360Jewels

How to take care of gold plated jewelry?

2011-03-07T06:39:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, gold plated jewelry have become part of vogue because it allows you to enjoy luxury of real gold in an affordable price. However, the plating surface has a certain lifespan and requires a proper care and maintenance to prolong its life.

very modern black gold plating.

black gold may be the most difficult plating surface to take care of

It's almost impossible for anybody to give an exact prediction of how many months or years or any time frame the plated surface will last. It depends on a few important factors as shown below.

I wear my gold plated bands and also earrings for a long time already. They still look beautiful with only small signs of a regular wear and tear. The plating surface of earrings will last significantly longer than the plating of the ring. Reason is simply because I wear them less often and the exposure to rough surface is almost zero. I expect the plating surface of...

>> earrings to last for 3-5 years (or even longer!).

>> rings to last for about a year before I need to replate it.

***This is only an estimated lifespan judged from my personal usage & caring of the jewelry.

Matte & Shiny yellow gold plated rings

3 factors contributed to durability of the gold plating surface:

1. Thickness of its layer. Our plated jewelry is usually plated with a very thick layer of gold (mostly 2 micron). We are confident that our plating will last significantly longer than the average mass market plating quality.

2. Exposure the jewelry is given. In my opinion, this is the most important factor.

Extreme examples would be when you work with a rough or abrasive surface. For example, when you work with a wrench or when you move a stone. These rough activities can cause really bad scratch lines which cut through the undermetal.

Lighter day to day activities can also gradually cause an unnoticeable wear & tear. For example,when you strike the ring on a keyboard, when you swipe the ring on a steering

wheel, or lift a luggage, or use a vacuum cleaner.

3. Direct or constant exposure to some chemical. For example solvent, hair spray, and including your own body sweat.

Black gold plating is generally more vulnerable to scratches / bumps than other gold plating options. Reason is simply because the inner metal (usually silver or gold) has a very high contrast color with black. For example, when the black gold plated ring gets scratched, you will see a (contrasting) white scratch line which is the color of the inner metal, silver.

With the same rationale, we can also draw a conclusion that Yellow gold plating over solid yellow gold and White gold plating over silver or solid white gold will yield significantly less obvious scratches. For example, when the white gold plating surface is deeply scratched, you will still see a white / silver base metal, silver.

3 Simple ways to take care of your gold plated jewelry

1. Avoid bumping / cracking / scratching the ring on a hard or rough or abrasive surface.

Take off the ring when you need to work with a hard surface or tools.

2. Avoid direct contact with chemical / grease / very high temperature

This includes large amount of sweat. Regular body grease is ok. Take off your ring when you go exercise etc.

3. Clean the gold plated ring with soft cotton cloth and warm water. Use a tiny drop of liquid soap if needed. Do not use jewelry cloth as it usually contains chemical that will scrub off the surface.

classy rose gold plated wedding band

rhodium plated wedding band

5 advantages of laser engraving

2011-03-07T00:26:00.001-08:00

360Jewels offers custom engraving for our jewelry i.e. rings, pendants, earrings etc. We use "LASER" engraving which offers many advantages over "hand-stamped" engraving:

1) The finish is very neat, consistent & professional looking. Each letters is aligned straight. The letter is deeply engraved and each line is very sharp & clear. Symbols & numbers can also be engraved i.e. heart shape, star, etc.

2) Accommodate upto 25 characters or more!

3) Fit even a small surface area i.e. 1.5mm ring, tiny pendant, stud earrings, etc

4) We can engrave both on the inner & outer of the ring.

5) Great price! (However, we only provide this service for our custom make jewelry).

Check for products & engraving prices at our store

**Available in standard looking 'letter' font and 'script' font. The actual font on your order may be different from the font shown in below pictures.

Laser engraving on the outside of the ring.

Laser engraving on the inside of the ring.

On any band color & surface!

Visit us at our store

Jewelry Cloth : Clean Tarnish Silver

2010-03-31T22:09:00.000-07:00

Jewelry polishing cloth is one of the supplies we use very often. We makes lots of silver jewelry both with and without plating. Overtime, the silver jewelry can become dull or tarnish. This is especially true for the unplated silver jewelry and the jewelry that you keep for a long time.

This cloth is available in our Etsy store click here.

Performance Test : Before VS After

We did a mini test with one of our unplated prototype 925 sterling silver ring. We kept this ring untouched for about half a year in a ziploc bag. There's a visible sign of tarnishing all over the piece.

We rub the ring against the cloth for about 3-5 minutes. Then we wash it with soapy water and the result is as shown in the picture. Since this ring is very grimy, the tarnish doesn't go away 100% after our first attempt but I think the overall look is much much nicer...almost like a new ring. The piece that is not as grimy should get a better result from this cleaning process.

However, please note that this ring surface is smooth so we can just rub it as hard as we want. If your piece is a non-smooth surface, you can't clean it as hard and the result might be different. **We don't retouch any pictures. What you see is what you get**

General Advice for Using Jewelry Cloth

Gently get rid of any dust on the surface before cleaning as dust can create scratch when you clean.
Gently clean your piece with the cloth. Follow the grain of your silver jewelry. This process can be long depend on how dirty your jewelry is.
Be extra gentle over the area with gemstones, enamel, etc as you don't want to get rid of those details.
Please aware that the matte jewelry can become more glossy as you clean it.
For the plated jewelry, cleaning with jewelry cloth can wear off the plating surface to be thinner. So just use the cloth as necessary to prolong the plating life.
Do not use rubber glove as rubber can cause tarnish. Use plastic glove is a good idea as it prevents your hand from contacting the chemical which might be irritable to you.
After you finish cleaning with the cloth, clean the piece thoroughly with soapy water to get rid of the tarnish & chemical residue.
Wash your hand with soap thoroughly. This is a very important step for your own hygiene & safety.
Keep out of reach of children. Store in a sealed container after usage. We hope this info will help buff up your grimy jewelry to become clean and pretty again :-)

This cloth is available in our Etsy store click here.

Or please simply email us at mailto360Jewels@gmail.com

**The above advice is just based on our personal experience and opinion. We are not responsible for any damages that might occur to your jewelry and any illness (e.g. irritation) that might occur from using this chemical cloth.**

Best Jewelry Storage: Air-tight Jewelry Box

2010-03-09T23:07:00.001-08:00

General storage tips that apply to most jewelry:

1) Always keep your jewelry in a cool dry place with low humidity. Also try to avoid temperatur

e fluctuation. This is especially true for jewelry that is mounted with gemstones which can be cra

cked withou a proper storage.

