by Justice Lawrence

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I think we can all agree that we have something special that we can’t live out. For some of us that special thing is jewelry. I don’t know about you, but I often wonder what’s the reason why someone wears a specific jewelry item, so I decided to ask around and see what others had to say about the jewelry they love to wear.

Starting with the first photo in the gallery, we have Deangela sporting a few necklaces, but were just focusing on the silver necklace for now. Deangela’s silver necklace was sent to her as a gift from her cousin currently deployed and in the army. In the next photo we have Jayshun wearing one of his favorite Invicta watches. Jayshun loves this watch because its made to look like a Rolex without paying Rolex money. Photo three is the lovely Jessica sporting her beautiful engagement ring.

In the second to last image we have Jocelyn wearing her grandmothers gold wedding band on a chain to keep close to heart. I tell ya, family heirlooms are just the sweetest things to me. Lastly, we have Keyonna wearing her gold heart ring. Keyonna’s ring was a surprise gift to her by her father, and she makes sure to never take off. I have a few special pieces I hope to share with you sweet gems some day myself. Do you have a special jewelry item you can’t live without? If you don’t or would like to know how to add more special jewelry items to your collection check out my post on meaningful-jewelry.

In FDOM this semester, I had the opportunity to learn good information about content creating and social media. I really enjoyed learning how to use WordPress and hope that my knowledge of it will continue to grow in the future. I’ve always wanted to be a content creator, but always shied away from ever doing anything because I had no experience. I honestly had no Idea how hard and rewarding it was to produce content . My favorite experience of this project was just being able to put myself out there.

If I could improve anything about my website I would choose to structure it differently. I’m not a big fan of having the one column for posts. I also felt I could have promoted my website better, especially since I mostly used my twitter which I barely have any following at the moment. I want to in the future promote my page on social Medias I use more like Facebook and Instagram. This experience will benefit me in the future because I will continue to use it to build a platform that will hopefully bring me to produce content on YouTube.

My most viewed week was between 2/11/2019-2/17/2019. I had 7 views and 5 visitors that week which I think impressive considering it was my first week that I uploaded anything. MY most popular post was gold plated, gold-filled and gold vermeil. It got 6 views and I feel it got the most because I promoted it on my Instagram, unlike my other posts. I was surprised honestly that I got any views in this short time of blogging because I used a brand new twitter that I didn’t have any following on.

By Justice Lawrence

Finding the perfect wedding ring can be a serious and expensive adventure. There were many times working as a jewelry consultant that a customer wanted to return their ring because they didn’t consider all the factors of what a perfect ring would be for them. Most people only think about prices when it comes time to pick out that special ring, but I can tell you that there is much more that needs to be considered. Here are a few things to remember when finding your perfect ring.

The metal type is one of the most important things to take in consideration when finding that ring because different metals require different maintenance. White gold is just yellow gold with some kind of plating like rhodium, and over time, especially if your someone who uses there hands a lot, the rhodium wears off exposing the yellow gold. Most customers with white gold rings have to get a new plating every few months and this whole process could take about 2-3 weeks before the ring is returned to the customer. If you are some one who uses there hands a lot and/or want a metal with the least amount of maintenance I recommend platinum. Platinum is more pricey than most other metals, including gold, but it last the longest and can withstand a lot before showing any wear or tear.

Yellow gold requires less maintenance, in my opinion, than white gold, but it may need a polish here and there like most metal rings need. Silver requires a lot of maintenance because it often gets misshaped and tarnishes easily. The good thing about silver is a lot of the maintenance can be done at home, unlike other metals were you would have to send it off to be worked on. The shape, cut, and clarity should be considered when purchasing a ring as well. Certain shapes and cuts easily snag clothing compared to other shapes, and I have honestly seen people come to the store to complain about this more often.

