Black Cufflinks

May 6th, 2008

Black is a mystic color which absorbs all other colors without reflecting any, it entices strong emotions which can be overwhelming at some point, it is often related to power and authority as we see today in most of the greatest business men outfits.

The use of the color black in outfits can often make the person who wears it look thinner, classy and very elegant. Black cufflinks give the feeling of perspective and depth especially when it is combined with bright colors creating an aggressive color scheme which always grabs attention in a positive way. The use of the color black in cuff links is meant to balance the contrast of other colors which may be combined with it resulting in an elegant mixture that is why it is perceived as a symbol of prestige.

Facts about the color black:

In Chinese culture the color black is associated with winter, water and north. This association corresponds to their beliefs about the five elements, the seasons and directions. The five elements are water, wood, earth, fire and wind, this concept varies from among different beliefs, others say that the five elements are earth, air, water, fire and spirit.

Black implies weight, when people compare two identical objects, one white and the other black, they often deduce that the black one is heavier than the white one; interestingly enough when a person wears this color people perceive a thinner figure which is the opposite perception.

The color black is associated with sophistication and elegance. Limousines, tuxedos, Judge’s robes are all typically black. In social events and important meetings, black, is an unspoken standard which is why these events are referred to as “black tie events”

Black is a silent and uncharted color which reflects power, wealth and sophistication. Black is said to produce a real sensation even if the color implies a total absence of light which is at the same time different from the lack of all sensation.

Great examples of elegant black cufflinks are:

Silver and Black Compass Cuff Links: These are perfect to brake away from the routine and are most certainly unique.
Black Enamel Labyrinth Cuff Links: Those who have mysterious lives will love the unique design and exquisite finish of these silver and black cuff links.
Stunning Circular CZ Diamond Black Cufflinks: These are absolutely one of the most elegant cuff link designs you will find, with carefully placed stones and black enamel these high end cufflinks are perfect for professionals and business people.
Silver Superman Cufflinks: For the Superman fan these cufflinks are a must have. The black background and silver finish is perfect to keep an elegant look and project the beauty of the superman symbol.

Cuff Links Man is without a doubt the best online cufflink shop where you can acquire high-end and hard to find black cuff links for every social occasion.

Cuff Links - Exploding Comeback

January 7th, 2008

Dating back to the seventeenth century, cuff links were invented when men felt the need to use an elegant accessory with their shirts instead of the traditional ribbons or ties in order to hold their cuffs together. The first cuff links were chains attached to the end of a gold or silver button, it was then inserted through the holes of the cuff in order to keep the two sides together, that’s how we can summarize the origins and invention of cuff links in a nut shell. These elegant shirt accessories evolved into items of jewelry with bits added to the chains to enhance its look.
 
 Over time, the cuff link idea was developed and polished, becoming the sophisticated shirt accessory it is today, these are an essential part of a man’s wardrobe, especially for tuxedo usage or any elegant attire. With the varying types of rare stones, valuable metals, fabrics, and trendy designs, the cuff link became the new trademark for success, style and power. Due to the Industrial revolution the materials used to manufacture these elegant accessories became more affordable which made things easier for mass production. Later on the chains which formed part of the traditional cuff link were replaced with rods and fasteners with easy-to-close clips.
 
 The modifications to the original design became popular among well-dressed individuals, which incentivized shirt manufacturers to sell a larger quantity of high priced dress shirts which were cuff link-ready, some of them didn’t originally design their shirts to be used with cuff links but because they were an important fashion item, the industry started to adapt to include such accessories. Needless to say, sales boomed and men became total show offs as they sported their new look with cuff links and matching elegant sets.
 
 Today, the cuff link fashion is still going strong because it represents wealth and success in those who use formal attires. Men and women working in highly professional careers and environments should pick their jewelry and fashion accessories with great care. Every piece should add beauty to their business persona and enhance the prestige of their profession, while being particularly careful not to distract or draw too much attention, which would disrupt an attractive image. Designer cuff links are an integral part of any professional’s work wardrobe which do a great balancing job keeping a non-shalant yet elegant design in formal outfits.
 
