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Jewelry-Buying Tips for Clueless Men
"Boys have their cars, their game consoles and their plasma TVs. And what about girls then? Jewelry jewelry and more jewelry. Marilyn Monroe once sang that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. The truth is, girls like pearls, gold wedding rings, antique ruby earrings and anything shiny and pretty too. Jewelry, you men ought to know, has the power to enchant, enthrall and amuse women. They are the best birthday, Valentine’s, Christmas and anniversary gift. Couple it with sincere apologies and a beautiful necklace becomes the perfect “peace offering” too. So just how do you choose the perfect jewelry? What are the things you should look for when buying one for your girl? Here are some tips you can follow: • When choosing the jewelry you want to purchase, consider the personality of the girl you are buying the jewelry for. While it is true that girls like jewelry in general, getting a piece that really suits our tastes and personality makes the gift more special. For an easier and safer choice, consider giving her something with her birthstone. • Take time when purchasing your jewelry. Be sure you have thoroughly inspected the jewelry for any cracks, scratches and other damages. After all, the lucky woman who’s going to get your gift deserves nothing less than perfection, right? • There are many scammers out there trying to pass their cubic zirconiums as diamonds or their $2-drugstore jewelry as antique earrings, so be sure that you only buy your jewelry from trusted stores. Remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. • If you’re going all out and decided to buy your girl a diamond, know that the things you have to carefully look at are color, cut and clarity. A good diamond (which is mostly colorless but can also come in pink, yellow and other colors) is perfectly cut and absolutely clear. • Different stones and gems signify different things. Pearls exude elegance, diamonds perfection and ageless beauty. Ask your jeweler suggestions for the appropriate gift to ensure that you are putting across the right message. • If you’re surprising your girl with an engagement or wedding ring, be sure you know her ring size before you buy the jewelry first. There really is nothing as anti-climactic as getting a ring that is either too small or too big. • After deciding the design you want, have the jewelry assessed by an independent party before you pay for it. It’s and added hassle, yes, but remember that it is always better to be safe than sorry. Whether you are looking for the most beautiful wedding ring for your future bride or antique earrings for you mom, remember to keep all these tips. Check out this web site for more on wedding rings, antique earrings and other beautiful pieces of a /www.sylviasantiques.com> jewelry. "

Maraya Bien is a copywriter affiliated with Sylvia’s Antiques, a 25-year old store that specializes in jewelries. It is a trusted source of beautiful <a href= http://www.sylviasantiques.com> wedding rings</a>, <a href= http://www.sylviasantiques.com/earrings-c-11.html> antique earrings</a>and other exquisite pieces of <href= http://www.sylviasantiques.com> jewelry</a>.

Bring An In-House Jeweler To The Store
Let's get right to it on sizing first. Prices will vary from location to location but in our area we generally size a ring down for $23. To size up starts at $28 and there is $10 added for each size after the first size. Keep in mind, the width of the rings will affect the price somewhat. The difference will not break the bank, but be prepared for a higher charge for a wide ring band.



What to ask the jeweler or how to be prepared when going to the store? Ok, I will offer a few suggestions which might help you here. First of all, have fingers measured and get an estimate of the price to resize the rings. Then, ask if the jeweler thinks any stones might be loosened in the sizing process and what the charge might be to retighten the stones. This part is important!



I have not seen your rings but depending on the resizing needed and the method by which the stones are set, loosening is possible in sizing down. When rings are sized up, loosening of stones can happen but is generally not the case. Since yours need to go up, loosening is likely not to happen but ask anyway.



When done well, the cleaning, polishing, etc. is simply part of the resizing process. You don't really need to ask anything about that. Still, you might ask if the sizing "will show", a common question from many repair and sizing customers who have not used us before.



Altering the rings you have to white and not having the stones put into new white settings means one approach: "Rhodium plating". To rhodium plate is a fairly straight forward procedure but you might ask for a heavy plate, heavier than usually done for white gold rings.



