Thursday, March 19, 2009
OK ... On a roll here ... Another Article!
Why Charm Bracelets are Much More than Ordinary Jewelry
By: Robert Edwards
To many people jewelry is part of their wardrobe. Everyone has their favorite pieces. Sometimes a ring or necklace can have a special, personal meaning because it was a gift.
These items are usually designed to be worn as-is. Charm bracelets are very different.
Over time, charm bracelets grow. They can become collections unto themselves. And they take on the personal nature of the owner. Many have charms depicting an endless variety of themes. People build sea themed bracelets with shells, sailboats and anchors. Or animal jewelry, with tiny giraffes, lions and bears connected to the chain links. We've seen career theme bracelets, and even one with a heart collection.
Charms are available in many types. One of the more popular categories is sports including golf, tennis, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, hockey, equestrian and more. Music is another, with musical instruments, notes and clefs. The holiday theme is popular with different bracelets for Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and Christmas. Even food is represented, with pizza, candy bars, hamburgers and veggies. The variety is simply amazing!
Collections can grow over many years. It is a long standing tradition in many families to add a charm to a bracelet over time as a holiday or birthday gift. This is almost like attaching memories that celebrate each birthday, holiday or special occasion. The personal connection can be very strong.
Although almost any chain with large open style links can be used as a charm bracelet, the traditional, classic charm bracelet is made with a double curb link chain. These links are made so they nestle into each other, giving the chain a wide appearance while using fairly narrow gauge wire to form the links. The double link adds strength and style.
A charm is connected to the link with a jump ring. Many people leave the rings open; but a valuable charm can be lost this way. A good jeweler will solder the jump ring closed when a charm is added to a link for a customer.
Gold is expensive, and so sterling silver has become the traditional metal of choice for this type of jewelry. Of course price is the primary reason why silver is more popular, but there are other reasons to consider. There are many more available in sterling silver. Gold charms are made in popular styles, but unusual designs are very difficult if not impossible to find. And of course people do mix silver and gold, which can result in a very attractive, unusual and valuable piece of jewelry.
An alternative is to buy a ready made charm bracelet. The average bracelet comes with five to seven charms attached to it. As described above, they usually follow a theme or central idea. By starting with a small collection of five or so, it looks very attractive while providing room for more to be added as they are acquired.
The ultimate collector heads to auction sites, garage sales and flea markets to hunt for vintage and antique pieces. A small silver heart from the 1920's can cost $50.00 - or even more, depending on rarity. Once in a while an entire vintage bracelet will appear in an Ebay estate auction and cause an online frenzy. Vintage examples have gone for many hundreds of dollars to avid collectors.
Sterling silver jewelry doesn't just look great - it has value and can also have personal meaning. Find out why charm bracelets are an obsession for many collectors. Start building your charm bracelet today ... it's fun!
©Robert Edwards. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use this article as content on websites and blogs provided all links and this author's statement remain intact. Robert Edwards is a jewelry designer and metalsmith in New York City with more than 30 years of experience in the jewelry trade. He is the webmaster of a very popular silver jewelry site that features many unique and handcrafted designs. Visit the Silver Charm Bracelet Gallery today!
Monday, March 9, 2009
My latest article ...
I decided to write some more articles. The last one was posted about a week ago; I am going to try for one a week until I have nothing left to say ... LOL! So here it is:
Why Sterling Silver Rope Chain is a Must Have Style
By: Robert Edwards
Jewelry fashions change often. Trendy styles come and go, as with any other fashion accessory. Some designs lend themselves to a certain style dress or can be seasonal. Obviously toe rings and belly rings are mostly seen during the summer months.
Then there are the classic styles every jewelry owner should have. This is the kind of jewelry that can be worn with just about any style clothing, all year round.
One of the most popular and versatile jewelry items is the rope chain. A long necklace is ideal for most lockets; a shorter length can be very attractive with a gemstone or birthstone pendant. Wide sizes make nice bracelets. Many jewelers use it as a component in other pieces. For example, this design is also fabulous used in a nameplate or anklet.