 With the past of time new trends have emerged and cuff link designers became extremely innovative by introducing new and exclusive designs customized according to every career field. For example, if your career requires for you to spend most of your time at a courtroom as a corporate attorney, maybe a set of well-crafted Legal Gravel Cuff links are what you need to enhance that well-tailored and professional look.
 
 In addition to lawyer-exclusive cuff link designs, there are several other styles which were crafted thinking in each professional individual such as doctors, bankers, architects, engineers and so on. A carefully selected pair of career related cuff links can make a fashion statement enhancing your image.
 
 CuffLinksMan - New York is a highly recommended and exclusive source of exquisitely made cuff links specializing in corporate wholesale orders. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed or you get your money back. Take advantage of flat shipping costs and a fast 12 hour turn around shipping dispatch time to get your stylish accessories as soon as possible.

Cufflinks Rhodium - Union Jack Flag Cuff Links :: Cufflinksman.com

December 7th, 2007

Cufflinks Rhodium - Union Jack Flag Cuff Links :: Cufflinksman.com

Show off your true colors during teatime or while strolling across London Bridge. These Union Jack flag cuff links are made from onyx and mother of pearl. Rhodium plated with a fine glossy finish. Exceptional craftsmanship. Size: 1/2″ x 3/4″. Classy felt black CLM presentation box included. (via CLM)

Red Enamel Cuff Links

November 11th, 2007

Your designer suit is missing one key element — and it’s not the tie. These trendy fire-red, square enamel cuff links will complete the GQ look. Encased in rhodium on a silver mount. Glossy finish. Timeless quality. Size: 11/16″ and 11/16″. Classy felt black CLM presentation box included.

Red Enamel Cuff Links   from  CuffLinksMan

Body Jewelry: An Unusual Way Of Enhancing The Beauty Of Your Own Body

October 24th, 2007

Republished by: The Jewelry World and CuffQuest

By Angela Davis

Since ancient times body jewelry has been a part of the culture and heritage of different religions. It has been known to be an essential part of the clothing and appearance of the people in many regions of the world. At different parts of time through the centuries it was also used to signify the class demarcations prevalent in society at that point of time.

How ever in recent times it has acquired a new dimension. Body jewelry has never been in such high demand. The human body is not merely a body, it is a piece of art which has its own innate beauty and body jewelry is the perfect way to enhance the beauty of your body. Not only can you decorate your body with it, but you can also use it to bring into focus certain parts of your body or to enhance the beauty of certain parts.

Body jewelry items are usually for particular places on the human body. These more common places for body jewelry include the nose, eyebrow, nipple, ear lobes and naval, along with ear plugs (both curved and straight barbells). As fashion trends keep changing, the various parts where you can use body jewelry and the manner in which you can use it also keeps changing.

Nose body jewelry comes either in the classic captive circular barbell, or in the form of a nose screw. The nose screw can either be jeweled or plain, depending upon your preference. Eyebrow body jewelry is similar to that of the nose, in the sense that the eyebrow body jewelry also has the small captive barbell. This is now being made with a dangling, sparkling charm to hang from the upper most part of your eyebrow barbell. The eyebrow body jewelry can be either curved or straight with a charm of any style or color dangling from the top.

Nipple and naval body jewelry is one of the more popular types of body jewelry, it sis especially popular amongst the youth or the more adventurous in spirit. Nipple body jewelry includes the nipple barbells and the nipple shields. Naval body jewelry designs are also endless.

Whatever kind of body jewelry you use or wear it is important to keep some pointers in mind. Such as what kind of material is that specific body jewelry made off, is your skin allergic to it and is the piercing for the body jewelry done in a sterile and antiseptic environment.

