Both titanium and tungsten are considered “model metals” in the jewelry industry because they were not available to the consumer market as commodities until ten years ago. They have gained tremendous popularity since the introduction and become an integral part of the jewelry material spectrum.

Due to the rather little exposure, many questions arise concerning titanium and tungsten when it comes to choosing jewelry. The followings are some points of consideration if you are seriously thinking about buying a titanium or tungsten wedding ring.

1. Hardness
Titanium and tungsten are both known for the superior hardness over traditional metals such as gold, silver and platinum. One thing worth noting is that it is not the metals themselves in a pure form that possess the hardness, it is their alloys that do. Roughly speaking, the hardest form of tungsten carbide is harder than titanium alloys, and only under extreme circumstances, such as abrasion from diamonds, can it be damaged.

2. Ductility
Titanium is more ductile than tungsten in the common alloys used in jewelry. In other words, when a wedding ring is under high pressure, such as hit by a car door, a titanium ring would be bend out-of-round whereas a tungsten carbide ring would fracture into several pieces. Hence, in terms of safety, a tungsten carbide ring is “safer” to wear.

3. Hypoallergenic
This is the very same concern as buying silver jewelry to some people: Will I be allergic to the jewelry? In general, titanium jewelry is virtually safe to wear for everybody. Yet, some tungsten carbide jewelry contains the element cobalt that some people are allergic to. Interesting, another form of tungsten alloy using nickel as a binder metal is hypoallergenic, even to people who are allergic to nickel.

4. Weight
Titanium is lighter than tungsten, or more precisely, has a lower density. Titanium alloys are about 43% lighter than stainless steel and tungsten carbide is about 90% heavier than stainless steel.

5. Coloring
Titanium reacts with different chemicals and produces alloys of different colors. Jewelry makers use anodization to coat colored patterns on titanium rings. Black titanium is another form of titanium alloy that has a different color than the commonly used grey color. On the other hand, tungsten carbide is usually offered on in black color only.

6. Pricing
Titanium jewelry is in general cheaper than tungsten jewelry primarily due to the difference in equipment and environment control need to produce them. The temperature for forming a tungsten carbide is about 6000 Fahrenheit, which has to be in either a vacuum or hydrogen environment.

7. Engraving and resizing
Titanium wedding rings can be engraved and resized. However, a tungsten carbide ring is too hard to be engraved or resized. Although engraving can be done, the letters will be very faint and difficult to read. So if you are buying to ring to engrave, get titanium rings.

Members of the diamond industry have banded together and are waiting for others to join them as they take another step towards stopping the flow of conflict diamonds for good. The new step is rather simple but effective in that it makes it easier for consumers to identify the jewelry stores that do have policies regarding the buying and selling of conflict diamonds. The new step is all part of an initiative started by a website, Stop Blood Diamonds , to induce jewelers and jewelry retail store owners alike to participate in the campaign against conflict diamond trade and to aid them in making or at least adopting policies for their own stores that would show their participation in the campaign.

The new step is simple. It only requires jewelers and jewelry store owners to sign up for membership at the Stop Blood Diamonds website. Membership is free but as mentioned earlier requires members to adopt the site’s policies against conflict diamond trade as part of their store policy. After jewelers and store owners have signed up, they then have the privilege of putting up a Stop Blood Diamonds Conflict Free logo on their websites. The easily identifiable logo will be an effective means for consumers to determine that website’s policies regarding conflict diamonds without having to search through it just to look for a written policy. This will also ease the minds of potential buyers who are becoming increasingly aware and educated about this extremely immoral trade practice.

Jewelry stores and jewelers worldwide are invited to join Stop Blood Diamond’s campaign to help stop this illicit trade. Jewelers ought to remember that by joining the campaign they not only help eradicate the problem of conflict diamonds but help their own businesses as well by gaining the trust of their consumers.

