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.

Pearl Necklace - a treasue for all women now!

Well, we all know women love jewelry and it is perhaps their inner passion to wear gorgeous piece of jewelry. Among many other choices, pearl necklace is the preferred choice of many women because of its natural lustrous appeal.

When it comes to pearl necklace, usually it's a white color pearl necklace. White color pearl necklaces are classic, traditional and generally designed with round shape pearls. Pearls come in other natural colors too, like gray, black, golden, light green etc. However, pearls can be colored-dyed, as per fashion demands, in lavender, pink, peach, gold, black and blue as well. But natural original color pearl necklaces are always preferred and command higher prices. A typical pearl necklace is hand knotted with about 40 pearl beads.

Pearl necklaces are not restricted to round shape pearls only and other shapes like tear drop, pear, potato, coin and irregular baroque shape pearls are equally popular among women and commonly used by jewelers and designers alike.

When it comes to pearl size the most popular sizes are between 6mm to 8.5mm. Small sizes are very common among younger girls and larger sizes are preferred choice of many women.

Besides pearls shape and size, the length of any pearl necklace is very important and paramount:

Pearl Collar ~ 12 to 13 inches These lengths are normally made up to 3 strands to snugly fit high around the neck. They were very popular during Victorian era and are now again in fashion. Pearl Choker ~ 14 to 16 inches They are similar to collar but hang little lower on the neck. They look very fine both for casual and formal eveningwear. Princess Necklace ~ 17 to 19 inches A very classic and versatile length indeed. This style length is neither short nor long and is preferred choice of many women.

Matinee Necklace ~ 20 to 25 inches They are good for casual, business or semi-occasions attire and are very traditional. The extra length of matinee necklace gives the appeal of luxury and sophistication.

Opera Necklace ~ 26 to 36 inches They fall below the bust line, good for formal evening occasions and go very well with evening dresses. Best is they can also be worn as double strand too. Woman has the luxury of choosing her own style. Pearl Rope ~ 37 inches or longer. Women have many options. These can be doubled or knotted to suit one's style. Some of the rope type pearl necklaces come with multiple clasps hence can be made into shorter strands. They can also be slung over the shoulder to give a sexy and stylish look and are back in high fashion again.

Kheri www.pearlprincess.com

Jewelry writer

Glow Stick Necklaces

Glow stick necklaces are perhaps most popular for children to wear during Halloween or for campers to wear as makeshift lanterns.

Glow stick necklaces are perhaps most popular for children to wear during Halloween or for campers to wear as makeshift lanterns.

Glow stick necklaces work just like any other glow stick, the result of a chemical mixture. Most commercial glow sticks are composed of hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester. One of these chemicals is incased in a small glass vial within the plastic tube. When the plastic tube is bent, the glass is broken and the two chemicals mix, emitting a light. The color of the light is dependent on the fluorescent dye that is most often stored in the plastic case and not within the glass vial.

While some glow stick necklaces are made by attaching a short, plastic tube to a string, most are made out of very long, thin tubes that are formed into a loop to be placed over the head. These glow stick necklaces, often 22 inches in length, can come in one or more colors. Glow stick necklaces are fairly inexpensive and can be found online for as little as a $1 each, though they must usually be purchased online in packages of 10 or more.

In addition to Halloween, glow stick necklaces are most often found at carnivals and late-night events. However, their inexpensive nature allows them to be a fun, colorful way to light up the night at any time of the year and for any reason.

Glow Sticks provides detailed information about wholesale glow sticks, mini glow sticks, glow stick dancing, and glow stick necklaces, as well as an explanation of how glow sticks work.  For more information go to http://www.e-glowsticks.com and/or visit our affiliate site at http://www.growthink.com.

 

Amber Teething Necklaces -- How Do They Work?

I am often asked about the science behind amber teething necklaces. Parents also want to know if there are any side effects to wearing amber for long periods of time.

Unlike teething gels, powders or pain relief syrups, the traditional beaded amber necklaces imported from the Baltic region are a non-invasive and side-effect free remedy for the pain and complications of teething, such as lack of appetite, upset tummies, ear ache, fevers and colds.

A natural analgesic, amber will help calm a baby without resorting to drugs.

Amber is a resin, not a stone. It is therefore warm to the touch, as well as very comfortable and light to wear.

Scientific investigation into the therapeutic effects of amber is ongoing.

Currently, there are two different theories that attempt to explain how wearing amber on the skin can have a soothing and calming effect on teething babies and toddlers.

One theory suggests that when amber is worn on the skin, the skin's warmth releases miniscule amounts of healing oils from the amber which are then absorbed via the skin into the bloodstream.