2) Always store your jewelry "separately". One of the most practical ideas (although not an ideal way) is to store your jewelry separately in a ziploc bag.

3) For silver jewelry, there are also simple tips to prevent tarnishig. Please read "5 Ways to Keep Your Silver Tarnish-Free" If your silver jewelry is already tarnished, you can clean it with a Silver Jewelry Cloth.

360Jewels offers an air-tight container which is made of high quality wood and lined ins

ide with a high quality thick off-white velvet. It gives a great protection to your jewelry as well as a luxury feeling. Most of our customers say "WOW" when they see it :-)

A beautiful air-tight wood box with a neat glossy finish. A piece of art by itself.

Great for a safe storage. Lined with off-white thick velvet. Works for both rings & earrings.

Flip this little flap and you can also store earrings...both studs & hoops style.

White paper box provided. Convenient for gift-wrapping.

This jewelry box is available in our Etsy store click here.

Or please simply email us at mailto360Jewels@gmail.com

Disclaimer: This article is only an opinion based on our best knowledge & experience only. We are not liable for any damages of your jewelry related to this advice.

Where to buy mens earrings?

2010-03-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

Not so many stores carry mens earrings. And the stores that carry them normally don't have so much selection. We've been making mens earrings for some times and therefore we decided to dedicate one of our etsy stores to be purely a store "for men". We hope you enjoy our wide selection. We actually have 2 main lines of mens earrings:

Casual stainless steel mens earrings (click to visit "For Men" store)
Luxurious elite mens earrings (click to visit "Elite" store)

Below are just a part of our large selection of Mens Earrings (Hoops & Studs)!

Black Gold Plated Jewelry

2010-02-17T07:57:00.001-08:00

Many people love the look and feel of the precious silver but don't like the fact that all silver tarnishes. In the previous article, I blog about 5 ways to keep your silver tarnish-free. Today, I would like to bring up another luxurious way that adds style to your precious silver jewelry and also helps preventing it from tarnishing at the same time!

Black Gold Plating
Black Gold Plating is one of the coolest and luxurious ways to protect your precious sterling silver from tarnishing. That's why we choose it for our men's jewelry line. Our black gold plated jewelry is plated with a generous layer of the '18K black gold' and therefore the nice black color will last a pretty good while before wearing off. For some people, our black gold plating can last for many years before they need to replate their jewelry. This also depends on the conditions the ring encounters in everyday wear.

360Jewels' 18K Black Gold Plated Earrings

The technical name of the black gold plating is black rhodium plating (rhodium is actually in the same family as platinum and is 10 times more expensive than pure gold!). We use electrodeposition process to coat our jewelry in micron measurement. Result?

Unique metallic black finish
Tarnish-resistant
Abrasion-resistant
Corrosion protection
Wearing-resistant

_________________________________________________________

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_gold
..and more

Taking care of stainless steel jewelry

2010-01-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

Stainless steel jewelry is very attractive for a number of reasons as I stated in the previous post "why stainless steel jewelry?". Now when you read this post, you will find that the ease of caring makes it even more attractive.

1. Avoid harsh scratching

The caring is as simple as trying to avoid harsh scratching. Other possible problems apart from harsh scratching seems to be very minimal as stainless steel doesn't leave stain, doesn't tarnish, doesn't discolor. It resists oxidation, rust, and corrosion. It will not bend or break. ...It also doesn't scratch that easily, but it does scratch (like most other metal e.g. gold, silver, etc.). And when it scratches, the only way to get rid of the scratches is to get a professional buffing service (the same way you take care of the band of your expensive watches).

So avoid putting it in your pocket without a jewelry bag or a sealed plastic bag.
For stainless steel earrings, simply avoid putting the 2 earrings in the same bag as it may scratch each other.
Also avoid hanging your ring on the rack etc.
...well, avoid any other situation that might scratch it :-)

2. Cleaning

Cleaning is simple. There are 4 easy possible ways to clean it.

Tips: Always clean your stainless steel jewelry lengthwise, and not in circular motion. And be gentle with your piece.

1) Clean with warm soapy water and very gently. Use a soft cloth (like a 100% cotton) and gently wipe it. In case of brushed stainless steel, move your cloth along the grain of your stainless steel jewelry as you don't want to leave your brushed jewelry with shiny spots. You shouldn't soak your stainless steel in water.

2) For a grimier pieces, just use 'plain' white non-silica toothpaste (you can read from ingredient list, avoid whitening toothpaste) and soft cloth. And again, follow the grain of your piece.

3) Use stainless steel cleaner or jewelry cloth and gently wipe it.

4) Go to a professional.

3. Storage

Although stainless steel doesn't tarnish, it's always best to store it in a sealed container for utmost protection. I always like to store all of my jewelry in a ziplock bag for both visibility and protection. In case of earrings, store the 2 earrings separately to avoid scratching. You can also store it in the air-tight jewelry box like the one I mentioned in the post "5-way to keep your silver tarnish-free"

click here> 360Jewels' stainless steel bands

Click here> 360Jewels' stainless steel hoop earrings

Click here> 360Jewels' stainless steel stud earrings

View all Mens Earrings, Rings, and Accessories in our store, please click here

Help for Haiti Earrings

2010-01-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Donation Status Update :

5 pairs of our 10-dollar "Help Haiti earrings" were sold to a kind-hearted customer yesterday (Jan 17). $50 is already donated to Red Cross to support their "Haiti Relief and Development" campaign.

Updated: Jan 18, 2010

Help Haiti Earrings by 360Jewels

It's just 12 days after the joyous new year celebration that a 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti. It is incredibly shocking because more than 100,000 are dead. Here are some of the topline news and the help we can make for Haiti:

The quake affected roughly one in three Haitians -- about 3 million people, the Red Cross estimated.

Haitian President Preval: "You have to see it to believe it. Lots of houses destroyed, hospitals, schools, personal homes -- a lot of people in the street, dead."

"I cannot live in the palace; I cannot live in my own house," said President Preval. "The two collapsed."

"We don't have the capacity to bring all the injured to hospitals." , President Preval.

"People are standing around wondering where to go."

The hospitals are gone and medical supplies and heavy equipment are desperately needed.

