How to Accessorise Your Tops With Style

Have you ever agonized over what jewellery to go with your outfit? I sure do.   And it doesn't help matters when I am running late and rushing to leave the house.  So, I did a little research to bring you a few simple guidelines you can follow when matching jewellery to your tops or dresses.

Generally, try to match the gemstone colours in your jewellery to those found in your outfits.  If you plan to wear attention grabbing necklace or earrings, then go easy on the other pieces of jewellery. Choose simple ones to match your statement piece or perhaps even none at all.  Balance is key.  You don't want to look like a Christmas tree!

Round neckline
Pick a short necklace, for example, a simple strand of pearls or beads.  For more formal occasions, wear something with a little sparkle. I love Swarovski crystals because they give the right amount of bling while being easy on your pocket.

V neckline
With V necklines, there already is a visual frame created around your neck.  Go for a Y-drop necklace or statement pendants.  Your necklace should be a one to two inches above the V neckline or else it makes the neckline look messy.  If you want to wear earrings, choose simple ones to match your necklace.

Strapless tops or dresses
With strapless tops or dresses, there is lots more exposed skin and therefore, a larger area you can accessorise.   For day, a  delicate necklace worn as a long single strand really livens up a strapless blouse or dress.  Alternatively, you can also double it and wear one strand choker style and the second strand longer past your neckline.   For glam nights, go for a chunky choker style necklace to really jazz up your outfit.   


Halter top
With halter tops, pick large statement earrings such as chandelier or hoop earrings.

Open collar blouse
When wearing an open-collar blouse, there is not much skin exposed and your necklace with be partially covered by the collar.  Choose a chunky necklace that can still be seen when it's peeking out from the blouse. Or just wear a brooch closer to your face to add some sparkle.

High-necklines such as turtle neck or mandarin collar
With such high necklines, your necklace will have to sit on top of the fabric.  Choose a bold chunky necklace that will stand out against your top.  If you prefer more delicate jewellery,  double or triple up a long delicate strand of necklace. Alternatively, skip the necklace and just wear a pair of striking earrings. To show them off even more, you can wear your hair up or pinned back. 

Square neckline
A square neckline features sharp lines that cut straight across the upper body.  To soften and compliment such a neckline, go for a choker necklace or a long strand of necklace that go past the neckline, both which are flattering. 

Scoop neck
A scoop neck, also called a boat neck, gives quite a bit of space to work with.  To accessorise simply,  a single strand of pearl or gemstone necklace that sits just below the collar bone will accentuate the scoop neckline.   A large pendant sitting just above the neckline works well too.   Pair your necklace with matching ear studs or delicate earrings or ear hoops.

Try out the above tips and let me know what you think!

Spring Clean your Jewellery Collection!

Chinese New Year is often preceded by weeks of hectic spring cleaning as people rush to give their homes a thorough cleaning before they welcome visitors during the festive period.  If like me, you have more jewellery than you can keep track of,  maybe it's time to give your jewellery collection a spring clean. 

Jewellery like many other accessories often goes unused when it cannot be easily seen.

Here are some ideas on how to organise THE stash so that they are more accessible. An organised jewellery collection makes it easier and more fun to choose your accessories and also ensure your mornings are less hectic.

1. Get rid of what you don't want
To start, analyse what you have (earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc).  Now is the time to be critical and selective. Put aside outdated, mismatched, never-worn and broken pieces.

2. Clean and fix those that are tarnished or needs repair
Clean gold, platinum and diamonds with the proper jewellery cleaners. Rinse and polish with a smooth, lint-free cloth.  Try to fix those that you still love.  Many jewelry artists (like myself) can repair things like broken clasps or chains and tighten loose parts.

3. Which of these things belong together?
Group like items together.  The categories that easily come to mind would be Earrings, Rings, Bracelets and Necklaces.  You may even want to sub-divide into casual and formal jewellery or group them by colours.  Ultimately, the categories must make sense to you and work for you.

