Murano glass jewelry is made from original Murano glass. Murano glass comes from the Murano, the glasswork capital of the world in the 13th Century. Glass working technologies such as crystalline glass, milleflori, enameled glass, multi-colored glass, smoke glass, and milk gas all came from Murano.

The most popular jewelry made from Morano Ventian glass beads are Millefiori pendants. Millefiori, which stands for a thousand flowers, gets its name from several floral designs and geometric shapes, which build up its mosaic design. The mosaic appearance of Millefiori pendants is due to the designs of the glass rods themselves.

The glass rods are made of multiple layers of colored glass fused together making up a uniform design along the cross section of the rod. These designed rods are heated so they become soft enough to stretch, all the while maintaining its cross section design. Stretching the rods makes them easier to cut into the many small tubes, which are responsible for the intricate design of the millefiore. These tubes are then carefully laid out, piece by piece, in a metal ring, which may vary in both size and shape depending on the desired result.

Common shapes of millefiore pendants are sometimes hearts, stars, but more commonly just circles. Once all the tubes or disks are laid out nicely, the pieces are heated in a furnace to fuse. What comes from this is the completed centerpiece of the pendant. The pendant is completed by framing the gem in sterling silver or gold and then strung with a chain.

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Murano glass jewelry, as the name implies, is made from original Murano glass. Murano glass comes from Murano, which was the glasswork capital of the world in the 13th Century. Glass working technologies such as crystalline glass, milleflori, enameled glass, multi-colored glass, smoke glass, and milk gas all came from Murano.

Murano glass beads, which are more commonly known as Venetian beads, are made from Murano glass canes. These glass canes are made of 70% silica or sand. The rest of them are made of soda and lime, and some additives for lowering the melting point, extending its molten state, modifying its color, or perhaps prevent the glass from bubbling. The class canes are cut using a tagianti, the glass maker’s cutting tool for both glass and the copper rod used for holding the glass. The cut portions of cane are then melted using open flame lamps or blowtorches.

When glass becomes fluid, at a temperature of about 800F, the glass worker uses copper rods, now commonly copper mandrels, to scoop a small portion of the molten cane. At this temperature, there are times when embers of glass pop which can result in burns. Protective gear such as rubber gloves and glass shields are used to make the work safer. When a drop of glass is already stuck on the copper rod, it is still heated in the lamp and shaped using one of many shaping tools.

Once the shape is final, other decorations such as gold strips, silver strips, etc may be wrapped around or inside the glass. The glass is hot worked once more, then allowed to cool in a bed of silica called vermiculite. Once the bead is finished, the extension of the mandrel is simply chopped off, and using nitric acid solution, the embedded portion is dissolved.

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Murano glass jewelry is highly sought after throughout the world. The artisans that produce this jewelry are highly skilled and accomplished craftsmen with traditions dating back several centuries.

As with other kinds of glass, Murano glass is made from fine silica. The silica melts when exposed to high temperatures and becomes molten glass. After it hardens, it becomes solid glass. When glass is in its semi-molten state, it can be bent or shaped, stretched or packed, or hot worked in other ways.

To shape and work with glass as they do, the Murano glassmakers make use of special tools to get the job done. One of the main tools is the borselle, the name of the tongs, which are used to hand handle glass while in its molten state so that it can be formed, bent, and shaped accordingly. For creations which are meant to be containers, a tool called canna da soffio (blowing pipe) is used to blow the inside portion of the glass so it expands and adheres to the contour of its mold. The pontello is used with this tool to hold the glass while it is blown and after it is blown. It also makes it easy for the craftsman to add the final touches to the glasswork before it hardens thoroughly. The scagno is the glassmaker’s workbench. The final tool is the tagianti, a pair of clippers, which is used to cut through glass.