This jewelry can be made with any metal, but a sterling silver rope chain is a popular choice for a variety of reasons. An attractive, fabulous fashion accent that can be worn over a lifetime, they give high value for a very low cost.
This type of jewelry is made with round, ring shaped links. There are different styles; the design varies depending on the way it is made. Traditional double rope necklaces and bracelets are made by passing each link through the two previous links. Adding links in this manner allows the maker to produce jewelry that shows the spiral structure of this pattern. Standard sizes are made on machines that automate the process, but larger sizes are still made by hand, making and adding one link at a time.
Most commercially made pieces have soldered links. Larger commercially made necklaces and bracelets may be made with thick wire links that are not soldered.
Chainmaille artisans usually handcraft jewelry without soldering the links. These pieces are made in a way that does not require the links to be permanently closed; they will not come apart. Leaving the links unsoldered makes it easier to add onto or shorten bracelets, anklets or other items when making custom length jewelry.
A less expensive look-alike style is actually hollow. This design is made with fine metal tube shaped links. The result is a very light piece that looks similar; but isn't the same as solid jewelry made with wire links. The hollow links cannot be soldered closed; they break easily and often as a result. Many 14k gold bracelets and necklaces are made this way to limit their weight and keep the cost low.
Sterling silver rope chain is available in many size widths, from very fine to designs thicker than a man's thumb. This style is very strong; even fairly thin pieces are very tough because of the way this design is made. This means it is a great choice for holding your favorite pendant; but they also look great worn alone.
Sterling jewelry can be made with smooth or twisted wire links. Different textured links can be arranged to form patterns in the jewelry, like stripes. Other metals can be mixed in to create striking effects; jewelry made with copper and silver links is very attractive.
A silver rope chain is a great fashion choice -- for any occasion!
©Robert Edwards. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use this article as content on websites and blogs provided all links and this author's statement remain intact. Robert Edwards is a jewelry designer and metalsmith in New York City with more than 30 years of experience in the jewelry trade. He is the webmaster of a very popular silver jewelry site that features many unique and handcrafted designs. Visit the silver rope chain gallery for custom length jewelry!
Why Sterling Silver Rope Chain is a Must Have Style
By: Robert Edwards
Jewelry fashions change often. Trendy styles come and go, as with any other fashion accessory. Some designs lend themselves to a certain style dress or can be seasonal. Obviously toe rings and belly rings are mostly seen during the summer months.
Then there are the classic styles every jewelry owner should have. This is the kind of jewelry that can be worn with just about any style clothing, all year round.
One of the most popular and versatile jewelry items is the rope chain. A long necklace is ideal for most lockets; a shorter length can be very attractive with a gemstone or birthstone pendant. Wide sizes make nice bracelets. Many jewelers use it as a component in other pieces. For example, this design is also fabulous used in a nameplate or anklet.
This jewelry can be made with any metal, but a sterling silver rope chain is a popular choice for a variety of reasons. An attractive, fabulous fashion accent that can be worn over a lifetime, they give high value for a very low cost.
This type of jewelry is made with round, ring shaped links. There are different styles; the design varies depending on the way it is made. Traditional double rope necklaces and bracelets are made by passing each link through the two previous links. Adding links in this manner allows the maker to produce jewelry that shows the spiral structure of this pattern. Standard sizes are made on machines that automate the process, but larger sizes are still made by hand, making and adding one link at a time.
Most commercially made pieces have soldered links. Larger commercially made necklaces and bracelets may be made with thick wire links that are not soldered.
Chainmaille artisans usually handcraft jewelry without soldering the links. These pieces are made in a way that does not require the links to be permanently closed; they will not come apart. Leaving the links unsoldered makes it easier to add onto or shorten bracelets, anklets or other items when making custom length jewelry.
A less expensive look-alike style is actually hollow. This design is made with fine metal tube shaped links. The result is a very light piece that looks similar; but isn't the same as solid jewelry made with wire links. The hollow links cannot be soldered closed; they break easily and often as a result. Many 14k gold bracelets and necklaces are made this way to limit their weight and keep the cost low.