4. Location, location, location!

Now decide on the best place to store your jewelry.  Do you have a dressing table with some space to spare?  Better still, do you have space for a chest of drawers?  If like me, you are without either, then go vertical!  Consider how you can maximise unused space like wall, door or wardrobe door space.

5. Let's get organised!

Now you can finally choose your storage solution.  The choices are endless, limited only by your budget so I will present a few that I think are practical.

 

* Jewellery box and tabletop displays 

For a small collection, a jewellery box or a display stand on your dresser may suffice. They come in may different materials and designs so there is bound to be one that fits your room decor. Or try being creative and use things around your house. For example, a wine goblet is great for hanging your earrings around the rim. A small potted plant allows you to artfully display your necklaces and braclets.

 * Drawer inserts

If you have extra drawers space, you can buy or make your own inserts, trays to organise your jewellery.  These should accomodate bigger jewellery collection in style and allow you to see what you have quickly and easily.

* Jewellery pocket organisers

These handy space savers come with 22 to as many as 80 pockets. They hang neatly behind doors or in your wardrobe and have transparent pockets so you can see your entire collection at a glance. If you are crafty and good with a sewing machine, why not sew your own pocket organiser?  Etsy has lots of lovely fabrics available that will make a very nice backing for your organiser. 

* Fishing tackle box

These clear boxes has many small apartments and are inexpensive so you can afford to get a few.  They are great for small items like ear studs, rings and delicate bracelets.

* Jewellery rolls

Jewellery rolls or wraps are soft cloth or leather pouches to store your jewellery when travelling. They have different compartments and help to keep chains tangle free. It is inexpensive and takes up little space in your luggage and ensures you stay stylish while on the go.

* Hook me up

And finally, here is my own space saver solution. As a student many moons ago, with limited pocket money and yet too many cheap trinkets which I want to keep out of the prying eyes of my parents, I used to stick rows of small hooks on the inside of my wardrobe doors to hang my jewellery.  In fact, I still do that now as it is allows me to get dressed  and decide on my matching accessories at the same time.  Plus, it saves space!

Perhaps you might be motivated to get your jewellery organised now. :) Most of the storage solutions I mentioned are easily availabe at DIY stores, big department stores and storage solution stores. 

History and Meaning of Birthstones

Birthstones, both precious and semi-precious, have a rich history spanning many cultures and centuries. According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, Aaron was ordered by God to create a breastplate with twelve gemstones, each representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel. During the eighth and ninth centuries, Christians also assigned stones to represent the twelve apostles.

The modern birthstone list that is widely used today was officially adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912.

To me, using birthstones can be a colourful and fun way to personalise your jewellery for yourself or your loved ones.  I have all the Swarovski crystal birthstones and also freshwater pearls in my shop. Swarovski crystals are quality Austrian crystals that are both beautiful and easy on the pocket.
Here is a list of the modern birthstones by month and the meanings associated with each. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and there are many other meanings associated with gemstones. Although I do not subscribe to the mystical powers some believe the stones have, I think the values each stone represent can be something that we all can strive for in our lives.

January - Garnet
Faith, Loyalty, Perseverance

February - Amethyst
Sincerity, Peace, Wittiness

March - Aquamarine
Purity, Happiness, Courage

April - Diamond (or Swarovski Clear Crystal)
Innocence, Love

May - Emerald
Faith, Courage, Fidelity

June - Pearl (or Swarovski Light Amethyst)
Purity, Nobility

July - Ruby
Strength, Devotion, Integrity

August - Peridot
Dignity, Truth, Love

September - Sapphire
Serenity, Love, Mercy, Wisdom

October - Opal (or Swarovski Rose)
Hope, Creativity, Happiness

November - Yellow Topaz
Fidelity, Providence, Friendship

December - Blue Topaz (or Swarovski Blue Zircon)
Piety, Courage

Click here to learn more about gemstones on the International Colored Gemstone Association website.

