Posted on March 23rd, 2013 by Hand Trades
Most reconstituted gemstones sold for jewelry making, knife blanks, pen blanks are not what you think they are. If you took them to a geology professor at a college, he/she would tell you after doing a few tests that your “stone” was in fact, not even a rock at all. If you compare the real stone to the reconstituted one, it is getting harder to see the difference between the two, with an exception. If exposed to high heat sources like a torch or hot flame, the reconstituted stone will smoke or even melt. Stabilized stone is real stone that has been processed in various ways to improve it.
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Posted on March 3rd, 2013 by Hand Trades
Our starving artisan event for this month is actually a group of artisans located in Uttar Pradesh, India. Save an additional 50% OFF on a nice selection of over 200 pieces in earrings, rings and pendants. Valuable gemstones made in topaz, turquoise, larimar, moonstone with sterling silver (925 hallmark), copper and brass. Prices start at just over $10.
At check out, enter coupon code MARCH5.
CLICK HERE TO SHOP THIS OFFER:
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/Categories?$catalog.oem=Mablet
Thank you for shopping with us and supporting the handmade, quality work of these artisans. Available for a limited time. Not available with any other offer.
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Posted on January 24th, 2013 by Hand Trades
Available at http://www.handtrades.com
The other day a friend was asking his wife what she would like for Valentine’s Day. Not recommended, nor romantic, but before he could retreat, the question was posed.
How about a nice dinner out? Hmmm…the restaurants will be over-crowded and the expensive meal will last just a short while.
Flowers wilt and die within a week.
Candy, well, is usually eaten by the guy anyways.
Ah, but jewelry lasts forever and she’ll remember you each time she wears it. Better yet, handcrafted artisan jewelry from our artisans is unique and different as each individual.
Select a little something at a great price. We’ll package it nicely, gift wrap each piece for free, and help you out with an additional 15% discount when you enter promotion code VDAY3 at check out.
Here are a few suggestions:
Rubies, Garnets, Rose Quartz, White Topaz, Moonstone
Shop at http://www.handtrades.com
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Posted on September 23rd, 2012 by Hand Trades
CLEARANCE ITEMS:
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/Categories?$catalog.oem=Rushini
Welcome and thank you for shopping at Hand Trades. We appreciate
you, our customer, and are excited to announce this special offer.
For the next few days you can save an additional 20% on over 260
items in the clearance section. Sterling silver jewelry made with
very popular gemstones such as amethyst, garnet, and moonstone.
Discounted designs are available in rings, pendants, earrings,
necklaces and bracelets. Each piece is meticulously hand crafted in
parternship with one of our experienced independent producers.
You’re sure to find something special for yourself at an incredible
price.
At check out, simply enter coupon code CLEAR20.
BONUS:
Orders of $75 or more enter promotion code CLEAR30 for 30% savings.
CLEARANCE ITEMS:
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/Categories?$catalog.oem=Rushini
Hurry, this offer is available only while supplies last for the
next few days. Please let us know if you have any questions. You
can chat with us live 8am-4pm ET or send an email to us at
service@handtrades.com for a prompt and helpful reply.
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Posted on September 9th, 2012 by Hand Trades
Thank you for shopping with us for the best prices on handcrafted jewelry.
We just made available a nice assortment (over 200) of pendants, rings and earrings with your favorite gemstones for just $8.95 each. At check out, enter promotion code SAVP8 to get the $8.95. All items are in stock and available for immediate delivery. Please tell your friends :)
CLICK HERE TO SHOP THIS OFFER:
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/Categories?$catalog.oem=dipta
Available while supplies last or for a limited time. Not available with any other offer.
Questions? Just let us know. Send an email to service@handtrades.com.
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Posted on August 8th, 2012 by Hand Trades
As the season begins to change, so do the colors. What’s going to be popular are purples, lemons topaz mixed with amber, red-browns toned with sienna, oranges with copper that are rustic – to name a few. You’ll see blended tones with no pure colors on the palette.
Well, as we start our special collection of this new season, we’re offering this special savings. Select your autumn rings today….
Save an additional 15% on all gemstone rings. At check out, simply enter coupon code RRNG15.
BONUS: Save an additional 25% on all rings with a purchase of $45 or more. At check out, simply enter coupon code RRNG25.
** CLICK HERE TO SHOP RINGS **
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/the-Rings/Categories
All of them are handcrafted with .925 sterling silver. Available for a limited time and while supplies last. Not available with any other offer. Your cost starts at just $16 for a retail savings of $45 and more! 900+ designs available for your selection.
Questions? Email us today for a prompt and helpful reply at service@handtrades.com
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Posted on July 25th, 2012 by Hand Trades
Well it’s certainly still hot outside! Here in Kipling it’s going to reach 95 again. Jewelry lovers from around the world are discovering great jewelry designs right now. Enjoy the rest of your summer without breaking your budget. Hand Trades is offering a select assortment of earrings, pendants and rings with sterling silver and natural gemstones, for about $14.50 Retail prices are over $50.