Written by: Justice Lawrence

We have all been in a situation where the jewelry that we love is no longer wearable do to either lost pieces or discoloration. Whenever I lost an earring I use to toss the left over one in the trash until I made the discovery that a single earring can actually be useful. Now whenever I am stuck with one earring I save the single earring to later use as a pushpin. It’s way cuter than using boring thumbtacks or nails that you have to spend extra money on. I’m sure we all have a random earring just laying around in our jewelry box, and now you have a reason for keeping it.

You don’t want to admit it, but the bracelet you worn the last few weeks is tarnishing and is no longer wearable. But no worries, dip dying your jewelry will bring your tarnished or discolored jewelry back to life. I discovered the idea to dip dye your jewelry by Andreaschoice on YouTube. You can achieve this by taking nail polish and make up sponges, something you probably already own, to give your jewelry a new look. With the many nail polish colors available your options are endless in creating a new look.

It really sucks when you break a jewelry item and lose most of the pieces. Sometimes the pieces you saved after you broke your strand of pearls are not enough to make it into another necklace or bracelet. If this jewelry item meant a lot to you because perhaps it belonged to your grandmother, you could always turn the left over pieces into a keychain so you have something to hold on to. Finding ways to revamp your old broken or discolored jewelry is a smart way to save money and allows you to hold on to jewelry you’re not quite ready to part from.

Diamonds are the only Ice I need this summer.

Written by:Justice Lawrence

Summer time is right around the corner and there is a lot of jewelry styles you can incorporate in your look to be on trend. With summer coming in, you can expect to see sea shells everywhere, including jewelry. The seashell style is definitely the look I’m most excited for this summer because of its ability to look casual, but also timeless and classy. The coffee bean trivia shell is a great way to enhance your summer style whether it’s in your jewelry, hair or sandals.

Summer wouldn’t be summer if wasn’t for all the fun and bright colors you get to sport, and jewelry is no exception. Whether your jewelry style is chunky and funky or sweet and petite, adding colorful pieces is a sure way to look summer fun. One color for sure that screams summer and looks good with lots of outfits is Turquoise. If blue is not your thing, than yellow jewelry is another great addition to a lot of outfits you may consider wearing this summer.

When I hear summer and accessories in the same sentence I immediately think of Coachella. So it’s no surprise the next jewelry style I’m going to mention is bohemian. Most bohemian style jewelry is about looking earthy and free. Usually the term earthy would mean green and leafy, but the earthy I’m referring to is the elements that makeup the earth. Therefore, to achieve this look you can mix and match chunky metals, flowy fabric, gemstones, and leather jewelry pieces in your wardrobe. When I try to rock a boho look, I like to purchase ethnic style jewelry.

My thoughts about Cathleen McCarthy blog, The Jewelry Loupe.

written by: Justice Lawrence

I love reading and getting to know other people’s ideas about jewelry. Jewelry is such a fun topic because there is an endless amount of styles and beliefs involving jewelry . From blogs discussing the latest jewelry on a celebrities wrist, to ideas on making jewelry out of sustainable material, this girl wants to know the latest news. Recently while doing some jewelry research on the web, I stumbled across the wonderful blog/magazine of Cathleen McCarthy, The Jewelry Loupe . Some things I love about this blog is her unique posts about the history behind jewelry as well as her “Ask An Expert About” section that lists many options relevant for the beginner jewerly lover to the well experienced.

Cathleen McCarthy’s passion and fondness for jewelry radiates through her website so much that it reminds me of why I fell in love with jewelry at a young age. I particularly find her posts regarding collecting ancient jewelry to be such fresh topics and ideas. Her post on collecting ancient jewelry also inspires me to want to invest in more vintage pieces. While I do own a few thrifted pieces and a signet ring from the 1970’s, I think it’s well worth it to buy older vintage pieces that are one of kind and have a lot of value. Even if you don’t plan on buying ancient pieces for your collection I recommend you give Ancient Collecting a read.

The jewelry Loupe is also a great place to discover the history behind some prominent jewelry. Cathleen McCarthy’s blog is honestly not like any other. While most jewelry blogs I’ve read focus on more specific aspects of jewelry, hers is extremely broad and informative. Her page, in my opinion can even be enjoyed by those who do not share a crazy amount of love for jewelry like some of us. All in all, I think The Jewelry Loupe is a great page for exploring new inspiring ideas and thoughts on jewelry.