This kind of jewelry is available for almost every conceivable part of your body. There are endless styles, designs, colors and textures in which body jewelry is made. What ever your budget, whether it is low end or high end; body jewelry is available in every range to suit your pocket as well as your tastes.

Body jewelry is not merely a decorative fixture; it is also a personal style statement. You can use it to bring attention or to take away attention from a specific part of your body. It is quite in vogue these days and has been in existence since time immemorial. If you have the attitude and the panache you can carry of any kind of body jewelry.

About the Author: Looking for information about Jewelry? Go to: http://www.merryjewelry.com ‘Merry Jewelry’ is published by Angela Davis - The Complete Jewelry Resource Directory Check out more Jewelry articles at: http://www.merryjewelry.com/archive

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=512&ca=Womens+Interest

4 Steps to Combat Website Plagiarism

October 24th, 2007

 Republished by: The Jewelry World and CuffQuest

Publishing your website can be one of the most exciting times for a business owner. After all of your hard work and persistence, the whole world now has access to your products or services. You have either paid hundreds of dollars to have someone write your site content for you, or you have put your heart and soul (not to mention hour upon hour of hard work) into creating content of which you can be proud. In either case, you’ve invested time and/or money into your website copy. Now that it is out there for the whole world to see, it may be a target for all kinds of unscrupulous individuals.

Copyright infringement is a very common occurrence on the World Wide Web. How do you protect yourself? And, what can you do if someone steals your content?

It’s important for you to know that anything you have written is copyrighted. You can register a copyright, but you don’t need to in order for it to be illegal for someone to copy or reproduce your work without your permission. Any written text, painting, drawing, musical composition, photograph or computer program, be they published or not is protected by copyright law. Unfortunately, just because your work is copyrighted doesn’t mean it is safe. Some individuals don’t know that copyright laws apply to the internet, and others simply don’t care.With millions of websites out there, it’s difficult to know if your website has been targeted by thieves. A great tool to use in the protection of your website content is www.copyscape.com. Simply enter your website URL and it will scan the web for you. This is a free service, but if you have been a frequent victim of copyright infringement, you might want to consider their paid service, which automatically scans the web regularly for any duplicates of your content.

What do you do if you are one of the unfortunate victims of copyright infringement? How can you deal with the offender and avoid the high cost of litigation? The following are some simple steps that you can take to ensure that the infringer removes your material from their website.

1. Contact the offender. You can usually visit the “contact” page of the offender’s website to obtain their contact information. If for some reason you can’t find their coordinates that way, you can perform a search for “who is” to find many sites that can provide information about the website owner by simply entering their URL. The website owner’s contact information should be posted here, but if not, their website host will be and you should contact them. Keep your first contact civil. Calling or emailing the responsible individual with a stern, yet professional demeanor will be much more effective than yelling or name calling. Remember that the owner of the site isn’t necessarily the writer, and if they are, then being nasty may not have the desired effect and in fact may create more problems for you in the long run.

2. Send a cease and desist order. If your initial contact didn’t get the desired results, your next step should be to send a cease and desist order. You do not need to hire a lawyer to create one for you. A simple search for “cease and desist order templates” should give you an order that can be altered to meet your needs. Send one copy by email and one copy by registered mail and make it look as official as possible. Include a date by which the material should be removed. You want the offender to know that you mean business.

3. If action is still not taken, send a cease and desist order to the offending party’s web host. Again, the host information is available by performing a search for “who is”. The majority of hosts will take action by temporarily removing the offender’s site until the copied material is removed.4. The situation should be resolved at step 3, but one more step that can be taken is to notify search engines of the infringement. Performing a search for the “DMCA” or “Digital Millennium Copyright Act” policies for each search engine will provide the information you need to contact each of them in order to request that the offender’s website be removed.

Finally, it’s always advisable to protect yourself by keeping records of the dates your content was placed on your site. This ensures that the other party can be proven wrong it they claim to have posted their content first.

