During the Middle Ages, Passion Plays provided the public with one of the few forms of entertainment. In each such play, the action was on some aspect of the crucifixion.

The teachings of the Church encouraged the creation of such plays, because they served to remind people about the manner that Christ suffered while on the cross.

The teachings of the Catholic Church also encouraged creation of the antique crucifixes. The wearer of such a crucifix could not easily forget the most fundamental Christian teaching: Christ died for our sins.
As jewelers of the Middle Ages designed the antique crucifixes, the Catholic Church emphasized the importance of Easter Sunday. It also taught that without the crucifixion of Christ there would be no Easter Sunday.

The teachings of the Catholic Church had arisen largely from the letters of Saint Paul. In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul had suggested the need for Christians to “proclaim Christ crucified.” He did not mention antique crucifixes, but he gave present-day jewelers a reason to write this: “Wearing a crucifix pendant not only identifies us as Christians, but as Catholics.”

While reminding online shoppers about the words of Saint Paul, the operators of online jewelry stores have not lost sight of the present-day focus on “bling.” They have thus filled their websites with all manner of pictures. An examination of those pictures reveals the variety that can be found among the modern replicas of the antique crucifixes.

Some of those modern replicas copy the intricacies of the Celtic cross. Some of those replicas have been fashioned from gold. A jeweler might work with either white or yellow gold when making an antique crucifix. Some crucifixes display one jeweler’s ability to create designs from silver or pewter. An online shopper can even find white crucifixes that copy at least a few of the designs found on an antique crucifix.

Today, a jeweler with a website does not expect to be contacted by an online shopper who plans to have actors wear antique crucifixes in a passion play. Such a jeweler might, however, be contacted by someone going to a Mardi gras celebration. Someone marching in a Mardi gras parade might well want to wear a crucifix.

Core elements of the program include a redesigned Trustmark Corporation, titled “The Mark of Distinction,” a new LJW Pledge to be adopted by each current and future LJW Honoree and presented in-store, a new multi-element, occasion-driven advertising campaign, a new Web site and new point-of-sale signage and materials.

“All of us involved with this new initiative are very excited about the opportunity that it offers select retail jewelers who want to differentiate themselves in their respective markets,” LJW Executive Director Michael Barlerin said. “Becoming a Leading Jeweler of the World Honoree, and maintaining that designation on an annual basis, will provide significant benefits to a retailer.”

Barlerin also noted that with many of the industry’s associations, service providers and buying groups trying to develop brands with a consumer-communication element, “LJW is the only organization for which the consumer, and consequently consumer communication, is the essence of its brand.”

Traditionally yellow sapphire is believed to represent the planet Jupiter and signify such universal human traits as wisdom, virtue, knowledge, and fortune.

On account of these qualities assigned to it by gem admirers, yellow sapphire rings are highly popular among members of both sexes who like to wear jewelry rings with attractive gems.

Yellow sapphire rings make ideal jewelry for both personal use and as gifts on special occasions, especially weddings. The most wonderful thing about the look of yellow sapphire rings is their quality of heightening the effect of both the popular varieties of gold: yellow and white. They complement the color of yellow gold and appear attractively warm upon white gold. The profile of the ring may vary from low to medium and high and the prices vary according.

Elegant yellow sapphire rings are not only those that carry a single, relatively large, yellow sapphire crystal in the middle of the ring but also a variety of other rings that combine smaller crystals of sapphire or other gems. A classic example is the fashionable white gold yellow sapphire ring carrying a large yellow sapphire crystal in the center and flanked by small transparent diamonds on both sides. Most dazzling in presentation, however, are the handcrafted yellow gold rings featuring a set of five yellow sapphires bounded on both sides by diamonds. These yellow sapphire rings make ideal gifts for women, on weddings and on other special occasions like the Mother’s Day.

While choosing a yellow sapphire ring, it counts if one pays attention to specific details about the ring, its gem(s), and the constitution of one’s hands. The sapphire crystals of the rings are trimmed into various geometrical designs like rounded, rectangular, square, and triangular. For people with relatively smaller hands and thin fingers, yellow sapphire rings with a number of small sapphire crystals look good instead of rings with a large central sapphire. Rounded crystals look good on plump hands while rectangular and square ones go fine with normal and relatively strong fingers. Triangular yellow sapphire rings are also available and are good for imparting uniqueness.