Wedding ring is meant to be worn for lifetime, so men prefer comfort while choosing their diamond wedding ring. They give comfort more preference than style and design; generally, wedding rings for men are simpler than women’s rings, though there are still a wide variety of styles available to match different individual preferences. Rings may be personalized for additional symbolism with interior or exterior engravings or elaborate details such as
Celtic knots or geometric patterns. Men’s wedding bands also vary by width, metal, and gemstone use.

The groom wears a diamond band to glorify their true commitment to their bride, men prefers to wear a ring that is unique and stands out from the rest, makes the right statement of who they are, which speaks a lot about his personality. Fashion conscious bold men tend to wear zodiac wedding bands, which is strange and unique enough to make heads turn and give it a
second look. Even though it doesn’t gel well within a marriage ceremony,grooms who want to make their wedding ceremony unique with panache wear it with great pride on their wedding day, as long as it works well for the couple.

The most popular men’s wedding ring are plain metal bands, with an element of design one can chose a ring with a subtle design like migraine or a masculine braid, which features a braid design with a round and soft edge for comfort. It is well said that a groom only wears a wedding ring to make his marriage a public statement, and wear it because he feels it’s his duty
to wear since he is married and committed.

Since the beginning of times mankind appreciated and wanted to create beautiful things. Men (mostly women actually) wanted to be special and they embellished themselves by wearing ornamental objects. Jewelry was one of the ways they could become uncommon and attractive. In the beginning, everything was handmade. People used to create jewelry out of shells, stones, seeds or even bones and teeth. Their options were limited. As history went on, a whole industry started to evolve around fashion and jewelry making supplies became a chance for everyone who wishes to make jewelry to do so in an easier manner. Nowadays, some people realized that making jewelry yourself, using your own creativity results in originality and thus admiration. Although some prefer to be creative on their own, the beads supplies existent on the market are diverse and sometimes even unique leading to the selling of original jewels online. So those who wish to buy and not make them themselves can save time and still be fashionably adorned.

So you have two options for online shopping: buy already made jewelry or buy bead supplies to create your own. Both solutions are advantageous as long as the Internet is involved. If you are a wholesale customer and your shop needs jewelry making supplies to sell or to use for creative ornaments, then GemMall.com is the answer for you. If you are a passionate jewel maker that needs beads supplies, the Internet is the best solution for you too because this is where you get the best quality and prices.

Wholesale beads are incredibly attractive to buy online (especially if you need to sell them in shops or use them for decorative items which will be later sold) because you get to see pictures of the merchandise and avoid wasting time on making them yourself. Even if jewel making is just a hobby without profit, today’s busy lifestyle is already very tiresome to start acquiring the basic tools to create beads so one would need beads supplies and jewelry making supplies as wires, findings, gems, strings, needle points and a how-to-do book unless he/she can come up with her own ideas.

So why make jewelry yourself when the varied online offer can please any taste of color and shape? Creating something by you is an interesting and full of fun activity that can be very appealing to some people. It can be a hobby that doesn’t imply high costs or great effort. Those who are talented in creating decorative items also think of their children. They can buy specialty magazines and starter kits found in toy shops and, of course, jewelry making supplies for their kids who are looking to develop their imagination. This activity can be creative for children, especially for little girls who learn to take care of their looks from an early age. One thing is sure though: your creative materials must include beads supplies.

Jewelry making supplies are not difficult to find and are in fact the most important aspect you must take care of when making a decorative item. The beads supplies can come in different colors, shapes and materials, more or less precious, and they demand a talented eye to become an ornament or a jewel. Where to buy such jewelry making supplies is not an issue unless you are interested in the price as well. Beads supplies can be bought from local shops or fairs or they can be ordered online. This last solution is the best because quality is guaranteed and so is online shopping security. The price is the most decisive factor. Online shops have attractive prices because they themselves have affordable options. They buy beads supplies from shops like GemMall.com which offers jewelry making supplies at factory prices. This means wholesale customers have an advantage if they buy from this online shop and their clients in turn can buy jewelry making supplies or already made jewels at great prices. Without doubt you won’t get the same offers for beads supplies or handmade jewelry if you become the client of your local store.

