Ivory, this precious material, once highly sought-after, has made it possible to create many jewels and decorative objects. Today, it is associated with animal extinction and poaching. Forbidden to production and sale, what about used ivory and its resale? We will clarify this sensitive subject!
The polemic surrounding ivory can be explained by its nature since it is an organic material of animal origin. Often symbolized by the tusks of elephants, it should not be forgotten that many other animals are provided with it and are poached for this now illegal trade. The rhinoceros, hippopotamus, narwhal, and walrus are among them. Appreciated for its beauty, ivory has long been used in jewelry, carving, inlaying on furniture, tableware, billiard balls, chess pieces, etc..
If today the ivory trade is banned, it is thanks to the signing of the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” in 1973 in Washington. In Europe, the resale of ivory is tolerated only for antiquities, which favors the scams of poachers. In France, derogations are possible for ivory objects dating from before 1975 and possessing an intra-EU certificate. It is only since 2016 that the law has become stricter, with an action plan to eradicate wildlife trafficking. Although loopholes in the system remain, the possession of raw ivory, such as elephant tusks or rhino horn, is completely illegal.
Since its trade and production are prohibited, some ivory enthusiasts have turned to some rather interesting and totally legal alternatives, without animal cruelty. You can find so-called vegetal ivory, which is obtained from the fruits of an ivory palm tree, cultivated and framed by fair trade. Called “caryopses”, the fruits contain a liquid that hardens to form a ball that can be transformed into jewelry, tableware, piano keys, etc. You can also use resin, which imitates ivory wonderfully, both in its appearance and hardness and in its durability. There is also celluloid, which has been used a lot since 1873, to replace ivory in the creation of various objects. Ivory is therefore not included in this list, since it is agglomerated ivory powder, which is also totally banned.
The undisputed queen of gemstones, the white diamond fascinates by its purity and brilliance. In reality colorless, this diamond acts like a prism, reflecting the white light, the sum of all colors, outwardly. This is what gives it its immaculate, crystalline brilliance. But still…
…Yet, in the shadow of the uncontrollable white diamond, we find astonishing and unexpected variations of the famous translucent stone. The slightest amount of chemicals can alter the purity of the gem and adorn it with splendid hues.
From yellow to pink, through cold colors, diamonds have many faces.
It is the nitrogen content of the stone that will depend on its ability to present itself to the eyes of all adorned with the colors of the sun. The greater the quantity of sunlight, the more intense and frank the yellow of the gem will be.
Jewelers classify yellow diamonds, according to the vividness of their color, into four categories: Fancy Light Yellow, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Intense Yellow, and Fancy Vivid Yellow.
Extremely rare, blue diamond owes its cold and troubling hue to the presence of boron in the stone, a chemical element.
Like yellow diamonds, blue is subject to many variations, depending on the level of boron present in the interior, from sky blue to navy blue to royal blue.
This type of stone is as rare as it is famous: Louis XIV first popularized it through the famous “blue diamond of the Crown of France”. More recently, and in a fictitious way, such a jewel has fascinated millions of spectators through the “Heart of the Ocean” from the film Titanic by James Cameron.
It is by irradiation that a diamond can thus display the most beautiful color of nature: uranium alters the stone which thus adopts these nuanced reflections of hope.
Here again, the hues are numerous, but generally speaking, the green of a diamond will be more spring-like and less cold than that of an emerald.
Familiar for its reassuring and cheerful nuance, the pink diamond is nevertheless the most obscure, at least by its origins. Indeed, science is not yet able to explain what in its atomic structure gives the stone this hue to the colors of childhood and happiness.
Independently of questions of price and rarity, the choice of a diamond should above all be the choice of the stone that resembles you. Of an absolute classicism and elegance, the white diamond federates by its sober majesty. The yellow stone astonishes by its freshness, while blue and green jewels are undeniably imbued with mystery. The pink diamond, for its part, combines the best of class and innocence. To each his own diamond one would be tempted to say…
It is not uncommon to stop in front of the magnificent front of a jewelry store to take a look at it. And as for many people, the famous question: “What is the difference between each type of gold offered?” often comes up. Today, you will finally know the answer, and much more!
Before talking about its different colors in jewelry, it is important to remember the very origins of this precious metal. Because, incredible but true, gold is created from nuclear reactions within the stars, and has been falling on earth for billions of years thanks to comets and meteorites. With a yellow glow reminiscent of the sun and its malleability, gold was quickly used by ancient populations to make ornaments and coins. Today, it is estimated that 70% of its production is used in the jewelry industry. As you will have understood, the nobility of this metal is explained by its rarity, but also by its resistance to oxidation and corrosion.
As we have already pointed out, gold is a malleable metal when it is pure. This explains why it becomes necessary to mix it with other metals in the manufacture of jewelry, hence the term “alloys”. It is therefore thanks to its different compositions that the colors of gold will start to vary. Thus, a yellow gold ring will be composed of 75% gold, 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper. As for pink gold, it contains 75% gold, 5% silver, and 20% copper. Then white gold, 75% gold, 15% silver and 10% copper. And this pretty white gold bracelet? Well, this eye-catching jewel is actually white gold to which a rhodium film has been added on the surface to whiten it or extra palladium in its composition, sometimes both.