Estimated 40,000-45,000 Americans live in Haiti. Conditions of many unknown.

"I heard a lot of people praying, saying that Jesus is coming, saying that we need to pray, we need to save our lives by believing in God," witness Carel Pedre tells CNN.

The major need is for search and rescue. We have enormous numbers of people trapped under the rubble," United Nations' Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. He added, "There's a big need for medical teams, medical facilities... "We need to get that on the ground very quickly."

As one of the human beings in this world, I really do think that we should reach out to help millions of lives over there, one way or another. Let's take action now. Either big or small action...it all counts.

Here are the list of official organizations that reach out their help to Haiti. It's one of the many ways we can help the victims.

Click Here> Doctors Without Borders

Click Here> SOS Children's Villages

Click Here> Help Haiti Now

Click Here> American Red Cross

Click Here> We donate 100% of sales revenue from this "Help Haiti" Earrings Collection

There are many more ways you can help. Acts of kindness, whether big or small, can help. Learn More

What is rhodium plating?

2009-12-15T08:27:00.000-08:00

What is rhodium?

Rhodium is a precious metal, a member of the platinum family. It is a metal ten times as costly as gold. The price of rhodium plated jewelry can be slightly higher comparing to the one without but the benefit is also substantial. But It is not a feasible material to make solid jewelry from because it is too stressed and brittle, but rhodium is fabulous as a plating for jewelry because it is glitteringly, dazzlingly, white and mirror-like.

Many of 360Jewels' arts are made of silver which, by nature, can be scratched and tarnished. Plating our precious pieces with rhodium, therefore helps extend the scratch-free / tarnish-free lifespan of our silver pieces a great deal.

rhodium is a member of platinum family, a metal 10 times as costly as gold

...a perfect metal for 'plating'

360Jewel's silver pieces are well-protected with rhodium plating,

to view more of our precious silver collection with rhodium plating, click here

Key benefit of rhodium plating?

Provide a surface that will resist scratches
Also help resist tarnish
Give white, reflective appearance

to view affordable rhodium plated jewelry , click here

The good quality plating can be very durable. For the pieces that have less contact like pins or earrings that you don't wear very often, the plating can last upto 10 years or even more. For the pieces that you wear everyday like a wedding band, it might wear off after 2 years. Good thing is you can simply replate your jewelry after the plating wears off.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plating

http://www.finishing.com/faqs/whitegold.html

http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/rhodiumplating_skvm.htm

Why Stainless Steel Jewelry works

2009-12-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

During the holidays, many people travel. People worry about jewelry. You want to experience the world but you don't want your jewelry to wear out as you enjoy your activities outdoor.

For travelers / outdoorers / adventurers, "stainless steel" jewelry can be the best option for you. Here are the reasons why.

men's stainless steel earrings

view more designs, click here

5 Reasons Why Stainless Steel Jewelry works best for Travelers / Outdoorers:

Absolutely No tarnishing
No discoloring (unlink usual jewelry made of composite alloys)
Almost indestructible by just frequent usage
Amazingly hypoallergenic
Conveys a sense of masculinity / adventurer

These reasons make stainless steel jewelry very practical for anyone who love to be in style while traveling. Anyway, although stainless steel is one of the easiest metal to be taken care of, it is prone to scratch. So avoid scratching. You can read the simple ways to caring your stainless steel jewelry in this blog.

Or if you have a silver piece and would like to know how to take care of it, you can read this 5 ways to keep your silver tarnish free article.

Stainless steel can be made in different shapes

also in different color

view more stainless steel jewelry, click here

Whether you will spend your holidays outdoor or indoor, we wish you have a great time with yourself and with your good company.

{Inspired by} an unconditional love

2009-12-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

This lovely pendant is designed and made by a real story inspiration!

Mon amie (my friend)

One of my best friends comes from France. Like most French, she has good tastes in almost everything from fashion, to art, to wine, to chocolate, to coffee, and other finer things in life. However, what really attracted me is her very kind heart. She is one of the most compassionate and gentle women I've ever known. We've worked together and been friends since year 2004.

Unconditonal love is the inspiration

Early this year, one of her biggest dreams came true. She became a mom of 2 lovely twin boys. I saw her pampered her little boys very carefully with gestures of pure love since the days they were still in her tummy until they came out to see the beautiful world. That inspired me so much that I decided to design this pendant and make it for her.

Translation of my inspiration

Outer circle is smooth & plain similar to a wedding band to represent pure love.

The twin brothers are represented by the two square shaped (masculine) blue sapphires. The deep blue sapphire was chosen to represent a male color. The two stones are set inside of a circle to represent the circle of life (or mother's womb). The circular pendant is a symbol of eternal love flowing in an everlasting loop. The outer circle is smooth and plain similar to a wedding band to represent pure love. This pendant doesn't have a clasp because it would act as a barrier to the everlasting loop. It is worn by simply putting a necklace right through it and allowing it to hang naturally. This makes it the perfect symbol.

The unconditional love from a mother to her children is the greatest love of all. Don't you think?

No clasp means no barrier to the everlasting loop.

Simply putting a necklace through it and allowing it to hang naturally.

To view specifications of this pendant, visit our online gallery

360Jewels helps raise fund for Charity

2009-12-03T18:37:00.000-08:00

As a member of the team Etsy Jewelry Artist Guild (EJAG), we participate in a great initiative for the upcoming holidays. We are raising fund for St.Jude Children's Hospital. 100% of the sales revenue will go directly to the hospital!

It was the end of the charity sales yesterday (Dec 12, 09). 5 out of 6 of my donated earrings have been sold to our kind-hearted customers. There will be more charity coming. 360Jewels is gonna participate again. Also there are many other nice jewelry pieces from the other artists on Etsy. Come and join us.... click here

SOLD: Ametrine Dangle $6.99

"Really happy happy happy with amazing purchase! My sister in law is going to FLIP when I give them to her. Fabulous craftsmanship! Thanks so very much." .... (Feedback from our customer)

7 ways to make Trick or Treat special than ever

2009-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming soon! Are you ready for the upcoming fun festival? Do you already have a halloween decoration theme for your house? What trick or treat stuff do you give?

Here are 7 Trick or Treat ideas for your fun Halloween celebration!