In making jewelry supplies and beads supplies all details matter depending on what you want to achieve and to who that piece of jewelry is addressed to. You can pick glass pebble beads, stone beads, shell beads, bone beads…or sterling silver, gold or why not even Swarovski crystals that can add a lot of elegance to anyone’s look. There also are semi-precious beads that can bring good luck or enhance your energy or even relax a person keeping into account his or her date of birth, horoscope and so on and so forth. If you are a beginner, you can start with something simpler like a bracelet or a necklace. After you feel you’ve made a little progress you can try things more complicated. Beads supplies will also help you decorate and embellish outfits and accessories like shoes and bags. All you need is the right jewelry making supplies and imagination.

The final step in achieving your goal, after making jewelry from your beads supplies is advertising and trying to sell them – that is if you also want to make some money out of all this. If this activity is only for fun, you must always wear your jewelry and be proud of it because if you are skilled you will be admired.

Anyone would think from the current fashion craze for platinum that this was a recently discovered metal. In fact, this is far from the truth. The Spaniards discovered Platinum in 1590, but disdained it because it looked like silver, rather than the yellow metal that they treasured. What the Spanish explorers failed to appreciate was that platinum is 34 times rarer than gold. Platinum only comes from meteorites. That's one reason for its scarcity.

Platinum is increasingly used in jewelry because it is more ductile than gold. It can be drawn into fine wire, enabling the craftsman to create more intricate designs than is possible with gold. The silvery color of platinum also sets off diamonds more attractively than gold.

Platinum is totally unreactive chemically, so it can never react with oxygen or hydrogen sulfide and tarnish. It will always stay shiny.

If you have an allergy to certain jewelry, consider switching to platinum, as if. Platinum jewelery contains no nickel, the metal that is mixed with gold that causes an allergic reaction. Being totally unreactive, platinum can never cause a rash or other allergic reaction. Platinum is used to make pacemakers because it is so well tolerated by the body.

Platinum has a multitude of far more important uses than jewelery. It is a catalyst. This means that platinum allows other chemicals, like gases, to react easily on its surface without affecting the platinum itself in any way. The platinum is not affected by the reaction at all. It is still there after the reaction to carry on working. Very useful.

The most well known example of platinum use in this way is in automobile exhaust catalysts. It is also used in making nitric oxide, which is essential to making nitric acid, one of the essential chemicals that our modern chemical industry depends on for making everything from drugs to explosives.

Every single Culture and Country of our Earth has spawned Good Luck Symbols, followed closely by Charms, Talismans, Amulets, Enhancers, Cures, Crystals, Gemstones, Sacred Geometry, Yantras, Pyramids & all other types of Remedies. Volumes have been written about them. But do they really work and yield results? If no, Why? And if Yes, How? Read on for some critical facts not revealed earlier.

Symbols and symbolism are popular in almost every civilisation, culture and religion that has evolved on Earth. They are deeply ingrained in the way of our life itself. Symbols impact our subconscious mind and if their influences are strong enough, then they could stimulate confidence, effort and good outcomes. Whether we realize or not paintings, pictures, jewellery, statues, birds, animals and so forth have meanings and effect on us.

Mankind, after closely watching nature, events and environmental life over a period of centuries, has developed a vast and time tested database of Positive Symbols. When the geometric shape, size, meaning and their other nuances are properly understood and activated, it results in transmission/amplification of "energy" - the vital life force that governs everything in the Universe.

Some classical examples are Crystals, Pyramids, Vedic Yantras, Sacred Geometry, Maha Meru, Pancha Boodha Stupa, Vajra, Viswa Vajra, Rahu (Dorje Phurba), Fengshui Objects, et cetra.

Usage of positive symbols can alter energy flow and enhance the surrounding space. It is the easiest way to introduce positivism in our environment. They are normally categorised into 2 types : to remedy/cure a problem, to heal a situation; to act as a booster or enhancer to bring about harmony and prosperity. There are energy tools (like Crystals) that when placed (after processing), can dissolve negative energy and also stream out purpose-solving, high positive energy. These symbols, when processed and positioned correctly, will definitely yield results.