Vermeil? Gold-filled? The different types of precious metals commonly used in artisan jewellery

Many of you would be familiar with sterling silver and solid gold. But have you heard of gold-filled, vermeil or karean silver? These are just different types of precious metals commonly used in jewellery and are NOT to be confused with plated jewellery, which often are steel or some other cheap alloys plated with a thin layer of gold or silver that tarnishes easily and permanently.

Gold

Gold is the most precious of all metals. However, pure gold (24K gold) is very soft and therefore unsuitable for making jewellery. Other metals have to be added to pure gold to harden it so that it can be worked on. This results in different types of gold - white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, purple gold etc. For example, copper is added to pure gold to achieve the rosy hue you see in rose gold jewellery.

Vermeil

Vermeil (pronounced vehr-MAY), is also known as silver gilt. It is sterling silver coated in a layer of gold to give a gold appearance. To be labelled vermeil, the gold must also be at least 10-karat and be at least 1.5 micrometers thick. Sterling silver covered with any metal other than gold cannot be called vermeil.

Gold-filled
Gold filled(GF) is an actual layer of gold pressure bonded to another metal. GF is not the same as gold plating as it has about 100 times more gold than gold plating. It is therefore much more valuable and tarnish resistant and can last a lifetime, with proper care. It looks like solid gold and wears like solid gold, but at a fraction of the cost.

Karean silver

Karean or Karen silver has between 99.5% and 99.9% pure silver, a much higher silver content than sterling silver. The solder used to fuse the silver components together makes up the last fractions of a percent. Consequently, it has a weight, bright satin colour, and feel, all of its own.
Every piece is handmade and no two pieces are alike. You can actually see evidence of each piece having been formed by the hands of a Karen craftsmen and that's part of its appeal.

Sterling Silver

925 Sterling Silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper.Copper gives it strength whilst preserving the malleability of the silver, making it ideal for making silver jewellery.
I hope the above gives you an idea what you are getting when you next shop for jewellery.

At Maggie In The May, I use only sterling silver and 14K gold-filled metal components, so you can be assured of the quality of my handmade creations which are meant to last. Even though sterling silver tarnishes when left exposed to air and gold-filled will lose some its luster over time, you can easily bring back the shine with jewellery polishing cloths.

How to Care For Your Jewellery

I did promise more useful jewellery articles, so here's another one. If you like reading them, remember to click on the labels "Jewellery Articles" to see all my articles at one go.

1. Store your jewellery separately
I'm guilty of it sometimes. When I am in a rush, I just plonk my jewellery on my bathroom counter or throw them in a box with my other bits and pieces. DON'T! We should try to keep our beautiful jewellery (especially those lovely handmade ones) stored separately to prevent entanglement and scratches. My favourite way to keep them without the bulky boxes? Use a small ziploc bag for each piece to prevent scratches. With ziploc or any clear bag, you can also identify your jewellery easily and quickly.
2. Clean after each wear
Wipe your jewellery with a clean and soft lint free cloth after wearing to remove any body oils or residues that will make your gemstones dull and tarnish precious metals.
3. Put on your jewellery last
Makeup, perfume, lotions and body and hair sprays are bad news for jewellery. They make silver tarnish easily, not to mention ruin those plated jewellery. Wait a good five minutes before your wear your jewellery and you will help to keep them lovely for years to come.
4. Avoid pool or sea water or any water!
Any prolonged immersion in any liquid is bad for your jewellery. Remove them before showering, doing dishes or swimming. Chlorine found in pool or tap water can change the colour of gemstones and precious metal.
5. Never sleep with your handmade jewellery on
Most handmade jewellery are delicate things. Sleeping with them on may cause them to become misshapened or even break.
6. Store necklaces and bracelets flat
To prevent your necklaces and bracelets from tangling and also to retain their proper tension (especially those with heavier gemstones), store them lying flat in jewellery boxes or wrapped in cloth.
7. Keep silver jewellery in sealed plastic bags
Silver tarnishes as a result of its reaction to air. To keep them shiny longer, store each piece in a sealed plastic bag. I keep mine in small ziploc bags. And if they do tarnish, just polish them gently with a silver polish cloth. For hard to clean areas, I dip a cotton bud with a tiny amount of liquid silver cleaner and clean those areas very gently and carefully, especially if there are gemstones on that piece.
8. Avoid repeated exposure to direct sunlight
Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight can cause some gemstones to fade or discolour over time.