Having the right tools is not enough for anyone to work with glass as the Murano masters do. Hotworking glass is a very sensitive process, especially if your goal is to shape glass to create very attractive works of art. Considerable effort must be put into detail to make glass art look its best. If you wish to put things in perspective and learn just how difficult working with glass is, try heating up a small glass tube, then try stretching it evenly along its length without splitting the tube in two.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on bracelets and jewelry and visit our associated site articles for free.

Murano glass inherits its name from the master glass artisans of Murano from way back in the 13th century. Back then, glassmakers were regarded very highly, and were the most prominent people in society because of the monopoly in quality glass art, jewelry, and other accessories. This trend went on for centuries, but despite the efforts of Venice to contain the technology of Murano’s glass artistry, other glassmakers started to emerge in some parts of Italy.

Today, glass-working technologies are already widespread, but the finest glass works still come from Murano. Throughout the centuries, Murano’s glass masters have refined their techniques and were able to develop crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Make no mistake about it, the intricately-designed pendants, beads, and gems that are very common nowadays take a lot of work to make.

As with other kinds of glass, Murano glass is made from fine silica. The silica melts when exposed to high temperatures and becomes molten glass. After it hardens, it becomes solid glass. When glass is in its semi-molten state, it can be bent or shaped, stretched or packed, or hot worked in other ways. The time that glass stays in its semi-molten state before it hardens depends on the amount of sodium oxide mixed with the silica. Flux, or melting agents, may also be added to the mixture before heating so that melting is possible at lower temperatures than the normal melting point of the silica. Nitrate and arsenic are also added to prevent bubbling during melting so that the glass retains its surface texture. To add color to glass, additional reagents are included, like a gold solution to produce a ruby red color, or copper and cobalt solution to produce an aquamarine color. Glass is normally transparent after melting, but additional reagents may be added to make the resulting glass opaque.

The traditions of Murano and its glassmakers continues to this day and the fine jewelry that is its result is sought after throughout the world.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on bracelets and jewelry and visit our associated site articles for free.

Citrine, which is commonly dubbed as a gold topaz, is the most valuable form of quartz (although other forms of quartz such as red brownish quartz, and radiant yellow quartz are more sought after). This is because over the years, citrine has taken over topaz in both its name and use. topaz is a superior gem compared to citrine, however, the former is too expensive for general use. In reality, citrine has very little in common with real topaz, except for a few similarities in color. Citrine gets its name for the color yellow, and thus it is yellow quartz. Citrine is derived from the old French word “citrin,” which means lemon.

Yellow quartz does exists in nature although very rarely. It forms in places where Amethyst formations are near natural heat sources like deep in the earth’s crust. The synthetic production of citrine is also based on this. Amethyst is heated at 878F, although oftentimes heating manually may not always be uniform, thus the process cannot be perfected unless practiced thoroughly, which is why there are some occurrences of combined purple and yellow colors resulting from it. This form of quartz is called ametrine. Synthetic citrine is distinguishable for genuine citrine due to some burnt streaks, or in some cases some red tints left behind while heating. Genuine quartz is paler in color, and is usually dull and cloudy.

As mentioned, citrine is substituted for topaz. In this aspect, citrine has been known by many names like gold topaz, Madiera topaz (genuine Madiera citrine is valued very highly on its own), Brazilian topaz, and citrine topaz. Because of this connection, citrine and topaz have shared the role of being birthstones for November. Citrine is, of course secondary to topaz. Both stones are also believed to have healing powers.

Citrine is considered to be the stone of self of esteem, and is primarily used to prevent or treat feelings of anxiety, lack of self-confidence, and depression. The power of these stones is believed to be connected to the third chakra (spiritual energy). This kind of chakra is located in the area below the navel and is responsible for personality formation and personal well being. When flow in this area is blocked, a person becomes manipulative and greedy. If the flow is unrestricted, the effects of these negative attitudes are counter acted, making a person feel more confident and well rounded.

