If you’ve invested your hard-earned money in a piece of jewelry, here are some tips on how to clean jewelry at home–courtesy of MyJewelryBox.com!
When it comes to cleaning your jewels it’s not about the professional store-bought cleanser. Celebrity Jeweler and CEO of MyJewelryBox.com David Mamane, shares his favorite easy-to-use at-home solutions that will add luminosity to your jewelry box in minutes.
Toothpaste – Toothpaste is non-toxic and should be used exclusively for silver jewelry. Put a dime sized amount on your finger and apply in a circular motion on the object of your affection. After a minute, clean off toothpaste with warm water and wipe dry with a dry cloth.
Baking soda – Cleaning with baking soda should be used exclusively for sterling silver jewelry. Line a glass or plastic dish with a slightly crumpled piece of aluminum foil. Lay your jewelry on top of the foil and sprinkle baking soda over each piece. Pour enough boiling water to immerse the jewelry. Bubbling should occur, giving off a rotten-egg odor. With a wood or plastic utensil, gently move the pieces around to ensure that all of the silver surfaces come in contact with the aluminum. You will notice that the silver has become bright again. Rinse your pieces under tap water and rub dry with a dry cloth.
Vinegar – Mix with water and use a soft toothbrush to clean; for silver or gold jewelry. Place the vinegar in a small jar put your jewelry inside. Let the items soak for about 15-20 minutes. Shake the jar gently for a few seconds, then remove items and gently brush them with warm water.
Dish Detergent – Mix with warm water; for delicate silver or gold jewelry. For your most delicate pieces, use unscented dish soap and warm water. Dip a dry rag or soft bristled toothbrush to clean these pieces.
If you’ve been reading this blog lately, you’ll know I absolutely love the floral-motif enamel jewelry at Stella & Dot. In fact, I just ordered this Stella & Dot ivory brooch!
This week, the ladies of Shopping and Goodies have decided to post about Spring 2010’s hottest accessory: the cuff bracelet! My passion for the enamel flower has led me to this choice, the Kelly Cuff by Stella & Dot in ivory and black enamel.
This hand-crafted ivory enamel cuff measures 1 1/2 inches wide, and is flocked with glowing golden rope borders. Right in the center sits a chic black enamel flower topped with an adorable pave ladybug. I’m not the only one drooling over this bracelet. It has been featured in Cosmopolitan and Redbook!
Retail price is $89.
Click HERE to buy it from Stella & Dot!
Two friends of mine are Stella & Dot stylists, and since they've passed a few catalogs my way I've been obsessively flipping through the pages over and over! Now that the busy holiday gift-giving season is over, Stella & Dot is having a huge sale!
My absolute must-have item for Spring is this lovely ivory bloom brooch. An absolute steal at only $29, it instantly dresses up any jacket you wear!
Retail price was $39, now $29.
Click HERE to shop the Stella & Dot sale!
Here's a really unique way to savor the memory of a loved one… Turn a lock of their hair into a diamond!
Man has finally cracked the code on diamond creation, and labs have sprung up everywhere, just waiting to take your order! But… here's a new twist on the process. DNA2Diamonds actually takes a sample of DNA carbon from the hair of a loved one, the fur of a cherished pet, or the ashes of the departed to incorporate into the diamond creation process!
Forever your loved one will be immortalized in a beautiful, sparkling diamond! DNA2Diamonds can be created in the style, color and size you choose, including Radiant, Princess or Brilliant cuts in sparkling colors of red, yellow-green, or cognac and in sizes ranging from 0.25 carats to 2.0 carats. The whole process takes 70 days or less.
Tom Bischoff, President of DNA2Diamonds, LLC explains, “DNA2Diamonds are physically and optically identical to earth-mined diamonds, and yet, they're different. Of all the diamonds in the world, they are the only ones containing the DNA signature of you or your loved one. A DNA2Diamond embodies the very essence of what makes the person (or pet) you love unique. When you deeply love someone, you know them intimately. Now you can keep this person forever close to your heart.”
