Articles about the Harmony Ball, their cultural origin, how they work, benefits of wearing a Harmony Ball Necklace when pregnant and tips when buying - "Beware FAKE Chinese Copies" & more. We hope that you will find these articles informative.
Alternative names for a Harmony Ball include Harmony Necklace, Bola Necklace, Angel Caller, Pregnancy Necklace and Bola de Grossesse among others.
Links to Articles - all articles are protected by copyright
Benefits of a Harmony Ball During and After Pregnancy
Important Considerations when Buying a Harmony Ball Necklace
What is a Harmony Ball? - The Harmony Ball Story
Beware 'Fake Sterling Silver' Harmony Balls
What Makes a Harmony Ball Chime?
Harmony Ball Necklaces
Harmony Ball Earrings
Hinged Opening Harmony Ball Designs
Sterling Silver Heart Shapes Harmony Balls
What is the Mexican Bola or Pregnancy Harmony Ball?
Ancient Celtic Druid Bell Also Called a Harmony Ball
Harmony Ball Pendants and Regional Traditions
What is the difference between a Harmony Ball and a Dream Ball?
A guide to buying Sterling Silver Pendants
Buying a Harmony Ball from a Jewellery Online Store
Sterling Silver Pendants
Benefits of a Harmony Ball (Bola Necklace, Angel Caller) During and After Pregnancy
A Harmony Ball is essentially a chime pendant, a lovely piece of jewelry worn as a necklace originating from Bali in Indonesia. As the name implies a Harmony Ball can bring a sense of calm and harmony to the wearer as the pendant emits a soft but just audible chime sound with movement, creating a relaxing effect in a similar way that the sound of a rippling brook or small waves gently lapping the shore is relaxing. A harmony Ball is also known in Mexico as a Bola (Spanish for Ball) or Bola Necklace or Harmony Necklace.
Pregnancy Necklace
Aside from bringing a sense of calm and harmony to the wearer, the Harmony Ball (Bola) has been worn for centuries by pregnant women in Balinese and Mayan cultures as a necklace for the calming effect it can have on the unborn baby in the womb. Unfortunately this is where western society’s interpretation of the benefits of a harmony ball stops, the ‘during pregnancy’ phase. This doesn’t make a lot of sense really – does the unborn baby in the warmth and comfort of the womb need calming? I think not, there is no reason for the baby to be stressed inside the womb. Stresses in life begin after we are born, right.
So if this is the case then what is the real benefit of wearing a harmony necklace during pregnancy? Why have women in Balinese and Mayan cultures been wearing these chime pendants for centuries?
 |
| Harmony Necklace selections from Dazzlers |
The pregnant woman will wear the harmony ball on a long chain or cord so that the harmony ball pendant rests somewhere on her ‘bump’. As the mother-to-be goes about her daily tasks the pendant will move emitting the soft chime sound which is only just audible. This sound will penetrate into the womb and will be even softer.
An unborn baby will begin to hear at about 20 weeks gestation so your unborn baby will begin to hear your soothing voice and your loving words, and the baby will also hear the soft chime sound of the harmony ball. Of course the unborn baby will hear other sounds too however particularly in the quiet surroundings of the home away from loud noises the baby will hear the soothing chime sound every time mum moves, whilst doing her housework, or simply getting up off the sofa to make a cup of coffee and even at the supermarket or walking down a quiet street - anytime she moves. Aside from mums own voice the sound of the harmony ball necklace will be the most frequently common sound a baby in the womb will hear (sorry Dads).
The real benefit of the Harmony Ball worn during pregnancy comes after the baby is born!
The real benefit comes during breastfeeding. In the short term after coming out from the warmth and comfort of the womb breastfeeding can be a stressful period for the newborn (and that can affect mum too). Newborn babies have one priority and that is to feed. Breastfeeding (nursing) is often a wonderful experience however it can be a very stressful time for baby and mum at times.
Soon after birth mum will shorten up her long harmony ball pregnancy necklace so that it is now around her breastbone area so whilst breastfeeding and gently rocking her newborn the chime sound from her harmony ball will be heard by the baby. It is a familiar sound to your baby, a sound associated with warmth and comfort. In addition to mums soft soothing words as her baby feeds the newborn hears the familiar chime. We are all much more comfortable and relaxed when we are in a familiar environment with familiar sights, sounds and smells – so too is baby.
As the newborn grows he or she will extend their little hand to touch that shiny thing around mums neck and play with it and enjoy that familiar sound. Because baby is calmer then so is mum – many of the stresses often associated with breastfeeding for some mothers, are now taken care of – not necessarily on every occasion but often enough for there to be a tangible benefit.
And as time passes and mum stops wearing her harmony ball there are times she may bring it out of its place of safe keeping and give it a shake or two to entertain or calm a young toddler.
And as time passes and mum stops wearing her harmony ball there are times she may bring it out of its place of safe keeping and give it a shake or two to entertain or calm a young toddler.
 |
| a few examples of over 250 Pregnancy Necklace designs available |
Harmony Balls come in a wide variety of designs with many having gemstones and are made from Sterling Silver making then a lovely piece of jewelry suitable as a keepsake. In fact many women wear harmony ball necklaces simply for the reason that they are a beautiful and often stunning piece of jewelry - you do not have to be pregnant to enjoy wearing a gorgeous Harmony Necklace.
Harmony Balls with Birthstone Gemstones add another dimension – not only are they a fabulous jewelry item but also mothers-to-be can choose to wear a harmony ball with their Birthstone gemstone, or as many do they select a Harmony Ball with the Birthstone which is for the expected birth month of their baby, adding even more significance to the jewelry item becoming a keepsake and being passed on to the child. Even if the baby is a boy it can be a keepsake from his birth that he could eventually pass on to his daughter – or even mum to her daughter-in-law.
The custom of wearing a harmony ball has been carried out for a long time in Balinese and Mayan cultures so the benefits to mum and baby are likely to be realized in western society also. My personal experience is that it works, at least to a degree and any help is good help.
Mothers of newborn (and older) babies have searched for centuries for ways to keep a baby calm, quiet, entertained – we use pacifiers, rattles, music, singing, rocking, toys and mobiles dangling over the cot(crib, bassinet) and many other things – put many of these together and you have …. a Harmony Ball.
** footnote - Before buying a Harmony Ball please read this article FAKE Sterling Silver Harmony Balls ... Don't be misled into buying Fake Chinese Copies
** footnote - Before buying a Harmony Ball please read this article FAKE Sterling Silver Harmony Balls ... Don't be misled into buying Fake Chinese Copies
Important Considerations when Buying a Harmony Necklace (Bola Necklace, Angel Caller Necklace)
So Many Websites out there to Choose from when Buying a Harmony Necklace
So this is good for the consumers, right? .... well Yes and No
... as with many other things it really is a case of 'Buyer Beware' ... Beware of websites with just pretty pictures and fancy presentations that lack details about the product, its actual size and importantly what it is made of and offering fantastic deals. Competition no doubt creates more competitive pricing for all of us but it also brings about potential traps for consumers.
As a Jeweler myself who is passionate about quality and very concerned with the increasing number of websites misleading customers about jewelry, I feel compelled to offer some advice, based on industry and scientific facts and my own training and experience, to help intending purchasers to understand the pitfalls they may face in buying Silver jewelry.
"Silver is not always Silver when it comes to jewelry and far too many people are being mislead about what they are actually buying." .... author unknown.
This article is worth reading as it will arm you with the knowledge that will help you make an 'informed decision' when you purchase your Harmony Necklace / Bola Necklace / Angel Caller / Pregnancy Necklace.
A few years ago there were far fewer websites selling Harmony Ball necklaces (and other quality jewelry items) than there are today. The explosion of websites selling these chiming necklaces is due to the Chinese manufacturers getting in on the act - making and selling simply silver 'Plated' copies of the original Hand Made Sterling Silver Harmony Balls, hand crafted by Artisan Silversmiths in Bali and in Mexico, the places of origin of these wonderful jewelry items. (by the way I am not anti-Chinese, I am anti-misleading consumers when buying Silver jewelry).
