Friday, January 25, 2008

A special bride deserves special jewelry

Wedding plans – read this before you buy your bridal jewelry

The most important day of your life, your wedding, needs to be an occasion that is remembered not just by you but also by the people who attended it. Every thing about the wedding needs to be perfect. Since you are the bride, the spotlight would be on you. And you want to be sure the attention is for “wow” sighs. Every thing about your look, from your hairstyle to your shoes (and every thing in between) is complementing your bridal look.

Along with all the things that are important for your complete bridal look, jewelry is an important factor. It needs to embellish your beauty and grace on your special day. It shouldn’t be too gaudy or too simple, just perfect. So how do you make sure that you’ve chosen the “right” jewelry? When considering buying your bridal jewelry, keep a few things in mind that will help you choose your perfect bridal jewelry.

The first thing to be considered is that the jewelry should match your bridal gown. The neckline of your dress is important in your decision of bridal jewelry. If the neckline of your bridal dress is high, you can choose a sleek chain with a special pendant or charm. If your wedding dress has no neckline and is strapless, your choice of bridal jewelry would then be a choker with matching earrings. With a low or open neckline, you could wear either a choker or a large necklace with complementary earrings. And with a wedding dress that is very ornate in the front, you could forget about the necklace part entirely and choose danglers or chandeliers for earrings.

Pearls have been the traditional choice for bridal jewelry. Pearls are elegant, classy, and have a timeless quality. No matter what the metal it is in - gold, silver or platinum - pearls can accentuate your features and add grace to your wedding dress. Pearls are available in different shapes, sizes and colors.


You could also choose to add color to your wedding dress with colored gemstone jewelry. Gemstones, on a backdrop of white brilliant diamonds look stunning. In fact, you could have your gemstone jewelry customized as per your wedding dress. Websites like Angara.com offer this special feature of customized handmade jewelry wherein you can also design your own jewelry. This special day will be treasured in memory and captured in photo albums for children and future posterity. You need to be proud every time you look back at it. So go ahead and style yourself for the most important day of your life.

Your wedding is special, so should be your look

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Saint Valentine’s Day: Consumers May Not Be the Only Ones in Loving Spirits

When you hear “Valentine’s Day”, what comes to mind right away? As humans, we associate Valentine’s Day, with bright red hearts, heavenly cupids, Hallmark cards, scented flowers and more often than not sweets for a loved one, including chocolate and candy. Traditionally celebrated around the world on February 14th, “V-day” is a time when lovers express their love for one another in the form of charity and gifts such as the ones previously mentioned. However, for many retailers (i.e. Both brick-and-motor jewelry stores, click-only Internet businesses, and etc.) this date can be one of the busiest times of the year, of course coming after Christmas.


Businesses around the world have transformed their shops into a Valentine setting, starting at least a month in advance. They have stocked up on new shipments far in advance to make sure no customer is left behind. Managers want not just to drive in business and bring in profit; he/she wants to build upon their previous customer relationships. They have committed themselves to researching the market beforehand. Instead of thinking about what was in, they have now changed their focus to what will happen. Marketing analysts have conducted experiments to see how personal taste has changed and customization has developed. Simple random sample experiments have been conducted to see how willingly will consumers pay to have the gift(s) fit the wants of their loved one. However, not all businesses will charge a premium or extra price for this custom process to take place. One great example of this is Angara.com. Customers get to decide and design their own jewelry. Representatives are readily available for suggestions and/or recommendations if permitted.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Cherish being in love this Valentine’s Day

There’s history, myth, tradition and lore about Valentine’s Day being the honoree celebration of love. In fact there are so many different versions of folklore that the real origin of the tradition is still ambiguous. But the fact remains that you celebrate this day to honor your love. Although, every moment you spend with your beloved is a celebration, this day marks a special gaiety. So even if you have been spending the whole year together; get ready for a gala event to mark your love on the 14th of February. And like with any party or special occasion, most of your creativity is challenged when it comes to gifts. So before you get wrecked out with the thought, here are great suggestions for creative Valentine's Day gifts that are sure to impress and surprise.

· Trust no one other than you - The sales folks at the mall have decided to spruce-up everything from boxer shorts to stuffed toys with red hearts, but that doesn't mean they make great Valentine's Day gifts. The best Valentine’s Day present for your beloved is a thoughtful gift. Take the time to listen to clues for what she or he really wants.

Most guys would rather prefer tickets to their favorite sport than a bunch of flowers, and many girls would rather have a diamond pendant than a calorie filled box of chocolates.

· Make jewelry special – Most of your friends might have already planned jewelry as the Valentine’s Day gift. But you go a step ahead and tell her how special she is for you. This Valentine’s present her customized jewelry – like a unique sapphire pendant that no one else has. You can find customized handmade jewelry at Angara.com. Angara is planning a Valentine’s gifts special section dedicated to lovers. The thought will be romantic and sweet.

· Make it personal – if you are planning to give a love card, include a hand written message. Or a hand made card with a personal message will be just great.

· Spend time with each other – however busy your lifestyle might be, or however tight your schedule might be, take out time to celebrate. This will breathe new vitality into your relationship. Take time to tell her how much you appreciate her love and care in life.