What’s the difference?

written by: Justice Lawrence

Buying gold jewelry can be very expensive. On top of that, having to know the differences between the different karats can be tricky. If knowing the differences between the different karats wasn’t tricky enough, you have to know the differences between gold plated, gold vermeil, and gold- filled?! While these are sometimes mistakenly used interchangeably, they are all different. One thing to note about these three options is that none of them are solid gold. To help one aspect of your gold shopping today, I’m going to help you understand the differences between gold plated, gold vermeil, and gold-filled.

Gold plated is usually the most common term you may be use to hearing out of the three. As defined by Wikipedia, gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often copper or silver, by chemical electroplating. Both gold vermeil and gold-filled can be thought of as forms of gold plating, the difference being their thickness of the plating. Typically, when jewelry states that it’s just gold plated, this mean the jewelry contains a thin layer of gold that can easily fade. Unlike gold vermeil or gold-filled, gold plated jewelry can easily and instantly be rubbed off by harsh chemicals, water, and products that contain a lot of alcohol. Out of the three, gold plated jewelry is usually the least expensive, but of coarse there are other factors that play a role in the price of jewelry, like the brand. Forever21 is a good example of a place that sales nice gold plated jewelry that is not expensive.

Gold vermeil jewelry is a step up from just being gold plated. When something is advertised as gold vermeil that means that the base metal is more than likely silver and covered with 2.5 micrometers of at least 10 karat gold. 2.5 micrometers is about 100 times thicker than jewelry advertised as gold plated. Therefore, it will typically last longer and be worth more. Check out The M Jewelers for some nice gold vermeil jewelry.

The one that contains the most gold and is my favorite out of the three is gold-filled jewelry. Gold-filled jewelry contains a thick coat of 14 karat (or higher) of gold that’s five percent of the total weight. The layer of gold is so thick that I liked to think of it as shell of gold in-casing the base metal which is typically brass. The best thing about gold-filled jewelry is that it can be treated like solid gold jewelry and it cost about a fraction of the price. Also, gold-filled jewelry is hypoallergenic which is good for people who typically breakout or have a bad allergic reaction to brass, nickle, copper etc. My favorite place to shop for gold-filled jewelry is Etsy, they have a lot of sellers that make nice affordable gold-filled pieces.

Written by: Justice Lawrence

Buying jewelry is something I can literally do all day. Although I’m always happy to discover new places to purchase jewelry, there are jewelry shops/stores that I always know I can turn to when I’m on the hunt for something new for my collection. I think in order to have a really good jewelry collection you should understand that all jewelry stores have there own unique style and brand. This is important because if you always shop at the same jewelry store, than all your jewelry probably looks or fits a specific style. It’s totally okay to love one specific jewelry store and there style, but if you are looking to explore other kinds of brands and styles, I got you covered! Here are my favorite places to shop for jewelry.

If I am on the hunt for trendy and affordable jewelry like name necklaces or cute chunky signet rings, and also expect the jewelry to be long-lasting, I love to shop at The m Jewelers. The M Jewelers makes jewelry in solid gold and silver, but I love that they make their jewelry in the option of gold filled or gold vermeil. Both gold filled and gold vermeil consists of the jewelry being made out of a based metal plated in a thick layer of gold to last for a long time with proper care. When I want to treat myself to the finer things in life, and put a hole in my wallet, Tiffany & Co is the place for me. Tiffany is known for it’s timeless and classic jewelry style that can easily be worn when you are dressed up or dressed down. If you are looking for jewelry that is good quality, an everyday staple, and let’s be honest, high-class, than spend a little extra shopping at Tiffany & Co. If I want jewelry containing gemstones, especially diamonds, then a Kays orZales is where I would shop because you can be certain of the gems you are buying and be charged fairly for the quality.

