Sterling silver necklaces are the best gift for almost every woman. In fact, women adorn their slender necks with sleek necklaces and beautiful pendants since ancient times. In fact, these signature necklaces are present in almost every culture to mark the position of the woman in the society. However, it is the versatility of these pendant necklaces that has increased their popularity now-a-days. These types of pendants are ideal for both party and regular office wear. They are elegant and attractive and make a great style statement without even looking ostentatious at work. The best part of these jewelries is that they are well within your budget. In fact, these necklaces make the best gift for that special lady in your life.

These sterling silver necklaces are available in a wide variety of styles. Some of these are:

Double Heart Pendant: These types are valued for their grace. It includes interconnected silver hearts, which are somewhat asymmetrical. The hearts dangle gracefully from a sterling silver chain. In most of the cases, they are held in place by a spring ring clasp.

Heart Lariat Necklace: It is a beautiful heart charm that hangs at the end of the chain through another open heart. With these, you can conveniently adjust the drop of your necklace.

Turquoise Loving Heart Pendant: These are usually more expensive that other heart necklaces. However, they are ideal if your lady loves turquoise. A bold heart shaped turquoise is placed at the center of a cable chain.

Heart Message Pendant: You can also get personalized necklaces where you can engrave loving messages for your sweetheart. Similarly you also have necklaces personalized with your favorite birthstones. In addition, you can also get them encrusted with cubic zirconia.

Buying necklaces online:

With the advent of Internet, you can now buy them online. In fact, it will also save lots of your money. However, you need to be careful as there are some sites that sell chintzy materials. Thereby, make sure that your necklaces are branded with the particular words "sterling silver", as it is the best quality available these days on the market. It is also better to insure your piece especially if you are opting for a genuine gemstone jewelry.

SkyeSterling is proud to offer a huge assortment of sterling silver collar necklaces and pendants. We have tons of all silver, gold plated silver, stone and cubic zirconia styles to choose from.

The Celtic art design has continued to gain popularity because of its use in television shows and movies; making it familiar and accessible to everyone. Often times, the Celtic inspired designs are seen in shows featuring supernatural, occult or a mystical theme.

If you are looking for jewelry - the Celtic pendant might fit the bill. Because of its unique design, which is both beautiful and full of lore, these pendants make great gifts whether for yourself or for a loved one.

One of the best materials for pendants is Sterling silver. This precious metal is made up of 92.5% silver alloy and 7.5% of another type of metal (e.g. copper, zinc, titanium and platinum). Before purchasing, make sure there are no blemishes on the pendant. Any Sterling silver jewelry should come with an authentication certificate or have a hallmark on the piece itself attesting to its purity.

Silver Celtic pendants can also incorporate pearls, diamonds and other gemstones, crystals, glass and many more. The chain can be made of the same metal as the pendant. Some use leather, cords and other materials.

Below are the different Celtic designs used on pendants:

1. Celtic knot

The Celtic knot is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Celts. It is sometimes referred to as the endless knot, symbolizing no beginning and no end. It is the uninterrupted or unbroken cycle of life. The Celtic knot design is often combined with other designs to make unique pendants.

2. Triquetra or Trinity knot

A variation of the Celtic knot design is the Trinity knot or triquetra. This design is attributed to the Triple Gods/Goddesses in Celtic tradition. Some say it also represents the Holy Trinity. The silver pendant design can either be a solitary or a double Trinity knot.

3. Triskele or Triple spiral

It was in a Bronze Age temple that the earliest Celtic Triskele symbol was found. The Triskele or triple spiral appears as three spirals emanating from one center. This Celtic design symbolizes the interconnectedness of three elements. For example: birth-death-rebirth, body-mind-spirit, and past-present-future. The spiral depicts continuous movement.

4. Celtic cross

The Celtic cross is a standing cross with a circle surrounding the intersection of the cross. There are many variations of this popular silver pendant design. It can be very spartan or full of details. Ornate pendant designs incorporate the Celtic cross with two or more other Celtic patterns.

5. Claddagh

The Claddagh design symbolizes love, friendship and loyalty. It features two hands holding a heart with a crown above it. It is traditionally used by the people of Claddagh, a small fishing village near Galway City in Ireland, as the design on their engagement or wedding rings. However, it is now used for Celtic pendants as well. Just like the other designs, jewelers have incorporated precious or semi-precious stones, different precious metals and other Celtic designs with the Claddagh design. Some jewelers also make Claddagh silver lockets.

6. Celtic heart, plants, animals and many more

There are many different Sterling silver Celtic pendants whose designs are not exactly traditional yet still considered Celtic in origin. This is so because it incorporates the Celtic patterns together with other elements. For example, animal patterns and Claddagh designs are fused together to come up with beautifully crafted silver pendants. Shamrocks (or four leaf clovers) and hearts are equally popular especially when combined with traditional Celtic knots. There are silver pendants with ancient warrior shield designs as well as lockets with Celtic patterns.

