© Flowers in Love 2010
Your wedding jewellery is the most important and most carefully purchased jewellery you will ever buy. You want it to sparkle with quality, look beautiful on you, and keep looking great for many years - so don't use cheap and nasty imitation jewellery!
All my necklaces, earrings and bracelets are carefully handmade using the finest .925 sterling silver and genuine Swarovski crystals and pearls. There are some items (hairpins, tiaras) where sterling silver materials are either not available in that item, or would be an unnecessary expense for you, as these items are less likely to be worn much. In these items I use non-tarnish silver or gold tone wire.
All my necklaces, earrings and bracelets are carefully handmade using the finest .925 sterling silver and genuine Swarovski crystals and pearls. There are some items (hairpins, tiaras) where sterling silver materials are either not available in that item, or would be an unnecessary expense for you, as these items are less likely to be worn much. In these items I use non-tarnish silver or gold tone wire.
STERLING SILVER
SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS
SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL PEARLS
MIYUKI JAPANESE SEED BEADS
SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS
SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL PEARLS
MIYUKI JAPANESE SEED BEADS
925 sterling silver jewellery is actually a combination of 92.5% silver and
usually 7.5% copper. Why add the copper? Because pure silver is extremely
malleable and therefore can easily damage. It also softens over time, even
at room temperature. Obviously, in this state silver is too soft for jewellery
purposes. To avoid the problems of malleability and softening, and thus to
increase the life-span of your silver jewellery, other metals are added to the
pure silver. The result of this blending process with alloys is a beautiful silver and alloy substance which is far more resistant to scratching and damage. Sometimes the craftsman replaces copper with another material, or even a combination of materials. Over the last decade lower copper prices and an abundance of copper due to improved refining techniques have made it the first choice of many designers and jewellery stylists.
The beneficial properties gained by adding the copper to the pure silver have made the resulting product extremely popular with a host of silver craftsmen. Earrings, rings, bracelets and all other forms of jewellery can be carefully designed with the assurance that each intricate bend and turn will remain firmly in place.
925 silver is therefore a combination of mostly pure silver and a lower percentage of infused alloy metal. The addition of copper, or occasionally a similar copper-like substitute, helps to enhance your silver jewellery and does not in any way detract from its quality.
* Read about how to care for your 925 sterling silver jewellery *
Swarovski beads are made in a factory in Wattens, Austria. The world
famous beads are created using a formula perfected by Daniel
Swarovski and his three sons. Daniel was an Austrian inventor and
businessman who founded his company in 1895. Swarovski was inspired
by the International Electric Exhibition to create a precision cutting
machine able to produce finely crafted crystal beads in large quantities.
Swarovski Components is still renowned today for the brilliance, clarity,
and uniformity of its crystal beads.
All Swarovski crystal beads are fired using a combination of quartz sand and natural minerals, then cooled slowly to avoid causing stress to the crystals. The formula for Swarovski crystal beads is made from a minimum of 32% lead (compared to competitors 24%). This full lead content as well as the secret manufacturing process, produces high quality Swarovski crystal beads with a diamond like brilliance which makes each bead optically pure, or flawless to the eye. Swarovski's signature colors are created during a slow heat-controlled process as different chemicals are added. The beads are further transformed by the addition of different finishes or coatings on part or the beads' entire surface.
So Why Buy Swarovski?
These crystal beads and other components are the finest quality in the world. You can be assured that by using beads with the Swarovski name you will be recieving the best quality man-made crystals in the world
What sets Swarovski Crystals apart from crystals from other manufacturers for decades is their flawless precision cutting, polishing and full lead content. The clarity and cut of these Austrian crystal beads allow light to pass through and reflect in a prism of colors, giving a brilliance that surpasses all other crystal beads.
The Swarovski pearl, also known as the Swarovski Crystal pearl, is an
imitation pearl that is created by using a Swarovski crystal at the center
rather than a plastic bead. Using crystals rather than plastic beads yield
a surprisingly realistic imitation pearl. These simulated pearls come in a
variety of sizes and colors.
Because each pearl is created by using a Swarovski crystal bead, it is easy to attain the perfect size and weight. Once the properly sized crystal spheres are selected, each sphere is layered with several coats of mother of pearl. The crystal base at the center is the factor that sets these imitation pearls apart from others. Each completed Swarovski pearl exhibits a more luminous appearance than other imitation pearls.
Many simulated pearls offer some drawbacks. Contact with perfume or perspiration can cause plastic imitation pearls to lose their pearl coating. Because faux pearls are easily scratched, cleaning them can be challenging. Swarovski pearls, on the other hand, are washable and are not susceptible to damage from perfume or perspiration. They are also resistant to scratches.
And as is the case with genuine, cultured pearls, the temperature of Swarovski pearls changes to reflect the temperature of the wearer's skin. Because this quality is one reason jewelry lovers cherish genuine pearls, the realistic color, luster and feel of Swarovski crystal pearls are major selling points.
usually 7.5% copper. Why add the copper? Because pure silver is extremely
malleable and therefore can easily damage. It also softens over time, even
at room temperature. Obviously, in this state silver is too soft for jewellery
purposes. To avoid the problems of malleability and softening, and thus to
increase the life-span of your silver jewellery, other metals are added to the
pure silver. The result of this blending process with alloys is a beautiful silver and alloy substance which is far more resistant to scratching and damage. Sometimes the craftsman replaces copper with another material, or even a combination of materials. Over the last decade lower copper prices and an abundance of copper due to improved refining techniques have made it the first choice of many designers and jewellery stylists.
