Category: Jewelry

Perhaps less well known than the more abundant Coro, Trifari or Napier costume jewelry, Kramer costume jewelry often used rare or unique stones in their jewelry.

First, a brief history: Between 1943 and 1980, Kramer Jewelry Creations was a family run business that produced some of the finest high-end costume jewelry. In the 1950s and 60s, Kramer manufactured Christian Dior designs, so finding a piece of Christian Dior by Kramer is a rare but rewarding treat. The Christian Dior pieces often used good quality clear rhinestones with larger blue or green center stones. Christian Dior designs can command higher prices due to the Dior name, but the Kramer quality and designs are just as wonderful as those without the name.

Unfortunately for the collector, much Kramer jewelry from the 50s and 60s was unmarked and had only a paper tag attached to identify it. If you do see a signature, it will most likely be Kramer, Kramer of N.Y. or Kramer of New York. Look for the signature on the clip of an earring, or on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet.

Other marks include the rare Amourelle from 1963, and Kramer Sterling which may or may not date from the WWII years when sterling silver was used in jewelry in place of other metals that were needed for the war effort.

Kramer jewelry is famous for its quality, and for the use of vibrantly colored rhinestones with creative settings. Radiant red and orange, striking dark blue, glowing topaz, and elegant black rhinestones, along with plastic decorations, gave Kramer jewelry great variety and style.

For the collector, I think a great place to look for vintage Kramer jewelry is at estate sales. If you havent tried it, this is a wonderful way to shop for vintage items of any kind. Check your newspaper and Craigslist for weekly listings of estate sales in your area, and sign up for the agents email mailing list for future sales. Often sales in older neighborhoods will have vintage costume jewelry for sale. Tip: On the last day of the estate sale items may be marked 50% off. The selection is best at the beginning of the sale, of course, but the best prices can be found towards the end.

As with any collectible costume jewelry, its important to be prepared: Bring a magnifying glass or jewelers loupe with you to check the condition of the piece. If youre buying for your own collection, and not for investment purposes, you may be more flexible with condition flaws. If its for investment, it must be flawless. Do you like the piece? Will you wear it or display it or just store it away to be admired from time to time? If the piece is signed by the designer that increases its value. Is the original box or tag included? Again, increased value is there.

Whatever your reasons, and just the simple enjoyment of having beautiful vintage jewelry is more than enough, become educated, do research, ask questions, and youll soon be able to spot vintage Kramer, or other designer costume jewelry to add to your collection.

In relation to purchasing the most appropriate engagement ring, we realize that this is as important as the marriage proposal, and it is likewise as critical as the wedding reception itself. Since this diamond engagement ring will probably be a gift that reminds you of some thing charming, a adored instant that you experienced, the diamond engagement ring must be not a single thing except fantastic.

It’s actually easy to get an engagement ring that you choose. You will find magnificent engagement rings over the internet and / or by looking at a local fine jewelry shop in your town, still this is the fact – when considering acquiring engagement rings, it really is not That which you be familiar with engagement rings, diamond rings and also the quality of platinum that matters, it’s actually Just who the engagement retailer is and also his track record in the diamond engagement ring industry.

It doesn’t matter how successful the engagement ring dealer is, a unethical diamond engagement ring vendor will usually attempt his/her best to trick anyone with regards to the condition and price of your engagement rings he / she has for sale. This is often to make certain highest possible gain. Even the most experienced and established diamond engagement ring retail merchant will be deceitful and may make an attempt to do this.

However, there’s many trustworthy diamond engagement ring vendors who’ll provide a fabulous offer even though you may know NOTHING with regards to engagement rings. Their very own emphasis is not to scam you. Though the most important attribute a honest diamond engagement rings company has is the fact they are wanting to present you with value for money and develop trust including a long-term partnership with you. They desire people to take the diamond engagement ring home, show it off to your relatives, after which offer good testimonials with regards to the place you got the diamond engagement ring and also precisely what a great price you got for that engagement ring. It’s actually to their benefit that you choose to buy one engagement ring, and return back for the wedding ring. It’s actually to their benefit that you choose to trust and possess confidence within them that you recommend the diamond engagement ring shop to your sibling, relative, aunties and uncles so that they might shop for their own diamond rings, wedding rings, and fine jewelry from their store.

Pretty much all jewelry retailers plus engagement ring vendors have access to the identical pool of gemstone and precious metal resources throughout the nation. The visible difference is inside the dealer and exactly how much profit they wish to earn by you for that purchase of the diamond engagement ring.

In the end, you should definitely check around and search a little bit more before you buy any diamond engagement ring. A lot of diamond jewelry merchants hold exactly the same or perhaps comparable (or even far better) design of engagement wedding rings and you may come across completely different savings for them someplace else.

Jewelry comes in all kinds of designs, styles and colors and seems to be an all-time favorite for women. Be it earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces or nose studs, the market is flooded with all kinds of variety. However, if you intend to buy jewelry online you can prosper from a variety of additional advantages. Not only do you save efforts and unnecessary legwork but you can get to see a wide range of collection at one place and simply make a selection and purchase online.

Jewelry has adorned women for centuries now and owing to the changing demand of women, you are sure to come across a variety of unique designs. As a matter of fact, most women tend to wear jewelry on all kinds of occasions. Even if it’s just a visit to the next door neighbor, most women would still adorn themselves with a simple necklace or ring.

When it comes to selecting jewelry for the right kind of occasion some of the best ways you have is to either visit the nearest store or buy jewelry online. If you go for the latter option you can easily compare different online stores with one another and make your purchase. A good website would always showcase their jewelry items in an attractive way and also list down the pricing and the kind of discounts you can benefit from. Well portrayed images can assist you in the buying process and remove any confusion.

