National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Originating over 25 years ago, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also referred to in America as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.


In 1991, the Susan G. Koman Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. However, it was not established as its symbol until 1993 when Evelyn Lauder, Senior Vice President of the Estee Lauder Companies founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Inspiration for the NBCAM foundation came from AstraZeneca Inc in 1989 when they began a breast cancer screening program withing their company.

Cancer in any form is a concern.
Our thoughts go out to those who rise to the battle every day,
and to family members and caretakers who stand beside them.

Cliptomania.com is offering beautiful pink crystal Ribbon non-pierced earrings as part of this awareness. Ten percent (10%) of the total sales matched twice - by Candy & Jim Santo and by their daughter, Christy Santo, Owners of Cliptomania - and given to Jill's House, a local, non-profit agency. Jill's House is dedicated to those undergoing cancer treatment, their family or caregiver(s) with low cost living accommodations while receiving treatment from a local facility. We believe there are many facets in the battle to fight cancer. We hope you will help us in this endeavor and show your support!


Thank you,
Owners & Staff

Left to Right: Melissa, Matt, Jim (owner), Mel, Candy (owner) and center, Christy (owner).

_________________________________________

Disclaimer: Cliptomania.com is not affiliated with any breast cancer foundation or organization. Cliptomania.com is not an agency, a subsidiary, or an arm of any national or international breast cancer organization. Cliptomania.com is a privately run, LLC company selling only clip-on earrings. This offer and associated product is the sole property and offer of Cliptomania.com. No member of Cliptomania.com is qualified to dispense medical advice. Cliptomania.com is not responsible for any claims made or claims implied.

Halloween & Fall Theme Earrings On Sale!

Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening) is also known as All Hallows Eve.  Observed in many countries on October 31, it is the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (All Saint's Day, November 1st.).

Typical activities include trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stores and watching horror films.

Ceramic Pumpkins

Said to be influenced by western European harvest festivals and (Celtic Samhain) festivals of the dead, some scholars state it's solely based in Christian roots. All Hallows, Hallowmas or Hallowtide (All Saint's Day) is November 1, while All Soul's Day is November 2, a time for honoring saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach heaven.  Introduced in the year 609, it was originally celebrated on May 13.  In the year 835, it was switched to November 1 (the same date as Samhain) at the request of Pope Gregory IV.  At the end of the 12th century, they had become holy days of obligation across Europe.  "Souling" (modern trick-or-treating it is said) was the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes with all christened souls. Groups of poor people, mostly children, would go door to door on All Saints/All Souls collecting soul cakes originally as a means of praying for souls in purgatory.

IT'S NOT SCARY......

Nothing to be frightened about here. You can enjoy Halloween in style with an array of non-pierced Halloween & Autumn theme earrings currently on sale. 

Kids clip on KC1.5

Cliptomania.com.
Your source for quality clip on earrings a an attractive price!
Come shop with us....no tricks...only treats!

Fall 2013

Everyone has a season they prefer over another. Mine is the warm days, cool nights, bonfires, festivals, holidays and harvests of Fall.

Product: HW4

Fall comes from the old French word "autompne" and was later standardized to the original Latin word "autumnus."  There are a few examples of its use as early as the 12th century, but it became more common by the 16th century.  Before then, "harvest" was the term used to refer to this season.  However, it lost its reference to the time of year and came to refer only to the actual activity of reaping, while "autumn" and "fall" became the reference to the season.

Product: RB302 (smaller RB303)

The word "fall" used to name the season can be traced to old Germanic languages with the exact origin unclear. The term came to designate the season in 16th century England. Yet during the 17th century when English emigration to the British colonies in North America was at its peak, the new settler took the English language with them. The term then becoming obsolete in Britain, and became a more common term in North America.

Association with the transition from warm to cold weather, and its related status as the season of the primary harvest, has dominated its theme with popular images. Holidays during the fall include Halloween in October, and Thanksgiving in November.  Cornucopias, pumpkins, colorful leaves, scarecrows, turkeys, ghosts and many other images have come to be associated with Fall and the holidays.

Product: HW10

Product: RB274

Cliptomania.com has non-pierced Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving themed earrings that you will love to wear! Pair them with the Fall/Winter 2013-2014 colors found on our Style Guide webpage and you will be in the season, in style.

Can't find a particular designer, style or color?  Use our Advanced Search feature to located all earrings associated with your desired filter. With over 500 clip on earrings in stock, we know you will find something perfect for you. Orders before 3pm Eastern Daylight Time will be shipped same day. Three shipping options for your convenience and a simple return or exchange policy if you are not thoroughly satisfied.

Product: RB380

Gemstone Highlights: Unakite

What is it?


