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Welcome to the Deco Belle Inc. Jewelry Blog
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
From sweet, soft lavender as worn by Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, to intense, regal plum as showcased by winner Sandra Bullock, this winter friendly color has been the standout hue for 2010 Golden Globe® fashion.
 
Image: Fergie, left: AP Photo/Katy Winn, right: REUTERS/Danny Moloshok Image: Leona Lewis, REUTERS/Gus Ruelas  Image: Best Actress winner Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side, left: REUTERS/Mario Anzuon, right: AFP/Timothy A. Clary Image: Jane Krakowski, REUTERS/Danny Moloshok Since ancient times, purple has been associated with royalty, on account of the dye used to produce this rich color being extracted from mollusks and therefore expensive. Deep versions of this hue still emit a luxurious elegance.
Our jewelry collections from around the world feature amethyst gemstone, cubic zirconia (CZ), Murano handcrafted glass, and more. Keywords within our website, by using the search box  at the top right of any page at DecoBelle.com, are purple, amethyst, aubergine, and eggplant. Labels: amethyst, art/lit/film, awards, cz, deco, event, fashion, gemstone, glass, murano, ring, style
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Friday, November 27, 2009
What is the difference between Cubic Zirconia, Moissanite, Crystal, Glass, and Rhinestone?(This is the original article, edited version appears in Bride 9 and Mocha Bride Fall 2009 Magazines) In these recessionista times, shiny, budget friendly alternatives are being sought out in lieu of traditional diamonds for necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and even rings, but what exactly is the difference? Diamonds, the standard in clear, brilliant quality, and luxe jewelery is the bar for all other simulations.  Cubic zirconia (CZ), is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium, a metal. Since only the finest and rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, most having a tinge of yellow or brown, cubic zirconia is a good alternative in clarity as in most cases it can be made entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect "D" on the Diamond Color grading scale.
 The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors to simulate gemstones. Due to its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamonds, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most economically important competitor for diamonds since 1976 when commercial production first began.
 In 1973, Soviet scientists perfected the technique of creating a CZ gem, which they named the jewel Fianit, but the name was not used outside of the USSR and the Soviets published their findings. Once commercial production began in 1976, annual global production grew to 50 million carats (10 tonnes) by 1980. Contemporary production of cubic zirconia is virtually flawless, whereas most diamonds have some sort of defect. Deco Belle.com carries a wide selection of clear, and simulated gemstone Grade A quality CZ jewelry in our China section.
CZ’s main competition as a synthetic gemstone is the more recently cultivated material, synthetic moissanite (named after its Nobel Prize winning discoverer). When first discovered while examining rock samples from a meteor crater located in Canyon Diablo, Arizona in 1893, moissanite was mistaken for diamonds. Its double facet edges (as opposed to single facet edges of a diamond) and its nearly colorless with a grade range of I-J-K on the Diamond Color Grading scale make it difficult to distinguish from diamonds by the untrained eye. Its impressive properties include comparable index of refraction and better than twice the fire of diamond. It is only slightly less expensive than diamonds due to the difficulty in growing the crystals.  Speaking of crystals, all crystals are glass, but not all glass is crystal. What separates the two? Lead. The significance of lead lies in how the refractive index of the finished product increases, straight out shine! In addition to lead, special cutting and polishing processes are used to give crystal glass even more sparkle.
Crystals are often heavier, more delicate, and more expensive than glass, with the ultimate standard in crystal jewelry being Swarovski Austrian. This brand has more fire and brilliance (by adding 32 percent lead creating a high refraction rate) than any other crystal jewelry on the market. In addition different chemical coatings are added to the crystal surface to enhance color and sparkle. The difference is quite remarkable and affordably priced, much less expensive than jewelry made from precious stones. These lovely crystals can be found in our Paris section at DecoBelle.com
 Glass in its most basic form is molten sand that is combined with various additives and cooled with such celerity that crystal structures have no time to form. There is not much brilliance, or fire on the surface of glass jewelry. The best and highest quality glass is handmade Murano glass from the island of Murano, in Venice, Italy. At DecoBelle.com we have a wide selection of handcrafted Murano glass jewelry.