In effect, these stones have been believed to allow people to handle negative criticisms better, and also handle the pressure when dealing with problems in finances, fears, and other anxieties. They are also believed to improve the functions of the urinary, digestive, and circulatory systems, resulting in better health and prevention of ailments caused by harmful toxins in the body. Also, because of the stones’ effect to improve body conditions and emotional stability, the stones are also used to help people sleep if they suffer from restlessness, insomnia, and emotional unrest due to stress caused by personal problems. The stones can give people peace of mind and the soothing feeling of relaxation.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on bracelets and jewelry and visit our associated site articles for free.

Women are known for their love of jewelry. And why not – beautiful jewelry and accessories can adorn their ears, neck, wrists and ankles. The designs and type of accessories continues to evolve because of the constant demand. One of the most in-demand types and something that is often worn is the bracelet. A Bracelet is an accessory that is worn around the wrist (or sometimes the ankle – anklet). It may be made from different materials like leather, metal or cloth and, of course, gold, silver and pearls. Different types of bracelets are seen circulating around but one of the most traditional types – though less worn today - of bracelet is called the charm bracelet.

A charm bracelet is a kind of bracelet containing several pendants or trinkets adorning the chain. The pendants are referred to as charms. The owner of the bracelet herself usually handpicks the charms that are attached to the chain. Charms may also be given as a gift and can reflect the particular interests of desires of the wearer. Charm bracelets are often heard tingling because of the collision of the different charms attached to the chain.

A charm bracelet may still be popular nowadays but its history traces back to something more spiritual. During the ancient times, charms were worn to drive out evil spirits. People believed that when an individual wore it, they were able to cast away bad luck. Before, charms were not necessarily precious stones or metals. They could just be anything that a person considered to be a source of good fortune. Also, they didn’t necessarily put the charms in a bracelet form. They just made sure to take the charms everywhere they went.

Then the Egyptian Pharaohs started putting valuable stones into charms and in bracelet forms. They used charm bracelets as a status symbol. Aside from that, they also believed that charm bracelets could help the gods to guide the wearer ands allow him or her to have proper status in the after life.

The spiritual concept of charm bracelets started to fade during the twentieth century when Queen Victoria decided to use them for fashion. Then it was considered to be the age when charm bracelets started to be recognized as an item of fashion and not as tools for life.

After this event, charm bracelets continued to evolve as different kinds of charms became available on the market. During the 1940s, there was a craze wherein charms made from celluloid were collected by kids from gumball machines and candy boxes. Kids would collect these and string them into a beaded chain. During the 1950s, charm bracelets became a must-have accessory for women. Women used the bracelets to record important events in their life like their graduation, their wedding and the arrival of children. However, during the early part of the 1970s, the craze for charm bracelets decreased because the new fad was plain gold chains.

It was during the 1990s when a huge demand for vintage charms sprung up. During this time, charms were sold at a bigger price but still the demand didn’t go down. The fad for charm bracelets continued since fashion giants like Louis Vuitton brought back their glamour in 2001.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on bracelets and jewelry and visit our associated site articles for free.

The engagement is the first step of joining the two halves - man and woman - into one complete wholesome being. The engagement day is seen to be the beginning of a new life as a complete soul for both the bride and groom. You know getting engaged is one of the most felicitous experiences in everybody’s life, so make these beautiful moments unforgettable forever.

It is considered that prior to the engagement or marriage neither man nor is woman a complete entity. Engagement is a crucial stage for men and women. In women’s life it is one of the most significant psychological transitions. At one side the newly engaged woman often obsessed with fear, anxiety and sadness. And on other side a man has to get plenty of courage to ask for her hand in marriage. But if you a great mesmerizing engagement ring then your task becomes much easier. A unique looking engagement ring can make any lady ecstatic.

In any engagement ceremony, engagement rings always play a pivotal role for both men and women. A prized engagement ring will definitely bring a smile on your lady’s charming face and will be cherished by her forever. An engagement ring is a symbol of emotions such as love, commitment, eternity, honor, loyalty and promise towards each other. This inherently conditional gift is a great way to start your healthy marriage and to strengthen your relationship. So increases the quality and quantity of your love, relationship and dedication right from the beginning.