Since these are yellow and the life of the plating will depend on the thickness of the plate, ask for a double plating or simply that the rings be given a heavy plate. This means keeping the rings in the plating solution longer than usual or doing the job twice. Generally, to refinish and rhodium plate a ring will run about $40 in our area. If we size the rings, the finishing is done already and we would likely rhodium plate for about $25 to $30.



Please keep in mind that even the very hard and inert rhodium will wear off in time. How long will the white color last? That depends on wear and what is encountered in everyday life. If you laid bricks the life span would be much, much less than if you do "white collar" work and perhaps somewhere in between if a homemaker. Give it at least 6 months for a basic plate and longer when your hands are not constantly repeating the same things with the same contact to the rings each day.



Yes, a good jeweler is the first requisite. Look for a reputable business with an "in-house" jeweler ,on the premises. If you are really concerned or have a "gentle nudge" from somewhere inside that the conversations at the store are not totally right, ask if you can see a ring they have resized. This is not too much to ask but might surprise a sales person! Look at the ring and see if the work looks like no work was done at all. That is how it should look, with no sanding marks inside the ring and no obvious places where the ring was soldered. All should be finished well, both the bottom and the top of the ring.



Just a side note: Yes, be certain the store has a bench jeweler, the one who actually does the work, in the store. Today, two ladies came in and wanted an engagement ring refinished to look like new for the wedding. We asked where the ring came from and why they did not use that store to do the work, perhaps for no charge while we needed to charge for the work.They said, "They don't seem to know what they are doing". Turns out, the ring came from a large and reputable department store. The jewelry sold there is just fine.



But, the rings are sent out to some local person for all the sizing work. This ring was platinum and the work was, well, in a nice way the work was simply terrible! Either the "trade shop" jeweler didn't know how to work platinum or simply worked "volumes of jobs" with little concern for the final finish! We told them the refinishing work would have to include redoing the sizin, simply because the sizing place on the ring stood out and was discolored, with pits and holes in that area.



We could not refinish peoperly without doing the sizing over! The inside of the ring looked like a rough file was the last finishing step. This was atrocious work. The ladies did not know the difference and many customers do not know that either.



The department store is a good one and the jewelry department sells good items but the "farmed out work" was bad. So, look for a reputable store with the jeweler in the store.This keeps all responsibility for the work in one location. Having to go out to a different store and have your ring done over because it was not done right the first time is not something that I would have liked to do.



A lot of the jewelry stores that work out of department stores don't always have a jeweler in it, so please make sure that you ask before you get anything at the jewelry store. That way you have yourself money if you have to take your ring to another store to be done right.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for <a href="http://www.4engagementring.info/">http://www.4EngagementRing.info/</a>. 4EngagementRing.info is the best place to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and diamond rings. Browse through our selection of wedding jewelry and engagement rings here: <a href="http://www.4engagementring.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html">http://www.4EngagementRing.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html</a>.

Emeralds Wipe Off Or Smooth And Polished
Emeralds always have a balance between clarity and returned light, the sparkle that is. You do want a stone with at least a decent amount of returned light. What I mean by this is light that goes into the top of the stone and is reflected back out to the eye. Otherwise, the stone looks rather dead and even the color is not as apparent.



Some light coming back to the eye is needed to bring that color to life. There is a trade off often between color and brilliance, it seems, unless the stone is completely top gem quality and has both color and clarity at the same time, accompanied by well proportioned cutting of the gem.



"Dull Look On The Surface". Why would one stone look like it needs to be "wiped off" and another look smooth and well polished? Generally, this is because the well polished stone is just that, a piece of emerald able to take a good polish and then polished well by the cutter.



The duller or more waxy looking stone is either less well polished in the first place or the emerald material simply cannot take a better polish. Why not a better polish? Defects in the stone are a general reason. Often, well, almost always, emeralds are treated to some extent and that is generally with oils which tend to hide inclusions.



The inclusions which reach the surface of the stone are pretty well hidden by oils but this can also prevent a perfect polish. Unfortunately, over zealous cleaning of an oil treated stone may remove the oil and suddenly you see cracks and furrows not visible before. That is the stone as it was before being subjected to oiling! You might want to ask the jeweler about oiling on the cushion stone you have seen. Do not be surprised to hear the answer is "most likely" or "yes".



