The Making of Your Wedding Ring

September 21, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Jewelry

big-diamond-ringThere are a variety of different methods used to create fine jewelry. Some rings are created using wire stock which is usually either half round or flat. The designer takes a precut length of this wire and uses a ring mandrel to make the ring the desired size. The two ends are then soldered together. Using filler and polishing the ring it is made to shine and the solder point isn’t noticeable. This type of ring looks good at first but eventually the place where it was soldered will become noticeable. This is because the solder seems to tarnish at a faster rate than gold alloys.

There are other methods used to make seamless wedding rings. These rings are created from cold worked tube which allows the finished product to be seamless and solder free. A long length of tube is used and ring “blanks” are cut and machined to the proper size. A seamless ring will wear better over time and will be tarnish resistant which makes the ring stronger. When you are buying a piece of jewelry you can ask about the method used for creating the store’s rings.

Casting is a manufacturing process where a mold is created and molten metal is put into the mold and set aside to cool. This process is sometimes referred to as investment casting or the lost wax process. This is a common process for making jewelry and is an easy way to produce multiple items. The drawback to casting is that the mountings are slightly porous and less durable than hand fabricated or die struck.

The process called die striking to produce a ring is the process using metal parts mechanically stamped out of a compressed sheet of metal using steel dies. This is the same type of process used for stamping coins. A bar of alloyed gold is rolled under heavy pressure to produce a metal ribbon. The pieces are cut out using steel dies, the whole process is repeated until the ring is formed. The die striking process is very time consuming and it can require up to 35 separate steps to produce a ring. The end result is a ring that is perfectly proportioned and has a superior finish.

Hand fabrication is when a mounting is made by sawing, filling and shaping metal parts by hand and then soldering them together. This type of mounting will be a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. This method is very time consuming and requires a high skill level and should only be done by a talented artesian.

A quality ring will look like one continuous piece of metal and will have no large noticeable pits or bumps. The ring will be of high quality if the metal looks perfectly smooth and does not show tiny pits or pores which are called porosity. This can result from cooling the ring too slowly or by casting too many rings together. All parts of the mounting should look symmetrical, balanced and well proportioned. The piece holding the stone should not be tilted or bent. The right side of the ring should look the same as the left side.

These are some of the methods used for making jewelry. It is always a good to ask the jewelry what specific method was used to produce the jewelry you are intending to purchase. These are some things to take into consideration when looking for that special piece of jewelry.

photo by Lori107

“Unveiling Weddings” Book Launches

December 7, 2010 by  
Filed under Wedding Planning

“Unveiling Weddings” Book Launches as the Something Blue for Today’s Bride Co-Authors mix narrative stories and solid psychotherapy tools to create a fun-loving read that brings peace of mind for brides-to-be

San Francisco, CA – The old adage, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” just got a modern gift idea for the bride-to-be before her wedding day with “Unveiling Weddings,” a smart read written by two psychotherapists who bring a collection of stories and advice for brides to make the most out of their engagement. The book gives readers emotional support to find clarity, balance and joy leading up to their big wedding day and it’s the perfect girlfriends’ guide to support the bride from “Yes” to “I Do!” With a cauliflower blue book cover and illustration of a bride riding a bicycle with her feet up in the air, the book instantly references the balancing act brides face during their engagement that can turn any self-assured woman into an anxious “bridezilla.” On November 29, 2010 “Unveiling Weddings” will be available for purchase at www.amazon.com or on www.unveilingweddings.com for $14.95 in a 173-page paperback edition.

Co-authors Rebecca Sacerdoti, Ph.D., and Tasha Jackson Fitzgerald, M.A., who make their living helping individuals navigate their major life transitions, were struck by the intensity of issues a bride-to-be faces when planning her wedding. From cultural and social expectations to relationship fears and amplified family dynamics, an engagement brings an immense opportunity for a bride-to-be to get a better understanding of herself and her relationship with her future husband. Through a variety of narratives and comforting psychological guidance, “Unveiling Weddings” brings a chance for brides-to-be to feel nourished throughout the marriage planning process. With chapter titles such as “I Am Engaged, But I Feel a Bit Zany,” and “Relationships: Managing the 3 F’s Without Letting the ‘F’ Word Sneak In” the book will bring smiles, serenity and happy tears for the bride-to-be who reads about the myths and legends passed down from one generation to the next. This shared knowledge can help a woman experience her engagement as a time of empowerment and as an opportunity to improve her relationships.