Now choices in engagement rings are endless like diamond engagement ring, pearl studded ring and gold or platinum rings. Among all these, diamond ring is mostly preferred by people due to its unique physical properties and look. Diamond ring can be made of gold, silver or platinum. While selecting an engagement ring, you should also figure out that what shape would your partner like better. And you can choose your favorite ring from these sparkling cuts that are round, oval, princess-cut, emerald-cut, Asscher-cut, marquise-cut, radiant-cut, pear-shaped as well as heart-shaped diamond cut . And among all, heart shape cut diamond ring is considered as most sentimental and romantic. So make your day extra special with these special rings.

If you are looking for engagement ring, then the best place to select your ring is no other than online jewelry stores. You can easily surf through different jewelry web sites that offer wide range of engagement rings at affordable prices. So choose your ring from this user friendly spot and bring extra smile on your lady’s beautiful face.

Author is an associate editor to jewelry website. The website is committed to provide visitors with complete information on jewelry products. For more information on engagement rings visit our online jewelry store.

One of the most precious gems we have is amber. It is a form of mineral but it is actually an organic substance. It comes as a resin from a prehistoric tree that has hardened by nature over a long period of years. It is then carved to make bracelets, necklaces, beads and earrings or other types of ornamentation. It has been used by ancient people for ornament and decoration - amber jewelry.

Amber gems are divided into four. The most abundant is the Baltic amber or most often called succinite amber. It was called succinite because it contains considerable amounts of succinite acid and most of it came from pine tree resin. Burmite (Burmese amber), Semitite (Sicilian amber), and Rumanite (Rumanian amber) are the other three groups of amber and these are considered rare and extinct. Burmite can only be recovered through mining and its principal colors vary from red to brown. Sicilian amber is recovered from an area around Simento River in Sicily and displays the darker shade of red while Rumanian amber shows the darker colors of red that looks like almost black in color. Some amber gems can also be found in Russia, USA, and Germany and even in Dominican Republic.

Amber is capable of being highly polished. It was a treasured jewelry item in Paleolithic people as well as Greeks and Romans – termed “Gold of the North” at the height of the Roman Empire. Many would be surprised to know that Baltic amber naturally occurs in 250 colors and can therefore complement virtually any color of clothing.

An example of amber with an inclusion is the one used in the famous movie “Jurassic Park”. Because of that film break, amber jewelry became more popular. Amber jewelry is now easily available on the open market but frequently embellished with other enhancement techniques to enliven and brighten the stone

For centuries, wearing amber jewelry was thought to bring good health to the wearer as it is thought to balance the person’s mood, and even lessen depression or anxiety.

Amber gems are divided into four. The most abundant is the Baltic amber or most often called succinite amber. It was called succinite because it contains considerable amounts of succinite acid and most of it came from pine tree resin. Burmite (Burmese amber), Semitite (Sicilian amber), and Rumanite (Rumanian amber) are the other three groups of amber and these are considered rare and extinct. Burmite can only be recovered through mining and its principal colors vary from red to brown. Sicilian amber is recovered from an area around Simento River in Sicily and displays the darker shade of red while Rumanian amber shows the darker colors of red that looks like almost black in color. Some amber gems can also be found in Russia, USA, and Germany and even in Dominican Republic.

Amber is capable of being highly polished. It was a treasured jewelry item in Paleolithic people as well as Greeks and Romans – termed “Gold of the North” at the height of the Roman Empire. Many would be surprised to know that Baltic amber naturally occurs in 250 colors and can therefore complement virtually any color of clothing.

An example of amber with an inclusion is the one used in the famous movie “Jurassic Park”. Because of that film break, amber jewelry became more popular. Amber jewelry is now easily available on the open market but frequently embellished with other enhancement techniques to enliven and brighten the stone

For centuries, wearing amber jewelry was thought to bring good health to the wearer as it is thought to balance the person’s mood, and even lessen depression or anxiety.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on jewelery and gemstones and visit our associated site articles for free.