The prices of individual yellow sapphire rings vary over a wide range, depending mainly on the weight and purity of the precious metal used in the ring, the sapphire’s quality and size, and other kinds of gems and/or embellishments used in the ring. A small yellow sapphire ring with a purity of less than 10 carat can be bought in less than $100 at jewelry shops or online while the stylish yellow sapphire ring of 18 carat with a medium size sapphire crystal and an array of smaller size diamonds may cost as much as $7000 to $10000. To get the best quality and fair prices, it is recommended to buy all jewelry from trusted jewelry sellers.

David Cook. My favorite, he remains. And I think he was brilliant to choose a couple of lesser-known Neil Diamond songs, which he could present as modern-ish rockers without having to borrow something else from Chris Cornell. I suppose I agree with the judges that his second song was better than his first, but I liked them both. And I find that he’s the only remaining contestant who truly puts it on the line when he sings - pushes his voice, pushes his emotions. (David Archuleta can sound emotional, too, but it always feel robotic to me: calculated and a little bit too perfect.)

Brooke White. Argh. “I’m A Believer” is one of my favorite songs of all time, and while I wouldn’t necessarily call her version of it “a nightmare,” it certainly wasn’t good. Really, it showed off all of her weaknesses as an artist: She doesn’t have a very big vocal range, and she absolutely cannot project anything but melancholy. Her happy songs are always near-disasters. So yes, she did a much better job with her melancholy piano version of “I Am…I Said,” but how believable was it, really? After all, she kept smiling about how weird it was to sing about Arizona having a shore.

David Archuleta. Ah, America’s favorite beautifully-singing little robot. I did not care at all for his soft-rock version of the Red Sox Nation Theme Song, particularly since he wasted little time before launching into the cheesetastic “hands…touching hands” part. And yes, I agree with Simon that “America” was a brilliant choice, though he doesn’t need saving like Kristy Lee Cook. Also, I give him extra-super bonus points for not singing “Turn On Your Heartlight.”

Syesha Mercato. As soon as she started her barefoot version “Hello Again,” my heart sank: So soon, we’re back to the wannabe diva stuff? But she redeemed herself with her girl-band take on “Thank the Lord for the Night Time.” And, unlike Brooke, she’s able to sing an upbeat song and look like she’s actually having fun. Yeah, I’ll agree with Simon that it wasn’t transcendent. But it made Jason Castro look like the cute little amateur he is. If she goes before he does this week, I’m going to make my cat wear a little black armband.

Autor: Joanna Weiss

An outfit seems incomplete without having a couple of fancy bracelets in both of your wrists. No wonder accessorizing is so popular since it seems trendy and fashionable, completely changing your appearance.

Fancy bracelets with beads, multilink, flat links or rololinks in silver or gold can really boost up your look. Nowadays fancy bracelets for women as well as men are also available giving guys the opportunity to accessorize too.

Men’s Bracelets: Men’s fancy bracelet usually comes in silver, gold, black rubber or onyx providing them a masculine look. These are the only materials used in men’s bracelets with either of their combinations. Some of the types of men’s fancy bracelets that can be purchased are:

Two tone bracelets: These fancy bracelets consists a combination of two materials, gold with silver designed in such a way that the colors of both the metals compliment each other.

Tri Color Bracelets: As the name suggests, these fancy bracelets are made of three materials gold, silver and rubber/onyx. Sometimes gems and stones are also used in these fancy bracelets.

Gold Bracelets: You may find pure gold or white gold bracelets for men in a design of chain or multilink to give them an exclusive look.

Silver Bracelets: These bracelets are most common ones worn by men. They are generally designed with onyx or black rubber to bring out their colors.

Women’s Bracelets: The list of women’s fancy bracelet is uncountable, bracelet accessories comes in beads, multilink, chains, bead net, crystal, diamonds, gold, silver with marquise cuts and heart shapes. The list of women’s fancy bracelets from the following can be chosen for yourself or as a gift:

Two Tone Bracelets: Just like men’s bracelets, these bracelets also consists a combination of two colors but the variety found in women’s bracelets is a lot much more than men’s bracelets. These fancy bracelets can either be in the design of chain, wave link, fancy bar, open round, oval link, flat link, Figaro style, status link, industrial link, twisted link, smooth open link, double status link, fancy figure link, curb link, polished and satin figure link, diamond link, Byzantine style, geometric style or railroad style.

Tri Color Bracelets: The combination of any three gems, stones or metals comes in this category. These fancy bracelets come in a wide variety of colors to look striking on each outfit.

Bead Bracelets: They are usually in chains or links in either one material or a combination of two or more with charms dangling from the links.

