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Leather Facts And Care Tips

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:59:21 +0000

Author: Leslie and Lolita Wilmotbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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Leather has been around for a very long time, about 5,000 years. It is resilient, versatile and if cared for property can last for a lifetime. If you are looking for a particular feel or appearance, the type you choose will be very important.

Leather is an agricultural bi-product of the food industry. Leather quality can be pre-determined by genetics and by the food supply. The wonderful thing about leather is that each piece is unique, no two pieces are identical (because it is a natural product) and, of course, it can not be duplicated.

Leather can usually fall into one of three categories:

1. Aniline – (Also called Natural, Pure, Naked or Unprotected) these leathers are colored with transparent dye stuff, enabling you to see the actual surface grain and markings. This category of leather has little or no protective treatments applied to them. Commonly a spray with a wax finish is sprayed on giving them a short term water repellance. For care and maintenance purposes you need to know if the surface has been brushed (feels like velvet) or not. This is where it become difficult to distinguish between Nubuck and Aniline leather. Some ways that you can identify Aniline are:
a. Lightly scratch the surface to see if it leaves a lighter color scratch mark. If it scratches to a lighter color, it is Aniline. Nubuck will also do the same.
b. Wet your finger and lightly rub it into the leather to see if it darkens. With Aniline it should darken lightly but dry invisibly.

2. Semi-Aniline – (Also called Finished, Semi-Aniline, Everyday, Pigmented or Painted) these leathers have combined the best aspects of a natural product and have utilized tannery technology to create a product more uniform in appearance and color. Protected leathers are the most common leathers and purchased by consumers more than the other categories, because of their resilience. With this category of leather a finish is applied to the surface that makes the leather more resilient to the rigors of heavy use, although the pigments and finish that is applied to protect the leather also will affect the softness. The more finish that is needed to be applied, the less soft the leather will be. Some ways that you can identify Semi-Aniline leather are:
a. Lightly scratch the surface to see if it leaves a lighter color scratch mark. If it does not leave a lighter scratch mark (the color remains the same) then this has a protective finish on the leather.
b. Use soft cleaner and clean the leather. The cleaner should stay on top of the finish and should not darken the leather.
c. With protected leather the surface should have some sort of sheen to it.

3. Nubuck – (Also called Distressed, Bomber or Suede) these leathers are actually Aniline leathers. The surface on this type of leather has been brushed leaving the texture similar to a velvet on leather. This type of leather is often confused with Suede. Suede is the flesh side of a piece of leather and Nubuck is derived from an effect that is done to the grain side, which makes this leather incredibly soft. The brushing also makes the leather even more absorbent than the Aniline leathers. Nubuck and Aniline are very difficult to distinguish from each other. The most difficult to identify are the ones which are in the distressed leathers category or the leathers that have a waxed finish applied. Nubuck leathers can have an endless variety of embossed patterns and color applied to them and can also reflect the natural leather grain, thus making Nubuck very popular in the fashion world. Some ways that you can identify Nubuck are:
a. The surface texture should feel very similar to velvet. When you run your hand across the surface it should leave shading traces just like when a carpet is vacuumed in one direction and then in another. If the leather surface leaves this shading it is Nubuck.
b. With a wet finger rub it lightly on the surface, if the surface darkens and dries to a darker shade, it is Nubuck.
c. If the leather has a waxed surface on it, you can rub an area of the leather with a sponge several times, removing the wax and see if it meets the criteria of a or b above.

The care of your leather product is very important in keeping it in a new condition. The most important thing to do is to follow the manufacturers care instructions. Some other things that you can do are:

1. If your leathers becomes wet, let it dry at room temperature.
2. Gently blot liquid stains with a clean cloth.
3. It is a good idea to use a repellent product to condition your leather item.
4. Store your leather jacket or coat on a wide wooden, plastic or padded hanger to help maintain the shape.
5. Do not store your leather in a hot (such as an attic) or damp (such as a cellar) area.
6. If you will be covering your leather when you are storing it; cover it with a breathable cloth (like cotton sheets), do not cover with plastic. The plastic will cause excessive drying.
7. Avoid exposing your leather to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time./pbr
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Jewellery: Popular Gemstones – Garnet to Turquoise