Sterling silver rope chain is available in many size widths, from very fine to designs thicker than a man's thumb. This style is very strong; even fairly thin pieces are very tough because of the way this design is made. This means it is a great choice for holding your favorite pendant; but they also look great worn alone.
Sterling jewelry can be made with smooth or twisted wire links. Different textured links can be arranged to form patterns in the jewelry, like stripes. Other metals can be mixed in to create striking effects; jewelry made with copper and silver links is very attractive.
A silver rope chain is a great fashion choice -- for any occasion!
©Robert Edwards. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use this article as content on websites and blogs provided all links and this author's statement remain intact. Robert Edwards is a jewelry designer and metalsmith in New York City with more than 30 years of experience in the jewelry trade. He is the webmaster of a very popular silver jewelry site that features many unique and handcrafted designs. Visit the silver rope chain gallery for custom length jewelry!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Artisan Jewelry – Fabulous and Unique
Jewelry artisans offer truly unique one of a kind handcrafted fashion accessories and gifts. Artisan jewelers do much more than set stones and string beads - each piece is truly a miniature work of art.
Sterling silver is a popular metal choice because it is affordable, but you'll also find fine silver and 14K gold artisan jewelry. Many unique jewellery designs incorporate dichroic glass, gemstones, pearls and mixed metals.
Custom handmade jewelry can include bracelets, rings, pendants, earrings and necklaces. It doesn't end there - popular items also include barrettes, belt buckles, pins, cufflinks and more. Shopping for your own special handmade accessories is easier than ever now. An online search for handmade jewellery and custom made jewelry is easy with search engines like Google and sites like Etsy.
Artisans make their handmade items in a different way from today's modern manufacturer. Each handcrafted silver ring or gold pendant is created one at a time in the artist's studio. Handcrafted artisan pieces made from silver and gold are most common but if you browse the web, you'll see that many artisans are experimenting with new design ideas and materials from paper to plastic resin. New ideas that become fabulous designs are added to online galleries every day, and designers continue to push the limits to new horizons.
Jewelry artisans are usually very knowledgeable and passionate when it comes to their work and will happily answer questions about metals, gemstones, techniques and processes for making jewellery. Colorful handmade designs are created with gorgeous natural and synthetic gemstones fashioned into beads, cabochons and faceted gems. Many artists express themselves in beaded creations including necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Wearing one of a kind handmade jewels gives the wearer a personal sense of style that is truly their own.
Custom made, one of a kind, and limited edition fashion accessories are even more appealing in today's economy. Less is more these days, and jewellery made for the person wearing it is a great way to accent any style from casual to business wear. Artists are specialists - some work with beads, some with wire, and others with enamel. Some make just earrings, and others like to make necklaces. One of the more popular categories is chainmaille. Chainmaille is made with a variety of metals including sterling silver, brass, gold filled and copper. Many styles are available, from the traditional flat chain mail to fancy weaves like byzantine and rope chains.
Custom designs are a way to give every person a unique look. Many artisan jewelers will work with you to create fabulous one of a kind handcrafted earrings, pendants and more that are truly made just for you. Custom handcrafted jewelry has a distinct, original look and feel; most pieces are not easily copied because they contain unique gemstones or are personalized. Instead of mass produced cast settings, individually made bezels hold freeform cut gemstones. Hand stamped accessories have made personalized items like message pendants more popular than ever. Artists are using glass to make beautiful beads that mimic miniature oceans with fish and gardens with fabulous tiny flowers. There is no limit to artisan jewellery design, because there is no limit to the imagination.
Robert Edwards is a jewelry designer and metalsmith in New York City with over 30 years experience in the jewelry trade. This article may be reproduced as long as it contains this author's statement and all links remain intact. ©2009 Robert Edwards
Sterling silver is a popular metal choice because it is affordable, but you'll also find fine silver and 14K gold artisan jewelry. Many unique jewellery designs incorporate dichroic glass, gemstones, pearls and mixed metals.
Custom handmade jewelry can include bracelets, rings, pendants, earrings and necklaces. It doesn't end there - popular items also include barrettes, belt buckles, pins, cufflinks and more. Shopping for your own special handmade accessories is easier than ever now. An online search for handmade jewellery and custom made jewelry is easy with search engines like Google and sites like Etsy.
