Beautiful, Stylish and Useful

The resurgence in personalized jewelry has lead to some new and creative ways to make name necklaces truly personalized. In your choice of 14-karat or 10-karat gold plated or sterling silver, necklaces come in choices of chain style and length.

Always a popular choice, single initials in a variety of scripts may come with diamond or birthstone accents. Initial necklaces can be more than one letter too, or "his" and "her" initials with a heart in between. How about a Valentine's Day gift?

You can also get entire names that are centered in the chain, available in a great variety of font styles, designs, and embellishments such as engraving and stones. These are lovely necklaces that look good when worn at the bare throat or over a high-neck sweater.

Your name or initial encircled in a hoop looks great as a pair of earrings. Ankle bracelets are also very popular, especially if it has a name suspended in the chain.

Engraved dog tags or military-style plates or discs are beautiful when personalized in a choice of fonts. Many are available with an added diamond or birth stone, which can be embedded in the tag. Tags or discs may be held onto the chain with a single hole and hung vertically like a military I.D. tag, or with two holes and held horizontally. Again, 14-karat or 10-karat gold or sterling silver look stylish.

I.D. tag necklaces and bracelets are not only fashionable, but are also important when it is necessary to carry a medical alert. Medical alerts do not have to be ugly, but can be part of a person's fashion sense when created to be stylish as well as functional. Some bracelets can have the information cleverly hidden beneath a flip-up name plate, and are made with an expansion band like a watch. A woman whose husband has Alzheimer's disease had her contact information engraved on an I.D. bracelet for him. I.D. bracelets can mean added safety for children, also.

Personalized jewelry does not always have to bear a person's name. Other interests or slogans may be engraved on discs, tags, or pendants, which can be worn as necklaces or as charms on bracelets. Various horses, dog breeds, airplanes or sports could be utilized as blank shapes that are engraved with a name or date or other significant notation. Use your imagination, but remember that you are creating a keepsake.

How about personalized pet jewelry? Bowser's name and contact information may be engraved on a disc or plate, and either suspended or riveted to a collar. Many horse lovers have engraved discs or plates attached to their horses' tack, preventing it from getting mixed up with another horse's equipment.

Personalized jewelry can be beautiful, stylish, and practical. With so many items to choose from, name jewelry can go from ears to toes, can be a fashion accessory, or even a medical necessity. For many reasons, name jewelry is a perfect gift to give someone, or to give even yourself.

By Alan King