How Do Brides Choose Their Wedding Ring

Many brides struggle with how to tell their husband what type of engagement ring that they want, and many men find it challenging to find a ring that will represent his true feelings for her.  A recent survey initiated from  from The Knot magazine found how brides and grooms are currently selecting their rings.

A recent survey from The Knot magazine found that 37% of brides point their future husband to the exact wedding ring that they want.

Surveys in the same article found that the largest percentage of brides, 50%, pointed to styles that they wanted while out shopping with their husband to be.

Twelve percent of the brides left pictures of ring styles in various places to be found around their house.

Nine percent of future husbands solicited assistance from the bride’s friends or her family members to help their find the perfect ring.

Ten Two Three Estate Jewelry finds that brides email details of their dream antique engagement ring to their groom or their friends.  Gaining in popularity is pinning information to the Bride’s Wedding Pinterest Board.

RADIANT ORCHID IS PANTONE’S COLOR FOR 2014

Radiant Orchid has arrived.  The Pantone Color Institute has determined that Radiant Orchid will be the color of the year for 2014.  The color will be seen in men’s and women’s fashions throughout 2014. 

Radiant Orchid is a blend of purple, fucshia and has strong pink undertones.  Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s Executive Director, claims that the color will spark the imagination and encourage creativity and originality.  Pantone determines each year’s color by reviewing art collections, entertainment and socio-economic conditions.

To get a head start on the incoming 2014 color trend, look for gemstone jewelry featuring bold pink to purple sapphires, colorful rubellite tourmaline and pretty orchid color spinel.

In 2014 an increasing return of yellow gold jewelry will be seen.  Mixing white gold, yellow gold, platinum and even silver jewelry is predicted to grow in popularity.

A few suggested shopping items:  Vintage Rubellite Tourmaline Earrings, Vintage Sapphire Earrings or an Estate Pink Sapphire Ring.  

Embrace the Pantone color of the year.  See if your creative energy is sparked.  See if you can become more original in 2014. Enjoy!

Emerald Green - Pantone Color fo the Year 2013

Are you still curious as to why everyone is putting away their costume jewelry and suddenly starting to wear bright green emerald jewelry and other emerald green gemstones? Pantone has determined that emerald green is the “Pantone color of 2013”.  Pantone describes emerald green as being “lively, radiant and lush.”  Per Pantone Emerald Green is a “color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.”

Pantone is identified as the world renowned color trendsetters.  Their choice in color eventually becomes a trend that moves into our daily lives.  After a color is identified as color of the year it suddenly becomes the trend for jewelry, fashion, paint and home products.

Pantone is owned by X-Rite, Inc.  Pantone is known as the authority on color. Pantone is known to be the starter of color trends that cross all lines of color design -  beginning with designers.  After the designer uses the color in their fashion shows, it is then picked up by retail store buyers and then moves the final end user – the customer.

Join the fun.  Enjoy this lively group and accessorize your outfit with bright green.  Find what it is like to wear jewelry that delivers well being.  Give in and buy an estate emerald ring. Or to continue with another fashion trend, find Art Deco Emerald Jewelry.  For an alternative for the 2013 trend, try a large color banded green malachite yellow gold ring.  

Gatsby's Art Deco Jewelry

The roar for 1920s Art Deco Jewelry is being heard from today’s fashion savvy shoppers. This popular jewelry trend for 2013 is being fueled by the May 2013 release of The Great Gatsby, based upon F. Scott Fitzgerald’s popular book of the same name.

This current jewelry trend is based on jewelry from the exciting and glamorous roaring 1920s. Jewelry from the 1920s is now referred to as Art Deco Jewelry, though at the time it was called Modern Jewelry. Though this style of jewelry is currently gaining in popularity, this jewelry style never fully leaves the fashion world.

The film’s jewelry is based on jewelry designs from the Tiffany and Company's jewelry archives.

Daisy Buchanan, the films female lead, is the perfect model for the scrumptious jewelry she wears. Her jewelry symbolizes the glamorous times and the life of the privileged class of the 1920s. Her jewelry speaks to the departure from Edwardian Jewelry. Her jewelry is a symbol of the rebellious attitude of the early to mid-1920s.

Daisy Buchanan shines as she wears gorgeous diamond headdresses and long, twisted strands of cultured pearls. And who can forget her huge, white on white, signature Daisy Diamond Ring. As a symbol of her marriage, she wears a large diamond in a beautiful Tiffany setting. Her short blond hair allows her to display her long, colorful Art Deco Ear Pendants. The short sleeves of her 1920s dress allows for rich, four strand pearl bracelets to be seen adorning each wrist. Diamond pendants suspended from each bracelet add even more radiance.