Since most emeralds are treated in this or similar manner (some really nasty ones are given a plastic sort of filler!), do not be dismayed. Only be certain the jeweler can stand behind the stone, especially considering the price of the one you like for your setting.



"Jardin". The inclusions in emeralds are called a "garden" or "jardin". This refers to the almost garden look to the flaws and swirls inside the stone. This is to be expected in most emeralds of any size, with more or less garden. Inclusions are expected. What to watch for are definite internal fractures, little breaks which appear healed with in the stone.



Such internal flaws near the areas where the setting applies pressure, as with prongs, may be dangerous in the setting process. Ask to see the stone under a scope and ask if any of the inclusions will lead to stone setting problems. At this point, all risk is in the hands of the jeweler doing the work but ask to be sure!



"Memo Goods". A reputable jeweler with connections to the colored stone world can receive what is called "memo good" from stone vendors. The vendor will send a small selection of gems for the customer to view. You might be responsible for the postage but should not be considering the purchase prices overall. The jeweler can check regular stone vendors they work with or go on the net to specialized jewelry web sites where stones are requested and sold everyday. The jeweler might be able to find a cushion cut for the setting you prefer and find a better stone in the process.



If you have a little time, this might very well be worth requesting. Do not feel locked into what the jeweler has in stock. Other stones are out there and should be available to an established jeweler. The cushion you like might be just fine, of course I have not see it. By all means, if you have any doubts about the gem, look further. You do not want to spend the money and always have a little feeling that you should have gotten a better emerald.



That is why I tell everyone that if you look for one or more settings that you like you could always get the one that you want for the inter net, jewelry store close to home, or a jewelry store that is out of state. Don't take what you get see what they get and then make ulp your mind on what you want.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for <a href="http://www.4engagementring.info/">http://www.4EngagementRing.info/</a>. 4EngagementRing.info is the best place to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and diamond rings. Browse through our selection of wedding jewelry and engagement rings here: <a href="http://www.4engagementring.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html">http://www.4EngagementRing.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html</a>.

Everyone Wants Big Diamonds
As a status symbol big diamonds have no equal. It shows that you have the ability to spend an extravagant amount of money on jewelry. When not being displayed these beautiful gems are hidden away in secure locations and rarely see the light of day. When was the last time you have seen the Esther Williams famous Champagne diamond ring or the Taylor Burton pear shaped diamond?



Finding a good jeweler is the first step you need to take when purchasing any jewelry item. It is also necessary to do some research on the grading system of diamonds. Many good article are available on the internet to assist you in understanding the 4 C's of diamond grading. After you have learned the fundamentals your jeweler can clarify your understanding.



The American Gem Society (AGS), the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) are the three most widely known and respected diamond grading laboratories in the world and each of them has developed a very similar nomenclature for identifying the 4 C's of diamonds. The 4 C's stand for Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut and I like to add shape to the 4 C's list.



The first of the 4 C's is the Carat. A carat is 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams and is always referenced within 2 decimal points. For example the the Golden Jubilee is considered the largest faceted diamond in the world and weighs in at 545.67 carts. The Taylor-Burton diamond is 69.42 carats. This is a highly accurate grading scale used to determine the weight or size of a diamond but it does not apply a value to the diamond.



The next thing you need to look at when purchasing a diamond is the color of the diamond. A white diamond is not white but clear in color. Different colors in diamonds are produced because of impurities trapped in the diamond during the formation process. Since nature rarely create anything pure many diamond will have show some color to the naked eye. Color range from totally colorless (D) to a pale color (Z). Diamonds of a higher grade than (Z) fall into the fancy color diamond range. A diamond with a color range greater that (K) usually have a descriptive phrase such as grade (M) Faint Brown.



White diamonds are usually more expensive because of their rarity, D through F, but some diamonds in the fancy color range can command a very high per-caret price. Pink diamonds have sold for up to $1,000,000 a carat. The largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond is the The Steinmetz Pink Diamond and is 59.60 carats in weight.



