Custom Design For All

Custom jewelry design is about to get much easier. Stuller, the jewelry industry’s largest just-in-time supplier, has partnered with Gemvision, the company that created Matrix, the most popular jewelry CAD-CAM program, to create new software that enables salespeople to create true custom designs at the counter that Stuller will then manufacture and deliver in less than a week.

“This is a tool to make custom design possible for the sales associate,” says Matt Stuller, founder, president, and CEO of Stuller. “When the customer is part of the design processes it fuels the passion and excitement of jewelry. It’s not a commodity anymore.”

The new software, tentatively called “Counter Sketch” was previewed for 50 select retailers at the inaugural Stuller Owner’s Conference in Lafayette, Louisiana on July 14. A beta version will be released to 100 retailers on October 12 this year and the software will be available in wide release in January 2010. Pricing hasn’t been set yet.

“We want to create an experience where the customer doesn’t have to ask for custom design, it becomes part of the shopping experience,” explains Jeff High, founder and president of Gemvision. The design process in the new software starts with existing models of popular jewelry styles. According to Stuller, the goal is to launch with 1,000 to 1,500 different initial models. Each model can then be modified and adapted to suit the customer’s needs through an intuitive easy-to-use interface, creating an infinite number of possible customized designs.

Take a three stone ring design, for example. A salesperson, or even a customer, can use simple sliders to change the finger size, the center stone size and type, the size and position of the side stones, the angle and height of all the stones, the width and profile of the shank. As one attribute of the piece changes, all the others seamlessly adjust proportionately in real time to change the look of the piece to suit the customer’s requirements.

Once the customer is happy with the design, the sales person can calculate pricing and send the model to Stuller for manufacturing. Stuller offers the design as a casting, as a polished mounting, or set with gemstones from Stuller’s inventory, delivered in 5 to 7 days.

Although Counter Sketch allows jewelers with little or no custom design experience to offer the service, even jewelers who specialize in CAD CAM said the new program would improve the custom design experience for their customers. “It’s a game-changer that makes custom the new normal: the biggest change the jewelry industry’s seen since the introduction of CAD,” says Jim Tuttle of Green Lake Jewelry Works in Seattle, the largest Matrix user in the country. “This is the beginning of the mass customization revolution. In what other industry can you essentially design something yourself and get a good quality product? Who would have thought that the jewelry industry would lead the way in the democratization of design?”

Aryavart Jewelry Stores Suspends Publication

After 24 years of serving the jewelry industry, Aryavart jewelry Stores is suspending publication. We’d like to thank all the people who worked hard over the years to make every issue worth reading. We’d also like to thank the retailers and manufacturers who shared their time and expertise with our readers each month. We hope to find a buyer who believes in the future of the jewelry industry as much as we do. But even if we don’t and the August issue of Aryavart jewelry Stores is truly the last, we are sure that the jewelry industry’s strong community and generosity of spirit will ensure its recovery is swift and its future is bright. We’ll certainly miss being there to cover it.

Jodha Akbar Jewelry

In the film Jodha akbar, the awesome chunky jewelry worn by Aishwarya is already making waves. Tanishq, the leading jewellery brand made all the jewellery worn by Aishwarya Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan in the historical epic.

The movie has been shot using real gold and diamond jewelry. According to sources, the jewelry used is exquisite even by standards reserved for the royalty. The collection was designed by a team of 80 stylists using real emeralds, rubies and pearls.

It is all set to fuel a trend for heavy, stone studded queen necklaces and chunky earring extending from the top of the ear till shoulder line.

Aishwarya's apparel in the movie includes heavy zardosi saris as well as other costumes which boast of intricate embroidery work.

CarmaWorld, a key Indian shopping portal that stays in sync with latest fashion trends, is soon going to introduce an imitation jewelry line inspired by the film online. This collection of stone studded bridal sets, will comprise a neck hugging choker, a queen's necklaces, long chunky danglers with jhumka, a nose ring, a bracelet and hand adornments called 'haath panja'.

