With our mission to create affordable and fabulous fashion, Emitations has also been committed to make a difference with our jewelry. With the purchases of Shae’s Peace Sign Bracelet (featured in People’s Style Watch) and Sug’s Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Pin, we are able to empower women across the globe through the supported programs Susan G. Komen and Women to Women International. Susan G. Komen is the global leader of the fight against breast cancer while Women to Women International is a program established to help underrepresented women across the globe realize and empower their rights. With each purchase from our Breast Cancer Jewelry Collection and our Peace Sign Bracelet, 25% of the profits go to support these charities while you show your support for the cause by wearing it!

Here at Emitations we also strive to empower women to pursue their dreams and reach to their best potential. This is a belief exemplified by Emitations founder Au-Co Mai who established this company in 1990 with the vision to create a branded jewelry line that was affordable and kept up to date with the latest fashion trends in Hollywood and across the globe. This once little website has now grown into an ecommerce leader ranking #14 in jewelry sites in ecommerce and #1 in costume jewelry according to Fortune 500. With a collection of thousands of affordable and trendy jewelry pieces, many products have been featured on fashion-based sources such as Glamour, InStyle, People, Oprah, and The View. Along with continuously improving and growing her company, Au-Co regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over lecturing about the latest trends, ecommerce strategies, and other hot business topics. Au-Co has also been noted by San Diego’s 944 Magazine recognizing her as one of the ‘leading ladies’ of San Diego. As this ‘Empress of Bling’ has proven, you can pursue your dreams with hard work and dedication. Anything is possible, and we believe the same goes for you too!

Along with this philosophy of women empowerment, we have a collection of jewelry that makes a positive statement. This includes our Peace Jewelry Collection, Faith Jewelry Collection, and our Friendship Bracelet Jewelry Collection.

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With our commitment to global women empowerment in mind, we are pleased to announce our very first Jewelry Designer competition to add to our collection of positive statement jewelry! In this contest YOU are given the chance to design your very own customized bracelet or necklace of something that is symbolic to you. One lucky winner will have this piece created, win a $500 Emitations gift certificate, have $500 donated to a charity of their choice by Emitations, and get the first copy of their design.

Here are the Contest Rules:
1. Submit a drawing showing your jewelry design for a woman’s bracelet or necklace by either uploading your image on our Facebook page or by emailing us at info@emitations.com with subject titled “Women Empowerment”.

2. Submission must include item measurements, colors, and product details. IE: 4×4 Inches, Green, Sterling Silver.

3. Jewelry design should be symbolic of something that is meaningful to you.  Feel free to share your story! You must also give your design a name.

4. Winner will be selected by a public vote via Facebook and the Emitations Blog.

5. Winning design will get:

• Their design produced by Emitations.
• The first copy of their piece of jewelry.
• $500 Emitations Gift Certificate for themselves.
• $500 donated by Emitations to their favorite female charity.

6. Winning design will also be manufactured and sold on Emitations.com with a portion of the proceeds being donated to a charity of the customer’s choice.

7. Deadline for Submission is October 31, 2011.

**Disclaimer: Entry deadline is October 31st, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Any submissions received after this time will not be included in the contest. All entries must include a name, color specifications, and measurements. Emitations will have the winning design produced as close as possible to the original specifications. Depending on manufacturing capabilities, we may have to alter the design slightly. Production time can take up to 2 weeks for original sample and up to 8 weeks for full production of the item.

Good luck and don’t miss this amazing opportunity to have a custom design and make a significant impact! Who knows? You could have your design featured on our CZ jewelry 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!

Barton's Bright Bib Necklace

Less isn’t always more. Since our latest prom article, we’ve noted this year’s fashion trend is standing out and making a statement. Crazy necklace trends in the media are steadily increasing, whether it’s the latest photo of Lady Gaga showing off an elaborate pony choker or shocking Twitter news about pop-singer Ke$ha’s fan-created, necklace made of donated human teeth.

Aside from the zany and extreme necklace pieces, our favorite celebs are beginning to flaunt a bolder look in the world of necklace accessories. We’ve seen a hot trend developing with bib necklaces. Jennifer Lopez rocked gorgeous multi-color charmed bib necklace at the UK’s star studded premiere of the film, “The Back-Up Plan.” We’ve also seen actress Mischa Barton strolling about Rodeo Drive, wearing her bright red bib necklace.

Emitations wants you to turn heads with a dazzling necklace the next time you make your grand entrance, without having to a sacrifice your wallet or one of your own chompers. Choose from Emitations fine selection of elegant bib necklaces, transforming an everyday outfit into a chic runway showcase number. Complete your look with a beautiful pair of matching earrings in the season’s hottest styles.

For a more subtle, yet bold look, try one of Emitations very own layered pendant necklaces to a little spice to your look. See more of this season’s latest pieces at Emitations and keep up with our blog for the latest daily postings!

Check Out Emitations Selection Of Bib Necklaces