Clarity Grading is the third factor in determining the quality of a diamond. This grading requires education and years of practice for a gemologists to master. The number and nature of the defects in a diamond is taken into account when applying the clarity grading code. Basically the diamond is looked at with the naked eye and under a 10X magnification lens.



Internally Flawless (I.F) when it presents no internal defects under 10x magnification.



Very slightly included (V.V.S.1 to V.V.S.2) when it presents defects that are very difficult to locate under 10x magnification.



Slightly Included (S.I.1 to S.I.2) when it presents defects that are easy to locate under 10x magnification.



Imperfect (P.1 to I.1) when it presents defects that are hard to locate with the naked eye.



Imperfect (P.2 to I.2) when it presents defects that are easy to locate with the naked eye.



Imperfect (P.3 to I.3) when it presents defects that are very easy to locate with the naked eye.



Next is the cut of the diamond and the cut has nothing to do with the shape of the diamond. The proportions and symmetry of the diamond cut determines the light dispersion, brilliance or life of the diamond. If the diamond's reflective qualities are below standard then the appearance of the diamond will be adversely affected. Many of the diamond cut over a couple hundred years ago were cut to maximize the carat weight with little regard to the diamond's reflective qualities. Many of the older stones have been recut to increase its brilliance. A good cut give the diamond it brilliance or the ability to handle light in a pleasing fashion. The brightness will seem to come from the very heart of a diamond.



In 2001 the EightStar company of California wanted to prove that optical perfection of the round brilliant diamonds could be obtained by using an exclusive light-tracking instrument called a FireScope which allows a diamond cutter to align facets so precisely that the flow of light into and out of a diamonds can be completely controlled. The American Star as slowly cut from 14.89 to 13.42 carats over a six-week period. Cutting the diamond for maximum light output and not size increased the beauty of the American Star and many of the older diamonds have gone through a recut.



There are several standard categories for the shape of the diamond but there are many variations on each standard categories. Basic categories include Round, Emerald, Pear, Heart, Marquise, Oval, and Princess cuts.



The Round cut is the standard for the diamond shape and is used in most engagement rings.



The Emerald cut is rectangular or square step cut with diagonally cut corners and usually has 2 to 4 rows of parallel facets to the center of the stone. A very popular style of cut used for Emeralds hence the name.



Pear or teardrop in shape and may or may not have a large flat surface in the center of the stone and is usually cut to have about 56 to 58 facets.



Heart shaped cut is heart in shape and if a shield shaped cutlet is present (flat center) then it will usually have 32 crown facets. If no culet is present then 24 pavilion facets is the norm.



The Marquise shape is oval in shape with curving sides and pointed ends and was developed in France in the mid 1700s. It is believed to have been named after the Marquise de Pompador, who was a mistress of King Louis XV.



Oval in shape and covered with triangular facets.



The Princess shape is a very popular square or modified rectangular shape. There are many variations of crown and pavilion facets cuts on the market.



The final shape of the raw diamond us usually determined by the imperfections found in the diamond. Many imperfectsions can be remove or hidden by and experienced jeweler in mounting the diamond in the final jewelry piece and by the proper cut of the diamond.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Diamonds. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Diamonds. Visit http://www.diamonds-team.com