It is fair to say that prices have become cheaper - but so has the quality - if you really shop around you can buy a Harmony Ball / Bola Necklace for under U.S.$5 ... but would you really want to?
As a Consumer You Essentially Have Two Main Choices -
1. Buy Quality Genuine 925 Sterling Silver or,2. Buy merely Silver Plated (Costume jewelry)
Please take the following into account before you spend your money;
- - the price saving between the two choices is in the vicinity of about $15 to $25 - the average price for a typical size (18mm or 3/4" diameter) Harmony Ball in 925 Sterling Silver is in the $45 to $55 range (more than $55 for that size and you are likely paying too much) - for a silver Plated one of the same size the range is generally $30 to $40 (if less than $30 it will likely be very poor quality and have a very poor chime sound, and over $40 you will be paying too much for just silver Plated)
- - a Genuine Sterling Silver Harmony Ball is a Genuine 'Keepsake' while the silver plated one is simply a piece of Costume jewelry
- - this will be a 'very Special' jewelry piece', right? ... purchased and worn for a 'very Special Reason' - and possibly for more than one pregnancy!
- Silver Plating WILL WEAR OFF ... the facts are that the plating process adds a only a very minute thin coating (only a few microns thickness) of Silver onto whatever the material underneath is - most of the materials used in the making of Costume Jewelry (called Base Metals in the Jewelry making industry) are just made up of a mixture of scrap metals thrown into the melting pot, it could be anything - refer to this authoritative article about plating of costume jewelry here for more details (Silver-Plating-and-How-it-Differs-from-Sterling-Silver)
- Why will the silver plating will wear off? - "I have other silver plated jewelry that I have had for years and the plating hasn't worn off"!! - plating quality can vary greatly between manufacturers and Silver itself is a very soft metal and can be easily worn off with abrasion - that is why copper is added to Silver to create Sterling Silver, to give it strength and toughness - see details about Sterling Silver below). Additionally a major difference is that a Harmony Ball necklace is worn day in and day out for 6 months or longer (200+ days and nights) and is in continual contact with either the skin or clothing or both intermittently and is being touched regularly - hence there is abrasion or wear of that very, very thin silver plating, the pendant bouncing and rubbing against an abrasive surface of clothing materials and even the skin with its natural oils plus any sweat or perfumes, body lotions etc can also be abrasive. So compared to any other piece that is not worn every single day and night for moths on end and is not in direct contact with clothing etc the Harmony Ball plating is copping some really harsh punishment. The rate of wear will vary, no doubt, depending on circumstances. Some clothing materials are 'rougher' than others, some people have oilier skin than others and some perfumes and body lotions have some pretty harsh chemicals that can accelerate the rate of wear of the very thin silver plating - all of these factors effect abrasive wear. It may take some time but it will wear off, especially if it has been a poor quality plating process.
- What happens when the Plating wears off? with whatever the metal mixture is underneath the worn off plating rubbing on the skin it can lead to any number of things - rashes, dermatitis, dirty marks on the skin (green from the copper content is common) and worse if by chance the material the pendant is made of contains Nickel, a known cancer causing carcinogen - "but the website said it didn't contain Nickel", I hear you say. The problem with this is that virtually ALL Websites selling these silver plated Harmony Ball pendants are simply resellers, buying in from wholesalers in China via sites like Alibaba.com or DHGate.com and not even from the actual manufacturer and as such they have to take the word of the wholesaler who in turn takes the word of the Chinese manufacturer - there really is NO WAY to VERIFY for the consumer or anyone else for that matter what the metal alloy content actually is made up of and hence whether or not it contains Nickel. So it all comes down to trust.
- TRUST and the website you buy from - aside from fancy professional appearance and impressive product images it is important that the website is giving you all the necessary information you need so that you know exactly what it is you are buying - information like actual size on the pendant (diameter) and what it is made of ... and not just the word Silver - in this day and age there is no such thing as just silver - it is either Sterling Silver or it is silver plated. Most sites selling Chinese made Harmony Balls refer to just silver so you will not know if you are buying Sterling Silver or merely silver plated, and rarely do they say silver 'plated'. Some are indeed up front whilst others will say Sterling Silver and in the fine print, in a hard to get to page, they will sate it is Sterling Silver 'plated' (a Chinese invention) to confuse or mislead consumers. Some sites do not even say what the pendant is made of on their fancy web pages, simply relying on the 'wow' factor and impulse buying based on a pretty picture. We probably need to ask ourselves the question 'Why are these websites so evasive in providing factual information?' The problem is the Chinese manufacturers are very good at making something look pretty. Some sites are run by very nice honest folk who believe they are selling a quality product, they have believed the wholesaler, others are sharks knowing they are misleading consumers.
Be wary of sneaky misleading embellishment terms like "generous layer of high quality Silver" or " silver filled" or "rhodium plated silver" (rhodium adds extra shine and reduces tendency to tarnish - it is used often on 'fine' jewelry, including Sterling Silver) - the term 'Rhodium plated' or 'coated' is used in conjunction with plated jewelry to try to deflect from the fact that it is only plated. The worst is just the word 'Silver' on its own leaving it the judgement of the buyer, and unfortunately none of this is regulated.
"Silver is not always Silver when it comes to jewelry and far too many people are being mislead about what they are actually buying." .... author unknown.
- FAKE Gemstones - in addition, any so called gemstones on any Chinese manufactured silver plated Harmony Ball / Bola Necklace / Angel Caller are simply colored glass - (I know, I have smashed a few very easily with a gentle tap with a small hammer).
- Sterling Silver complies to International Standards - Sterling Silver, sometimes called 925 Sterling Silver or 925 Silver is made to International Standards - it is consistently made up of 92.5% Pure Silver (or 925 parts per 1000, hence the tag of 925) with the remainder being Copper to give the Silver the 'tensile strength' it needs to be formed into jewelry (pure silver is too soft for making jewelry). Sterling Silver is classed as a 'Precious Metal Alloy' so the quality of Sterling Silver is regulated and is consistent and jewelry pieces made with it are regarded as 'fine' jewelry. (refer to this link to an authoritative website for detailed information about Sterling Silver)
At the end of the day we all have to make our own choices - it is much easier to do so armed with knowledge. Hopefully this article has provided some beneficial knowledge to assist you in your purchasing decision.
We all want to get a 'Bargain' but maybe we should look for 'Quality Bargains' ? ... so maybe ask yourself if you want save about $20 or so on a possible throw away or spend that $20 and buy a beautiful quality 'Keepsake', something that can be handed down from Mother to Daughter and on to further generations.
Ask any Jeweler, your local jeweler, for his or her opinion.
"Value for money is better in the long run than just getting a bargain" ... author unknown
p.s. it is not just individual websites that you need to be careful with - many sellers in the huge shopping sites like Amazon, eBay, Etsy and others are offering plated products 'without full disclosure to the shopper' (i.e. using just the term 'Silver') and it seems these big sites do not enforce stringent enough policies or controls about materials that their jewelry for sale is made of or how the seller projects that aspect of their product. So do not fall into the trap that it is a big name site so it must be OK. Over 90% of the Harmony Ball products on these sites are simply silver 'plated'.
references:
website: www.SterlingSilver.net.au with additional content from WikiPedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia
Author: Mike O'Shannessy
Beware of 'Fake Sterling Silver' Harmony Balls
Harmony Ball FAKE COPIES from China are flooding the internet. This Article shows you How To Recognize a FAKE when buying a Harmony Ball online so you are not misled.Are You Really Getting Sterling Silver?
This article hopefully will be of value to readers who want Sterling Silver and want to be sure they are actually getting Sterling Silver. If you are happy not to have genuine Sterling Silver when buying this style of jewelry then that of course is your choice, a choice made easier if you are informed, which is the object of this article.