Glass goes even farther with some rhinestones being made of glass. Other rhinestones (so named as originally the rock crystals were gathered from the river Rhine) are synthetically made of crystal or acrylic. The difference between the crystals and rhinestones is not that clear-cut. Rhinestone has a metal or foil backing to reflect light and make the stone glitter. Crystal, on the other hand, requires no backing and is always made of glass and lead that give the stones extra sparkle and brilliance. For dazzling craft projects, rhinestones are fine, but crystals fare better in jewelry presentation and quality. Labels: cz, gemstone, glass, magazine, millefiori, murano, paris, venice
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
 Original article as submitted by Deco Belle for Mocha Bride Magazine Summer 2009:
 As Eartha Kitt sang 1962, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”. But today, crystals and pearls are too! Bring on the bling in clear crystal, or colored gemstones, and cubic zirconia (CZ). Save a considerable sum while being in style for a summer wedding. Rhinestones are out of style, as Swarovski crystals offer fire and brilliance at a low price, with a luxe look.
 Vibrant colors are hot on the catwalks for this season. These intense hues of aqua, lapis, coral, lemon, peach and hot pink are rainbow bright now! Intense blue and aqua jewelry can definitely take care of the adage: Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue. Colorful crystals and CZ set in gold or silver offer a dramatic statement for modern gowns, and a striking accent for strapless or skinny-strap dresses.
Dramatic upswept hair lends very well to another hot trend this year, the demure stud earring.
 Studs, or button earrings, are feminine and traditional, and are always in good taste. Larger stud earrings have a vintage charm. The 2009 Oscars showcased this trend as well as the other IT shape for this year: the drop earring. From Michelle Obama (the First Lady is also a major stud earring trendsetter, since official portrait to European visit) to Angelina Jolie, drop earrings, are all the rage.
 A dramatic turn from these trends is lace filigree; it’s the new, old thing. Lace is delicate, darling, and delightful, and makes any dress complete with that traditional, romantic look.
Also, collar or statement necklaces are in right now; be sure to pair with small earrings that grant the focus to the grand necklace.
 Bridesmaids are generally allowed more color, and more drama with both dress choices and accessories. Our global jewelry store at Deco Belle Inc. has often honored requests to send duplicates of certain jewelry items for a bridal party, as the bride often gifts her bridesmaids jewelry that they can use in the wedding, and if it’s fabulous enough, to be worn at various occasions.
Whether you want to accessorize glamour, romance, or modern, there are various ways to implement the spring and summer 2009 trends in your wedding. Wishing you the best on your special day, I hope that these tips will help you stay stylish, without breaking the bank.
-Deco Belle
Deco Belle Inc. Global Jewelry
Labels: accessories, art/lit/film, beauty, culture, deco, event, fashion, gemstone, holidays, magazine, paris, usa, vintage
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Friday, February 20, 2009
 Franz Ferdinand v3.0:
Scot indie rockers Franz Ferdinand recently released their third studio album "Tonight", with a bit more grit and full on rock and roll than previous disks. This album's concept was loosely based around a night of partying and the morning effects after. Listen live at the end of this post.
Their self titled break out album (and no, we don't mean Breakout album as in Miley Cyrus), starred "Take Me Out" one of the top unrequited love songs of all time, rock and roll style bagpipe that is.
 That debut album's other 10 songs didn't disappoint, with the German ending of "Darts of Pleasure": Ich heiße Superphantastisch! Ich trinke Schampus mit Lachsfisch! Ich heiße Su-per-phan-tas-tisch!
Rockin' tuxedos are featured in the new Ulysses video, from vintage finds to decadent satin finish, these boys know how to tear it up in a laudrymat, while pairing a tux with sneakers. True style for the boys from Glasgow.
 In looking through our Glasgow photos we found this. Not to fret, the photo is taken from the passanger's point of view, all because of our colleague that has a bridge with the same name.
Deco Belle Inc. will be presenting some of our favorite Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspired jewelry as well as a new Celtic tribal jewelry in our New Items page. We specialize in Murano glass jewelry and are proud to feature hand-crafted gemstone jewelry from local artisans as well as from around the world. We provide worldwide shipping to all corners of the globe and free shipping in the USA for orders over $25!
Listen to the Tonight album at Deco Belle Inc.:
Labels: gemstone, glass, travel, world_music
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Unsure of your ring size? Use our Deco Belle Inc. ring sizer chart below to determine which size suits you best:
 To find your ring size, simply follow the steps below:
1. Wrap a piece of string, or strip of paper around the widest part of your finger, most likely the knuckle.
2. Mark the point where the two ends meet.
3. Measure the string or paper along a ruler.
4. Compare your measurement to the chart above.
5. As always with Deco Belle Inc. Global Jewelry, our return policy protects your purchases in the event that a ring does not fit you, or if you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason. Customer service is our top priority at Deco Belle Inc.
 Tips:
- Our Murano glass and Designo colored resin band (image to the left) Venetian rings run on the smaller size as the glass and resin is thick and takes up a bit of the inner circumference. Each of these rings are nickel-free, 925 sterling silver, rhodium plated for the ultimate in non-tarnish finish.
