Fashion Costume Jewellery

Archive for the ‘costume jewellery’ Category

What do you think of when you hear the word “jewels”? My first thought is to the Crown Jewels held in the Tower of London. I love to go through the exhibition every time I am in London. I especially love the travellator section where everyone pushs to gain the best vantage point! Everyone loves viewing such exotic and amazing creations.

One step down from the Crown Jewels must be the great jewellery houses of the world – think Harry Winstone, Tiffanies and Freds. High quality, highly creative and highly priced beautiful jewels.

Now picture a young girl luxuriously pulling our beaded necklaces from an old jewellery box. That feeling of ownership and mastery over such valuables is priceless.

The majority of grown-up people, of course, just don’t have either any chance of owning the Crown Jewels or of shopping at Freds every week! So what does the word “Jewels” mean for us? For me, colourful jewellery like the larger and glamourous cubic zirconia come to mind. Diamond like iin their appearance, the cubic zirconia sparkle and shine and when deep, rich jewel tones (like Ruby and Amythst) are added – well, wearing a piece like this just feels like a million dollars.

Do let’s be honest, it is not what you spend on your jewellery that matters, it is how you feel when you wear it.

For me, buying a well made but not expensive cubic zirconia item (like the bracelet above) means that I don’t have to feel guilty when I have worn it once too often. The quality finishes (like rhodium and gold plate) mean my inexpensive jewellery will last quite a number of seasons.

What does the word “jewels” mean to you?

Gemstones have long been classified with fine jewellery – think Elizabeth Taylor, Indian Rubies and Brazilian Emeralds! Fashion Costume Jewellery comes of age when fine gemstones are set in an affordable jewellery piece and the aura of the gemstone is available to all.

Freshwater pearl and aventurine necklace

I love the feel of freshwater pearls and the resonance of gemstones – so why not combine them? Check out this stunning necklet – made from freshwater pearls and aventurine. The amazing green of the aventuriine contrasts wonderfully with the vanilla pearls. This piece will make you feel like a movie star - and isn’t that what it is all about? Fasion Costume Jewellery should have (I believe) clean lines, fresh colours and style.

When dressing for the occasion – matching earrings are a must – so here they are – dressy, classy and decidedly with a feeling of wealth and the good life!

Amethyst pendant

For those with a hankering to the unique, consider a handmade silver pendant (or 12K Gold filled) that is one of a kind. Pieces such as those pictured here are the ultimate in personalised jewellery, artisan made, one of a kind, incredibly well priced fashion costume jewellery. This first piece is a wonderful amethyst, mined in Western Australia, its deep purple hues reflect beautifully with the sterling silver.

Back of Amethyst pendant

Look carefully at this piece (front and back views are shown) the artisan uses only a pair of pliers and his hands to create these pieces from gemstones and sterling silver wire or 12K gold filled wire. So where does he start and finish?

Opal and Black Onyx Cameo Pendant

Or check out this amazing hand carved cameo opal on a black onyx base again finished in sterling silver wire. Beautiful!

These gemstone jewellery pieces are unique and will occasion many compliments (and starting at about $50 they are a bargain too!).

Different gemstones “speak” to different people; their touch and feel resonates in such wondrous jewellery – who would not want to wear it?

For more unique gemstone pendant necklaces please visit Rayclif.com.

Expressing our personal style and interacting appropriately with our fashion wardrobe is important. Fashion costume jewellery allows us to do so without breaking the bank or feeling guilty!

This time, let’s talk about costume jewellery rings. Consider the clothing you wear each and every day for every occasion and think about how we can coordinate our costume jewellery rings.

Hand made glass rings

Let’s start with your own time, are you wearing casual clothing – off to the shops or mall, out for coffee with a friend? Well, have we got just the thing for you – beautiful bright and can I say glitzy? The glass costume jewellery rings you see here are wonderful for brightening your day. The three colours in each ring allow you to coordinate or contrast with your clothing. Glass is such a winner, unless you drop it onto a hard surface or throw it against the wall, it will not break so your investment is secure for a long period of time (or until you get fed up with it!). The sheer beauty of these rings is that they are obvious – your friends and onlookers will be jealous of your jewellery.

Purple dichroic glass ring

Going to work and business meetings is a little different, you need your jewellery to be a little more conservative just like your clothing. So what rings do we suggest? You still need to feel good and look good without being over done. Check out the photograph of our resizable rings – these are a cool dichroic glass design with the cabochon being 10mm square. Dainty but colourful, bright without being glitzy, tidy without being boring. The resizable rings come in a gift box – so there is no need to worry about how to store and keep your ring free from tarnish.

This ring could take you through your work day and into the night.

Cubic Zirconia Ring

Costume jewellery should not necessarily be expensive but that does not mean it need not be really nice. 14K gold filled and sterling silver rings are available at under $100 and are stunning for special occasions. Rings are always visible and a special ring (I think) is a subconscious trigger to moving your hands more gracefully. What about the pictured 14K gold filled ring – this one has a 6mm tangerine coloured Cubic Zirconia stone, the stones are available in a number of colours so if the tangerine is a little loud for day wear a subdued blue or green may be more appropriate.

Now you can see what we mean by costume jewellery – jewellery that is appropriate to your “costume” or outfit whatever that may be – so why should our jewellery not be fashionable too?

Costume Fashion jewellery is a common term to describe jewellery that is designed to complement fashion outfits and other accessories. Because it is designed to be used with the current garment fashions the jewellery is affordable and stylish.

Costume jewellery is often made from alloy metals, glass and synthetic materials. Of course, it is also possible for well priced jewellery of this nature to be made from semi precious stones, rhinestones, cubic zirconia and  simulated precious stones too.

The alloys used in the fashion jewellery can include iron, nickel, copper, pewter, gold or silver plated brass and often sterling silver and 12 or 14K gold filled metals. The photograph to your left is a great example of semi precious components, in this case a beautiful hand cut opal cameo mounted on a black onyx background. To compliment the centrepiece is hand sculted 14K gold filled wire. Beautiful!

Naturally organic and natural materials may be incorporated into the jewellery especially costume necklaces and bracelets.

So what about alloy costume jewellery? Here is another example shown this time on the right.  These beautiful chandelier earrings are made from a silver plated alloy (the great triangular base) and the siam ruby and crystal clear beads are Czechoslovakian Fire Polish beads – always a great component due to their sparkly and bright nature.

We can attribute the rise of custom fashion jewellery to Coco Chanel who started to design and manufacture jewellery to match her outfits. The Art Deco movement during this time influenced the strong design factor within the jewellery. From the 1920′s onwards the manufacture of fashion jewellery has blossomed until today where a huge variety of jewellery styles is available.

In many cases, the value of fashion costume jewellery has increased over time – there is always a demand for well designed, well made jewellery.