*References to Harmony Balls can also be read as ‘Mexican Bola’, they are not the same however there are similarities. Bali Harmony Balls are sold in North America often as Bola because of the known term due to the proximity of Mexico
As it is with many other items Chinese manufacturers are producing ‘copies’ of Balinese Harmony Ball pendants (and have been for many years now), and the deception is that these copies are NOT made from Sterling Silver – they are merely ‘coated’ with sterling silver. These Harmony Balls are made from a poor quality Brass alloy or Alpaca, a low grade material made from a hotch botch of minerals (often passed off as Sterling Silver) and then coated. These fake sterling silver Harmony Balls are found on all types of sites on the internet, some are big name reputable sites.
.jpg)
Many, but not all these days, are stamped ‘C925’ on the top of the stem where normally on a genuine Balinese Harmony Ball would be set a gemstone. The mark ‘C925’ indicates ‘coated with 925’ BUT no-one else in the world does this or uses such a mark so it is very deceptive, most people assume it means 925 Sterling Silver.
Some ‘fake’ copies do not have the stamp at all as some Chinese manufacturers realize that the ‘C925’ deception is less impacting these days. They are now even producing Harmony Balls that also have ‘fake gemstones’, using cheap crystals instead of real gemstones.
These non-genuine Harmony Balls look good and seem to be of reasonable manufacturing quality but they lack the ‘hand crafted’ appearance of a genuine Balinese Harmony Ball crafted by a village silversmith with skills passed down through generations – these copies look ‘manufactured’.
To the trained eye these fake Chinese Harmony Balls are easy to pick and many lovers of Harmony Ball pendants will easily pick the fakes once they read this article and see some of the images.
The copies were originally focused on the hinged cage style of Harmony Ball but now are including the ‘solid’ style, heart shapes and others.
The issue is that as a consumer you are being deceived in many cases by the presentation of these copies in the description as ‘Sterling Silver’, ‘C925’ or even just the term ‘Silver’ which to many people is assumed to be Sterling Silver (many people refer to Sterling Silver simply as Silver, even Jewellers and jewellery stores). The fact that these fake Harmony Balls look good and actually chime does not negate the fact that you are not getting what you paid for, not getting what you thought you were getting.
The other important thing is that the 925 ‘Coating’ WILL WEAR OFF eventually.
So how will you determine from visiting a website and looking at images if the product offered is a genuine Balinese Sterling Silver Harmony Ball actually made from Sterling Silver?
The ‘trust’ factor is important but do not assume that a ‘trusted name site’ does not offer non-genuine harmony balls. Primarily looking at the description of the item is a good indicator – if the description is very brief and just uses the term silver, or avoids using any description of the material that the item is made of then it may be that ‘not saying’ what it is made of then lets you the customer assume that it is sterling silver – one form of deception. Look at the image(s) – compare them to some of the images contained in this article (and soon in an image library specific to this issue). Aside from some images showing the C925 or the ‘Harmony Ball’ words stamped on the bail, take a good look at the color of the so called sterling silver – it lacks the typical ‘lustre’ of sterling silver and is far too grey (gray) looking. The coating process which utilizes chemicals and electrical energy generates factors that unavoidably discolours the sterling silver used as the coating material causing it to be much greyer than it should be. (photographic technique also comes into play with images)..jpg)
The best determination can be made by looking at the description, the images and the price. If a particular style of Harmony Ball ‘averages’ between say $35 and $45 and one you see is very similar but only $25 then buyer beware – like the old saying, you only get what you pay for.
If you want to be really sure you are getting genuine Sterling Silver and genuine Gemstones then maybe take a look at the Harmony Ball Necklace sites recommended by this blog as a starting point.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Many, many ‘reputable’ websites are selling these Chinese manufactured fake sterling silver harmony balls. I have tried NOT to purposefully name and shame any of these sites however I have borrowed some of their images for the purpose of examples of what is being sold online. I will make this statement very clear – ‘just because a site is selling ‘non-genuine sterling silver’ harmony necklaces does not mean that they are doing so intentionally nor that they are intentionally attempting to deceive consumers by intentionally misrepresenting the product. The Chinese manufacturers are very clever in their deceptions, not only in the specifics of a product but also in their representation of the product to their customers (wholesalers and retailers) so in many cases the websites selling these products may be unaware that they are not made of Sterling Silver (Chinese manufacturers have been known to send genuine items as samples then subsequently supply copies). The opposite can also be true in that some retailers are making huge profits by knowingly selling non-genuine product.
As much as sites like eBay, Etsy and similar have strict rules about what is sold by sellers on their site(s) they have the issue in that they cannot control the way a seller on their site describes the product(s) they sell on that site. Non- genuine sterling silver harmony balls proliferate on sites like eBay, Etsy and similar for the above reason. Having said that there are many, many sites that can control this content and choose to mislead customers, or put another way, not inform them.
Again let me be clear on this – it is generally what sellers are not saying that is the problem, just saying enough to have a customer ‘assume’ what is the accepted norm – deception by exclusion.
This article hopefully will be of value to readers who want sterling silver and want to be sure they are getting sterling silver. If you are happy not to have genuine sterling silver when buying this style of jewellery online then that is your choice.
To better understand what Sterling Silver is please read this article – ‘What is Sterling Silver’
Please offer comments on this article. Also see the poll and vote – ‘should all sites selling fake sterling silver harmony balls be listed on this site?’
Author: Mike OShannessy – is an authority in Harmony Ball pendants with many years experience dealing with Balinese silversmiths. This article is protected by copyright.
The images used in this article are used as reference to ‘C925’ and the Chinese ‘fake sterling silver’ harmony balls and are not designed to reflect on the source of the images – these images were sourced via Google Images Search. It is fair to say that sites like DHGate.com and Alibaba.com / Aliexpress.com appear to promote only Chinese Harmony Balls.
There are many more images on the internet – these are just a few samples
Images of testing of C925 'fake Sterling Silver' Harmony Balls using Nitric Acid
</div><br /> <iframe name="oauth2relay499409990" id="oauth2relay499409990" src="https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/postmessageRelay?parent=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harmonyballpendant.com#rpctoken=602329169&forcesecure=1" style="width: 1px; height: 1px; position: absolute; top: -100px;" /></body><br /> </html>What is Sterling Silver?
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver is often referred to as just ‘Silver’ by many people, including jewellers and jewelry stores, however the term ‘Silver’ is being misrepresented all too often on the internet to ‘infer’ Sterling Silver.
Pure Silver is regarded as generally being too soft to be used for the making of jewellery and other items that require some strength (tensile – or tensility). To give this precious metal some tensility it is combined with copper at a rate of 92.5% Silver and 7.5% Copper. Sometimes the 7.7% residual is not only made up of copper but also some other elements however Copper is the primary alloying element.
Sterling Silver, also called 925 Silver is generally hallmarked 925. This is representative of 925 parts per 1000 being pure silver. Hallmarking is not compulsory however it is generally regarded as the internationally recognized symbol of the genuineness of the silver content. Some other silver alloys can have lesser or greater percentages of pure silver (generally less) with the lesser the silver content the lesser the value of the item.
Hall marking is generally done on an area of the jewelry that will not be seen when wearing it – and sometimes on small jewellery items it is not possible to ‘stamp’ the hallmark 925 on the item.
Sterling Silver jewelry generally has a distinct colour and lustre, subject to any specific treatment after being cast or worked such as creating an antique effect by oxidisation. Pure silver is very shiny, very whitish whilst sterling silver has a touch of grey to it, which is due to being alloyed with copper, and is less shiny but has a specific lustre. So generally speaking it is not difficult to distinguish a sterling silver jewellery item from a silver plated item, particularly when you put them side by side – it is also generally distinguishable in images on the internet (not in every case though, dependant on lighting used). Pure silver is generally used in jewellery for ‘plating’ costume or fashion jewellery, just a few microns thickness so creating a cosmetic appearance and adding no real value.
