This summer it is all about relaxing west coast style that embraces bright colors, neutrals, feathers, and charms – the same carefree spirit found in America’s world renowned music festival, Coachella. Now you can have this fresh indie look at your number one jewelry source, as Emitations is happy to announce its very own Indie Shop! Here you’ll find all the modern effortless looks for your next music festival, day at the beach, or to simply add casual cool to your style.

This year’s Coachella Music Festival allowed celebs to wind down from typical red carpet glamour to more refreshing and carefree Bohemian style. There’s something about Coachella that allows more daring outfit choices, yet the looks are effortless. We especially loved the looks Alessandra Ambrosio, Whitney Port, and Kate Bosworth sported. Each was dressed simply, allowing them to shine in their own unique style.

Though Indie looks are prevalent in events like Coachella, this modern style is trendy year-round. A single piece from our Indie collection will add a subtle casual edginess to any look that is great for summer or to make a more formal outfit more carefree. Whether you add a necklace to your favorite sundress, or a hip bracelet along with your work clothes, the effect is dazzling.

Be sure to check out our brand new Indie shop, as we have all your favorite Indie essentials all in one place that will be updated as new trends arrive. Some of our favorites include the classic golden Dogwood flower earrings, Bella’s Turquoise Cuff Bracelet, Krishna’s Vermeil & Faux Turquoise Necklace, Zada’s Rustic Red – Orange CZ Ring, and Kendall’s Two – Tone Layered Chain Necklace.

Be carefree and look glam. You’re sure to love our new Indie Shop – only from Emitations!

Ever wonder why your favorite ring or necklace eventually darkens or rusts?  Whether a product is pure silver or brass based, tarnishing inevitably happens unless you take the simple steps to prevent it.  Here at Emitations, we not only want you to have the jewelry of your dreams for an affordable price, we want you to enjoy it to the fullest event after event and day after day.

This is why each order comes with an exclusive faux velvet black pouch that was made to protect your jewelry from rusting or darkening.  Stylish, cute, and fun, these pouches shield airborne chemicals such as sulfur that cause your jewelry to tarnish.  By keeping your favorite bling in this acid-free enclosed pouch, your jewelry will continue to dazzle for days to come.

Remember, it is much easier to prevent tarnish then it is to remove it.  After each time you wear your favorite imitation jewelry pieces, put it back into your Emitations pouch so it can be fresh for the next time you wear it – again and again and again.

For more sterling silver jewelry solutions that keep your favorite bling sparkling check out our Jewelry Solutions Page!

Many retail boutiques entice customers to pierce their ears for free with a purchase of earrings. Yet most all of these places use a piercing gun to get the job done. Since these devices are so common, it is often not questioned whether or not they are safe or sterile. Popular to contrary belief, however, piercing guns are actually not so safe. Piercing should instead be done by a trained professional as many of the employees who use these guns within retail stores are inexperienced with only a few hours of training.

Piercing guns look similar to handguns and have a piercing feature towards the end of the barrel. The stud earring is place on the front of the apparatus while the back holds the backing. The piercer then places the earlobe in the slot between where the stud earrings and its backing are held, then pulls the trigger to ‘shoot’ the earring into the earlobe. Voila! The ear is pierced.

But is it safe? Here are the six reasons not to use a piercing gun.

1. Uneven Piercings
Guns are made for convenience by speeding up the process, but they were not made for accuracy.  Many times the piercings are uneven or too high/low on the lobe.   Professional piercers, on the other hand, are trained and have the materials necessary to ensure even piercings on each lobe.

2. Employees Using Piercing Guns are More Likely to be Inexperienced
Many employees who use piercing guns in retail stores often have little training before piercing. With such little training, piercers are less likely to be aware of the multitude of sanitary precautions needed to prevent contamination.

