The Collectibles Store Blog

From cushion cut diamond engagement ring. Gemstones are the more expensive component of any piece of Jewelry. Actually, it’s the Gemstone that identifies the Jewelry, like a “Gem ring”, an “emerald necklace” or a “ruby brooch”. 

How to Price Diamonds

Gems are generally expensive and are bought not only for decorative use but for investments too. Some very expensive pieces of Jewellery are bought mainly as an investment and they stay in the vault for safekeeping most of the time. How can a buyer or investor know that the Jewellery is worth its price tag? What or who determines Diamond pricing? 

The following are factors that dictate or determine the price or value of Gemstones: 

1. Cost of the raw material to be cleaned, cut, and  polished to produce a valuable and attractive gem. The skill of the cutter is very important to keep waste to a minimum and therefore produce a better yield. 

2. Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight 

The 4C’s are popularly associated with Diamonds but they are also applicable in assessing other gems. Here are tips in using the 4C’s
Color: The general rule is, the brighter and more vivid the color, the better. 
Clarity: In the case of Gemstones, a piece  without any visible flaws is the most valuable. The less inclusions, the better. However, there are exemptions, where inclusions give more value. In a cat’s eye, the reflection of inclusions puts the “eye”. Inclusions may also tell the origin of the Diamond.
Cut: In Gems, the angles and depth of the cut are factors for its brilliance.  
Carat: The carat, which is one-fifth of a gram is the unit by which Gems are sold, not by its size. 

3. Rarity: As with other items, if it is rare or limited in quantity, the seller can demand a higher price. 

4. Buyer’s Taste: Yes, the Gemstone should be worth its price but the buyer may choose one simply because it will look good on him or her. 

The above bases in pricing are subjective but there are organizations who can perform objective assessments based on scientific methods of testing. Certification is issued based on the test results. Some of the widely-recognized are the following: 

1. Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
2. American Gemological Society (AGS)
3. American Trade Laboratory of the American Gem Trade Association
4. American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
5. European Gemological Laboratory (EGL)

For Gems, there are organizations of those involved in their trading that issue pricing guides regularly. 

Gems are worthwhile investments if the buyer knows how and where to get his or her money’s worth.

For more see cheap diamond solitaire engagement rings and affordable emerald cut engagement rings.

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From: solitaire engagement ring. They say that gem stones are a girls’ bestfriend, then you would have to care for your bestfriend right? It’s so great to have beautiful diamond jewelry which you can use for special and formal occasions.  Although, diamonds are hard stones, it is still important to care for them to avoid any kind of scratches or damage.  

Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for your precious stones.

– It is best to avoid wearing your diamonds or gave them stained with oil, beaching liquid, or whenever you are doing heavy work.  These may affect the lustre of your stone, metal bands and may even damage the texture.  Bleach and other chemicals may discolour the metal bands. 

– When keeping or storing your gems, separate it from other jewelries.  It may scratch your other stones.  Keep your diamonds individually packed since it can also be scratched by another gem stone.  If you cannot provide a box or you would have to store your jewelry in one box, then you could use cloth pouches or plastic sealing bags to keep them separately.  Just make sure that the jewels are perfectly dry to avoid any moisture formation. 

– gem stone settings need to be checked.  You could take it to your favourite jeweller every year to check on the prong or the settings.  If they are loose, then your jeweller could make repairs immediately.  You could take it every six months to the jeweller, some would have their stones checked yearly. 

– Clean your diamond jewelry every month.  Its shine and brilliance could get affected by the oils and fats that it is exposed to.  The oils and fats could be from your skin or from your cosmetics.  You could always get a professional to clean it for you.  

– You could cleanse your jewelry at home.  Just drop it in tepid water with some liquid soap and brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush.   Use a strainer when taking it out of the water to make sure that you are not losing any stone.  Rinse it carefully with lukewarm water and dry it. Make sure to completely dry it since water could tarnish the bands and weaken the clasps.  

– You could get ammonia mixture cleansers from your jeweller.

– Aside from bleach, chemicals and fats, extreme temperatures can also be harmful to your jewelry.  It could cause some damage on the jewel’s cement or can fracture the gemstones. 

– Avoid wearing your diamond jewelries when participating in sport activities or swimming.  

– diamonds that were altered may need a different kind of care.  There are some diamond jewelries that have undergone treatment.  There are some stones that have been fractured before and were treated with epoxies.  Epoxies could melt in intense heat and eventually cause your diamond to fracture again. You could ask your trusted jeweller if your diamond jewelries have been altered in any way. 

Always keep in mind that your diamond jewelries are indeed the hardest stone, but it does not mean that they will be able to last forever given that you are not taking care of it properly.  Proper caring would surely make the shine last for a long time, even forever.

For more see round diamond solitaire engagement rings and heart diamond engagement rings.

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Hip hop jewelry, also known as ‘bling-bling’ became so popular back in the days the ‘rap’ style entered the music scene. Hip hop stars started wearing fancy jewelry that ranged from rings to pendants and earrings, which in turn gave birth to the name ‘hip hop jewelry’.

Some may argue that it was actually stars like Elvis Presley and Tom Jones who first started wearing flashy jewelry in the 1950’s. But it was the rise of hip hop music that resulted in hip hop jewelry. 

Unlike the past where a certain piece of hip hop jewelry used to last for a few weeks, today designs are changed the minute a hip hop record hits the chart and their favorite star changes his or her style. Wearing the most fashionable ‘bling bling’ or piece of hip hop jewelry could actually boost or deflate your reputation based on the fans you have; if you are a celebrity of course! A variety of cuts and styles is what you get if you go to a shop that sells hip hop jewelry. You’d have to spend hours in selecting one, as each piece is exquisite.

