Amethyst Earring

In the spirit of the month February, I would like to share with all my readers a pair of an Amethyst earrings that I just made for a friend of mine for her birthday. Why Amethyst? Well, because she was born in February and it's the birthstone for the month.

I used the baroque shaped pendant swarovski crystal and simply slapped a pendant clip on each crystal and hooked it on the sterling silver earring hook. Simple. The earrings are ready in 10 minutes!

Beware of the Diamond Scams

High quality man made diamonds are a bargain at about $80 per carat, and they do not increase in price exponentially as carat weight increases. For example, a one-carat synthetic diamond costs about $80; a three-carat man made diamond would then sell for $240. A one-carat mined diamond that sells for $3000 would go for $45,000 in a three-carat size, all things being equal, which with mined diamonds is never the case. Perplexing comparative evaluations, exponential price growth, consumer confusion, and the reality of diamond industry antics is why the mined diamond business is awash in dirty tricks. Here are descriptions of the most sneaky and pervasive mined diamond scams:

THE BLUE-WHITE SCAM: A jeweler tells you, "This is a blue-white diamond." This is a very old term. The dealer will probably tell you that it is a better diamond, but actually it is just the opposite. Blue-white refers to the fluorescence that results in natural light, which contains ultraviolet wavelengths. This blue fluorescence actually makes a colorless diamond look a little oily or milky in sunlight and decreases its value.

THE LIGHT MAKES WHITE SCAM: Bright lights make every mined diamond look better. Of course, every jeweler wants to show his or her diamonds in the best light, but there are some lighting tricks you should avoid. Some bulbs have a strong blue component, which makes yellow stones look whiter. Special bulbs are often used with strong ultraviolet wavelengths, which make most diamonds fluoresce blue. This also has a whitening effect for stones in the lower color ranges.

THE GRADE BUMPING SCAM: A jeweler exaggerates the grade. The FTC says that a jeweler must be accurate within one grade of color and one grade of clarity on a diamond. So many jewelers bump the color and clarity just one grade. Unfortunately, this can mean a great deal of money if you are talking about a fine-quality, 1-carat diamond. For instance, you might find a stone that the jeweler quotes as a 1.00 carat F color / VS1 clarity for $6,500. However, if you sent it to a reputable gem lab like GIA, it would come back as a G color / VS2 clarity, which is only worth about $5,500. This means you lose (and they profit) about $1,000.

THE FRACTION SCAM: The tag says 3/4 carat, and the FTC allows jewelers to round off diamond weights. So a diamond labeled as 3/4 carat in weight might actually weigh anywhere between .69 and .81 carat. This could mean a significant amount of money, since diamond prices leap at certain popular sizes. In this example, you might be buying a .69 carat round G/VS2 worth about $2,100... but paying for what you thought was a 0.75 carat worth $3,000. You lose $900.

THE LASER DRILLING SCAM: Dealers drill holes to burn out black carbon spots. About 1 in 3 diamonds in the United States is laser drilled. Dealers use lasers to drill a tiny hole into the depths of a diamond to burn and evaporate large black inclusions to make them disappear. The trouble with this little trick is that laser drilling can make the diamond a little more fragile to breaking with a good knock. Most dealers trade laser-drilled stones for much less.

THE HIDING THE FLAWS SCAM: Every jeweler hides flaws under the prongs if he can. In many cases, this can make an I1 clarity appear like a VS2 if you look at it in a ring setting. Structural flaws like feathers and cleavages can be damaged by the high pressure exerted by the prong on the diamond to hold it snug in the ring.

THE FRACTURE FILLING SCAM: New treatments to make flaws invisible. There is a new process patented a few years ago that melts a kind of crystal into surface-breaking fractures in a diamond. This technique will slide by consumers unnoticed. The treatment is considered slightly fragile because it can be damaging under the extreme heat of a torch when the diamond is set into a ring. Fracture-filled diamonds should trade for much less than diamonds without this treatment, but in reality they often sell for as much or more because they look like a higher, more expensive clarity grade.

THE CHEMICAL COLOR COATINGS SCAM: A little paint goes a long way. This very deceptive practice involves a little point of blue or purple paint on the lowest tip of the diamond, called the culet. This is small enough that you might not detect it, but the location spreads the color throughout the stone. This counters the yellow tint in lower color grades, making a diamond look like a more expensive, colorless grade.