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:36 +0000

Author: Michael Russellbr
Source: articleage.combr
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GARNET – Garnets are found in various shades and colours from brown to purple shades. But its dark red variety is valued as a precious stone although the mineral is quite common. Garnet crystals are 12 faced. The stones have been prized in jewellery for over 5000 years. When many garnet crystals are gathered in a rock cavity they are likened to a ripe pomegranate. Cut as brilliants, garnets are used as ring stones with large ones as pendants, often with cabochon cut and carved. Garnets and star garnets from are found in Australia.
JADE – This is the name given to both nephrite and jadeite which are tougher than steel although not particularly hard. China, New Zealand and Alaska supply good Jade. Burma also. Brazil it occurs naturally Used since Neolithic times for weapons and tools and later for delicate carvings. Aztecs used jade. In ancient Egypt the stone was called Nemehen. Pure Jade is white with impurities causing different colours and most pieces are mottled. It is generally translucent or opaque green in colour and is lustrous rather than brilliant. The most prised of all jades is imperial jade the transparent emerald green coloured by chromium. It has been always revered in China as a sacred stone. Its quality as a gemstone is judged by the intensity of the green colour and its coolness to the touch. Jadeite is the rarer of the jades and Myanmar remains the only commercial source. Much of the Central American jadeite originates in Guatemala. Soapy jade is the term for the inferior grades used commonly for carving decorations, lamp stands etc.
LAPIS LAZULI – This stone consists of blue silicate lazurite with variable amounts of calcite and the brassy gold flecks of pyrite which is more abundant in the poorer quality material. Afghanistan has the best quality that consists mostly of lazurite and is deep blue. In ancient times it was also known as sapphirus. The Egyptians used to ground it into pigment to use in paintings and murals and in eye shadow and used in manufacture of amulets and symbols, particularly in the representations of the goddess Isis and in the Sacred Eye of Horus. Later it was ground for use as pigment in religious paintings for the glorious blue of the Madonnas robes. In China, royal seals and carvings were made of it. It is considered as a sacred stone in Buddhism. Lapis lazuli is one of the most ancient in items of jewellery – having been known and used for over 6000 years. It was mined in Afghanistan and Siberia near Lake Baikal, but nowadays produced profusely in Chile.
MOONSTONE – Moonstone is a Feldspar, comprised of calcium sodium or potassium aluminium silicates. Sri Lanka is the most important source of Moonstone. India produces strongly coloured stones as beige, pink, green, yellow, grey, white and brown. It is considered to be a sacred stone in India and by tradition, it is always cut en cabochon. It is an important stone in Ayurvedic medicine. Beautiful sheens come as with other stones, with subjected light and its particular sheen is called adularescence and most prized when the sheen is bluish in colour. Throughout the world it is associated with the Moon and very popular semi precious stone is used in jewellery everywhere. Their fascination lies in their gentle glowing and elusive sheen and above all the softness of their quality, compared with the strength and brilliance of faceted jewels.
OPAL – Opal is one of the few gem minerals which is non crystalline. Opals are referred to in history and in legend. Pliny is said to have liked it and Orpheus is said to have declared that the opal fills the heart of the gods with joy. Shakespeare refers to … this miracle and Queen of gems. Opal consists of pure silica (silicon combined with oxygen) with traces of numerous compounds which explains the many differing types. Opals were rare in antiquity. It is thought to have become commonly known only after the time of Alexander the Great. The only known mines in the earliest times were the Carpathian Mountains. The stone is extremely porous with the weight varying in proportion to the amount of contained water. The colours are determined by structure and the light which causes ever changing effect. Finest opal and opalized wood and fossils are found also in Australia at Coober Pedy and Andamooka. France also supplies some and also Idaho… Opals are usually cut as en cabochon. Their varieties include – Hungarian opals are very fine and were once popular in Europe.
Mexican Opals fine transparent variety of opal – Black opals are extremely vivid flashes of colour including red, with dark background and of highest value Milky opal or white opals are opaque with smaller and less spectacular softer markings and colours. Fire opals or Harlequin Opal is the finest quality and variety of gemstone Water Opal is clear and colourless with internal play of colour. Rose Opal or potch opal has a beautiful pink colour but opaque. Hydrophane Opal is opaque but appears colourless in water.
