If you know someone that is likes football then what better gift could you give them than a football boots necklace. Made out of sterling silver they will really appreciate the time and care that has gone into making this quality piece of silver jewellery.

Silver has been known since ancient times and has long been valued as a precious metal, used to make ornaments, jewellery, high-value tableware and utensils and currency coins. Mined right back in 4000BC in Turkey which was then called Anatolia, the main source of silver now is from Peru and Mexico. To the Egyptians, gold was considered to be the perfect metal, and gave the symbol of a circle to it. Since silver was the next best to gold in terms of perfection, it was given a semi-circle for it’s symbol. This semi-circle later changed through time and led to a moon symbol, due to the similarity between the shining metal being like the glowing moon light. The Romans gave silver the name of argentum, which is still used today as the international name of the element, from where its chemical symbol of Ag comes from.

Commercial-grade fine silver is at least 99.9% pure silver, and purities greater than 99.999% are available. In silver jewellery a purity of 92.5% is used as above this and the silver jewellery becomes too soft and would not withstand everyday wear. This is where the term 925 silver comes from representing 925 parts silver out of 1000 with the other 7.5% traditionally made from copper. Silver is also mixed with gold to make white gold and is recently becoming more popular.

Amanda own’s Amandas Silver Boutique, a silver jewellery company based in the UK. Check out the online shop at www.amandassilverboutique.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/silver-football-boots-jewellery-1545733.html

If you know someone that is likes greyhounds then what better gift could you give them than a greyhound necklace. Made out of sterling silver they will really appreciate the time and care that has gone into making this quality piece of silver jewellery.

Silver has been known since ancient times and has long been valued as a precious metal, used to make ornaments, jewellery, high-value tableware and utensils and currency coins. Mined right back in 4000BC in Turkey which was then called Anatolia, the main source of silver now is from Peru and Mexico. To the Egyptians, gold was considered to be the perfect metal, and gave the symbol of a circle to it. Since silver was the next best to gold in terms of perfection, it was given a semi-circle for it’s symbol. This semi-circle later changed through time and led to a moon symbol, due to the similarity between the shining metal being like the glowing moon light. The Romans gave silver the name of argentum, which is still used today as the international name of the element, from where its chemical symbol of Ag comes from.

Commercial-grade fine silver is at least 99.9% pure silver, and purities greater than 99.999% are available. In silver jewellery a purity of 92.5% is used as above this and the silver jewellery becomes too soft and would not withstand everyday wear. This is where the term 925 silver comes from representing 925 parts silver out of 1000 with the other 7.5% traditionally made from copper. Silver is also mixed with gold to make white gold and is recently becoming more popular.

Amanda own’s Amandas Silver Boutique, a silver jewellery company based in the UK. Check out the online shop at www.amandassilverboutique.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/silver-greyhound-jewellery-1545736.html

Earrings originally came in two types of pendant or hoop design when they were first introduced in three thousand BC in Asia.

Earrings were buried with the dead in ancient times and the oldest known were discovered in graves in Middle East dating back to two thousand BC. They were not only made from from bronze but also gold and silver which they are still made from to this modern day.  The piercing of ears was the first known method of attaching jewellery to ears. The Egyptians used to literally plug the ears by stretching large holes into the earlobe and inserting earplugs into this space. This method whilst still used today by African tribes has been redeveloped in the western world into just small piercings for stud or drop earrings. There have been times in the past during the dark ages for instance that recession has meant that jewellery was made from materials other than precious metals due to cheaper prices. Designers however kept there designs safe and the Greeks once again pioneered the use of gold and silver for earrings.

When the Greeks invented earrings in the seventh century AD they would often feature intricate carved designs onto the earrings of there gods such as Eros or Nike. These symbols would take on the appearance of birds. When gemstones became a popular choice for jewellery in the second century the Romans decided to create earrings to use as a symbol wealth.

When hair styles became longer in the middle ages earrings became less popular to wear. Elaborate head dresses covered the ears so it was pointless for many people to bother owning a pair including married women who were regarded as immoral for covering there heads. Such ideas would be dismissed these days and earrings come in more shapes and sizes than ever before.

Things did change for the wearing of earrings when the Italians dictated fashion styles by introducing swept back hair styles which meant once again earrings were back in vogue. The rest of Europe eventually copied all be it one hundred years later in the seventeenth century. Queen Victoria pioneered earrings for women in the seventeenth century when they became extremely popular for fashion conscious ladies to wear as a fashion accessory. A heavy pendant style was the most popular of all during this time.

