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Sensitive Ears? Here's A Fix!

Jewelry Sensitivity is no joke...and zero fun. Why does it occur?

After being in the Jewelry business for the past 15 years, I have come across more customers with Earring Allergies than I can count! I feel your pain... I also have a significant earring sensitivity.  
The bottom line is this:

 Metals often are mixed with a base metal. Even metals like 14 Karat Gold are only truly 58.5% gold... which means that there is a lot of "base metal" mixed in. With Nickel being a common base AND irritant for people, it is often the culprit. 

What about those 14k Gold Earrings that didn't bother you for 10 years... but suddenly you have developed an allergy to?  Well...metals do break down over time and use. So, after years of wear and tear from sweat, chlorine, etc, that 14k Gold is wearing down to the base metal...the culprit that causes the allergy.

 

So...What to Do?!
Well, aside from having to have your posts or ear wires switched out to (rarely available) Niobium, Titanium or Stainless Steel options...here is an option I found out about that has gotten rave reviews called Jewelry Shield.

Earring Allergy Solution on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

How it works: basically, the silicone coating goes on like nail polish. They say you just coat the metal, wait 6-12 hours for it to dry, then voila!.

Earring Allergy option with Jewelry Shield on the Laura James Jewelry blog 

It has over 614 amazon reviews...I am game for trying it out! You?

 

 Before you have to forego all of those fabulous earrings you wish you could wear...maybe Jewelry Shield is the answer we've all been looking for!

Amazon has it right here for those of you who can't wait to see if it works for you. :)

 

It's supposed to works on rings, bracelets and necklaces too. Let me know if you give it a shot...and whether it works for you or not -I know I am ordering a bottle today! Here's to easily wearing Earrings in 2022 :).

xox, Laura

 

*post contains amazon affiliate links

Found! Pretty Travel Jewelry Organizers, At Last

Jewelry Gift Alert! (also featured as Oprah's Favorite Things 2022!)

Ok, so, everytime I travel I think how badly I need a decent jewelry travel case. Not too big, not too small... looks cute, and nothing that rolls up, please! Those just never work for me. 

Well, I have found a great option... and it's in VELVET! Finally a jewelry case hits all of the marks and is available in lots of yummy colors. 

I am loving this Emerald Green:

Jewelry Travel Case | Jewelry Gift Accessories | Jewelry Organizer | Laura James Jewelry Blog

Yes, you can get it on Amazon :) right here.

 

Oprah gave it her stamp of approval (Oprah's Favorite Things 2022)  so I feel confident the quality is there- and I am loving the under $20 price tag! Nice velvet color options as well: 

                 Jewelry Organizer | Jewelry Travel Case | Laura James Jewelry Blog Velvet Travel Case for Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog

Here is the link on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AtBnE4

 

 

Another Find:

This is one luxe Jewelry Travel Organizer that I am in LOVE with- this studded mosaic zip case is at the top of my Wish List...

Marrakesh Zip Case Travel Jewelry Wallet | Laura James Jewelry Blog

Marrakesh Jewelry Organizer

Gold studs, cream leather, AND anti-tarnish lining! Swoon. Now I just need to find a place to go... (Wayfair $149)

Happy Gift Hunting this Holiday Season!
xx- Laura

 

*post may contain Amazon affiliate links

Birthstone Jewels (You'll Actually Love!)
Astrology is meaningful to a lot of people...but coming across an on-trend piece of Birthstone jewelry has been, in past, quite tough. Luckily, there are plenty of ideas out there now to choose from!
Birthstone Jewelry | Jewelry Blog | Cool Birthstone Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry
For those of you who reach for the cosmic...you can now make it a keepsake.
 