Placing your website and it’s content on the internet for the world to see is a proud moment. It’s nearly impossible for you to be able to prevent the theft of its content, but the next best thing is knowing what to do if it does happen.

About the Author: Kelly Sims is a Virtual Assistant and Owner of Virtually There VA Services. To find out more about virtual assistance and how using a Virtual Assistant can simplify your life and increase your profitability, visit her website at => http://www.virtuallythereva.com. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for her free monthly newsletter providing useful information that enhances and simplifies the lives of busy entrepreneurs.

Republished by: The Jewelry World and CuffQuest

Selling Jewelry Via a Web Site

October 23rd, 2007

Republished by: The Jewelry World and CuffQuest

The World Wide Web is no longer the new frontier when it comes to business, and that includes jewelry as well. There are tons of sites out on the Internet these days selling jewelry, and since so many people are doing it, they must be making some kind of income, right? So, how can you get a piece of the web jewelry pie for your own small jewelry business? Here are a few tips to help you use the web for your own jewelry business needs.

  • Look big even if you are small. Most designers run their jewelry business as a shoe string type operation. However, your web site should not look like you do. You need high-quality professional images of your jewelry, interesting content that describes your jewelry and yourself, and an easy way for customers to purchase your goods such as a secure shopping cart.

    If you don’t have great pictures, then there is no way you’ll sell much of anything because your customers must see what they are buying as they don’t have the advantage of touching it or seeing it in person.

  • Time is on your side. Yes, the song is true, but that’s not always such a good thing when it comes to working on the web. It takes a good deal of time, months and months at least, to be seen on the web. You are one in an ocean of web sites out there. Like the tortoise and the hare, some will sink in the ocean while other will continue to paddle along and eventually, this will pay off. But there’s no quick way to establish a web site really. So, keep this in mind. You won’t put up a web site tomorrow and sell out the next day. Maybe six months to a year you’ll become established, so you need to just hang in there.
  • SEO is one trick to learn. While you can’t make the clock move any faster for you, one trick to helping your site get noticed is something called “search engine optimization” aka SEO. This isn’t a web analysis site and I’m not a SEO expert by any means, but as someone whose been on the web for about 10 years, I have learned some SEO tricks such as key words and regular updated content. One good resource to learn more about SEO is About.com’s Marketing site.
  • Become a PR pro. Many of the same principles off line work the same on line, and that includes becoming public relations savvy. Many jewelry designers who have done well have had previous experience in the business world. Tina Tang is a good example of this. She moved from the corporate world to the creative world, but her corporate background and contacts really helped her make her business a success.
  • Regularly update your web site. Even if you don’t have new jewelry to post daily on your site, you need to figure out a way to update your site as often as possible without driving yourself insane. This is actually an SEO trick. Search engines pay attention to web sites that are updated a lot. One easy way to do this is to integrate or link to a web log. They can be a wonderful way to inform your customers while also promoting your business.
  • Consider other uses for your web site as well. One last tips is to remember that you can use a web site as a mere promotional tool for you off line sales, sort of an electronic portfolio. Then include information on your site about shops and galleries that sell your goods. If you do sell off line was well, you need to make sure you aren’t competing with these other outlets any way, and many wholesale jewelry companies don’t sell their products on line. Instead, they give information, shoe some samples, and then point interested customers to their retailers.

Author Tammy Powley

Other helpful resources: CuffLinksMan - Unique Cufflinks

Cufflinks Give Style And Class To Men

October 15th, 2007


By Phill Kid

Cufflinks come in various varieties and are they are made of precious or semi precious stones, made of different metals like gold, silver, platinum etc., made with various designs like pins, flowers and more with modernized designs that suits the modern society and cufflinks also available in different materials.

Cufflinks do not come not only in these varieties but are available in any other conceivable material and we can be assured that some one made cufflink out of it.

The past centuries cufflinks style exposed a model of one medallion connected with the back post. In The bottom position the post has a stem raised in one end. In the upper position this stem fits exactly in the hollow cavity of the post. In the down position the stem bends perpendicular to the post to create a perfect T-shape.