If you look at your favorite hip hop artists on the catwalk, red carpet or in their music videos, you’d see them wearing all sorts of hip hop jewelry made out of various metals and stones. It was actually Platinum jewelry that was used by most hip hop artists in the late 90’s. Later on Gold replaced this trend giving out the best we see today with an array of diamonds and other precious stones fixed to it.

Fashion trends tend to change at the blink of an eye. Nevertheless hip hop jewelry has sustained its charm by giving not only rings and pendants, but also watches, belt buckles, etc. Many celebrities use their hip hop jewelry as a status symbol. It is who they are. And this is what their loyal fans like. It has withstood time and still remains in the hearts of many who fancy such jewelry.

After reading this article, you will be curious to get another article has been written by the author. You can check out babylock embroidery machine site which provides numerous used embroidery machine options and related information for your need.

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Let me start at the beginning. Things had not been going well for me recently. It was nothing serious, it’s just that I had a little tension in my life. I hadn’t been sleeping well. On this night, I couldn’t seem to get to sleep. Everytime I closed my eyes, a hundred things started racing through my head. I finally decided to just get up, move to the den and watch TV for a while. I finally fell asleep on the sofa and must have slept like a baby. When I awakened, it was 7:30–an hour past my wake-up time. I could vaguely hear my clock radio upstairs in my bedroom. I had to get ready for work and get there fast!

I struggled off the sofa, took a short shower, tossed on the clothes that I had put out the night before, grabbed what I needed and ran out the door. Unfortunately, the night before I had to park my car almost a block way. Try sprinting in heels sometime! I took a quick look at my watch to see that I was only going to be about half an hour late. I had managed to make up for some of my missing time already. I felt a little relieved until…I got to my car and discovered that my purse did not contain my keys. I remembered that those keys were now resting comfortably inside my locked townhouse. My house key was safely on that same keychain! I was not a happy woman.

Coincidentally, my next-door neighbor was just coming home from his night-shift job, parking in an open curb space across the street. As he got out of his car, with a fast-food paper bag containing his breakfast and a cup of coffee in his hand, I all but tackled him as I ran across the street to tell him my problem. I know he felt sorry for me because he immediately helped me into the passenger side of his vehicle, exited his prime parking space and went on to drive me to my office. Not only did he get me to work on time, but he insisted I eat the breakfast sandwich he had purchased, assuring me that he could stop by the drive-thru again for another one on his return back home.

Thanks to this wonderful acquaintance, I was able to arrive at work on time and make my presentation without my stomach growling. I wanted to give my neighbor something as a token of my appreciation and settled on a key chain. Not just ANY key chain, mind you, but an Italian Charm Key Chain.

Italian charms are interchangeable links that can be arranged in any order and come in a huge variety of choices: sports team charms, NASCAR charms, and patriotic charms to name a few. These attractive links are stylish for both females AND males. I chose a Italian charm key chain with links representing a couple of his favorite sports teams, because he is a big fan of Boston area teams. He couldn’t have been happier with it! Giving my neighbor an Italian charm key chain was a great thank-you gift for such a thoughtful man.

Incidentally, my “Knight in Shining Armor” also picked me up at the end of my work day and arranged for a locksmith to meet me at my home upon our arrival. Guess what the first key was that my neighbor placed on his new Italian charm key chain I gave him…..a duplicate key to my front door.

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Sometimes the most difficult part of anyone’s day is getting dressed. Are these pants too short? Do these colors go together? When did I last wash this? Getting dressed can be difficult especially if you’re dressing for something important—like a date! Added pressure comes with getting ready for a date because you’ve got to look extra great. The right outfit, the perfect shoes, the perfect hair; everything has to be just right! And then you have to accessorize. Rings, bobbles, jewelry—it all has to be perfect. Sometimes selecting the right accessory can be hard, especially when you’re getting ready for a date. Nothing looks good enough! Well, have no fear, there is one accessory that always looks good: an Italian charm bracelet.

Italian charm bracelets are a hot new fad; sleek metal bracelets consisting of individual charms you have selected yourself, Italian charms are a great way to express yourself while being fashionable at the same time. You can’t get much more stylish than that! I have added Italian charm bracelets to not only my morning routine, but also my pre-date prep accordingly. In fact, they have become an indispensable part of every one of my date night outfits.

The best thing about Italian charms is that they’re removable and interchangeable, which means that they can both fit your fashion needs and give voice to your unique personality. Charms are available with all sorts of images and themes—from . You can choose to create your Italian Charm bracelet with letters, to spell your name, or with images, to tell the story of who you are and what you like to do. For everyday use, you may choose to wear fun, personal charms that express your identity. There are thousands of charms to fit your personality: charms that reflect your favorite sports and hobbies, charms that indicate your favorite travels or artists; you can even have Italian Charms made with photos of yourself or your friends! And, on those special occasions when you have to dress to impress, you can unlink a few of your personal charms and replace them with some more elegant ones such as charms with jeweled hearts and eye-catching “dangling” charms. And all the charms come in a sleek silver color, so you don’t have to worry over color combinations—these charms match any outfit you choose.

Italian Charms have been growing in international popularity in recent months. So your accessorizing will show that lucky guy that you are caught up with the latest fashion trends. Not only that, but, as Italian Charms are from (where else?!) Italy, you can finally say, “Well everyone in Milan is doing it!”

What makes an Italian charm bracelet really unique and inexhaustibly accessorizable is their interchangeability. You can select and connect different charms to go with your outfit, your mood, or your date. Is your man an aspiring artist? Choose some famous paintings for your charm bracelet tonight. He can’t get enough of Elvis? Include some “Elvis Lives” charms on your bracelet. Or, better yet, fill your charm bracelet with charms that best express you and your interests—after all, if he isn’t interested in getting to know you he’s probably not worth your time!

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