Man made diamonds or synthetic diamonds are manufactured in a laboratory under controlled conditions. If anything about synthetic diamonds is called into question it is that they are too perfect. And since all mined diamonds have inclusions, flaws, and birthmarks, under magnification a trained jeweler can tell the difference. Considering that man made diamonds cannot be distinguished with the naked eye, lab-created diamonds have aesthetic beauty matching—often besting—mined diamonds, and huge savings are realized, jewelry lovers must regard synthetic diamonds as an intelligent option. Plus, there is no insurance to buy after purchasing man made diamond jewelry and the thousands of dollars in savings can be banked!

Making a Fashion Statement With Earrings

Earrings are an important part of every woman’s wardrobe, whether we are headed for a day at the beach, to the office, or to a wedding. Your earrings give a subtle hint about your personality.

You can change the entire look and feel of your wardrobe by adding the right earrings. You can bring out your softer feminine side, the sexy goddess, or present simple charm, sophistication, or elegance. For both men and women, today earrings are a definite fashion statement.

Earrings have been a part of human culture since 3000 BC. In past times, earrings actually established your position in society, because only royalty and very wealthy were able to afford expensive jewelry. Fine jewelry was worn by only the wealthy. The rest of the population also wore earrings to decorate their body, but they were replicas of high society jewelry.

There are many styles of earrings. There are quite literally thousands of choices. There is an earring style for every personality. Fine jewelry remains popular with precious stones such as sapphire and emeralds. Semi precious stones are also very popular. But even more popular are the costume jewelry earrings. These are affordable, look great, and are great for staying trendy and in style.

From dangles, to chandeliers, to droplets, to hoops, to studs. The choices and styles are never ending. If you don’t have pierced ears, no worries! These days there is a terrific selection or clip on earrings available. You can be dazzling, subtle, glamorous, sexy. You can be highly refined, professional, high classed, or fun and funky, and trendy!

You can never have enough earrings. Your earrings can add the finishing touches your outfit. Change your earrings and you can change the entire appearance of your look. Think about that little black dress you own. Add a pair of sapphire studs and you’ll be highly refined. Add a pair of large chandelier rhinestones and you’ll be Hollywood glamour. Add a pair of wood dangles, and a pair of flip flops and you’ll look fun and funky. Add a pair of red button earrings with a red bead necklace and you’ll be “so sexy.”

It’s amazing what a pair of earrings can do to your look! So keep a good selection of earrings on hand to meet all your fashion needs. Earrings are the most important wardrobe accessory you can own. You’ll get great value from your earrings. Choose earrings that meet your life style, your personality, and your tastes. There is no point in buying a pair of trendy earrings that you’ll never wear because they don’t feel like “you.”

Earrings also make a great gift as they can be very personalized. Choose a style to meet their personality. From gemstones to beads, you can spend a little or you can spend a lot. The gift recipient will be thrilled that you were so thoughtful as to buy such a personal gift.

Use your earrings to make a lasting impression, from the board room to the beach. Be sure people remember who you are. It’s important to always Make Your Fashion Statement!

Things You Should Know Before Buying Pearl Jewelry

Pearls are an enduring classic of romantic beauty and sophistication suitable for almost any occasions or celebrations. Pearls may be worn with formal eveningwear, with a business suit, or casually with a sweater and jeans. The official June birthstone provides an ideal choice for brides, young women looking for a touch of elegance, or a cherished gift for birthday, Christmas, graduation, sweet-sixteen, anniversary, or just to say I love you.

Once rare and expensive, modern cultured pearls have become an affordable luxury. To choose consider six factors contribute to the value of a pearl: luster, nacre thickness, shape, surface texture, size, and color.

Luster- the Essence of Pearl Beauty

Pearls gain their unique beauty from the play of light reflecting through layers of fine crystalline nacre gradually deposited by an oyster. Nearly transparent nacre gives the deepest luster and the highest reflection. A high-quality pearl will have a brilliant even reflection with a fine warm glow or radiance. Lower quality pearls have a dull sheen.

High-quality Akoya saltwater pearls have a higher luster than South Sea or Tahitian pearls, which tend to have a softer, more diffuse reflection.

