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Making beaded jewelry is an inexpensive and fun hobby that nearly anyone can do. The materials needed are readily accessible and cost very little money. Aside from the requisite thread, needle and the beads, there are also some other materials that the hobbyist can use in making beaded jewelry. Hobbyists can also experiment with various beading techniques to make interesting and unique creations.

There are several techniques involved in making beaded jewelry. Stringing is one, and wire-working with beads is another. Various types of string are available: cords, plastic, twine. Additionally, silk and nylon threads can also be utilized in making beaded jewelry. Using hemp fiber in beaded jewelry making is a nice touch - it makes for an unusual product and would also be a great topic for conversation. Wire of various thicknesses is another popular option. Additionally, wire is used to make beaded jewelry items such as necklaces, hairpins and earrings, and to attach clasps.

Beads for jewelry come in all shapes and forms as well. In spite of beaded jewelry’s reputation for being inexpensive, a person can also use precious gemstones like pearls and precious metals, such as gold and silver, to make beaded dress accessories. For beginners, however, less costly materials are widely available for making beaded jewelry: glass, crystal, coral, to name a few. Whatever materials the artist uses, he or she is easily able to customize the type of beaded jewelry to be worn personally, given as a gift, or sold to beaded jewelry enthusiasts.

To enhance the overall visual effect of the beads, a number of knotting and stitching techniques are recommended. There are simple knots and stitches for beginners, and with practice, they will be able to progress to the more complicated and fancier methods used in making beaded jewelry. It’s interesting to note that knots have mystical connotations in some cultures. For some East Indians, knots can be used to curse a person. In Gypsy lore, it is important to untie knots in the clothing of a woman in childbirth. And the expression ‘tying the knot’ derives from the ancient Romans, when the groom would untie the knots of his bride’s girdle before consummating the marriage. In which case, it should be ‘untying the knot.’

In the ancient past, beaded jewelry was used to denote wealth and social status - only the highest class of society was allowed to wear them. Thankfully, this is not so today and beaded jewelry can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Making beaded jewelry is an activity that requires no special training and technical skills. Creativity, fun and dedication are the only prerequisites in making these highly fashionable items.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

I hear the same question time and time again. “They both look the same, so what’s the difference?” Its true, white gold and platinum jewellery do look the same yet white gold is much cheaper than platinum. But before you rush to choose white gold, know the facts:

“I thought gold was yellow?” It is. The gold that is used to make jewellery is almost always not 100% pure. You may have heard the term “carat” to describe the purity of gold. This measure is a scale out of 24 where 24 carat is pure gold. 9 carat gold is thus 37.5% pure gold and 18 carat gold is 75% pure gold. The rest of the metal is actually a mixture of alloys. Gold is very soft and the alloys mixed with it helps make the metal harder. With white gold, white alloys are used to mix with the pure gold, and the result is a pale yellow metal. This pale yellow metal is then coated with Rhodium which is a very hard, expensive and white metal. The result is a bright white metal - white gold.

Platinum, on the other hand, is a metal that is naturally white. Platinum is rarer than gold, heavier, much harder and used in a purer form (usually 95%). Platinum is therefore much more expensive than gold.

The advantages of white gold over platinum when used in jewellery is that it is much more affordable. However, you may need to re-coat the item in Rhodium once or twice a year as wear and tear rubs away the coating and the pale, dull yellow gold becomes visible.

Platinum jewellery is initially more expensive, but it can be argued is more cost effective in the long run as when it scratches or becomes worn, it does not need to be re-coated.

Therefore, my metal of choice for jewellery is platinum. It does not only feel more substantial (as is heavier than gold), it is rarer and also more practical. Besides, when you buy an expensive piece of diamond jewellery, you want to know that you have bought the best!

Gary Ingram runs The Diamond Store.co.uk which is full of information and advice on buying and choosing Diamond Jewellery

To the un-trained eye, much of the handmade jewelry available for sale on the internet, in boutiques and at craft fairs may look to be essentially the same. However, this is not the case. Jewelry designers have a myriad of choices when creating their pieces. It is important to be aware of the different materials that may be used and how they compare; both in quality and in price.

Metals

The most common metals found in handmade jewelry are some form of silver or gold. Most jewelry buyers, however, are unaware of the differences between materials that bear similar names.

Fine Silver

Fine silver is the purest form of silver that is commonly used in jewelry. It is 99% pure silver. As well as being more costly, fine silver is softer than sterling, and will not tarnish.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is the most common form of silver used in handmade jewelry in the United States. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver, the rest is a combination of other metals including nickel and copper. This makes sterling more affordable, but it also makes the jewelry more likely to tarnish.

Silver Plate

Silver plate is a very, very thin layer of silver over a base metal, commonly brass. Over time, the silver plating will wear off and reveal the duller metal below.

Karat Gold

This is what most people think of as gold. The higher the karat number, the purer and more valuable the gold. Common variations are 10, 14, 18, 22 and 24 karat gold. As the karat number increases, so does the bright yellow color of the gold and the softness. Gold is also available in white and rose colors.

Vermeil

This material is actually gold-plated sterling silver. Many people prefer vermeil because it is a more affordable option than pure gold, but is still entirely made of precious metal. Most vermeil is plated with high-karat gold, and has a bright yellow color.

