Heart Jewelry Choices, Heart Jewellery Allure

I have been trying to compile a list of gifts for my family and friends as I realize just how little time I have left to get organized before Christmas. Remembering the answers my female family members and friends gave me when I asked them about their favorite jewelry pieces in general, and heart jewelry in particular, I decided to do some research to see if I could find the right piece as a present for them. As silver seemed to be the favored metal of some of them I decided to look at silver heart charm options, either for a bracelet or to put onto a necklace.

Looking round the stores at the Mall I found lots of lovely heart pendants and bracelets. Two pieces that I particularly liked was a charm bracelet with lots of different heart charms already attached, and to complete the look there was a heart charm necklace to match. This did not have just one heart charm on it like most necklaces but was like a bigger version of the bracelet with lots of different heart charms attached round the chain.

Although there is quite a selection of charms in the Mall jewelry stores I think you have more variety and unusual ones by checking out the online jewelry retailers. Some of these specialize only in charms and their catalogue is huge. So sitting in the comfort of my home I started my search and I soon got involved in looking at “themed” charms with the idea that, whatever I chose, me or other people could possibly add more on other occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. And as usual I got side tracked into looking at other collections of charms.

Looking at the birthday and holiday charms I realized there are a number of special days throughout the year and that quite a few of them fall between now and Christmas so of course I had to see what, if any, choices of charms there are to commemorate some of these celebrations.

October is breast cancer awareness month and in nearly every area of life you will find articles on sale to commemorate this and to draw people’s attention to it. My local supermarket is selling tote bags to carry your groceries in along with lots of other “pink” items. So it is no surprise that there are lots of different charms that you can buy either for your own collection or to give to friends or family. Not only are these charms beautiful, some of the money raised from them goes to charity to help find a cure. There are lots of other awareness charms available so if there is a specific cause that you are involved with check and see if they have their own charms so that you can raise awareness for their cause.

On a lighter note, Halloween falls at the end of October and if you love dressing up for “trick or treating” then no outfit is complete without some of the spooky jewelry that is available. You can choose from cheap and cheerful plastic spider rings to more expensive skull charms made of silver with gemstones glowing in the eye sockets.

The fourth Thursday in November is the day the USA celebrates Thanksgiving, a day when families and friends gather together to share food and give thanks for what they have. It is traditional to decorate the house and table with pumpkins, fruit, ornaments of the Pilgrims and of course turkeys. If you really want to get into the spirit of things then why not buy a set of matching Thanksgiving jewelry to complete your outfit for the special dinner.

Then of course we come to Christmas and the choice of jewelry representing this holiday season is huge. There are really expensive items like diamond studded angel pendants or snowflakes but there are so many other pieces to choose from that start in price from just a few dollars. I love Christmas and I love dressing up and wearing fun jewelry as it usually puts a smile on people’s faces.

I stopped at Christmas charms because I realized that if I was to look at all the holiday collections I would end up not having time to look for the gifts I want for the people on my list. I will get back to looking for pieces for other celebration days like New Year, St Valentine’s Day and so on after I have finished my holiday shopping.

Are you one of those people who enjoy looking at the pictures of celebrities at “red carpet” events so you can check out their outfits and see what kind of jewelry they are wearing?  Sometimes they look really glamorous and have obviously chosen well.  But on other occasions you see a number of famous people looking as if they have been advised by someone who was only partially sighted or who had a reason to get even with them.  Strange how even with large amounts of money and almost unlimited advice they can’t filter out the odd styles and looks that they are offered.

Anyhow, despite having said all of that, I’m not really a celebrity watcher but since starting this heart jewelry blog I have taken more notice of the type of jewelry people in the news are wearing as it can have an influence on what is fashionable at any one time.  Not long ago I saw a photograph of Miley Cyrus wearing a black bead necklace with a big black heart charm on it.  This image got me thinking about what kind of heart jewelry other celebrities might look good wearing so I asked my family and friends for their suggestions.  Here are some of their choices:

• Jennifer Aniston – a sterling silver charm bracelet, or even better, a sterling silver heart charm bracelet. When I asked my friend why she thought this would be an appropriate piece of jewelry her response was “because it is feminine and dainty, especially with the hearts”.