Magnetic Therapy: It Does Makes A Difference
Are you suffering from health problems? Do you still want to continue with it? Or do you want to get yourself free from the stiffness and aches you experience forbid you to do even simple work easily and also forbid you to sleep comfortably at night? Do you want to get relief from the frustration that has arouse due to your back or joint pain which has further affected your surroundings then do not delay instead opt for magnetic therapy. Back or joint pain sufferer imagine yourself having peaceful sleep at night and waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and revitalized. Imagine yourself able to perform those activities that you were unable to perform earlier. In fact, you could begin to feel, literally more like yourself that was well and happy and without any physical with such magnetic therapy. It is known to everyone that how important it is to maintain a healthy body in order to lead a healthy life. Magnetic Therapy or Magneto/Bio Magnetic Therapy is a safe, non-invasive and drug-free method of pain relief and are acclaimed far and wide for its functional property. Magnetic Therapy is also readily accepted by those people who hate needles or have difficulty with oral medicines. This natural therapy is highly recommended for remedial purposes that involve applying pulsed or static Magnets to the body. Clinical Research explains that the iron content present within your blood becomes responsive to the magnetic field, and the amount of blood flow actually increases when high strength magnets are applied either directly above the site of injury or near a major artery. The penetration of the magnetic field through the skin and bones, right down to the cellular level enhances increased flow of blood that further enhances an increased supply of oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissues thus improving the blood circulation disposing the toxins and increasing the healing capacity of the body. Magnetic Therapy is effective in reducing pain and in some cases eliminating pain, stimulating & improving circulation, reducing inflammation, enhancing & promoting the natural process of faster healing and relieving mild stress. Magnetic Therapy was also popular for its healing purposes and was widely used earlier by the Chinese, Indians, Greeks and Egyptians since 2000 B.C. Even Cleopatra was said to have worn a magnet around her forehead so as to benefit from its’ anti-aging properties. Therefore Magnetic Therapy does not fall under the new inventions but the continuation of the past application. Though Magnetic Therapy is generally considered pseudo scientific by the mainstream scientific community due to the lack of solid explanation but the belief that Magnetic Therapy has therapeutic effect has led to the popularization of magnetic-based products industry.

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Care for Silver Jewelry
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Silver in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Silver experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Silver.

WHAT IS STERLING SILVER
Silver is a precious metal and much like gold it is too fine to be made in a 100% form. To make it durable for jewelry, pure silver (999 fineness) is often alloyed with small quantities of copper (7.5%), thus comes sterling silver (92.5% or .925). Copper is added to strengthen the silver and make it durable to be use as a decorative or in fashionable jewelry.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
Most of our jewelry is 100% solid Sterling Silver (.925). When wrapping your items, DO NOT place them directly in paper, cardboard, or cotton filled boxes, as these contain trace elements of sulfur which will tarnish your silver jewelry. For best results, place the items in a sealed, air tight plastic bag or jeweler's sulfur free tissue (different from standard tissue) prior to boxing and wrapping.

HOW TO CARE FOR STERLING SILVER
As with every product its life span will depend on the care you give it. These are some helpful hints on how to look after your silver pieces.
1. To maintain the original condition of your silver jewelry, polish your pieces regularly using a non-abrasive cleaning cloth.
2. Soap and water will also help keep your silver looking good. Remember do not dry silver off with paper towels or tissues, always use a soft cloth.
3. When you are NOT wearing your silver jewelry, store them in a cool, dry place. Zip-lock bags and individual cloth pouches are ideal for this and will help prevent both tarnishing and scratching by other pieces. What causes silver to tarnish is air, and when it is not in use, the more you can keep it sealed the less it will tarnish.
4. Never immerse your silver jewelry in chlorine, salt water, mineral springs, and suntan lotion. Remember, some household cleaners contain chlorine bleach; these will cause discoloration and also loosen the gemstones.
5. Avoid abrasive cleaners, detergents and commercial jewelry cleaners "dips" especially if the pieces have an oxidized finish. Using harsh polishing cleaners will alter the antique look of your jewelry.
6. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or any chemical solution to clean opaque gemstones, such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli and opals. They are a porous stone and may absorb chemicals, which build up inside the stone and cause discoloration. Simply wipe them gently with a moist cloth until clean.
7. If your jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not immerse in water, as this can loosen some settings. Never use dips or abrasives cleaners on gemstones.

KEEP YOUR ANTIQUED JEWELRY LOOKING GREAT
By allowing the metal to oxidize with a solution, sterling silver becomes "Antiqued" and develops an aged look. With wear, the antique process will fade, and the jewelry will look less "black' in color, becoming a vintage silver shade.
To prolong the dark color of the metal, avoid wearing the jewelry in the shower or bath. Water will remove the finish over time. Do not clean the sterling silver or the antique finish will be removed. Instead, keep your silver in a zip lock bag with the air squeezed out to keep it looking nice longer.