 Our glass stone rings that have a 925 sterling silver band as this one on the right, runs standard size.
- Existing rings can also be fitted for accuracy. Consider these factors when sizing a ring: humidity, temperature, water-retention, and excercise.
- Don't measure cold fingers, as often this is when fingers are their smallest circumference. We recommend measuring finger circumference at the end of the day, when they are at their largest diameter.
- Unsure of which ring style to purchase as a gift? Our Gift Finder page makes it easy to select a gift. From High Wattage Glam, Modern Elegance, Rock and Roll, to Vintage Inspired / Romance Lovely styles and everything in between.
Labels: amber, cz, designo, gemstone, gift, glass, millacreli, millefiori, murano, rhodium, ring, silver
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Monday, July 28, 2008
 Luxurious gems of vibrant, transparent, and every range in between, are on display at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana, California through August 24, 2008. This private collection is the most significant in the United States comparable to royal families the world over.
(images from www.DecoBelle.com)
GEMS: Colors of Light and Stone is a world renowned exhibition of colored gemstones, diamonds, and gems. Illustrated are most of the known major gem species and colors and variety. Included are very rare examples of electric blue, Paraiba Tourmalines, antique mid 19th - early 20th century, and spectacular gem carvings.
 At Deco Belle Global Jewelry, we carry a wide selection of natural gemstones. Included in our jewellery collections are:- Carnelian, and Blue as well as Red Agate in our Afghan Turkomen collection
- Genuine Coral, Turquoise, Rainbow Moonstone, Topaz, Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Pink Tourmaline from our Tibetan Himalaya jewelry collection
- Onyx in our Art Deco and Oceania Mother of Pearl sterling silver collection
- Baltic Amber from Poland designer jewelry including Smokey Quartz, Coral, Amethyst, and Turquoise
- Austrian crystal jewelry in our Taxco, Mexico sterling silver collection
- Garnet, Topaz, Carnelian, Amethyst, and Coral in our Marcasite silver collection
- Thai Amber, and Austrian Crystal in our Thailand sterling silver jewelry collection
- and much more!
 Peruse our website to see our world jewelry collections set in 925 sterling silver, most of which are nickel-free, and rhodium plated to give a luminous platinum like finish.
Part of our Mt. Everest jewelry collection is 925 sterling silver with 24ct gold plating.
Deco Belle world jewelry, delivering beautiful gems in elegant settings right to your doorstep. Free shipping in the United States, including free gift wrapping on every order!
Labels: amber, art/lit/film, ethnic, gemstone, tibet
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Friday, February 15, 2008
 Marcasite jewelry is a beautiful display of vintage glamour from a bygone era. It evokes reminders of Art Deco jewelry and just flat out glamour.
In order to preserve your 925 sterling silver Marcasite jewellery, we at Deco Belle have written the following article to keep your Marcasite rings, Marcasite earrings, pendants, bracelets, and necklaces looking gorgeous.  Marcasite stones can fall out of their settings if not cared for properly by avoiding exposure to water and high impacts such as dropping them on counters and such. This is because Marcasite is usually bonded to its setting with a special glue instead of with prongs (as would be used in diamonds and larger gemstones). The very nature of Marcasite (iron pyrite) with small stones, make it difficult to set in prongs.
Over time, especially due to water exposure, the bonding agent may weaken. For this very reason it is important to remove Marcasite jewelry every time there would be water exposure that could cause the jewelry to become wet, such as removing the jewelry before showering, washing dishes, swimming, entering a hot tub or taking part in any other activity that could cause it to be submerged in water.
High heat can also cause the Marcasite stones to become loose and should be avoided. This type of jewelry should never be cleaned in an ultra sonic jewelry cleaner as the stones may easily become loose.
  Instead, Deco Belle suggests carefully cleaning Marcasite jewelry with a soft, jewelry cleaning cloth, being careful to not loosen the small Marcasite stones. Find our silver cleaning cloths in the accessories section of our website. We at Deco Belle hope that this article can help you preserve your glamorous Marcasite jewels as best as possible.
Labels: accessories, care, deco, gemstone, marcasite, silver
by: Deco Belle Inc.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
 The pieces in our Afghan jewelry collection are authentic vintage tribal Turkoman jewelry. This Afghani turkmen jewelry is kept within a family for generations, then bartered.
These pieces are not perfect and they illustrate age and wear as they are held in a family for generations.
 The Turkomans keep part of their wealth in the form of silver jewellery, which was an important part of the dowry of women.
Our Afghani jewellery in this collection is therefore, one of a kind, unique! Labels: ethnic, gemstone, vintage
by: Deco Belle Inc.
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