Sometimes sterling silver is polished very highly to a wonderful shine and then coated with rhodium or some other material as a protective coating to keep the shine – so yes some sterling silver jewellery can look far shinier to others but still not having that whitish look of silver plated jewelry.
The Chinese are marketing a product called C925 – this is essentially costume jewellery ‘Coated’ or plated with a few microns thickness of 925 sterling silver, so beware.
Testing whether an item is really Sterling Silver or just silver plated is often done by making a small scratch with a file (in an area of the jewellery that won’t be seen when wearing it) and then applying a small amount of Nitric Acid. After a few seconds the acid is wiped off the area and if the area around the scratch has turned a ‘creamy’ colour then it is genuine sterling silver – if it turns Green it is not sterling silver. This sort of test is done by reputable sellers of Sterling Silver jewellery online on samples received from suppliers and on random checks on products supplied from time to time (in case a supplier sent genuine samples and then substitutes with non genuine later on).
Unfortunately many online jewellery stores do not test what they are selling.
This test will also be done by a jeweller if they are in doubt after a visual assessment.
Harmony Ball Pendants worn as necklaces have been used in various cultures for centuries by pregnant women and hence harmony balls are often called pregnancy necklace pendants. Pregnant women in Bali and Mexico are known to have traditionally worn these harmony balls when pregnant. Alternative names for a Harmony Ball include Bola Necklace, Angel Caller, Harmony Necklace, Pregnancy Necklace, Bola de Grossesse among others.
A Harmony Ball typically is made from sterling silver and contains a small bell like item that emits very subtle but audible chimes with movement, not unlike the sound of wind charms in a very soft breeze.
The pregnancy harmony ball is generally worn on a very long necklace chain or cords so that the harmony ball itself rests on the swollen abdomen of the pregnant woman. It is said that from about 16-20 weeks into the pregnancy that the unborn baby will hear the soft chimes sound coming from the harmony ball. The soft chiming sound is said to soothe the unborn baby and can even have calming benefits for the mother to be.
Harmony Ball pendants are sometimes called different names in different societies, names like chime ball, chime pendant, druid bells, Mexican Bola, Bali Harmony Balls and similar names. Even though the word ball is usually associated with a harmony ball pendant these pendants can come in many other shapes some typically are the shape of a heart, a starfish or some other animal symbol however they are still invariably referred to as harmony ball pendants.
Sizes can vary with some harmony balls being tiny pendants, no more than approximately 8-10mm (1/4-3/8") in diameter (one wonders how the tiny bell is inserted into such a small harmony ball) and can be as large as one wants however the typical size of a sterling silver harmony ball pendant is about 18-27mm diam (3/4-1"). Harmony Balls do not necessarily need to be made from sterling silver however it is by far and away the choice for most having a number of distinct advantages over other metals.
The sterling silver harmony ball pendants come in various styles that include a "solid" sterling silver ball (with the small bell inside) that can be a smooth polished finish or be a cast casing that is finished with ornate designs. Some harmony ball designs involve a sterling silver "cage" which is usually of an ornate open wire design which allows for a smaller solid harmony ball inside which can in many cases be coloured. This latter style of sterling silver harmony ball comes in many different styles created by regional artisans reflecting jewellery making styles and traditions from that region.
Pregnancy Harmony Balls are often worn for a period of time after the birth of the child. The mother will often shorten the necklace so that the harmony ball pendant is situated between her throat and her breasts so that it can be played with by the child whilst breast feeding or the soothing sound of the pregnancy harmony ball emanates as the mother gently rocks her baby to sleep. In some cases the pregnancy harmony ball pendant is passed on from mother to daughter and becomes a treasured family heirloom.
In this modern world the harmony ball pendant is becoming a very popular piece of fashion jewellery. Harmony Balls can be found in abundance at jewellery online stores and in some regular jewellery stores. The variety available allows for a choice of style for the discerning woman. Sterling silver harmony ball pendants combined with a sterling silver chain make a beautiful harmony ball necklace. The harmony ball pendants that have a coloured ball in an open sterling silver cage style are becoming very popular indeed as the colour choices allow for matching with an outfit - reds, blues, gold or silver colours, black, white and even chocolate colours look stunning against the sterling silver cage.
Pregnancy harmony balls are now no longer the sole domain of the pregnant woman - so many women in today’s hectic fast-paced world enjoy the calming effect of the subtle soothing chime sounds emanating from their harmony ball necklace or indeed their harmony ball bracelet. They are now regarded as a desirable item of fashion jewellery - harmony ball pendant necklaces can be worn with jeans or with a wedding dress and everything in between. Finding sterling silver harmony ball pendants is now much easier than it has been in the past, no need now to travel to Mexico or Bali or the Celtic regions - many different styles of harmony ball pendants and complete harmony ball necklaces can be found on many jewellery online stores.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
What Makes a Harmony Ball Chime?
A Harmony Ball is admired as a wonderful piece of jewellery not only for its dazzling appearance and cultural heritage but most notably for its soft chiming sound. So what makes a Harmony Ball Chime? Looking at a Sterling Silver Harmony Ball Pendant there is nothing to give away how the sound is made. From the outside a Harmony Ball is a lovely, and sometimes stunning, piece of jewellery but it is what is inside that creates that “harmony”, that wind chime type of soft soothing sound.
With some styles of Harmony Ball jewelry it is a bit easier to figure out than with others. The “cage” style generally have an ornate sterling silver cage, or ornate figure (like an elephant, a butterfly or dragon fly) encompassing the harmony or chime ball itself which is generally brass. The combination of sterling silver and brass is what makes some harmony balls absolutely stunning to look at – combine that with a sparkling colourful gemstone and you have a jewellery piece to behold, and hand made into the bargain. With this style it is evident that the brass ball is the chime ball of the harmony ball pendant where as in the solid skin sterling silver harmony ball there is no outward indication of a separate chime ball. In either case it is what is inside the chime ball that creates the sound – so how is it done.
How have the village silversmiths in Bali managed to have a small jewellery ball make a charming soothing sound? The chime ball is a sphere made in two halves, two domes. Inside one dome the silversmith solders in small strips of brass of different widths and different lengths in slightly varying curvatures as well. When looking at these strips it appears a little like a combination of organ keys and organ pipes. Into the dome he places a very small solid ball of steel, not unlike a small ball bearing. The solid ball moving across the array of brass strips is what creates the sound, again in principal not unlike how a piano or organ works. The silversmith then solders the two domes together to create a sphere and then meticulously files and polishes the joint so as it cannot be seen. So now we have a chime ball which is the integral part of a Harmony Ball and in some cases of the domes being sterling silver the silversmith will then set about creating the ornate features on the outer skin of the chime ball turning it into a Harmony Ball Pendant as we know it.
In the case of the chime ball being a plain brass ball the silversmith will then put the chime ball into the cage of the Harmony Ball. The outer cage of the Harmony Ball is often made from a sterling silver wire or thin sterling silver sheet and then hand crafted into two domes. These domes are then hinged on one side and a clasp is made and fitted to the opposite side, one dome having the tongue of the clasp and the other the eye.
Because Harmony Balls are all individually hand made the chime sound from one to the other can vary. The 'typical' Harmony Ball is 18mm to 20mm in diameter and produces a sweet 'wind chime' type of chime sound and as the harmony ball size increase so does the sweetness of the tone of the chime. Harmony balls smaller than 18mm can typically have a lower pitch sound. This is primarily due to the small volume inside the smaller sized balls restricting the resonance of the sound produced. The thickness of the material used to make a small 12mm or 14mm harmony ball, used typically for earrings or bracelets, is the same as that for larger balls so that too has an effect on the chime sound by further reducing resonance. Different materials can have an effect also - the two materials typically used are brass and Sterling Silver and explained above and each will produce a slightly different tone.