5 Easy Tests For Pearls

I love pearls and you will see them regularly in my jewellery creations.  I love their natural and organic nature and I am just amazed that all kinds of beautiful and colourful pearls can come from the humble mollusk.

When buying pearls, how can you tell if pearls are real or fake? For a start, you may be able to identify fake pearls by their name: simulated, faux, glass, plastic, resin, artificial, man-made.

Genuine pearls also have different names depending on where they were harvested from - freshwater, akoya, Tahitian or South Sea.  One category is natural pearls that are formed by oysters living in the sea, without any human intervention at all and they are usually rare and found in heirloom pieces. 

All pearls sold today are cultured pearls.  The natural colours produced by the mollusks (not just oysters) include white, cream, black, gold, silver, peach, pink and lavender.  Tahitian pearls are produced by the large Black-Lipped Oyster which is the only oyster to produce naturally dark pearls. 

To add to the confusion, there are genuine pearls that have treatments applied to them, such as colouring or faceting. For example, black freshwater and Akoya pearls have been dyed to achieve their dark colour.  Genuine pearls also come in all shapes and sizes, such as round (most prized), potato, rice or peanut, biwi, baroque and stick.

Here are some simple tests and guidelines to help you figure out real from fake. Don't just rely on one test!  I have to stress that these are just guidelines to help you when you are shopping and you see a bargain.   If you plan to spend a gazillion dollars on a beautiful strand of pearls, always buy from a reputable store and ask to see some authentication and gemologist certificates!

So, here we go!

1)Rub test
Rub the pearl gently against your front teeth. If it feels grainy, then it's likely to be a real pearl. If it feel smooth and just glide across your teeth, it's likely a fake. But this test is not fool-proof because good fake pearls can feel grainy too.  So, go on and do other tests.

2) Magnifying and sun test
View your pearl through a magnifying glass under a bright light, preferably sunlight. Real pearls have slight variations in colour tones and iridescence,  unless of course they are very expensive ones.  You can also see small bumps, ridges and bands around the nacre and they are not perfectly round.  Less experienced people may confuse these marks with the molding of a fake, which is seen in the exact middle of all the pearls on strands of some faux pearls.   Real pearls come in different shapes and sizes.  If all the pearls on a strand look uniform in terms of size, colour, iridescence and didn't cost you an arm or a leg, then it's likely to be a fake.  Perfectly round genuine pearls are expensive and should come with a certificate from a certified gemologist.

3) Check drill holes and knotting
The holes on genuine pearls are smooth and as small as possible - just enough for silk cord to pass through. This is to maintain their value.  Fake pearls have holes that are larger (toothpicks can probably pass through some) and bumpy around the edges. Inferior fakes also tend to flake around the edges of the holes.  The holes of imitation pearls often form a shallow bowl shape, while the holes of real pearls are more likely to be flat. A genuine strand of pearls should also be strung on silk cords and knotted between pearls to prevent friction and the strand falling apart if it breaks. It should be finished with a solid gold hook clasp although some strands now come with sterling silver clasp for a more modern look.

4) Weight
Real pearls have higher density then imitation pearls. This means if you hold a strand of genuine pearls in one hand and a strand of similar sized fake pearls in the other, the real pearls will feel heavier.  Of course, good imitation pearls like Swarovski crystal pearls will also feel heavy like real ones.  But generally, fake pearls are less dense.

5) Touch
Genuine pearls feel cool to the touch and slowly warm up when held.  Hold the plastic handle of a knife and then hold the blade (careful now!) and you will feel the difference even though both are at room temperature. Resin and plastic pearls are warm on the first contact.

So, there you have it, a street guide to tell real pearls from fake when you are shopping at some pearl farm in Vietnam or China.  Try out some of tests above and see if you can identify pearls better now!