Jewellery Rolls the Perfect Stylish and Practical Gift For Birthdays and Christmas
Origins of Jewellery RollsIt is unclear exactly how jewellery rolls came in to being but we believe they developed for practical purposes from Jewellery boxes. It would seem that Jewellery Boxes have been used since ancient times for storing jewels and most women today have a jewellery box or decorative boxes in which their jewellery is kept. Jewellery rolls have become a popular means of storing jewellery as they make an equally pretty addition to a dressing table and have a practical use when travelling.Jewellery Rolls at homeWith continued popularity of statement jewellery, the traditional jewellery box is struggling to cope with these large pendants and necklaces, so additional space is required. Even large jewellery placed in a draw or box will become tangled or lost in and amongst other items, as for more delicate jewellery or earrings, these will become damaged or will just be lost. The addition of a jewellery roll will help organize your jewellery and can be either left on a dressing table or stored in a draw where it will not take up as much space as a jewellery box.Jewellery Rolls when travellingAs if packing isn’t enough of an ordeal, women are also expected to throw together a perfect outfit complete with stylish accessories. Organizing your suitcase or travel bag is the best way to achieve this, including packing the right jewellery. You wouldn’t dream of packing for a weekend away without including a pair of shoes for the evening, the same should be true of jewellery. That black evening dress is going to look a bit boring without some well placed adornments. This is where jewellery rolls are extremely helpful, as you can organize your jewellery to go with each outfit. This makes a far better alternative to searching through your handbag, makeup bag, or wash bag, trying to remember where you slipped your precious jewellery in to. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of putting your jewellery away in your jewellery roll each evening when staying in hotels as otherwise it is easily misplaced and possibly forgotten and lost when you pack.Types of Jewellery RollsJewellery rolls come in many different fabrics and varying sizes, they can be tied with ribbon or may have a snap fastening. Leather jewellery rolls can seem the most luxurious option and they will certainly be the most expensive but you need to consider the extra weight the leather adds to your luggage when trying to travel light. Velvet or satin jewellery rolls with or without beading offer an equally luxurious alternative at a fraction of the price. There are many colours to choose from which can be useful if you are trying to compliment the decor of your bedroom.Jewellery Rolls as GiftsJewellery rolls make excellent Birthday Present, or Christmas Gift or simply to let her know you are thinking of her. There are many styles available that you don’t find everywhere on the high street and they make affordable gifts during the credit crunch.

Jewellery to Suite Your Personality

Jewellery to Suite Your Personality
It is rightly said that jewellery adds color to your complexion and brightens up your dressing outfits and that also reflects your personality status some time. Jewellery reflects that that you are and even tells about your style, and complements your make-up also. Long time back in Greece jewellery was rarely worn and was only used for public appearances or on special occasions such as marriages or social get to gathers. Jewellery was often given as a gift and was only worn by women mainly to show their wealth and there spouses’ social status and to enrich or enlighten their beauty.Silver Jewellery is becoming more popular these days as a way to stand Stretch jewellery making metal just to stand alone from the crowd and to hit back the monopoly of gold which was carried from a long time silver is tacky, and even platinum is also becoming popular metal for jewellery-making nowadays. India is one of leading Silver Jewellery exporter in India and even most famous silver jewellery in India is been counted of silver jewellery of Jaipur (The Pinkcity). A lot of foreigners comes to India and in which a huge percentage of them visits Jaipur too for two reasons first the famous solver jewellery of Jaipur and second the historical background of Jaipur which attracts foreign visitors of India.Shells and wood are being considered more better to make your own jewellery out of some inexpensive and cheaper stuff but on the other hand they look really great beads and string are used in order to create jewelry from beads and wood, and just in case if you’re looking for something very unique and rare then these are the perfect one’s for you. Wearing Jewellery to parties is a great way to add excitement to your next party you always look forward for your next party to happen so that you can wear your new jewellery in order to show off and flaunt at the party.Nowadays even beads are also used in order to make jewellery these beads may be large or small in size and the smallest type of beads used is known as seed beads which are used for the "woven" style of beaded jewellery. Beads, shells and even bird-feathers were worn by tribal people during the ancient ages in order to exhibit their social status but slowly and gradually these were replaced by expensive watches, suits and jewellery which are now worn by mostly everyone in the new breed of chiefs.Personalized Bracelets made of gold silver and even platinum are very popular these days and there are many online jewellery stores that offer a wide range of these products on a large numbers. Buying of Jewellery may it be online or offline is a practice that has never going to change, diamond jewelry is never out of style and is as popular gold jewelry just because it is rightly said that diamonds are a woman’s best friend and diamonds are forever.

