The Colours of Spring and Summer
More bracelets in the colors of Spring! The jade bracelet above celebrates the color of the season – turquoise! Faceted rectangles of turquoise jade are complemented by purple and pink jade, including a carved pink jade tulip and also spring green carved flowers in jade. The second strand is a sterling silver chain with dangles of turquoise jade. It’s the perfect Spring/Summer bracelet with all those colors that we traditionally associate with the two seasons.
At the end of this post, a second jade bracelet is the more traditional jade green with carved jade beads and special flat freshwater pearls in a creamy white.
Below, a celebration of femininity begins with rose quartz; in one rose quartz bracelet, blue agate and sterling silver flower charms and beads are anchored by a focal bead of pretty faceted rose quartz; in the second bracelet, some of our favorite lampwork beads by Suzette Celestin are added to the mix.
A Spring/Summer staple: the turquoise and coral bracelet gets oomph here from lampwork beads with a touch of coral as well as sea-themed charms. The second coral and turquoise bracelet feature large red coral slices, sterling silver charms, and a very special “harmony ball” that discreetly chimes when shaken.
The aquamarine bracelet, above, is mixed with rainbow moonstone for a different look – very fresh, very springy/summery. A “watch chain” goes a little over halfway around the bracelet for added texture and interest. The wonderful aquamarine nuggets are delightfully chunky.
Golden Jewelry and Metal Allergies
Does the price of a piece of jewelry indicate whether it contains nickel, and may thus cause rashes in individuals allergic to nickel? If you have nickel allergies, would you have fewer chances of having allergic reactions to, say a pair of women’s luxury earrings from an exclusive boutique than a similar pair from a generic retail store?
In some countries in Europe, perhaps, but not in the United States. In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2008, researchers tested 277 earrings from 34 different stores and artists in San Francisco and found about a third of them positive for nickel. However, the frequency of allergic reactions observed was not correlated to the country where the earrings were manufactured, nor to the selling price. For example, none of the 44 earrings priced between $5 and $8 in one accessory store tested positive for nickel, but numerous earrings priced between $15 and $25 in another accessory shop did.
If you have nickel allergies, be sure to wear jewelry that is labeled as nickel-free, or opt for stainless steel, platinum, or golden jewelry (allergy to gold has also been known to exist, but is relatively rare condition).