Real Value and Enticing Features of Gorgeous Luxury Pearl and Gemstone Jewelry by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

Stringing Essentials

Among our steady clients, we have several converts who, except for traditional pearl strands and fun pieces, did not wear much "beaded" jewelry before discovering Arpaia Fine Jewelry. They did not associate gemstone "beads" with fine jewelry. Regarding gem quality stones, the main difference between a gemstone bead and a set gemstone is that the bead is drilled (center drilled, top drilled, side drilled, etc.). As gemstone beads become more popular, we are seeing more and more sensational smooth and faceted cuts and shapes available. A gemstone bead can have just as good cut, color and clarity as a set gemstone. Gemstone beads, especially precious stones, can be very expensive due to the carat loss (material waste) involved to achieve the desired cut, typical 360 degree faceting, and to produce the drill hole. So gemstone strands can be very enticing and extremely high end.

Our luxury pearl and gemstone strands are refined and glamorous, feel light as air on and are comfortably soft to wear. Clients often ask what makes our strands so sumptuous in look and feel. As always, we are thrilled to share and thought our website visitors might also find this topic interesting. At the top of this page, we identified several features of Arpaia Fine Jewelry strung jewelry: graceful elegance, delicate beauty, luxurious look and supple drape. Selecting lovely gems and components for each design is a great start and this process can take months even when keeping things simple, but design and materials are just the start. For truly lovely pieces you need attention to detail at every stage in the follow through. Below are some of the post-design steps we undertake to accomplish these tasks:

Sparkling Clean Components. Starting with really clean dry components is an absolute must. After the design work is done and all gems, metals, clasp and finishing parts selected, we thoroughly clean everything separately by safe gentle methods. To avoid watermarks and keep things spanky clean, we cool blow dry all components completely, and as necessary, polish dry with a soft clean microfiber cloth.

We let all components sit the next day. We call it "air drying" even though it's all completely dry. This break provides an opportunity to look over the materials to make sure everything is exactly right. Things look different when really clean. For example, where we initially selected certain gold beads, after cleaning they might look too bright for the particular design (the color tone changed after all the handworking firescale, oils and jeweler's rouge was cleaned off); so, we would select more fitting gold beads for the project.

The Right Stringing Material. We typically use silk thread or stainless steel cable wire specifically made for jewelry making. We keep lots of options on hand to enable us to pick the stringing material most suited for the project. Some selections are limited or even dictated by the color of the gemstones, the weight of the beads, or the size of the drill holes (for example, diamond beads have very small drill holes and require thinner stringing materials than many other stones). The right stringing material fulfills function (sufficient strength and proper drape) as well as design - we prefer a wire that either disappears or enhances the look of the gemstones or open metalwork such as filigree beads.

Exacting Calibration. We love hand faceted and hand smooth-polished gemstone beads; their beauty is exceptionally compelling. With artisan craftsmanship, even extremely well matched gemstones tend to be irregular in size and shape. Spacial relationships are important in jewelry. To make a visually stunning strand with wow factor it is necessary to achieve balance and harmony by proper placement of the gemstones along the strand. Whether graduated in size or similar size, hand fashioned gemstones need to be conscientiously placed in their best possible position. Though we use precise measurement methods to assist us, when working with irregularly shaped and sized gemstones we also must incorporate visual cues to yield the best results. The calibration process takes time and several tries; we do not stop until the overall drape and look are most appealing and the piece possesses a real easy sensuality. When working with 15 or 16" of very small gemstones, it typically takes about 16 hours just to place the gemstones along the strand. Then, once the gemstones and any other adornments are in the right place, we restring the entire piece on brand new stringing wire (calibration compromises the integrity of stringing materials, so once the piece is just right, only then do we create the permanent strand with brand new stringing materials and findings).

