Posts Tagged ‘Mass Production’

New Best Friend: Man Made Diamond Jewelry

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

There is not doubt about the value of a diamond jewelry. Over the centuries, man are trying to create the perfect synthetic diamond, something that will look like a diamond jewelry on the naked eye.

As early as 1893, there are already attempts in creating substitutes to diamonds. The first attempt to make a man made diamond was done by Frederic Henri Moissan which involved heating charcoal and adding pressure that caused changes from the graphite into a diamond.   But it was 1979 when mass production of diamond imitations became possible.  

De Beers was the first to coin the term, “ A Diamond is Forever” during the 1940s.   With this kind of advertising, diamond became the usual stone for engagement rings.  Before, during 1930s, engagement rings would usually have opals, rubies and sapphires for their stone.  The value of diamonds started to increase, so was the attempts to create a perfect synthetic diamond.

By 1955, General Electric produced small artificial diamonds which where of the same quality as industrial diamonds.  Synthetic diamonds were created by exposing carbon dioxide to heat over a metal surface.  The heat was created or generated by several lasers. Today, they are mass produced with production reaching as much as 100 tons every year.

Here are some lists of diamond imitating stones:  

• Rock crystals or rhinestones are crystallized quartz which can look like a diamond, however, they could get easily scratched.  

• Zircon is another kind of stone which could pose as a diamond.  By exposing the stone to heat, it could turn colorless making it look like quartz and diamond.  Just like rhinestones they could get easily scratched.  
• Cubic zirconia is called the grandfather of artificial diamonds.  As a diamond copy, it is synonymous with low-cot jewelry and not as a decent fashion accessory.  

• Russian diamonds are also cubic zirconia stones.  The difference is that they are of high quality and can cause about $280 per carat.  These stones are usually mounted in metal settings that are worth real stones.

• Moissanite is another kind of stone which is created or made inside the laboratory.  Just like a diamond, it is a hard kind of stone.  Although they are relatively more affordable than diamonds, they are still expensive.  Moissanite tends to give a greenish shade in natural light and may sparkle too much because its light reflection characteristics. These characteristics make it easier for some expert to differentiate a moissanite from a real diamond.

• Another best imitation of the diamond would be from the Diamond Nexus.  The Nexus and the real diamond’s characteristics are so close together.  The Diamond Nexus could cut glass due to its hardness and sparkle and can be just as brilliant as the real diamond.  Because they are just being introduced in the market, they considerably cost lower.

• Gemisis cultured diamond is another diamond copy.  The difference with the real diamond is that they cannot be made into a clear and white color.  

• Other synthetic diamonds would be strontium titanate, artificial rutile and spinel.  

There’s quite a number of synthetic or man made diamonds available.  Buying them is not illegal, but if the jeweller is trying to sell of man-made diamonds as real diamonds, then there will be a problem.  Which is why when buying diamond jewelry always ask for certification. If you would like to buy a nice present for a loved one but would like to stay within budget, then buying man-made diamond jewelry is not a bad idea.

Get more complete tips on choosing diamond jewelry, visit: www.diamondjewelry.getmytips.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/new-best-friend-man-made-diamond-jewelry-1625939.html

The True Meaning Of Bespoke Silver Cufflinks

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

It’s reassuring to know that Bespoke still survives in our age of mass production. But let’s not put aside the values attributed to producing in mass, the quality is evident and prices affordable, but there is something very appealing about knowing that some one is applying a personal hand to the product, individual attention. The piece is being made to order, so there is a lot of value in this, as it creates a story, which upon wearing can be told to friends and family countless times. And each time told adds more value.

What Is Bespoke

Let’s define the word Bespoke: Made to order, Made to measure, Custom made, Customized. This movement is still very strong in England, where family companies have survived since the industrial revolution and continue the tradition of individualising. This fits with human physic

Why Bespoke

Gifting can be further individualised through bespoke, going that extra yard to find and deliver something special for a special person in your life. However quality can also be found in mass production. Manufacturing production Technology is a very precise science and the quality is often benchmarked. In jewellery production the use of laser cutting technology has reduced tolerances to almost zero, something that cannot be achieved by hand. But it is the inconsistency in form created by hand that adds value, art is bespoke.

In Jewellery

Before and during mechanisation bespoke still holds a strong position especially in England where the craftsman survives in respect of his skills handed down through many generations. This heritage is also awarded to India; here is a culture that can straddle both cultures of Bespoke and high tech. In fact Indian Jewellery is considered amongst the finest in the world and one of the largest consumers of precious metals, gold and silver. Many renowned jewellery designers rely on the consistent qualities of the Indian craftsman.

A Classic Modern Day Bespoke Jeweller

When it comes to enamelling techniques England is still a world leader, this is particularly evident in steeped history of the Birmingham Jewellery Precinct, which thrives to this very day. One gleaming example is KJD Jewellers, a family run business founded in 1996 by Keith Davis, is the British manufacturer of some of the world’s finest cufflinks and expert hand enamellers of cufflinks and men’s accessories.

Continuing the tradition KJD uses real oven-baked enamel on all their products. Just like in the days of old from the Parisian gold snuffboxes of the 18th Century to Carl Faberge’s eggs of the early 20th Century, the same exacting standards of craftsmanship are followed.

Manufacturing in the heart of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, KJD Jewellers is a division of Toye, Kenning & Spencer, and a 320 year old family company who holds a Royal Warrant from HM Queen Elizabeth II for the supply of gold & silver laces, insignia and embroidery.

Textiles And Print And Silk Ties

The same is true in fabrics and textiles where centuries of silk weaving and silk screening have paid off in so much as international brands continue their loyal custom with these producers. The quality and Bespoke nature of the English rag trade, silk tie and men’s fashion accessory market lends itself to small orders and a personal touch. Just like Savile Row there is a marked demand for the return of handmade values, this puts England and India at the forefront of maintaining heritage while maximising modern technology in harmony. A way of sustenance in tune with environmental awareness.

An Interesting Historic Anecdote

The English silk weaving history is richly textured, but began only a few hundred years ago when Huguenots, French and Flemish Protestants fled their own countries. There were two main waves of Huguenot migration – in the latter half of the sixteenth century and towards the end of the seventeenth century. In all, over 200,000 Huguenots fled to the UK and Netherlands.

They possessed great knowledge of the textiles industries, especially silk making. The Courtauld family established a prospering silk industry at Braintree, Essex, while Huguenot weavers also concentrated in the Spitalfields area of London, which is also the area that Charlie Chaplin made his first public appearances on his way to stardom.

Last Words

A balance of heritage and technology, like a balanced lifestyle is a generalist approach to the future. It’s the cufflinks

Welcome to the home of finely crafted designer ties handmade from fine Italian and English silks. And, purveyor of exclusive luxury silk ties and cufflinks

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/the-true-meaning-of-bespoke-silver-cufflinks-1227070.html