Buzz Reed Owner Lucky 7 Sales www.lucky7sales.com admin@lucky7sales.com

Choosing the Right Custom Rubber Bracelet
Undoubtely, you have seen rubber bracelets being sported on the wrists of all sorts of people. The younger crowds love them, but they are not the only people that are enjoying the fashion trend of wearing their own choice of custom rubber bracelets. The silicone bracelets offered at many fundraisers carry inspirational messages. Other custom rubber bracelets serve as unique forms of advertisement by companies building their business. Custom rubber bracelets are even a favorite for family gatherings as party favors and for raising enthusiasm at sporting events.

Whether silicone wristbands come from fundraising, advertising, or special events, people like to wear them to express their thoughts of support or to make a statements by wearing these new phenomenon custom rubber bracelets.

Figuring out the various silicone wristbands sytles.

Debossed silicone wristbands require a custom mold to be created that is manufactured with the desired design. The message is then molded into the silicone rubber of the wristband. Debossed bracelets are the most universally worn custom rubber bracelet. The need for a custom mold causes these to be just a tad more expensive if you are ordering a smaller quantity of the custom rubber bracelets.

Embossed silicone wristbands are not quite as common as debossed bracelets, although they do hold their own charm as a custom rubber bracelet. Embossed bracelets also feature the use of a custom made mold. The difference is that the message is raised up off the silicone bracelet rather than being imprinted down into the rubber. The price and turnaround time of embossed bracelets is comparable to debossed bracelets.

Printed silicone wristbands are created by first making a custom designed template. The template is placed over the rubber bracelet and the message is silk-screen printed with a special dye that penetrates the silicone wristband. A custom-made printed rubber bracelet is durable enough to last quite awhile without chipping or flaking. Since there is no extra expense of using a custom mold, printed rubber bracelets are usually less expensive and have a faster turnaround that debossed and embossed silicone bracelets.

Laser-Engraved silicone wristbands are created by use of a laser-engraving machine. Laser engraving is a form of the debossed style of finish. The exact specifications of the custom message and logo are laser-engraved onto a blank rubber bracelet. Laser-engraved custom rubber bracelets are becoming more widely popular. Without the need of a custom mold, laser-engraved bracelets have the benefit of quicker turnaround times at an affordable price.

Custom debossed silicone wristbands can also be color-filled, which provide an eye-catching contrast of colors. It is a bit more expensive, but will worth the price if you are looking to stand out in the crowd.

Along with the choices of several custom rubber bracelet styles, there are also a wide variety of colors and color combinations that are possible. Color has symbolic meaning, and color meaning often aids in the choice of rubber bracelets.

White is preferred color by most church groups to share their inspirational message. Blue is a favorite for sporting events and pink is used to bring about awareness of women's health issues. Green is used to symbolize the donation of body organs, while red is used as a sign of AIDS awareness or support. Black is normally worn for formal reasons, such as with funerals.

There are plenty of choices of custom rubber bracelets, and really no way you could go wrong with such a plethora of selections. The best choice of a custom rubber bracelet is in the end, of course, always a matter of personal preference.

<p>Clark Swihart is the President and Founder of CAS Enterprises, LLC. Please visit the following websites for more information...</p> <p>TheAwristocrat.com - <a title="Promotional Products, Custom Lanyards, Leather Wristbands, Slap Bracelets" href="http://www.theawristocrat.com"> Custom Silicone Rubber Bracelets, Leather Slap Wristbands, Promotional Products, and Church & School Fundraising</a><br> <br> MartialArtsPride.com - <a title="UFC Videos, Boxing Gloves, Muay Thai" href="http://www.martialartspride.com"> Mixed Martial Arts Equipment, UFC Gloves, MMA Gear, Punching Bags, Ultimate Fighting Championships Videos, & More!</a></p> <a href="http://www.jeffblemaster.com"><font size="1">Jeff Blemaster</font></a>

My Grandmother’s Pearls
My grandmother died last year, and because of storage limitations, our family was forced to finally go through her things and decide what to part with. It’s not that we had little interest in my grandmother’s possessions which kept us from doing so sooner, just that my family had a hard time coping with her passing and simply left her things alone out of reverence. I, in particular, had a difficult time dealing with her death as we had been extremely close since I was a little girl. I had been in a very long relationship that ended despite my best efforts just prior to her passing, and she made it her life’s ambition at the time to guide me through the pain I was feeling.

