The Torc - a Symbolic Necklace from Ancient Times

A torc is a rigid necklace which was made from woven metallic rope. So the craftsmen would get strands of metal and twist them around each other like rope and that?s where the name comes from. The Latin word to twist gives us the word torc and torque as we know the word today.

Torcs are familiar to us as bronze age jewellery and reached from around 1000BC until about 300AD but were still worn before and after that in perhaps less serious ways. They are best known as Celtic jewellery but they were worn by other races such as the French German and Spanish.

Another feature of the torc is that it is open at one end. It is round and goes around the neck but it does not close like necklaces of today. The ends were often ornamented with tiny heads or sculptured shapes.

Torcs were not just for ornamentation but had a special role as war ornamentation and they were taken off the body of the vanquished by the victor, so if you lost your torc it usually meant that you also lost your life or certainly your freedom. The torc was often connected with your tribe or family and was inscribed with family history and symbols.

Sometimes torcs were worn on the arm or on the wrist but they were mainly worn around the neck. They were often hinged at the back of the neck and occasionally they were able to be closed but the traditional torc was worn around the neck, was of woven or twisted strands of bronze or gold, sometimes silver and was open with some kind of ornamentation on the ends such s the heads of birds or animals or mythical animals such as dragons.

Torcs were often heavy and looking at them I am astounded as to how these ancient craftsmen could make such things

The torc is another from of ancient and functional jewellery. It served a purpose as a symbol or statement of who you were, what you were worth, and where you came from.

Gary Hocking makes custom jewellery specializing in Australian opals. He has his own website http://www.jewelleryexpress.com.au Feel free to use this article as long as you keep the bio and the live link to his website.

Unique Pearl Necklace Beauty

Necklaces are always very popular and fashionable pieces of jewelry. It doesn't matter which generation you are in, the fact remains that necklaces always find a place amongst women's fashion accessories. Among these necklaces will generally be pearls.

What comes to mind when we think pearl necklaces? To me, it has predominately been strings of white pearls or occasionally a string of pink pearls. Pearls though, come in a variety of shades - some of them being white, pink, black, silver, cream, gold, blue and dark green. The list of colors seems endless.

What kind of pearl necklaces are there? There are two types that come to mind. Firstly, you can have a necklace with one or more strings of pearls, white or colored. But have you stopped to think what beauty you can find in a different kind of pearl necklace, a necklace that will make it a unique pearl necklace?

Let's take a look at what makes a pearl necklace unique and different. Imagine yourself wearing a beautiful necklace made from a combination of gemstones and pearls. Gemstones come in a wide array of choices - types of stones, colors and shapes. Team gemstones together with pearls into a necklace and the variety is immense. There is always a unique pearl necklace to suit your personal taste and the outfit you want to wear.

Unique pearl necklaces have the added advantage of being useful to team together with many different colors and styles of outfits and can be used also for either a formal or casual look. This makes them a very versatile piece of jewelry because you don't have to keep your pearls just for a special occasion but makes them very practical for casual wear as well.

Let's take a look at a few examples. Imagine natural shaped turquoise alternated with white pearls and fine beads. Another combination would be a blend of stones like baroque pearl, aquamarine, amethyst and rose quartz, giving a beautiful blend of colors in the cool shades. Black baroque pearl with India agate is a good choice to serve as an all round "go with anything" necklace.

When choosing pearls, keep in mind your skin coloring as well as the outfits you have to wear. By choosing your necklace colors like this, you can enhance your beauty and also the appearance of your outfit when you wear a unique pearl necklace as part of your accessories. Temic Jewelry. For further information, visit our site at http://www.temic2.com/jewelry and register for our FREE monthly Pearl and Gemstone Newsletter

What Length Of Necklace Should I Get?

A very common question is: "How long of a necklace should I get?"

Of course, there is no hard-and-fast rule, but there are some guidelines that you can follow that will make your buying decision that much easier.

The place to start is your own necklace collection. If you have a favourite piece that you love wearing, measure it, and buy the same length, longer, or shorter depending on your mood.

If you are looking for something different than your existing pieces, you have to start considering a number of factors, including your neckline and your body's figure. If you hare having trouble visualizing these styles, imagine pearl necklaces, however these guidelines apply to virtually any type of necklace.