For more information, please visit dna2diamonds.com!
Carol Brodie–”The Queen of Diamonds”–is launching a line of affordable and gorgeous jewelry, available for purchase on HSN. Carol has established a reputation through her work with Harry Winston, and this is her very first solo collection. Named “Rarities: Fine Jewelry with Carol Brodie”, the collection will be available starting on June 21st, and features an assortment of precious and semi-precious gems.
Here’s what Carol has to say about her experience, and the new collection:
“After 20 years of working the red carpet and appearing as the luxury and style expert on countless TV shows, bringing a new line of fine jewelry to HSN is simply a dream come true,” says Ms. Brodie. “HSN is known for its high standards and I can’t think of a better place to introduce a fine jewelry collection. I look forward to bringing Rarities to HSN’s viewers and sharing my knowledge on how to build a luxurious wardrobe within any price range.”
While Ms. Brodie’s attention to materials is certainly notable, what draws me to this collection is her eye for style. The multi-stranded necklace pictured here, part of the Palm Beach Collection, is so eye catching. It’s my #1 summer-jewelry pick!
The collection will include several pieces with price points under $200. A welcome sight for pinched wallets!
Click HERE to check out Carol Brodie’s Rarities: Fine Jewelry selection on HSN.
For Pink Nation members, any pink store purchase will earn you a free limited edition bling panty during checkout. If you love to shop, you'll love to select your freebie from the 24 different adorable designs Victoria's Secret has to offer! Offer is valid only through June 15, 2009… so don't hesitate!
Click HERE to get the deets!
As a former diamond buyer, I've been asked this question many times, worded in different ways: "Which of the four-C's is least important when buying a diamond?" My answer to this question? Color.
When color-grading a diamond, the stone is held upside down on a white surface, to determine what degree of body color is visible. This process makes color very obvious, much more so than it would ever be to the naked eye. When the diamond is right-side-up, with the crown visible to the eye, color is much less apparent. In addition, once placed against the skin (whether it be on a ring, pendant or earring) your skin color will be seen a bit through the stone, making any diamond appear slightly less than perfect.
My advice to those in search of that perfect diamond is this: If you need to save some cash, sacrifice color rather than size, cut or clarity. You could save thousands, and the diamond will still be gorgeous. That being said, J or K is as low a color grade as you should go, without seeing the stone in person.
Perhaps one of the most mysterious of the parameters on a diamond certificate is fluorescence. Why does it matter? Is it good or bad? Allow me to shed some light…
Fluorescence simply lets you know if the diamond in question glows when placed under a fluorescent light. Fluorescence in and of itself is not bad, and it can actually be an asset to a lesser stone.
Diamonds with little to no body color, (Like D, E, F, or G colored stones) may appear somewhat more milky to a discerning eye if they have fluorescence. Diamonds with a darker body color (I, J or K) can actually appear less yellow if they have fluorescence. Strong fluorescence is generally something to avoid, particularly when buying online. Stones with a strong fluorescence can appear opaque, so you'd want to view this type of diamond in person before you purchase. So you see, depending on the color of the stone, fluorescence can be a blessing or a curse!
Trivia: The hope diamond, perhaps one of the more famous diamonds in the world, fluoresces RED. This unusual characteristic is one of many reasons people believe the owner of this gem would be perpetually cursed. Do visit the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum if you're ever in Washington, DC!
During trying economic times, it's difficult to rationalize buying jewelry. One way to justify the purchase is if you buy an "investment piece", that you hope will appreciate in value over time.
Some look to diamonds for this purpose, but many experts agree Tanzanite may actually be the stone to buy. Tanzanite occurs in only one place on earth: Tanzania. Many speculate that when the mines of Tanzania are emptied… the supply of Tanzanite will cease!
If you choose to invest in this stone, be sure to treat it with care! Tanzanite is a softer stone, and can scratch easily.
This gorgeous antique-styled ring is currently on sale at Super Jeweler for $599. Click HERE to check it out!