Harmony Balls of the ornate cage type are examples of the intricate craftsmanship and skill of these village silversmiths in Bali, skills handed down through the generations. Some silversmiths are fourth and fifth generation of Harmony Ball makers using much of the same traditional tools. Silversmiths form part of a considerable cottage industry in Indonesia and are renown worldwide for their unique craft.
https://www.dazzlersharmonynecklace.com offers its customers an extensive range of handmade sterling silver Harmony Ball Necklace Pendants, products of these talented artisans.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
What is the difference between a Harmony Ball and a Dream Ball?
Is the difference significant enough to have two different names for very similar items of jewellery?
Firstly let’s examine what a Harmony Ball is. The Harmony Ball is a common piece of jewellery in both Balinese and Mayan (Mexican) cultures, in Mexican culture it is call a Bola. The Harmony Ball also has origins in Celtic culture where it was known as a Druid Ball.
In each case, whether called a Harmony Ball, a Bola or Druid Ball the similarities are that it is seen to be a piece of jewellery, it includes a chiming ball and in most cases has cultural, regional and family heritage significance. A Harmony Ball Pendant generally consists of an outer “cage” and the chime ball contained within. Some cages are hinged, allowing for the changing or replacement of the chime ball, whilst others are fixed (soldered) after the chime ball is inserted. Harmony Balls can be made from a number of metals with sterling silver being the predominant metal of choice for its value, lustre and strength.
Theses Harmony Balls are made primarily by village or regional silversmiths or jewellers invariably using traditional methods and adding in some “local” originality.
The Chime ball itself is generally made from brass and the chime is achieved by a series of differing sizes “tongues” of brass fixed on the inside of the ball with a smaller ball inside. With movement the smaller ball rolls around running over the different length tongues and against the inside wall of the larger brass ball, like a bell, creating a variation of sounds that result in a chime with most chimes being unique to each individual Harmony Ball.
Aside from the very high skill level required by a silversmith to create such wonderful sterling silver outer cages or skins, much of the skill is also in the design and making of the inner parts of the chime ball – the higher the skill of the silversmith the better the sound of the Harmony Ball. Silversmiths will often experiment with thicknesses of materials and indeed different materials in an effort to create different chime sounds.
The outer cages of Harmony Balls can vary significantly – some are made using flattened sheets of sterling silver intricately cut to create many different patterns, some are made using a thin sterling silver wire which is twisted, entwined and formed to create intricate wire cages. Some Harmony Ball outer cages are actually solid sterling silver skins whilst some are brass skins plated with sterling silver – in some cases highly polished and in others engraved with varying ornate impressions.
The Harmony Ball pendant is worn mainly as a necklace whilst they can also be worn as earrings or attached to a bracelet. Harmony Ball Pendants are often worn on a long necklace cord by women when pregnant so that the Harmony Ball rest over the bump with the chime sound relaxing the baby in the womb.
So if that is a Harmony Ball then what is a Dream Ball and how does it differ?
A Dream Ball is exactly what is described above as a Harmony Ball with the following differences. The Dream Ball has a cylindrical stem at the top of the pendant where on a Harmony Ball the ring would be for attaching a necklace bale. The length of the stem can vary greatly from one style of Dream Ball to another as can the diameter, suffice to say an average length is about 15mm (a bit over ½”) and diameter about 4-5mm (5/32”). The end of the stem is fitted with a Gemstone which acts as a plug. The stem was usually used to contain the “dream/s” of the wearer. The wearer would generally write down their dream on a small piece of paper or parchment and roll it tightly and put it inside the “tube” of the stem then tap the Gemstone in the opening of the stem creating a force fit hence sealing the dream inside the Dream Harmony Ball pendant.
The wearer would always be carrying their dream and in some cases share that dream with family by handing down the dream ball pendant to a son or daughter.
So the Dream “Harmony” Ball is different in some respects however in most cases is simply called a Harmony Ball. The Dream Ball by virtue of its design is often more ornate than a Harmony Ball and of course includes a Gemstone so is generally more valuable than a Harmony Ball.
An extensive range of quality Sterling Silver Harmony Ball and Dream Balls at very affordable prices can be found at Dazzlers Harmony Necklace.com
About the Author: Mike OShannessy is an authority in Balinese Harmony Balls and Dream Balls and writes for a number of jewellery online sites.
Harmony Ball Necklace
This delicate pendant on a black leather cord features a “harmony ball,” a traditional symbol in Bali. The finely worked silver casing holds a smooth ball that, when it vibrates, is believed to create a feeling of harmony in the wearer. The harmony necklace is particularly beneficial for pregnant women, as it is thought to calm the baby, but it can be worn by anyone.
What is a Harmony Ball?
A harmony ball is a charming figurine necklace that resembles something in the world. Each necklace is highly detailed and finely colored. They contain a bell which vibrates gently when you move. This is said to create a feeling of calm or "harmony" in whoever wears it. There are many types of harmony balls for sale online.
Traditional Harmony Ball.
1. The traditional harmony ball originates from a number of cultures and regions including Bali and Mexico. It is a symbol of calm and relaxation, and has been worn as a harmony necklace by pregnant women in these areas for centuries. The traditional harmony ball is a small silver ball or heart-shaped ball that hangs from a black leather cord and can vary in circumference and height. The ball is often finely detailed and beautiful. The small bell inside rings against the silver and creates a slight yet beautiful sound. Like wind chimes, the sound is subtle but noticeable and is sure to make even the most nervous person relax.
Chiming Spheres Harmony Ball.
1. The chiming spheres style of harmony ball are an ancient Celt meditation device. Like the traditional harmony ball from Mexico and Bali, they are made of silver with a tiny bell inside. This bell helped relax the Celts and put them in a mind to be one with nature. The chiming sphere is much larger than the typical Bali harmony ball. A chiming sphere is roughly one inch in circumference. The chiming ball hangs from an adjustable string. It comes in different styles and colors. There are the plain spheres, angel spheres, dolphin spheres, Earth spheres and more. A chiming sphere is good for someone who wants a harmony ball but finds the traditional ones too big or the crafted ones too ornate.
Pot Bellys Harmony Ball
1. Pot Bellys are some of the most popular harmony ball necklace styles. The pot belly is a short and wide re-creation of a person or an animal. Instead of the traditional bell, they have a small compartment available for storage. A small bell could fit inside the compartment, however. The pot belly harmony ball style comes in two varieties: historical pot bellys or animal pot bellys. The historical pot bellys are re-creations of important historical figures. These historical figures range from political figures like Abraham Lincoln, inventors like Alexander Graham Bell and writers like Agatha Christie. The animal pot belly harmony ball styles feature a wide range of cute animals including cats, dogs, monkeys, lizards, dolphins, bears and more. Each animal has its own name.
Harmony Kingdom Harmony Ball
1. Harmony kingdom is a wonderful set of sculptures that are handcrafted to the finest detail. Like the pot belly style of harmony ball, they have a storage container that can store small things, including, if you want, a bell. The harmony kingdom sculptures are more diverse than the pot bellys. The pot bellys have only two categories of harmony ball styles whereas harmony kingdom has dozens of harmony ball styles. There are angels, cats lounging on beds and staring in mirrors, impish fellows, insects fishing, picture frames and more. Each creature is humanized. They make an excellent addition to any house.
back to top
Harmony Ball Earrings
Harmony Ball Pendants are typically worn as necklaces however the unique charm of the Harmony Ball is also available as Earrings.
The Balinese Harmony Ball or Mayan Bola makes a soft chiming sound with the wearer’s movement. These pendants originate in Balinese and Mayan cultures and have become a popular form of jewellery in recent years throughout the world. The typical Harmony Ball varies in size from about 12mm through to 30mm in diameter and up to 50 mm in length including the stem on a Dream Ball.
It is the small 12mm Harmony Balls that are used for making earrings. As is the case with most Harmony Balls and Dream Balls the earrings are hand made from sterling silver by village silversmiths using traditional methods handed down through many generations.