Artisans make their handmade items in a different way from today's modern manufacturer. Each handcrafted silver ring or gold pendant is created one at a time in the artist's studio. Handcrafted artisan pieces made from silver and gold are most common but if you browse the web, you'll see that many artisans are experimenting with new design ideas and materials from paper to plastic resin. New ideas that become fabulous designs are added to online galleries every day, and designers continue to push the limits to new horizons.
Jewelry artisans are usually very knowledgeable and passionate when it comes to their work and will happily answer questions about metals, gemstones, techniques and processes for making jewellery. Colorful handmade designs are created with gorgeous natural and synthetic gemstones fashioned into beads, cabochons and faceted gems. Many artists express themselves in beaded creations including necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Wearing one of a kind handmade jewels gives the wearer a personal sense of style that is truly their own.
Custom made, one of a kind, and limited edition fashion accessories are even more appealing in today's economy. Less is more these days, and jewellery made for the person wearing it is a great way to accent any style from casual to business wear. Artists are specialists - some work with beads, some with wire, and others with enamel. Some make just earrings, and others like to make necklaces. One of the more popular categories is chainmaille. Chainmaille is made with a variety of metals including sterling silver, brass, gold filled and copper. Many styles are available, from the traditional flat chain mail to fancy weaves like byzantine and rope chains.
Custom designs are a way to give every person a unique look. Many artisan jewelers will work with you to create fabulous one of a kind handcrafted earrings, pendants and more that are truly made just for you. Custom handcrafted jewelry has a distinct, original look and feel; most pieces are not easily copied because they contain unique gemstones or are personalized. Instead of mass produced cast settings, individually made bezels hold freeform cut gemstones. Hand stamped accessories have made personalized items like message pendants more popular than ever. Artists are using glass to make beautiful beads that mimic miniature oceans with fish and gardens with fabulous tiny flowers. There is no limit to artisan jewellery design, because there is no limit to the imagination.
Robert Edwards is a jewelry designer and metalsmith in New York City with over 30 years experience in the jewelry trade. This article may be reproduced as long as it contains this author's statement and all links remain intact. ©2009 Robert Edwards
Monday, November 10, 2008
So I can't believe that
we're into the second week of November already. New York is getting cold, and I wish it was June. I am not a cold weather person. But it is what it is and I'll have to deal with it.
OK, I'm not a music critic, but I am a fan ... 4:13 Dream by The Cure is AWESOME. I cannot recommend it more highly. This is a really good new album. Buy it. You'll be happy you did.
So ... the site is doing well. I just set up a new shopping cart. This one is more secure and has more features, and it was very confusing for me to set up - good thing I have some experience with this stuff, so it only took a few days to get everything working properly. The cart is actually easier to use, and allows me to offer more options, so ... I added Google Checkout as a payment option. It must be more popular than I thought, because I've had a few shoppers use it already.
I sold a 20 inch long 9.1mm cable chain this weekend; been a while since someone ordered one of those. That is a big and heavy cable. I have a lot of new jewelry to take pictures of and put up ...
OK, I'm not a music critic, but I am a fan ... 4:13 Dream by The Cure is AWESOME. I cannot recommend it more highly. This is a really good new album. Buy it. You'll be happy you did.
So ... the site is doing well. I just set up a new shopping cart. This one is more secure and has more features, and it was very confusing for me to set up - good thing I have some experience with this stuff, so it only took a few days to get everything working properly. The cart is actually easier to use, and allows me to offer more options, so ... I added Google Checkout as a payment option. It must be more popular than I thought, because I've had a few shoppers use it already.
I sold a 20 inch long 9.1mm cable chain this weekend; been a while since someone ordered one of those. That is a big and heavy cable. I have a lot of new jewelry to take pictures of and put up ...
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Saturday morning ...
Still very quiet ... but plenty going on here. Just made a bracelet! Checked my site optimization and I'm very happy with the results. This week was another link building week ... just makes the site stronger. Got into the Best of the Web Directory, and also about six smaller ones ... My creative urges are strong lately and I'm thinking about NEW designs ... I'll get 'em up here when I make them ... soon!