Amber's anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties are also recognized by allopathic medicine. In Austria, Switzerland and Germany, you will find amber teething necklaces sold in local pharmacies. Pharmacists and doctors have long known about the healing properties of amber which include calmative, analgesic, antispasmodic, expectorant, and febrifuge (anti-fever) functions.

A second theory is based on scientific findings which have shown that amber is electromagnetically alive and therefore charged with a significant amount of organic energy. Its special attribute is the fact that it is electronegative. Wearing amber produces negative ionisation on the skin's surface. This, in turn, has a positive influence on the human body. The negative ions assist in the in the prevention of illness. These health-promoting effects apply to babies, children and adults alike.

It is possible that the soothing and calming effect of amber teething necklaces, which has been empirically observed, is based on a combination of the factors listed above.

Katharina Bishop is a freelance writer. She is the owner of Wondrous Gems, a business specializing in amber and gemstone jewelry, with the aim of promoting the healing properties of crystals and gemstones. http://www.wondrousgems.com

Wholesale Necklaces - Where to Buy Them

Necklaces are one of the most desirable fashion accessories, whether in the form of costume jewelry or as real, precious metal and precious stone jewelry.

At the bottom of this article we will show you how to buy wholesale necklaces online, to resell at a good profit. This has become a very lucrative area for marketers, whether they have an online store or want to resell 'in fashion' items in online auction sites like eBay or local equivalents. Others may wish to get them for resale from a market stall, a physical store or by way of newspaper ads.

First, here are some common questions and answers about wholesale necklaces.

What types of suppliers can I use to get wholesale necklaces?

These can be wholesalers, liquidators or drop-shippers (who send the necklace directly from their warehouse to the customer – you don't have to handle it. Usually the 'per item' price will be higher though). Often, suppliers will be in the larger jewelry or accessories market and will not simply be offering necklaces.

What kinds of wholesale necklaces are available?

This will vary a lot depending on the wholesaler, but many supply both classic style and modern style necklaces. The best idea is to browse the wholesaler's online database. If they offer a 'top seller' product guide, so much the better.

What are the minimum purchase amounts? This can also vary a lot, from no minimum at all, to a minimum of $100 to $300. Sometimes there is no dollar amount specified, but rather a requirement to buy at least five or six pieces, for example.

Are wholesale sources for necklaces based in the USA, or overseas?

Many are based in the USA, Canada or other Western countries; others are based in China. The USA based sources are usually large concerns which aggregate imported products – this means you don't need to import yourself.

What sort of shipping methods are available?

Wholesalers of jewelry and necklaces will normally offer UPS, USPS, DHL and Fedex.

OK, where do I find these wholesale necklace suppliers?

Easy, check our wholesale necklaces page, where you will get guidance on the best way of finding the wholesale necklaces you need.

Scott Kintraw writes about online marketing and how the web can empower its users.

Cultured Pearl Necklaces

 

Cultured pearls were initially developed for commercial purposes in Japan 100 years ago. Many oysters are now raised on farms for five or six years then removed from their beds. Skilled workers carefully open each oyster and insert a mother of pearl bead and a piece of mantle tissue into the shell. One oyster in three survives the procedure and produces a cultured pearl. These pearls are usually very large in size and precious and make beautiful pearl necklaces.

Nacre accumulates quite slowly in oysters and it takes about three years for a millimeters worth of nacre to accumulate and form a cultured pearl. Some pearl farms in the southern waters from Burma to Australia boast of a faster nacre buildup, in some cases up to three millimeters a year.

Because cultured pearls grow slowly, they are considered very rare and expensive. They make a lovely necklace and offer a more luxurious option for pearl jewelry lovers who do not like to sacrifice quality. Cultured pearls are generally larger in size than freshwater pearls.

The irritant is saltwater pearls is a shell bead nucleus, as well as a piece of mantle tissue. Saltwater oysters tend to die when the nucleus is inserted or when the pearl is harvested. Oysters only grow one pearl at a time. With one oyster in five providing a saleable pearl, price tags can be rather high. Japanese seawater pearls tend to be more expensive than Chinese seawater pearls mainly due to the higher labor costs and the higher quality produced. Japanese seawater pearl necklaces are generally more expensive and rare as compared to Chinese seawater pearl necklaces. Enhanced black cultured pearls are used to create fine royal necklaces. These pearls often come from China and Japan, and are actually white cultured pearls that are exposed to radiation or dyed to produce an even, strong color that lasts for years. Real cultured pearl necklaces need to be handled with care, as they are sensitive to heat and light.

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.