Color and Overtones

The dominant color of a pearl comes from the main reflection from the pearl surface. The deeper reflected light draws the inner color from the pearl, called the overtone.

Light colored pearls are available in shades of white, cream, and golden. White with pink or silver overtones are generally the most valuable. The most desirable dark colored pearls are black with green or blue overtones. Color matching is also important when buying pearl jewelry. Perfectly matched pearls in color and size are more valuable than poorly matched pearls.

Shape and Surface Texture

The highest quality pearls are perfectly round with smooth surface, very few surface imperfections, and even coloration. Lower quality pearls may be nearly round, or show more surface imperfections, such as wrinkles or large pits on the surface.

Pearl Size and Necklace Length

The pearls in a strand are measured in a range, such as 7-7.5mm. They are strung with the largest pearls at the center of the necklace and gradually smaller towards the clasp. Larger pearls are more valuable and they create a more dramatic look. High-quality pearls larger than 9 mm are scarce and very expensive.

The classic and most common pearl necklace length is the 17-19 inch princess. It is a good choice for a first pearl necklace because it can be worn with many things.

Decide Pearl Types

There are four types of pearls:

1. Classic Akoya Pearls
2. Large Exotic Black Tahitian Pearls
3. Large Golden or White South Sea Pearls
4. Inexpensive Decorative Freshwater Pearls

The above four types of pearls are all cultured pearls. Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls grow in ocean saltwater so they are also called saltwater pearls.

Akoya pearls are the most popular type for their appealing high luster, luxury and affordability.

Decide Pearl Quality

Pearls usually have four grades: A, AA, AAA, and AAA+ quality. AAA and AAA+ quality are the highest quality.

AAA and AAA+ quality pearls are the most desired pearls for gifts. They have high luster and very clean surface skins.

AA quality pearls have medium luster and slight to medium surface imperfection. They are ideal gifts for someone who will be happy to own a piece of fine pearl jewelry.

A quality pearls have low luster and medium to heavy blemishes. They are not popular for gifts due to their low quality.

Decide where to buy pearls

You can buy pearls from retail stores, online shops or online auctions. When shop for pearls, it is recommended to buy pearls from these places: stores that grade pearls carefully; stores that provide certificate and offer money back guarantees.

The Not So Cool Things About Moissanite

Natural mined diamonds have been coming under a lot of heat recently. Award-winning journalist Cecil Adams sums it up the best in a recent article: “diamonds are a scam, pure and simple.” Most people in the new millennium understand that between the DeBeers diamond cartel, the issue of child labor in Third World diamond processing operations, and “blood diamonds” used to finance oppression and genocide in Third World African countries, not to mention your snooty and pretentious local jeweler, diamonds are just not worth the hassle, guilt, and let’s not forget thousands and thousands of questionably spent dollars.

Lately, new synthetic diamonds have come on the market that have all of the look, appeal, and glittering beauty of natural diamonds, but without the baggage, and at a fraction of the cost.

Since moissanite burst upon the scene in the late 90s, it has created quite a stir. Moissanite is gem-quality silicon carbide. The production of moissanite is a proprietary process and it is available only from C3 Inc, a division of Cree Research.

When moissanite was first introduced to the market it created a great deal of publicity. This was due to the fact that moissanite would often fool a jeweler into thinking it was a natural diamond. Both the Nova and 20/20 TV news shows did segments featuring hidden cameras showing jewelers fooled and embarrassed by moissanite. What was actually happening though was not quite so simple.

Jewelers generally rely on something called a “thermal-probe” to detect a fake diamond. Thermal probes work well with cubic zirconia, for instance. Moissanite, however, has a thermal conductivity that is very close to diamond. They were able to fool the older thermal probes. The fact of the matter is though; moissanite really just does not look that much like diamond. The two substances have radically different optical properties. These differences are clearly visible to the naked eye. It was obvious in both the Nova and 20/20 segments that the jewelers were clearly confused. They kept looking at the stone and then testing at and saying things like, “Well, I guess it must be real.” What they were really saying is “Well, I guess it must be real, but it sure is a weird looking diamond!”