The Types and Purposes of Jewellery Findings

The Types and Purposes of Jewellery Findings
Speaking broadly, jewellery findings are the component parts or the materials that are used in jewellery making. However, there are different types of jewellery findings and they each serve a particular purpose, be it functional or aesthetic. If you are considering entering the world of jewellery making, it is wise to familiarise yourself with a few of the different types that you can obtain from suppliers, or recycle from old jewellery.Functional jewellery findings are, as their name suggests, the ‘mechanics’ of the creation of a piece of jewellery. They are designed mainly for constructive purposes, such as linking, joining or attaching different components of a piece together. The brooch back, for example, is an assembly comprising of a joint, a catch and a pin-stem that can be attached to an item, such as a brooch, either by gluing or soldering. A catch is designed to accept and lock a top wire or even a pin-stem. Used on its own, the catch is an essential piece of equipment when making necklaces and bracelets, as it forms the closing mechanism that holds the item in place.Earrings occasionally use a wire finding shaped like the Greek letter ‘omega’. This ‘omega clip’ is used as a clip earring finding, pivoting in one end of a yoke or joint attached to the earring itself.Decorative jewellery findings add an aesthetic quality to a piece of jewellery. There are countless decorative findings available, but you may commonly encounter charms, filigrees and festoons. Charms are the miniature findings that dangle from bracelets and necklaces. Often shaped to look like animals or tokens of wealth, they are usually made from gold or silver. Filigree is an ornamental form of bent wire that can be soldered into intricate designs, while festoons are usually the centrepiece of a necklace, formed by a pendant with rings on either side through which the chain can be attached.Hybrid jewellery findings are a combination of the two, serving a mechanical function, yet adding depth or decoration to a piece at the same time. Common examples of hybrid jewellery findings include bead caps, bracelet links and locket bails. A bead cap is a metal embellishment that is placed on a bead to mask any damage that has occurred during the drilling of the bead. These can be made from filigree to add an extra layer of decoration to the piece. Bracelet links are generally made from metal and have loops at either end to link with other rings or connectors. Locket bails are bails specifically designed to connect lockets to a chain. A bail is generally oval or ‘D’ – shaped in design and slides onto the chain without the need for soldering. This can also referred to as clip-on bail.There are many further types of jewellery findings that are used for a variety of purposes in the world of jewellery. The best way to research them and their uses is to develop your skills as a jewellery maker.

Adding Some Razzle to Your Dazzle Incorporating Gemstones in Jewellery Making

Adding Some Razzle to Your Dazzle Incorporating Gemstones in Jewellery Making
Jewellery making is an art form, and the incorporation of gemstones into jewellery goes back thousands of years. But gemstones don’t necessarily mean top end diamonds or rubies – there are a whole range of gemstones that can be used by jewellery makers for very little initial cost.Suppliers of gemstones recognise that their products can be used in any form of jewellery, from rings to broaches, necklaces to earrings. The possibilities are only limited by the creator’s imagination. There are so many shapes and sizes to choose from, it may be a little daunting at first glance, but if you plan your piece of jewellery carefully, there is bound to be a gemstone to fit.The first thing to do is to decide exactly what kind of piece you want to create. Once you have decided on that, you can then narrow your field of choice down regarding shape and size. If you are making a broach with an inlay gemstone setting, a cabochon of any precious or semi-precious gemstone can easily be fitted into a corresponding blank mounting. A popular combination is silver and turquoise, giving a beautiful finish for a budget price.Most silver and gold findings can be bought from jewellery suppliers. Good suppliers will also carry a range of gemstones that are designed to fit their selection of mountings. To use gemstones in your jewellery making, you need only a few simple tools and a lot of imagination. If you’re really serious about gemstones, you can purchase the uncut stones and build up your workshop to include tumblers, polishers, diamond-tipped drills and other jeweller’s tools to create your own, unique results. If you are intending to produce a quantity of gemstone jewellery, the initial outlay of equipment will soon pay dividends, as the uncut gemstones are far cheaper than the cut ones.Semi-precious gemstones can also be bought as beads, combined with delicate silver spacers and created into beautiful, elegant jewellery. A particular favourite is the deep blue azure of Lapis Lazuli with its golden flecks and shimmering iridescence.Creating stylish and unique jewellery is far easier than you think. By incorporating gemstones into your designs, you can even make birthstone-specific jewellery for a particularly individual gift. Each zodiac sign has corresponding gemstones, most of which are relatively common and fairly cheap. Even the more expensive stones, such as emeralds and sapphires, can be cheaper than you expected, especially if you choose a stone that is perhaps of a lower quality, but has its own raw beauty.The important thing to remember when venturing into the world of gemstones for the first time is to shop around. There are plenty of suppliers in the market, and there are bargains to be had, particularly if you are willing to do a little work on the stone yourself. Don’t be afraid to experiment – if you’re not happy with the results, you can always dismantle the piece and incorporate the gem into a different setting or even a completely different design.Gemstones never go out of fashion, so take a look around jewellery fairs to pick up inspiration and ideas for your own work, and in no time you’ll be adding your own, unique gemstone designs into your jewellery making.