Knowing that many of our customers like to be in the know about all things jewelry, I put together this small guide that includes pictures and definitions of some of the more popular types of chain that you’ll find on our site. Click on the name of each chain that you see in red to be taken to a search result for that type of chain found on our site.  The guide is by no means exhaustive but we’ve included the most popular styles.  Hope you find it useful!
As always, we welcome your comments.

Bar Chain:  Just as the name implies each bar has eyes at either end that are each joined to the next with a link.  The bars themselves may be straight, curved, dapped etc.

Ball Chain: Also know as Bead Chain, has round beads fixed along the length of the chain.  You may at times see this chain interspersed by short lengths of chain.

Box Chain: The links of a box chain are square, creating a smooth square chain.  Another common name for this type of chain is Venetian chain.

A cable chain, also known as link chain, is made up of round or oval links of uniform sizes. This is the chain that most people think of when they think of “chains”.

Curb Chain:  A chain with oval links that are twisted to lie flat.  You will often see these links diamond cut.

Figaro Chain: The Figaro chain, like the curb chain has flattened links. Unlike the curb chain, it does not have one uniform size links alone. Instead, it usually has 2 or 3 shorter links alternating with a longer link.

Rolo Chain:   The links of a rolo chain may be round or oval but are always symetrically joined together as pictured.  This chain is perfect for hanging charms or pendants

Rope Chain:  The oval links of a rope chain are arranged so that the resulting pattern resembles a length of rope.  This is a very durable chain and quite popular for men’s as well a womens jewelry.

Snake Chain:  Snake chains are not made of links but rather of round curved metal plates that are joined together to form a flexible tube.  This slinky tube resembles a snake’s skin.  Omega chain is a variation on the Snake Chain but is distinguished by the fact that it’s round plates are straight and not curved.

         If you’ve seen pink popping up on billboards, ads and store windows you’ll know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A startling one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in their life, so it’s no surprise the ubiquitous pink ribbon campaign enjoys such widespread support.

         The idea of tying ribbons to causes has roots in American folklore, but the modern association of “the medium as the message” began in the 1970s. Penne Laingen, the wife of a hostage in Iran, tied yellow ribbons around trees to illustrate her desire to have her husband returned. Ribbons hit the big time in 1991 when actor Jeremy Irons was photographed wearing a red AIDS awareness ribbon at the Tony Awards. The photo unleashed a swell of popular support for the cause. Pink breast cancer ribbons became widespread the following year when used by Estee Lauder Cosmetics and Self Magazine to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The popularity of the AIDS and breast cancer ribbons energized other groups; today it’s possible to show your support for almost any cause. Here’s a list of many of the awareness ribbon colors and their meanings.

         While we focus on Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, it’s important to remember the sense of community and camaraderie we show with ribbons and charms need not end on the 31^st. Because the struggles of survivors will continue, so will our support. See our project gallery for inspiring awareness earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

 The dark, grimy coating turns jewelry that once shined into dull junk. Tarnish is formed when the silver undergoes oxidation, which is caused, for the most part, by exposure to sulfur in the air. Oils from the human body are a close second.  Other big contributors are wool, felt, rubber, and latex. Storage environments, such as wood or painted containers can accelerate tarnish. Even food like eggs, onions, and mayonnaise can tarnish your silver (sorry deviled egg lovers).  Though it seems like everything under the sun damages silver, the cleaning process is simple.

 Early detection is the key to keeping your silver in tip-top condition. The lighter the tarnish, the easier it will be to maintain. Below are three easy-to-follow steps that will keep your silver looking great.

Gently wash your silver with a non-lemon scented, phosphate free soap (the citric acid and phosphate used in some soap is far too abrasive for silver)

·      Use a very soft cloth, something like 100% cotton, to thoroughly dry

·      Once the piece is totally dry, use a polishing cloth to return full luster.

This is the least abrasive cleaning method; it’s even gentle enough to be used on silver plated items. If you’re really gung-ho about fighting tarnish, these steps can be taken each time you wear silver.  It might seem like a lot of work, but will keep your jewelry looking better, longer.

