New Trends in Jewelery Fashion - Bead Work

Since ancient times, jewelery has been a subject of lust and lured by all the women from all corners of the world and from all walks of life. From diamond studded crowns of Queen of England to the bones worn by African tribal womenfolk, jewelery has injected into the very roots of a woman's heart. It is not sooth that ornaments have not changed as per the needs and style of the era. We have witnessed constantly changing trends in the style of jewelery too. The transformation from the heavy ornaments to the trendy light weight jewelery is witnessed everywhere. Not only these, we now see a shift from the orthodox diamond and gold to the latest works in platinum, silver and beads.

These are the latest trend in fashion, and are far cheaper than the precious metals used earlier. Especially beadwork is the most recent phenomenon in the world of fashionable jewels. The history of beadworks dated back to age of civilizations, and the first bead jewelery was discovered in the Indus Valley, in the form of a stone bead necklace. Also women of many tribes in India and Africa are wearing stone bead jeweleries since ages. Stone bead jewelery can be found in nearly all parts of the world.

Beads differ in styles and materials. Stone, wood, plastics and Kashmiri beadwork are the major types of beads used. Beads can be easily crafted into fashionable products as bracelets, necklaces and armbands. Also the variety of colors provided is another ace up their sleeves. They can be easily purchased so as to match with a particular attire, and hence have became the right choice for teenagers who love to experiment with there looks. Also they are far cheaper as compared to the traditional metal jewelery, hence can easily be brought in large numbers. They also require less maintenance, and are hence preferred by the office going professional womenfolk.

Among all the popular beadworks, Kashmiri beadwork is considered to be the best because of the unique color patterns, designs and cheap cost. The most popular Kashmiri beadwork can be brought from any market, and it provides the customer to select from a wide array of styles and colors, without putting much pressure on its pocket. The traditional stone beads also held a steady position in the market, and are a choice of many because of the colorful designs provided by it in bracelets, necklaces and other accessories. These are trendy, and can be easily matched with any dress, whether a jeans or a skirt. They are easy to wear items, and do not require any polishing or any such maintenance. These are also much hardy than the traditional jewelery, and are a choice of working women all over the world.

The market of jewelery beads is constantly growing, and a large share of this is held by the unorganized vendors. Stone beads, Kashmiri beads, plastic beads are attracting women from all corners of the world. Beadwork is the latest trend in the jewelery market, and has a great growth potential.

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What Makes Gemstone and Beads Handmade Jewellery So Special?

As trends whiz by at a staggering rate of knots and the throw-away era still lingers even though we are talking with an environmental consciousness, there is an alternative that bridges the gap between expensive fine jewellery & cheap plastic fashion jewellery. Explore the magic of Gemstones in handmade jewellery.

There is a true art to producing unique designs in contemporary jewellery and you can be sure to find a style that suits you. Most importantly you can be comforted in the knowledge that a piece has been handmade by someone locally who has focused their creative thought, care and attention on working out detail and often handmade jewellery pieces are sold as unique one-off or limited edition items or indeed works of art.

Compare handmade jewellery to mass produced designer jewellery or disposable jewellery that can be found on every high street corner and you will certainly feel and see the difference. Handmade jewellery will allows command attention, it often inspires those who appreciate luxury products. Handmade jewellery may often feature gemstones, also known as affordable luxuries, as small designers can't command the same price for their jewellery that large design houses do, so it is certainly a worthwhile investment purchasing from small independent jewellery designer/maker.

Gemstones are so under rated in terms of jewellery and are often over looked by high end retailers and purchasers who prefer plain precious metals of silver or gold simply for versatility. Gemstone jewellery holds such intrigue and fascination yet only a small amount of jewellery designers choose to incorporate them. Perhaps it's just a question of versality, but there is so much to a gemstone that makes them a great choice as an invest particularly in handmade jewelelry that will stand the test of fashion and time.

Whilst it's fair to say that Fine jewellery signifies hefty price tags, gemstones don't often fall into the category of fine jewellery. Fine Jewellery is termed by old fashion design houses who have been making golf-ball sized Harry Winston style bling for decades. But there is an in-between which rarely basks in the limelight and doesn't really fall into any category other than gemstones or semi-precious gemstones usually found in handmade jewellery that can offer exclusivity and the unique/luxury tag that fine jewellery offers, but without the price.

Gemstones offer such a magnificent array of colours in just as many price groups that it seems bizarre the uber trendy designers don't seem to utilise coloured gemstones more often in design. And it is clear that there are few jewellery designers willing to take risks with colour, as with risk comes expense, so often lean towards the industry stand gemstones of yester-year and most expensive stones such as White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire & Emeralds (all these are mostly treated), although we are seeing a little more Tourmaline entering the market.

It's fair to say that some gemstones have shown impressive increases in value, by up to 30% in recent years, proving they're investment worth, such as Tanzanite, Aquamarine, Spinel, Garnet and Imperial Topaz often found in handmade jewellery. Not to mention the endless and amazing new colours flooding the gem market of Corundum Quartz, the new one to watch, that designers are completely spoilt for choice.

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The History of Engagements Reasons for a Ring

The customary practice of giving engagement rings started way back in the prehistoric times when cavemen tied cords around their mate's waists, ankles, and wrists to take control of her spirit. Some remains of ancient Egyptians were also found wearing a silver or gold ring on the middle finger of their left hands. It was believed that the third finger is directly connected to the heart.

In the first century B.C., the sultans and sheiks in Asia used puzzle rings to tag every wife they have. The use of rush-ring in weddings began when a bishop of Salisbury ended the practice of using it to seduce women to a mock marriage. He declared that rush-rings shall be used to legally bind marriages.

The first use of diamond engagement rings was dated back in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a ring with M-shaped pieces of diamonds to Mary of Burgundy during a wedding proposal. Since then, wealthy people turned it into a practice.

In the 1700s, Europe made it popular to give "poesy rings" made of silver and engraved with verbose sayings. While the Puritans across the Atlantic Ocean used thimbles instead of rings to propose. Later on, many of the Puritans sliced the top off the thimbles and turned them into rings.

The beginning of the huge supply of diamonds started on the discovery of Cape Colony in South Africa. In 1880, Cecil Rhodes, together with other mining investors, opened the DeBeers Mining Company, which controlled ninety percent of the world's diamond production ten years later.

The design of today's engagement rings was inspired from "Tiffany setting". In 1886, Tiffany & Co, introduced "Tiffany setting" as a six-prong ring with a diamond raised up from the band to maximize the gem's brilliance. In the 1890s, Sears & Roebuck and other mail-order catalogs first presented the affordable wedding rings and diamond engagement rings.

In the Roman times, rituals called only for the blessing of the bride's ring. Until a Catholic priest inquired The American Ecclesiastical Review in 1944 as to whether he can wed a couple in a "double ring". The inquiry received a positive response, thus the beginning of grooms' rings.

In the course of time, together with its popularity, the diamond industry was associated with a growing human rights violations. The World Diamond Council developed a system in 2000 to stop the use of diamonds in human exploitation.

Today, diamond engagement rings continue its vogue. According to a study in 2002, more than one-third of couples who buy diamond engagement rings spend at least two months of their salary.

Do you find diamond engagement rings too expensive to buy? Try giving flowers to your chosen mate instead. Flower delivery Brisbane has the most beautiful and fragrant flowers that will sure to make your girl say "yes".

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