Diamond Bracelets: When it comes to jewelry how we can forget diamonds. Diamond bracelets might cost you a fortune but they are worth every penny when people won’t stay without noticing it. These diamond bracelets start off from a minimum of 7 carats and go up to 14 carats.

You all know her; that beautiful woman who looks pulled together no matter what. It is not necessarily her body shape or how old she is.

There is something about her that whether she is wearing a jogging suit or a business suit, she always looks pulled together. How does she do it? You may ask yourself that as you look through your closet in dismay. Even when you find the outfit you want to wear, something doesn’t seem quite right and you ask yourself why you can’t just easily pull it all together the way “she” does. The answer lies in the coordination of your outfit. The top and bottom do matter, but it is the attention to the details such as shoes, hair and fashion jewelry accessories that will make or break an outfit.

If you want to always look pulled together, it really is quite easy and doing so can be lots of fun. The first step you need to do is take a good look at your closet. The main key is looking great is to have actually outfits. If you like to mix and match, set your clothes up so that if you want to wear a certain pair of slacks, you have your choices of tops right beside it. All clothes should be set up this way; it will save you tons of time that you used to stand in front of your closet not knowing what to wear.

Take a good look and try at everything. If something does not fit the way you wish and you can’t bear to throw it away, put it in a safe storage container and get it out of your closet. Every piece of clothes you have should match up to another piece. If you have a favorite pair of tan slacks, have it hanging right next to a matching tank top for warm weather and a nice sweater for the colder days. Arrange your clothes so that when you stand in front of them, there is no guess work.

The shoes are next. Take a look at your outfits and decide how many different pair of shoes you will need to make each outfit perfect. If you have a fantastic maroon slack and light pink sweater outfit but only have tan shoes, you may want to think about buying a pair of shoes that not only match with that outfit but may also complete others you have. By the way, black is the answer in this case.

Have the proper belts to match the shoes and have them in the proper widths: skinnier belts for business, wider belts for jeans and casual. What’s next? Fashion Jewelry of course! Fashion jewelry will pull your outfit together and add the last finishing touches that make you look great; everything will be flowing well and you will be one of those women who have it all together!

Take a good look at your outfits and write down what colors are most apparent. Chances are you are going to want fashion jewelry in some basic colors to match what you have for outfits: Black, tan, blue, red, pink, yellow, and white. These should be enough to make your outfit complete, unless you have an absolutely fantastic outfit in a shade of green, for example; in this case you can go with the white but is suggested to have fashion jewelry that matches. The secret is to see the main color of your outfit and also the secondary color. If you have a green skirt with white flowers and a light green top, you will want to pick up on both colors. Wear all green fashion jewelry and you will be making a fashion no-no. Wear white with intergraded green beads, for example. Alternatively, if you have an outfit that is almost entirely black but has a splash of red, the belt and shoes for example, wear red fashion jewelry to pull it all together. When the eye sees a color on the feet, middle and neck and/or ears, you will have the look that we strive for: Balanced.

The Congress’ theme is “Implementing the internationally agreed millennium development goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development.”

The event, which is to be hosted by the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), will be attended by a high-ranking minister of the UAE government.

In anticipation of the 2008 Congress, CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri stated: “Over the past few years, CIBJO has taken the lead on raising awareness on CSR in the jewelry industry. It also has broadened its efforts in creating better industry standards for diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls, and more recently also for precious metals and gemology. All together, these issues will make for a very stimulating congress.”

Gold rings are not only the prime choice of women but also of a large number of men who like to wear jewelry.

Whether plain or adorned with gems, men’s gold rings are highly preferred for wearing on occasions like weddings, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations. They also make great gifts for such occasions. That is why they have gained wide popularity among men of different age groups.

Men’s gold rings may consist entirely of solid gold or they may be plated with gold while composed essentially of some other metal like silver or an alloy like stainless steel. Besides diamonds, gold rings for men may carry a variety of precious and semi-precious stones like ruby, sapphire, emerald, zircon, and topaz etc. Most of the men buying gem-carrying gold rings prefer to pick one with their birthstone.

On the whole, men’s gold rings are comparatively larger in size and less ornate in design than women’s gold rings. Most men particularly like gold rings with engraved initials of their names. However, the size and design of the ring varies according to individual taste. Some men prefer white gold and others like to pick pure yellow gold. The purity of gold is measured in karats, the purest gold being 24 karats (100% gold). Gold used in making gold rings for weddings is usually 9, 14, or 18 karats. Engagement gold rings for men generally carry a stone in the middle of the ring.