 However, not all tarnish is equal. If you find yourself with a tough job, there’s no need for worry! Simply follow the former procedure, and then apply a minimally abrasive cleaner like  Precious Liquid Jewelry Cleaner. This is specially formulated to remove built-up tarnish without damaging metal, and can be a lifesaver when cleaning pieces with intricate designs. The liquid literally melts away the tarnish. Because the thought of anything but tarnish melting is unsettling, gloves are recommended for this procedure.

 It’s tempting to use commonly available home remedies to clean your silver, but that’s bad medicine. Things like toothpaste, a commonly found suggestion for silver cleaning, contain caustic chemicals that can actually damage silver. Another big no-no (this might be controversial) is the popular baking soda bath method. It’s a combination of baking soda, boiling water, and an aluminum foil tub that spells certain doom if used on a regular basis. The extreme abrasiveness of baking soda and boiling water will eventually turn silver an ugly non-reflective, dull grey.

 Once you’ve gone through the cleaning process, storing your jewelry properly will save headaches down the road. Most important is keeping the silver away from dust, grime, and grossness in general. Try not to store your silver in newspaper or other reactive papers. If you must, look for an acid-free paper.  Keeping pieces in plastic bags seems like a safe route, but regular zipper bags contain tarnishing elements. Look for specially designed anti-tarnish bags.  If you’d like an extra layer of protection, a wax polish, such as Renaissance Wax, can actually prevent tarnish. When applied, it creates a micro-thin, lustrous layer that enhances shine while preventing damage.

 While tarnish is relentless, use these tips to keep your silver looking like new, and hold off the inevitable for one more day.

 Products mentioned in this article:

XTL-8001 - Silver Polish Polishing Cloth Jewellers Rouge

XTL-8003  - Shine Rite Silver Polishing Cloth

XTL-8000 - Precious Liquid Jewelry Cleaner

ZDI-0502 - Anti Tarnish Bags size 2 x 3

ZDI-0503 - Anti Tarnish Bags size 3 x 3

ZDI-0506 - Anti Tarnish Bags 4 x 6

XTL-8004 - Renaissance Wax

Here is a short clip of a die stamping machine in use. The machine is operated with a foot pedal and stamps a brass blank with 12 tons of force.

Here is a short clip of a tumbling machine in use.
This machine will clean and polish freshly stamped pieces before they’re sent to the plating company.

Gemstones have been used by humans in what is now the United States for thousands of years. Native Americans produced turquoise, flint, amber, shells, obsidian for use in jewelry, beads, carvings, and tools.  In the Southwest they mined turquoise and used it to make earrings and pendants. There were even some gem-happy dentists back in the day who did pretty amazing chomper customizing.  Take that Lil Wayne!  Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts shells were used as gemstones and ornaments.

Today, gemstones including beryl, coral, garnet, feldspar, opal, quartz, sapphire, ruby, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise, shell and pearls, are mined or harvested from coast to coast.  Arizona is responsible for some of the best peridot and turquoise. Most turquoise is a by-product of copper extraction, produced as it is uncovered during the mining cycle, but some is produced as a continuous mining effort, though this type of production is labor intensive because careful hand extraction is required. Oregon has prime feldspar, and produces a small amount of sunstone; California lays claim to the tourmaline crown; Nevada boasts opals; and Idaho supplies small amounts of just about everything, but mostly agates and jaspers.

If you would like to cut out the middle-man and pick your own fresh gems, pack your shovels and load up the kids for the most back-breaking vacation of all-time, because your destination is Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park. Visitors are welcome to scour the 37-acre park for anything from amethyst to quartz, but the real draw is diamonds. The park has a policy of “finders keepers”, so one might be inclined to think the place is tapped out, but in late 2006 a Texas couple unearthed a 6.35-carat giant.

Have we missed any U.S. gems?  If you know of stones produced in your backyard, we’d love to hear about them!