Structural Engineering. Gemstones come alive when worn. There is something so sexy and gorgeous about gemstones against the skin. Soft flexible drape fosters proximity of strung jewelry with body curvature even during movement. Great drape doesn't just happen - it's created, and usually structural engineering is required to make it happen. Conversely, there may be times when a necklace needs strength and form to maintain good shape. Whether a soft drape or strong form is needed, structural engineering can assist. Arpaia often asks Lang, as a goldsmith, to handmake high karat gold grommets and other tiny findings that she uses as purely functional parts in the internal makings of the design, hidden in the structural form so they do not show and interrupt the flow and beauty of the outside design.

Fine Finishing. In addition to how a piece drapes and looks, the finishing can be strong evidence of overall quality and workmanship. Unless purposely a part of the design, rough hewn finishing can result from inexperience or lesser craftsmanship (e.g., quick nonchallant assembly of components into a completed piece of jewelry). Expert craftsmanship will include very fine finishing details. At Arpaia Fine Jewelry, we spend an inordinate amount of time finishing our pearl and gemstone strand pieces. The strand must be as perfectly attached to the clasp as we can possibly achieve. Time is not a factor in finishing. We take hours to finish a piece, not minutes. The end result must look great - the finishing must be refined, smooth, neat, and strong. In addition, great finishing encompasses proper tension of the strand which is essential to creating the ultimate drape we desire. Outer craftsmanship evidences inner craftsmanship. Refined details show expert craftsmanship and hint that as much attention was paid to the internal workmanship of the piece as to its outer beauty. Like most great achievements, enticing strung jewelry is all in the details.

Reminder: Strung Pieces Require Gentle Handling and Care. By their nature, hand-strung gemstone pieces are more delicate than chains and can break if pulled or caught. Gemstone strands should be gently put on, taken off and worn, and safely stored when not worn. For more complete care information, please click on this link to visit the section on Protection, Care and Cleaning of Fine Jewlery.

To see all strung jewelry sold on this website please click on this link.

Illustrative Images

SELECTION OF STRINGING MATERIAL,

CALIBRATION AND DESIGN TENSION (DRAPE)

Razzle Dazzle with 18 kt White Gold Diamond Clasp - Click on Picture for more information.

Tanzanite Necklace with 22 kt Gold from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

Champagne Drapery - Click on Picture for more information.

"Ruby Float" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

"Opalescence" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

INTERNAL ENGINEERING

"Serenata" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

FINE FINISHING

"Pink Dream" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

"Tanzanite Drape" - Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

"Champagne Drapery" - Click on Picture for more information.

"Black Ice" with 18 kt White Gold Clasp with White Diamonds - Click on Picture for more information.

Brown Diamond Clasp by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

"Rhapsody" with 18 kt Yellow Gold Clasp with Natural Fancy Brown Diamonds - Click on Picture for more information.

"Razzle Dazzle" with 18 kt Gold Diamond Clasp - Click on Picture for more information.

"Razzle Dazzle" with 18 kt White Gold Diamond Clasp - Click on Picture for more information.

"Opalescence" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.

"Ruby Float" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry

For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry.






