Thursday, April 24, 2014

Rhinestone Tiaras Make Memorable Impacts

By Agnes Dickson


Dressing up can be a lot of fun and many times, it is one's choice in accessories that makes an outfit truly outstanding. Selecting the right style of necklace, or the perfect earring design and complementary bracelet can take a simple black dress to a classy ensemble in a snap. Some classic options for upscale couture are pendants, brooches and even simple and elegant rhinestone tiaras.

Gold, silver, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies are all popular materials for beautiful jewelry and accessories. Their sparkle and shine are among the most impressive of all metals and stones. However, they are all quite costly which prevents many people from having a great number of pieces made from these substances in their collections.

The cost of the metals can be offset by choosing plating over solid silver or pure gold, and there are quite a few options for substituting the precious gems. Fabricated replicas may be made using materials such as glass, paste, plastic or crystal. Each medium will produce stones that will reflect the shine, color and clarity that are characteristic of that genre.

Artificial gems are known as rhinestones and they can be made from several different materials and in many sizes, colors and shapes. The more inexpensive products basically look like matte colored stones and are primarily used in making cheap jewelry for costumes and child's play. By contrast, the most expensive ones are so finely crafted that even some experts are fooled at first glance.

Those on the lower end of the spectrum are mostly made from paste and plastic. These are very inexpensive materials which makes them great for children's accessories and general costuming needs. Because neither material is refractive, the downside is that artificial gems at this level do not have any real sparkle, though the colors may be quite vibrant.

Glass is the medium of choice for products in the middle range. This material is excellent for coloring, producing hues that are rich, bright and vibrant, which can be backed by a layer of metal or foil to help generate a sparkle when cut well. These are very popular for craft projects and in accessories like hair clips, charms, bracelets, earrings and other jewelry.

At the high end of the spectrum are the ultimate in fabricated jewels, featuring exceptional clarity and quality. These are made from fine lead crystal which can be colored and cut to such near perfection that even some experts have difficulty telling they are not real without special examinations. This type, especially those made by the Swarovski company, can be rather pricey because of their close replication of actual gems.

Depending on budget, taste and occasion, there are plenty of options available when wanting to purchase fabricated gemstone jewelry. All types of accessories including bangles, baubles, purses, hair clips and more, can be found featuring rhinestones of one type or another. These items are an affordable way to make the impact and get the beauty of genuine diamonds, rubies, sapphires and others without the worry or the expensive price tag of genuine gem stones.




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