PEARL – Along with Coral, this extremely popular gemstone used in jewellery, is found in the seas not the land and is therefore not of the same composition nor characteristics of the earth born gemstones. Care must be taken to preserve the quality of pearls. Pearls are made of calcium carbonate formed within an oyster. The basic irritant is usually a grain of sand which stimulates the oyster to cover it with its own body secretion – eventually forming the well known round and perfect pearl. The lustre of the pearl comes from minute crackles on its surface – finer than those on opals. Their lustre increases in the body warmth of human beings and therefore the practice of allowing the shop attendants to wear the strings of pearl has a practical basis. Different pearl qualities depend upon colour and size and range from the tiniest seed pearls to the rare gems of considerable size Harvesting pearls from the wild is singularly unrewarding and cultured pearls have been able to meet the demand for these beautiful natural ornaments. Cultured pearls have been produced in China for several centuries as now in Japan, Australia and the Pacific.
RUBY – Next to diamond, rubies (and sapphires) are the most valued of the gems. Ruby is a variety of corundum, When the corundum includes chromium, it becomes ruby, when it contains titanium and iron instead and therefore is blue – the sapphire. The worlds finest come from Myanmar, Pakistan and Afghanistan, also Burma, Thailand, India and Ceylon .Burmese ones are exceptionally beautiful – found near Mogo N.E. of Mandalay. Pigeon Blood rubies are the highest in the scale of value. Thai Rubies are often found with spinel and are darker red than the Burmese Rubies. A fine ruby is a magnificent gemstone. Ruby has been synthetically produced successfully since 1904. But the genuine rubies are valued because of their rarity and therefore have not dropped in commercial value, in fact have risen. Rubies are also used in Space research in connection with communication systems to cut out surface sounds of the earth and pick up beams from space.
SAPPHIRE – Pink Sapphires, Blue sapphires and Yellow Sapphires are found in Thailand and East Africa. They are next to diamond in hardness and therefore resistant to wear. Australia is the largest producer of blue and golden sapphires. Non-blue sapphires are White Sapphires or Golden Sapphires. The largest sapphire known was 950 carats from Burma. The largest in Australia was 886 carats from Queensland in 1934. There are star sapphires and star rubies found which contain fine fibre crystals giving star effect when cut in en cabochon.
TOPAZ – Topaz is an aluminium silicate containing about 20% water and fluorine and comes in several colours. Yellow quartz is sold today under the name of topaz and it is one of the most popular colours, although there are others which are greenish and of reddish tint.. Golden Topaz from Brazil is a golden brown to pink colour. The main suppliers are Brazil, Germany and Russia. Japan also produces topaz. Topaz is harder than Rock crystal and is known for its huge crystals – a colourless one from Brazil was found weighing as much as 600 pounds, well formed and clear throughout. The largest known topaz was cut in 1977 and weighed 21,327 carats. Another is known at 36,853 carats. Found in Australia topaz is usually light yellow, green and blue also. Hardness 8 and Orthorhombic crystals brilliant and beautiful stone found in quartz rose rocks. Associated with tin ores . Tinted by heating. Sky blue topaz found in the Scottish Highlands, Brazil and Siberia.
TURQUOISE – This stone is composed of aluminium copper sulphate hydrated phosphate of aluminium and copper) and is only medium hard. Egyptians are the first people known to mine it in Sinai over 6000 years ago. The finest is said to be found in Naishapur, Iran, where it has been mined for about 3000 years. It is found also in Sinar, Turkestan and Tibet. The colours range from pale blue to deep green/blue. Water content affects the colour of the stone. It responds to human touch and warmth and in the Middle East is used as a reflector of babies health in the crib etc. It is relatively soft and has a waxy lustre. It is porous and its colour may deteriorate if skin oils and cosmetics are absorbed during wear. Its famous for its change of colour when difficult influences are near and for this reason was attached to cradle of babies to reflect the childs vitality and to alert them to any change in tone and colour. Some believe it becomes moist and changes colour when warning against Poison. The gem is regarded as a pledge of true affection and drawing evil influences. The green variety is found in New Mexico and in Australia.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Jewellerybr
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Are You Buying the Right Antiaging Products?

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:01:59 +0000

Author: Carol Belanger
Source: articlesbase.com

There are so many anti-aging products on the market today that can be very overwhelming trying to determine the right product for your needs.