So when the stem is in up position it slips the post in to the back and front buttonholes. When the post was made to rotate to the whole way it makes a perfect T with the stem to keep the cufflink in perfect fit.

During those times cufflinks were made with different colors and in different designs, which started from the pretty golden squares to the simple plastic dice.

Though we list all good things about those previous models one decrement also comes in count that those cufflinks have only pretty styles in front and the back was a plain one.

However using the button style cufflink is the simple thing. There are nothing but two identical ornamental buttons usually comes in cabochon shape join together by way of short lengthy chain. To use this cufflink model you can simply slip the front and back buttons in their respective slits.

The button style not only comes in regular cabochon style, but also offers us the ocean of designs in it. Adding to this when we use this button style cufflink the two buttons are identical to give an elegant look to that apparel.

In the silk knot cufflink the process is the same as that of the button style one. The variation remains only in the buttons replaced by two silk knots. Here two silk knots acts as buttons and also a silk cord acts as short lengthy ornamental chain. These are also gives the same glossy appearance as they are made of two matching silk knots both in front and back.
As they are made of fine silk wires they are smooth and feel heaven when wear. In additional to this they are cost effective, gives a great appearance to us and as well as comes in wide range of colors.

There is one more style of cufflinks known as Clip cufflinks. It also uses the same procedure like previous two types of button cufflinks and Silk cufflinks. But in addition to that it not only clips the button holes but clips them together from front to back.

These clips can be made of gold, silver or any other imitation metals and are placed with semi-precious or precious stones to give a glittering appearance.

About the Author: Ties’N'Cuffs the largest online Cufflinks and Men’s necktie store. Find more interesting articles about ties and cufflinks in our blog or find a great deal on a cufflink and tie.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=121459&ca=Society
Republished: CuffLinksMan, CuffQuest, TheJewelryWorld

Photographing Jewelry for eBay and other Online Auction Sites

October 13th, 2007

I am still amazed how many photos in online auctions for sometimes quite expensive jewelry are too blurry and out of focus to let potential buyers see clearly what they would be bidding on.

Would you bid hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a vague blob that is supposed to be a diamond ring? Of course not! Here is what you will need to take improved photos of your jewelry with your digital camera:

1. A tripod (holding the camera in your hand will introduce some blur!)

2. Two or three worklights with 100 W bulbs (can be found at a hardware store for under $10 each)

3. A translucent plastic storage box to set up as a “stage”, in which the object is placed on a display stand or jewelry bust

4. Several pieces of silky cloth as backdrops

You do not need to get a top-of-the-line digital camera with 5 Megapixels or more, but the camera should have a macro setting and should let you adjust the white balance to compensate for different lighting conditions. Recharagable batteries are a must, as digital cameras go through batteries quickly, and you could easily spend a lot of money on batteries otherwise.

The plastic box setup, with worklights shining through the sides, provides soft shadows, and you can use an extra worklight from the front or top when needed. Do not use your camera’s flash (it tends to make small objects appear flat), and set the white balance to the type of lighting you are using (see your camera manual). Some cloth (particularly the kind used for linings) in a nice neutral color (grey, light blue, etc.) makes for an attractive background.

These tips should improve your auction photos, and best of all, they do not require a large investment.

Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She has been beading since her teens. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the bead jewelry she designs and creates at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com

Jewelry Photography Lighting Tips From A Professional Jewelry Photographer

October 12th, 2007

What is the biggest mistake amateurs make in jewelry photography? Read on to find out what the two most essential aspects of great jewelry photography are, and how the successful jewelry photographer manipulates these aspects to achieve dramatic and compelling jewelry photography.

Have you heard the term candela? Yes, it has to do with light that is part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that the human eye can see. So what has candela to do with jewelry photography? Well, everyone knows that photography is a form of art made possible by light. Without light, there is no photography. Understanding and controlling light have always been the most essential aspects of great jewelry photography.