Problems with Moissanite as a Diamond Stimulant

Anisotropy
Unlike natural diamonds, or some of the better quality synthetic diamonds like those available from Diamond Nexus Labs, (http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com) moissanite stones have an optical quality known as “hexagonal polytypic.” What this means is that moissanite is doubly-refractive. And because of this they create a strong visual effect known as “birefringence.” This is visually seen as a doubling of the stone’s back facets that creates a marked “drunk-vision” effect.


Dispersion
Moissanite has a dispersive power nearly 2.5 times greater than that of diamond. This creates what’s known as the “disco-ball” effect. Some think that this excess fire is beautiful; others think it cheap and fake looking.

Color
It is impossible to produce a pure white moissanite. The stones have a quality known as “fluorescence” that causes them to appear slightly green or gray. This effect is much greater under natural light. In the jewelry store a moissanite dealer will always show the stones under a pink tinged light, as this tends to cancel out the fluorescence. Many people say they loved their moissanite ring until they got it into the sunlight.

Cost
Due to its relatively extensive manufacturing process and the fact that it is only available from one source, moissanite tends to be quite expensive (though still cheap when compared to diamonds) good quality moissanite stones run around $520 per caret.

Better Synthetic Diamond Alternatives
In the last two years there have been almost miraculous breakthroughs in the science of synthetic diamond creation. There are several new processes that create gemstones that are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds. One of the best I have found are the gemstones available from www.DiamondNexusLabs.com. I recently did independent research for several synthetic diamond companies and found their products to be among the best.

Diamond Nexus gemstones cut glass, they have brilliance, dispersion and radiance factors that are very close to mined diamond, and best of all, as they are new in the US market, they are priced at an incredible $79 per caret. This is a bargain that probably will not last.

Conclusion
Moissanite stones are beautiful in their own right. They offer great sparkle and flash. However, if you truly are trying to purchase a gemstone that comes as close as possible to the properties of a natural diamond moissanite is not the best choice.

It's Valentine's Day, everybody!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers! This is the day when chocolate, roses, gifts, jewelries, diamonds and romantic date come out without any reserve. But mind you all, don't let this day be the day when your pocket gets drain and your saving account becomes empty! You don't need to go all crazy just to make this day special and memorable. The love that you're celebrating is special enough.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I got a couple of request from my guy friends for me to make a special jewelry set for their beloved ones. Pretty romantic, these guys, aren't they? When I teased why don't you just buy the ready made ones, most of them said it's more special to have it custom made. Well, one said because it's cheaper! So, I started with asking them what color do they like and if I happen to know their girlfriends, it's easier. I know what they like! Anyway, my point is, if you're looking for a gift to give your love one, it's more romantic to have them custom made.

Another guy friend of mine out of the blue insist on asking me to teach him to make a simple bracelet so he could do it himself. I guess, it's more special and personal that way too! I would go all giddy and over the moon if my fiancé present me with a bracelet and tells me that he made it himself... *hint...hint.... Anyway, I taught him the simplest bracelet making technique and he got it down pretty well. The bracelet was adorable, I might add!

So, if any of you out there decided to go all pro and fancy and buy your girl diamond jewelries instead, let me remind you not to ignore the 4C factors. Remember, take note of the carat, clarity, cut and color. These determines good diamonds. If you want to spend a lot of money on something, might as well pick out the best among the best, right? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, means you haven't read my previous post. So, read it here.

On the other hand, if your love one is a pearl girl, there are 5 points that you must take not. Which are: nacre, surface, luster, shape and size. Nope, you couldn't just simply pick out a strand of pearl necklace without considering these quality check. Because even if you couldn't tell the different, you girl could. Here is my previous post for men regarding how to buy a quality pearl.

So, men, I wish you all the best. And ladies, start practicing your surprise and super grateful expressions! Have a lovely Valentine's Day everybody!

Jewelries on a Budget: Cheap But Neat!

A nice piece of jewelry can brighten up your entire day. It can bring together an outfit and make you feel great. Paying a lot for that piece of jewelry however, doesn’t make you feel very good. There is a lot of variation in the jewelry industry, and prices can fluctuate greatly between vendors. Your job as a bargain shopper is to find the best quality pieces at the lowest prices. Here you'll find a few tips to get you started in your bargain jewelry hunting journey.

