BECCAG Blog » Jewelry

Sterling Silver

admin — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:30:26 +0000

The splendor of silver has captivated the human mind since ages. No one even knows when and how the metal was discovered and came into use. Historical accounts from almost all countries of the have references to the use of silver. The tradition of the “silver anniversary “is traced to Germany where it was customary to present a silver wreath to a woman after 25 years of marriage. Throughout the ages this mystical white metal has been used to mark historical milestones, celebrations, achievements and special occasions. A silver spoon has symbolized great fortune and privilege since the 17th century. The tradition of the “silver anniversary” dates back to Germany where it was customary to present a silver wreath to a woman after 25 years of marriage.

By definition, Silver is an element that occurs naturally in the earth and is generally considered too soft in its pure form for practical use in jewelry, giftware or flatware. An alloy such as copper is usually added to make silver workable for jewelry. Silver in pure form also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable and workable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which is 92.5 percent (925 parts) pure silver and 7.5 percent (75 parts) alloy metal.

Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent non-silver portion of sterling, years of experiences of silversmiths tell us that copper is the best choice. It helps in improving the metal’s hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color. The small amount of copper added to sterling does not affect the value of the metal. The price of the silver item is actually affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design.

Nowadays, sterling silver is a favorite choice in mediums among the most creative and innovative designers. Due to its affordability and malleability - it can be shaped into almost any form imaginable. Sterling is the primary material used for silver jewelry, giftware, hollowware and flatware. A gift of silver is a touching and lasting expression of affection, friendship, celebration, congratulation or thanks. It is a very special way of saying that you care. Throughout history silver has been referred to as the Queen of Metals and has been widely used for jewelry. Sterling silver is always an appropriate gift to commemorate an important event in a woman’s life and to tell her that she means the world to you. Sterling gifts might also include artful objects for the home, those related to a hobby or career, or simple fun indulgences. Such novelty items as a make-up brush, silver bracelet or purse mirror make a great gift for any woman. Other ideas include an engraved heart-shaped pillbox to tuck into a purse or dangle from a silver chain, or a sterling egg timer for the chef who marvels in a well accessorized kitchen.

Source : http://www.jewelry-thailand.com/

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History Of Pearls !

admin — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:04:20 +0000

In the beginning pearl hunting was the only means known for harvesting pearls. A little before the start of the 20th century divers manually pulled oysters from ocean floors and river bottoms and checked each one of them individually for pearls. However, not all natural oysters produce pearls. In fact, in a haul of three tonnes, only three or four oysters will produce perfect pearls.

Eventually the process of culturing pearls was discovered. Nowadays, almost all pearls used for jewelry are cultured by planting a core or nucleus into pearl oysters. Normally it takes three years after the planting for the pearls to be ready for harvesting but it may take up to six years also before the pearls are produced and ready. This mariculture process was first developed by Kokichi Mikimoto in Japan, who was granted a patent for the process in 1896. The nucleus is usually a polished bead made from mussel shell. This along with a small scrap of mantle tissue from another oyster to serve as an irritant, it is surgically implanted inside the oyster. Oysters which survive the subsequent surgery to remove the finished pearl are often implanted with a new, larger nucleus as part of the same procedure and then returned to the water for another three years of growth.

Originally the cultured pearls in Japan known as Akoya pearls were produced by a species of small oysters no bigger than 6 to 7 cm in size. Later Japanese pearls larger than 10 mm in diameter were produced which were extremely rare and highly prized. In the past couple of decades, cultured pearls have been produced with larger oysters in the south Pacific and Indian Ocean. One of the largest pearl-bearing oysters is the Pinctada maxima, which is roughly the size of a dinner plate. The characteristic property of the South Sea pearls is their large size and silvery color. Sizes up to 14 mm in diameter are not uncommon. Australia is one of the major producers of South Sea pearls. Another type of South Sea pearl is the Tahitian pearls also called as Titian pearls.

In 1914 pearl farmers of Japan began culturing freshwater pearls using the pearl mussels native to Lake Biwa. This lake, the largest and most ancient in Japan, lies near the city of Kyoto. This process gained tremendous popularity so much so that the name “Biwa Pearls” became synonymous with freshwater pearls in general. Production thus increased rapidly reaching the time of peak in 1971, when Biwa pearl farmers produced six tons of cultured pearls. At this time pollution and excessive harvesting caused the virtual extinction of this animal. Japanese pearl farmers now culture a hybrid pearl mussel—a cross between the last remaining Biwa Pearl Mussels and a closely related species from other Chinese or Japanese lakes.

In the 1990s, Japanese pearl producers also invested in producing cultured pearls with freshwater mussels in the region of Shanghai, China, and in Fiji. Freshwater pearls are characterized by the reflection of rainbow colors in the luster. Cultured pearls are also produced using abalone.

Source : http://www.jewelry-thailand.com/

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Beaded Jewelry

admin — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:49:46 +0000

A bead is a small, decorative object that is pierced for threading or stringing. Alternatively plastic beads may be molded onto a Thread during manufacturing. Beads range in size from under a millimeter to over a centimeter in diameter. Glass, plastic, and stone are probably the most common materials, but beads are also made from bone, horn, ivory, metal, shell, pearl, coral, gemstones, polymer clay, metal clay, resin, synthetic minerals, wood, ceramic, fiber, paper, and the seeds of the Bead tree. A pair of beads made from Nassarius shells that are approximately 100,000 years old are thought to be the first known examples of jewellery.
Beaded jewelry refers to the jewelry made by using one or more of the different types of beads. They may woven together by a string or adhered to surfaces depending on the designed that one wishes to create. Exquisite beaded jewelry is to be found on the market.
Treasures of handmade Beaded Jewelry culled from different corners of the world abound. We find different regions; cultures and ages have had their own distinctive style of making beaded jewelry. From simple grace to ornate brilliance – the diversity of beaded jewelry is endless. An array of elegant beaded jewelry, handcrafted from glass, shells, plastic, metal, in fascinating colors, are available allover the world.
Beads can be strung together in any number of combinations to create different objects. Most of the times we create ornamental items like bracelets, earrings, and so on. Accomplished beaders are known to create highly complex bead items like multi-strand necklaces and complete ornament sets.
Beads come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and styles. Some well known types include: Delica beads (cylindrical and very symmetric), opaque beads (non-transparent, single color), donut beads (donut-shaped beads in various colors), Aurora Borealis beads (multicolored, also clear or opaque), galvanized beads (with a metal coating), seed beads (small beads that make the body of the ornament or that fill the spaces between the bigger beads), transparent beads, silver lined or gold lined beads, matte finish (dull coating) beads and more.
Beads are made from almost any possible material including stone, glass, metal, wood, semi-precious and precious stones. Select the materials based upon the design and the item that you are planning to make. When selecting beads, look for uniformity in the finishing and the ease of stringing them together as the main factors in your purchase.

Source : http://www.jewelry-thailand.com/

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