Here are 12 jewels by month that you will *actually* want to wear, I promise!
**
January: Garnet
Modern Garnet Bar Earrings | Laura James Jewelry
February: Amethyst
Amethyst Birthstone Jewelry | Astrology Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog
March: Tourmaline
Tourmaline Necklaces | Birthstone Jewelry | March Birthstone |Astrology Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry | Jewelry Blog
April: Diamond
Catbird Rosecut Diamond Stack Ring $438
Catbird Rose Cut Diamond Ring | Birthstone Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog
May: Emerald
Emerald Studs by Embers $68
Artisan Emerald Stud Earrings | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Birthstone Jewelry | Emerald Earrings
June: Pearl
Modern Pearl Earrings | Gold Pearl Dangles | Birthstone Jewelry Pearl | Pearl Girl | Laura James Jewelry
July: Ruby
Jaipur Ruby Bracelet $675
Ruby Birthstone Jewelry | Ruby Bracelet | Laura James Jewelry Blog
August: Peridot
Vermeil Peridot Ring by ToOriginal $38
Birthstone Peridot Ring | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Peridot Birthstone
September: Sapphire
Sapphire Charm Ring by Sachi $273
Sapphire Birthstone Ring | Sapphire Stack Ring | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Birthstone Jewelry
October: Opal
Opal Stud Earrings by A Sweet Pear $330
Opal Stud Earrings | Birthstone Opal Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog
November: Citrine
Pearl Citrine Drop Earrings | Citrine Birthstone Jewelry | November Birthstone Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry
December: Turquoise
Turquoise Vermeil Diamond Studs by LA Kaiser $85
Turquoise Stud Earrings | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Turquoise Birthstone | December Birthstone
These aren't your average Birthstone Jewelry options, right?! So many pretties to choose from. Enjoy...and love that you can wear your birthstone with excitement :).
xox-Laura
photos by artists listed
Totally Terrazzo

Terrazzo Floor Fabulous

Terrazzo is having a moment and I am beyond thrilled. To me the Midcentury mosaic wonder is basically jewelry for the home! 

I first fell in love with the material as a young child in my Grandfather's home. It was a sprawling modern Asian style with Terrazzo floors. The metallics drew me in and I was surprised that there was a material that could make something as mundane as a floor sparkle.

What actually is Terrazzo? It's pieces of marble and granite suspended in concrete. Doesn't sound so sparkly, but the finished product can add as much color as a painting. It's a perfect way to artfully brighten up a room or give hint of shimmer to a high-traffic area, like a floor.

Here are a few examples...I even found a pair of Terrazzo Earrings!

Enjoy!
xx-Laura


Anthropologie Terrazzo Coffee Table on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

Terrazzo Bowls by Sevak Gargarian

Terrazzo Earrings Etsy

Photos: Anthropologie table; Sevak Zargarian bowls; Etsy 

 

A Jewelry Collector's Story

Gemstone Collection

As far back as I can remember, I collected jewelry.

It all began with my Father, giving jewelry to my Mother and me to mark occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. He always picked out interesting pieces  on his own- one of my favorites being a band of square channel set rubies for a birthday. I was used to seeing bands with round diamonds, so I especially loved that this was different. I think that began my quest for collecting jewelry.

I was lucky that we travelled as a family when Summertime came, and I began to seek out unique jewelry every new place we went. The thrill of the hunt for designs that I'd never seen before was always at the forefront of my brain, no matter where we went. I loved when I could take home something that was different and marked the occasion or place that we'd been. Everytime I wore it, I was instantly transported back to the place where I had found it, and got to relive the experience of where we had been. 

Years later, and I still love to collect jewelry. It's absolutely the very first thing that I think about when a Birthday arises... but these days I seem to settle for more practical necessities. Not to mention, my life is becoming more streamlined and clutter-free...so if I am going to buy something, it's got to be pretty special. And who has time anymore for that kind of search?! Maybe one day soon I'll devote an ENTIRE AFTERNOON to searching solely for a new sparkler to add to my collection. That would be amazing. I mean, the odds that I would be able to just focus on that are... slim to none. Just too many other online distractions to click on to lead me astray -like my four year old needs new cowgirl boots...but maybe one day it'll happen. I sure do love the hunt!
xox-Laura

 

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