Platinum has become a popular choice for jewelry due to its strength, durability, and marketing efforts of the platinum industry in recent years. Platinum is three times more expensive than gold. Jewelers aggressively market it because they make three times the profit on every platinum item they sell compared to gold. Platinum is a naturally white, lustrous metal that is long lasting. Sometimes the claims of strength and scratch resistance are overstated. Like all precious metals, platinum will scratch. A platinum scratch is different from white gold because it simply plows the metal instead of removing it.

Traditionally, jewelry manufacturers used platinum alloyed with metals from the platinum group metals (iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium). With the proper mix of these platinum group alloys, platinum becomes one of the hardest metals making it a strong and durable jewelry metal. Platinum will not rust or corrode and the platinum family metals make it hypoallergenic and ideal for persons with sensitive skin.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for platinum jewelry state that only items consisting of 950 part per thousand of pure platinum can be marked stamped PLATINUM or PLAT without more alloy information. From 750-950 Platinum, the platinum group metals must also be indicated. For example, PLAT900IRID for 10% Iridium alloy. Historically, the most common alloys in America were 95% Platinum with 5% Ruthenium or 5% Cobalt and 90% Platinum with 10% Iridium.

There is a misperception that the 950 platinum is better than the 900 platinum. However, pure platinum is very soft and the right alloy mix is what is important. Different alloys and different percentages produce better results for different jewelry purposes. Some alloy mixes work better for casting and some are better for handcrafting like bending the prongs over fragile diamond corners. Many artisans feel that PLAT900IRID is the best general-purpose alloy for diamond rings.

While platinum is best known for its use in jewelry, more than 60% of platinum is used for other industrial purposes such as catalytic converters in autos and pacemakers in the medical field. Because of its rarity and the rapidly increasing demand for this versatile metal, the price has soared in recent years.
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Body piercings have been the object of much controversy — besides being an artistic expression and a celebration of one’s physical endowments. The belly ring is such a piece of jewelry.

In times of old, body piercings were treated differently, depending on the culture. As most body piercings had ritual or ceremonial value, many cultures prohibited specific types of body piercing that were purely for the sake of adornment. The warriors of old Central and South American civilizations sported body piercings, specifically in the nose area, in order to appear more intimidating to their enemies. On the other hand, lip piercings and decorations were meant to enhance attractiveness, especially among women of the day and age.

And while body piercings were more or less common in ancient Egypt, the ancient Egyptian pharaohs actually appropriated specific types of piercings. For example, no one BUT members of the royal family should wear a belly ring, on pain of death! Talk about the price of vanity.

Nowadays there is still some stigma associated with body piercings, especially among young women. It may be true that piercing is not always a safe practice, but more and more tattoo parlors are adopting measures that will ensure that infection is at least avoided. The increasing popularity of body jewelry cannot be ignored, especially since things like the belly ring and lip ring are making their way to MTV!
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We have been manufacturing and selling The Bell Collection by Jewelry John since early 1998. All of our bells are made from Sterling Silver (we also make them on an individual basis in 14K gold). They are cast, assembled and finished individually with jewelers care, giving utmost attention to every detail from bail to clapper. The entire Bell Collection is manufactured in Austin, Texas USA.

The bells are made using the lost wax method which means, we make a rubber mold from an original carved wax, a wax copy is then made for each body, bail and clapper. The parts are then attached (sprued up) to a wax tree. A temperature resistant plaster of Paris type material (investment) is poured around each tree in a rubber cup (this step is called investing). When the material hardens, it is removed from the cup and put into a kiln, which reaches a temperature of 1350 F. The wax is vaporized leaving a plaster mold into which molten silver is poured, making the bells. They are removed, cut from the tree and go through numerous processes before the 3 pieces are assembled by hand, making a completed bell. Each bell is then given a final polish before being sent to our retailers.
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Copyright 2006 Tatstar

When it comes to style and skill, one of the worlds class footballers David Beckham is probably the envy of most men. No other man has put mens jewellery firmly on the style map like Beckham has. Lets face it most men wouldnt turn a blind eye if Beckham was all style and no skill on the pitch. But Beckham is blessed with style, substance and most importantly he ranks high because of his skill with the ball on the pitch.

Youve probably seen all the pictures. First, there were the winning haircuts; floppy blonde, shaved head and the mohican. Then the tabloids captured him appearing at a nightclub in a sarong to reveal both body and the legs.

But it was when Beckham started wearing expensive diamond watches, jewellery and diamond earrings? Not just one diamond stud piercing an earlobe but two diamond earrings. Its a head-turning remarkable style triumph by Beckham who effortlessly gave men permission to wear mens jewellery. Had another man tried to pull off wearing earrings he may have not been as successful.

At the Beckhams pre-World Cup party, again mens jewellery was on dazzling display. Englands full-back Ashley Cole arrived in his version of Full length and Fabulous. Naked from the waist up, Ashley Coles dinner jacket was replaced with mens jewellery.

And an exquisite diamond encrusted watch was the costliest item at the Beckhams charity auction created by Jacob Arabo, the sparklingly talented young jewellery designer whose name has fast become well-known in celebrity circles.

Arabos exquisite mens jewellery is much-loved by his clients not simply for being expensive but for transcending the classic designs. He takes credit for changing male attitudes to wearing jewellery. Pop stars and celebrities alike wear some of his creations like diamond-covered dice or mobile phones to stand out in photo shoots and pop videos.
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