Anyway, I am swaying away from the real content of this post. As a female being, I believe every girl deserves to own good piece of jewelry.. Even if it is just one or hundreds, depends but I do believe you need at least ONE good piece. Not the ones bought by your boyfriends or husbands or fiancés.. Just for yourself as a reward of all the hard work you have done so far. I am not saying to should spend your money splendidly on expensive jewelries but just once in a while. Well, I am not the type of person who likes to change accessories very often to match my outfit and I don't even switch bags very often. Hence, I always wear the same pieces of jewelry and bag to work or when I go out with my friends because I just can't be bothered. Hence, I do spend a bit of money on better quality of materials that could last longer because then I don't have to buy very often.
As mad as it sounds, I can't wear silver accessories because my skin has an allergic reaction towards silver and no, I am not a vampire!! I can wear any non-acid-reactive material but not otherwise.. I am not boasting that I can only wear expensive material but that's just how my body reacts to it. I can't even drink alcohol because my body can't absorb it well and my body repels it.. So it sucks..
Lately, I become so obsessed in collecting more jewelries, however when it comes to selecting good pieces of jewelry, I think it is also important to know the occasion of wearing them and whether you are going to wear it every day or just on certain occasions. As I am an everyday wearer, I think it is better for me to go for a proper gold/white gold material.
I have no problem with wearing a sterling silver and stainless steel material, however obviously in terms of quality, they are still not as good as gold/white gold. Also, bear in mind when I refer to gold/while gold, they are solid and not plated or rhodium plated. White gold usually has rhodium plated to maintain the shine. In this post, I am going to review briefly on a few downsides of 'plating' used in some cheaper jewelries and also some very costly fashion jewelries.
I remember I bought my first piece of fashion jewelry from Swarovski a year ago and I have been wearing it every single day till date! The only times I take it off my finger is when my hand has to be in contact with water. As many Swarovski fans will know, the crystal will not be as shiny as it ages and it will only accelerate the aging process if it is in contact with water. I do agree however, that Swarovski crystal has one of the highest quality in terms of the smooth cutting and anyone who owns any forms of jewelry made of cubic Zirconia knows that there is a difference in terms of the crystal's fineness. Hence why they earn the trademark of "Swarovski crystal" or sometimes cheaper pieces of jewelry have "Swarovski element" in their jewelry description, especially online stores.
It is true that Swarovski jewelries are only meant to be a fashion jewelry and not to be worn everyday unless you could guarantee an excellent care, not me definitely.. I bought a ring from Swarovski over a year ago and it has then shown a lot of wear signs, especially that it is a ring, hence you can't avoid all the mini accidents you encounter during your daily activity.
The picture actually looks much better but in reality, the ring has been abused much more than what is shown in the photo. If you could see the tiny peel-mark, I can assure you the coating has worn off and the ring is in such a horrendous condition.
Even so, I haven't given up in collecting more of Swarovski pieces. This time, I chose earrings instead because I believe they will last longer this time as it won't have any contact with water unless I go mad and decide to walk in the rain with the earrings on. I wanted a bracelet as well but that is a mad idea because I am more prone to ruining it faster. They look too irresistible though, need extremely good care nevertheless!
If I remember it correctly, I think the gold coating is made of "gold plating" so it will obviously wear off after some time. I must say though, that the quality of the crystals remain superb and shiny even after a year of wearing it everyday (referring to the ring). Well, maybe a little bit less shiny and when I bought it however I am sure if you polish it with crystal care spray, it will shine again but I just can't be bothered.
They were mostly bought when Swarovski held a sale which happened VERY RARELY!!
Bought the ring for AUD90, originally was AUD180
Top left hand side with (square shaped crystals) was AUD65, originally AUD130
Top right hand side (two-piece of crystals) was AUD110 no sale at the time of purchase.
Then today, I was looking for my birthstone, Aquamarine and I am looking for a ring for myself. As I strolled along the street, I visit a jewelry store who sold it, however it is a synthetic Aquamarine stone surrounded by manmade diamonds with 9K solid gold. They sell it for $399, originally $650. Too expensive!!! It has a very deep ocean blue color and is absolutely stunning, however because it is not a natural stone, I pulled myself away with disappointment although the sales assistant offered to show me some Topaz rings and/or pendants as substitute.
I went to another store and asked to see an aquamarine ring as well and to my utter disbelief, the ring costs AUD3990++ OH MY LORD!!! Well, apparently this one is made from a real aquamarine stone with real diamonds and 18k solid gold. The sales assistant told me rings with aquamarine stones are really rare hence much more expensive. She suggested that if I am looking for a similar blue-ish stone, I should go of Topaz though Topaz is for those who are born in November. There are some myths go with different birthstones and its meaning, for instance blue Topaz is supposed to calm you down when you are in a stressful situation and it is supposed to enhance your eyesight (some Greek and/or middle age mythologies can be found in google).
I can't afford a AUD3990++ ring for myself at the moment and I have determined that that will be my engagement or wedding ring, don't mind either one!!! I just want my future wedding/engagement ring to have an aquamarine stone in it!!!! :( <---- Hint for my future husband if he ever gets to read it.. LOL
So I fell in love with this natural sky blue Topaz ring with small traces of real diamonds.... JENG JENG JENG~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TA DAHHHHH~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, it's a 9k solid gold, won't be as good as an 18k solid gold though it will still last long :)
It is not too expensive either, well I like to reward myself once in a while and having no boyfriend to buy me, I got to make myself at least tiny bit happier because no one is there to make me happy especially now is winter time!!!!! Well, I am seeing someone at the moment, however it is complicated and none of us knows what is going to happen and I don't even know whether he likes me enough to want to be together.... :( ok, let's leave the love story some other time... I am super happy that I brought it home with me today, with its love shaped blue Topaz, it is supposed to attract love and wealth (again, it is a MYTH), but who know... Love & money I want you, come to me NOW!!!!!!
Oh, got them from Thomas Jewellers, click on the link to check out their online store and contact details including store locations.
Definitely love it love it love it.... :)
Oh, the ones right next to the blue Topaz is a sterling silver claddagh ring that I bought for AUD10 from Sovereign Hills, Ballarat and above it is a couple while gold ring when I reunited with my ex-boyfriend which I am still wearing till date because I just like it, it has nothing to do with me missing him or anything like that.. I gave him the same one which he broke it long before we broke up... so, it doesn't matter if I am wearing it because he doesn't have it anymore... Therefore...... It is not a couple ring anymore~~~~ In fact, he gave me one yellow gold ring as well shortly after I gave him the ring and guess what.... It was stolen along with a gold necklace he gave me as a birthday present when my house got broken into last year ... Oh well, maybe it was bound to happen.. New ring, new memory, new beginning... Not beginning, continuing my life.. It has almost been 2 years since I walked out of our 4.5 years relationship and I am so much stronger than I was.. I truly wish him happiness with his current girlfriend and hopefully I can find mine soon :) who will propose to me with an aquamarine stone ring!!!!