Now that you know more about colors and alloys, let’s move on to carats. When you buy a ring, for example, the number of carats is an indication of the amount of gold in its composition. The measurement is based on 24 carats for pure gold. Thus, a jewel with 18 carats will be composed of 75% gold and a minimum of 25% alloys. The 14 carat gold at 58% gold, remains very solid and is often used for the manufacture of clasps of certain jewels. You will have understood it, it is absolutely necessary to inquire before thinking of making a good bargain at a low price. Its value and resistance over time depend on its carats and the quality of its alloy.
Some people do not tolerate the contact of metal on their skin. This alloy can be silver, tin, nickel, zinc, zinc, copper, steel, or even gold. Permanent or intermittent contact with these products can cause itching, redness, eczema, or marks (black or green). Fashion trends, especially in accessories, favor metal jewelry. However, other alternatives exist, allowing you to follow fashion and highlight its beauty.
The classic composition of the metals with which the jewels are made contains nickel, whereas this simple body is highly allergenic. The application of colorless nail polish on the side that is in direct contact with the skin avoids skin reactions. This layer serves as a barrier. Otherwise, dermatological nail polishes are also available from pharmacies. These products are applied directly to the skin, just before wearing metal jewelry. The other alternative is the use of self-adhesive foam pads or paper stickers to cover metal accessories. As a precaution, only jewelry that complies with European standards should be worn by people with allergies. Accessories marked “nickel-free” or “nickel-free” are also suitable.
Countless fashion accessories, made in other materials such as satin, cotton, nylon, leather, crystals, glass, pearls, and stones, can add pep to the outfit. A satin, nylon, leather, or cotton tie that closes just with a knot at the nape of the neck can replace a chain. This link can support a glass, pearl, or crystal pendant, the possibilities are numerous. The stones, prized by lithotherapy adepts, but not necessarily, are not allergenic.
New models, suitable for all people, exist and allow them to adorn a trendy look. Fashion favors different materials, such as leather. The bracelets designed in this material, or failing that in imitation, can be worn on all occasions and with different styles of clothing.
Nevertheless, each element that makes up the jewel must be inspected, especially the clasp. Often, producers use metal to make this kind of buckle.
Have you ever wondered where the term “gold-plated” comes from and what it means? If you wear gold-plated jewelry, you should like this item. We will give you the advantages of this type of material and show you its differences from pure gold.
Gold-plated material is a mixture of two materials: a metal, usually brass or copper, and a thin layer of gold, which covers the jewel. The thickness of the material does not matter; as long as it is covered with a layer of gold, it is called “gold-plated”.
Gold plating is stronger than pure gold. Pure gold is not suitable for daily wear as jewelry. It is indeed more judicious to wear gold-plated jewelry on a daily basis, which does not risk anything, and to opt for pure gold jewelry on special occasions.
Your gold-plated jewelry is of better quality than jewelry made of costume materials. Indeed, they are resistant to water and blows. Moreover, if you like pink gold jewelry, it is possible to have jewelry in pink gold plated version!
The price of gold-plated jewelry is also an important advantage over real gold.
Be careful, a gold-plated jewel must be punched to certify its authenticity. The hallmark may include numbers corresponding to the carats of the gold used: 18, 14, or 10, 20.
Don’t hesitate to tell us if you wear pure gold or gold-plated jewelry, we would be curious to know!
Natural stones have been known since the dawn of time, but it is only recently that they have taken on a major role in jewelry. They have become fashionable while preserving their almost magical powers.
Natural stones are increasingly used in the jewelry industry. These stones are mainly used to make necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. Known as “natural stones”, these stones have a unique beauty accompanied by incomparable originality. Recently, natural stone jewelry has become very popular in the fashion world. Because natural stones offer an incomparable aesthetic, choosing to wear jewelry made of natural stones also adds a touch of originality to your look. Also, customers have a choice in terms of quality or type of stone that they can adapt to all styles and desires, such as what you will see at Minerals Kingdom.
Lithotherapy is not meant to cure serious diseases, but natural stones have beneficial effects on health. Not all stones have the same effects, so it is important to choose the right stone. However, you can relieve many ailments and also fight against stress and anxiety by wearing a natural stone jewel. For example, the tiger’s eye bracelet can protect you and the black obsidian stone can discharge you from negative energies. It should be noted that stones that have not undergone any transformation have more virtues than those that have already been transformed. As a result, they can heal more ailments such as muscular pain, digestive and circulatory disorders. Some natural stones are known for their healing properties: haematoid quartz, blue calcite, amazonite, and carnelian. Everyone is there for the taking.
It is often said that jewelry is a “lucky charm” and this is nothing new as luck is one of its virtues. Certain natural stones are specifically considered to have the power to bring good luck. Often these stones are used by fortune-tellers or astrologers. It should be noted that even though they are stones of luck, each of them has very distinct roles. For example, citrine is known to bring luck in games, jade stone brings longevity and wealth, and quartz is known to bring luck in love.