• Catherine Zeta Jones – a sterling silver heart charm necklace. This would complement the little black dresses she is often pictured wearing and it would also show off her beautiful long neck and dark hair.  The guy who suggested this said that earrings would not be a good choice as you can’t see them because her hair covers them.

• Eddie Izzard – a black velvet choker with a diamante heart charm in the middle of it. One of my female relatives made this choice because she could see him wearing it as he is a transvestite (or at least, he appears to be) and she also thinks it would suit him.  She is quite a fan of his comedy.

• Paris Hilton – a collar with jewel encrusted hearts on it for her dog. According to my friend, this pampered pooch should have one of these to complement its owner’s jewelry when they are being photographed together.

• Anne Robinson – a silver and diamond heart pendant.  Because she always wears black on her television show “The Weakest Link” this would be the perfect item of jewelry for her to choose as black really show off the sparkle of the silver and diamonds.

• Lady Gaga – an over the top very colorful, chunky necklace.  My friend’s teenage daughter suggested this as Lady Gaga is notorious for her flamboyant, extreme outfits.

• Beyonce – a simple diamante heart bracelet.  Beyonce’s style is glamorous and glitzy and so a diamond bangle would be just the right accessory for her in complete contrast to Lady Gaga’s over the top persona.

• Rachel McAdams – a heart necklace.  My son suggested a yellow or white gold heart pendant would suit her because she is very feminine.  He also said that the Williams sisters would look good wearing a chunky heart bracelet.

• Helen Mirren – heart earrings.  This was my husband’s choice and he was very definite as to the design – they should be stud earrings, delicate and classy, not flashy and made of sterling silver or white gold.  When I asked him why he said “this design is feminine, understated and sophisticated making them ideal for an intelligent, professional woman”.

• Cheryl Cole – a silver heart charm necklace and silver heart earrings.  A friend and her teenage son both chose the same celebrity but decided that different items of jewelry would suit her.

• Eva Longoria – simple long, dangly heart charm earrings.  For this petite, very feminine famous housewife I would choose this design in white gold or sterling silver because this is a style she tends to favor and they look good on her even though she has long hair.

My friends and I had fun thinking about which item of heart jewelry would be appropriate for which celebrity.  So who is your favorite celebrity and what piece of heart jewelry do you think they would wear and why?

Do you ever think about the jewelry you wear and what it represents?  Take the bracelet, for example: is it just another adornment to be worn and discarded as you see fit – or do some people wear it with more thought and meaning than others?

For example, what about a silver heart bracelet?  A silver heart bracelet sparkles and glimmers on the beautiful wrist, drawing attention to the fluid motions and artful gestures of the hand and arm. A bracelet has symbolic meanings depending upon the purchaser. This beautiful piece of exquisite heart jewelry can be given to women of all ages; women who will wear it proudly and think of the reason for this appreciated gift often. This is much more than just another piece of jewelry that adorns the body. Best of all, silver can last a lifetime or longer with proper care and retain its bright shiny luster.

Jewelry has been used for centuries to accentuate parts of the body. Most women choose these jeweled accessories to draw attention to features they want to display.  If the woman purchases a delicate silver heart bracelet for herself, she is bringing attention to one of her finer features, the shapely and delicate wrist. Often this piece will match other heart jewelry in a pendant, earrings or brooch creating a uniform, accessorized look.

As the beautiful bracelet rests on the wrist, the touch is comforting to the person wearing this treasure. It is a symbolic reassurance that the person who gave this precious gift is holding that hand from a distance. Every time that fine piece of shiny jewelry is placed on the arm, the well wishes and comfort of the giver surround the charm and bring peace and contentment to the person wearing that gem. The heart shape conveys commitment, devotion, love or passion depending on the relationship.

A mother can give the gift of a silver heart bracelet to a young daughter as a reminder of her love and support as a child walks to school alone. A husband may give one to his wife to surround her with the protection of his love while they are apart. Daughters and granddaughters may reward a grandmother for her wisdom and help with this charming reminder that she is never alone or forgotten. A bracelet is an appropriate gift between friends, between relatives and between lovers of all ages.