When looking for a good piece of jewelry, you need to understand what you are looking at. Read up on the 4 C’s of diamond grading, as well as the terminology for gold and silver rating. This knowledge will help you find the best jewelry deal possible. Don’t get hung up on brand names. Often times, you are paying more for the name itself not the piece of jewelry. Pay special attention to the picture of the piece of jewelry. It should have adequate lighting and give you a good idea of what the piece looks like in person. Ask about the companies return policy, in case you find that the piece is not what you thought it would be.

Whenever possible, try to shop at a discount jewelry store. The quality is often the same as a name brand store, but the prices are significantly lower. Look online for a list of discount jewelry vendors, or try your hand at a closeout site. If a company is going out of business, they will sell their inventory to a closeout site, in order to make some of their money back. The closeout site then offers the products at very deep discounts. You can try overstock.com for deals on just about anything that you can think of. For an even better deal try going to an online coupon website. You can find coupon codes for a variety of different stores and items. You may be surprised at what you find! Be weary of auction sites when buying jewelry. Many of the sellers are unfamiliar with jewelry terms, and can mislead you into buying something that isn’t right. Ask plenty of questions before committing.

Buying jewelry on a budget has never been easier. With a huge assortment of discount websites, you can find anything and everything at less than the retail price. Imagine how much more your budget will allow, since you are saving so much money!

Swarovski Crystal Pearl

The Swarovski Crystal Pearl looks exactly like the real pearl. Each Swarovski Crystal Pearl is created around a crystal core, hence the name Crystal Pearl. This crystal core gives the pearl its ideal weight and combined with the Swarovski Pearl coating it causes each Crystal Pearl to glow from within. The pearl coating developed by Swarovski is applied around the crystal core in pearly layers. The high specific gravity of a raw pearl made of crystal gives the Swarovski Crystal Pearl the same weight as a cultured pearl.

The picture above is an example of a Swarovski Crystal Pearl bracelet that I just made. A simple one with gold plated rondelles. I use the elastic string so to wear it you could just slide it on!

Italian Charm Bracelet is Making a Come Back!

Italian charm bracelets are a very popular item right now. But, what are they and what do they stand for, if anything. Bracelets in general, whether for special occasions like friendship bracelets, or just beautiful ones like diamond tennis bracelets have been worn for years as a regular pieces of jewelry. Of course, there are many styles and types to choose from. Even children enjoy jelly bracelets. Let us explore the different types that we see commonly today.

Italian charm bracelets are easy to find these days. While people have been making and selling them for a century, they have come back into style with a bang within the last few years. These bracelets are usually made from sterling silver and even at times coated with 18K gold. They are fashioned in links with charms fitting into them. The charms have no limit as to what they can be. Animals, symbols, birthstones, religious articles and more. These bracelets are widely available in every quality and value imaginable. Like any charm bracelet, they are custom made to the things the individual likes. A real sense of personality is evident in charm bracelets like these.

Other types of bracelets include magnetic bracelets, friendship bracelets, and even diamond tennis bracelets. Magnetic bracelets are often made from metals, Titanium, Stainless Steel or Copper. Many people claim that wearing one of these types of bracelets will give you added health benefits. They say that wearing a copper bracelet will increase circulation and benefit your health. While that is not proven, they are still very stylish choices to wear. Children often love jelly bracelets. These, made of plastic are often multi colored and traded among friends. Like friendship bracelets, they are symbols of loyalty. Friendship bracelets are often hearts or charms that are split into two or more pieces. Two (or more) friends each get a piece of the charm. The charms fit together and usually have a phrase of love or friendship on them. Other trinkets and charms are sold along with this type. Diamond tennis bracelets, are just what they sound like. Usually in gold or silver, these bracelets contain diamonds or other gems. Usually the precious stone is in a pattern or continuous single line around the piece.

Adding a beautiful bracelet, of any sort, to your collection is a great choice. There are many types, styles, and choices available to the buyer. And, whether you decide to purchase online or at a local jewelry store, doing some basic research and having understanding of what you are looking for will enable you to make the right choice.

Antique Engagement Rings: a unique way to propose

There are as many good reasons to consider purchasing an antique engagement ring as there are reasons for deciding when to pop the question. While modern day jewelers struggle to offer customers something unique and contemporary, the bride-to-be may be more inclined to appreciate the style and inherent charm of an antique. Another perfectly acceptable reason for purchasing antique engagement rings is they often offer buyers a better quality diamond at a lower price than purchasing a new ring.

