The Metals:

 

* Fine silver: defined as 99.9% silver.

 

* Hill Tribe Silver: silver beads and pendants from the Karen Hill Tribe of Northern Thailand; silver content is typically 95-99% silver which is softer than sterling and easier to stamp into distinctive one-of-a-kind designs.

 

* Sterling silver (.925 silver, .75 copper)

 

* Gold-Filled: actually a misnomer; sometimes called "rolled gold", the wire is actually a base metal that has been rolled in 14kt gold at a high heat until it is adhered. Will never flake or tarnish. Will always retain the gold. Polish frequently.

 

* Brass: will turn dull if worn frequently; keep it polished to retain it's sheen.

 

* Copper: Most of the copper I use is coated with a clear gloss to resist tarnishing and turning the wearer green. Again, if polished regularly, it will retain it's sheen.

 

* Sterling silver plated: sometimes necessary to create a piece made of sterling-plated because sterling silver is too soft. However, I try to invest in quality silver-plate so it won't flake off or chip.

 

The Beads:

 

* Vintage: I only buy them if they're in excellent shape and if they were made before 1950.

 

* Crystal: I only purchase Austrian Swarovski crystals. They're worth it, believe me.

 

* Czech: beads that are made in the Czech Republic. Singularly the best manufacturer of glass beads.

 

* Lampwork: these beads are hand-crafted by melting rods of glass with a flame torch and forming molten glass into a desired shape. As each bead is made individually, shapes and patterns may vary slightly, lending each bead unique characteristics. No 2 Lampwork beads are exactly alike.

 

* Dichroic glass: The word "dichroic" (pronounced dye-kro-ik) is derived from 2 Greek roots: "di" for two, and "chroma" for color. So dichroic literally means "two colors". Dichroic glass is created by adding a thin layer of metallic oxides which transmits certain wavelengths while reflecting others, causing an iridescent affect. As in lampwork glass, no two dichroic pieces are alike.

 

* Millefiori: (Italian for a "million flowers") is a glasswork technique which has been used for centuries to produce distinct decorative patterns on glassware. I buy this glass from a factory in Italy, which, of course, creates the best pieces. Bella Italy!

 

* Sea Glass: one of my passions is to scour beaches and riversides for sea glass, also called "beach glass" and "Mermaids Tears". I only use what I find and I have a huge collection. As the years pass, seaglass will be a hot commodity as less and less glass is produced in place of plastic. It's also illegal (I hope) to dump glass runoff into oceans, rivers and lakes. Anyway, if it seems like one sea glass piece is more expensive than another, it's probably because it's rare. Lavender, red, orange and yellow are the most rare; any color blue, sort of rare; greens, clear and browns the most common. As such, they are priced accordingly. Also, if someone buys a seaglass piece you had your eye on, I'm sorry to say that given the circumstances it would be impossible to reproduce. I'll certainly try though!

 

* Semi-precious gems: The list is really too long to state here; suffice it to say that I have a handful each of about 100 precious stones, including Lapis lazuli (a deep cobalt blue that sometimes has gold flecks in it) Amethyst, moonstone (also called "rainbow moonstone", for the bright, iridescent colors it contains) Tiger's Eye, Garnet, Obsidian (volcanic glass) Jade, a spectrum of quartz-based stones, and, of course, turquoise.....

 

* A word about turquoise: The turquoise I use is from Southwestern US, China and Africa. As turquoise is a very soft stone in its natural state, it is necessary to treat it somehow so it won't fall apart. There are 6 or 7 kinds of turquoise; one of these is "enhanced turquoise", which means that dyes have been injected (and subsequently wear off on the wearer). The only turquoise I use is "stabilized turquoise"; this means that the stone has been mechanically compressed to make it sturdier, and polished, using wax or paraffin. Other than those treatments, the turquoise that I use is how it was found.

 

* Other natural materials: Abalone shell, Mother of Pearls, cultured seed and rice pearls; potato peacock pearls; miniature conch and clam shells.

 

That's about it. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to e-mail me at EmceeOnlineDesigns@gmail.com. Again, if someone has bought a piece you've had your eye on, I'll do my best to replicate it. Keep in mind that every piece is one-of-a-kind, so it may not look exactly as the first. Especially the sea glass....

 

I take great pride in my work and strive to use only the best materials I can find. I genuinely love making jewelry, and someone's joy in wearing what I've created far outweighs the monetary advantages.

 

* Should you choose to purchase a piece, be advised that all repairs are free.

 

* Refunds will only be accepted within 14 days of purchase.

 

* Customers may pay with a personal check, but check must clear before delivery.

 

* Merchandise will be shipped 2-3 days after payment.

 

* Shipping and handling is free for orders over $100

 

* Custom orders are available, providing I can obtain the materials if I don't have them already; please be advised that shipping and handling for these out-sourced materials will be at the customers' expense, and can expect delivery in 2-3 weeks, depending on the order. If I indeed have the materials for a custom order, the customer can expect delivery in 1-2 weeks, again, depending on the order. Custom pieces are priced accordingly: time + materials + shipping and handling.  It's not considered "custom" to ask for adjustments on existing pieces: different hooks- locking and such- can be exchanged; chains can be lengthened (at minimal cost) or shortened (no cost).

 

To Whom it May Concern:

* This website would have not been possible without the lovely, talented Heather Claver. As it is a work in progress, please keep checking in as whatever gets sold will be replaced with something else of the same nature.  For anyone out there interested in developing a website, please contact Heather at: www.claverconsulting.com. I promise you, you will get your money's worth. I did!

Unique Artisan Jewelry