Now, The M Jewelers, Zales, and Tiffany are more known and can be pricey. Here are lesser known, more affordable and on-trend places I like to buy my jewelry. Frasier N Sterling has a lot of cute-trendy jewelry that resembles styles seen at The M Jewelers, except more affordable and the products are usually gold or silver plated. Local markets are my favorite places ever to buy jewelry because it’s usually handmade, affordable and unique. My favorite Local market Is Paper Bear in San Marcos. This may come as a surprise to some, but Wish also has cute jewelry and in any style. The best part is you can pay less than five dollars for the item including shipping. Pura Vida is my favorite jewelry place to shop for dainty boho style jewelry. The best thing about Pura Vida is that your money goes towards a cause and they have environmentally friendly pieces. Last but definitely not my least favorite place to shop is Etsy! The opportunity for jewelry and at any price range is available to you on Etsy. I personally will look to see if a seller is selling a specific style item on Etsy, and cheaper, before purchasing the jewelry item elsewhere.

The amount of places to shop for jewelry is honestly endless and I honestly did not mention half the places I love to buy jewelry, including specific Etsy shops, so that just means a part two is due! There are also places that I haven’t purchased jewelry from before that I plan on buying from in the near future, and would love to do reviews on for those interested.

Life’s too short to wear boring jewelry.

written by: Justice Lawrence

I love it when I notice an individual wearing a specific jewelry item every day. It instantly tells me that that piece of jewelry is meaningful and special to that person. With that being said, I think a great jewelry collection contains a lot of jewelry pieces that are memorable and special to you.What makes your jewelry memorable is up to you, being there isn’t any rules that state what makes it special or not. But just in case you are wondering, here are seven ways you can be sure that your jewelry will be memorable and special.

The first way you can add a memorable jewelry piece to your collection is quite obvious, and that’s by receiving jewelry from someone else. Around holidays and birthdays are the best times to hint out jewelry pieces you’ve been interested in so that hopefully some one will buy it for you, which in my opinion, makes it a little more special than buying it for yourself. The second way is to buy jewelry for a special occasion, such as a wedding or prom. This way, every time you see it, it reminds you of that special moment. Thirdly, you can add unique jewelry to your collection by buying jewelry as a souvenir while traveling or attending different places.

Jewelry passed down as family heirlooms is another way that your collection can feel special and memorable. Although you may not have any jewelry heirlooms being passed down in your family, you can ask some one like your parents or grandparents if they have any jewelry that you can have to always remember them by. The fifth way is to make the jewelry item yourself so that you know for sure that it’s unique and no one else has it. If making jewelry is not your thing, than perhaps buying jewelry that has your favorite symbols, quotes, scriptures, or anything else significant to you, is a great way to add something special to your collection. Last but not least, getting matching jewelry with an individual you care about is a fun way to guarantee a memorable jewelry piece.

Hello! I’m Justice, a student of Texas State University and a lover of bling. I’m excited to jewelry talk with you! I have been a lover of jewelry since I was a young girl. Growing up, it was the norm to see all the women in my family decked out in jewelry regardless of the occasion. I remember being six asking my mother for a gold necklace, you can imagine the answer I got for that.

My love for jewelry only increased as I got older, and one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever obtained was working as a jewelry consultant for Zales-The Diamond Store!!!! It was heaven on earth being surrounded by diamonds all day and I learned so much about all kinds of jewelry and gemstones. Working as a jewelry consultant was interesting because I had so many customers that had different personalities. Being that my customers had their own style, I had to learn how to make each jewelry appealing to each individual customer. This helped me to appreciate and understand jewelry even more because I had to see jewelry from others perspective to better understand how to sale it.

My love for jewelry and my experience at Zales opened my mind to want to explore all kinds of information on jewelry styles, ideas, and brands. Eventually after grasping so much knowledge I realized I had a descent amount of information to help others grow their own unique and beautiful collection. So I decided to create this blog to inspire and inform other jewelry lovers too. Someday, as this blog grows, I hope to have an Instagram feed advertising my own jewelry brand! Alright you sweet gems, LET’S TALK JEWELRY!!!!