Jewelry Blog

Gold Plated

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Related Terms • gold filled • karat

Definition:
A metal item that has a very thin layer of gold applied to it. The thin layer normally wears away more quickly than gold in a gold filled item.

Related Resources:

Gold Index

Tools to help you learn more about gold.

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Dutch model Lara Stone recently became engaged to British comedian David Walliums, the popular Little Britain actor. Hundreds of blogs and news sites are reporting that Walliums hid the ring in a cheeseburger before proposing. I don’t know if that’s true, but some of the same Web sites call Stone’s engagement ring “vintage Tiffany.” My sources say the ring is this Neil Lane design, a platinum setting that holds a 4-carat round diamond, with lots of smaller diamonds that add to the sparkle. The couple began dating in 2009.

Photo © Neil Lane

Immediate gratification jewelry doesn’t get any better than these lampwork and hemp earrings. In just a few minutes and using only a few simple macrame knots, you can make these earrings and start enjoying them almost instantly.

You will need the following supplies:

*1 16×20x8mm Red heart “Love” bead
*1 16×20x8mm White heart “Hot” bead
16 inch of 1mm White hemp cord
Scissors
Ruler
Chain-nosed pliers
Ear hooks

*These lampwork beads came from Rings and Things.

Bold and elegant, these gun metal filigree earrings include dangles of hematite hearts and sparkling crystals. Though they are fairly large, just shy of 2 1/2 inches long including the ear hooks, they are very light weight. The filigree, chain, and jump rings are gunmetal and the ear hooks and head pins are sterling, so there is a mix of metals.

You will need the following supplies:

*2 - 35×24mm domed fancy spade filigrees in gunmetal
2 - 8mm Purple AB crystals
8 - Size 11 purple seed beads
4 - 6mm hematite heart beads
4 - 3mm gunmetal jump rings
4 - 1/2 inch pieces of fine gunmetal chain sections
6 Sterling head pins
1 pair of sterling ear hooks
Wire cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers

*Technically, these filigree pieces are not supposed to be hearts, but when I turned them upside down, they looked like hearts to me. They came from Rings and Things, and are really called a Fancy Spade, item #44-165-9.

I have had the chance to review a number of jewelry books lately, so in case you missed any of the more recent reviews, here is a little update for you:

Bead in Time
A Bead in Time by Lisa Crone includes 35 beading projects plus tips for designing jewelry using inspiration found all around us.

Seed Bead Fusion

Rachel Nelson-Smith brings together wire techniques and seed bead stitches to create some truly unique jewelry designs.

Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs

Jane Dickerson focuses on the amazing jewelry you can make using chain as the main ingredient.

I keep thinking “it has been done,” but no, it hasn’t. That’s what I love about jewelry over so many other arts and crafts that I have (and continue to) dabble in. The possibilities are really endless.

Rich families usually possess a considerable quantity of gold jewellery and coins, it is a symbol or sign of their wealth and power and it has been like this since remote times. If you belong to this category, you must have a personal treasure passed down the line by your ancestors, and increased by the gifts of husband, children and business associates.

Middle class families also have inherited a few pieces of jewellery from their mothers or grandmothers. They usually cherish it as a very precious possession, which will most likely be given to their daughters in heritage. Maybe your fiance bought you an engagement ring or a gold bangle, or your husband did.

There is such a thing as a Gold Marriage. Before the 21 century, it used to be very common for married couples to stay together all their lives. Divorce was very rare and considered a mishap. People had pride in committing to each other for life. To celebrate their union, they would even publicly remarry when they reached the 50th anniversary. The attendants to the gold wedding shower ceremony would bring gifts of gold to the happy couple. Spouses would also give each other gold gifts, such as new wedding rings or a gold bracelet, necklace or chain, sometimes engraving the date of the event or their spouse’s endearing name in it. This was not only a token of respect and appreciation for 50 years of love and friendship, but also an investment to be passed on to their descendants. Sadly, nowadays is not as common for a couple to reach their 50th anniversary. Maybe you are not rich, maybe you didn’t inherit jewellery from mom, maybe you divorced your husband and never had a special gold gift given to you. You worked hard, sacrificed a lot, lived and loved a lot, had little time to yourself, and now you are getting older…

If this is the case, why not buy yourself a present? It is not a sin, you know. You deserve it. If nobody thought about you, it is time you do it. Go buy a gold bracelet, a nice big bangle, something you can wear with anything and show off to your friends and relatives. It is an investment for your future and you deserve to enjoy yourself and to have that beautiful gold bracelet. Go get it!

Ben Birkett has been accepted among the ranks of premier professionals with Stanford Who’s Who due to his exceptional work in the Jewelry Industry.