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About Your Jewelry What is my jewelry made of? Ok - first let me apologize for ending a sentence with a preposition....but "Of what is my jewelry made?" sounded too "posh"! Unless otherwise noted, all clasps, metal beads and earwires are .925 Sterling Silver. As for the rest of it? It is made from Swarovski crystals, Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Freshwater Pearls, genuine gemstones, Bali Beads and lampworked beads. You won't find any plastic beads on this site! How do I know what size Bracelet to order? To determine your wrist size measure your wrist with a flexible tape measure just above the wrist bone . For a "bracelet fit" add 1 - 1.25 inches to your measurement or if you have a watch or a bracelet that fits you perfectly measure it from end to end including the clasp.. An average women is between 7.25-7.5 inches.
Swarovski Crystals? Swarovski Pearls? What are they and why should I care? First - once you see a Swarovski product "in person", nothing else can compare! Swarovski Crystals are often referred to as Austrian Crystals. Swarovski Crystal is made using basic formula perfected by Daniel Swarovski and his three sons in the early 1900s. Each crystal is fired using a combination of natural minerals and quartz sand, then cooled slowly to avoid stress and inclusions. There is no comparison to the brilliance of Swarovski Crystals. Swarovski pearls are formed with iridescent, mother of pearl-like layers applied to a Swarovski crystal core. They are resistant to wear, ultraviolet radiation, perspiration, perfume and scratches. The pearls are perfectly round with a uniform hole size and weighted to feel the same as real pearls. They are considered the closest imitation to a real pearl. I see you keep mentioning "Bali Beads"....what are those?
Bali style beads use designs that are not actually exclusive to Bali. These designs are hundreds of years old and have appeared throughout the middle east and Asia. The word Bali started being used to describe the style because tourists commonly bought silver jewelry items while vacationing on Bali beaches.
Ok - then what are Hill Tribe Silver Beads? Hill Tribe Silver is made by the Karen Hill Tribe in northern Thailand using traditional tribal methods passed down from generation to generation. Purchasing creations made with these Thai beads helps sustain a traditional craft and provides the Karen people with a reliable source of income. The silver content in Hill Tribes silver beads and pendants is typically 95-99%, even higher than sterling (92.5%). This higher silver content is softer and therefore easier to shape into all the unique and wonderful styles. It's kind of like the "fair trade coffee" at Starbucks! It helps ensure that you receive a quality product while the bead artisan still receives a fair wage! How do I care for my jewelry?
The #1 reason that Sterling will tarnish is exposure to air. For this reason, it is recommended that you store your jewelry in a plastic bag when not being worn. Each one of my pieces will be delivered in a bag with a special anti-tarnish strip that will further help the piece resist tarnishing. A simple polishing cloth can be used to restore the shine to your jewelry, however traditional jewelry cleaners will remove the dark finish from Bali Beads and letter beads. What about those details that I won't notice? With VERY few exceptions, I string everything on 49 micro spun, marine quality, stainless steel wires woven together and then nylon coated. It is hypoallergenic and can be worn in and out of salt or fresh water (although this practice should be minimized in order to protect the beads and crystals). It has been designed to withstand the abrasion of glass, mineral or metal beads. I choose to use the strongest diameter of wire. This ensures the maximum strength of all necklaces and bracelets made. Stretch rings and stretch bracelet are strung on Elonga cord, which is made up of several individual stretchy strands bonded together. Beside being more durable, the multiple-strand construction of Elonga has an inherent safety feature; once the Elonga material starts to be cut or worn down by bead abrasion, the wearer will notice some fraying. This gives notice that restringing is necessary, unlike monofilament stretch material that just breaks and lets the beads go flying!
If you have any questions about how to care for or store your jewelry, please ask! |
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