A Brief History of Men's Jewelry

Jewelry wasn't always designed to be something that was just for appearances. Nowadays most people think of jewelry as an accessory to whatever they are wearing, to help make the outfit look better. Certainly there are exceptions to this, ranging from the romantic (engagement rings, journey jewelry) to the lifesaving (medic alert bracelets) to the functional (watches.) Even the watch you probably choose to wear, though, is one you select because of the style that it is. Jewelry in years past, especially men's jewelry was less about how good it made you look and more about the significance behind it.

Even the most basic styles of jewelry came into popularity for the same reason why it is popular now: because it is shiny and pretty and valuable. When it was simple gold bracelets and rings, it stood out from what everyone else was wearing around them. This is why it became such an integral part of religious ceremonies. The beauty of it helped to create the illusion that it was not of this earth but rather a gift from the gods and should somehow be re-appropriated to them. As a symbol of their connection to the gods, the priests would also adorn themselves with fine jewelry. (That some of them would take it home for their personal gain was, I guess, inevitable.)

This use of jewelry as a symbol of godliness continued as rulers, as far back as the Pharaohs of Egypt, convinced their subjects that they were descended from gods themselves. As time wore on, of course, most people knew this wasn't true, but the presences of jewelry did not abate. In fact, it only continued to grow as these rulers hired professional jewelers and artisans to make some of the finest jewelry ever designed. One only need look at the intricate patterns and details of the Crown Jewels of England to see this.

All this finally started to change when monarchies started to fall, the industrial revolution began and the middle class first showed up. Now there was a group of people who, by no means people of leisure, had money to spend on things other than necessities. Since fine jewelry had always been associated with those in power, it became something that they wanted to buy. If you were to be seen wearing men's jewelry, it meant that you had achieved a certain status in your life. You could afford something to show you were successful.

Today that is easier and more acceptable than ever. Now the options a person has when it comes to selecting affordable men's jewelry can truly boggle the mind. Men's jewelry is no longer just limited to a couple of styles of necklaces, a collection of pinkie rings and oversized, bulky watches. Men are seen (and comfortable being seen) wearing rings on multiple fingers, or sporting bracelets made of such materials as platinum and titanium. There are multiple styles of necklaces to choose from, and watches now come in a wide ranging selection from the standout to the sublime.

You've reached a point in your life were you have become successful. You deserve to treat yourself and celebrate your success by finding the right piece of men's jewelry for you.

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The History of Loose Diamonds

There has been a lot of talk lately about loose diamonds. With the popularity of hand crafted fine jewelry at an all-time high, more and more people are learning what they can about the process of creating jewelry and the materials that are involved. Part of the offshoot of that has been a news commodities market as people are looking at the gem stones and precious metals not just as items of beauty but also tools for investments. People are now taking money from more traditional interest bearing items-stocks and bonds, mutual funds, I.R.A.'s-and investing in the raw materials themselves. Many people will try to make you believe that this is something new, as if diamonds have always come already mounted in the jewelry. The fact is the history behind diamonds as things other than just jewelry goes back hundreds of years.

The first part of their story is the most shocking to people. Today people believe that diamonds come almost exclusively from South Africa with a small secondary source in South America. Actually, diamonds were first used on the Silk Road as far back as 300 AD. The diamonds were mined in Indian and traded in China, where people there would use them for many different purposes, decoration being only one small part. Because of hard diamonds are, they worked very effectively as cutting tools.

The trade route ran both directions out of India, and diamonds became more and more popular in Europe. Some of the uses there were similar to those that the Chinese were using, and some of the uses were a little more out there. People believed that diamonds had healing and restorative powers, so the wealthy would swallow them in order to feel better. (Think about that next time you accidentally drop a quarter in a sewer grate.)

By the fourteenth century diamonds were being recognized for their value by all classes of the population. In order to buy diamond, it became necessary to visit the local diamond markets that have been established in the major European cities. India continued to hold a monopoly on the mining of diamonds for several decades until a deposit was found in Brazil in 1725. One hundred and forty years later a dramatically larger find was discovered in South Africa. Large scale mining started five years later and so many diamonds were unearthed that the market quickly flooded, prices plummeted and other gem stones started to be favored. It wasn't until the middle part of the twentieth century and for simple words-"A Diamond is Forever"-that diamonds regained their rightful place.

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Amber Gemstone Beads - History, Properties, Folklore and Healing Properties

The rock, which is essentially found in the shape of a fossil especially a tree resin and has been classified under five special classes to the foundation of the chemical components present in quality and amount. It's been named in the foundation of source and components, for instance amber fossils discovered in Geological History: Amber is

Naturally denser than rock and was first employed by the Europeans for cologne and jewellery manufacture. The most Where it had been the initiator for attractive forces material used for experiments. As a produce that was dealt 2,000 years ago the Baltic Sea on the other side of the Amber Road, and it has been discovered.

At the moment the unearthing of the rock was found to be significant on a worldwide scale. Being truly a fossilized

Edition of tree resin, Prussia leads within the mining of the jewel.

Over the area of Kaliningrad Oblast found in Russia.

Chemical and physical Properties : The gemstone is generally found under blue world accretions which are water mixture. It's a non uniform dreg which can be made up of resinous associates that may dissolve in alcohol or ether. Thus is composed of alkenes which after experiencing significant pressure and high temperature converts the resin in to

Frequently impurities are located within the substance consequently making the material useable just for varnishes, hence the Blue Amber is when pyrites combined with resin are formed. Bony Amber is yet another form which comprises bubbles within its concentration which gives an opaque translucence to it.

Amber as Dominique Amber that will be also known. Baltic Amber is just another class that's common between the finds. Amber may even be artificially created consequently to understand the difference between natural and manmade; make A saturated solution of water as well as salt. It isn't natural otherwise it's, when you will find the amber floating amber in the event it floats though occasionally opals are found to be dense.

Folklore and Legends: Love, passion and strength would be the essential symbols about the gemstone beads,

Besides soothing hyperactive individuals the rock is also utilized to relax stressed nerves. Legends rejuvenating energy inside an individual and increasing physical potency have managed to get very popular amongst the masses.

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White before Memorial Day

I remember my Grandma always use to tell me to never wear white before Memorial Day, where did this even come from? You can read a bit behind the history HERE.

Do you follow this old rule or just wear it when you want to?

P.S. Have you noticed the retail stores are pushing Keds again... I use to love these as a teenager.

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