1 Send out invitation for your horror movie show

2 Fire up cotton candy or pop corn machine in your front yard

3 Cook "Witches Hair" Pasta as suggested by "www.aDailyPinch.com"

4 Spray spider webs throughout the front door and inside

5 Paint your nails with black mascara

6 Turn off all lights in your house and light up candle everywhere

7 Decorate a Halloween Tree with candy mixed with jewelry and give them away as a part of your trick or treat bag

Hang these Trick or Treat Earrings on the tree & give away. Price starts at $1.99 Only

www.360Jewels.etsy.com

360Jewels just launched Halloween Trick or Treat Earrings collections for your halloween decoration and gifts. All these earrings are made of 'genuine' stones with a very special price, starting at $1.99 only!

Let's get creative & have fun!

May Vat and Belle Chen

Does your Ring get loose in Fall/Winter?

2009-09-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

People around me, especially my girlfriends always complain about the ring becomes too tight in summer and too loose in Fall/Winter. As a person who loves to wear rings, I'd like to share the tip about this topic.

Apart from your weight gain/loss, temperature is another big factor that makes your ring becomes too tight or too lose. When the weather gets colder, the size of our fingers tends to shrink and thus the ring that used to fit well becomes loose! This problem is especially true for people who love bigger ring (like me) as its weight tends to increase the gravity.

"3 Tips to shop for Rings that fit all season"

1) Aware of the season: When shop for your ring, you need to aware of the season at the moment. If the weather is very warm, your finger has high chance of being swollen, and the ring which is a "littttttle too tight" might be good for you. Vice versa, if the weather is cold, you will want to allow your ring to be a little loose.

2) Left or Right

If you're right-handed, your right fingers tend to be bigger than your left's (and vice versa). If you don't really mind about wearing your ring on left or right, you will have a better chance of being able to wear your favorite ring comfortably at any time of the year. In a warm weather, the right-handed person should shop for the ring that fits her LEFT finger. Because when the weather gets colder & your fingers (of both hands) shrink, you can easily switch the ring to fit your bigger right finger. In the cold Fall/Winter, shop for the ring that fits RIGHT finger as it will fit the left when the weather gets warmer (& your finger gets bigger) later.

3) Aware of your weight

For most women, weight can fluctuate frequently. So know your stage before buying the ring so that you won't have problem of fixing the size everytime the pin on your scale goes up or down.

Happy Fall!

To view our Art Ring & Jewelry Designs, please click here

Tribute to Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson was the biggest pop star of our generation, and unquestionable one of the most popular recording artists of all time.

This 'M' cufflink from 360Jewels is our tribute to the King of Pop.

The cufflink is made of a silver colored metal and sand-blasted to create a vintage like feel and is available in our Etsy store.

Michael Jackson will be remembered in our hearts forever.

Michael Jackson Biography:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson

Michael Jackson Official Website:

http://www.michaeljackson.com/

Michael Jackson Song Rylics:

http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/song-lyrics.html

To view more of our Cufflinks Designs, please click here

360Jewels' exclusive cufflinks base design

2009-06-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

I personally enjoy wearing cufflinks very much. So when I got a chance to design the cufflink myself, I know exactly what it takes to make it not only beautiful but also practical to wear.

I used to have the problem that the cufflink bases were either too big for my button hole (and I had to enlarge the hole and resewn) or they were too small that the cufflinks fell off my shirt.

360Jewels' exclusive ball-shape cufflink base has been carefully researched and designed to fit most shirts in the market. Our cufflink base is made of high quality 925 sterling silver and attached to different gemstones or other creative designs.

360Jewels Cufflinks

Step 1: Slide the silver ball into the button holes

Step 2: The ball is inserted to the back side of the sleeve

This is how it looks on the front side

To view our Handmade Cufflinks Designs, please click here

Best alternative to diamond I : Getting to know diamond

2009-04-26T02:26:00.000-07:00

Would you agree that "Diamonds are a girls best friend"?

As for me, it's my all-time favorite stone! May and I have been working with numerous types of gemstones and we still get excited everytime we work with real diamonds.

However, with the current economy, diamond jewelry may not be the first choice for many. And for some people, wearing diamonds everyday or on a trip makes them feel 'unsafe'. There are alternatives to diamonds and I will attempt to exposed some new ideas for you.

2 types of diamond-like stones
1. Synthetic stones e.g. Cubic Zirconia, or the so-called CZ, Synthetic Moissanite, etc
2. Natural stones e.g. White Sapphires, White Topaz, etc

Apart from the above examples, there are many more stones that are similar to diamonds. I will focus on the most popular ones in my blog.

3 unique "practical values" of diamond
1. Diamonds are natural. All diamonds are at least 3.3 billion years old. The age of a diamond is more than two thirds the age of the earth itself. And that's why it's so expensive.

For people who truly love jewelry, the natural property is one of the most important criterias because natural stones are a better investment and have an emotional value.

2. Highest hardness of all stone. Stones are measured by their hardness in a 1-10 scale ("mohs scale"). The hardness of a diamond is 10, which means it can scratch glass and all stones that have the hardness level from 1-9. In general, the harder the stone, the higher the price. Diamonds are used in glass industry for cutting. The window in your house is probably cut by synthetic diamonds! In this picture below from www.allaboutgemstones.com, you will see that softer stone can be scratched easily by knife, glass, coin, or even nail.

Hardness is important feature for practical reasons. Hard stone will not scratch easily so its beauty is long-lasting. If you love to wear jewelry everyday, hard stones like diamonds or sapphires or rubies are a more practical option for you as they won't be wear out easily.
3) High brilliance and luster. Of all gems, diamonds have the highest refraction index and the highest dispersion, emitting pretty glittering "rainbow" or "fire" that you always see.

This is one of the most important aesthetic values of diamonds and gemstones!

Stay tuned for more...

To view our Art Ring & Jewelry Designs, please click here

Welcome!

2009-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

Oprah Winfrey said that "The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams." In this blog, we are sharing the biggest adventure we take. We've been dreaming about designing and creating our own jewelry following our passion. Discover the dream we're living here!

Below is our Articles Archive by category. You can also browse from the right-hand menu bar.
The art of Jewelry Makings:
1.How rings are handmade? Popular!

2.What's behind our name?

3.Our exclusive cufflink base design New Post!

Inspirations behind our designs:
4.{Inspired by}Cindy Lin
5.{Inspired by}Vlad's Love
6.{Inspired by}Feng Shui

7.Tribute to Michael Jackson New Post!