These precious gifts are made from silver, most often Sterling Silver. 100% silver is soft, easily damaged and unsuitable for use as jewelry. Sterling Silver is made by adding another metal to harden the silver to stand up to the every day wear. Copper is the metal of choice; it makes this silver more durable and harder so it holds its shape and resists the abuse jewelry takes. Silversmiths add 7.5% copper; this keeps the beautiful luster of pure silver.

Purchasers of Sterling Silver can look for marks denoting such things as sterling, sterling silver or .925 to verify the quality of item. The craftsmanship of each individual piece sets the price; many pieces are hand crafted by experienced and gifted silversmiths in one-of-a-kind design that will be worn and treasured forever. Custom orders can be created for someone looking for exactly the right silver heart bracelet by selecting the charm and the bracelet from a wide assortment of products and assembling the chosen prizes. Silversmiths will even produce original works from a custom design submitted by the purchaser.

The next time a lady moves her wrist and the silver heart bracelet glistens and glimmers, the charm will caress the wrist almost like the touch of a caring hand. This lady may reach out and touch the heart with her other hand unconsciously. She is thinking of the wonderful person who gave her this unique gift that provides her with comfort and self-confidence as she wends her way through the day and through her life. That is the power of heart jewelry and a silver heart bracelet.

2.30 cttw Amethyst Sterling Silver Bracelet by Effy Collection

Silver is one of the most popular metals from which to make jewelry and that is true of heart jewelry too. This popularity arises from many different reasons: for example, silver provides a perfect setting for practically any variety of gemstone, thereby making it a great choice for moderately priced heart rings, earrings and pendants featuring either natural or created gems.

A variety of birthstones including amethyst, garnet and topaz regularly appear in dazzling silver heart jewelry pieces (added to which, today’s man made and artificially created jewels look so much like the real thing that once set in silver they will look as if they cost an absolute fortune). Furthermore, silver’s natural qualities permit it to be made into an incredible spectrum of designs from a delicate sterling silver heart bracelet to chunky cuffs and linked chains. And the color of sterling silver lends it the look of platinum or white gold at a small fraction of the cost. However, because pure silver on its own is too soft a metal to be used in jewelry making, it is made into an alloy (usually with copper 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper) to give it strength and enable it to be made into far more intricate designs.

One effect of this is that although the copper adds strength to the silver it also means that silver has a tendency to tarnish as it reacts with sulfur in the air causing the silver to look dull and a patina to form on it.  For this reason some people are put off buying silver heart jewelry which is a pity, because the silver color is so versatile that it complements any outfit from jeans and a shirt to an elegant ball gown. Your sterling silver heart bracelet can last a lifetime if you look after it and store it properly.

One of the best ways to keep your silver heart jewelry shiny and looking like new is to wear it frequently.  The oils in your skin tend to put a coating on the metal making it less prone to tarnish.  I have had a silver heart ring for years that I wear every day and it still has its lovely shine. When using household cleaning chemicals or hair care products (especially those containing ammonia and bleach) it is best to take off your silver jewelry as it will turn black if it comes into contact with some of these products.  Even some make up products, soaps and perfumes can react with the silver, taking away its shine.  So it is always best to leave putting on your silver heart locket and earrings until you have finished doing your face and hair.

If you cannot wear your silver heart jewelry everyday then you need to store it properly to minimize the amount it tarnishes.  Keeping it in an airtight container out of the light will certainly help to stop the sulfur in the atmosphere from getting to it.  Wrapping your silver heart bracelet in a tarnish preventative cloth (this will also prevent the metal from getting scratched by other pieces) and putting it in an airtight plastic bag and placing it in drawer is the best way of storing it.

To clean the tarnish off silver jewelry it is best to choose one of the products that you can buy from the jewelers.  Silver dips are probably the easiest way to clean all pieces, from earrings, rings and sterling silver heart charm bracelet to chains and brooches, but you need to follow the instructions carefully especially if the pieces have gemstones set into them.  Sometimes these cleaning products can have devastating effects on some gems such as pearls and opals so choose one that says it is gentle and suitable for gemstones. If in doubt it is beat to take the item to the jeweler’s to be professionally cleaned.

Following these guidelines will help to keep your sterling silver heart bracelet looking shiny and new and ensure you enjoy wearing it for years to come.