Plastic jewelry is making a comeback - and not just for the pre-teen crowd! This season you'll see more and more jewelry (and handbags, and jewelry boxes, and more! ) made of crisp lucite in a vibrant array of colors. What is Lucite? "Lucite®" is the DuPont company's trade name for "Plexiglas®," a lightweight, transparent thermoplastic resin. A "thermoplastic" is a plastic or resin that melts under heat. Other common examples of thermoplastic are acrylic and nylon. Bakelite is an example of a plastic that does not melt under heat (rather it burns, sizzles, or smokes). It is called a "thermosetting" plastic. Lucite Jewelry Selections Most lucite jewelry boasts bright, fanciful colors - perfect for spring! Because the colors are added while the lucite is molten, your lucite jewelry should not lose it's color from rubbing off (except where painted). Lucite is molded into a lot of fun and interesting jewelry shapes, from whimsical little animals with bows around their necks to bold Mod bangles and finger rings. Some lucite pieces are "reverse carved" in their design. This involves the carving-out of one side of a solid, molded piece of lucite, creating a window-like view of the carving from the uncarved side. Artist Cheryl Wood Empson carries on her family tradition of reverse-carving lucite, with stunning results. After carving each tiny design by hand, she uses bright-colored chemical solvent dyes to add striking details. Cheryl points out that only the highest quality lucite is amenable to carving, so you know you're getting the best when you add expertly carved lucite to your collection. Cheryl can transform her pieces into the jewelry items of your choice: pendants, charms, keychains, or even buttons. Some other trendy lucite pieces rearing their colorful heads this season are simple and bold bangles in funky wide circular and angular rounded square shapes. You can find them in solid opaques, translucent pastels, leopard spots, and stripes. Watch for eye-catching layered pieces, with stripes of color that extend on planes from one side of the piece to the other. Big, lightweight lucite finger rings are equally popular these days, and don't be fooled into thinking you must pay the price for true vintage pieces. New"retro style" lucite rings are plentifle, and at very reasonable prices. You'll also find frosty lucite drop earrings, faceted lucite briolette necklaces, and a wide variety of bright lucite beaded pieces. Adding just a few of these to your collection this spring and summer can have a big impact on your wardrobe. Many designs are ultra-affordable, and they're light and airy enough to wear comfortably on even the hottest summer days. Lucite Care Treat your beaded lucite jewelry as you would any other water-proof bead jewelry, and wash it only when needed with mild soapy suds and clean water. Collectors recommend that you never use ammonia or ammonia-based cleaners on lucite, as they can wear down the lucite over time. (In addition to being meltable, thermoplastics dissolve in certain solvents.) For best results on larger lucite pieces, search the Internet for special plastic cleaners and polishes made especially for lucite. Be extra careful not to leave your lucite in the sun for long periods of time, and do not leave it in a hot car or next to any heat source. As we know, lucite melts! (Although it may not melt into a little pool of goo like Frosty the Snowman, it will become warped and unusable.) Finally, if you have a larger lucite piece, protect it from scratches. Remember that lucite is relatively soft and can be scratched or gouged if brought into contact with harder, sharper objects. Resources In Print: On the Internet: Collectics Antiques & Collectibles - Reference and Education Jewel Chat Costume Jewelry Magazine, Article on "Plastic Carving Designs 1947"
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