The biggest mistake amateurs make when taking pictures is expecting to capture the same range of light on a digital back as seen by the eye. Not so fast: the amount of light you see is a broader range than the amount of light a digital back can capture. While the eye can see a wide range at the same time, digital chips cannot. The difference is that a digital chip can capture light all across the light spectrum, but not all at the same time like your eye can. Let’s examine a few lighting techniques used in digital jewelry photography.

FRONT LIGHTING

This is the simplest form of lighting for jewelry photography. It is achieved by placing the light source around the camera lens pointing towards the jewelry to be photographed. For example, flash units on top of cameras, ring lights, or soft boxes next to the lens. Front lighting is flat, and is best used for illustrative purposes. When used for jewelry photography, front light is unexciting and sometimes causes glare from certain areas on the reflective surface that reflects the light from opposing angles.

SIDE LIGHTING

Side lighting gives the impression of three dimensions. By illuminating the jewelry from the side, the viewer gets the impression of depth, as opposed to the flat, two-dimensional effect of front lighting. Side lighting can be most effective in accentuating the surface textures of jewelry. When using side lighting in jewelry photography one must be careful in placing the light to avoid unwanted reflections.

AVAILABLE NATURAL LIGHT

Available natural light completely surrounds a subject. This lighting situation is very even and already exists in an indoor or outdoor setting without adding any artificial illumination by the jewelry photographer. When combined with other reflective surfaces such as silver cards, it can be an effective technique in jewelry photography to achieve soft and pronounced edges on metals and gemstones.

DIRECT LIGHTING
Direct lighting results in high contrast, especially when it’s coming from a single source such as the Sun or a fixture equipped with a fresnel lens. It produces high contrast captures with deep shadows and overall drama. In jewelry photography it’s mostly used in combination with other softer light sources in order to add a certain creative effect to the general capture. Using high contrast lighting adds impact and accentuates jewelry textures. It can also be used to light through diffusing surfaces such as acrylic or cloth to create softer shadows.

DIFFUSED LIGHTING

Diffused scattered light rays, produce softer light, lessen contrast, and smoothes out details in the jewelry. The resulting images tend to be dreamy and romantic. This technique is very good for showing overall and shadow details. It is the most widely used method in jewelry photography.

SPOT LIGHTING

Spotlighting is a useful tool to focus attention on a certain area of the jewelry. Direct spotlighting is very dramatic, however, in jewelry photography most surfaces are reflective; therefore special techniques must be applied when spotlighting to diffuse and control the reflections and glare. The end result can yield compelling and dramatic jewelry photography!

Avi Roth’s photography can be seen in publications such as Vogue Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Los Angeles Weddings. His work ranges from advertising to fine art, single products to complex sets, and single models to large crowds. Roth describes his artistic approach as follows: “Every photograph is a story written with light. Like a story without words, it evolves from a concept, thought, or emotion in my mind’s eye, into a latent image, a silhouette of shapes and forms. This shadow-less three-dimensional space is the genesis of my artistic interpretation. I use my personal ‘palette’ of light to create shadow, color, and space, and blend backgrounds to complete my visual composition.” Roth has received numerous awards recognizing his professional virtuosity and fascination with elegance. He attended Tel-Aviv Polytechnic and graduated with honors from the London Film School. Avi Roth is the founder of Digital Jeweller: Digital Jewelry Photography Solutions.

For more jewelry photography tips and info go to http://www.jewelryphotographyonly.com/

By: Avi Roth

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Avi Roth is the founder of Digital Jeweller: Digital Jewelry Photography Solutions. His unique and elegant jewelry photography has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Martha Stewart Weddings, and LA Weddings. He attended Tel-Aviv Polytechnic and graduated with honors from the London Film School. Roth has received numerous awards recognizing his professional virtuosity. For more jewelry photography tips and info go to www.jewelryphotographyonly.com/