3. Poor Quality Jewelry is often used in Piercing Guns.
Every new piercing needs quality material to avoid infection and irritation. Many piercing guns often use poor quality material when piercing ears. Though you are saving money with lesser quality material, it is a better investment in the long run to pay for silver or gold plated backings to avoid serious irritation and ensure proper healing.

4. Not All Earlobes are the Same Size
Most piercing guns are made to post earrings of a ‘standard size.’ But what if your earlobes are smaller or bigger than the standard size? Those who have thicker earlobes may experience more pain and swelling than someone who has regular sized lobes. A professional body piercer, on the other hand, has access to many styles of jewelry that won’t create discomfort and can accompany any size earlobe.

5. Piercing Guns may Cause Blunt Force Trauma to the Ears.
Most all of guns are forceful as they pierce ears with blunt-ended studs which causes trauma to the earlobes. Not only is this painful, it can cause damage as well. Having a high degree of shock isn’t typical, but this risk should be avoided just in case. A piercing professional instead uses razor shark hollow needles so the piercing process in smoother and less harsh and avoids damaging surrounding tissue.Guns should only be used for earlobes. If used elsewhere, it can be too powerful and cause significant damage. It should never be used on the upper part of the ear where there is a high amount of cartilage as it could permanently damage it from the trauma of the blow. Cartilage piercings or piercing anywhere else should be done by a professional piercer.

6. Risks Regarding Disease Transmission and Infection
Though it may not seem like it, disease transmission is possible within piercing guns. Even with disposable cartridges, there are still parts within the guns that can store contaminated fluids from prior customers’ pierced ears. Once these fluids enter the newly pierced ear these contaminated fluids can be transferred to the new client.For alternate and safer options for your earlobes, check out our clip on earrings and sterling silver jewelry collection!

“I’m like, Oh my God, it’s mine!” actress, Molly Sims, exclaims to Us Weekly on her surprise proposal. After just 18 months of dating, Molly Sims is officially engaged to film producer, Scott Stuber. Stuber popped the million dollar question at the supermodel’s LA house with a dazzling cushion-cut diamond engaged ring, in late May.

Sims’ fiancée definitely had a hand in every part of the secret proposal. Not only did he reportedly fly Molly’s parents out to Los Angeles to witness him pop the question, but Studer, himself, designed his future bride’s engagement ring. Although the couple still have yet to book a date for their big day, Molly’s engagement sparkler has given the media plenty to fawn over. This will be Molly’s very first time getting hitched, while it will be the Scott’s second march to the altar. We can’t wait to see Molly’s wedding ring on her big day!

Snag this cover girl’s fabulous engagement ring style with Blake’s Oval CZ Engagement Ring, only by Emitations. While wedding season is just around the corner and Emitations is gearing up to give you all of your favorite celebrity’s latest and hottest bling for less! Check out more of our Celebrity Engagement Ring collection and stay up to date with our daily blog updates!

Are you bored of you brooches or frustrated by your uncomfortable metal earring backings? Our Pin to Pendant Converters and Poly Pierced Earring Backs create a wide range of versatility to your jewelry collection that allows you to customize your jewelry the way you want it!

Our Poly Pierced Earring Backs set comes with three pairs (6 pieces total) of poly pierced earring backs. These poly based earring backs are made from surgically sterile hypo – allergenic polyurethane and are a great alternative to traditional metal backs as they are secure, comfortable, and will not cause irritation. These little guys are easy and fun to use! Just replace your usual earring backs with them. You can also use these bad boys as replacements for the small plastic cushions commonly used on clip on earrings!

Want to turn your favorite brooch into a glam new necklace? Use one of our Pin to Pendant Converters to create an entirely new piece of jewelry and add versatility to your jewelry wardrobe. Each set comes with three different pin to pendant converters so any brooch can be converted. One converter fits small horizontal brooches, one fits large horizontal brooches, and one fits vertical brooches. Pins can be removed from the pendant converter easily so you can switch your brooches and necklaces as often as you wish! Don’t be afraid to mix and match our entire collection of gold tone and sterling silver jewelry!