By creating an environment rich with positive symbolism that elicit positive thinking, focused minds, confidence and innovativeness, progress and prosperity will result. We will then become aware of the life force in the environment in which the energy had been altered by us, thus enabling us to empower it. This powerful symbolism will reinforce our energy levels to benefit in every aspect of our lives.

For example, a Black Tourmalene Crystal Pendant can balance the emotions and calm the mind; a pair of Pink Mandarin Ducks statuettes can bond a couple more strongly; a Viswa Vajra can protect one from negative entities; a Five Element Stupa can balance the five elements of nature and correct the vaastu/fengshui energy of land and building; a set of Sailing Ship Coins can instigate cash flow in Business; a Pyramid can accumulate Positive Energy; a Shri Yantra can remove financial blocks, a custom built Crystal Energy Field can bring in Health, Wealth, Harmony & Happiness, et cetra.

But how can merely the statue of a Phoenix bird bring motivation and new opportunities?

(1) The shape and design of the gadget determines the nature of the energy that the remedy can receive and transmit. (2) The raw material and size decide the storage capacity and life of the remedy, when energised. (3) Programming of the remedy defines the problem to be solved or the purpose to be realised and the Programming only fully dedicates the energy of the remedy to the purpose and binds it to the person.

It is thus important to realise that the remedy by itself is only the hardware part (like a computer). You have to supply the electricity (energising) to switch it on and keep it running. But ultimately you have to supply the proper software (programming) to make it work. Appropriate placement then completes the circle.

There are some who would argue that the "shape" of the talisman or remedy itself does signify a specific energy and hence does not require any other processing. Sure it does : that's why it has been selected as an energy tool. For example, the shape of a majestic Elephant does signify the energies related to strength, shrewdness and long memory - but that alone is not sufficient. The image or statue should definitely be energised in ways where it stores enough to last for a few years, not weeks. Then the stored energy should be programmed as to whom and for what purpose it should work. The programming also helps the remedy from being corrupted from the onslaught of negative energies that it surely has to face (on behalf of it's owner), once activated. This way, if and when the vital positive energy of the remedy is critically overwhelmed by negativity at one stage, the remedy simply breaks and declares it's inability to serve (it's owner) further, rather than damage it's owner.

Will a Laughing Buddha or a Crystal or a Yantra bought off the shelf give results?

The simple answer is a firm "no", if it has not been programmed and energised. Merely energising will not help. The energy needs to be stabilised, sealed and then directed through "specialised" programming.

In fact, the source of the energy remedies play an important role in determining the effectiveness. Many who buy the same Fengshui product from two different sources will find that one is working so well and the other may not. But they never bother to ask why that happens. The answer is subtle, the source determines the "root energy" stored in the products.

(1) It is a key element (the root energy) that the qualified expert (who is going the sell/channel the remedies) checks before selecting. Then the products are (2) cleansed (of negativities that arise during manufacturing/changing hands), (3) instilled with auspicious and positive energy and (4) kept in proper storage area that has a strong positive energy belt before being sold. Finally, when sold, (5) the expert programs the remedy to the purpose and the user and explains the (6) ideal placement of the energy tool in his/her place.

Good question - why indeed? To answer it we need to go back to basics but also, by answering it, a whole avalanche of questions open up, so let's start at the beginning.

1. It is hypoallergenic, which in short means that very few people have skin so sensitive that they will react to it - unlike gold or silver where reactions are quite common. A lot of customers come to us with this problem and are very pleased when they find that they have the opportunity to wear an item of jewellery that not only will cause them not to break out in lesions of Biblical proportions, but also looks stunning when inlaid with gold, platinum or diamonds.

2. Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance due to the fact that when it is scratched or machined, the surface forms a protective oxide layer almost instantaneously. This accounts for the reason why it does not lose its colour by tarnishing like gold or silver does.