Combining Harmony Ball Earrings with a Harmony Ball Necklace creates the perfect matching set. These Harmony Ball earrings come in many different styles and generally reflect designs of traditional cultural symbols representing significant life meanings and things like flowers and butterflies.
The ornate designs of the Harmony Ball earrings coupled with the gentle soothing chime sound make them a very desirable jewellery item.
The soft chiming sound of the traditional harmony ball is said to soothe the wearer, reducing stress and anxiety. The Dream Ball combines the chiming ball of the Harmony Ball pendant with a hollow pipe like stem at the top of the pendant. In Balinese culture a wearer of a Dream Harmony Ball will write down their dreams and / or aspirations on a small piece of paper or parchment and roll it to fit inside the hollow stem of the pendant. This is then sealed with a gemstone as the cap at the end of the pipe-like stem. This stem and the use of the gemstones generally differentiates the standard harmony ball pendant from the more ornate dream ball pendant.
So now you can wear harmony ball earrings with your harmony ball pendant to have the matching look.
Matching Sets of Harmony Ball and Harmony Ball Earrings are available from Dazzlers.net.au
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
Hinged Opening Harmony Ball Pendant Designs
Some Harmony Ball pendant styles are hinged on one side with a latch on the other thus allowing the cage of the Harmony Ball to be opened.
Many Harmony Balls have a solid outer skin, i.e. they have a solid outer just like a basketball, football tennis ball etc with a hollow inner. These are often very ornate with various types of symbols and characters embossed on the outside and come in various sizes.
The hinged opening style of Harmony Ball differs in that the outer skin is more like a cage and made of either a Sterling Silver wire or thin sheet. These sterling silver cages are formed by the silversmith in two halves, or two halves of a globe, generally with one half having the vertical “pipe” typically associated with the popular Dream Ball style of Harmony Ball.
The Silversmith will have created a design and will “work” the thin Sterling Silver wire over a semi- circular dome mould fixed in a vice, forming the wire into the desired pattern whilst maintaining the shape of half of a globe. The process requires more than one piece of wire and some soldering of joints in certain places until the desired shape is obtained.
The skillful Silversmith then repeats the process for the other half whilst on this section he often will fix a “pipe” to the top. This is generally a hollow pipe formed from Sterling Silver sheet which is soldered to an ornate hood which in turn is soldered to the wire cage. The top opening of the pipe is then fitted with a semi-precious gemstone to seal it off.
The original use of a Dream Ball involved the gemstone sealing off the hollow end of the pipe being able to be removed (a force fit) to enable the wearer to insert a very tiny piece of paper on which they have written their dreams or aspirations. Hence the would carry these dreams with them all the time in their Dream Ball.
For the Sterling Silver “sheet” style of cage the Silversmith will firstly meticulously carve an ornate design that he has created into a tough metal such as steel which is then hardened in a furnace (generally by the village Blacksmith) and then formed into a “stamp”. The Silversmith then uses this stamp by placing it on a thin sheet of Sterling Silver and hitting the handle of the stamp with a hammer to stamp out a patterned piece of metal that he will then form into a half globe shape in the same way that he would for the wire style of cage.
The Silversmith then carefully solders the hinge elements onto each half globe on one side whilst on the opposite side he will meticulously solder the arm of the latch on one semi globe whilst fixing the latching eye on the opposite side making sure that they , and the two halves of the globe, meet perfectly. This part of the manufacturing of a Traditional Balinese Harmony Ball requires the utmost skill and care. If the hinge and latch do not work properly then the harmony ball is useless and will need to be melted down into Sterling Silver stock and the process started again.
The advantage of the hinged opening type of harmony ball pendant is that it allows for the chime ball itself to be seen, and that the chime ball can be made of different materials and various colours to further enhance the visual appeal of these wonderful Harmony Ball pendants.
It also allows a wearer to occasionally change the chime ball to alter the appearance of the pendant or in the case particularly of Sterling Silver or Brass Chime Balls to remove them occasionally for cleaning.
** Footnote – Sterling Silver is by nature a fairly soft material (by comparison to steel or brass and many other metals) and it can “work harden” fairly quickly, i.e. become brittle from being worked back and forth. Hence it is strongly recommended to not open and close the harmony ball cage too frequently to avoid potential breakage. Most breakages are caused by frequent opening of the harmony ball and not by faulty workmanship.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
Harmony Ball – Sterling Silver Heart Shapes
Harmony Ball Pendants are generally a sphere or ball shape hence the name Harmony “Ball” however they come in other shapes. One popular shape for a Harmony Ball is a Heart. These heart shaped Harmony Balls are generally the ornate cage style of woven sterling silver wire or intricate sheet forming a lattice type of effect. The Harmony Chime Ball inside the heart shaped cage is indeed a ball as it is in other Harmony Balls.
The outer cages will vary in shape from a rounded style to an elongated style heart and will vary in size generally between about 16mm and 25-30mm. Many of these Harmony Balls will be adorned with a gemstone and sometimes more than one. The addition of a colourful gemstone like a red garnet or purple topaz against the sheen of sterling silver really enhances the beauty of these Harmony Ball Pendants. The heart shaped Harmony Ball style is popular as evening wear jewellery because they look so ornate and dazzling, somewhat more so than some of the more typical traditional Harmony Balls.
Harmony Balls are traditionally found in Balinese and Mayan cultures but also appear in parts of India and have been part of the Druid culture for centuries. In Mayan or Mexican culture they are referred to as Bola and as Druid Ball in that culture. Most Harmony Ball Pendants are worn as a Harmony Ball Necklace, either on a Sterling Silver Chain or a leather cord at varying lengths. Worn often in Bali by pregnant women the necklace cored is long so that the Harmony Ball is situated over her bump so the unborn child can hear the soft soothing chime sounds of the Harmony Ball worn by the mother. After the child is born the mother will shorten up the necklace cord so that the Harmony Ball is close to the baby when it is breast feeding with the soothing sound of the Harmony Chime Ball being a calming effect on the baby.
In Bali Harmony Balls are handmade by village silversmiths using traditional methods and skills handed down through generations. Some towns in Bali are in fact well known as centres for the local cottage (village) industry based around the silversmiths, one such town being Ubud. Generally Harmony Ball Pendants are generally made from sterling silver and they form a large part of the silversmiths wares which also include earrings, pendants and bracelets of local design.
www.dazzlersharmonynecklace.com offers a good selection of these wonderful handmade sterling silver Harmony Balls and Harmony Ball Necklace styles.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
Celtic Druid Bells a.k.a. Harmony Ball
Dream Bells, Wish, Harmony, Fairy or Chime Balls? Whatever makes this delightful sound, these gorgeous tinkly balls enchant anyone who hears them!
The Celtic Druid Bell (Harmony Ball) Story: what we now know as Harmony balls were designed by the ancient Celtics and were then called Druid bells. A Harmony Ball (Druid Bell)is a chiming silver sphere that creates a tinkling chiming sound, used to induce relaxation and release stress.
The ancient Celts first used chiming spheres as meditative devices. Gently shaking the spheres to create a mystical bell-like sound which was a way to communicate with nature. Their warriors also wore larger versions of the Druid Bell into battle with the sound of hundreds of bells as they charged steeling them to their task. It is reported that in some cases mutilated bodies on the battlefield were recognized by the Druid Bell as they often had regional representation.
Then in the early 20th Century, a German silversmith found an original Druid Bell in an antique shop and recreated the spheres in small quantities. Harmony Balls have continued this tradition with individually handcrafted chiming spheres and jewellery. Use them to reduce stress, introduce tranquility and intrigue to your wardrobe, or to carry music wherever you go.
The Celts recognized the value of their Druid Bells for their soothing effect for babies.From 16 weeks gestation a baby can hear sounds external to the mother's tummy. The Harmony Ball can gently stimulate and relax baby as well as the mother.