Due to the weight of these pendant earrings worn in the 17th century they were heavy and pulled the earlobes down creating unsightly large holes. Nowadays these issues have been overcome with the use of clever design as we don’t like earrings to damage our ears. In olden times earrings have been available for people whether wealthy or poor due to the vast range of styles that are made from less expensive metals such as silver or beads. This has been so from early days through to modern times.

John Lewis runs a website that features unusual earrings that are handcrafted in the UK.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/clever-designs-for-earrings-have-adapted-through-the-ages-1528106.html

Celtic rings are still a popular choice for couples getting married but modern fashions dictate contemporary styling and as gold gets more expensive to buy, alternatives have become an option for many such as titanium which is a brilliant choice when it comes to choosing mens jewellery. Tough, hard wearing and very versatile for design options.

Celtic symbolism was influenced by the many people they came in contact with such as Egyptians and the Vikings. When they encountered the Greeks they were known as the ‘Keltoi’ and in more familiar terms as the ‘Gauls’ in ancient Rome. This is how it came that the celts inhabited many parts of Europe from the 8th century to 1 AD.

The occupation of Europe was in two parts. Firstly between 750 and 450 BC in a region called Hallstatt that we know as Austria. They then settled successfully in France, Britain, Spain and Italy. In the years from 450BC to 50AD the second period covered a time of occupying Switzerland.

It was the Greeks and Romans that have taught us most about the Celts in earlier times as they both traded with them and kept books. The Celts themselves did not write anything down. We have however learnt from archaeological digs that they made there own cooking tools, weapons, pottery and also jewellery. Once the celts flourished more time was available in evolving there creative cultures such as art and craft. They became adept in working with gold, silver, bronze and iron. It is from these beginnings that celtic jewellery developed into the intricate designs we are used to  seeing today. There was a high level of skill used to create beautiful items such as armour and jewellery which were used for trading.

Celtic designers used iron compasses to create the varied designs however they were all based on circles intersecting one another. Wax was used to model the design on the object first to create a mold from clay which liquid bronze was poured into and left to set.

The celtic designs were influenced from the animal kingdom and plant. Shapes were crafted to looklike branches and most famously the symbol of the Isle of Man, the three legged symbol.

The celtic culture eventually transpired into christianity and there creative talents were used for religious books, most famously the Book of Kells. The beautiful designs were decorated in pictoral images in order to convey the word of god to those unable to read.

Modern design techniques and engineering skills have allowed us to transcribe these ancient designs into smaller intricate engravings for jewellery. These work none so more than on mens jewellery such as titanium rings. Using computer systems celtic engravings can be copied and digitally adapted in order to cleanly engrave using lasers. The ultimate combination of contemporary styling and ancient celtic design.

Written by John Lewis

Of Love2Have

Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer mens jewellery made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/celtic-art-and-its-influence-on-modern-day-mens-jewellery-1479789.html

Signet rings are kind of rings that usually has designs of coat arms, badge or logos through an engraved designs. It is called as seal rings. The engraved designs can be done in the metal band, gems or and kind of material. His type of rings symbolizes power and authority in recent times. It started from European countries as a sign of their noble status. Egyptians are also wearing signet rings which is cylindrical seals before that hung from their necks or arms as part of their history.

Both men and women wears signet rings. Using different materials such as metal bands indicate a persons status in life. For example, usage of precious metal band golds is for military or civil people and those who were free born citizens, signet rings made of iron for those who belongs to masses including slaves while silver for freed men. Up to this times, signet rings are worn as a sign power and position. The Pope wears signet rings a as sign of his highest position.

Nowadays, any person can wear signet rings. For men or women, for young and for old. College students and those who are engaged in fraternities and sororities are usually the one who wears this type of rings. They personalized it with their university logos and sorority badge. It is available in most jewelers worldwide and can be purchase right away nor order or personalized. Various jewelers sells all types of metals with limitless designs. Precious and non-precious gemstones and diamonds are popular. It can can be worn either at the left or the right hand fingers. Some wears it on their smallest finger.

Some people choose to wear this as a sign of their love and friendship to each other. With their personalized and own choice of designs represent their love for the art of engraving. Desirable designs such as initials, logos, coat of arms, skull and cross swords for pirates, animals that represents strength and freedom like lions and phoenix, flowers and butterflies etc. The most common precious metals are gold, silver, titanium and platinum. Shapes like ovals,squares or desired shapes for the engraved design is possible.

Latoya Jones is a writer and webmaster of Rokstok.com. She is engaged in composing articles related to engagement rings, Wedding Rings , Rings, wedding bands and diamond rings.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/signet-rings-1400655.html