How to Shop For Jewelry
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Why I stopped using lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in my jewelry
At the time, lab-grown seemed like the best answer to a lot of my problems with gemstones and diamonds. When I wanted to make more bridal jewelry and incorporate more gems, the options were few – I could find a handful of traceable gem dealers with some options (none of those options were diamonds), or…
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How Do You Decide Which Jewelry Sources are Ethical?
What is sustainability in jewelry?This is going to be one of those good news/bad news answers. The good news is that there are much better options these days when sourcing jewelry materials. I can get small amounts of gold mined without the use of mercury. I can get Fairmined metals that address issues of community…
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The Exciting World of Jewelry Cleaning
Originally published July 12, 2017. Now updated with video instructions for the best tarnish removal process!What’s the Best Way to Clean Jewelry?
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The dos and don’ts of putting in a new nose ring
Do: Gently twist your hoop closed. You can use your fingers, but thicker gauges might require a pair of needle-nose pliers, or it might require going to a professional piercer for a jewelry change. Call ahead to a reputable local piercer and find out if they offer jewelry changes. Some places charge a nominal fee…
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Top Tips to Support Your Favorite Small Businesses
If your favorite maker/designer has a blog *polite cough*, leave a comment!Subscribe to their newsletterLeave comments on their YouTube videos/subscribe to their YouTube channels. Again, *polite cough*Leave comments and likes on their social media postsReview them on Google (this really helps our small businesses look legitimate in Google searches)Re-post their social media posts (with attribution)Share…
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Your Knuckles Are Not Too Big To Wear Rings
This and other myths about your fingers, coming right up.Thigh-gap, cankles; too much volume in your hair, or not enough; boobs that are too big or too small; wrinkles; grey hairs – the list of things that we are supposed to feel bad about when it comes to our bodies is a lot. But your…
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Three Reasons to Ask Where Your Gold Comes From
In my first jewelry classes, more than 15 years ago, I ordered some silver. I spent a whopping $25 and that amount was so precious to me. But where did this silver come from? I asked my teachers where the silver originated and got some vague answers – Arizona? New Mexico? (Mildly true, since that’s…