Tips & Info!
8.What is Sterling Silver?
9.5Way to keep silver tarnish-free
10.Best Alternative to Diamond I: Diamond

SHOP ONLINE
Preview and Buy 360Jewels' Signature Collection & new arrival designs.

View>>

ABOUT US
360Jewels is an artisan jewelry brand founded by us. We create jewelry that looks like art from 360 degrees angles.
View >>

We're young in jewelry world but proud to receive many praises & recognitions in a short time. We're chosen by MarthaStewart.com as an official vendor!
View>>

Articles Archive

2009-04-13T00:20:00.000-07:00

The art of Jewelry Makings:

1.How rings are handmade? Popular!

2.What's behind our name?

3.Our exclusive cufflink base design New Post!

Inspirations behind our designs:
4.{Inspired by}Cindy Lin
5.{Inspired by}Vlad's Love
6.{Inspired by}Feng Shui

7.Tribute to Michael Jackson New Post!

Tips & Info!
8.What is Sterling Silver?
9.5Way to keep silver tarnish-free
10.Best Alternative to Diamond I: Diamond

5 ways to keep your silver tarnish-free

2009-04-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

Tarnish is basically a kind of rust (but occurring at a slower pace). It often appears as a usually dull, gray or black film or coat over metal.What causes tarnish? The simple answer is 'exposure to air'. That's why it's impossible to prevent your silver jewelry from tarnishing.
Anyway, there are ways, simple ways, to slowdown the tarnishing process and help keep your silver in a lasting good condition. Minor tarnish can be easily buffed off with silver cloth. Heavy tarnish has to be scrubbed off and may also remove some silver substance from your jewelry. That's why proper maintenance is so important!

1.STORAGE:

An example of air-tight jewelry box

Remember these ideal storage conditions: Clean, Cool, Dry, and Dark. Keep it in air-tight container. May and I keep our everyday jewelry in ziploc bag as it gives perfect protection and visibility. Store your silver jewelry separately to avoid scratches.

2.BEFORE USE:
Apply your hair spray before wearing silver and make sure your lotion or perfume is well absorbed to your skin or clothes. Your hands must be free from lotion or other chemicals before touching silver jewelry.

3.DURING USE:
Avoid exposing your jewelry with chemicals and grease e.g. perfume, hair spray, food etc. Just keep it as clean and dry as you can.

4.AFTER USE:

Simply wipe off any possible residues on your silver jewelry with soft cloth before storage. If you see sign of tarnishing, simply wipe it off gently with a silver cloth like this one.

We have tested effectiveness of this cloth. click here to find info

However, please note that if your silver piece is plated, you don't need to use this jewelry cloth that often (as your piece won't tarnish easily anyway). Excessive use of the cloth can also wipe off your coating layer.

5.PLATE IT!:

18K Gold Plating, a long-lasting way to prevent tarnishing

I personally enjoy this option because it's almost a permanent method to protect silver from tarnishing (the plating layer can wear off too, but it takes quite a long time). As mentioned in my earlier post of what is sterling silver, gold plating works nicely in protecting your silver from tarnishing and also scratches! Anyway, some people don't like it because gold plating doesn't provide the same silver's natural shine. Many jewelry stores offer gold plating service at affordable price.

At 360Jewels, we use high quality & thick layer 18K gold plating in Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, and Black Gold. Follow this link to read more about 18K black gold plated jewelry .

Visit our Art Rings Gallery at www.360Jewels.com

What is sterling silver?

2009-04-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what "sterling silver" exactly is? And what is the difference between "silver" and "sterling silver"? In this post, I'll try to explain terms relating "sterling silver" and "silver" in the most human-friendly way.

What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver is made from "92.5% fine silver" + "7.5% alloy". That's why sometimes people interchangeably call Sterling Silver as :
- 92.5% Silver
- 925 silver
- 925 Sterling Silver.
Actually they all refer to the same thing. So,What is Alloy?
Alloy is basically one or a mixture of metals. Alloy is usually mixed with other element (like silver) to create strength.

What is Fine Silver?
Fine silver is a 99.9% silver. So it's the purest form of silver. 99.9% silver is usually used in a form of pure silver wire. They are usually sold by foot as silversmithing supplies.

So why is "Sterling Silver" more popular than "Fine Silver"?
Fine Silver is not popular simply because it's not practical to use for making jewelry. Like fine gold, fine silver is just too soft for producing large functional objects. That's why people usually alloy fine silver with metals like copper, etc to give it strength (and that becomes sterling silver). Sterling Silver is more popular due to its strength and a long history of its usage as money.

Becoming a smart silver jewelry buyer
You will be a well-educated customer if you recognize the following definitions:

Sterling Silver
(or 92.5% Silver or 925 Silver or 925 Sterling Silver)
Now you know what it is! Congratulations! :-)

Fine Silver Jewelry
Normally, Fine Silver Jewelry simply refers to 'high quality' jewelry and not 99.9% silver jewelry. Fine silver (99.9%) is just too soft to make jewelry.

Silver Plated Jewelry
This means the base of the jewelry is made of metal, not silver. In this case, the metal is surface-covered with silver. That's why the price can be significantly lower for this kind of jewelry.

Rhodium Plated Silver
This means the base of jewelry is made of silver, and coated with "rhodium". Sometimes, platinum or silver jewelry is rhodium plated.

In the case of platinum, it is because rhodium is a bit brighter than platinum, so it is used to enhance the shine. For silver, the reason is different as silver is actually shinier than rhodium. But silver is a much softer metal, and can be scratched very easily. So people are willing to trade a small bit of shine for a better scratch protection.

If you are shopping for a new piece of jewelry in white gold, platinum, or silver, be sure and ask the jeweler if the item has been rhodium plated. Often, customers buy rhodium-plated pieces without realizing it–knowing how your new jewelry was made will help you maintain it properly and enjoy its beauty for years.

To view our Art Ring & Jewelry Designs made of 925 sterling silver, please click here

Related Articles:

______________________________________________________________
In case you love history:

Where did the term "sterling" come from?
Here's the info for you.This term "sterling" and "pound sterling" emerged in England during the 1200s. The word "sterling silver" may have been known first as "easterling silver" which is believed to come from:
-> The Old Norman French, Esterlin (meaning little star) AND
-> The Old English, Stiere (meaning strong, firm, immovable)

Easterling Silver was used to refer to the grade of silver that had originally been used as the local currency in an area of Germany. In payment for English cattle and grain, the German used their local currency which was in the form of 92.5% silver coins. England soon learned that these coins, which they referred to as "the coins of the easterlings", were of a reliably high quality and hardness.