Before beginning your search for the perfect wedding ring, it is best to ask yourself a few questions.

Do you know about the four C's?

The four C's are the criteria professionals use to determine the value of a diamond.

"Clarity takes into account the number, character, and visibility of flaws within the stone. These are often referred to as inclusions. The fewer inclusions, the better the quality of the stone."

Carat is the size or weight of the diamond. The larger the stone, the higher the cost. An advantage to buying antique engagement rings is that in the 1930s and 1940s jewelers often compensated for a smaller sized diamond by setting it in an intricately designed white gold, square-shaped box. These made the stone appear larger.

"Color is a matter of taste. Modern-day standards put a higher value on a clear diamonds, as a rule. In the past, buyers wanted their diamonds to reflect a rainbow of colors, soft pinks, yellow, or green tints. While colored diamonds are still available today, they were considered more valuable in the past. It is also important to note that many of the modern colored diamonds are artificially altered to enhance the color."

Cut is also a matter of taste and another reason antique engagement rings may be the best answer. Over the years, the preference of cut has changed. Additionally, a laser now cuts most diamonds; whereas older stones were normally cut by hand, giving them a more customized, romantic look.

What is the difference between an antique ring and an estate ring?

Antique rings normally refer to rings that are over 50 years old. Rings less than 50 years old and purchased used are considered as estate rings.

What are the styles of different eras?

Victorian Era (1835-1900) - Victorian era antique engagement rings featured diamonds or pearls set in yellow or rose gold. The ring styles varied from simple elegance to intricate detail. Many settings featured rows of diamonds that were cut with an extra facet in the bottom of the stone. This was known as a mine cut.

Edwardian Era (1900-1920) - With the invention of the oxyacetylene torch, platinum became the preferred metal for the period. The wedding bands were often crafted with lacy and pierced shapes, milgraining, filigree detail, and scrollwork. Rose-cut diamonds and sapphires were the preferred stones.

Art Deco Era (1920-1930) - Art Deco antique engagement rings feature a streamlined geometric look. They also reflect Egyptian, Asian, and Native American cultures. These rings were often made of platinum featured colorful, contrasting gemstones as well as diamonds.

Where can antique engagement rings be purchased?

Antique engagement rings can be purchased in a number of places: antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, auctions, and there select vendors online and larger cities who specialize in the purchase and resale of antique jewelry. No matter where you purchase your engagement rings, remember to get a full description of your purchase in writing and look to vendors who offer a written returns policy. You may also ask if the jewelry comes with a certified gemologists report, which provides optimal proof that the jewelry is as described.

What Most People Don't Know About Silver Jewelries

When we talk about precious metals we usually mean gold, platinum and another pure metal, fine silver. Silver is one of the original materials of value mentioned in the Bible, together with other originals such as precious gemstones that existed from the beginning of time.

This explains part of the attraction associated with these 'non-virtual' commodities - they existed for a very long time in human history, and presumably even before. Used throughout all generations and nations they have been and are one of the preferred ways to display symbols of value and are used as objects of beauty and style in jewelry. As a form of personal expression and 'street art'.

Thinking of fashion styles we tend to look at clothing, hair styling and makeup first. However accessories are a major part of the outfit. Jewelry one of its coolest forms.

Why is silver jewelry one of the constants that remain throughout history? What is the real mystery and the secret of silver? It's not only its cool attraction -- it is one of the commodities that existed before paper money, and it will retain it's value after currencies are gone.

In a world that goes more virtual by the minute we keep a few valuables that have their own pre-set value outside our current reality. Currencies will go virtual, jewelry will not.

To give you an idea about the differences of investments in tangible and intangible products and how it works out in real life, let me give you an example that nearly did cost me $25.000 in the past.

During the first oil crisis I lived in New Zealand for a few years and had to invest my assets in appropriate channels at that time. Because back then not only oil prices went up, also other commodities such as gold and silver increased slightly in value and I decided to invest some money in metals.

After locating a company that advertised selling of gold bullion, I went to their downtown store and asked a clerk to purchase gold for about $25.000. I never did this kind of investment before and was a bit unsure about where to keep it save from curious people and for the possible event of burglars in the house.

