FAQ answer for JDalton Artist - What is "Dare to Wear" Jewelry?

People have been asking "What is "Dare to Wear" Jewelry?"

Answer: "Dare to Wear" is Jewelry for Women Who Roar!

 While women are making great strides in the world the truth is that they are still a voice that is struggling to be heard. How loud you are able to speak often depends on where you live. One way that women are able to voice loudly what they think and feel is through their sense of fashion and the jewelry they wear. I don't know many women who cannot tell you why they selected or were given a piece of jewelry. Most of the time what they choose to wear is a reflection of who they are. Even in primitive cultures where tribes will wear the same kinds of pieces, they are often personalized with markings or etchings that personalize them. Why? Because jewelry makes a statement.

The "Dare to Wear" line came from a combination of influences in my life that helped me to learn to speak up, to dare to say what was on my mind.  Loic, my Tahitian angel and friend. He is reflected in my bold mother of pearl and exotic pearl pieces. I want you to experience Loic's sense of flair and his exotic nature. He has also been known for his generosity. More than once he has lavished people with beautiful creations only to make them smile.

Carol, (Momella) who has been at my side since I was 14 teaching and leading spiritual life is reflected in the pieces that make you put your head up and take notice. Like her they are stately, dignified, and against injustice! I only use beads that meet lead safety regulations and only buy from places that do not use child labor or unfair trade practices. Also tossed out are businesses that do not have regard for sustainable resources. This is a nut and stone piece that is one of my personal favorites. 

What about roaring? Roaring is noise. Loud Noise! I have a guarantee that my "Dare to Wear" pieces are one of a kind, just like you! The get conversation started because people have to ask, "Where did you get that?!?" While sometimes I use certain eye catching pendants or beads in two or three pieces, they are never ever an exact remake of another piece. Some of my beads are purchased around the world by friends who travel and I only see that kind of bead once. The idea is presenting a piece that is striking, like this Botswana agate and Crystal Cleopatra that is a part of my personal collection. I always try to pass along information with my work so the owner knows where their beads originate from, or if a particular person has inspired the piece. 

The following pics are of people who have inspired the work you see here and at my online store.

Momella, (right) with our sister from Brazil (left). Momella's section hosts special pendants and brooches in vintage styles.

Singer and Performer Karina Bosko, Sao Paulo Brazil.

"K.B. Kreations"

Loic - Singer, costume designer, choir director,

 "Loic Chic" Bracelets

Anderson de Karvalho - Singer, Song Writer, Drummer, Perfomer

"Ander Corner" - Sao Paulo Men's Line

So now you know! I hope you enjoyed this article. If you like what you see here you can follow this link to my online store to see more items. Thanks and have a great day! CLICK HERE

Helpful Hints For Selecting "Forever" Themed Pieces

Choosing Classics Like a Pro

Chistmas and the holidays can be such a fun time to wear those themed peices that we have collected over the years. I still have many of  the earrings that my mother gave me over the years. My favorites are the ones she gave me in 9th grade, a pair of gold toned bows that have 3 mm pearls in the center. I love to wear them to church and to family gatherings. Part of what makes them such a great wear is that they are made of traditional elements like gold metal and pearls. While trends can be cool, they can also be dismissed as fast as they come, and as savy gift givers we want to get it right when buying jewelry. The above bracelet is one of my hot sellers this year for charms designs. It is full of the classic Christmas theme. Below however is an example of what in my opinion was a bit of an old holiday design that missed the boat in terms of a classic. 

The mid ninties saw a rush of mixed media jewelry that was rather gawdy and the trend so far has not resurfaced. Still being seen however is glass pearls, freshwater pearls, acrylic beads that were well made that are singles. Enamel charms that were smaller in size are also still in demand. (1980's were a bad decade for things that were too big where charms are concerned.) That is mostly my opinion, but I have been a designer for a while now and part of the trade is knowing what your people want to wear and why. I also deal in vintage and have learned a lot about trends from days gone by.

Here are some tips for choosing holiday pieces that are potentially "forever"gifts. 

First know the kinds of metal that your gift recipient wears. If you buy gold and your "giftee" only wears silvers, it is likely to not be worn other than once or twice, if at all.

Next know sizes. If something is too big or too small for the neck or wrists that puts a damper on how often a peice is worn. - Not all pieces can be extended. Same is true for ears - find out if they should be hoops, dangles, or posts. I have some aunts that prefer everything to be designed with lever backs because they are more comfortable. 

Also consider sizes of stones. Women in particular have a comfort level with bead and stone sizes. Too big or small becomes a comfort issue and is often a deal breaker in piece selection for many people. Even if the trends are large many dainty ladies will not budge.

Color combinations - red and gold, green and gold, red silver ect, can all be used through out the year.. once you mix red and green your piece will most likely be in a box 11 months out of the year.  A tip from a friend of mine is that she often recommends that customers choose colors that person wears regulary and then find a way to add Christmas to either the box it comes in or to the piece. One example is that a silver and blue wearing person can have items in silver and blue, that may not have any themed beads, but rather have silver and blue snowflakes on the box. The person still associates the gift with received at Christmas, but can wear the gift year round, because there are no snow flakes on the bracelet.  To add Christmas to the piece you can select Christmas charms that come on a lobster clasp and change them as the season change. 

Materials. Plastic beads, cheap acrylics, low grade metals, odd shapes, also an issue, - just don't... People will wear old jewlery, if it is classic vinatge that says quality. I know women who are in thier sixties and seventies who are still wearing thier classics. Think Sara Coventry, Napier, ect. Pieces that were well made even though they did not cost a fortune. Ebay and Etsy have Christmas vintage that is selling for big bucks because people want quality. Plastic with seams showing, as well as aged looking acrylic or flaking metals almost always get the toss out, even when sentimental value is there, because they cannot be really worn anymore. Joy in jewelry is in the wearing!

