The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane organization to be established in the Western Hemisphere, and now has more than one million members. A non-profit organization, the ASPCA aims to provide means for the prevention of cruelty to animals across the USA, through methods such as humane education, shelter outreach, animal-assisted therapy and ...

For Brazilian designer Carla Amorim, what started out as a hobby became a successful career and a lifelong passion for jewels and adornments. Born in Brasilia, Carla uses the futuristic architecture, varied culture and exuberant nature of her home city as inspiration for her works, alongside her catholic faith. Initially a hobby whilst she studied for her bachelor’s degree in languages from ...

If you have shopped any jewelry store you have most likely asked the question,  ”What type of stone is that?”  The salesperson says “that’s a created ruby”.  Maybe you asked what that meant by created, or maybe you did not.  Either way you may not get the right answer.  A lot depends on the amount of training the saleperson has received on colored stones.  I hav...

Born in into a family of jewelers, Carl Blackburn is a California-based designer that has been building his career and reputation since the late 1980’s. Over the last two decades his company has gone from a one-man operation to internationally recognized brand that produces high quality jewelry. Since 2003 he has been operating an artisan’s studio, and producing iconic pieces that are ...

Watch this before you sell your gold! I thought this investigation was a great way to show the difference between gold buyers.  All these buyers are going to receive the same amount from your gold.   I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again “go in with a plan” and shop around. ...

The last few years has seen the emergence of Singelringen - the first ever unisex ring for singles. Launched just four years ago, the ring has since sold over 250,000 units worldwide, and due to huge demand the makers of Singelringen have now launched an entire collection of single’s jewelry. Singelringen was founded in Sweden in 2005 by entrepreneur Johan Wahlback. He noticed that engagemen...

You’ve seen them online and in the jewelry stores, those jet black faceted stones with a mirror like reflection.  Some can be mistaken for Hematite but they’re not.   They’re black diamonds ,or carbonado, which is their technical name.   Personally, I have never really been a fan of the black gems, but I will say when used properly they can be very dramatic.  The interesti...

Dawn Rhodes is a renowned polymer clay artist who has been creating beaded jewelry for over seven years, and is the founder of SHADES Jewelry Designs. Dawn is semi-self-taught. Her jewelry making interests began a few summers back when she created her own seed bead bracelets, and cross necklaces using beads and charms, which she then gave as Christmas presents to her friends and family. The gifts ...

Over the past few years the art of making your own jewelry has become more and more popular around the world. This can be attributed to a number of reasons, but the primary factors are the relatively low cost of producing your own pieces, and the uniqueness of the item that you are creating. Mass produced jewelry and accessories can be found in shops everywhere, and in a desire to stand out from t...

Gemstones are favorites among jewelry fans.  They come in a wide array of colors. Some are bright and bold while others are soft and soothing. About 2,000 years ago, writers paired gemstones and their attributes to the months of the year and to the signs of the Zodiac.  It was then that the mythology of birthstones began to evolve.  Many gemstones were believed to have medicinal and mystical...

 Just like anything you wear your jewelry needs occasional cleaning.  There are two ways you could do this.  Take it to a jeweler to clean it, or clean it yourself.  The jeweler uses machines that cut down on the time it takes to clean your bling.  First they would put it in an ultrasonic cleaner which loosens any dirt and oils that might find their way into the design.  Then, they would ...

Since I have been in the jewelry industry for more than 30 years, I think I am qualified to tell you a thing or two about what you should know before you buy jewelry.  One thing that just about everyone looks for is the best “deal”!  Now, if you were to tell me you wanted the best deal, I would ask you what that means to you.  You see, to some people, the best deal is all about pri...