On a tight budget, costume clip on earrings can be an affordable option to accessorize an evening ensemble or accentuate a party gown. If a woman does not have pierced ears, she still has a world of options with the increasing popularity of clip on earrings. Not only is a woman seeking to be fashionable no longer held back if she has unpierced ears, she still has many accessory choices open to her even if her budget is tight. Costume jewelry, often called faux jewelry, is fashionably designed yet quite attractive. The stones and metals used make the accessory more affordable than its higher end counterpart. Instead of diamonds and pearls, Cubic Zirconia diamond stimulants and faux pearls are used. The metals chosen for faux earrings are often alloy mixtures with lesser metals, such as vermeil or sterling silver clip earrings, mixed with about 6 percent copper or other base metals. Faux jewelry has been used for years. This jewelry is primarily for fashion, while high end jewelry can be a status symbol or collector's item. A jewelry designer named Kenneth Jay Lane created quite exquisite faux accessories for some celebrities during the 1960s. A pair of costume clip on earrings can be an affordable and comfortable accessory to accompany an evening gown. Choosing a base metal, such as copper can greatly decrease the cost of the bracelet or necklace. Sterling silver clip earrings are made with 92.5 percent pure silver, alloyed with 7.5 percent of a base metal, usually copper. A precious metal alloy that is at least 92.5 percent pure will bear a marking, called a hallmark, of its authenticity and sometimes its designer.
There are many reasons that jewelry makers would choose to alloy an accessory, instead of make it completely out of precious metal. Besides reducing the cost considerably, alloying precious metals can also add to their strength. Pure precious metals are often too soft to be usable for accessories or industrial use. Though, there are some draw backs to mixing metals. Pure precious metals usually don't tarnish as much as alloys. Mixing them with copper makes them harder, but they'll need to be polished to rid the pieces of corrosion. Recently, precious metals are being alloyed with 10 different substances to produce a metal that is resistant to tarnish but is still strong. The word "sterling" is thought to have originated in the Easterling part of Europe. Because of the rarity of solid silver, the metal workers in Easterling alloyed it to make their currency. Throughout Europe, these mixed coins were first known as "Easterling silver." The name was then shortened to "sterling silver." From there, it branched out to make up flatware and jewelry. Now, it is quite a common alloy.
With the ability to tarnish and corrode, the purchaser should be prepared to clean their alloyed faux jewelry. The owner of an alloyed piece that is showing tarnish should be very gentle. Tarnish is not a layer of grime ON TOP of the accessory. It is actually sulfur that has mixed with the base metals in the piece of jewelry or flatware. Polishing the item with hard strokes trying to remove the top layer is not advised and will eventually lower the value of a treasured piece of flatware or accessory. There are many foams and creams that can remove tarnish from costume clip on earrings. By gently rubbing the cream or foam onto the jewelry with fingers, the owner can remove the tarnish and reveal the mirrored layer below, without losing the brilliant patina. Extra care should be taken not to harm any insignia that verifies the precious metal included in the alloy. A pair of sterling silver clip earrings will have markings authenticating that the metal is made up of 7.5 percent or less base metals.
Regardless of the careful diligence paid to a piece of faux accessory, damage may still occur. Sterling silver clip earrings can often break or bend. An injury such as this to a favorite item will need repair, rather than replacement. Not only this, but costume clip on earrings are sometimes too tight or become too loose through years of wear. Changing the tension of the clasp is not a difficult task. There is a paddle on the back of non-pierced earrings that can be removed gently with needle-nosed pliers. To adjust the tension, the owner can hold the paddle with the needle-nosed pliers and move the center prong away from the other prongs with a flat-faced pair of pliers to loosen the grip. The center prong can also be moved toward the other prongs to tighten the back of the earring. Small movements will still make a big difference in the feel of the accessory when worn. For a minor repair, the accessory owner can bend the connectors closer to the prongs, thus securing the back. New prongs and backs can also be purchased and replaced relatively affordably.
With the sleek look and strength of alloyed material and the comfort of non-pierced earrings, sterling silver clip earrings make an ideal choice for almost any woman. Faux jewelry is now the respected norm among even the elite. Not only that, but purchasing a more affordable accessory can ward off the worry that comes from wearing expensive jewelry to a gathering where it could be lost or stolen. Jewelry was thought as being worthy of God in the early days of Israel. With the advent of alloyed materials, the owners no longer have to worry that something worthy of God could be stolen or forever damaged. "And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD." (Exodus 35:22)
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