The owner of Cliptomania taught me how to remember the gemstone Unakite.  She calls it "Spinach on a Brick" which denotes its colors perfectly.  Named after where it was found, the Unaka mountains of North Carolina in the United States, Unakite is an altered granite with pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote and colorless quartz.  Also called "epidosis," meaning growing together, Unakite is known as "epodotized granite" The feldspar colors can range from pale peach to salmon to deep coral and the epidote colors can range from spring green to olive to almost emerald-green.  The mix creates a marble effect, primarily green with striations of other colors like white and pink.  Unakite is normally cut into beads or cabochon forms.  On the Mohs scale of hardness, Unakite ranges from 6 to 7 which makes it hard enough for jewelry like necklaces, pendants and earrings.  However, its important to note that using it in rings or bracelets is not recommended because it  scratches, cracks or breaks easily.

Ancient Uses.

Unakite is considered relatively new.  The only 'ancient' uses I found reference its use in carving of ornamental items and paperweights, while the other uses were in the metaphysical and mystic areas on health and well-being.

Where does it come from?

Unakite is generally found in masses in the form of pebbles or cobbles and does not crystallize.  The United States has notable mines in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Brazil and China.

How to care for your jewelry.

Unakite is not overly porous  and avoiding contact with harsh chemicals is important.  It should also not be placed in ultrasonic cleaning equipment as they have been known to damage the gemstone.

Use of a mild soap and water with a soft bristle brush (toothbrush) is an easy way to clean unakite.  Rinse piece and pat dry with soft, lint-free cloth.  You can also clean them with a damp cloth.  If you are unsure about cleaning any of your jewelry, always consult a professional jeweler for instructions.

Product: gem154

The Mystical and Folklore.

As I mentioned above, the gemstone Unakite gets made into ornaments and jewelry, and there is a lot written about the metaphysical properties of the gemstone.  Known as a protective stone with an ability to create an atmosphere of serenity and optimism, self-assertiveness, power, and the ability to assume control.  It is also believed to help one focus on the present and deal with blockages and negativity caused by the past.  It may enhance the working of the nervous and circulatory systems.  Women have used it to treat reproductive problems and stimulate a healthy pregnancy and easier childbirth.  Considered a stone that brings one love for humanity,promoting connection and oneness.  This reunion and unconditional love corresponds to helping the holder with abandonment and separation issues.  In cases where people suffer from weight loss, there is a belief in certain cultures that unakite  can help people weight gain and aid in growth of hair and skin tissue.  In astrology, unakite enhances balance for those who are a Taurus.

At Cliptomania we pride ourselves in offering quality earrings in a variety of styles, sizes and colors.  With an easy ordering process, three shipping options and fuss free exchange and return policies, we strive to make the shopping experience a success.  Not to mention, we have informational pages like the Style Guide, Birthstone, Anniversary and Earring Care that will keep you up-to-date with trends, gifts and caring for and adjusting clip on earrings.  Our Advanced Search option lets you find earrings throughout the website according to your keyword or filter.



Sources
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unakite
www.crystal-cure.com/unakite.html
www.shimmerlings.com/gemstones/unakite.htm

Birthstones: June & July (Updated Pictures)

June's Birthstone is Alexandrite.

Alexandrite is a main variety of Chrysoberyl and very scarce due to its chemical composition.  Known for its ability to change color, called the alexandrite effect, the phenomenon occurs with a change in the source of illumination. Exhibiting green or bluish-green in daylight, it will be a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry in incandescent light.

Did you know Alexandrite was named for Alexander II, the future tsar, because it was discovered on his 16th birthday?  Alexandrite displays the colors of old Imperial Russia and remains the country's national stone.

Opal

June's Alternate Birthstone is Opal.

Light enters an opal, curves around edges of wee particles of hydrated silicia, chips of silicon and oxygen suspended in water and is diffracted. The light that is made up of all visible colors of the spectrum, each in its own wavelength, produces a rainbow of colors.

Did you know Opal is the national gemstone of Australia? They produce 97% of the world's supply, which includes the production of the state of South Australia, which amounts to 80% of the world's supply.

Opaline is on the top right

June's Birth Crystal is Opaline.

Opaline is a word synonymous with Opal Matrix which is a thin layer of opal on a host rock; matrix. A matrix is a rock or mineral that has an embedded crystal or crystals emerging from it.

Did you know that opaline can also be a term for an opaque or semi-opaque whitish glass resembling a true opal?


July's Birthstone is Ruby

Pink to blood red in color, rubies are a variety of the mineral corundum. The color is caused by the presence of chromium.  Natural rubies have imperfections; inclusions (needles known as silk) and color impurities.

Did you know that the United States has a standard for minimum color saturation that must be met in order for the gemstone to be called a ruby? Otherwise the stone will be called a pink sapphire.


July's Alternate Birthstone is Carnelian.

Carnelian is a translucent chalcedony of orange or red or brown color. As a hard stone with bright

Carnelian

color, it is popular with jeweler's and is reasonably priced.

Did you know that individuals holding a high status were often buried with Carnelian?  Egyptians considered it "magical armor" for life after death.


July's Birth Crystal is Ruby.

Raw Ruby

Did you know that Catherine of Aragon wore a ruby that supposedly turned dark the day before Henry VII announced that he was divorcing her?


Cliptomania®, an Internet store, selling 100s of clip earring styles. including gemstone, designer, sterling, nickel-free, crystal, hoops, gold and many, many more! Want to search quickly? Use our Advance Search feature.


Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5120594_alexandrite.html#ixzz2Yl9V9GDJ
http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/opal/opal-info.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby
http://geology.com/rock-tumbler/gemstones/carnelian.shtml
http://www.shimmerlings.com/gemstones/carnelian.htm
All Photos Royalty Free from dreamstime.com

The 'New' Silver (a.k.a. Silver-filled)

The cost of precious metals, like gold and silver, used by jewelry artisans can be quite expensive, and subsequently that cost is passed on to the consumer.  In this era of rising metal costs, jeweler's have begun to seek alternatives, and one such alternative to sterling silver, is "silver-filled" - or as we call it, "new silver." 

Much like the gold-filled we purchase when solid gold seems too expensive, silver-filled is a cost effective alternative as well.

View the difference with the following  picture from the Fire Mountain Gem's website. The wire on the left is silver-filled while the wire on the right is silver-plated.  Notice that the silver-filled wire has a thicker layer of silver. Either a 5% or 10% layer of sterling silver is bonded to (filled with) a copper or brass alloy. It is not the same as silver-plated in which a very thin layer is laid on top of a copper or brass core.

Silver-plated metals are not as durable and in time, will wear off and expose the underlying metal. With silver-filled, the layer is sufficient enough to handle small damage without exposing the alloy, and will not wear off.

Sterling silver is defined as 92.5% pure silver. With silver-filled metals, the manufacturer will label it as 95/5, 90/10, .925/10, .925/5, 1/10th or 1/20th.  Notably, if one is allergic to silver-plated jewelry but can wear sterling silver, one should be able to wear the silver-filled without causing a reaction.

Due to the rising cost of sterling silver, Cliptomania's jewelry manufacturers have made this  'New Silver' a viable economic alternative to help us offer fine silver jewelry at a fraction of the cost. We've taken advantage of these opportunities to bring this saving to our customers. If you are a frequent sterling silver shopper on our website, you may have noticed that some earrings have been restocked these past months but in the new silver with a subsequent price decrease. We are happy to pass this savings on to you.

New-Silver Shiny Square Non-pierced Button Clip Earrings 

Cliptomania remains committed to bringing you fine non-pierced earrings that are not only beautiful, but affordable. With over 500+ clip on earrings in a variety of styles, colors and metals, we are confident you will find what you are looking for.

We look forward to your shopping with us!

www.cliptomania.com

Sources:
www.artfire.com
www.cointrackers.com

Gemstone Highlights: Alexandrite

What is it?
Alexandrite is a main variety of Chrysoberyl, and very scarce due to its chemical composition.  Known for its ability to change color, called the alexandrite effect, the phenomenon occurs with a change in the source of illumination. The stone exhibits green or bluish-green in daylight, yet will turn a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry in incandescent light. Chromium, as the major impurity, with iron and titanium are the elements that facilitate the change.

Discovered by a Finnish mineralogist, Nils Gustaf Nordenskiold (1792-1866), it was named "Alexandrite" in honor of the future Tsar of Russia, Alexander II.

Cool & Warm Colored Crystal Petite Non-pierced Earrings

Ancient Usages.
Found in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1830, the old Russian Imperial colors were green and red, so Alexandrite was initially only mined for royalty. It wasn't until other deposits were found in various locations that the gemstone gained worldwide recognition.

Where is it found?
Russia was named the prime source for these gemstones, yet in the 1990's other deposits were located in India, Madagascar Ceylon, Brazil, Burma, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, but said not to hold the color changing qualities of those found in the Ural Mountains.

Some gemstones are lab-grown (synthetic) and are not actually chrysoberyl, but corundum laced with trace elements or color-change spinel. These are referred to as 'simulated alexandrite' or 'Czochralski alexandrite' after the process that grows the crystals.

Aurora Collection Crescent Moon Non-pierced Button Earrings

Cleaning & Care.
On the Moh's Scale, alexandrite is a solid 8.5 and is noted for being tough, hard and durable. A simple cleaning includes warm water with a few drops of dish detergent, rinse and polish with soft cloth. Alexandrite jewelry  can be cleaned in an ultrosonic bath or steamed cleaned without problems.

Alexandrite jewelry should be stored separately because of it's capacity to damage and scratch other jewelry and stones, as well as be scratched itself.

The Mystic & Folklore
Alexandrite is the birthstone for the month of June and the 55th year marriage anniversary stone. It is also known as the stone of Friday, or the stone of "Friday's Child."

Because it's relatively a 'young' gemstone, there is not much information for this category. However, since it's discovery, the gemstone has been attributed to luck, good fortune and love, and in Russia, good omens. It is also said to increase creativity, imagination and intuition.

Cliptomania has been in business for over 15 years, and offers over 500 non-pierced earrings in a wide range of styles, colors and sizes.  Including designer, gemstone, gold, sterling silver, big & bold, specials, glitter...and more! On a daily basis, over half our customers are first time shoppers! Find clip on earrings you love by browsing the website.

Sources:
www.gemstone.org
www.khazargems.com
en.wikipedia.org
www.jewelsforme.com