The concept of the Celtic Druid Bell was at the same time replicated in Mexico and Bali (Indonesia) where they were known as Bola and Harmony Balls and the Harmony Ball today replaces the ancient Druid Bell.
back to top
Harmony Necklace for Pregnant Women
What is a Harmony Ball? A Harmony ball is a unique ball made from silver which produces a harmony sound like a soft wind chime producing a soothing effect.
A Harmony Ball or also called a Dream ball is primarily used for meditation or relaxation, therapeutic, or decorative purposes. A Harmony Ball contains semi precious stones or a small silver bell, and when we shake the harmony ball, it produces a unique and soothing chime sound and that can help make us feel relaxed. It is most often worn as a harmony ball necklace.
The origin of the Harmony Ball is said to be from Mexico where they usually use this ball for pregnant woman. They shake the ball frequently at the front of their tummy, near the baby inside. They believe that the harmony sound coming from the harmony ball (they sometimes also call it a “baby ball”) could increase the baby’s emotional stability and even the baby’s IQ too. They believe that the sound is better than classical music.
A new pregnant mother wears the harmony ball like wearing a necklace with a long necklace chain or cord so that the harmony ball is situated near the mother’s tummy. When the mother wears the harmony ball during their pregnancy , the harmony ball will always be ringing when they move, and the baby inside will able to hear the soft soothing chime coming from the harmony ball necklace. And when the baby is born, they will be familiar with that harmony sound and they will feel comfortable when they hear that sound from the harmony ball. Mommy and daddy could use that ball to soothe the baby when the baby could not stop crying.
If you are pregnant now and you want to try a harmony ball for your baby , you could get it from the source below, please click this link to get a unique design of Harmony Ball Necklace.
back to top
Harmony Ball Pendants and Regional Traditions
It is known that Harmony Ball pendants, also known by other names throughout the ages like druid balls, chime balls, bolas and others, were worn for more than just adornment. Harmony ball necklaces were worn by different cultures in different regions for different reasons. Harmony ball pendants were also worn differently, sometimes as a necklace around the neck on a cord or a chain, sometimes attached to clothing again using a leather or twine cord or metal chain. Harmony balls were also made of different materials including metals and certain carved hardwoods and stone.As much as harmony ball pendants varied greatly in design, shape, size and materials there was one commonality - these harmony ball pendants incorporated cultural and family traditions in their designs. The artisans of the time, local artisans from a village or community of villages or region will have used a particular design style pertaining to that region, something handed down from master artisan to apprentice through the generations. So a wearer of a harmony ball pendant could be recognized by others as being from a particular region or village by the design of the harmony ball.
In addition to the locality aspect of the harmony ball design the local artisan would also incorporate a family emblem component in the design for the wearer representing his or her clan. Often if the harmony ball was used by a warrior, as was the case with celtic warriors in the wearing of the druid ball, a form of harmony ball. In this instance the artisan would incorporate a family or clan signature emblem into the intricate design of the harmony ball.
The celtic warriors wore the druid or harmony balls for their calming effect before a battle. In the aftermath of a bloody battle the survivors would collect the harmony (druid) ball pendants off the dead to take home to their families.
Silver, or a silver alloy similar to sterling silver was the choice of metal used by the artisans making harmony balls, in regions where the precious metal and metalsmithing skills were available. In other cases the artisan would use a local hardwood or soft stone to carve out the harmony ball shape and indeed the small bell. Much of the skill in making the harmony ball without the aid of todays technology was in making it hollow, making a small bell and inserting it inside the harmony ball without leaving an opening that would allow the small bell to fall out.
Pregnancy harmony ball pendants were worn by a number of cultures. It is said that the soft chiming sound of the harmony ball pendant would soothe and calm the unborn baby in the womb, and after birth it would soothe the newborn baby. Most women wore the harmony ball as a necklace on a long chain that would position the harmony ball over their abdomen, as close to the womb as possible. Some though wore the harmony ball on a shorter necklace, usually cord or chain, so that the pendant did not get in the way as they tended the crops or did their weaving.
Pregnancy harmony necklaces were often made by women elders who included the tradition of the woman’s family in their design, not unlike caretakers of the traditional values. Most women would hand down their harmony ball to their female child when she herself became pregnant although many times the harmony ball construction would render it very fragile and they would often break, keeping the local harmony ball maker very busy.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
What is the Mexican Bola or Pregnancy Harmony Ball?
Originating from Mexico the Mexican Bola (a.k.a. Pregnancy Harmony Ball) is a musical chime first worn by pregnant women and since yesteryear many generations of Mexican mothers to be have sworn by the soothing and calming effect that the Mexican Bola (a.k.a. Pregnancy Harmony Ball) has on their unborn babies during their pregnancy and also following the birth.
The Mexican Bola Harmony Ball is designed to create a gentle soft chiming sound during Mothers movement and the baby is relaxed by these chimes up until the birth. It is said that the effects of these chimes work effectively on the baby during nursing once she or he has arrived. The same sounds that soothed and calmed your baby during pregnancy will have the same calming effect once they arrive. In the same way that playing soothing music to your unborn baby can sooth and calm, the Mexican Bola Harmony Ball is also said to assist during nursing as baby can fiddle with it whist mum wears it as a necklace and the soothing chimes have the same fantastic effect.
When and how to use the Mexican Bola? (or Pregnancy Harmony Ball)
A Mum to be can wear the Mexican Bola (a.k.a. Pregnancy Harmony Ball) from approximately 16-20 weeks into her pregnancy, or from when she feels her first flutters of movements from baby. From this stage in pregnancy a baby can easily hear and distinguish sounds heard through mummy’s tummy.
Worn hanging low on the baby belly, this can be worn under or over her maternity clothes. The more ornate variety should be shown off as gorgeous pendants!
Starting at less than $30 as a silver pendant or less than $40 for a complete necklace, a Mexican Bola or Pregnancy Harmony Ball makes a lovely gift for mum-to-be or a maternity gift to treat yourself, there are many plain silver Mexican Bola pendants on the market but we at Jewellery Online Stores believe the prettier the Harmony Ball the better - So we strive to source the cutest and more unusual.
Pregnant women the world over are wearing these practical little beauties as a much admired piece of jewellery. Practical pendants wearable with any of your maternity clothes.
As well as being a lovely accessory to wear with your maternity clothes, the Mexican Bola, or Harmony Ball, is also beautiful and stylish to wear as an unusual and classy necklace when baby grows up. Keep as a keepsake to pass on to her or him when they are old enough to understand the significance of the Harmony Ball whilst you carried them.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
A guide to buying Sterling Silver Pendants
Since ancient times, men and women have been wearing silver jewellery to adorn their bodies. Silver became a symbol of wealth and power among the Egyptians after they started importing the precious metal from Afghanistan. Ancient cultures in Mesopotamia and Rome used silver jewellery to indicate their social prominence. Silver pendants played a significant role as scarabs and religious icons were quite popular among people. These silver pendants expressed the religious beliefs and social status of the wearer. The ancient Celtic race used chiming spheres pendants as meditative devices. Gently shaking the spheres to create a mystical bell-like sound which was a way to communicate with nature. These pendants still exist today and are known as Harmony Balls.
These days, sterling silver pendants have become highly popular among men and women. Sterling silver pendants, either on their own or on silver chains as necklaces, like a harmony ball necklace, or used on Sterling Silver earrings are very easily purchased from many jewellery online stores however before you buy sterling silver pendants, it is important to know more about sterling silver.
Sterling silver does not mean pure silver. 100% pure silver is too soft for everyday use. Sterling silver refers to silver that contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% alloys. The alloys used could be copper, nickel or zinc. The addition of these alloys makes silver strong, tensile and durable - qualities that are essential if silver ornaments are to be worn.
Sterling silver pendants are available in different sizes, styles and designs. Silver pendants may be worn on a thin silver string or on chunky silver chains or even on leather necklace cords. The pendants themselves may be small and delicate or huge and flashy and some even make soft soothing sounds similar to wind chimes in silver harmony ball pendants. Intricate designs may be worked into the metal or the metal may be molded to form iconic shapes. Truly, sky is the limit when it comes to designs and styles.
