History of Sterling Silver Jewelry Charms

Charms are also known as amulets and pendants. They are as popular today as they have been throughout recorded history. Ancient Egyptians wore bracelets with charms or amulets. They were used to protect against bad luck and evil forces. They began with religious symbols and became a part of everyday dressing.

Charms/jewelry were made of almost any material of value to people in their time. Many were made of precious metal. Others were made with gemstones inlaid in them or mounted with precious metals in the form of necklaces, crowns, staffs, and bracelets. Queen Victoria gets the credit for popularizing jewelry charms throughout Europe by wearing lockets or charms on her royal bracelets

America became enchante with Charms around the time frame of World War II. Soldiers returning from duty station brought with them various types of charms or pendants. Today popular charms are maded from Gold and Sterling silver. Other materials are still used in the making of charms.

Sterling Silver Charms today represent as many things as there are interests and personalities. Some charms or pendants represent the religious leanings of the wearer. They also represent the interest of the wearer such a musical instrument for a music lover, a pair of sneakers for a jogger, or ballet slippers for a ballerina. Imagination is the only limit for what a charm can represent. Silver charms are also used to commerate life events such as births, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, or graduations.

Silver is a soft metal and its usage has been favored for centuries. It is used to make charms often related to religious worship. Silver has been a symbol of comfortable living. Sterling silver is much stronger than pure silver which is harder to work with when making pendants or charms. Sterling silver is approximately ninety percent silver. The last ten percent or so can be any one of the following: copper, zinc, or nickel and is more durable than pure silver but it still retains its inherent beauty.

Charms whether made of sterling silver or some other materials are often used to represent the person who wears or carries the charm. As has been mentioned however, they often represent the interests and personality of the wearer. During war particular items are given to the soldiers who are going off to fight. When a young teen-aged couple ’goes steady’ the young man generally gives the girl his ring or something of particular value to him. The girls might also do the same.

Charms have also been said to represent the particular spirituality of the wearer. Many people wear plain simple crosses while still others will wear the cross with the corpus - the body of Christ on it. Others wear saints medals. Lockets are worn with images of loved ones inside. Once used to ward against evil spirits, for good luck, and for protection in times of trouble charms have come to be an adornment for the wearer. Charm bracelets are gifts that keep on giving. A charm is often given for birthdays, graduations, a dance recital, or sports victory. They make wonderful gifts for young girls that will grow with them. There are charm necklaces as well.
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Wedding Ring and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

An Introduction to Pendant Lighting

 

What are pendant lights? Pendant lighting, also known as drop down or suspended lighting, typically consists of a single light that hangs from a higher place, such as a ceiling or porch. It is often held by a chain or cord, giving it the resemblance of a pendant necklace. These fixtures are often used in groupings as well as in single formations, depending on the environment. A single pendant light is usually hangs from a high porch above the door or over a table. However, they tend to be positioned in groups along kitchen bars or in hallways in a straight, line formation. Pendant lights can be found in a huge variety of materials, sizes, and shapes, making them extremely popular for home lighting. The right pendant fixture can really create a unique quality to any space.

Pendant lights can be found in many different quality levels. Some pendant lights are actual works of art, worth thousands of dollars, while others, found in the local hardware stores etc, are purely functional and have little esthetic appeal. Because of this there is also a large range in quality and type of light emitted from pendant fixtures. The most basic types of pendant fixtures are dome shaped and cone shaped. Those that are dome shaped may be shallow to spread a large amount of light, or they may be narrow in order to produce a more direct beam. Dome pendants can be crafted from metal, painted glass, blown glass, and many more materials capable of holding a dome shape. Pendant lighting that is cone shaped is usually a more directional lighting source, allowing very little light to escape the area outside of the cone opening. The most common cone fixtures are manufactured out of pewter, stainless finishes, and colored glass. Though these fixtures cannot be expected to light up a room with a single unit, they can make wonderful ambience by placing several in a room together.

There are many other shapes of pendant fixtures, such as triangular, rectangular, round, and square, and though these are lesser used, they allow for so much artistic freedom in the creation of pendant lights. Top lighting designers experiment with a large spectrum of shapes to create unique and interesting light fixtures. Some pendant lights are even designed from completely abstract shapes and designs. Pendant lighting design is an art form that combines the use of light with an artist's concept of shape and color, and the results can be masterful. This kind of work is no less credible than an original oil painting over the mantle, and it will definitely alter the atmosphere of a room.

Think about all of these possibilities and the functions of the different types of pendant home lighting before making a purchase decision. The style of a pendant fixture should match the home while also serving bringing the right amount and type of light into the space

John Billington is the president and CEO of Five Rivers Inc., a leading online provider of home lighting and bathroom lighting. For more information, please visit http://www.fiverivers.com