Bachelors, on the average, are less inclined to wearing gold rings than married men, except in cases of using fraternal or sports rings. So choosing a gold ring for a man may take more time and care. Durability and comfort are important to consider besides the ring’s look. It is better that a man tries a gold ring in the ring finger of both his hands so as to get a better feel of the item. Men who use their hands against hard material should take rings of greater strength. Pure gold is therefore not a good choice for them since it is soft. The price of men’s gold rings varies according to the purity, size, and design of the ring. In case of rings with gems, the price also depends on the value of the stone(s).

The life of a gold ring depends on the ring’s own quality of composition as well as on the care exercised in its use. God rings should be taken off while doing certain works, especially one in which rigorous use of hands is involved, e.g. gardening or general physical labor. Also, rings should not be worn during swimming or other sports that may cause the ring to wear out. It is better to keep a ring holder to store the gold ring when it is not being used.

Even as gold prices come back down, jewelers expect it will remain an attractive accessory for those who want something not everyone can have. Demand for gold jewelry was up 22 percent in 2007 over the previous year, according to the World Gold Council.

“We like to think women buy jewelry because they love it, and design is our driving force and we think it’s what women respond to,” says Jon King, senior vice president at Tiffany & Co. “But there is a certain aspect of attraction that comes as a result of an increased awareness of the value of the material.”

Adding to gold’s luster is more creativity in design and technical processes that allow it to be shaped and shaded in new ways. Designer Paloma Picasso pairs gold with complementary stones such as green peridot and citrine, while Tiffany’s Frank Gehry collection features a smoky black gold in addition to yellow, white and rose golds, all of which are shaded by the alloys in the metal.

Mixing metals, either different golds or gold with silver or platinum, was at first popular at the turn of the 20th century, King explains, but is again en vogue for jewelry on the heels of a similar boom in the tabletop market.

“A renaissance in gold is happening,” Duvall O’Steen, spokeswoman for the gold council, who notes that gold has been embraced in home decor, beauty products, vodka and even cigars wrapped in gold leaf. “Americans tend to like things as they become more expensive.”

For now, the cost of gold jewelry hasn’t kept pace with rising commodity prices. O’Steen says it will take three to six months for retailers to feel pressure to increase their prices, since jewelry is typically ordered several months ahead of time.

However, some consumers are concerned about buying “dirty gold.” Several major U.S. retailers have signed on to a No Dirty Gold campaign by Oxfam America and the advocacy group Earthworks to reform mining practices that are bad for workers and the environment. Tiffany, for example, says it traces its gold from the source and throughout the jewelry-making process.

Vintage or recycled gold is one option recommended by the campaign — but it might look different from modern options. Over the last two years the trend has moved away from 14- and 18-karat gold toward 20 or 22 karats, O’Steen says. The result are pieces with a richer color and the potential for high shine.

“When you’re dealing with luxury goods, you want the rich color that looks regal and important,” she says.

There’s also a keen interest in texture, which is often accomplished with laser etching, and the more affordable mix of gold and ceramics, such as an open link bracelet with every third link made of a ceramic material.

If the economy continues to sour, O’Steen predicts shoppers will turn to the classics, including cuff bracelets or necklaces with heart or cross motifs. They were also big in the 1970s — the last time gold was at a premium in both cost and popularity.

During the ’70s gold boom, people tended to sell off their jewelry for scrap, so any piece that did survive became that much more valuable. “There is always a market for gold, especially old Victorian pieces,” reports Robbin Mullin, owner of Antiques Anonymous in Washington.

Gold also ruled when it came to engagement and wedding jewelry, says Jennifer Hicks, publisher of Elegant Bride and Modern Bride magazines. Over time, though, platinum became the standard — and it still is.

Gold is making a slow comeback, but Hicks says that’s because of ever-evolving tastes, not price. Gold was considered flashy 10 years ago; now it’s become more sophisticated.

At luxury jeweler Cartier, some of the most popular gold designs can withstand “trends,” says Frederic de Narp, president and CEO of Cartier North America. The gold Trinity ring, created from three interlocking rings, has been sold for more than 80 years.

“Today, the design is just as relevant as it was in 1924 and is one of the most recognizable designs in the world,” de Narp says.

Still, Mullin, who wears a gold watch chain and fob almost every day, isn’t happy to see prices go so high, fearing they will scare off some shoppers. O’Steen expects the mid-market — those $75 gold hoop earrings — to take the hardest hit, probably during the holiday shopping season.

The bright spot for jewelers is that the public perception of the intrinsic value of gold seems to be high.