With Emitations, you not only get quality and affordable jewelry, we provide you new options for your jewelry wardrobe to create new looks! Check out our jewelry solutions page for even more exciting new ways to wear your jewelry!

Left: Pin to Pendant Converters, Right: Poly Pierced Earring Backings

This past week, the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, William and Kate Middleton, made headlines at the 10th Annual Absolute Return for Kids charity gala. This was the couple’s very first official public appearance, since their fairy tale royal wedding in April. Nonetheless, Kate Middleton looked as stunning as ever. A-List stars flocked to Kensington Palace for the event in London, England.

The new Dutchess of Cambridge sat next to Prince Pavlos of Greece, while her husband Prince William sat nestled between Marle Chantal of Greece and Debbie Van Bismarck. Even though Middleton wasn’t seated next to William, Kate still stole the spotlight, wearing a ravishing rose-colored, silk tulle gown, exclusively from British designer Jenny Packham’s 2011 collection, complete with Swarovski crystal and sequin beading. Kate completed her look with a matching pair of rose-colored heels, by L.K. Bennett, along with a pair of gorgeous drop earrings. Get Kate’s A-List look with Frangiska’s Faux Pearl Bridal Earrings, only by Emitations.

Some of the world’s heavy hitters donated some serious cash to the program. Entrance to the event alone cost $16,000. Other celebrity attendees included Liz Hurley, Colin Firth, and Kevin Spacey to name a few. The Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) charity event raised more money than ever (a whopping $28.1 million dollars), which delivers health, education, and child protection programs to children all over the globe.  Check out all of our sterling silver jewelry at Emitations!

This just in! MTV will give Twilight fans everywhere a sneak peek at the upcoming installment of Twilight: Breaking Dawn.  The 15 second clip was leaked yesterday from the highly anticipated wedding scene between the characters, Bella and Edward.  The scene reveals a teaser of Bella’s wedding gown, a detailed gold bridal hair comb and most important of all, Bella’s new blinged out engagement ring!  The network will air an exclusive wedding scene during the MTV Movie Awards this Sunday, June 5th.

Twilight Rings Already Offered By Emitations

As the excitement builds up for the highly anticipated wedding scene, Emitations wants you to vote on whether you’d like us to a brand new replica of Bella’s blinged-out engagement ring, as seen in the trailer!  Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!  In the mean time, check out our gold and silver versions of our Inspired by Twilight Engagement Ring and our Bella’s Inspired by Eclipse Engagement Ring.

While perusing your favorite jewelry and accessory sites, you may have noticed a message similar to this one: “Due to the rising price of sterling silver in the markets, some prices have been adjusted to reflect market prices.” Unfortunately, the rising price of sterling silver is a necessary aspect of the jewelery industry.

Historically, silver has been used as a tangible commodity dating back as far as the ancient Egyptians. Similar to the demand for gasoline and other fossil fuels, technological advances have increased the actual industrial demand for silver, making it more expensive in recent years. Here’s a look at the changing sterling silver prices in the last five years:

5/2006 –  $9.25 per ounce
5/2007 – $10.76 per ounce
5/2008 – $19.81 per ounce
5/2009 – $16.92 per ounce
5/2010 – $18.28 per ounce
5/2011 – $48.80 per ounce

Why buy silver?
Sterling silver has been a valued precious metal handed down to family members over generations, and experts say that silver will reach soon reach $50 per ounce. This means that there is resale value in sterling silver metal, and all of your current silver jewelry is more valuable than before. Who can argue with buying jewelry as a sound investment item? Silver is a great alternative to more expensive precious metals like gold and platinum, since currently, gold is priced around $1515 per ounce, and platinum at $1760 an ounce!  Additionally, sterling silver will last for years to come, and you can easily have it replated, resized and modified by a fine jeweler for minimal costs.You can’t do that with non-precious metals.