While you do look for websites that offer the option to buy jewelry online, choose a website that has categorized their products in a user friendly manner. This not only helps save time but can also help you choose what you want in the first go. A well categorized and designed website definitely enhances user experience and you can easily make up your mind as to what to buy.

Another important aspect worth considering while you tend to buy jewelry online is to notice the payment gateway process. A good and secure website should make the payment process smooth and effortless for you. In case you still experience any trouble then a reliable website would always have a contact us or customer care section where you can find the contact details of the online store. Simply make a call and describe the kind of issue you have encountered.

Being a most popular type of jewelry used in the world today, silver is loved and worn by almost all kind of people. It is inexpensive and too soft to wear as jewelry. Though there are a lot of reasons for preferring a silver jewelry, on the other hand there is also a major drawback with it. Yes, silver tarnishes and turns black. It leaves dark black, blue, purple stains on your fingers, wrists and neck. It can even leave stains on your dresses and everywhere it touches. Okay, now what makes a silver jewelry to tarnish? If you say it is water, the answer is not precisely yes!

No matter, whether the silver is pure or mixed, nothing stops silver from tarnishing. When a sterling silver chain jewelry is exposed to the air and atmosphere, a chemical reaction takes place creating silver sulfate that happens to be the root cause for leaving the black mark on your finger or neck. It is the nature of silver to react to chemical and there isnt really much to do about silver tarnishing. However, by plating it with a thin layer of metal protection, tarnishing can be prevented to some extent.

Chlorine can be said the major culprit that causes serious tarnish on silver jewelry. Chlorinated water is everywhere and this is the reason for the misconception that water makes silver jewelry to tarnish. Polish would coat the piece and add a certain amount of limited protection. It is not just the chlorinated water that makes silver chain necklaces to tarnish but anything like wool, rubber bands, latex gloves, oils from your hands and fingers, ammonia, carpet padding, air pollution, perfumes, and hair sprays make a silver jewelry tarnish. Few food items like onions, mayonnaise, salad dressing, eggs and salty foods can even make silver tarnish.

You can prevent tarnishing by storing your silver jewelry in individually sealed poly bags or zip lock bags. Store it with under cute little silica gel packs that helps in removing the moisture from the air. Cleaning your Sterling Silver Chain Jewelry with warm water and drying it with a soft cloth after you wear it, will remove any oily residue and slow the process down as well. Some people also advise storing your Jewelry with chalk just because it absorbs the toxins in the bag.

Whether you buy costume jewelry for your own collection, for investment or for resale, its important to know when to repair a piece that has damage or missing stones, and when to walk away. Whether you intend to wear it, or plan to sell it as is will determine the wisdom of repairing it. If you plan to repair the piece and then sell it, be sure to factor in the cost of repairs to see if its worth fixing.

If you have a piece of costume jewelry that youd like to wear, but has loose or missing stones, or has other condition issues, what are the best ways to repair it so you can safely enjoy wearing it?

Ive found that some issues are easy to address, others require more time, patience and money, and still others benefit from the attention of a professional.

If youd like to repair your jewelry yourself, there are a few things you should invest in. If you dont already have a jewelers loupe, or strong magnifying glass, you should get one. I have two one stays on my desk, and the other stays in my purse, so I always have one handy, whether Im working at home or out shopping for jewelry. Another handy magnifier is one that straps on your head, leaving your hands free.

The most common problem I see in costume jewelry is with the stones rhinestones, crystal, glass or plastic, they may come out of their settings, be loose, or crack or dull. Older pieces may be set with glue that has dried and let the stone fall out. Its important to use the right kind of adhesive, and to not use too much. Krazy Glue or Super Glue is not recommended, as it may break down when attached to glass. Super Glue may be especially damaging to vintage pieces a film may develop if it reacts to old metal and plating. If you get it on the surface of the stone, its difficult to remove. Never use hot glue it can expand and contract with temperature changes and may crack the jewelry or loosen the stone. The best adhesive to use would be one designed specifically for jewelry, which can be found in craft stores and on jewelry supply web sites.

Be careful not to use too much glue when replacing stones. The glue will not dry properly, and the adhesive will flow out around the stone and onto the metal. I use a toothpick dipped in a little pool of glue to drop minute bits of glue into the setting, a drop at a time, using as little as possible.

Putting the stone back into the setting is a delicate process you can wet the tip of your finger to make the stone stick and then carefully drop it into the setting.

Save your old broken jewelry, or any unmatched earrings for their stones. You might find broken pieces at flea markets, yard sales and antique shops. Its hard to exactly match a missing stone, but if you build up a collection of orphan pieces, the right size and color just might be available. You can also access jewelry suppliers for stones. Keep in mind that whatever you purchase for repairs should be factored into the price if the piece is for resale.

One way to make old jewelry look new again is replating. Replating can be costly, and should only be done if you are keeping the piece for yourself to wear. Replating may diminish the value of vintage jewelry, just as refinishing antique furniture would decrease its value. An Internet search should provide the names of jewelry restorers in your area.

Now, what about that green stuff that you sometimes see on vintage jewelry? Some jewelry collectors simply pass on pieces that have green verdigris on them, as it can indicate corrosion that cant be cleaned off. You can try to clean it with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar, but if the metal is heavily coated and degraded, you may need to gently chip the green away, taking care to not damage the metal beneath. Wipe the piece with a damp cloth and let it air dry completely. You can also try the same process with ammonia. Be careful to never immerse the piece of jewelry in liquid, as the stones may loosen or discolor due to water getting into the setting.

Costume jewelry is made to be worn and enjoyed. Replacing missing stones and cleaning the metal will give your vintage jewelry sparkle and glow and many more years of wear.