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Engraving lockets and jewelry: can my piece be engraved?

Engraving lockets and jewelry: can my piece be engraved?

A brief overview on the types of jewelry that can be engraved.
The art of engraving goes back to the Stone Age, where cave men etched their art on rocks, pottery and cave walls. As time went by, engraving became the highest form of mastery an artist could achieve.

  • Jewelry was first created for adornment, an outward show of status and prestige, often times embedded with gemstones or imitations. Adding an engraving to the piece added beauty and meaning; making the jewelry more treasured and prized.
  • Today, engraved jewelry is very affordable. If you buy your locket or other jewelry from a reputable jewelry store, they can tell you immediately if the object is engravable. If you received your piece as a gift or purchased it elsewhere, there are a few simple rules to determining if it can be engraved.
  • Lockets made of very thin gold or silver cannot be engraved because their surfaces will collapse when hit with the engraver's tool. The same principles apply to very thin walled rings or other objects; the engraving tool can split the bands.
  • In order to be sure that your jewelry can be engraved, look for either solid gold, gold filled or sterling silver markings. Gold plated jewelry is generally too soft to withstand engraving.
  • Gold jewelry should be at least 14 karat gold and of a heavy enough production to be engraved. All gold jewelry is marked with a karat stamping, i.e., 10K, 14K, 24K, etc. Gold-filled jewelry has all the same features of Karat gold, only is generally similar in price to Sterling Silver jewelry. Both of these types of jewelry can be engraved providing the walls are thick enough.
  • Sterling Silver jewelry should have the mark '925' stamped somewhere on the piece. This means that the piece is at least 92.5% silver. An alternative marking is a walking lion with his leg raised. Known as the lion passant, it is an old form of silver marking. Pure silver is rarely used in jewelry making, as it is too soft. Silver jewelry purchased at craft shows or other places is often referred to as Mexican Silver. The silver content in these pieces are questionable and would require a jeweler to determine their suitability.
  • Once you have determined that your piece can be engraved, you next decision will be the font that will be used. On small spaces, such as lockets or inside ring bands, a block font generally works best. Flowery or script fonts tend to be unreadable. The exception to this would be if you wanted only a single initial on the front of a pendant. Then a script font would be perfectly acceptable.
  • For larger items, like ID bracelets, choose a font that goes along with the gender of the owner. A bold, block font is usually preferred my male wearers, while a nice script font works best for females.
  • If in doubt which font to use, talk it over with the jeweler engraving your piece, he or she will have the experience to know what type of engraving will look best on most items.

    Important Factors in Choosing your Wedding Shoes

    Important Factors in Choosing your Wedding Shoes

    ImportantBrides typically worry about every single detail when it comes to their wedding. The cake, the invitations, the dress, and their shoes all have to be perfect. There is so much pressure on a bride today to create the perfect event that often each bride will obsess unnecessarily on the small things as well. When it comes to wedding shoes, there should be no obsessing. Wedding shoes are such a minor part of the entire wedding event that brides should feel no pressure at all when it comes to their shoes. While bridal stores may make it seem like the shoes are part of the dress, the truth is that most people never even see your shoes when you have a long skirted dress with a train. So, don't fret over choosing your shoes and use these tips while shopping.

    Comfort Is Important
    Without argue, the most important factor in choosing wedding shoes is comfort. You want your wedding day to be one where you can focus on your partner, your guests, and the event in general. You certainly don't want to worry about getting a horrible blister from your shoes. Many brides choose the wrong shoes and are miserable throughout the ceremony. They typically take their shoes off at the reception, which is great if your reception is inside. If you have one outside however, you may be stuck in those horrible shoes.
    Brides today are being smart about their wedding shoes. They are option for ballet shoes or for white tennis shoes instead of heels. Some brides even buy white house slippers for their big day. You can always choose to wear those fancy heels for the ceremony and then change right into your comfortable white shoes for the after party. There is no reason you should not be able to dance the night away on your wedding day so choose a great pair of comfortable shoes, no matter what style they are. Just be sure they are a pastel color so they won't steal your show.

    Style Counts - But Not Much
    Many brides obsess about the style of their bridal shoes. The truth is that unless you are wearing a short dress, most people will have no idea what type of shoes you have on underneath. If you are someone who only feels as fancy as your shoes however, you might want the dressiest pair around. But, be realistic and know that you should not worry as much about style as you should about comfort. When you are planning a wedding there are a million things to focus on at length. Don't let your shoes be one of them!

    Inexpensive Doesn't Mean Ugly
    Today's weddings are costing an average of $6000 to $25,000 each. At these expensive prices, there are some things that you should be thrifty on. While you should never buy cheap wedding shoes that are uncomfortable, you should not run out and buy a pair that costs $500 either. Remember that you will only be wearing these shoes once. Most brides save their wedding shoes after their big day because they never want to wear them again. Besides, there are not many women brave enough to wear white shoes on any other occasion than their own wedding. Just because they are inexpensive does not mean they are not comfortable and appropriate. So, save your father a buck or two and don't spend a bundle on your wedding shoes.

    So, as you are choosing your wedding shoes, keep these things in mind. Comfort comes first! You should do whatever it takes to stay comfortable during your wedding day. If you stay comfortable, you will have much more fun. If you force yourself into pretty but uncomfortable shoes, you will likely be miserable. Remember that you can really wear whatever you want under that long dress and no one will likely know any different. So, don't focus too much on style and choose something that feels great. If you want to keep with the style for the garter removal, consider buying a pair of inexpensive heels for that part of the party. Lastly, be sure to keep money in perspective when shopping. It is your wedding, and you are entitled to have a lavish affair, but don't be unrealistic about it all.
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