It’s not about the occasion, but it’s about the special moments and special thoughts that make memories to last a life time. So whatever you gift, however you spend your day, make sure you have made a heartfelt gesture. and she’ll be yours for life. Happy Valentine’s!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Loose Gemstones

The aesthetic appeal, magic and mystery have lured mankind since ages. Different cultures across the world have lore and beliefs associated to colored gemstones. In this day and age, natural gemstones are more of a fashion accessory, though the mystical symbolism remains.

What are natural gemstones?

A gemstone is defined as a mineral or petrified material that when cut and polished, can be used in jewelry. It is a mineral that is valuable, rare and often beautiful.



Minerals were forged beneath the surface of the earth over millions of years through the forces of heat and pressure, resulting in a distinct crystal form with an orderly pattern of atoms. This internal arrangement determines a mineral’s chemical and physical properties, including its color. Crystals are not necessarily formed only in rocks or beneath the surface of the earth; they are also formed within plants and animals. Such gemstones are called Organic gemstones (coral, amber etc.). Every mineral originates as a small crystal and “grows” as more atoms are added. A particular gem or mineral can be a variety of different colors, depending on impurities, also known as inclusions, in its atomic structure. Quartz, for example, is normally colorless, but occurs in a range of colors from pink to brown to the deep purple of amethyst, depending on the amount and type of impurities in its structure.



Gemstones are precious because the extreme climatic conditions and the nurturing inside earth’s womb for millions of years, are not just rare conditions but almost impossible to occur again. And this is the reason that the importance of gemstones is much beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal.



Of almost 4,000 different types of minerals found on earth, fewer than 100 are considered beauteous or durable enough to be used as gemstones. Of those, only around 20 are commonly used in jewelry. The traditionally included category of most valuable gemstones is emerald, ruby, sapphire and pearl. Because of their aesthetic appeal and glorious history, these gemstones are more valuable than other colored gemstones. Finest quality emeralds and rubies can sometimes be more valuable than diamonds of comparable size.

Gemstones are classified into different varieties, species and groups. For instance, ruby (gemstone) is the red variety of the species corundum (mineral) that belongs to the hematite (crystal) group. Varieties of the mineral beryl include emerald (green), aquamarine (blue), heliodor (yellow), bixbite (red), goshenite (colorless) and morganite (pink).



Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their aesthetic appeal or durability, or even change their color. Almost all gemstones are treated in some or the other way. Most of these treatments are permanent in nature and an accepted norm in the industry. Treatments do not affect a gemstone’s value.



Seeking quality

Akin diamonds, gemstones are judged by the "Four Cs" of color, clarity, cut and carat weight, with color being the most important consideration, by far. As a general rule for all gemstones, the better the color, the higher the value; better clarity and better cut are also valued more - and generally, the larger the stone, the more it will cost per carat. Even to an untrained novice eye, many of these types of differences can be seen when similar stones are examined side-by-side.
Other factors that may influence the price of a gemstone include whether it is available readily or is rare in existence; whether it is a rare fancy shape or a calibrated size; and sometimes the origin of the gem. For instance, sapphires from Kashmir or rubies from Burma command a higher price than their equivalents from other origins.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Choose jewelry that complements your style and personality

For women jewelry is not just an accessory but an important form of self expression, confidence booster and an integral part of their personalities. When a woman wears jewelry; she not only looks beautiful but also feels beautiful. But jewelry, like any other fashion accessory, has to match the wearer’s individual personality. This article aims at giving an overview on adorning the right fashion look.
To begin with, let’s discuss about earrings, because earrings according to me are the most integral part of a woman’s wardrobe. Women wear earrings almost at all times be it a day at the beach, a party or to the office. Earrings give a subtle hint about the wearer’s personality.



Choosing the right earrings depends on the place and occasion you want to wear it to. Choose something sleek and classy for office wear. For example choose diamond or colored gemstone studs. Colored gemstones with diamond accents also make a subtle yet assertive fashion statement. For a party or wedding, chose colorful and dazzling earrings that match you r dress. Gemstone earrings in lustrous colors combined with the brilliance of diamonds enlightens the face instantly. For a casual outing, you can choose something in casual and trendy designs. Pearls make for great everyday-wear. Pearls add to the feminine grace of a woman and are perfect fashion accessory for all occasions.

Different types of earrings available are dangles, chandeliers, droplets, hoops, studs etc. Dangling or drop earrings make the face look slim and long. These earrings adorn round faces very well. Chandeliers are great for parties and red-carpet occasions. Droplets in flirty designs complement any casual outfit and also go well with the holiday mood. Hoops and studs are great as office wear as these do not look flashy and still make a style statement.
Earrings, when worn with matching pendants, look stunning and give a sense of completeness.

Moreover, the thing with earrings is that they do not cost as much and you can never have enough. So, adorn a new look every time you wish to and make that lasting impression.

You can look for you perfect pair of earrings at www.angara.com. Angara also allows you to design your own earrings with natural gemstones and diamonds. So next time you plan to buy your perfect pair, design something that matches your unique personality and complements your style. Don’t forget, the jewellery you choose should reflect a little something of your personality. Happy dressing!