1. There’s no dress code on the Internet. Imagine getting all of your shopping done without ever having to change out of your pajamas. Online stores are open 24/7, so you can shop when it works best for you. And since there’s no chance of running into anyone you know, you can browse, buy, give yourself a facial mask and eat your breakfast all at the same time. Sounds a lot more relaxing than the alternative, doesn’t it?

2. No deal-hungry crowds of super-savers. The mall can be a downright scary place this time of year. Not only are verbal and even physical fights a common occurrence, but parking is always a nightmare. There’s nothing worse than finally finding a parking spot and battling your way through an angry mob only to realize that your item is out of stock. If this scenario rings a bell, skip the time and trouble by buying online jewelry instead.

3. Save your money and your sanity. When you purchase your earrings, rings or necklaces online, you save yourself the hassle of dealing with the middleman. How many times have you gone to a jeweler knowing exactly what you wanted only to have a salesperson try to sell you the most expensive jewels in the store?  Avoid the up-sell and save even more with online coupon codes at checkout.

4. Have more time for holiday fun. The holidays should be about spending time with your friends and family, not bargain hunting and spending all day in a shopping center. When you buy online jewelry, you’ll have more time for your favorite holiday activities. You can even follow our holiday style guide and add a little something to your cart for yourself.

5. We deliver.  While the pizza guy alone has the power to make you literally salivate at the sound of a doorbell, the online jewelry delivery guy is no slouch either. We’ll even give you free shipping on orders over $75. Pavlov never saw this coming.

You can see why checking off your holiday jewelry gift list is so much easier online. You’ll get to relax while you browse, avoid angry mobs, save more money and have more time for holiday fun. With all these advantages, you can see why more and more shoppers choose to buy online jewelry. Everyone deserves a stress-free holiday, right? Happy Holidays from Ispirada. Enjoy those silent nights!

1. Heidi Klum. Heidi Klum’s John Galliano gown in dramatic red silk taffeta commanded enough attention all by itself. Then she accessorized and in one swoop, she managed to turn a breath-taking dress into a “worst dressed” candidate. If her earrings, wrist cuff and multiple bauble rings seem a bit “matchy matchy” to you, there’s a reason – they’re all from the same collection. Which collection, you ask? The Heidi Klum Collection for Mouawad. A word of advice: do not become a walking jewelry case by wearing an entire collection at once, especially your own. Had we been styling Heidi, we’d have recommended only one statement piece (preferably one that doesn’t look as though it was created during craft time by a pre-teen with a shoebox full of rhinestones). We think this satin ball sterling silver necklace would have been a much more elegant selection.

2. Ke$ha. We’re guessing it’s no coincidence that Ke$ha’s accessories match the backdrop at this red carpet photo op. The party was hosted by Casio in order to promote its line of Baby-G watches, most of which Ke$ha is wearing here along with her outfit. Now, designers will often sponsor celebrities and lend them accessories for advertising purposes, but when they make it this painfully obvious it’s just tacky. Plus, Ke$ha seems to be so weighed down by her jewels that she needs to hold her arm in the upright position just to restore circulation. We’re thinking this bangle bracelet would have been a much better choice.

3. Cher. One way to tell if you’re making a regrettable jewelry choice is to ask yourself this question: “Does my necklace somehow morph into a bra?” With Cher’s outfit, we’re not even sure where the jewelry ends and the outfit begins. When you’re wearing a giant feathered headdress, you might want to consider going a bit lighter on the rest of your look. “It was all about fun,” the 1986 Oscar presenter later said of the Bob Mackie creation. We have to admit, it did make us giggle.

4. Lady Gaga. Even if you were to replace Lady Gaga’s meat ensemble with a simple black dress, her jewelry would still be bad enough to make this list. As if Franc Fernandez’s design wasn’t shocking enough, Gaga decided to blind us with enough bling to outfit several high-end chandeliers. We’ll say it again: One statement piece at a time please!