Friday, August 15, 2008
A good week ...
This week I made ten rings, and actually put most of them into the Etsy store. Seems like things are getting a bit better ... shipped packages every day this week. And this week the site is in the top ten for "handmade silver jewelry" - so now it ranks well for both the handcrafted and handmade keyword search terms. It's nice to reach a tough goal ...
So today I have a chain to ship ... and then I'm gonna see if I can get creative again! I have so much stuff to work with ... I buy all these parts and materials and then don't have time to put stuff together. Just have to make time, that's all ...
Spent a few hours yesterday submitting the site to directories. I have people pestering me to do link exchanges - especially now with the site at the top. I do WANT to exchange links but it has to be the right way, and they all want to do a triangular or 3 way link ... cause it fools the search engines into thinking you've got one way incoming links. But sooner or later the bots figure it out when they start going in a loop ... and the SE devalues the site as a result. So even though they charge a fee to "evaluate" your site directory links are the best kind ...
I am going to do my best to keep the site where it is. Not gonna be easy ...
So today I have a chain to ship ... and then I'm gonna see if I can get creative again! I have so much stuff to work with ... I buy all these parts and materials and then don't have time to put stuff together. Just have to make time, that's all ...
Spent a few hours yesterday submitting the site to directories. I have people pestering me to do link exchanges - especially now with the site at the top. I do WANT to exchange links but it has to be the right way, and they all want to do a triangular or 3 way link ... cause it fools the search engines into thinking you've got one way incoming links. But sooner or later the bots figure it out when they start going in a loop ... and the SE devalues the site as a result. So even though they charge a fee to "evaluate" your site directory links are the best kind ...
I am going to do my best to keep the site where it is. Not gonna be easy ...
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
OK, so I'm a bad blogger!
Yeah, I know. I've been neglecting the ole blog. Sure, I AM busy, but I could write about it ...
So we're not doing street fairs this year. Learned THAT lesson. Kinda stinks being inside working on the PC all day. Every day. Lately, even on weekends ... but we're getting stuff done.
Learned some lessons the hard way. The blog advertising I was paying for was actually costing us more than money. I saw a couple of webmaster blogs that mentioned the name of the ad service I was using in a very bad way ... apparently Google was punishing sites that sold - and bought - ads through them. My site was perfect, but I couldn't get to the top of the Google search results. So I thought "maybe this is why" ... and ended the advertising after almost two years. And ... two months later ...
The site is now in the top ten results for the search term "handcrafted silver jewelry" on Google. Not only is this saving us $220.00 a month in advertising fees ... but we're getting more sales!
Today I did a Google Base feed for my chains. Next I'm gonna do the jewelry in our Etsy store ...
I really should have blogged about the two times we went to see the Cure in NYC ... WOW!
Started a NEW Etsy shop. Not much in it, yet ... but there will be:
http://eclecticCrafts.etsy.com
I'll do my best to visit again soon ... Bob
So we're not doing street fairs this year. Learned THAT lesson. Kinda stinks being inside working on the PC all day. Every day. Lately, even on weekends ... but we're getting stuff done.
Learned some lessons the hard way. The blog advertising I was paying for was actually costing us more than money. I saw a couple of webmaster blogs that mentioned the name of the ad service I was using in a very bad way ... apparently Google was punishing sites that sold - and bought - ads through them. My site was perfect, but I couldn't get to the top of the Google search results. So I thought "maybe this is why" ... and ended the advertising after almost two years. And ... two months later ...
The site is now in the top ten results for the search term "handcrafted silver jewelry" on Google. Not only is this saving us $220.00 a month in advertising fees ... but we're getting more sales!
Today I did a Google Base feed for my chains. Next I'm gonna do the jewelry in our Etsy store ...
I really should have blogged about the two times we went to see the Cure in NYC ... WOW!
Started a NEW Etsy shop. Not much in it, yet ... but there will be:
http://eclecticCrafts.etsy.com
I'll do my best to visit again soon ... Bob
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