The magnificent pieces of jewelry worn by Daisy Buchanan should not stop today's shopper from owning original period pieces from the 1920s. Copies called “art deco styled” or “Deco inspired” jewelry are often more expensive than fabulous original jewelry items from the 1920s. A quick search for Estate Art Deco Jewelry should uncover some gorgeous finds.

Find something special for yourself, look for a 1920s Art Deco Ring for your personal collection.

Ten Two Three Estate Jewelry specializes in Antique Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Rings. Ten Two Three Estate Jewelry ships within the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia. For questions please contact: Info@TenTwoThree.com

How to Wear Antique and Estate Brooches

 
Interested in creating your own personal fashion statement?  Antique and estate brooches are a great idea for accessorizing your new jewelry wardrobe. Brooches are an intriguing jewelry accessory that has been overlooked for years. For simple elegance, an ensemble draws attention when an estate jewelry brooch or vintage pin is worn. Wearing a brooch will quickly give you a distinctive look. Allow yourself to be a fashion trend starter.

Antique and estate brooches come in all sizes, shapes, designs, gemstones and materials.     Brooches and pins maybe adapted to any style you wish. They may be found in gold, silver or other metals.  They may be embellished with emeralds,rubies, diamonds, pearls, coral, lapis lazuli, enamel, crystals or rhinestones. 
Some of the more interesting brooches are those that are made in the shape of insects and animals. A realistic appearing antique enamel diamond black and gold enamel wasp brooch adorned with dazzling diamond wings, the gold legged crab with a fiery diamond shell  or the 1930s  Art Deco black onyx fly with whimsical diamond wings and dark green emerald eyes will create a distinct look.

Floral and fauna designs are feminine and gorgeous.  A colorful Emis Beros estate brooch carved from lapis lazuli will be a focal point for your outfit. Carved shell cameos often create a romantic touch.  
Have you ever considered placing a brooch somewhere other than on the front left side of a blouse or jacket?  Small brooches look fascinating when worn on a blouse collar or centered below the neckline.  A Houston, Texas celebrity wears her signature brooch on the backside of her blazer or dress.  This former model never steps out without one of her distinctive brooches.  She and the vintage brooch are always noticed!  This fashionista never fails to receive a compliment or a question asking about the history and placement of her estate brooch.

A brooch can be worn alone or as part of a collection. A stylish cluster of petite, mismatched vintage brooches and pins will become the hot topic of conversation. An interesting array of brooches can be used to tell a story or deliver a message for your special charity.

Bar brooches when worn alone may not work for today.  However, staggering two or three old bar brooches creates an interesting design.

Have you lost the mate to your treasured heirloom earrings?  A great way to keep the sentiment close to your heart is by converting your remaining earring into a wearable brooch.

In early movies, from the 1920s to the 1940s, brooches were a part of every special occasion. Jewelry designers to Hollywood films understood the statement a brooch could deliver. Elaborate dance scenes would frequently show the leading lady wearing an fancy brooch that accented her beauty.  
In old movies, censors would require a more modest appearance.  A brooch or pin was often used to obscure the daring décolletage of the designer’s gown. Of course, the opposite of the intent of the censors could also be used. A properly placed brooch can be positioned to draw attention to make a stunning statement.

Fine brooches may also be a good investment in jewelry. As there are many beautiful vintage brooches that are not currently in as much demand as they once were, you may be able to add stunning pieces of art to your collection at a real value.

This is your opportunity to be on the cutting edge of a change in fashion.  Allow yourself to distinguish yourself from the other ladies in your circle.  Accentuate your personal look and create a special message with unique antique, estate and vintage brooches and pins.

Consider a brooch for your next fashion style. The rewards may be exciting and oh so enjoyable.

Ten Two Three specializes in Antique Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Rings. Ten Two Three ships within the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. For questions please contact: Info@TenTwoThree.com

Wearing an Antique, Estate or Vintage Brooch
Ten Two Three Estate Jewelry
By: Chris Cosby
Copyright© 2011
All Rights Reserved.

Early 1900s Wedding Diamond Cuts

The cut of diamonds used in antique bridal jewelry is one of many factors used to determine the approximate age of an antique bridal set, engagement ring or ladies estate wedding ring. The cut should never be used exclusively to date jewelry. Like today, many jewelers would use available old diamonds or diamonds from other jewelry to create new items or to replace lost or damaged diamonds.

