In 17th century jewelry making coral enjoyed great popularity. Undoubtedly it was an easily available material for jewelry making long before that, but it is interesting that by the 1600s it was loved almost as much as diamonds were.

In ancient times it was exported from the Mediterranean as well as from China and India. At that time, and up until the 18th century people believed that it was a sea plant, not an animal.

Red or pink coral was lovely with the color schemes popular in late Renaissance jewelry, all the way through the 19th century. Sometimes it was combined in a piece of jewelry with gold, pearls and other precious and semi-precious stones and metals.

Gold has long been reminiscent of the glory of the sun. It was a natural fit for the Incan ancients that worked with this lustrous metal, as well as the ancient Egyptians goldsmiths who created the stunning work that is still being unearthed.

It is so soft a metal and so malleable that it’s been said that one ounce of gold could be stretched to a thin wire 50 miles long. This must have been so inviting to primitive people with few tools. Much early gold work was hammered out, creating wonderful pieces of gold jewelry that astound us to this very day with their beauty.

The basic gold jewelry casting methods developed in ancient Egypt are still being used today!

With all the talk of silver and gold prices going into the stars, you’d think it was nearly impossible to find affordable pieces. But you can still find some wonderful buys on attractive sterling silver jewelry and even gold. There are some unique designs out there, and just surfing a little on the web will yield some wonderful results.

Sterling silver (.925 silver) is a versatile precious metal, lending itself to fine jewelry for both men and women.

I’ve met some people a little scared off by the fact that silver will tarnish if exposed to the air for a period of time. The truth is that silver is easy to polish; you can even use toothpaste gently rubbed into the piece and rinsed out. I prefer a polishing cloth just for convenience.

So don’t be afraid to shop for sterling silver jewelry; you may find the perfect gift for someone special, and at a price that’s still quite affordable.

I found this quote to be a great description for the purpose of a jewelry information blog:

“Welcome to Ask Mr. Jewelry, the best site on the web to locate information about jewelry and gemstones.  It is our goal inform the consumer about jewelry and diamond quality, care and variety, while still providing information about where to find the best deals and coupons on the web that will save you money on your next jewelry purchase.

Ask Mr. Jewelry also has informative articles, located on the left navigation bar, that that will educate the consumer and assist them in making a sound jewelry purchase.  Whether it’s care of your diamonds or how to determine the quality of cultured pearls, the articles will help the reader learn more about the jewelry industry.  The articles cover topics such as:

•    Diamond and gemstone care
•    Where to find the best coupons and promotions on the web for your next jewelry purchase
•    Jewelry buying tips

We, at Ask Mr. Jewelry, are here to help you find the perfect piece of jewelry as a gift for a loved one, or as a special purchase for yourself.  We’ll keep you up to date on the hottest fashions in jewelery and the latest styles…”

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