What are the experts saying?
A consumer market research study conducted on behalf of the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC) has found consumers maintain an appetite for silver jewelry. 70% of those surveyed agreed that they can accessorize all their outfits with sterling silver, because it costs less than gold. 75% said that all or some of their family and friends wear sterling silver jewelry, and 70% feel good about buying silver jewelry for their family and friends because it makes a good gift.

Liz Chatelain, President of MVI, in reviewing the research results noted, “Obviously the high gold price is driving consumers and retailers to look for alternatives in fine jewelry. What we are learning from this research and our regular contact with jewelry designers, is that consumers see silver as the strongest option.”

Additionally, Emitations customers agree that for the price, you can’t beat the look of sterling silver jewelry, even when compared to white gold or platinum. By looking for the quality stamp of .925 sterling silver, consumers can ensure that they are receiving the highest quality sterling silver available. One customer said, “I can’t believe this ring! Everyone compliments me on it and thinks it’s a designer platinum engagement ring!” Truly, for the look and quality, the price of sterling silver cannot be beat.

So what’s a savvy silver lover to do? In addition to investing in sterling silver, it is time to look at base metals, such as copper, brass and bronze, especially for our jewelry needs. These materials are now becoming more popular, driven by necessity based on the price of silver, and can be used to construct base materials. By creating a ring out of brass, and coating it in sterling silver, this results in lower costs for the consumer, with the look of pure silver.

While Emitations continues to offer sterling silver pieces, the prices on our website do reflect the current market value for sterling silver. However, we are also aware that when looking to save a few bucks, style and quality cannot be compromised. Thus, we offer a wide selection of brass based silver tone jewelry items to meet the needs of any fashionista’s budget. Make sure to look at the product specifications to see more information on specific materials, and feel free to contact Customer Service with any questions about materials used in our products.
Sources:
http://www.kitco.com/charts/livesilver.html
http://instoremag.com/industry-news/industry-announcements/258-association-announcements/6357-mvi-research-finds-consumer-appetite-for-silver-strong

Chantha's Grey Coin Pearl Bracelet - Emitations

Ladies and gentlemen, summertime has finally arrived.  It’s time to get outside, lather on the sun block and enjoy some serious rays.  But be warned, this summer’s anticipated outdoor activities may wreak havoc on your jewelry.  Emitations wants to share some helpful summer jewelry tips from Antoinette Matlin’s book, “Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide.”  Follow these simple guidelines to ensure that your jewelry stays looking stunning.

Tip #1 – Chlorine

Before you think about swan diving into a swimming pool, remove your jewelry.  Chlorine tends to damage metal and some stones, diminishing your jewelry’s texture and brilliant luster.

Tip#2 – Cool Water

If you find yourself swimming in the ocean, keep in mind that if you’re wearing rings, the freezing cold water may cause some shrinkage to your finger.  You don’t want your ring to slip off while surfing or skinny dipping.  Try a ring size reducer to prevent slippage.

Tip#3 – Double Check Your Jewelry Settings

Summertime activities tend to be very physical and it’s a good idea to double check that all jewelry stones and gems are securely within their settings.  You don’t want to walk away from a beach volley ball game with fewer carats than you started with.

Tip#4 – Gardening

You may want to want to get out and flaunt your green thumb this summer, but keep in mind that intense gardening work could lead to chips and cracks in your jewelry, especially if you’re wearing rings.  Remove jewelry items to prevent any unnecessary scratches.  It’s also a good idea to apply a jeweler’s skin guard to reduce irritation and discoloration during other outside activities.

Tip#5 – Waterproofing
Always make sure that your watches are waterproof before engaging in water related activities.  This could really spoil your next game of Marco Polo.  Use a jewelry box to safe guard your accessories this summer.

We want every glam goddess looking fabulous this summer, without causing  any damage to her bling.  Visit Emitations.com for more of this summer’s hottest accessories and stay up to date with our daily blog posts.