One of the biggest decisions that you are going to make for your wedding is the choice of a wedding ring. While most of your wedding will be a one day memory, your wedding ring will be something that you will be wearing for the years to come. You want to make sure that you make a great choice so you will be happy with your wedding rings, both now, and in the future as well. The following are a few tips that will help you pick the perfect wedding rings for you.

Tip #1 - Start Shopping Early - If you want to be able to find the perfect wedding rings, you will want to make sure that you start your wedding ring shopping early. Some people may leave it until the last minute, but this may result in you picking out rings just because you are in a hurry, and not because you really love them. It can also take a few weeks to get your rings sized, and you want to be sure that you have your rings ready on your wedding day. If you start shopping about 6-12 months before your wedding, you will have the time to compare a variety of different styles and prices, to get a great deal, and rings that you adore.

Tip #2 - Decide on the Metal you Really Want - You do not want to be pressured into any specific kind of wedding ring, so you may want to decide what kind of metal you are interested in before you go out looking. Your choices will include gold, silver, and platinum, but the difference in metal will definitely be reflected in the price of your ring. Because platinum rings are so much more expensive, some stores may try to get you to purchase this kind of ring, but if you have your heart set on a gold ring, do not let a pushy salesperson talk you into something that is beyond your budget.

Tip #3 - Choose a Reputable Jeweler - Another tip that will help you make sure that you get the perfect wedding rings is to be sure to pick a reputable jeweler to purchase your rings from. You want to make sure that your rings are of the best quality, and you also want to be able to trust the person you are working with as well. If you are not sure who to choose, you may want to talk to some friends or relatives to find out what jewelers they may like, or even check out a company online to find out if there have been any complaints filed against them.

You want your wedding rings to last a lifetime, just like your love, and find the right ones is very important. Following these three tips can help you find the rings that are meant for you for a great price.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of wedding favors such as love coasters, wine stopper favors, crystal heart key chain favors and much more. So whether if you are looking for bridesmaid gifts or beach wedding favors we got you covered.

Garnet is the birthstone of January.
Garnet can occur naturally in colors ranging from orange to deep red, and also in shades of green. The Brilliance of the Garnet makes this gemstone a most prized possession. During the 18th Century , genuine garnets were considered the most treasured jewel to own, and it was worn by only the most wealthy and influential people. The hardness is 6.5-7.5. Garnet was believed to have magical properties- such as preventing skin diseases; assuring the wearer of love, faithfulness, & safety from wounds; protecting the wearer from evil & terrifying dreams! Genuine Garnets are found in Africa, India and So. America.

Amethyst is the birthstone of February.
Amethyst can be found in varying shades of purple. A top quality stone will be clear deep purple, with no flaws. The hardness is 7. The word amethyst comes from the Greek, meaning “not drunken, without drunkenness”. It was believed to protect from the effects of wine, especially if held under the tongue while drinking. (We do not recommend trying this!) Amethyst is mined in So. America, Russia and India.

Aquamarine is the birthstone of March.
Aquamarine is a beautiful light blue-green stone in it’s top color form. A nice stone will be clear, without visible flaws. Some commercially available aqua is treated with heat, to improve its color. Such treatments do not affect the stone’s strength, or value. The hardness is 7.5-8. Aquamarine is derived from the Latin, “beryllus aquamarinus”, meaning resembling seawater. It is traditionally a sailor’s talisman. Primary sources for Aquamarine are Brazil, Russia and Madagascar.

Diamond is the birthstone of April.
Diamonds can be found in almost every color of the rainbow, but the colorless stone has been the most popular for decades. The hardness is 10. The word, diamond, is from the Greek “adamas”- meaning unbreakable or indomitable. They were believed to render all poisons harmless & to drive away madness, night spirits, and evil dreams. They are mostly found in South Africa.

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