Second Most BeLoved Gift Money Can Buy

Of course first on the list of beloved gifts is jewelry. Men and women cherish jewelry from a loved one forever. I don't mean just from your significant. A loved one could be family members or close friends. Maybe the gift of jewelry is a medal of honor or an award for a job well done. Jewelry is personal. The recipient feels loved, proud and special. It's going to be worn with honor and kept forever. That's where the second most beloved gift comes in... 

A jewelry box to store those precious gifts that they will cherish forever is quite often over-looked as a gift option. To tell the truth I think a jewelry box is remembered long after the jewelry is gone.

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How many of you remember the jewelry box you had when you were growing up? Did it play music and have a twirling ballerina inside? Me too. I will never forget that jewelry box. I can't say I even remember the jewelry that was kept inside. But the jewelry box, I remember. 

There was one other jewelry box from my early years, I will never forget.. It was a Christmas present from my Dad. He made five of them by hand. One for each of his five daughters. I was #4 daughter. It did not matter how small, what color or even that they were almost identical. It was perfect because it was from my Dad. I loved that jewelry box.

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I have fond memories of looking into my mother's jewelry box and seeing the treasures she kept in-

side. It didn't matter that I had to stand on my tiptoes or that my mom would get aggravated because I asked too many questions. It is one of the most beautiful jewelry boxes I have ever seen. It looked just like the one pictured above. It played music and even had a lock. There were three different sections to open. Two on each side and the one in the middle had a mirror. The shiny black lacquer on the outside paired perfectly with the soft red lining. It was beautiful, elegant and sophisticated. I had never seen anything like it before. 

What was your mothers jewelry box like? Love to hear!

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The jewelry box that is most dear to my heart is the one my two boys gifted me one year for Christmas. It doesn't matter where they purchased it or how much they paid. It is silver plated with a few gems for extra sparkle.  It is perfect. The inscription on top says, "We Love You Mom." "Unforgettable" is the melody heard  after it has been wound. It is the most perfect gift I have ever received. I LOVE IT! This is so precious to me. It will forever be in my possession until the day I die. I love them so much.

Send a picture or a story or both. Maybe you can make jewelry boxes, or bring them back to life with a little paint. I want to see pics and hear stories about those too. If you are selling them make sure to tell the price.

Who Doesn't Love Cameos

The cameo is perhaps one of the most recognizable designs in the world of jewelry with roots dating back all the way to the time of the ancient Greeks.  However, while the design is thousands of years old, there are no known examples of cameo jewelry past the time of the Romans.

But today, the market is literally flooded with thousands of vintage cameos from the 19th century.  Napoleon helped renew the popularity of the cameo design when he wore a coronation crown studded with the ornately crafted design.  Popularity reached its peak in the Victorian Era with the queen herself actually known to have designed a piece or two in her day.  Today, the ubiquitous design can be found on virtually every type of jewelry, including:

• 

  Lang Antiques

  Watches (not familiar with this style)
• Earrings (very popular)
• Rings (everybody loves the rings)
• Bracelets (work well with a set that includes earrings, maybe a brooch)
• Brooches (cameo brooches seem abundant)
• Necklaces (can't resist admiring them in a showcase)
  
• Chokers (this is my personal favorite style) 

By and large, a cameo can be identified by the portrait which adorns each and every piece and this should be the starting point for any value determination.  Set upon a flat plaque, the portrait really is critical to value determination. Cheaper cameos will have a molded portrait while your more valuable pieces will be carved. Common characteristics of the really cheap molded versions are:  light weight, shiny, and blended colors. There are some examples, however, of natural materials being used in molded versions.
Although there are a few exceptions, molded pieces should actually be avoided at all costs. Separating the good-looking knock-offs from the real deal is the key to collecting for profit. Mold marks or ridges of some kind will be found on the back of your cheaper glass cameos. Although the imitation pieces can be of exceptionally high quality, it is possible to identify them by carefully studying the portraits.
Carved pieces tend to command greater value because the materials are more valuable and they are far more expensive to manufacture. Many valuable cameos are carved out of shells but their plastic imitators are so good these days that it almost takes a jewelry expert to identify the valuable carved versions.  You are looking for the shell cameos featuring a pair of colors, precise carve lines, and a thin back.
Other materials commonly used to create the more valuable cameos are abalone, mother-of-pearl, and agate.  Abalone and mother-of-pearl carved cameos also have great detailing but will tend to be thicker and have a flat back when compared to the shell versions. Relatively flat and multi-colored due to its layering, agate is a very popular material used to make some of the more valuable carved cameos.
But at the end of the day, the really valuable carved pieces will be made from stone, which can sometimes be imitated quite well using glass. The only way to really separate the glass imitators from the real stone pieces is to look carefully at the space between the portrait and flat plaque. Unlike the glass imitators, the stone pieces will be under-carved at the point where the plaque and portrait meet. The stone pieces are gems in the cameo collecting world but they are rare so be careful not to be fooled by an imitator.


Author:
Jon Kreps specializes in vintage costume jewelry collecting whose site can be found at: www.vintagetemptations.com

Note from Anywear Jewelry:
Vintage Temptations is the perfect name for the authors website. The items for sale are extensive and they are just not for jewelry. Collectibles galore!!! The prices seem fair too. Check it out when you get the chance.

Aries, Taurus and Gemini Magic Stones, Birthstones And Colors

Aries
Mars is the red planet and the ruling planet of Aries. Blood stones, rubies and garnet are excellent fiery choices. Red is the color of love, fertility and energy. Red keeps you alert, provides courage and calls for action. Taking your fire down a notch can be done with carnelian. Carnelian promotes peace, harmony and patience while holding on to fire and gives warrior energy to the wearer.

Wearing red will increase your temperature and body heat. It is linked to raising blood pressure and circulation. It is ideal for someone that is anemic but not so good for someone with high blood pressure. Red acts as a stimulant. It releases adrenaline into the bloodstream. Red detoxifies and is know to help fight infection.

The traditional birthstone is a diamond. Diamonds are known for purity and Aries energy is pure, uncluttered by hidden motives. Herkimer diamonds can be substituted if your budget does not permit the more expensive.

Taurus
Pink is less active and aggressive than red and has an endearing quality. A Taurus desires domestic bliss and unconditional love seeks affection that this color's ray provides. Pink gives a soothing and comforting vibe. It protects and brings peace of mind. Especially helpful when grieving the loss of a loved one.

The traditional birthstone of Taurus is Emerald and the ruling planet is Venus. Emeralds represent the Earth element and Venus. This stone is most powerful when set in copper, the metal that corresponds with Venus.

A great big chunk of polished perfect rock - of any kind will suit you just fine, too. Another stone that is good for you is lapis. That gorgeous blue stone that is laced with flecks of gold and Jade.

Gemini
The ruling planet of Gemini is Mercury. The agate is your birthstone as well as the stone representing Mercury. Your love for variety makes a lot of sense now. Agate is an aid to truth-telling and good to carry with you when you want your words to be right.

Even though Flourite is not traditionally associated with Gemini, some astrologers think it is a perfect match because it is connected to the air element. It keeps the mind sharp. Keep it close enough to your computer to grab it when you get writer's block.

Yellow signifies agility of intellect and inspiring thought. If you are feeling down or a little bit shy, wear yellow to bring feelings of optimism. Yellow eliminates waste from the body, as well as clears emotional baggage. Wear shades of yellow to control your weight. It has also been known to help in the treatment of eczema and other skin irritations. Yellow aims for a correct balance of liquids in the body.

Next post includes Cancer, Leo and Virgo...