Knowing what was on my mind the clerk asked me that memorable question "would you like to have this in gold options, stocks or physical bullion?" He went through great lengths to explain me the advantages of "gold papers" that follow the value of gold at any time, so increase in value if the gold price further increases. There would be no necessity to actually touch physical things, and I could cash in the papers at any time.

I almost agreed to his offer, when suddenly a small yet bright thought of warning flashed my mind. Something that a goldsmith I met before told me years earlier, he said: "If you ever buy gold, remember the reason why you buy it, and do not buy virtual gold, but the real thing only".

This thought won in the end because my adviser taught me many basic things about jewelry and metals, and I highly respected his opinion. Turned out he was right. Less than 6 months later, the company I bought the bullion from faced bankruptcy and all their options, shares and other papers lost all of their value. I still had my physical gold however, that increased in value by about 10% at that time.

With that example fresh in mind, I personally still make distinctions when I buy personal products that enhance my lifestyle today.

Yes I invest a lot in software for example that enhances my virtual PC desktop, and helps websites function the way they should, and also loose a lot of it every few years when a hard disk or server crashes. I also enjoy the latest designer clothes, but they wear out and generally get damaged by usage over time. However, my collection of silver and gold jewelries are in the same fresh looking condition as I originally bought it many years ago. These items never wear out, never go out of style. And never loose their value. It's the real thing.

Know the 4 C's of the Diamond That You Want to Buy

When selecting a piece of diamond jewelry, be it an earring set, a nice pendant or a diamond ring, it is important to have an understanding of the 4 C’s. Some of you may not know what are the four C’s and what in the world do they actually mean? 4 C's stand for the clarity, cut, color and carat weight of a diamond. And when you're choosing a diamond, it is the smart thing to do to choose it base on these 4 factors. So, here I'd like to give you a simple explanation about it:

1. The Clarity of a Diamond. Out of the four C’s this is probably the most difficult for an ordinary person to distinguish when looking at a diamond earring, but is possibly the most important. The clarity determines how brilliant or dull the diamond will be depending on how much light can reflect without the disturbances of flaws (also known as inclusions). There are 12 different symbols that are used to describe the clarity of a diamond. An “F” denotes that the diamond is flawless while at the other end of the spectrum, an I3 explains that a diamond has obvious flaws that are easily seen with the naked eye. The ten grades in between these two describe how easily flaws can be seen and with what type of magnification.


2. The Carat Weight of a Diamond. While usually thought to explain size, the carat weight of a diamond actually is a measurement of the weight of diamond. One carat is equal to 0.2 grams or 0.007 of an ounce. It is therefore, not a measure of quality but a measure of quantity. The larger the diamond, the more valuable since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller ones. It is also important to remember that just because one diamond maybe double the weight of another diamond doesn’t mean that the diamond earring will double in price. The price of diamonds rises exponentially.


3. The Cut of a Diamond. The term “cut” for a diamond has two different connotations. The more basic of the two, is the shape of the diamond. Diamonds come in various shapes such as the round, oval, emerald, pear, heart, and marquis. While these cuts are easy to distinguish and to choose from, the more difficult “cut” to decipher is the different angles, proportions, symmetry, finish and polish of the diamond earring. This plays a large part in the beauty of the diamond and how well it will reflect light. If it is a “shallow cut” light will be lost from the bottom while if it is a “heavy cut” light will be lost from the sides. The goal is to get a “fine cut” where no light is lost. The quality of the cut depends on the jeweler. A diamond is usually cut with 58 different facets. If the cuts are mathematically correct and precise, then the diamond earring will be able to reflect light with brilliance.


4. The Color of a Diamond. The color of the diamond helps determine the value of a diamond whether it is completely without color or is tinted yellow. There is a scale from D-Z that grades the color of the diamond. The letter D is used for diamonds that are completely clear. Before assuming that the farther along the scale you go less valuable the diamond is, think again. Within the scale there are canary yellow, blue, pink, and red diamonds that are considered to be very precious. For example, the rare and valuable Hope Diamond is not clear but blue.

Each of the 4 C’s plays a large part in the value of a diamond all must be taken into account when purchasing your diamond jewelry. Remember, buying a diamond is like an investment. They'll last forever and will be forever valuable. Therefore, it is crucial to pick the best among the best, don't you think?