A Concise Intro To Artisan Jewelry

By Hugh Dagenais


Hand-crafted artisan jewelry is becoming very popular among discerning shoppers and lovers of high fashion. These unique pieces are made by individual craftsmen who love what they do and seek for artistic expression in each piece they create. It is no longer necessary to travel the globe to buy these pieces because they are now easily available for purchase online for fairly reasonable prices.

These beautiful ornaments generally come in the form of bracelets, earrings, necklaces or rings. Each piece is individually hand crafted and designed. Sometimes craftsmen will use a variety of metals such as gold, brass, and copper, or even pewter, but most prefer working with sterling silver.

A variety of precious and semi-precious stones are used in the settings. Frequently, stones such as garnet, moonstone, opal and turquoise are also employed. After polishing, the stones are mounted in a variety of settings that can be sweetly traditional or minimalist modern. Quite often, the challenge for craftsmen is taking a particular stone and finding the best way to show it off to advantage by framing it in metal.

Different techniques have also been developed over the years. One of the oldest is wire wrapping where a gold or silver wire is formed into a decorative loop and a semi precious stone is then inserted inside. Another ancient method, casting, uses molten metals that is poured into molds to make beads, findings or charms. Using silversmith techniques, a craftsman can take sheets of silver or gold and cut these into attractive shapes. Alternatively, the metal can be beaten into shapes which makes for attractive surface textures.

Swarovski crystal bracelets can also be included in this category of design. These are unique bracelets strung with man-made crystals which have a unique sparkle. These crystals are produced in a process invented by Daniel Swarovski in 1892. These crystals are considered to be among the best in quality and are truly beautiful to behold.

Wearing these accessories with silk clothes is one of the best ways to show them off. That is because silk has a special luster and drapes in soft folds. It is one of the finest natural fibers, perfect for any occasion and lasts a very long time.

Artisan Jewelry is the best way for ladies to express their individual style and personality. Each piece is uniquely hand-crafted by artists who love to express their creativity. As such, each piece is made with high quality craftsmanship and materials. Best of all, these beautiful adornments are now easily available for purchasing online at reasonable prices.




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