Resources:
www.wikipidia.com
www.essortment.com
and more!

Gallery Preview & Online Store

2009-04-09T07:28:00.001-07:00

Please browse our "Signature Collection" below.

Our online store:
Currently, we are a member of an online marketplaces for handmade goods in USA, Etsy We're also selected to be showcased by many reputable websites.

Accepting PayPal

Save 15% on our Signature Collection by following our blog.

Press and Recognitions to our designs:

We're young in jewelry world but proud to receive many praises & recognitions in such a short period of time. We're chosen by the website of Martha Stewart as official vendor!

Press & Publications click here!

Gallery Preview: Signature Collection
"Signature Collection" is pretty from 360 degrees views, making it an extremely unique jewelry. 360Jewels is a handmade jewelry brand which design is in contemporary style, and sometimes being referred as Renaissance Art. Visit our online stores above for a more detail description.

Spinner Ring	Amethyst Pyramid Treasure
Polka Dots:Original Version	Azure Pyramid Treasure
Renaissance Pole Amethyst	Polka Dots:2nd Edition
Peridot Princess Earrings	"Love Shields" Pendant
Amethyst Princess Earrings	Princess Earrings: Assorted
The Perfect Blue Duo	Pyramid Treasure Duo

We started off by creating gold jewelry and diamond jewelry. Now we expand to make more fashion jewelry utilizing silver. Our silver jewelry in 'Signature Collection' includes rings, earrings, and pendants. We also have inspirations and creative juices to design and make cufflinks, bracelets, engagement rings, and wedding rings. Please stay tuned to see more of our new arrivals!

About Us

2009-04-09T04:50:00.001-07:00

Welcome! 360Jewels is an artisan jewelry brand founded by us, the two best friends, May Vat and Belle Chen in California in 2008.

Quick Facts:
360Jewels is based in California. We design & handmade our jewelry based on love & passion. We create this blog to share our inspirations, tips, and secrets about our jewelry. Hope you enjoy our blog!
Official Gallery www.360jewels.com
Press & Recognitions www.360jewels.com/Press.aspx
Contact Us mailto360jewels@gmail.com
Our Online Stores etsy, 1000markets

360 Degrees Authentic Beauty
We are called "360Jewels" because we stand for creating jewelry that looks like art from 360 degrees angles as we describe in this link. Every piece of our creation is excitedly pretty in every angle: front, side, back, edge, and sometimes even the inner ring! All-angle design reflects enthusiasm to induce creativity to the world and to satisfy personal pleasure of seeing beauty all around.

360Jewels stands for 360 degrees beauty

We stand for inner beauty, confidence, modesty, and passion. We hope that each person who comes into contact with us, will leave with a little bit of us in them.

We create our jewelry with love and passion.

We Value Genuineness and Creativity
We only use real natural gemstones although, by nature, all natural stones contain certain flaws. Synthetic stones maybe flawless but we think it is less charming and doesn't contain authentic value.

360Jewels only uses "genuine" natural stones in all creations.

May designs all our signature collection. She has a strong talent in sketching the design that will best bring out the beauty of the gemstone as well as turn its natural imperfection into a "charming flaws"!

Do you "Hide or Display" your natural CHARMING FLAWS?

"The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw."
-Havelock Ellis (1859-1939)

Her principle is all human beings have flaws. We can choose to hide it or, more creatively, we can choose to respect the person we are and display our strengths and flaws harmoniously and confidently.

Our Craftsmanship
360Jewel's "Signature Collection" requires high precision and attention to detail from start to finish. Our pieces are beautiful in 360 degrees angle. If you are interested to see and learn how 360Jewels' ring is handmade, please follow this link.

This picture shows Silver Melting process.

360Jewels is still in its startup in this big big industry. We are grounded by our passion for what we do. Instead of being secretive about how we create our treasures, we are proud and excited about the opportunity to share our story and so that you can get to know us as "creators" and not just as another jewelry store.

We'd like you to know us as a 'creator', not just another jeweler.

Enjoy!

{Inspired by} Feng Shui

2009-04-08T00:16:00.001-07:00

I wasn't a believer in feng shui until I started to learn the science behind the art. The Ba-Gua Octagon is one of the tools used in feng shui to help determine preferred locations for certain functions in the home or business.

Picture of Ba-Gua

I wanted to design something that would bring the wearer continued prosperity in their business, health, family and friendship and thus the onyx octagon ring was the perfect concept. The onyx represents 'Yin' which is black, female, receptive, yielding, and nurturing. The number 8 is a prosperous number in the Asian culture since it stands for wealth and good fortune. This is another reason why I chose the octagon. And Finally, the onyx cabachons represents the four cardinal directions N,S,E,W which will navigate you to success.

May's Drawing

The prosperity ring was uniquely design with a blend of art and science. So if anyone is looking for some luck then this ring should do the trick.

From concept to reality : Work-in-Progress

Once my designs are are created on paper it's Belle's turn to source the stones and have them cut and polished. She will document the entire process so keep checking back for updates.

Step 1: Onyx "Rough Stone"

The stone looked just like charcoal! Rough & not shiny at all!

May's designs are usually unique and the stones required are not standard stock for gemstone dealers. In many cases, I have to purchase raw gemstones in bulk and have the stones cut in a particular shape and size to fit the design. For this prosperity ring, I wanted a center stone to be the perfect eye pleasing shape along with the right thickness.

Step 2: Shiny Onyx Gemstone!!

After the cutting & polishing, it becomes shiny & gorgeous!

The onyx turned out to be GORGEOUS!! OMG! This is so cute. The cabochon stones are perfectly sized and shaped!! However, the center stones did not turn out as planned. This is not unusual, and happens frequently as the gemstone cutter has his own 'imagination' of what the stone should look like. The design is so unique that the cutter always has a hard time understanding the brief. May & I decided to keep these 2 octagon stones for future use...maybe May can design a nice pair of cufflinks later! I'll keep you posted when the stone are properly cut.

To view more of our Art Ring & Jewelry Designs, please click here

{Inspired by} Cindy Lin

2009-03-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

Cindy and I have been friends since high school and we sure have been through a lot together.

