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Why fair trade jewellery is special

We only have to walk in to a high street chain store to find a large selection of economically priced jewellery. This jewellery is largely silver plated with silver or gold strung with plastic or glass beads. It is essentially mass produced to satisfy the demands of the west world for cheap, affordable costume jewellery in this modern day ‘throw away’ society.

Jewellery has not always been as accessible or affordable as it is today though. For example, way back in Victorian times, a whole range of solid silver and gold earrings, bracelets and necklaces were made with skills reflected by that era of fine craftsmanship in general. Watches, clocks, jewellery and even pottery were made with such accuracy, care and attention back in those days. Focussing on the jewellery though, the Victorians used a delightful array of semi precious stones and if you go to an antique shop today, you will most definitely see jewellery of that era elegantly designed and inlaid with gems such as lapis lazuli, moonstone, opal, malachite, blue chalcedony, zircon blue, turquoise, black jet, pink quartz and garnet amongst many others.

For those wanting quality handmade silver jewellery made in the same care and attention at affordable prices, I would recommend exploring the world of fair trade jewellery. Although fair trade jewellery is not as readily accessible in chain stores, there are many online fair trade outlets where you can browse at your leisure at the different colours and designs available.

To explore why fair trade jewellery is special, I would really like to draw specific attention to a range of fair trade silver jewellery designed and produced in India. It is made by a community practising Jainism, an ancient religion based on Buddhist ideals. As most people know, Buddhists live their life in serenity, peace and calm.

I find their solid silver jewellery quite fascinating since each piece has been imprinted with their traditional jewellery making skills as well as their cultural vision of what constitutes beautiful jewellery.

Their range of designs are subtle with soft curves and shapes such as teardrops, hearts, ovals, flowers and spheres. Some have delicate threads of silver shaped in swirls to give a really elegant finish.

Every item is made from .925 solid silver with each piece inlaid with gemstones reminiscent of days gone by. For example there are stud earrings made with tigers eye, blue chalcedony and lapis lazuli. Hook earrings with gemstone droplets of moonstone rainbow, zircon blue and malachite. Bracelets with oval stones or malachite or even labradorite as well as pendants with coral and turquoise or zircon blue.

Whether you prefer watery colours of zircon and moonstone or the more earthy tones of tigers eye or malachite, there really is something for everyone.

So the story of this particular range of fair trade jewellery is quite fascinating though all kinds of fair trade giftware is available nowadays, not just jewellery.

If we take time to delve a little deeper in to the world of fair trade, we will find that each piece has a historical context by way of the people of a specific community that made it, their cultural beliefs and backgrounds and to me that is exactly what makes fair trade jewellery so very special.

About the Author

Hand made fair trade gifts and fair trade jewellery by Belinda Bryant. Fair trade jewellery can be found at Indigo Ocean Trading.

Question for professional tattoo artists: can an arm bracelet be inked to look like real jewelry (golden)?

I just finished my back and would like an arm bracelet. I wanted a really delicate egyptian design with a tiger’s eye stone that looks like beaten gold or bronze. The artist that started my back said she could do it but passed away years ago and the artist that finished my back is awesome but told me the “golden look” would turn brown over time and no longer look like jewelry due to my skin tone when I tan even though I cover all my tats with 50 block sun screen.I don’t want black because it would look tribal. I know there is no gold ink but is there a technique that would hold the hue?

There are currently no metallic inks on the market.

A good tattooist (think portrait artist) can make a nice, realistic looking shine to a bracelet tattoo, however, you’re probably going to end up with a fairly large piece as most artists will not do a tattoo as thin as a bracelet would actually be (because it would only blow out and fuzz over time). With sun exposure (yes, sometimes even with sunblock) the yellow colors to make the tattoo “golden” looking will probably turn a brownish shade.

Do your homework on artists before agreeing to this tattoo, or perhaps rethink the design. You should look for intricate linework and smaller pieces with photos of HEALED tattooing, not just finished.

Using checkpoints to beat urban terrorism
A police officer of The Pakistan Airport Security Force (ASF) uses a loudspeaker at Islamabad International Airport. – AFP (File Photo) I was driving in Islamabad with my wife in the front seat for over a month passing dozens of checkposts, but never were we ordered to stop.

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