Foot jewelry is innocent seduction

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January 7, 2005By: Lori WilkersonThere’s something very intimate about bare feet, so the current popularity of foot jewelry is no surprise. From toe rings to ankle bracelets, jewelry decorated feet adds charm and a slightly seductive touch to an otherwise neglected part of the anatomy. Jewelry for your feet is great because it doesn’t require any piercing or long-term commitment. Just throw on a few toe rings or wrap a jingling slave chain

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Simulated Diamond Jewelry

Anyone in the market for beautiful simulated diamond jewelry can find a myriad of attractive choices in today's marketplace. Whether a consumer is interested in purchasing a necklace, bracelet, ring, earrings or any kind of fine ornamentation, synthetic diamond jewelry can meet their needs without draining their wallet. There are several different brand names for the stones that fall within this category, but most are a type of cubic zirconia, or CZ, of varying cuts and levels of quality. These stones offer an amazingly realistic alternative to the stone that occurs in nature. Often set in sterling silver of fourteen carat gold, they offer the consumer an opportunity to purchase an item of value that is a notch above costume jewelry. In direct competition to the cubic zirconia stone is the moissanite, or silicon carbide. The mineral silicon carbide is not plentiful since the stone is generally found in meteorites. Along with its use as a replacement for expensive natural stones, moissanite also has a number of scientific uses. The synthetic gemstone cubic zirconia became widely used as a gemstone simulant in 1976 and is known scientifically as Zr02. Right away, the cubic zirconia revolutionized the world of simulated diamond jewelry. Like the natural stone, the cubic zirconia is an isometric or cubic crystal system. The Moh, a scale of mineral hardness ranging from one to ten, measures the cubic zirconia at 8.5. The diamond, the hardest mineral according to the Moh scale, measures in at 10. While the CZ does not reach the hardness scale of the natural stone, the cubic zirconia is harder than many minerals, and, like the natural stone, will cut glass. As for coloring, the cubic zirconia generally has no color, but can be created in a variety of colors if so desired. Common non-white cubic zirconia stones are orange, pink, purple, red, golden brown or green, but any desired color is possible. One difference between the cubic zirconia and the natural stone is that the CZ will actually disperse more light than the diamond.
In its natural form, cubic zirconia is known as the mineral baddeleyite. Baddeleyite was discovered in 1892. Oddly enough, the CZ was not discovered by scientists who were looking for a new synthetic gemstone or an answer to the consumer desire for realistic synthetic diamond jewelry. These scientists had other goals in mind such as finding a new substance that could be used in lasers. Soviet scientists later perfected the creation of cubic zirconia. When jewelry that featured the cubic zirconia first hit the market in 1976, consumers were immediately impressed with the realistic appearance of the synthetic stone. Within four years the commercial production of cubic zirconia had reached roughly 50 million carats. The stones are so realistic that they have even been known to fool geological experts. Natural diamonds usually have some type of flaw such as a feather, spec, or clouded area, but cubic zirconia are generally flawless.
Since hitting the market decades ago, the cubic zirconia synthetic gemstone has been a popular choice for consumers who are looking for a high end look at a budget price. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, broaches, and, of course, rings featuring CZ stones have been popular choices for customers in the market for synthetic diamond jewelry. Cubic zirconia engagement rings have even sold well. As with natural diamonds, there are different qualities and grades of the CZ, and, as with the natural stone, a consumer can expect to get what they pay for. The quality of craftsmanship is the key distinction here. Simulated diamond jewelry is dependant upon the cut and expert polishing that went into the stone during production. These stones may have been created in a lab rather than the bowels of the earth, nevertheless, all CZs are not created equal and the quality of the stone dictates the price. There are examples of cubic zirconia pieces that boast lesser quality and therefore sell for lower prices. It's important to remember that the type of jewelry mounting used enters into the value as well. Obviously a fourteen carat setting will dictate a higher price than a gold plated or gold filled mount.
The Bible acknowledges the value of costly gemstones, but also points to items of even greater worth. "There is gold and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." (Proverbs 20:15) Over the years, improvements to the CZ have been achieved. One criticism of the stone was that the CZ was actually too good since its refractive qualities were much greater than a natural stone. Special coatings have been developed that tone down the CZ's enthusiastic sparkle and make it more diamond-like. While simulated diamond jewelry has proved to be a popular choice for consumers and a sensible, budget-minded alternative to the real thing, the cubic zirconia is not the only kid in town. The mineral moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, has become a popular alternative to the cubic zirconia. Moissanite occurs naturally and is generally found in meteorites, but has also been found in the earth's upper mantle. In addition to the moissanite, another twist on the traditional stone is a unique type of synthetic stone that is created using the carbon of a special loved one. To create these so called "memorial stones," available carbon is first captured from cremation remains, or from a lock of a living loved one's hair. The carbon is then heated and purified, and later heat and pressure are applied until crystallization occurs. The stone is then cut and polished and turned into a unique ornamentation of the consumer's choice. Whatever choice a consumer might make, synthetic diamond jewelry is a great alternative to more expensive pieces.

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