5. Jodie Marsh. This outfit was so revealing that we opted not to even show you (although if you’re curious you can search “Jodie Marsh FHM”). Known for her risque clothing choices, British glamour model Jodie Marsh walked the carpet at the FHM awards wearing only belts and jewelry. How can you tell if your accessories complement your outfit or if your accessories are your outfit? Even if you were to slip a black dress under everything, Jodie’s blinged-out cuffs would still be enough to reflect every flashbulb in a ten-mile radius. Sometimes you just need to scrap everything and start from square one. This is one of those times.

 Even if you won’t be strolling down the red carpet in the near future, we hope you’ve learned a lot from these jewelry disasters. If you’d like to avoid making the same mistakes as these celebrities, choose Ispirada pieces for your next important event. With our classic jewelry, you’ll leave everyone with a memorable impression, not a picture they wish they could forget.

As always, selecting your jewelry is just as important as choosing the rest of your outfit. Follow our guide to learn how you can celebrate the season of sparkle by choosing the right jewelry for any occasion.

The After-Hours Office Party. If your office get-together is scheduled right after work, wear something during the 9-5 that can be transformed after you clock out. Choose dangling silver earrings to add some class to your everyday look. Statement pieces like this polished cobblestone sterling silver link bracelet are a wonderful choice as well. By choosing statement jewelry in silver, you’re sure to get noticed without coming across as ostentatious or over-dressed.

For an after-after-hours party, keep in mind that a full change of outfit is probably in order. If your invitation mentions “formal,” “festive” or “cocktail,” then it’s time to take your daily dress code up a notch. For a refined and professional look, pair silver and pearls with silk and velvet fabrics. Choose one statement piece. Your others will be playing supporting roles.

Dinner with the In-Laws. Dinner with the family of your significant other can be stressful enough without worrying about what to wear. Take a cue from the women in the family by recalling similar events and remembering what jewelry they wore. If the hostess normally serves a four-course dinner in her finest jewels, you should aim for a more formal look than if she’s more of the snowman-sweater type. A great idea is to choose unique pieces that will start conversations, like this sterling silver spiral flower ring.

Hosting a Dinner Party. Taking time on your appearance is a way of showing your guests that you respect them and value their opinions, but “too much look,” as Tim Gunn once said, can come across as condescending or insincere. Your aim should be to entertain your guests and to enjoy their company, not to impress them. Choose necklaces that use semi-precious gems and stones. They’ll delight your guests without making them feel under-dressed. This multi stone necklace will do the trick nicely.

Regardless of what the holidays hold for you, remember that the most important thing is to enjoy the time you get to spend with your loved ones. Take some of the stress out of your engagements. Pick out your holiday jewelry early so that you can sit back, relax and enjoy the season in style.

So you bought your sweetheart a beautiful piece of jewelry, and you want to give it to her in a special way, something she’ll remember forever. Of course, she’ll love her new necklace or earrings, no matter how you present them. But giving her the jewelry in a creative way shows her how much you truly care. She’ll tell the story to all her friends. Very likely, they’ll sigh, wishing

• Simple but sweet. Let’s start with an easy one. Buy your lady a new necklace and invite her out to dinner that evening. When she’s trying to decide what jewelry to wear with her dress, stand behind her and say, “I’ve never seen you wear this one before.” Slip it around her neck. It’s guaranteed to make her swoon.
• Perfect for an anniversary. Even when you and your wife are both busy with work, here’s a great way to show her you haven’t lost your passion: buy her a new ring for your anniversary and attach it to her keychain along with a note. Go for something traditional and earnest, like “you’re the key to my heart.” Hey, if it’s a little cheesy, all the better – you’ll make her smile. And isn’t that the point?
• Creative holiday gift-giving. Everyone knows that a white gold necklace or sparkling diamond earrings are perfect gifts for that special someone. Heighten her surprise and excitement by hiding this spectacular present within a decoy present. For example, buy a pair of plain white cotton socks, then put the necklace into a nice gift box and hide it underneath. Try to keep a straight face during the awkward moments after she discovers her new socks. Eagerly urge her to try them on. Don’t worry: her initial disappointment will only accentuate the bliss she feels when she finally sees her real present.
• On the other hand . . . If socks will traumatize your sweetheart (and if you celebrate Christmas), try this instead: secretly hang her new necklace on the tree so that it blends in with the ornaments. After all the other presents have been opened, tell her that Santa left one more hidden somewhere in the room. Give her clues as she gets warmer or colder. This adds a fun twist to an already great gift.