Gold Filled

Gold filled beads, wire and chain are made by applying a coating of gold to a base metal core. It is also called rolled gold. Unlike plating, this layer is quite thick and is very unlikely to rub off in the life of the jewelry. It is an affordable and durable alternative to karat gold. Most gold filled components are made with 14 karat gold.

Gold Plate

Like silver plate, gold plate is made by covering a base metal with a very thin layer of real gold. The layer of gold is likely to rub of, generally within several years of purchase, depending on how often the piece is worn, and what it is subjected to. While plating offers a very affordable option for trendy jewelry, it is not a good choice for jewelry that is intended to be worn often, or to become a family heirloom.

Gemstones

There are many varieties of natural, synthetic, and enhanced gemstones available to jewelry designers today. Although most people have no idea about the vast range of possibilities there are when buying gemstones, it is very important to be aware of the differences when buying handcrafted jewelry.

Dyeing Gemstones

Dyeing gemstones is not necessarily a bad thing. It can bring life to otherwise dull materials. Be aware that jewelry made with dyed stones may bleed color if it gets wet. This may be avoided if the designer rinses the beads before using them in finished pieces.

Many quartzes, including garnet, amethyst and rose quartz are commonly dyed to enhance their natural color. Howlite and malaysian jade (not really jade) are also often dyed in very bright hues of purples, pinks and blues.

Chalcedony is another stone that is often dyed into brighter shades. It is important to be aware that some dyed chalcedony will fade over time. To avoid fading, do not store your chalcedony jewelry in direct sunlight.

Freshwater pearls are commonly dyed as well, but do not seem to have a problem with fading or bleeding their color.

Enhancing Gemstones

Enhancing gemstones is the process of treating them either with chemicals, heat or pressure to increase their value or durability. Smoky quartz is commonly enhanced to improve its color. Turquoise is often stabilized, or impregnated with a resin substance to make it harder and less absorbent of water and oils which may damage it.

Synthetic Gemstones

This is where it’s most important to know exactly what you’re buying. Many natural gemstones have very convincing synthetic counterparts. Some common ones are turquoise, jade, coral, and many types of quartz.

The synthetic quartzes, actually made of glass, are now found in a rainbow of colors and a wide variety of names. When these synthetic quartzes were first introduced to the United States by overseas manufacturers, they fooled some very experienced bead retailers and jewelry designers. Common varieties of synthetic quartz are tanzanite quartz, amethyst quartz, lilac quartz, and “fruity” quartzes. These include strawberry, cherry, blueberry and pineapple.

Synthetic gemstone beads can be gorgeous and affordable additions to a designer’s palette. Some very lovely variations include opalite and goldstone.

Putting it all Together

It is always a good idea to ask the designer direct questions about the materials used in his or her designs if you are at all concerned about authenticity or quality. Most designers will greatly appreciate your interest and happily answer your questions.

All of the choices can be overwhelming, but this shouldn’t deter you from buying handcrafted jewelry. A design created by an artist is unique and special. Armed with your new knowledge, you’ll be able to find the perfect piece of jewelry that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Georgia Hadley is a jewelry designer, writer, and small business owner who lives in rural Vermont. In addition to her own business, Adorneya Jewelry (http://www.adorneya.com), she is also a founding editor of Craft Revolution (http://www.craftrevolution.com), a website dedicated to promoting mainstream awareness of independent designers and their products as desirable alternatives to big-box stores.

You met your wife in college, a busy time of studying, socializing and waking up to the reality of paying for the things your parents once paid for. On the dating end, you wanted to finalize your commitment to your future wife with a marriage proposal. The only problem is, you didn’t have much financial funds then to pay for an engagement ring.

So, you and your new fiancée settled on the idea that you would purchase a simple ring, nothing too fancy, or debt threatening, with the intent to buy her a better ring when you were financially able.

Ten years and a few kids later, you have finally reached that point. Upon your milestone anniversary, you have decided on a fitting gift that will fulfill your 10-year old promise. This year you will finally give her an anniversary ring.

But this is not just any ordinary ring. With an anniversary ring, you are complimenting the existing wedding band that your wife has worn for many years. It symbolizes commitment to your spouse, a partnership that has endured many trials, and a promising future of many years to come. Those aspects in marriage will make this anniversary ring a symbolic reflection of your unyielding commitment to each other. Accommodated with the new anniversary band, your wedding ring will now radiate with that extra sparkle.

What type of ring?

A typical “wedding ring” is that of an engagement ring, joined with a wedding band to complete the “wedding ring” set. Some women prefer that an engagement ring would settle in as the “wedding ring,” upon a bride’s wedding day. This could be as a result of simplicity’s sake for appearance or just to reduce costs. Other women like to keep with the tradition and be presented with an additional wedding band to accommodate her engagement ring on her wedding day.

With an anniversary ring, you can accommodate both situations. Should a wife have an engagement ring only as her wedding ring, you can finally give her that anniversary ring to join her wedding ring. If she already has both bands, then she could wear her anniversary ring on another hand. As the famous saying goes, “the more the merrier.”

Prices in anniversary rings vary between the low hundreds to the thousands, depending on design and the style. Hopefully you can give your spouse whatever they desire! Most importantly, the price of an anniversary should be insignificant. It is the thought and consideration of this milestone gift that will make it most special of all.

What better way to celebrate your anniversary than with an anniversary ring!

Visit Harris Michael Jewelry’s for a collection of rings.