“If you’re going to spend a weak dollar, you want to spend it on a product that will last,” O’Steen says.

The creation of the actual jewelry charm, much like the holding pins charms came about because of the very short life span of ancient societies.
Although we can now live to the ripe old age of ninety or beyond, earlier man only lived into their thirties; forty was considered to be very old. The idea of being on Earth for such a short amount of time spawned the notion that items such as charms could help people live longer, fend off enemies or illness and when it was time to die charms could help aid a person to reach the next plane of existence for their soul. Although they did not contain holding pins charms, the early Egyptians did wear very elaborate necklaces and bracelets on them. Many charms were used as a type of “dog tag” so that the Gods would know who it was that passed over.
In regards to jewelry, Rome must always be mentioned! The Roman Empire would keep charms under their clothes to show who they were. The Christians would use those charms as identifiers when entering secret places of worship. Many charms at that time were actually hollowed out pieces of jewelry that could hold small pieces of paper with important writings on them.
During the Middle Ages, charms continued to be popular and they were worn by royalty and also by the knights. Again, it was not yet time for holding pins charms; however the Middle Age Civilizations believed that their charms held magic powers.
Charms remained popular and in 1849 a man by the name of Walter Hunt created the safety pin. One interesting fact about his creation is that he was paid four hundred dollars for the rights to it, and the safety pin went on to make millions of dollars. The safety pin, or holding pin, became a normal household object and is so recognizable that holding pin charms found their way into the jewelry market. Mr. Hunt most likely had no idea that his invention would some day be used by millions upon millions of people and turn into the symbol that is has; even being used as charms for jewelry.

General wearing of charms began to lose favor with the wealthy classes during the Renaissance as mass produced books emerged and superstitions faded. However, charms and amulets were still widely used by people of lesser means and education. The role of the charm remained relatively unchanged until the early 1900s.

. . . The Queen of Charm
In the early 20th century, the bracelets of Queen Victoria ignited the next big wave of charm wearing. It was at this stage that charms had a dramatic change of purpose. They went from being practical tools to becoming decorative fashion jewelry. Small lockets, glass beads and family crests that hung on bracelets and necklaces were all the rage.

. . . The Greatest Generation
The end of WWII saw the explosion of charm jewelry as we know it today. Soldiers leaving Europe and islands in the Pacific purchased little handmade trinkets as gifts to bring home to their sweethearts. Native craftsmen fashioned small bits of metal into little replicas of items common to the locale. Enterprising jewelers in the States quickly picked up on the trend to create charms for all occasions.
. . . Gumball Charms
I ran across these fun charms not long ago and fell in love with them. Made of celluloid (an early plastic) they are charms and little prizes that came out of gumball machines and candy boxes in the 1940s. These charms were collected by kids and worn on bracelets and necklaces of string and beaded chain (dog tag chain). Many of the themes are common - jungle animals, sports, sailing ships, army men, and family pets. But there were a number of commercial applications as well, primarily from comic strips. Popeye, Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, the Seven Dwarfs, Orphan Annie are just a few examples.
. . . Bobby Socks, Disco, and the Go-Gos
By the 1950s, the charm bracelet was a must-have accessory for girls and women. Major rites of passage - 16th birthdays, graduations, weddings, travel and the arrival of children - were all recorded on the links of their bracelets. Today some of these vintage bracelets sell for two to three thousand dollars at auction.
The charm bracelet began to disappear from the fashion scene during the early 1970s. Disco was in and bare gold chains became the new status symbol. But in the mid-1980s charm bracelets reappeared. New-money heirs uninterested in the old baubles of their dead relatives were liquidating huge estates. Charms that had been out of circulation for decades were showing up in antique stores and flea markets. Savvy buyers snapped them up at cheap prices.

. . . There’s No Place Like Home
The boom in collectibles in the 1990s drove a huge demand for vintage charms and charm bracelets. A gold charm costing $10 in 1950 easily commanded $70 to $80. Vintage mechanical charms (charms with moving parts) often sold for over $100 and were highly prized by serious collectors. Even with the advent of massive buying and selling arenas like eBay, prices for vintage gold charms remain strong and show no sign of decline in the new century.
As the year 2001 opened, the fashion industry once again discovered the lure of the charm bracelet, flooding the market with new charm styles in all price ranges. Fashion giants like Louis Vuitton have brought the glamour back to charm bracelets, declaring them the must-have accessory for any occasion. And if the past is any indication, charm bracelets will be in style for quite sometime.