Hopefully you won’t forget to give your special someone a gift on her birthday or your anniversary. But while the gift of jewelry is a special one in itself, with a little creativity and a bit of drama, you can make it mean so much more.

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond. This stone, originally 186 carats before being re-cut, was presented to Queen Victoria in 1851 to commemorate the British conquest of India. Even before the subjugation of the subcontinent, the stone had a bloody history – for hundreds of years, death and dishonor plagued the Mughal emperors who owned it. Even today, British royals are familiar with the stone’s reputation, and they’re wary of it. Female consorts of British monarchs once wore it in their crowns, supposedly in deference to an ancient Hindu text that warns: “Only God or a woman can wear it with impunity.” Today, the diamond can be found in the Tower of London, and you probably don’t want to touch it.

The Delhi Purple Sapphire. The Delhi Purple Sapphire was supposedly looted from a temple in India during the British suppression of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Since then, tragedy in the form of bankruptcy, illness and death has befallen its owners. One possessor of the stone even committed suicide. The last private owner, Edward Heron-Allen, donated the piece to the Natural History Museum in London. He was so afraid of its power that he accompanied the gift with protection charms and multiple boxes to counteract its “baleful influence.”

The Hope Diamond. At over 45 carats, the largest blue diamond in the world practically wrote the book on cursed jewelry. Perhaps that’s because of the severity of the jewel’s hex: legend says that the stone kills its previous owners, which have included several French kings as well as renowned jeweler Pierre Cartier. The stone is now in the possession of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C.

While these three possibly haunted pieces are now locked away behind museum doors or protected as royal jewels, they teach us commoners a valuable lesson: When buying jewelry, do your homework.

• Go on a Recon Mission. The easiest way to figure out which type of jewelry best suits your lady is to study the jewelry she already owns. Just wait until she’s out of the house one day and take a peek inside her jewelry box. When you go shopping, try to pick out something similar. If she’s into heirloom pieces, then a vintage sterling silver ring is probably your best bet. If she’s a stylish woman who’s crazy about couture, then go with something a little more modern.

• Say What You Mean. Your girlfriend will be able to gauge how seriously you view your relationship by the type of jewelry you give to her. Earrings are a great casual gift, but they’re not the best gifts for the holidays or her birthday. A ring, on the other hand, suggests a commitment that you might not be ready to make. When in doubt, always go with a necklace.

• Call In Reinforcements. If you really don’t know what jewelry your girlfriend would like, ask her friends to help you choose. After all, nobody knows your girlfriend’s style better than they do. Just remember that girls are social creatures, and you’ll risk ruining the surprise by letting someone else in on it. As such, reinforcements should only be called in when all else has failed.

Picking out the perfect piece of jewelry for your girlfriend is a lot like participating in a conversation with her. If you’re a good listener and you take the time to think about what you’re going to say before you say it, the conversation will go well. The same holds true here. Are you “listening” to her style? If so, deciding what necklace or ring to get her will be easy, not to mention fulfilling.

Guys, we’re here to help. You can find some great sterling silver jewelry at affordable prices in our silver collection. If your girlfriend is into a more natural look, then check out our multi-stone collection. No matter what type of jewelry your girlfriend likes, you’re sure to find it at Ispirada.

Color. The easiest way to tell the quality of a gem is by studying its color. The more brilliantly colored a gem is, the higher its value. Just make sure that when you’re comparing colors you judge a gem only against another of its kind. After all, you can’t call aquamarine “low grade” just because it isn’t as blue as a sapphire.