3. Strength to weight ratio - Titanium is as strong as steel but with around half the weight making rings made from this material some of the most comfortable to wear. Design also plays a big part in the comfort of a ring as well of course, GETi rings are shaped for comfort and highly polished on the inside which makes them some of the easiest to wear. Many people apprehensive about wearing a ring quickly grow accustomed to wearing one of ours, this is especially true due to the fact that the majority of our rings can be modified in wall thickness and width to the personal requirements of each individual.

4. Long lasting - Titanium rings will last a lifetime if not seriously abused with hammers and spanners, but, on the other hand, they are not Kryptonite and will show signs of wear in time. Small scratches will appear quite quickly as with rings made from gold or silver and the same rule applies to Titanium rings as to precious metal rings - if you buy a polished ring it will dull down, and if you buy a satin ring it will polish up, meeting somewhere in the middle. Refurbishment of your ring is quite straight forward to us because we specialize in Titanium. Buying your ring from a GETi stockist either online or from a 'bricks and mortar' gallery ensures the best possible service with regard to sizing and refinishing. We do not recommend internet auction sites or major high street jewellery outlets for your ring. A lot of these stockists import their rings from the Far East and their knowledge of the product is very limited. Also please be advised that some rings with what appears to have a reasonable solid gold inlay only have sections of thin gold plate on them - this will wear off very quickly. Please contact us for details of your nearest GETi stockist to avoid disappointment.

5. And finally ("At last!!" I hear you all cry) the answer to the question - Why buy a Titanium ring? Why not? - dare to be different. Titanium is a new, exciting material and can be enhanced with gold, platinum, diamonds or sapphires to make it as bold as you like Your ring will command a lot of attention and if the novelty wears off - just get a divorce and buy a new one!!

Cinderella is a popular Christmas pantomime. It’s a heart-warming tale where the handsome prince whisks the girl off her feet and saves her from her evil stepmother and the ugly sisters. There's a lot of fun with Buttons and all the 'He's behind you' traditions of a Christmas panto.

Cinderella of course looses her Glass Slipper, which is how her handsome prince eventually finds her. Every would-be princess should have one of these cute Cinderella slipper jewellery boxes, however this one is made from card and plastic not glass.

All you will need is: Thin card, A clear round plastic bottle, paint, glue, pegs, Selotape and fur fabric. Don't forget to print out the pattern for the pieces (the link below will take you to the pattern that you can print out).

Cut out the pattern pieces

To begin, the main part of the slippers needs to be cut out. Fold the piece of card in half and draw around the pattern piece with the 'toe' of the pattern on the fold of the card so that the main piece turns out to be a long symmetrical piece. Join this piece in a loop with some selotape at the heel. Curve the toe and heel as necessary to form a shoe shape. Curve the toe end and cut out a slipper sole from card using the pattern and score the fold marks. Now fold them. These folds allow the sole to fit around the shaping of the main part.

Put the sole in place on the bottom of the slipper and hold it in place with some selotape.

Cover the outside of the slipper with one layer of paper mache, to give the slipper a nice surface to paint. Once the paper mache is dry, paint the slipper in the desired colour.

Cut out a second main part, but this time put the heel on the fold. Cut out this piece to be slightly smaller all around.

Stick this main part onto a piece of fur fabric which is 1cm larger than the card all round, except at the heel shaping. Put some glue on the over hanging fabric and bend it over the card and stick it on the other side of the card. Use pegs to hold it in place until the glue dries.

Cut out a second card sole (again cut out this piece to be slightly smaller all around) and cover one side of it in fur fabric as you did for the main part. When the glue is dry remove all the pegs. Glue the fur sole inside the slipper at the bottom. Then curve the fur main around and glue it in place inside the slipper.

To make the top of Cinderella's slipper cut out a top piece in card and paint one side the same colour as the base. Cut out two more slightly smaller top pieces. Cover one with fur fabric as you did with the other slipper parts and leave it to dry.

Cut the top and bottom of a clear round fizzy drinks bottle and cut up the middle so that the bottle opens out flat. Wash and dry the bottle. Selotape the slipper upper to the plastic and cut it out.