A Celtic pendant made of Sterling silver is a beautiful gift that anyone will cherish. With its delicate features and intricate design, the pendant will definitely be a great addition to your own collection or that of your loved one. The choices of Celtic designs are endless and surely, there's one that will catch your eye!

About the Author:
Tim Lazaro is a Celtic Symbols enthusiast. For more great tips and expert advice on a Silver Celtic Pendant visit http://www.allaboutcelticsymbols.com.

A popular art form prevalent in the southwest is the Mexican silver jewelry, with it being the Taxco region of Mexico that is known to produce some of the finest jewelry. Each piece that originates from Mexico, which is also considered as the silver jewelry capital of the world, is unique and can be construed as an extension of the artists' ingenuity and sense of art. Artists here give shape to their ideas using 925 sterling silver creating classic pieces of jewelry, something that they have been doing for over a century now.

Their skill is transferred to the next in line, which ensures the expertise is always there in the reckoning. Artisans in Taxco are known the world over for their mastery in creating some truly magnificent Mexican jewelry while retailers and wholesalers there are all too glad to let you know where the jewelry originated from and the type of sterling silver that went into the making of the jewelry. The thing that you should be aware of though is that, all jewelry should be made from 925 sterling silver, which is also what you should be buying.

There are several sites dotting the online landscape that has on offer an excellent collection of sterling silver jewelry that vary widely in their style and setting. You'll have almost anything that you wish to, ranging from speciality items to select original pieces, with jewelry like the earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, belts and buckles, bolo ties, rings, and hat bands that are favored the most. In fact, you have almost limitless options to make your choice from. Many of the online retailers have put up wholesale prices that the public can avail of, which is a good thing for buyers.

Another great advantage of online sites is that you can do your research as there are a number of sites that are selling similar items and prices can vary for each site. So not only you get to compare the prices but you can also make sure you're getting just what you wish to have. Some of the sites also offer free shipping along with other niceties like a purchase guarantee, return services in case you wish to exchange the item and cash back offer if you are not entirely satisfied with the entire deal. Such things might be especially true for the larger and more pricey pieces that have bigger stones embedded in them, like turquoise or other such semi-precious stones.

The use of a variety of semi-precious stone is prevalent among most of the artists in creating their unique designs, with turquoise being the most preferred one. It is turquoise's southwest flair and stunning natural variations that makes it the most sought after. Among the other stones that are also popular are the opal, onyx, amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, along with many others that are used in a range of settings. Jewelry from Mexico can also be an excellent gift idea for there are not many who would not like to be presented with a charming silver and opal bracelet along with matching earrings with every bit being hand crafted by the most proficient artisans. This is one choice that you can't go wrong with, if they have a particular liking for jewelry.

No matter what the occasion is, there's something that you can be sure will suit every taste. The thing that you need to be wary of though is that you will have to do a bit of shopping around to come across the best deals. There is no dearth of retailers and each of them portrays the works of a variety of artists. For instance, you may be fond of the things churned out by a particular artist and are always on the look out for things made exclusively by them. This is also where Internet shopping can be a boon as it allows you to be aware of every aspect of the deal before you actually commit your money. So, make wise choices and soak in the beauty of you Mexican silver jewelry.

To learn more about silver jewelry try visiting also sterling silver jewelry, where you will find this and a lot more tips and advice including everything you need to know about black diamond rings.

A simple way to determine if you jewelry is silver or sterling silver is to purchase a test kit. These kits are usually available from most jewelry supply companies. Some kits are designed for testing both silver and gold giving you even more of a reason to purchase them. Most kits contain solutions which have nitric acid in them so you need to be careful when handling the kit so that you do not accidentally get the solution on your hands. It is also very important to perform tests in a very well ventilated area (I suggest keeping your windows open). Usually there is a glass rod (which does not react to the acid) you can use for dropping the solution onto your jewelry.

If the kit does not come with directions, make sure that you ask for thorough directions! Test on a cleaned area of the jewelry. Some kits advise you to use a file to brighten the area. This will damage your jewelry and is not recommended!

After the solution has been applied to the jewelry it will change colors if there is any silver present. In kits that have a yellow colored solution (colors may vary between manufacturers of different kits), the solution will change from yellow to various shades of red when it comes into contact with silver. A deep burgundy color indicates "sterling silver" (92.5% silver). A cloudy pale reddish color means there is silver but less than sterling's 92.5% standard. If the solution does not change color it is a safe bet that your jewelry is not silver.

Always use the testing solution on an inconspicuous area of the jewelry because sometimes the solution may discolor the jewelry and leave a "testing mark". As soon as you see a color change wipe the solution off of the piece with a soft cloth to prevent a testing mark. Then, use a cloth to re-polish the tested area back to its original finish. The less time that you leave the solution on your jewelry, the less of a chance that a testing mark will appear.

Now get to testing your jewelry!

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