Before selecting a silver pendant, one must consider the different styles. Personal preferences hold sway here, and no style is better than the other. While some people like the shapes of animals, others like signs and symbols. Still others like sterling silver pendants that have been combined with gold or precious stones.
Generally sterling silver pendants are worn near the neck or just below the collar bone. This is where it attracts maximum attention. For more formal occasions, it is advisable to wear sober designs on a thin string of silver. However, if you are looking for the bling thing, then, you can use chunky pendants on chunky chains. Having said that there are situations where silver pendants are worn on longer chains, one specific example is in some cultures a harmony ball is worn on a very long necklace so that the harmony ball pendant rests on the abdomen of a pregnant woman. These harmony balls are sometimes called pregnancy harmony balls as it is said that the soft chime soothes the baby in the womb. Harmony ball silver pendants are readily available on the internet on jewellery online stores as today they are regarded as sought after fashion jewellery.
An important aspect of buying sterling silver pendants is workmanship. Craftsmanship varies from place to place. Superior craftsmanship always costs more. Elaborate designs and intricate patterns are as rare as they are exquisite. No wonder sterling silver pendants are a favorite with celebrities around the world.
When buying sterling silver pendants, it is important to shop with a reputed seller and manufacturer. A seller with established credentials will not cheat the customer as this would affect their reputation gravely. Thus, the money you invest is safe and you need not really worry about the quality of silver as well as the quality of the workmanship.
The above tips can help you buy sterling silver pendants of the best quality.
back to top
Buying a Harmony Ball from a Jewellery Online Store
Thinking of buying a Harmony Ball from a jewellery online store? So what is holding you back? Some people still are reticent to make purchases online mainly due to security concerns, quality of the product(s) and fear of being ripped off. Well those concerns may have been valid a few years ago however’ in today’s e-commerce world most of the unscrupulous rogue dealers have been weeded out. Most e-commerce sites today also have SSL certificates which guarantee that credit card transactions are securely encrypted. Additionally the likes of PayPal, major credits cards and others have buyer protection policies in place that allow you to get a refund if your purchase seems sub-standard or fraudulent.
So buying a Harmony Ball or any piece of jewellery from an online jewellery store should not create any angst in respect to the financial transaction side of things but what about quality? How can you tell if you are going to get a quality product? The quality of the website, its position in the search results and even that gut feeling will make you feel comfortable buying from a particular site. Generally you will be pleased with your purchase (if not then you have recourse as above) and once you have found a good reliable site you will tend to return. If your first experience of a site is not good then try another next time.
Most Harmony Balls available at jewellery online stores are of good quality and generally hand made from Sterling Silver. The majority of Harmony Ball Pendants come from Bali in Indonesia where they have been part of the culture for centuries. Sterling Silver Harmony Balls from Bali are made by village silversmiths using traditional methods of jewellery making handed down through the generations. These silversmiths form part of a cottage industry network in Bali making all manner of crafts as well as jewellery.
Harmony Ball Pendants are widely worn as a Harmony Ball Necklace and are often worn by pregnant women. The soft chime sound emanating from the chime ball which is the integral part of the Harmony Ball tends to soothe the unborn baby in the womb, then once born the young child associates with the soothing effect of the Harmony Ball that the mother continues to wear. Aside from Sterling Silver for the outer skin or cage of the Harmony Ball the village silversmiths will use brass and other materials for the Chime Ball. The combination of Sterling Silver and Brass can make for a stunning jewellery piece.
Harmony Balls are sometimes also adorned with Gemstones and when a gemstone is part of a Harmony Ball it is often referred to as a Dream Ball. Even though you cannot hear the tinkle sound of a Harmony Ball chime on an online jewellery store you can still appreciate its beauty and look forward to hearing the sound when you receive your new Harmony Ball in the mail.
About the Author:
Mike O'Shannessy is an authority on Harmony Balls with many years experience and a jewellery writer for a number of Jewellery Online sites.
back to top
Sterling Silver Pendants
Silver pendants are used for various purposes. These pieces of silver jewellery can be easily purchased in many designs and styles on the internet at various jewellery online stores. Silver pendants come in many various forms and can include precious jewels and can even make soft soothing sounds as in the harmony ball silver pendants. Harmony balls have been around for centuries and of recent times it has become fashionable to wear harmony balls.
Silver is one of the precious metals used by mankind since the beginning of time. High value objects were made from silver showing the wealth and status of the owner in society. Jewellery is one the traditional applications of silver and its alloy.
Sterling silver is the standard of the precious metal in its utilization for jewellery and other expensive items. A 92.5% silver proportion is combined with 7.5% copper to make the sterling standard. Sterling silver is appropriate for jewellery making. It is harder than pure silver and has a lower melting point at 893 °C. Silver is used in medals which sports competitions present the second best performers.
Pendant is from an old French word. Pendant is an object ordinarily attached to a necklace or earrings. The pendants have been used in the past centuries with varying purposes by different cultures. Pendants served as ornamentation and identification objects. The other reasons why people have their pendants are for protection, self-affirmation, ostentation and award.
Persons used pendants as an ornament to add beauty to the individual.
Pendants are used to identify its wearer as a religious icon or a member of particular group. Some men even have pendants on their necklaces to enhance their masculine image. Individuals believe that pendants could protect them, such as amulets and religious symbols.
In ancient times the Celtic peoples used silver pendants of chiming spheres as meditative devices - these pendants are now commonly known as harmony balls or harmony ball chime pendants. Gently shaking the spheres to create a mystical bell-like sound which was a way to communicate with nature. Then in the early 20th Century, a German silversmith found an original Durid Bell silver pendant in an antique shop and recreated the spheres in small quantitites. Harmony Balls silver pendants have continued this tradition with individually handcrafted chiming spheres and jewellery.
There are persons who wear pendants for no particular reason. They hang their pendants to show off as symbol of their wealth. They feel that their pendants will tell one and all that they belong to a higher social class. These pendants are part and parcel of expensive jewellery.
There are other purposes pendants are used. The most solemn reason why pendants are used is its utilization for awards for excellent performances. Pendants are hung on the awards for great works in sports, humanitarian deeds, military accomplishments, and much more.
There is a wide selection of high quality silver pendants. These silver pendants can easily be accessed by looking through jewellery stores. Silver pendants in numerous designs are also on sale in jewellery online shopping stores. The marketing of silver pendants avails of the latest technology to bring the products easily and quickly to its customers.
Online sellers of silver pendants are putting value in quality products through a selection of excellent items. Most of these jewellery online store outlets are selling silver pendants directly from the leading manufacturers of jewellery products. The silver pendants on their inventory ensure that customers buying these items will be satisfied. The sellers give the assurance that patrons purchasing their silver pendants get good value for the money invested in them.
Some of the most popular sterling silver pendants are the tiny puffed heart-shaped pendant with a snake chain, dolphin pendant with a snake silver chain, heart tag pendant with a cable silver chain, sterling silver harmony ball pendants, floating heart-shaped pendant with a snake silver chain, cross pendant with a snake silver chain, heart pendant on rubber cord, sterling silver and 14k gold double heart pendant, floating heart-shaped pendant with blue topaz, large puffed heart-shaped pendant with box silver chain, floating heart-shaped pendant with cubic zirconia, sliding heart pendant with cubic zirconia, and sliding heart pendant with cubic zirconia.
A harmony ball is a chiming silver sphere that creates a tinkling chiming sound, used to induce relaxation and release stress. Harmony balls were designed by the ancient Celtics and were called Druid bells
There are several more designs and styles of silver pendants customers can choose from. The designs and styles of silver pendants have a wide range of choices from classical to the latest ones. Whatever the reason or purpose, silver pendants will fulfill the desires of pendant lovers.
back to top
number one description .
ReplyDeleteplease give me your cantact .
ReplyDelete