Are Olympic gold medals made of gold? Yes, but they haven't been solid gold for almost a century. The medals are designed by the Olympics Committee in each host city, but the designers have to follow a few minimum guidelines:
It's almost that time again - time for the Super Bowl. It would be bad luck for teams to look at potential ring designs now, but you can bet that ring companies are busy developing unique designs for both teams, and will present them to the winning team as soon as possible after the February 5th game.
The 2012 SAG Awards brought out the typical range of luscious jewelry, mostly on ears and wrists. Some celebrities chose diamond jewelry mixed with colorful gemstones, like the long pendant earrings Natalie Portman is wearing in this photo. Breeze through the gallery for a close look at the jewels other celebs wore to the event. Several accessorized with vintage pieces, many from Fred Leighton.
Take a look at this collection of cuff bracelets and necklaces, all priced under $50. A couple of the designs are very colorful, a few have a vintage flair, and ...
more...If you haven't shopped yet... use our Valentine's Day jewelry advice to help find the perfect gift. You still have time to buy online, but you'll find lots of good choices locally, too, and probably some nice markdowns. Diamond jewelry is usually a hit, but there are many other options if diamonds are beyond your price range. Consider pearl jewelry or something fashioned from sterling silver, or get more personal by selecting a piece of birthstone jewelry.
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Lampwork beads are made by a craftsperson who uses a torch to melt glass onto a round metal rod, with the rod becoming the hole for the bead. You'll love these beads by Kim Miles, of Taos, New Mexico, who's famous in the beading world for her realistic floral beads and the incredible depth she brings to her work. If you ever have the chance, try to watch a lampworking demonstration or take a lampworking class -- either will leave you with a better appreciation of the patience and skill lampworkers must possess to make these beads for us.
Oversize earrings, white diamonds, headbands, colored gemstones, vintage designs -- all were a part of the jewelry on the 2012 Golden Globes red carpet.
Most of the jewelry designers whose collections we've become accustomed to seeing at celebrity events were represented at this year's awards ceremony, including Neil Lane, Fred Leighton, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Harry Winston, Kwiat and more.
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Have you noticed how much jewelry is made with handcrafted glass beads? I see more of it every week. Good looks are important, but there are other things you should consider before you buy lampwork jewelry. The quality of any handcrafted item is equal to the expertise of its maker -- and lampwork beads are no exception to that rule. My bead buying tips will help you make good choices when you shop for jewelry.
Photo courtesy of Kim Miles
Don't be offended, but guys truly are clueless sometimes about their girlfriends' favorite jewelry styles. Use these simple techniques to analyze her tastes in jewelry and it won't be long until you're on your way to buying her an engagement ring she'll love -- almost as much as she loves you.
Prongs are the most common setting method used to hold gemstones in place, but they're definitely not all alike. Some prong settings are very ornate or styled in a way that makes them a significant part of the jewelry's design, but even utilitarian prongs can differ quite a bit from each other. It's not a bad idea to get familiar with the many types of prong settings out there so that you can analyze which jewelry has the best prongs for your lifestyle.
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