How to Make Your Own Crystal Jewelry

Crystals are beautiful and stunning. They are used to make elegant jewelry items and good accessories for clothes all over the world. The price of crystals may start from a couple dollars to a couple hundreds of dollars. So crystal jewelry is a popular jewelry for people of all ages and classes. Due to the flexibility and slick design they are preferred by most, and the popularity of this jewelry is increasing day by day.

Here, in this post, we are going to learn about a few useful tips and tricks that would help you while making your own crystal ornament sets.

Have basic knowledge

Today, you can find many different designs of crystal ornaments in stores. Handmade designs are considered as special and they are increasing in popularity. If you know the basic steps to making the jewelry by hand, you have actually the privilege of to personalize your jewelry design and style. Simply take a reference design, play with the color and shape, and come up with fantastic and unique designs that would suit you best.

There are myriads of crystal ornaments designs you would choose from. Starting from crystal ring to bracelets, you would get many different styles as well. Just make sure the style and color specifications match your skin complexion and clothing style. One good point for you while experimenting on the crystal pieces is that it is harder and durable.

Apply proper tools

You need to know how to use some basic tools when making your crystal ornaments. The most common tool that comes in handy is your pliers. It can also work as a cutter in some cases unless you require precise cutting. A professional jewelry maker keeps different types of pliers and cutters in their toolkit. However, for a starter, only a few basic pliers, the round nose, flat nose and the wire cutter can suffice.

Furthermore, you would be requiring a design board, bead organizers, crimping tools, beads, wires, locking devices and clasps in the making process. Crimping tools are meant to protect the clasps in the ornament designs. If you want to purchase a complete toolkit for jewelry making, you would of course get all the basic tools including a design guide illustrating different designing processes. You can, otherwise, buy different books for reference designs.

Follow the guidelines

Before you actually start the beading, know you purpose whether you are going to make a bracelet or a pendant, or any other jewelry piece. Confirm the color specification and choose crystals accordingly. Next, have a look at the reference design thoroughly. Then go to the drawing board and design your project. Do not try so many things if you are making for the first time. Follow basic and simple designs first and try to learn the steps.

Ideas will come with time and believe that there are endless design styles you would be able to bead in future.

6 Things to Know About Sterling Silver Jewelry

Among all jewelry items sterling silver jewelry has got an enormous popularity due to its lower cost compared to gold, diamond and platinum jewelry. In order to choose the right piece of jewelry you need certain knowledge. Similarly you have got to know the usage and maintenance of this jewelry items. Here are 6 common questions related to how to purchase and use sterling silver ornaments.

How to clean

It is good to use a jewelry cloth to clean the sterling silver ornaments. A jewelry cloth is a two-layer cloth is different colors, which is easily available on any jewelry accessory store. Be careful while cleaning the surface of the jewelry since a paper towel can even create visible scratches on the jewelry. Do not ever use fingernails to rub the dirt off. Silver-dip is a commonly used cleaner nowadays. You just need to immerse the jewelry in the solution for one minute, and then rinse it with clean water.

Where to store

It is very important to store your silver jewelry in the right place when you do not use it. Store in a cool and dry place, which is completely away from sunlight; otherwise the jewelry surface may tarnish pretty quickly. Sometimes, indoor fluorescent lights can turn the color of the jewelry.

Types of silver ornament plating

Since pure silver oxidizes quickly and is prone to discoloration and tarnish, it is plated with another metal to protect it from discoloration. Today, the plating is basically done in two ways, i.e. Nickel plating and Rhodium plating. Nickel plating provides more whitish look, whereas Rhodium plating provides darker look and is more costly than the former method. However, some polished silver ornaments are not plated and some are even oxidized to form a dark antique look of the jewelry.

How to know the purity of the jewelry

Purity refers to 92.5% of silver in the alloy. To test the purity of the jewelry it is sent to a laboratory for scientific testing. Today, most of the sterling silver rings and other ornaments have got a “925” stamp on the surface of the jewelry that indicates the authenticity of it.

Engraving and Resizing

Since sterling silver is ductile and has low melting point, it is relatively easy to engrave and resize the jewelry. However, it requires proper equipment to cut and weld the jewelry, and recoat it properly. Jewelry with stones cannot be resized though.

Is it a suitable jewelry for allergic skin?

If your skin is allergic to nickel, do not use nickel coated or any plated sterling silver ornaments. Instead, use highly polished and pure sterling ornaments that does not use any coating yet provides the proper luster. If you have got any queries related to silver ornaments, please visit www.arzshop.com. It provides a great platform to purchase excellent jewelry items at affordable costs.