power gems) we must look back in gemological history and become aware of the mystique that began these traditions. Hopefully a better understanding of this history can heighten one's desire for acquiring certain types of jewelry.

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Topaz: Gem of the Setting Sun

The mystery and allure of topaz goes back thousands of years. The Egyptians, for instance, believed the gem was colored with the golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra, which protected the wearer from harm. Meanwhile, the Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, the god of the sun. The name topaz is thought to come from the Greek word "topazos" meaning "to shine" which also implies "fire."
Topaz also holds the distinction of being the gemstone thought to have the widest range of curative powers. Legend has it that the gem can dispel enchantment and improve the eyesight. The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz is also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Throughout history, different cultures have believed that the stone could cure insomnia, asthma and hemorrhages; bring friendship; promote patience and a pleasant disposition; and ensure fidelity. To the ancients, it was also a symbol of love and affection and was even thought to ward off sudden death.
Blue topaz is the recommended jewelry gift for couples celebrating their fourth anniversary; Imperial topaz (sherry red, deep pink or reddish-orange) for their 23rd. The "Imperial" moniker came about following the discovery of pink topaz in Russia during the 19th century. The gem was so coveted, its ownership was restricted to the Czar, his family, and to those who received it as a royal gift.
Although topaz is most often associated with its golden yellow hues, it also occurs colorless, as well as orange-yellow, red, honey-brown, light green, blue and pink. Imperial shades are the rarest and therefore, the most valuable.
Most brownish topaz is heated to produce a permanent pink color. Blue topaz is extremely popular today due to its clarity, durability, availability and durability; it has been in great demand as a less costly substitute to aquamarine. However, topaz is rarely found in blue shades in nature. This color is most often created through a combination of heat-treatment and irradiation.
In 1998, a new type of enhanced topaz made its appearance: the surface-enhanced topaz. These stones have colors that have range from blue to greenish-blue or emerald green.
Topaz is mined mainly in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and China. With a ranking of "8" on the Mohs scale of hardness, it is a very hard stone durable enough for everyday wear. However, care should be taken to protect it from sharp blows.
Perhaps the most famous topaz is a giant specimen set in the Portuguese Crown, the Braganza, which was first thought to be a diamond. There is also a beautiful topaz set in the Green Vault in Dresden, Germany, one of the world's important gem collections.

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