	GEMSTONE & PEARL STRANDS BY ARPAIA FINE JEWELRY Graceful Elegance "Surrender" Fancy Gray Diamond Necklace - click on picture for more information. Delicate Beauty "Champagne Drapery" Fancy Champagne Diamond Necklace - click on picture for more information. Luxurious Look "Sweet Summer Blush" Freshwater Pearl and 22 kt Gold Necklace - Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry To see this necklace, you may visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry by clicking on above picture. Supple Drape "Pink Dream" from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry Freshwater & Seed Pearls, white & pink Topaz, 22 kt Gold To see this necklace, you may visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry by clicking on above picture. *Stringing Essentials* Among our steady clients, we have several converts who, except for traditional pearl strands and fun pieces, did not wear much "beaded" jewelry before discovering Arpaia Fine Jewelry. They did not associate gemstone "beads" with fine jewelry. Regarding gem quality stones, the main difference between a gemstone bead and a set gemstone is that the bead is drilled (center drilled, top drilled, side drilled, etc.). As gemstone beads become more popular, we are seeing more and more sensational smooth and faceted cuts and shapes available. A gemstone bead can have just as good cut, color and clarity as a set gemstone. Gemstone beads, especially precious stones, can be very expensive due to the carat loss (material waste) involved to achieve the desired cut, typical 360 degree faceting, and to produce the drill hole. So gemstone strands can be very enticing and extremely high end. Our luxury pearl and gemstone strands are refined and glamorous, feel light as air on and are comfortably soft to wear. Clients often ask what makes our strands so sumptuous in look and feel. As always, we are thrilled to share and thought our website visitors might also find this topic interesting. At the top of this page, we identified several features of Arpaia Fine Jewelry strung jewelry: graceful elegance, delicate beauty, luxurious look and supple drape. Selecting lovely gems and components for each design is a great start and this process can take months even when keeping things simple, but design and materials are just the start. For truly lovely pieces you need attention to detail at every stage in the follow through. Below are some of the post-design steps we undertake to accomplish these tasks: Sparkling Clean Components. Starting with really clean dry components is an absolute must. After the design work is done and all gems, metals, clasp and finishing parts selected, we thoroughly clean everything separately by safe gentle methods. To avoid watermarks and keep things spanky clean, we cool blow dry all components completely, and as necessary, polish dry with a soft clean microfiber cloth. We let all components sit the next day. We call it "air drying" even though it's all completely dry. This break provides an opportunity to look over the materials to make sure everything is exactly right. Things look different when really clean. For example, where we initially selected certain gold beads, after cleaning they might look too bright for the particular design (the color tone changed after all the handworking firescale, oils and jeweler's rouge was cleaned off); so, we would select more fitting gold beads for the project. The Right Stringing Material. We typically use silk thread or stainless steel cable wire specifically made for jewelry making. We keep lots of options on hand to enable us to pick the stringing material most suited for the project. Some selections are limited or even dictated by the color of the gemstones, the weight of the beads, or the size of the drill holes (for example, diamond beads have very small drill holes and require thinner stringing materials than many other stones). The right stringing material fulfills function (sufficient strength and proper drape) as well as design - we prefer a wire that either disappears or enhances the look of the gemstones or open metalwork such as filigree beads. Exacting Calibration. We love hand faceted and hand smooth-polished gemstone beads; their beauty is exceptionally compelling. With artisan craftsmanship, even extremely well matched gemstones tend to be irregular in size and shape. Spacial relationships are important in jewelry. To make a visually stunning strand with wow factor it is necessary to achieve balance and harmony by proper placement of the gemstones along the strand. Whether graduated in size or similar size, hand fashioned gemstones need to be conscientiously placed in their best possible position. Though we use precise measurement methods to assist us, when working with irregularly shaped and sized gemstones we also must incorporate visual cues to yield the best results. The calibration process takes time and several tries; we do not stop until the overall drape and look are most appealing and the piece possesses a real easy sensuality. When working with 15 or 16" of very small gemstones, it typically takes about 16 hours just to place the gemstones along the