Colours of Amber - we all know Amber to be a honey-yellow-brown colour, but colours can range from a whitish colour (more opaque) through a pale lemon yellow, to brown and almost black. At times you maybe lucky to find inclusions of insects within your piece of Amber.
Over the centuries, people have believed that Amber has some healing properties, which include pain relief, reduced inflammation, and improved circulation. Some people even believe that amber can help to detoxify the body and speed up the healing process. Some say Amber has the power to absorb negative energy and to promote good health and positive vibes.
Being of Latvian heritage, I have been given/gifted Amber. Some of it has been passed through the generations while other pieces have been incorporated in Latvian designed jewellery. I used to wear lots of Amber growing up but these days I, from time to time I incorporate it into my jewellery designs. Amber is easy to wear every day and accessorises your outfit no matter the occasion.
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Sterling silver jewellery will tarnish over time as it is exposed to natural elements, like air and chemicals contained within the air. A quick polish will restore the shine and luster of your sterling silver jewellery.
It is recommend that you use a soft polish cloth ideally for silver (e.g. Goddards silver cloth) or a silver dip (can be purchased at jewellery stores). Microfiber cloths are great for polishing silver jewellery. Note: It's not recommended to place semi-precious stones or pearls into a silver dip solution.
A quick simple do it yourself Silver dip recipe - Salt, Baking Soda & Dish Detergent
Just to recap – To remove any tarnish the use of a Silver Dip Solution or rubbing with a Silver Cloth is all that is required to renew the brilliance and shine of your favourite pieces of Renate Jewellery.
]]>We all have our own unique style, and jewellery is a great way to express ourselves!
Necklaces had been around for over 25,000 years. The first necklace found, was made of fish bones, and discovered in a cave in Monaco. From Egypt to the Aztec civilisations, some of the oldest pieces of jewellery that were first discovered were organic beads necklaces made out of shell? Read more below, and join the discussion in the comments section.
There are some great reasons why we wear necklaces, but the most obvious answer is because necklaces let us express ourselves. They can change the look of a simple tee-shirt, to a ball gown, jacket or sweater.
According to Tiara, necklaces can be styled and worn anywhere and they go with anything. "We wear jewellery when we go to events like weddings, parties, etc. We wear jewellery when we're in the malls, when we hangout with our friends, or even when we're just at home hanging out with the fam. Literally, we wear jewellery whenever and wherever we want to. There's no set of rules as to when you can wear them, but there are certainly ways on how you can style them!"
1. Mix and match - double up!
What better way to accessorise yourself than to wear two necklaces that look good together! Be bold enough to try it, and make sure that you're not matching necklaces in the same shape and size - they should complement each other. See the photo above for inspiration, and if you want to shop the look, click here!
2. Go casual and be FREE!
Going to the shops? Casual Friday at work? Our hammered necklace looks funky dressed down (or up!) for a casual look. Go get yours here!
3. Put your hair up!
Get your hair off your neck, scrape it back into a ponytail, and show off your style with a long necklace, and a short one. Rock the ponytail look with our Handmade Designer Sterling Silver Circle and Square Shaped Hammered Chain, or any of our australian-made jewellery here! You can never go wrong with this style.
The great thing about this handmade necklace is that you can dress it up or down, whatever the day or occasion - this necklace will be a statement piece and be much admired. PLUS ... each link of this chain is made from the finest quality upcycled Sterling Silver, individually hand shaped, soldered and hand-hammered giving a unique finish and final shape, making each link similar but unique in shape.
Come visit me at artisan markets in and around Sydney to see my expertly-made pieces up close and personal. You can find me here!
Also, you can get a copy of my e-guide on how to get three styles with only one hand-hammered necklace, PLUS a special discount code inside!
Click this link and it will be yours.
Did you know that the sterling silver I use is sustainable and recycled?
All silver sourced for my unique handcrafted designs comes either in a sheet or wire form from Australia oldest and most trusted manufacturer and wholesaler of fabricated metals, Palloys. They are a refiner that tries, whenever possible, to only use recycled materials. They will try and use 100% recycled silver and copper in their silver alloys.
I choose to hand make my designs from sterling silver which can be refined and recycled and has a small environmental footprint.
What is recycled sterling silver?
It is Silver that comes from old unwanted jewellery, scrap silver or extracted from used metal products. Once the silver is separated from the other metals it is mixed with, it is melted down and reused to make new silver products or raw materials like sheet or wire form
Is recycled sterling silver as good quality as non-recycle sterling silver?
The answer is Yes!
No purity is lost in the recycling process. Recycled silver is of the same quality as newly mined silver but more sustainable.
I keep all our off cuts silver and scraps from our making process so that it can remelted, reshaped by rolling or drawing into wire and reused.
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Did you know that your storage choices can cause Silver Jewellery to tarnish faster and that chemicals in the air and moisture (humidity) contribute to tarnishing and discolouration of your sterling silver jewellery.
Not only is it important to regularly polish your pieces but there are other ways to keep tarnish at bay.
Here are a few tips on how to keep your silver in perfect condition and avoid being damaged or blackened from tarnish.
Do’s