It’s very difficult to go through a deceased loved ones’ possessions as you can’t help but feel the pain of their passing, but at the same time, comforting when you are able to remember the physical things that you associate with them. My grandmother lived well, as both she and my grandfather who preceded her in death worked hard to make a good life for themselves and their family. In her later years, my grandmother traveled often and relinquished most of her possessions to her children, grandchildren and various charities. Always prepared for the next phase of existence, she had little left for herself when she passed away except for a few rooms full of furniture and her clothing. While going through the boxes we had packed up after she died, we came across a box that she herself had labeled.

Inside of the box was a note, with instructions on what to do with the contents inside. It seemed she had gathered her most prized possessions and decided where she wanted them to go. These were not prized possessions in terms of monetary value, but prized in that they were special to her, which made them all the more special to us. Items were passed around and given to their intended recipients, and for me, there was a small package with my name written on the outside. I opened the package to find two items.

The first item was a strand of pearls that I knew very well, as my grandmother had worn them almost every day of her adult life. The second item was a picture of her and my grandfather taken right before they were married. The pearls meant so much to her because they were the first present my grandfather ever gave her, and he had saved up for quite a while (as the story goes) to pay for them. I began to cry, as I knew that the pearls were such an important part of her life and how much I must have meant to her for her to pass them on to me. Trying to hold back the tears, I looked at the picture of her and my grandfather, both beloved to me, and began putting both back into the package she made.

I realized something was written on the back of the picture when putting it away and turned it over expecting to find the date of the photo. Instead, my grandmother had written, “Your true love is yet to come.”

After the end of my relationship, I had cried on my grandmother’s shoulder on more than a few occasions because I felt the love of my life had gone. My grandmother often told me that I would know when the real love of my life comes along. The pearls were so important to her because they represented the true love she and my grandfather shared. She wanted me to know that my pearls were still out there, waiting for me.

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Facts About Yellow Diamonds
Yellow diamonds were once thought to be inferior. Paler yellows, such as canary yellow, are more common but are not as desirable as their darker counterparts. Intense fancy yellow diamonds are the most rare and valuable of the yellow diamonds. A tiny .25-carat yellow diamond can be priced as high as 10,000 dollars depending on its clarity and cut. Several larger 6 carat Fancy Vivid Yellow diamonds have just recently been sold for $57.000 per carat.



Yellow diamonds are colored because of the impurities that are trapped inside diamonds when they are created. If a few of the millions of carbon atoms have been replaced by nitrogen atoms, then structure of the diamond will not be significantly altered but the clarity will be changed. The amount of color displayed is dependent on the amount of nitrogen involved.



When we see color it is because the object we are looking at reflected a specific wavelength of the light spectrum. A good example of this is a yellow flower. The jeans absorb all of the light except the blue light, which is reflected by the yellow flower.



The increase the popularity of the Yellow diamonds has been caused by several factors. Celebrities are increasingly purchasing the very rare but beautiful Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamonds. Johnny Damon, the Red Sox baseball star, married Michelle Mangan last year, everyone was dazzled by the brilliant yellow diamond engagement ring she was wearing, so the yellow diamond has begun to take over the spotlight.



Many other celebrities jumped on the bandwagon, most notably Dennis Quaid's main squeeze, Kimberly Buffington, supermodel Heidi Klum, cover girl Varonica Varekova, hockey player Petr Nedved, producer Rodney Jenkins, and singer Joy Enriquez. Celebrities may be adopting yellow diamonds as the newest hot diamond trend due to their extreme rarity.