“I was able to smile at things that happened on my wedding day, like when my mother-in-law took it upon herself to surprise us all with a song to her son to the tune of Celine Dion,” said former bride Michelle Walsh. If I hadn’t read the book “Unveiling Weddings,” I might not have had the insight to put my ‘quickie calmer’ into action and remember that everything will work out – now the story brings laughs to my husband and me.”

According to the Bridal Association of America, there were more than two million weddings held in 2009 with an average engagement lasting 17 months. Today’s bride is more aware about constructive psychotherapy tools that can be instrumental in helping to ease the challenges leading up to the big day, yet schedules and budgets may not allow for one-on-one scheduled visits to a therapist. For those brides, “Unveiling Weddings” is a welcomed “something blue” that will bring peace of mind leading up to and on her wedding day. In addition, the book may also be referenced as a tool as part of an ongoing therapist practice with brides-to-be nationwide.

“We wanted to write a book that would support women through this important rite of passage by providing them with stories and psychological insight, so they could get the most of their engagement,” said Rebecca Sacerdoti, who has a doctorate in psychology. “As co-authors, Tasha and I worked tirelessly to capture the best stories and write in a style that makes the book accessible and fun-loving. We’re proud that “Unveiling Weddings” can be read from front to back or flipped through for the chapters of interest that a bride-to-be can turn to when she needs it.”

Brides can also engage with the expert authors and fellow readers through social media channels including Facebook (www.facebook.com/unveilingweddings) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/readytowed). Through these interfaces, the authors will share information on upcoming book signings, recommended resources, nuggets of wisdom, and more. The online resources are a welcomed addition to the host of wedding conversations taking place, as well as the resources found in “Unveiling Weddings.” The book’s focus is helping brides to find their authentic voice and experience during their engagement rather than seeking to aspire to a level of unachievable perfection.

More information about “Unveiling Weddings” can be found by visiting www.unveilingweddings.com or by e-mailing [email protected].

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The Benefits of Being a Recession Bride

Let’s face it: trying to do anything big and splashy like a wedding is tough, no matter the time you try to do it. But getting married during one of the worst recessions the International economy has ever seen – has been tough on a lot of brides. But do you realize there are actually some benefits to being a recession era bride? Let’s talk about some of the “good” reasons that getting married during the recession isn’t quite so bad after all.

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A tighter wedding budget forces you to focus on what’s important. Do you really need calla lilies flown in from an exotic location at every table – or would you rather have delicious food at the reception? Do you really need an open bar all night long – or will a single signature cocktail do the trick? Do you really have to invite your very best friend from summer camp you haven’t seen for ten years – simply because you always wanted to do so? The recession era bride has an easier time of focusing on what is really necessary and needed at her wedding and what can be tossed by the wayside.

Today’s bride is a savvy shopper. Gone are the days when a bride would pick the very first wedding dress that gave her tingles up the back of her neck. The recession era bride knows to go to a variety of wedding dress shops and to take digital photos of the dresses she likes. To do more comparison shopping. Also not to be afraid to ask for a better deal – when a competitor’s shop is offering a coupon the shop you are in just might honor it as well – you never know!

A wedding truly isn’t about what you buy – it’s about what you are doing. Getting a beautiful dress and going on an exotic honeymoon is certainly fun. But the recession era bride realizes more than ever what matters is the special moment she’ll be saying her wedding vows with her husband-to-be. That moment when they’ll kiss for the first time as husband and wife. The treasured father and daughter dance or having her father walk her down the aisle. These special moments can’t be bought in a shop or charged to your credit card.

A recession era bride isn’t afraid to get a little creative. If that banquet hall is just too far out of your budget – or you can’t afford flowers or something else you’ve been dreaming of – the recession era bride doesn’t pout – she gets to thinking! Could she get married in the big backyard of a family friend or at her college or university chapel? Could she visit a flower market on an early morning and buy flowers at a discount or get flowers from the grocery store? Or would small potted plants from a nursery make great centerpieces (sure…why not?) that you just wouldn’t see anywhere else? In another economy that bride might not get as creative – but the recession era bride learns to stretch and expand her thinking like never before.

So if you’re a recession era bride – enjoy the special and treasured moments your wedding day brings. Enjoy being with family and friends and your first day of married life!