During the Edwardian Jewelry Period of the early 1900s, old mine-cut diamonds would be the most popular diamond used as the center stone. This diamond cut originated in Brazil. Mine-cuts are recognized by their square girdle, high crown with 32 facets and 24 facets on the pavilion. This old diamond cut would have a cushion-shaped stone with a small table, high top facet or area called the crown, and an open or large flat facet at the bottom of the diamond called the cutlet. Even the finest of hand-cut old-mine cut diamonds are not symmetrical. Old mine-cut diamonds would eventually evolve into today’s brilliant-cut diamonds.

During most of the Art Deco Jewelry Period, the old European-cut diamond

would be used frequently in bridal jewelry. The old European cut would evolve from the old-mine cut. The old European-cut is very similar to the old-mine cut diamond, with the major change of a rounded, circular girdle. Around 1891, diamond cutters would begin to use bruting tools to get rounded, circular girdles. The old-European stone was used during most of the Art Deco Jewelry Period. The old-European cut of the early 1900s would be asymmetrical due to the hand-cut nature. After1920, the brilliant-cut diamond would begin being used. The old European-cut would be known as the transitional diamond, used between the old mine-cut diamond and today’s brilliant-cut diamonds.

In the late 1890s through the 1940s, single cut diamonds would be used to embellish the center or larger diamond cuts. Smaller diamonds would be cut into single or rounded single cut diamonds. They would be recognized by their simpler cut of eight cuts on top.

They would originally be cut by hand and would not have a symmetrical appearance.

Today’s brilliant-cut diamond may be recognized with its circular girdle and fifty-eight facets.

Ten Two Three is an online jewelry store specializing in antique and estate bridal jewelry.

For assistance: Info@tentwothree.com

Information About Antique Wedding Ring Filigree

Information about Filigree
Ladies antique filigree wedding rings from the Edwardian Jewelry Period and the Art Deco Jewelry Period of the early 1900s are increasing in demand.
The term used for filigree is started with the Italian word filigrana, which is originally from the Latin word filum, meaning a thread of wire and granum meaning a grain or bead.
Filigree is formed by twisting and bending wire into fine unique designs. These fine designs were used as openwork (without a backing) or they were applied to a metal surface. The metal wire used for antique bridal ring sets were primarily gold or platinum, though metal work was used in silver or bronze. The wires used were plain, twisted, untwisted or plaited.
Through the findings of antique jewelry, the creation and use of filigree may be tracked back to early metal work from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Etruria, Greece and Byzantium. Early practices of wirework jewelry and decorative items were created using small pieces of metal and then hand setting these metal pieces for design granules.
There are four basic structural ways to create filigree.
The first type of filigree is openwork, where the design does not have a backing and is generally constructed using a heavier wire. Wires are soldered together at points to hold the design together. Edwardian wedding rings are often created with openwork filigree. This type of filigree was used to create a light, lacy design that matched the lacy clothing of the early 1900s.
The second type of filigree is ground-supported. This type of filigree as used in bridal jewelry has a metal backing and has decorative metal wires that are soldered to the metal surface.
The third type of filigree combines openwork and ground-supported types, so that the completed types of openwork wires are attached to solid metal. Attachment types could be non-soldering methods, such as split rivets, rivets, bezels, or claws.
The fourth type of filigree work is used when a material is added as fill between the wires. Often the filler used would be enamel. This type of filigree is not often seen in wedding jewelry.
In early 1900 bridal rings, most design styles were linear. This is because wire is the main material. Frequently found are small wires twisted and patterned into areas built within the borders of larger areas. The larger areas will allow the wedding ring to be more durable, while the smaller areas will be used for more decorative purposes. In traditional filigree, the wires will never overlap, however, the wires may come close to or border other wires. For openwork filigree, structural frames are always used and are important for the strength of the ring. Whereas, in ground supported filigree the structural frames are for design and are not functional. The wire strand may be used to give a design pattern or even be an area filler.
The making of the wire design is a simple process and does not require complex utensils. Tweezers, pliers and hands are used to shape and bend wires. Cold chisels or wire cutters are used for cutting.
Finger rings from the early 1900s are created with openwork designs. These rings may use either bezel or prong settings to hold gemstones for embellishment. Edwardian rings would often feature filigree in shaped to form hearts, flowers, blossoms or even stars. Rings would also be embellished with engraved designs.
During the Art Deco Jewelry Period of the 1920s and 1930s openwork filigree wedding and engagement rings would use diamonds or synthetic sapphires mounted with an open backing. Art Deco Wedding rings would focus on geometric and abstract designs and patterns. Often the center stone would be mounted in a square, hexagonal or octagonal design. Art Deco Rings would also use engraving or stamped designs.
Ten Two Three specializes in Antique Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Rings. Ten Two Three ships within the United States, Canada, the United Kingdon and Australia. For questions please contact: Info@TenTwoThree.com