Collar
Collars are in the range of 12 to 13 inches long, and are usually made up of three or more strands that snugly hug the middle of the neck. Very versatile, it is virtually guaranteed not to interfere with your dress, however not everyone is comfortable with the feel. More suited to petite and tall frames.

Choker
Chokers range from 14 to 16 inches, with a timeless quality that make them appropriate to combine with everything from bridal gowns, formal eveningwear to casual. The lower portion of the necklace drapes on or slightly under the point between the two collarbones.

Princess
The princess necklace is 17 to 19 inches long and is the most common length for most pearl necklaces. It is long enough to drape over the outside of high necklines, and it also works well with V-neck and plunging necklines without delving too deeply. The lower portion of the necklace ends between armpit height and collarbone height.

Matinee
The matinee necklace is roughly 20 to 25 inches long. Its length adds a sense of confidence and luxury, and can be works well with formal gowns and the professional appearance many are striving for. It looks best with higher necklines, giving them an air of sophistication.

Opera
The opera length necklace is between 26 and 36 inches long. At this length, you have choices in how you would like to wear it. If you double it up you create a fashionable two-strand choker. If you knot it at the neckline you create a vintage look that is gaining in popularity. Traditionally worn with eveningwear, it is gaining momentum as an accessory to casual attire for those on the cutting-edge.

Rope
The rope necklace is 37 inches or longer in length. Elegant and sexy, it can be worn in numerous ways such as doubled (or trippled!) to make a multistrand princess or choker, or tied in a knot to recreate a style reminiscent of the 1920's fashions. As seen in high-fashion magazines, this length of necklace can also be knotted and slung over the shoulder to accentuate the beauty of a backless dress.

Final Musings
One final thoughts to keep in mind is to consider your other accessories. Try not to have many pieces shouting for attention. For instance, if your necklace is large or grand, keep your earrings simple. Michael Nagy (articles@crater.com) writes on a variety of topics related to jewellery fashions, and is co-founder of Crater Jewellery Design (http://www.Crater.com). His more recent articles can be found at http://www.crater.com/articles/

Black Pearl Necklaces

 

Tahitian pearls or black pearls are the only pearls that are truly black. These pearls come from the Tahiti-Polynesian islands. The black pearl is not only rare, exotic and breathtakingly beautiful, it is an integral part of the Polynesian economy and lifestyle. The islands are the leading exporters of fine black cultured pearls in the world.

Black pearls are pearl concretions that are concealed inside the black-lipped Pinctada Margaritifera pearl oysters. These pearls come in many shapes, diameters, qualities and several natural shades ranging from pale gray to jet-black. Black pearls for making necklaces and other jewelry are chosen with care many pearls that do not satisfy the criteria are rejected. The chosen pearls must not reveal the nucleus or the seed of the nucleus.

Tahitian pearls are grown in large black-lipped oysters in the salt waters of Tahiti. The natural black color pearl is particularly famous and most desired. Universal colors are black, gray, blue and peacock green. Perfectly round Tahitian pearls with a nearly flawless surface and remarkable luster are considered the highest quality and best for making necklaces. Black pearl necklaces are made in various shapes and sizes.

The black-lip mother-of-pearl specially found in the waters of French Polyne secretes a black pigment. This pigment ejaculated by the mollusk gives a rich color to the pearl ranging from deep black to gray to light silver. Shades of green, blue and pink can also be found. The saltwater oysters are big, sometimes almost the size of a dinner plate, and produce luxurious pearls ranging from 8 to 18 mm in size. Prices range from $100 for a small pearl of average quality up to $10,000 for a round pearl of perfect quality with a diameter of 18mm. However, black pearls are very rare compared to ordinary white pearls. If one is looking to buy these exquisite pearl necklaces, the online market offers a wonderful array of black pearl lengths. However one must shop carefully and purchase pearls only from trusted sellers.

Pearl Necklaces provides detailed information on Pearl Necklaces, Black Pearl Necklaces, Freshwater Pearl Necklaces, Cultured Pearl Necklaces and more. Pearl Necklaces is affiliated with Cultured Pearl Earrings.