Yellow diamonds are rarely found in diamond mines. Only estimated 1/10 of 1 ppercent of diamonds mined have an intense yellow color. It is fortunate for the general public that lab created yellow diamonds are more common, more affordable, and just as beautiful.



Tiffany Diamond



The Tiffany Yellow is one of the most famous of the yellow diamonds. It is believed that the diamond was found in 1877 or 1878 at the De Beers Mine in South Africa. In the rough, the stone was a beautiful canary-yellow octahedron weighing 287.42 (metric) carats and it was valued at $12,000.000 in 1983. It is difficult to get an accurate description because no Major Gemological organization has ever formerly examined the diamond.



Kimberly Octahedron



The Kimberly Octahedron was discovered in the Dutoitspan Mine in South Africa in 1964. At 616 carats it is considered the largest yellow diamond in the world.



With the new techniques in creating laboratory diamonds it will only be a matter of time before quality Yellow diamonds are available to the general public at an affordable price.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Diamonds. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Diamonds. Visit http://www.diamonds-team.com

Making a beaded necklace or bracelet for Beginners
I make all my beaded jewelry by hand, on my website I give many genuine gemstone beads to choose from so people can customize their necklaces (also bracelets & earrings). Whatever beads you might use the technique is the same, I personally use only sterling silver parts & genuine beads such as black onyx, turquoise, red coral, aventurine, amazonite (very popular), rhondonite, mother-of-pearls, freshwater pearls, etc... I personally use only Beadalon wire which is extremely solid, it comes in many colors & variety some ticker & more solid... Much more expensive then most other wires but this is worth it if you want to make a necklace or bracelet that will truely last. Beadalon can be found in most jewelry findings online stores, Ebay, etc... Also, you need crimps (can be found in sterling silver, plated silver & other metals) and crimps covers (to hide the crimps & give it a nice professional look). There are special pliers sold to use with crimps & crimps covers which makes the job easyer but I have done it before with regular pliers well. Start by mesuring the correct leight of wire you want cut it with about 2-3 inches extra to what you need. The extra will be cut at the end but will make it easyer to work with & do the tips. Always have a ruler with you, it will be helpfull many times. So if you want a 16" necklace cut about 18-19" long of wire. I always start in the middle, so if you have a pendant or a centerpiece for the necklace put it on now. Make sure the bail or loop is solid. Usually I put a sterling silver ball on each side of the pendant large enough to stop the pendant from moving. Look at the bail or loop, make sure the beads you add on each side are larger. Now is time to add all the beads you want, using the ruler make sure you stop at the desired leight. Also dont forget that there will be a clasp at the end which will add some leight. For the clasps, there are many on the market. I usually use sterling silver lobster clasp or spring clasp. Also you need a jump ring soldered to fit with your clasps. So once you are done adding all those beads start ending the tip on one side. insert a crimp, then the clasp loop, then fold your wire back into the crimp. Tighten the wire so there is no loose wire between the crimp & clasp. Then squeeze the crimp shut with some pliers. Once that is done it should be solid. I always pull a little on it to double check. Ok now you cut the extra wire on that side leaving about 4-5mm. Using the pliers you fold it over the crimp. Now grab a crimp cover open it wide enought using your finger & set it on top of the folded 4-5mm wire, covering it & the crimp. Close the crimp cover using your pliers delicatly. Once that is all done one side is totally finished. Do the same on the other side using once again a crimp but of course a jumpring instead of a second clasp! Then a crimp cover again. Dont forget it must be tight at the end. You shouldn't see any of the wire. Then again dont make it too tight or the necklace will be stiff. I hope this is easy to understand. It is quite easy to do but the first pieces you make might need a little work redone later when you get better at it. Shop around before you buy any findings, some places are making way to much profit on people. Search for "jewelry findings" in search engines, and take a look on Ebay also, compare before you buy! I usually use sterling silver beads of size 2mm, 3mm & 4mm. And for my stone beads I use 4mm & 6mm. Thank you, It you think this is too much trouble visit my website! My prices are very reasonable. www.sterlingsilverart.com

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