Clarity. The next big thing to look for is clarity. When gems are being formed, imperfections in their structure will often lead to bubbles or warps. Known as  “inclusions,” they are visible under the surface even after a gem has been cut. While flawless gems will always be the most desirable, inclusions are so common in stones like sapphires and emeralds that they don’t really alter the value.

The Name Game. When buying a gemstone you should always pay careful attention to its name and description. Man-made jewels have been on the market for years, but because of their inferior quality compared to their naturally formed counterparts, jewelers have had to employ a few tricks to get them off the shelves. If a gem has the word “synthesized” in its description or if the name is something you aren’t familiar with – like moissanite or zirconium – then it was probably made in a lab.

Imperfect, artificial and imitation gemstones can still make beautiful jewelry, but you shouldn’t pay top-shelf prices for a gem that isn’t flawless or naturally formed. As long as you keep your eye sharp and carefully compare different gems before sinking any money into them, you can make sure that you’re getting the best deal. To see some quality semi-precious gems at affordable prices, check out our “Not Just Silver” collection and our multi-stone collections as well.

Around Your Neck. Less is more when it comes to interview jewelry, especially when it’s hanging from your neck. Stick to small, thin chains made from metals like sterling silver or white gold. If you have to wear a pendant, make sure it’s something small and unobtrusive, like a single-strung pearl or charm.

In Your Ears. It’s okay to get a little stylish with your earrings, so play around with different textures and shapes to find which pair works best with your outfit. Buttons and studs are your best friends when it comes to impressing employers, but small hoops and chandeliers can do the job in a pinch. Just remember that your earrings shouldn’t draw attention away from what you’re saying.

On Your Wrists. A well-made wristwatch has been and will continue to be the classic accessory for any interview outfit. If timepieces just aren’t your thing, you can switch out for a single bracelet or cuff made from a low-key material like glass or oxidized silver.

Around Your Fingers. Unless you’re married or engaged, there shouldn’t be any rings on your fingers when you sit down for your interview.

Subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to choosing your interview jewelry, so stick to thin chains, small earrings and narrow bracelets made from sterling silver or other metals. If you don’t have anything that looks good, don’t worry. You can find a wide variety of interview-appropriate jewelry in our silver collection. Check it out and see the difference Ispirada can make in your outfit.

Cleaning. Because silver’s chemical makeup makes it prone to tarnishing, you should clean your jewelry at least once a year. All you need to do this is a sink and some mild dish detergent. Simple, right? Just apply some soap and rub the jewelry gently under warm water to wash away any oils or other residue that might lead to tarnishing.

Polishing. If and when black spots appear on your silver necklaces or rings, don’t panic. What you’re seeing is an inevitable reaction to the humidity in the air, but the tarnish will clean away just as easily at it forms. Although there are dozens of brands of silver polish available on the market, they can be costly and may contain toxic chemicals that will hurt your jewelry in the long run. A safer and equally effective way to remove tarnish is to heat an aluminum-foil-lined pan on your stove and then add a few tablespoons of baking soda and water. After the baking soda has dissolved, just soak your jewelry in the solution for a minute or two and wipe the tarnish away.

Storing. The best way to prevent your silver jewelry from becoming tarnished is to store it properly. To do this, you should wrap each piece of silver in archival-quality tissue paper and then place them in a sealed polyethelene bag like the ones made by Ziploc. While this should be enough to keep them safe from the humidity of the air, you can go a step further and store all the bags in a chest or box lined with tarnish-resistant fabric to guarantee their safety.

Maintaining silver doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. As long as you follow these guidelines for proper care, you can guarantee that your silver jewelry will stay precious and beautiful for generations. If you don’t own any silver jewelry yet, then check out our silver collection online. We’ve got so many different styles of necklaces, rings and earrings that you’re sure to find something you’ll want to keep forever.