Materials. Stay away from anything with cords that will fray. Another note about materials that are cloth like is when they become dirty, they almost always cannot be cleaned. Sometimes they will stretch when wet and others have a wax coating that feels yucky to the touch when they are just a few years old. 

Last but not least, remember that whatever you choose think about the person and their habits. People who play sports tend to wear either dainty, or no jewelry at all because it hinders activity. People who have to dress for work often prefer simple and uncomplicated pieces, because the companies of today often have strict dress codes. Also know that sometimes we are just going to miss the boat comepletely and being gracious enough to include a gift receipt can allow the person to be 100% percent happy every time. 

I hope you found this article helpful! Have a great holiday season, Josie - Owner - Artist J Dalton Beads. Find me on Facebook or Click here to go directly to my store Thanks!

Wrung out With Online Ordered Rings?

Consumer Information on Buying Rings Online

Cute little Southwestern .925 silver design I found in a shop, but it is only a size 6. 

So buying for a 9 to re-size is a bad idea...

The cyber world has become a main stay for shoppers of all incomes and almost all countries. For people on the move it is convenient way to get things done, but can be a difficult process when buying certain items that need to be specifically fitted. One of these categories is buying rings. I buy a lot of sterling and vintage rings and pins for my store because they are an item that I cannot make, but are in great demand. Many people want an organized pulled together look so that means I have to be on the look out for pieces that match my handmade products, but they have to be an exact fit for the look and the size. I have learned some valuable things that can help my customers with getting the products that they want and avoiding hassles that can be time consuming and even embarrassing. 

Sizes

An ugly truth about rings in sizing is that they are not standardized by any means. Mandrels, the rods used to create rings and to size them are close approximates even one purchased within the same company sometimes. Expensive mandrels used by top notch manufacturing companies can vary from one to the other, even though they do tend to be most accuarate. Here are some hints to help you get what you need. 

First of all try to buy from a place where you have bought something in person first. Most companies use an in house standard so that their products are uniform. A major online outlet manager confessed that they had an epic fail trying to get their multi branded products sized universally, so they went with ordering from their supplier in their sizes, to relabeling sizes according to an in house weights and measures group. The reason this had to be done is that even measuring mandrels that are supposed to be the from the same company, can vary from 1/4 to one full size in measurements. It was causing huge discrepancies in the retailers sizing within brands that were full filled in different locations. Chances are if you order for example from JCCoin Store and they have a size 8 product, all of their JCCoin branded items will be the same for the most part. If you switch brands though, you cannot be guaranteed a fit even though JCCoin is the carrier. So a Little Molly Madeup Brand sold at JCCoin might not be the same as a JCCoin item. This is true even if your store of choice has been in partnership with a brand for a long time. 

International:

Most people in the USA wear an average ring size of 8 - 9 and can find what they want within products made in the USA. However in Brazil that is the same as an 18-19. With an online international market place you need to remember that sizing is going to be an even bigger issue. I wear a 21 in Brazilian rings made in Brazil, and a 22 in rings made in Asia, that I bought in Brazil. It is best to read the reviews left behind by other consumers from your country, especially the comments on sizing. If they say "it runs large" then try to adjust your size before you order from the company - but keep in mind that the sizes they will give you are information based on their weights and measures from their country. You can message many retailers who will give you an idea of what their sizes run and what their customers have to say, but remember a fore mentioned advice. Knowing also the thickness of a shank, or the band portion of a ring makes a difference. Rings that are thicker or wider can often require a 1/4 to a one half size larger in the shank is wider than normal. Remember that you can find online sizing charts that can help you convert the sizes properly, but check more than one for the best results. 

Brazilian Spinner Ring with Lord's prayer in Portuguese.

Materials:

Buying real gold or silver it is not unusual to have to re-size a ring for a custom fit. You want to keep in mind that these kinds of things are better done with a local jeweler of a reputable name. While you can buy anywhere, many of my customers have been taken in by plated jewelry or by lack of knowledge where stamping is concerned, thinking they would have a ring re-sized to fit that was bought online. You need know your marks and stamps to determine if an item is indeed real. For example alpaca is a valuable alloy used in Central and South America and it is marked, but it is not sterling silver by any means. Rings that are made of alpaca "silver" are not always acceptable to local jewelers for work. Sterling and gold though are almost always available for sizing within the "two up - two down" sizing guides.

Reality Says:

Heirlooms are not always what we think. Alloys have been used in jewelry since the early 1800's and sometimes Great Aunt Edie's stuff looks real, but is in truth just costume so they cannot be re-sized. Most jewelers will not touch an unmarked piece. Also keep in mind that pregnancy, age, weight loss or gain can cause issues with rings. Most jewelers will go up or down two sizes maximum. Adding size can cost you more than sizing down if more material is needed to re-bond a ring. Re-sizing involves cutting bands and you need to be sure that it will not be weak when re-bonded. Rings with no stones and little extra details such as filigree or scroll work are better for adjustments. Therefore it is important that you try to get an idea of someone's ring size before gift buying.

What you pay for is what you get! If you buy a ring from a discount wholesale group it might be stamped . 925 or 18 K, but is plated. Other countries are not required to use the same standards as the USA or Europe, so buyer beware! Also you need to remember that not all Ebay or Etsy sellers know what they are doing. If you are buying a gift for someone, please have it sent to you first, with plenty of time for a return. This will save you embarrassment! Also remember that sterling silver is VERY soft metal. It will bend easily and can be easily misshapen. You need to consider shank thickness or getting a rhodium plated silver for band protection*. *Rhodium is not re-sizable. 

I hope that this article is helpful! You can see items at my store by clicking on the below link.

 J Dalton Artist Store