She asked me to design a ring for her. I was easily inspired because I knew the core personality of my friend. She is genuine, intelligent, and fashionable.

The pyramid ring was born! I wanted Cindy to have a ring that was unique and could be worn dressed up or casual with a pair of jean. When she saw the sketch of the ring she had a look of confusion and shock at the complexity. She decided to pass... after a few weeks I still had the desire to turn the sketch into reality. I am so happy that I went ahead and made the ring. It turned out to be a unique piece of art!

To learn more about this ring, please click here

How Our Rings Are Handmade?

2009-03-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

You are about to see how our "Pyramid Treasure Ring" was created. May Vat, the originator of the "Pyramid Treasure" Ring is going to take you along her creative journey.

From head to paper

I have a clear vision of designs in my head but I can't translate that into my drawings. The first challenge that I face is how to get what I see in my head onto paper. My drawing stills are maxed out at stick figures at best".

Cindy L. is one of my best friends and from time to time she is inspired to ask me for a ring design. I love seeing her enthusiasm and this in turn fuels my imagingation! I nicknamed this design the "Pinky Ring" because it started out as a request from Cindy to design a ring for her pinky.

Portion matters
It's all about proportion as beauty is about being just right. This step involves the art of measuring the proportion of the hand VS the stones and design of the ring. This requires several drawings in actual size. The next step is to draw a ring in 20-30 times its proportion so that the details can view before making the wax. This is the least favorite part as it involves more science than art.

Wax making

Similar to the painting that starts off as a sketch, my rings start off with a wax model before production. The wax is guided by my drawings and is hand carved with precision. This process requires the highest level of artistry because it transform a drawing to a living design. In the left picture I modeled the Amethyst stone on top of the pinky ring. The right picture, the wax was carved to fit the stone setting.

Casting Call

Once I am happy with the wax and the design is as close to my vision, I am ready for casting. The wax goes into a casting process and the result is a precious metal ring. In this version the ring is made from 925 sterling silver. My preference is to work with sterling silver and 18K gold and higher. The purity of metal blends with the beauty of natural gemstones.

Setting the stones
The next process is one of my favorites as it is similar to putting on a makeup. It starts with selecting quality stones that will radiate brilliancy and dimension. This process requires a steady hand and patience. If the stones are hammered into the setting with too much pressure, it cracks the stone. This is where we normally incur loss. The second picture shows how the ring is attached to red wax so that it can be attached to the workbench.

2 P's

Bringing out the shine means the ring has to be "Polished". This is a very tricky part of the process because if you polish the ring too little then the edges are rough and the texture is too grainy. If you polish it too much, you start to degrade the structure and cause it to have permanent groves. My designs are complex and multi-dimensional and thus making this process that much harder.

You can distinguish a high quality ring from a poor one by its "Plating". My ring goes through an extra step which adds more cost and labor but the result is quality that you can feel over time. The rhodium plating keeps the silver from easily tarnishing.

The birth of my Pyramid Treasure ring

Voila!! Finally I got my first Pyramid Treasure live!!!! This took me 3 months of hardworking, excitement, motivation, dedication, exhaustion, frustration, and everything else before this little princess came into live!! If you look at this piece closely, you will see that there are certain flaws. But you know what? This is my first piece and I love it very dearly!! This ring is a size 2 and I often wear it on my pinky finger eversince.

Perfect Duo

The perfect duo is displayed here in purple amethyst and blue topaz. My pyramid treasures come alive in these two distinct gemstone selection. My designs are highly versatile because you can wear it with jeans and a t-shirt and look hip or with an evening dress and look elegant and sophisticated. These designs do not dictate the look but rather compliment your style. My treasure is now being offered in my Etsy store at www.360JewelsElite.etsy.com and displayed in my gallery at www.360jewels.com.

{Inspired by} Vlad's purest love for his baby Julia

2009-03-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

"LOVE SHIELD" Pendant

Do you know what pure love is? Last weekend I went to dinner and met up with a friend of a friend. I haven't seen Vlad and his lovely wife Malvina for more than a year and in that time they had baby Julia.

Throughout dinner I watched Vlad care for Julia and his eyes showed so much love for his daughter. Every words he spoke to her was filled with the purest love, the kind that only a dedicated father could give. His gesture touched my heart. Here is a man who would do anything to protect, nurture, and guide his first born daughter.

My inspiration for this pendant came from Vlad. The glass represents the invisible shield surrounding the most precious stones. The three stones 'play' within a set boundary. Each colored stone was chosen for their lucky properties.

Thanks to Vlad, Malvina, and baby Julia for inspiring me on what pure love is.

To see more pictures of this item, click here

Our Signature Designs

2009-03-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Spinner Ring	Pyramid Treasure Amethyst
Renaissance Pole- Amethyst	Polka Dots-2nd Edition
Polka Dots- Original Version	Pyramid Treasure- Blue Topaz
Princess Earrings- Peridot	Princess Earrings- Amethyst

How Our Rings Are Handmade?

2009-02-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

You are about to see how our "Pyramid Treasure Ring" was created. May Vat, the originator of the "Pyramid Treasure" Ring is going to take you along her creative journey.

From head to paper

I have a clear vision of designs in my head but I can't translate that into my drawings. The first challenge that I face is how to get what I see in my head onto paper. My drawing stills are maxed out at stick figures at best".

Cindy L. is one of my best friends and from time to time she is inspired to ask me for a ring design. I love seeing her enthusiasm and this in turn fuels my imagingation! I nicknamed this design the "Pinky Ring" because it started out as a request from Cindy to design a ring for her pinky.

Portion matters

It's all about proportion as beauty is about being just right. This step involves the art of measuring the proportion of the hand VS the stones and design of the ring. This requires several drawings in actual size. The next step is to draw a ring in 20-30 times its proportion so that the details can view before making the wax. This is the least favorite part as it involves more science than art.

Wax making

Similar to the painting that starts off as a sketch, my rings start off with a wax model before production. The wax is guided by my drawings and is hand carved with precision. This process requires the highest level of artistry because it transform a drawing to a living design. In the left picture I modeled the Amethyst stone on top of the pinky ring. The right picture, the wax was carved to fit the stone setting.