strand. Then, once the gemstones and any other adornments are in the right place, we restring the entire piece on brand new stringing wire (calibration compromises the integrity of stringing materials, so once the piece is just right, only then do we create the permanent strand with brand new stringing materials and findings). Structural Engineering. Gemstones come alive when worn. There is something so sexy and gorgeous about gemstones against the skin. Soft flexible drape fosters proximity of strung jewelry with body curvature even during movement. Great drape doesn't just happen - it's created, and usually structural engineering is required to make it happen. Conversely, there may be times when a necklace needs strength and form to maintain good shape. Whether a soft drape or strong form is needed, structural engineering can assist. Arpaia often asks Lang, as a goldsmith, to handmake high karat gold grommets and other tiny findings that she uses as purely functional parts in the internal makings of the design, hidden in the structural form so they do not show and interrupt the flow and beauty of the outside design. Fine Finishing. In addition to how a piece drapes and looks, the finishing can be strong evidence of overall quality and workmanship. Unless purposely a part of the design, rough hewn finishing can result from inexperience or lesser craftsmanship (e.g., quick nonchallant assembly of components into a completed piece of jewelry). Expert craftsmanship will include very fine finishing details. At Arpaia Fine Jewelry, we spend an inordinate amount of time finishing our pearl and gemstone strand pieces. The strand must be as perfectly attached to the clasp as we can possibly achieve. Time is not a factor in finishing. We take hours to finish a piece, not minutes. The end result must look great - the finishing must be refined, smooth, neat, and strong. In addition, great finishing encompasses proper tension of the strand which is essential to creating the ultimate drape we desire. Outer craftsmanship evidences inner craftsmanship. Refined details show expert craftsmanship and hint that as much attention was paid to the internal workmanship of the piece as to its outer beauty. Like most great achievements, enticing strung jewelry is all in the details. *Reminder: Strung Pieces Require Gentle Handling and Care.* By their nature, hand-strung gemstone pieces are more delicate than chains and can break if pulled or caught. Gemstone strands should be gently put on, taken off and worn, and safely stored when not worn. For more complete care information, please click on this link to visit the section on Protection, Care and Cleaning of Fine Jewlery. To see all strung jewelry sold on this website please click on this link. *Illustrative Images* *SELECTION OF STRINGING MATERIAL,* *CALIBRATION AND DESIGN TENSION (DRAPE)* Razzle Dazzle with 18 kt White Gold Diamond Clasp - Click on Picture for more information. Tanzanite Necklace with 22 kt Gold from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. Champagne Drapery - Click on Picture for more information. "Ruby Float" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. "Opalescence" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. *INTERNAL ENGINEERING* "Serenata" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. *FINE FINISHING* "Pink Dream" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. "Tanzanite Drape" - Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. "Champagne Drapery" - Click on Picture for more information. "Black Ice" with 18 kt White Gold Clasp with White Diamonds - Click on Picture for more information. "Rhapsody" with 18 kt Yellow Gold Clasp with Natural Fancy Brown Diamonds - Click on Picture for more information. "Razzle Dazzle" with 18 kt Gold Diamond Clasp - Click on Picture for more information. "Razzle Dazzle" with 18 kt White Gold Diamond Clasp - Click on Picture for more information. "Opalescence" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. "Ruby Float" Necklace from Empress Couture by Arpaia Fine Jewelry For more formation on this necklace and to view more Empress Couture, click on above picture to visit Arpaia Fine Jewelry. *For More Strand Jewelry* *Visit www.ArpaiaFineJewelry.com* Golden Birch Pearl and Swarovski Crystal *For interest, a small selection below.* *From the Pearl and Crystal Collection* *by Arpaia Fine Jewelry:* Pink Coin Pearls Apricot Baby Coin Pearls Apricot Baby Coin Pearls Swarovski Crystal and 24 kt Vermeil lavender-pink pearls with sterling silver lavender-pink pearls with 22 kt gold clasp *From the Caribbean Collection* *by Arpaia Fine Jewelry:* Pink Coral Swarovski Crystal Teal Pearl Swarovskl Crystal *From the Fine Silver Cruise Collection* *by Arpaia Fine Jewelry:* Swarovski Crystal and 24 kt Vermeil Golden Pearls with 24 kt Vermeil Shells and Flowers Lapis Lazuli with Fine Silver White Coin Pearl with Fine Silver Amethyst with Fine Silver Green Amethyst and 24 kt Vermeil Jade with 24 kt Vermeil Pink Topaz with Fine Silver Champagne Topaz with 24 kt Vermeil Apatite Pink Topaz with Fine Silver Flower Pendant *To See Above Selection and More* *Visit www.ArpaiaFineJewelry.com*