Glue the marked part (Sticking Edge) of the slipper upper so that it curves round and sticks to the underside of the painted top. Use bits of Selotape to hold the plastic in place until the glue dries. Stick the third top piece over the selotape and bottle bits. Hold in place with pegs.

Finally, stick the fur-covered top on the underside of the top piece with the plastic. This is now the lid to the Cinderella jewellery box.

A diamond solitaire ring is a ring with only one diamond and nothing else to distract the attention from that magnificent solitaire stone. A solitaire ring loves to seek attention by its wearer, and not crowded by its competitors as, a solitaire enjoys standing all by itself well grounded in the ring and boosting its beauty to its wearer. Solitaire diamond represents
ultimate in jewelry, so the size of a solitaire has to big to stand and jut out from others. Solitaire is a summary of magical and divine love.

A diamond solitaire is well known for its clarity, cut, setting and its modesty yet aggressiveness. It strives to make a direct place in your heart by cutting down the competitions from all the sides; it loves to fight for its dignity and right. A solitaire diamond ring is timeless and classic when a single stone is placed in a ring, which makes the ring simple, elegant and comes in a variety of shapes to complement any woman's fashion sense.

The solitaire ring will glorify the beauty of the diamond, so the size of the solitaire plays a very important role and it has to be in proportion to the size of the bride. The solitaire is the traditional ring style but you can find a great variety within the shape of the stone and the color of the setting. Round cuts are probably the most popular and are always in style but there are others to choose from too. The shape you choose is purely a matter of personal taste.

Coral is the skeletal remains of a marine animal, the polyp corallicum, and is mainly composed of calcium carbonate. The most valuable type of coral is the noble red, Corallicum rubrum. Since Corals are calcified skeletons of sea creatures, they grow in formations resembling the branches of a tree. Most coral used for jewelry comes from the Mediterranean Sea or from the Pacific Ocean near Japan and Taiwan. Precious gem corals are formed deep undersea. A distinctive feature of the precious corals is that they take a perfect polish. In their natural state, corals have a tree-like appearance, which allows the maximum number of polyps to be fed by nutrients in the water surrounding the colony.

The color of coral ranges from white to red. It grows in branches that look like underwater trees. Beautiful coral jewelry is made and worn in many parts of the world. Coral in the form of coral stone and gold jewelry is among the most ancient of gem materials; coral jewelry has been made in many parts of the world and used for adornment since prehistoric times. Coral inlays and coral jewelry have been found from the Iron Age. Coral has a history of religious significance.

Located at a depth of between three and three hundred meters coral can be found along the shores of the western Mediterranean, Japan, Hawaii, Australia, Bay of Biscay, Canary Islands and Malaysian Archipelago.

History
Tibetan Lamas use coral rosaries. It is one of the seven treasures mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, Coral Jewelry like coral bangles, coral necklace , coral rings, worn against the skin, touching it, was long thought to be powerful talisman that could stop bleeding, protect from evil spirits, and ward of hurricanes.

The traditional center for the fashioning of coral is Torre del Greco, near Naples. It was Napoleon's Italian campaign, with its associated taste for all things Italian that heralded the fashion for carved coral jewellery. The rose pink variety became at this time the most sought after.

During the 1860's coral beads and ovoids were set into gold brooches, much like turquoise had been. In the 1870's coral was combined in bloomed gold brooches with diamonds and emeralds.

Care
Corals are delicate gems and should be taken proper care of. To clean Coral jewelry, wipe it gently with a moist soft cloth, as Coral is much softer than other gem materials with a hardness of only 3.5. As a result it should be stored carefully to avoid scratches. Coral is also porous so care should be taken to see that coral jewelry does not come in contact with any chemicals.

Precious coral jewelry is the oldest form of gemstone jewelry with pieces as old as 25,000 years in museums. It predates the later use of pearls. Each coral gemstone color has its own distinct quality. Black coral is exotic and dramatic and has long been considered to guard against misfortune. Pink coral is delicate and is said to bring good health. Red coral is best described as rich and romantic and can never go out of fashion.