Casting Call

Once I am happy with the wax and the design is as close to my vision, I am ready for casting. The wax goes into a casting process and the result is a precious metal ring. In this version the ring is made from 925 sterling silver. My preference is to work with sterling silver and 18K gold and higher. The purity of metal blends with the beauty of natural gemstones.

Setting the stones
The next process is one of my favorites as it is similar to putting on a makeup. It starts with selecting quality stones that will radiate brilliancy and dimension. This process requires a steady hand and patience. If the stones are hammered into the setting with too much pressure, it cracks the stone. This is where we normally incur loss. The second picture shows how the ring is attached to red wax so that it can be attached to the workbench.

2 P's

Bringing out the shine means the ring has to be "Polished". This is a very tricky part of the process because if you polish the ring too little then the edges are rough and the texture is too grainy. If you polish it too much, you start to degrade the structure and cause it to have permanent groves. My designs are complex and multi-dimensional and thus making this process that much harder.

You can distinguish a high quality ring from a poor one by its "Plating". My ring goes through an extra step which adds more cost and labor but the result is quality that you can feel over time. The rhodium plating keeps the silver from easily tarnishing.

The birth of my Pyramid Treasure ring

Voila!! Finally I got my first Pyramid Treasure live!!!! This took me 3 months of hardworking, excitement, motivation, dedication, exhaustion, frustration, and everything else before this little princess came into live!! If you look at this piece closely, you will see that there are certain flaws. But you know what? This is my first piece and I love it very dearly!! This ring is a size 2 and I often wear it on my pinky finger eversince.

Perfect Duo

The perfect duo is displayed here in purple amethyst and blue topaz. My pyramid treasures come alive in these two distinct gemstone selection. My designs are highly versatile because you can wear it with jeans and a t-shirt and look hip or with an evening dress and look elegant and sophisticated. These designs do not dictate the look but rather compliment your style. My treasure is now being offered in my Etsy store at www.360jewels.etsy.com and displayed in my gallery at www.360jewels.com.

-END POST-

What's behind our name, 360Jewels?

2009-02-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

May, the designer and co-founder of 360Jewels started designing her own rings 10 years ago simply because most of the rings she found back then was pretty only from the front view.

May is a highly passionate person and that reflects in her rich design which makes our rings pretty from ALL 360 degrees view. She loves watching her ring when she wears it on her finger. So she thinks it's important that the ring looks beautiful from all angles. Yes, that's why we call it "360Jewels".

In this post, we feature our adorable and luxurious "Polka Dots Ring".

Front View

If you look into our featured collection, you will notice that 360Jewels uses "poles" and "dots" in many of our design. These elements become 360Jewels signature.

Wearing it on your finger, the front view of these two poles will define the line of your finger, while the round dots in the first column (emerald & ruby) will attract interest and spark curiosity from the ones who view it.

Side View

Twist your finger forward to the side, "Polka Dots" ring reveals the fun of the color combination as well as the luxury of the another two beautiful stones, Citrine and Blue Sapphires.

Top & Bottom View

The top and the bottom view are the "richest" views as you can see every color and every stone types used in this ring. In this view, you see 6 colorful dots are lying artfully along the curve of the ring. You can see a total of 5 colors (Orange, Green, Blue, Red, and White) and 5 stones (Citrine, Emerald, Blue Sapphires, Ruby, White Sapphires) in this view.

Back View

Even from the back view, you still can see traces of art from the poles and the side polka dots!

And...many more views

"Polka Dots" Ring was designed with a lively feeling. This may be the reason why this ring looks fun and lively in every angle.

360 degrees beauty

And this is why we are called 360Jewels.

-END POST-

Our Movements

2009-02-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

March 11, 2009

360Jewels officially become a member of WeddingWire.com!!

March 10, 2009

Hooray! 360Jewels made it onto MarthaStwart Wedding site!!

March 9, 2009

360Jewels' Blog link is posted by VenusZine,
an emerging creativity online magazine

Princess Earrings was featured by IndieSpotting

Polka Dots Ring (Original Version) was selected 6o'clockstitch
to get a weeklyspot in her site

March 7, 2009

Polka Dots Ring (original edition) was promoted by AwesomeChicksofEtsy.blogspot.com

March 6, 2009

Polka Dots Ring (2nd edition) was searched and selected by JewelryofTheDay

March 4, 2009

Spinner Ring was featured in CHRDesigns' treasury

Amethyst Pyramid Treasure was featured by DesignSpotter
(DesignSpotter is a German-based website spotting cool young designer from around the world)

Spinner Ring was featured by DesignSpotter
(DesignSpotter is a German-based website spotting cool young designer from around the world)

March 4, 2009

Will You Marry Me? wedding band was featured by IndieSpotting

Chat Room with Friends

2009-02-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

9-Step RECIPE
"Strawberry & Chocolate Chips Muffin Pudding"

Dear: DrJeffrey
Date: March 5, 2009

Actually, you inspired me to create this special chat room with friends! I think this is cool that I can chat with friends and family through blog and share useful info to other people who happen to see this chat room! Thank you, DrJeffrey!

I tried lots of cookings lately (I took a 90-hour cooking class!!) but I never bake cakes. However, I just made a nice "Strawberry & Chocolate Chips Muffin Pudding". It's very Easy. And I have a more sophisticated idea for your Birthday.

This is a picture of what I made a few weeks ago:

However, for a special occasion like your birthday, I imagine it to be a lot more lively & fun.
Instead of a normal glass, I think here's what you can do differently:

1. use WIDE CLEAR GLASS BOWL.
2. decorate with lots of fancy CANDLE (something like this link)

EASY RECIPE
1. Mixed the pudding powder with milk as instructed in the packet
2. For the 1st layer, arrange Sliced Strawberry nicely at the outer edge of glass bowl
3. Pour in the pudding
4. Sprinkle with crushed Chocolate Chips Muffin (use the rich yummy one available in premium neighborhood bakery or any brand you love!). Personally, I love it to be 50:50 between muffin & pudding.
5. Add some diced banana (optional)
6. Add a thin layer of whipped cream
7. Repeat 2nd and 3rd layer with the same step
8. Decorate the top with Strawberry & Mint Leafs & tiny pieces of the muffin
9. Put in some fancy candles or DIY "happy birthday flag"

I don't know if this is something you're looking for. But I had fun making this and hope you will too!!

Happy Birthday! Wish this coming birthday bring you health, happiness, and love! :-)

Cheers,
Belle Chen @360Jewels

-END POST-