Las Vegas Silver

At the recent Las Vegas Jewelry Show, it was concluded that Sterling Silver is now more popular than gold.  It seems fitting since gold hovers around $1200 per ounce while silver sits at $18.50 per ounce.  More affordable and more attractive.  Designers are going bonkers over the new found metal and the sky is the limit.  One thing to look out for when buying Sterling Silver jewelry is weight.  The piece of jewelry is not heavy unless of course it has large gemstones attached to it.  Sterling Silver is light and fairly soft.  If you find a small heavy piece, it is not Sterling.  Most likely it is zinc or a cheap metal alloy electroplated with Sterling Silver.  Don't be fooled.  Quality doesn't need to be heavy.  Quality needs to be stylish. www.stcanyon.com

The Italian Jewelry Artisans

I read an article from the National Jewelers Association that described the artistic efforts of local jewelry makers in Italy's Le Marche region.  Italy is well known for its artisans and their wares are distributed widely throughout Europe and the U.S.  The artisans and their jewelry differ markedly from that made in India and China.  Molds are cast and Sterling Silver and/or Gold is poured over forms to create wonderful necklaces and bracelets. 

You won't find this kind of quality in Walmart or Macy's.  At these places, the jewelry is created in China or India on stamping machines, and run down an assembly line rubbed by ill-trained workers for an uneven polish, guaranteed to tarnish in a few years. Yet, prices for these pieces compare well with jewelry made by the artisans in Italy.  It's so easy to be caught up with the bright lights and display cases in the department stores.  My wife would divorce me if I bought jewelry from those retailers.  Yet, she never growls when I buy, usually but not always at Sterling Canyon.

Imperfect Jewelry

I just read an article from the Jewelers Network about the company Montblanc that has started to sell gemstone jewelry.  Montblanc is known for their pens and sunglasses amongst other things in which they can stick their name on.  The article states that this is the first time they have used semi-precious stones like onyx, chalcedony, milky quartz and lavender jade.  They go on to say that these stones have inclusions or imperfections in them which make every stone unique.  Yes it does.  Unlike most retailers, Montblanc does not use fillers like expoxy or plastics to fill in the imperfections of their stones. As it should be.  It would be like dying your white dog black because you don't like white.  I went to their website www.montblanc.com.  It was difficult to use; not user friendly. The jewelry was also way overpriced, because of the name.   I guess I'll stick with Sterling Canyon.  At least I know they aren't snobs.

Crackdown in Childrens Jewelry

The states of Connecticut and Minnesota has recently passed laws banning jewelry, particularly childrens jewelry with high amounts of lead, cadmium and other phthalates.  This came about because parents either through indifference or ignorance continue to buy Chinese jewelry from places like Walmart and Target, and to a lesser extent, Macy's.  According to National Jeweler,  The Connecticut law (CT PL 10-113), which becomes effective July 1, 2014, limits cadmium in any children's jewelry up to 75 parts per million as measured by a total weight test. The Minnesota law (MN Chap 347, Article 6, Sec. 27) limits cadmium to the same amount, but measures the metal using a migration test, a test that determines the total amount of cadmium that can leach out of a sample over a set time period.  It's simple folks.  Don't spend $35.00 like these pictured on a dangerous item at these retailers.  Know where your purchased item is made and use common sense.  We like to buy from the on-line retailer www.stcanyon.com.  Sterling Canyon states where their stuff is made,and it seems to be all good quality. 

               

Sterling Silver Jewelry is Hot!

I read a few months ago that Sterling Silver jewelry has surpassed the popularity of Gold.  In other words, gold jewelry is for the old folks and Sterling is for the young and post-modern.  It seems that everybody is selling jewelry nowadays.  Everybody claims to have the finest around.  I don't know about that.  It all comes down to experience with the retailer and to a larger extent what your standards are.  If you can settle for cheap or being cheated, so be it.  I like Sterling Canyon myself.  I have bought a few items for the wife and never been disappointed.  I bought a bracelet there in April, and out of curiosity took it down to our jeweler.  He said it looked pretty good to him and wondered where I had bought it.  I told him.  I think he was hurt for me buying from someone besides him.  Besides the stamp 925 on the jewelry piece, he could tell it was real and not plated.  He said if the piece is heavy and not too large, it is probably plated.  You get that stuff from Macy's and Target.  Settle for cheap? Go to Macy's or Target.