The beneficial properties gained by adding the copper to the pure silver have made the resulting product extremely popular with a host of silver craftsmen. Earrings, rings, bracelets and all other forms of jewellery can be carefully designed with the assurance that each intricate bend and turn will remain firmly in place.
925 silver is therefore a combination of mostly pure silver and a lower percentage of infused alloy metal. The addition of copper, or occasionally a similar copper-like substitute, helps to enhance your silver jewellery and does not in any way detract from its quality.
* Read about how to care for your 925 sterling silver jewellery *
Swarovski beads are made in a factory in Wattens, Austria. The world
famous beads are created using a formula perfected by Daniel
Swarovski and his three sons. Daniel was an Austrian inventor and
businessman who founded his company in 1895. Swarovski was inspired
by the International Electric Exhibition to create a precision cutting
machine able to produce finely crafted crystal beads in large quantities.
Swarovski Components is still renowned today for the brilliance, clarity,
and uniformity of its crystal beads.
All Swarovski crystal beads are fired using a combination of quartz sand and natural minerals, then cooled slowly to avoid causing stress to the crystals. The formula for Swarovski crystal beads is made from a minimum of 32% lead (compared to competitors 24%). This full lead content as well as the secret manufacturing process, produces high quality Swarovski crystal beads with a diamond like brilliance which makes each bead optically pure, or flawless to the eye. Swarovski's signature colors are created during a slow heat-controlled process as different chemicals are added. The beads are further transformed by the addition of different finishes or coatings on part or the beads' entire surface.
So Why Buy Swarovski?
These crystal beads and other components are the finest quality in the world. You can be assured that by using beads with the Swarovski name you will be recieving the best quality man-made crystals in the world
What sets Swarovski Crystals apart from crystals from other manufacturers for decades is their flawless precision cutting, polishing and full lead content. The clarity and cut of these Austrian crystal beads allow light to pass through and reflect in a prism of colors, giving a brilliance that surpasses all other crystal beads.
The Swarovski pearl, also known as the Swarovski Crystal pearl, is an
imitation pearl that is created by using a Swarovski crystal at the center
rather than a plastic bead. Using crystals rather than plastic beads yield
a surprisingly realistic imitation pearl. These simulated pearls come in a
variety of sizes and colors.
Because each pearl is created by using a Swarovski crystal bead, it is easy to attain the perfect size and weight. Once the properly sized crystal spheres are selected, each sphere is layered with several coats of mother of pearl. The crystal base at the center is the factor that sets these imitation pearls apart from others. Each completed Swarovski pearl exhibits a more luminous appearance than other imitation pearls.
Many simulated pearls offer some drawbacks. Contact with perfume or perspiration can cause plastic imitation pearls to lose their pearl coating. Because faux pearls are easily scratched, cleaning them can be challenging. Swarovski pearls, on the other hand, are washable and are not susceptible to damage from perfume or perspiration. They are also resistant to scratches.
And as is the case with genuine, cultured pearls, the temperature of Swarovski pearls changes to reflect the temperature of the wearer's skin. Because this quality is one reason jewelry lovers cherish genuine pearls, the realistic color, luster and feel of Swarovski crystal pearls are major selling points.
Delica beads are one of the world's best miniature beads. They are perfectly
cylindrical in shape and have very thin walls, as opposed to the rounder,
thick-walled seed bead. They line up perfectly in with their thin walls and
large holes allowing for multiple thread passes through each bead.
Delica beads are an excellent choice in any jewellery design because they
are so precise. They make any pattern line up perfectly and give a clean,
crisp finish to any project. The beads are usually of excellent quality, and the color and finish ranges are fantastic to the point that some have become collector's items!
Bead for bead, Delica's average cost is about twice as much as most seed beads, but truly are worth it. Some colors are priced higher, since they contain either precious metals or use advanced glass making techniques,
Delica colors are legendary. There are several metallic coated Delicas that seem to cost a whole lot more than any of the other colors. On these beads, the glass has been coated with actual precious metal by a method that makes them very durable and they come in a variety of metal types such as 24K yellow gold, silver, 24K white gold, and palladium.
cylindrical in shape and have very thin walls, as opposed to the rounder,
thick-walled seed bead. They line up perfectly in with their thin walls and
large holes allowing for multiple thread passes through each bead.
Delica beads are an excellent choice in any jewellery design because they
are so precise. They make any pattern line up perfectly and give a clean,
crisp finish to any project. The beads are usually of excellent quality, and the color and finish ranges are fantastic to the point that some have become collector's items!
Bead for bead, Delica's average cost is about twice as much as most seed beads, but truly are worth it. Some colors are priced higher, since they contain either precious metals or use advanced glass making techniques,
Delica colors are legendary. There are several metallic coated Delicas that seem to cost a whole lot more than any of the other colors. On these beads, the glass has been coated with actual precious metal by a method that makes them very durable and they come in a variety of metal types such as 24K yellow gold, silver, 24K white gold, and palladium.
