College students will be selling very inexpensive jewelry via parties etc in campuses all over the US.
Thanks!

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Beads hold ancient roots, and their cultural significance can be traced to their early use in bartering. Beads served as a primitive currency, and they still retain their value today. In modern times they are found in the form of decoration as jewelry, rather than money.

In earlier times, beads were made from a variety of materials from fishbone right through to teeth and as cultures become more sophisticated, so did the materials that beads were made from.

In ancient days, people fashioned beads from a variety of materials. Early materials ranged from fish bones to teeth. As cultures grew increasingly sophisticated, so did the beads, techniques and materials with which they were created.

Today, beads are mostly used in jewelry making, textile embellishment and in the fashion industry. To yield a more “designer look,” crafters often choose glass lamp-work beads over plastic buttons in garments. Costume jewelers and makers of “fine jewelry” utilize a diversity of beads, which vary in intricacy of design. This adds a look of quality and uniqueness to their work.

Fine jewelry houses predominantly use precious and semi-precious gemstone beads; the Costume Jewelry industry more often uses beads made of plastic, acrylic, wood and glass. Skilled artists can use the inherent versatility and wide range of designs, manipulating beads in many ways to create their pieces. Endless stringing combinations, and a plethora of cuts and finishes ensures that beaded jewelry needs never look dull, boring or dated.

Recently, the home crafts market has seen an explosion in the use and sale of beads. For example, they used to serve exclusively as small, detailed embellishments for needle work projects. The last decade, however, has seen a surge of interest in beads. Accordingly, craft project hobbies (a.k.a. making classic jewelry, beaded candle holders, curtains, and wind charms) have also enjoyed increased popularity.

In fashion, there has been a resurgence of the “hippie Bohemian” look; people have consequently returned to using beads in the art of jewelry making. Beads have come to signify uniqueness in style and individual expression. They provide a new, modern look in fashion. In the 1970s, the public saw home made jewelry as a symbol of the “hippie” culture. Long strands of love beads were as interesting as things got. As the internet blazed into the forefront of popular culture in society, the jewelry making market saw direct impact. Now crafters may easily communicate with each other, sharing techniques and setting trends.

Ultimately, the bead charm bracelet is an example of how a classic, Bohemian theme can be applied to create a contemporary look. The charm bracelet made its first appearance in jewelry during the 1950s. It has remained popular ever since, but has been largely limited to classic jewelry lines in the form of precious metals.

The 1970s, for instance, witnessed a resurgence in popularity of Bohemian culture in fashion. It empowered home jewelry makers to use their love of beads to update the classic” look. Suddenly, charm bracelets with colorful glass beads were everywhere. One could see them on catwalks in high fashion, as well as on the streets. The home crafter could select from a large variety of beads to create his or her own style and unique fashion statement.

Styles come and go, but beads will always be in vogue. Whether you prefer an elegant, long string of pearls or a plastic stretchy bead bracelet, the bead is here to stay.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/clothing-articles/beading-in-high-fashion-and-everyday-wear-718603.html

Ruby the blood red colored gemstone is a rare beauty. Ruby is believed to be from the family of corundum. There are basically two types of corundum. One is ruby and the other is popularly known as sapphire. There are subcategories of sapphire too. Ruby is the red corundum which may be transparent or translucent and it is very hard. It is chemically aluminum oxide and the red color is contributed by the presence of chromium oxide. The depth of the color may vary from medium to deep and the tone of the color may vary from red to deep red purple.

There are a few famous varieties available in the market. Of all of them Burmese ruby is considered to the most expensive and rare. It is deep red in color with a touch of blue commonly referred to as pigeon’s blood and is a very fine variety of ruby. There are Sri-Lanka rubies too. These semiprecious stones are mined on the Ceylon islands. They are bright red in color and very pure. The other category is of Thai rubies which are characterized by deep red color with brownish tones reflected in it and at times resemble the garnet. The last variety is of African rubies which are of purplish red color and are very small in size.

Ruby is a very precious buy and there are few factors to be considered before investing in them.

1. The foremost thing to be considered is the color of the stone. The deep red showing purplish overtones are considered to be more expensive than the one with brown overtones. Moreover the rubies reflecting orange overtones should not be considered much.

2. The cut of the stone is another decisive factor and it should be as close to the original shape of the stone as possible. Cutting also decides the appraisal of the stone and therefore cutting flaws like striations and pitting should be as minimal as possible.

3. The weight, brightness, shape are the other few factors to be considered while judging the stones.

Jewellery like choker, tiara, pendent, ear rings, necklace made in ruby are very exclusive. Rubies studded in silver and gold, look equally good and when ruby is used in combination with other gemstones then the sight is enthralling. The value of the jewellery made out of ruby depends a lot on the size of the gemstone and the material in which it is embedded. Consequently the ruby with gold is costlier than ruby in silver. Similarly if ruby is used in combination with other gemstones then here too the price varies. Rubies are generally used in combination with diamond and this item of jewellery is quiet expensive.

Ruby is rarely available since it is not mined much across the world. There are synthetic rubies too available in the markets, which are cheep but one has to decide the purpose of buy. If one is only interested in costume jewellery then a fake ruby is a wise investment. But for collectors and wearers of precious gemstones, a pure ruby is like a breath of fresh air.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/clothing-articles/beauty-and-evaluation-of-the-birthstone-of-july-ruby-and-ruby-jewelry-750616.html