Bridal Fashion Jewelry

Every bride plans to wear some form of fashion jewelry on her wedding day. The real question is the type of jewelry she will choose to wear. The term "jewelry" refers to items typically made with gems and precious metals and worn as ornamental devices. "Paste," or costume jewelry, is made from less valuable materials and fabricated to look like the genuine articles.

Jewelry can be made from virtually any material and can be worn on the wrists, ankles, in the ears, or in body piercings. Jewelry can be symbolic of religious belief, of marriage, or of academic or sporting achievement. With so much to choose from, it comes as know surprise that brides can become overwhelmed by their options.

Getting Sparkly with Diamond Wedding Jewelry

One of the most desirable precious stones used in jewelry making is the diamond. Diamonds are graded on four characteristics: cut, carat (weight), clarity, and color. The amalgamation of these four properties determine a stone's worth.

A diamond's cut refers to its proportion. "Round brilliant" diamonds are commonly cut with 58 facets. The better the proportion of these facets, the more light they reflect. In other words, a properly cut diamond will sparkle more than a poorly cut one. Cut also refers to a diamond's shape. Common cuts include round, pear, and oval.

A diamond's weight is measured in carats. There are 100 points to a carat, thus a 50-point diamond is 1/2 carat in weight. There are five carats to a gram. A diamond's clarity refers to how opaque it is. Clarity ranges from flawless (perfectly clear) to occluded (totally opaque).

Diamonds can range in color from white to yellow, though irradiated stones can be green, pink, red, blue or even brown. The most valuable diamonds are the whitest, untreated versions. Some diamonds are filled with glass to make them appear whiter and clearer. These stones generally do not retain their color or clarity for long periods of time.

Though diamonds are extremely hard stones, they are also incredibly brittle. It is best not to wear a diamond if performing activities that will expose the stone to impact. If struck directly with enough force, diamonds are prone to shattering.

Because of the hard nature of the stones, diamonds are best stored separately from other jewelry and even other diamonds. Stored with other pieces, diamonds have a tendency to scratch the softer surfaces of other gems and other diamonds. If diamonds must be stored with other jewelry, it is a good idea to wrap them in a piece of felt or a velvet cloth.

Always clean diamonds with a jeweler's polishing cloth. Do not use commercial solvents.