At checkout enter promotion code SUMM4 for the 40% additional savings. Over 100 items available and IN STOCK for immediate delivery.
Click Here to Shop the Summer Jewelry Clearance Event:
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/Categories?$catalog.oem=Sumtra
Coming soon…
We’re also releasing some beautiful August Peridot gemstone designs very, very soon. Bold green colors with classic settings.
Thank you for shopping with the folks at Hand Trades in crafting pieces of jewelry for you. Questions? Our super smart staff is available to help you with a prompt reply. Send an email to service@handtrades.com
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Posted on July 12th, 2012 by Hand Trades
Score Incredible Jewelry Buys with these Summer Earring Designs
Greetings! The partners with Hand Trades are here again with this
incredible deal….
We know that customers like you want items that are hard to find.
Items that are original, at an incredible price, with a curiosity
about the producers, how it was designed, and how it was made.
At Hand Trades, you’ll find everyday low prices on items such as
these earring designs. All are made from pure sterling silver,
handcrafted, and conveniently delivered straight to your door.
With this special offer, prices start at just $12 with retail
savings up to 80%. For a limited time, use coupon code EARR2R at
check out for the additional 20% OFF already low Hand Trades price.
Use coupon code EARR3R for 30% OFF with a minimum purchase of $40.
Click Here to Shop All Earrings (over 1,000 designs):
http://www.handtrades.com/servlet/the-Earrings/Categories
- Amy, Hand Trades
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Posted on June 26th, 2012 by Hand Trades
There are several factors typically used to grade the stone, with color and patterning being the primary ones:
1.Color – the deeper, “volcanic” blues are considered to be “best”.
2.Patterning – the richer, more interesting, the better.
3.Luster – is it glossy?
4.Luminosity – does it seem to “glow” or have an inner light?
5.Clarity – is it free of obvious defects? (Pits, cracks, carbon deposits, etc.)
6.Translucence – can light pass thru a portion of the stone?
7.Chatoyance – a luminous band with a silky luster (like that typical of cat’s-eye).
There is no one particular factor that determines the grade; it is a combination of factors. The depth of color alone may not “make or break” the grade; the pattern and luminosity may bring up the grade of a stone whose color may not be as deep as others.
With larimar, perhaps more than with any other gemstone, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some prefer the very light blues of larimar, others prefer larimar stones that tend towards the green, and while others prefer larimar with mineral spots, some prefer larimar with no patterning at all.
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Posted on June 19th, 2012 by Hand Trades
We have been selling a lot of different types of pearl jewelry and many people have asked us “Are freshwater pearls worth buying?” Most of the times I answered “yes”, and here is why:
Freshwater pearls have more nacre than their saltwater cousins. When the freshwater pearl is drilled, the mantle tissue used to nucleate the pearl is either dissolved or drilled out — you are left with a solid pearl that will last a lifetime! This is unlike the various saltwater pearl varieties that still contain the nucleus in the finished product. Also, for the same grade/quality of pearls, freshwater pearls are a lot more affordable than saltwater pearls.
Why, then, is the freshwater pearl so much inexpensive than all the others, one might ask. There are a couple of reasons, but none of which affects the quality.
One of the main differences between freshwater and their saltwater cousins are their bearer. While Akoya, Tahitian, and South Sea pearls are cultured in Saltwater oysters (e.g. Akoya /pinctada Fucata, Black-Lipped Oyster/pinctada Margaritifera, Golden-lipped Oyster/pinctada Maxima etc.), freshwater pearls are most commonly cultured in freshwater mollusks such as the Triangle Shell. Most of the oysters can only produce one or two pearls at a time, while it’s possible to harvest up to 50 pearls in a single freshwater mollusk. Therefore freshwater pearls are more cost efficient to grow.
Another reason freshwater pearls have a lower price is their abundance. 15 years ago freshwater pearls were nearly exclusive to lake Biwa (lies very near Kyoto) in Japan. But a decade ago nearly all pearl farms were shuttered due to pollution. Japan has never recovered its freshwater pearl industry until recently, with lake Kasumigaura boasting a small harvest of quality freshwater pearls. Luckily lake Kasumigaura has been protected because of environmentalism and the fact that they need to protect the freshwater eel habitat that is native to this lake and important for the economy.However Kasumigaura freshwater pearls usually cost a fortune. Most of the affordable freshwater cultured pearls now originate in the freshwater lakes and rivers of China. Since pearl-bearing mussels are very sensitive to pollution, we usually buy high quality Chinese freshwater pearls from remote lakes of China, where the labor is abundant and low cost.
That being said, freshwater pearls are definitely worth buying, unless you really want to get a strand of natural black color pearls, then you might want to consider Tahitian pearls. Although you can get many beautiful black freshwater pearls but they are dyed, the only natural black pearls are Tahitian pearls. Unfortunately, contrary to their brand-world advertising, Tahitians are indeed often color treated but not necessarily dyed although some diffusion dying does occur.
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