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The Beauty of Beaded Jewelry

The insatiable desire for attractive and unique fashionable jewelry pieces is evident. The jewelry market is filled with a plethora of beautiful, elegant, expressive, and sophisticated lines of jewelry items.

Although jewelry pieces made of gold, platinum, and silver are still very popular with jewelry collectors, the beaded pieces are still prevalent in the fashion and jewelry industry.

Evolution of Beading

The history of jewelry beading goes back to centuries ago across exotic lands and outlandish cultures. Who would forget the Native American’s peyote stitch, and the Christians’ rosary beads? Beading has been well established in several world cultures without us taking much notice of it.

Nonetheless, thanks to fashion designers and innovative jewelry makers, beading has found its place again in the world market through the creation of beaded jewelry pieces.

These fashionable and attractive items can be used for various purposes. Mostly, beaded jewelry pieces are used for beautification and decoration purposes, and for religious and ceremonial reasons.

To come up with stunning and exotic beaded jewelry pieces, modern beading incorporates beading techniques from Africa, Europe, America, and the Far East. Some techniques and patterns of beading were also borrowed and incorporated from the cultures and traditions of the prehistoric era.

The Native Americans integrated their customary woven art designs with the use of seed and glass beads. These seed beads and glass beads were presented to the Native Americans by the European market traders and travelers.

Early bead weaving did not require needles. The earliest form of beading involved a technique that is somewhat akin to the braiding technique. But innovation throughout the years introduced needles in beading to make better and more enhanced beaded details. With needles in modern beading, it is easier to return to or pass through one tiny bead several times.

Another development in beading were the use of metal tools that were introduced by the Europeans, and the construction of looms. Looms allowed a separation of two long cords into and warp and weft. Thus, offering a wider and extensive bead weaving possibility.

Earliest bead weaving involved animal sinews that were used to create strings. However, in modern bead weaving, stronger and more durable beading threads are used. These specialized beading threads are advantageous because they can be tremendously long. These specialized threads are continuous.

Birthstones for Beaded Jewelry

In some cultures and societies, people relied on elements, and stones for protection, prosperity, and wealth. Take for example the diamond stones, in some cultures, these precious stones are protection against dark magic. Sometimes diamond stones are used to bring charm and luck to the wearer of the stone.

Birthstones are popular in most culture. Each month, January to December, has a specific stone assigned to it. An individual born in a specific month has a specific birthstone. However, there are several birthstone charts available. But the most widely used is the modern American birthstone chart. This chart was used since the advent of the 20^th Century.

Some people believe that each birthstone offers special and distinctive protection and powers. Wearing your birthstone as a part of you clothing, accessory or jewelry, some believed, would protect you from dangers and illnesses, or bring you wealth or success in your life. Thus, birthstones are used in creating stunning and elegant beaded jewelry pieces.

Those people born under the month of January have garnet as their birthstone. Garnet is from a Greek word that would mean “constancy”. In Greek, it also means the “color of pomegranate seeds”. For mystics and other believers, the garnet stone can be used to provide good health, guidance, and as well as protection from nightmares.

For individuals born in the month of February, amethyst is their assigned birthstone. Amethyst is a violet-colored stone. When used as a power-stone, amethyst can inhibit alcohol intoxication. This birthstone is also used to persuade sincerity, peacefulness and even-temper in people.

The light-blue stone, aquamarine, is the birthstone for those people born under the month of March. When used as a power-stone, aquamarine can provide positive-thinking and health protection. The wearer of the aquamarine stone is also said to be more courageous and can experience more mercy and love in life.

The sparkling diamond is for April. The stone is worn to give strength to the soul and body of an individual. While for individuals born in May, their birthstone is the emerald. This deep blue green stone is believed to heal and cleanse the body and hone the mind or intuition. As a power-stone, emeralds can be a promoter of romance and love.

The pearl is for those people born under June. This birthstone signifies charity and faith. As a power-stone, pearls are believed to be bringers of clarity and eliminators of bad luck or misfortune.

Ruby is the birthstone for individuals born in July. As a power-stone, ruby can encourage generosity, devotion, integrity, and contentment.

The peridot is the birthstone of those under August. This light yellow-green stone can stimulate the inner powers that are important in making the right decisions in life. As a power-stone, peridot can thwart fear, irritation, and jealousy.

The dark blue stone, sapphire, is the power-stone for those born under the month of September. It is the stone for wealth and wisdom. When used as a power-stone, the sapphire can encourage relaxation in the mind. Thus, it stimulates an individual’s creativity.

Opal is for individuals born under October. When used a power-stone, opal can give more confidence to its wearer. It can also cultivate emotions of loyalty, fidelity, and love. Opal allows its wearer to be more emotionally expressive.

Citrine is the birthstone for individuals born under November. This stone fosters cheerfulness, hopefulness, and light-heartedness to its wearer. Citrine is believed to have an energizing and invigorating effect on people.

For those born in December, the topaz is their birthstone. Topaz is believed to foster spiritual insight, leadership, patience, fidelity and patience.

Care of Beaded Jewelry

More than just a hobby, or an expression of self and your creativity, beaded jewelry can be an investment too. Furthermore, it is important to take extra care with your beaded jewelry pieces.

Before you push through with the cleaning process, get to know your beaded jewelry pieces first. Know what type of beads and materials are your pieces. Although some jewelry cleaners are effective, they might do more harm than good on your beaded jewelry items.

If you have glass beads, the best cleaning technique is to wipe then with a soft cloth. Nonetheless, if the beaded items need more than just mere wiping, do not overdo cleaning then with your jewelry cleaning solution. Soaking your beads in water is a NO-NO. Use a damp cloth dipped in liquid soap and wipe the pieces.

For cleaning items with leather thronging, take off all the beads and polish the leather using the right hue. You can try using some leather conditioners and special leather oils too. If you notice that the leather is starting to become brittle, restring your beads to a new piece.

With a wet sponge or damp cloth, clean your wooden beads carefully. You can try using furniture polish for your wooden beads. However, never use furniture polish on your colored jewelry bead pieces,

For other materials like sterling, gold, silver, platinum, treat them they way you usually clean them. You can use jewelry cleaner solutions regularly to maintain your pieces’ lustrous and bright look. To make your silver pieces tarnish free – wear them often. It’s an effective way of keeping them tarnish-free.

Never assume that your beaded jewelry pieces can manage any jewelry cleaning solution. If you are in doubt, perform some test on excess beads and metals before completely using the solution in cleaning your beads. Or you can use a soft cloth with minimal moisture on it to clean your beaded jewelry pieces.