GOLDBAR 10 TOLAS 3.75 TROY OUNCES 999What's wrong with this eBay listing?The seller has dishonestly, and in breach of eBay's stated policies, used our photographs, which are copyright.Some eBay buyers may think "So what!", but whenever anybody breaks the law by stealing images, it clearly indicates that they have few if any ethical standards. If they thing nothing of stealing images, there is an increased probability that they will also think nothing of defrauding eBay buyers by offering non-existent gold bars, or failing to deliver such bars once they have received payment.If you actually own a gold bar, there is nothing to stop you taking your own photograph, even if its not great, but if you do not own any gold bars, then it's difficult to borrow one to photograph, so stealing somebody else's pictures is a quick and easy way to get a good photograph.The vendor th_antiques, currently has 3 identical auctions, plus 1 other for a (rare) 3 tola bar by Valcambi, which also uses our photograph.Listing Description1 goldbar 10 Tolas-3.75 troy ounce999.9Dear sirs, You are bidding on a goldbar(We don't know abut you, but we hate it when people tell us we are bidding on something when we know we are not bidding on it).24 karat gold3.75 troy ounce.boutgh (sic) at Dubai airport.As the seller is from Norway, perhaps we should excuse his spellings of English words,Commonly Used Gold Weights(based on troy ounces)The traditional unit of weight for gold is the troy ounce of the Anglo-Saxon system of weights and measures.
Orignal From: GOLDBAR 10 TOLAS 3.75 TROY OUNCES 999 - Fraud?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Buying Gold - A Warning on Markings
I'm writing this guide having just bought a 'gold' bracelet in the UK from eBay
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Orignal From: Buying Gold - A Warning on Markings
FAKE LINKS OF LONDON FROM LINKSOFLONDONSTORE.CO.UK!!
WARNING ABOUT LINKSOFLONDONSTORE.CO.UK
I bought a links of london sweetie bracelet and 18c white gold and diamond charm from this online company only to find that having spent almost
Orignal From: FAKE LINKS OF LONDON FROM LINKSOFLONDONSTORE.CO.UK!!
I bought a links of london sweetie bracelet and 18c white gold and diamond charm from this online company only to find that having spent almost
Orignal From: FAKE LINKS OF LONDON FROM LINKSOFLONDONSTORE.CO.UK!!
CONFLICT DIAMONDS
Sanctions and War
at is a conflict diamond?Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.
On 1 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts (A/RES/55/56). In taking up this agenda item, the General Assembly recognized that conflict diamonds are a crucial factor in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa, and underscored that legitimate diamonds contribute to prosperity and development elsewhere on the continent. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds continue to fund the rebel groups, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), both of which are acting in contravention of the international community's objectives of restoring peace in the two countries.
How can a conflict diamond be distinguished from a legitimate diamond?
A well-structured 'Certificate of Origin' regime can be an effective way of ensuring that only legitimate diamonds -- that is, those from government-controlled areas -- reach market. Additional controls by Member States and the diamond industry are needed to ensure that such a regime is effective. These measures might include the standardization of the certificate among diamond exporting countries, transparency, auditing and monitoring of the regime and new legislation against those who fail to comply.
Fuelling wars
Rough diamond caches have often been used by rebel forces to finance arms purchases and other illegal activities. Neighbouring and other countries can be used as trading and transit grounds for illicit diamonds. Once diamonds are brought to market, their origin is difficult to trace and once polished, they can no longer be identified.
The international diamond industry is already taking steps to respond, such as the adoption by the World Diamond Congress, Antwerp, 19 July 2000, of a resolution which, if fully implemented, stands to increase the diamond industry's ability to block conflict diamonds from reaching market. Other efforts include the launching, at the initiative of African diamond-producing countries, of an inclusive, worldwide consultation process of Governments, industry and civil society, referred to as the Kimberly Process, to devise an effective response to the problem of conflict diamonds.
Orignal From: CONFLICT DIAMONDS
at is a conflict diamond?Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.
On 1 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts (A/RES/55/56). In taking up this agenda item, the General Assembly recognized that conflict diamonds are a crucial factor in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa, and underscored that legitimate diamonds contribute to prosperity and development elsewhere on the continent. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds continue to fund the rebel groups, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), both of which are acting in contravention of the international community's objectives of restoring peace in the two countries.
How can a conflict diamond be distinguished from a legitimate diamond?
A well-structured 'Certificate of Origin' regime can be an effective way of ensuring that only legitimate diamonds -- that is, those from government-controlled areas -- reach market. Additional controls by Member States and the diamond industry are needed to ensure that such a regime is effective. These measures might include the standardization of the certificate among diamond exporting countries, transparency, auditing and monitoring of the regime and new legislation against those who fail to comply.
Fuelling wars
Rough diamond caches have often been used by rebel forces to finance arms purchases and other illegal activities. Neighbouring and other countries can be used as trading and transit grounds for illicit diamonds. Once diamonds are brought to market, their origin is difficult to trace and once polished, they can no longer be identified.
The international diamond industry is already taking steps to respond, such as the adoption by the World Diamond Congress, Antwerp, 19 July 2000, of a resolution which, if fully implemented, stands to increase the diamond industry's ability to block conflict diamonds from reaching market. Other efforts include the launching, at the initiative of African diamond-producing countries, of an inclusive, worldwide consultation process of Governments, industry and civil society, referred to as the Kimberly Process, to devise an effective response to the problem of conflict diamonds.
Orignal From: CONFLICT DIAMONDS
Beliefs About Quartz Crystal
A belief or belief system is a filter used by consciousness to create an experience or to judge what has not been personally experienced.
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Orignal From: Beliefs About Quartz Crystal
spotting Vivienne Westwood fakes.
when lookin for a bag ALWAYS ask th seller what colour the dustbag is. I bought my first Westwood bag last year for my b'day from the website and it came with a white brushed cotton dustbag with gold writing on it. Anything different is 100% fake so steer well clear. Also stay clear if the seller is from abroad especially Japan, China or Phillipennes. These are awful fakes!!!
Orignal From: spotting Vivienne Westwood fakes.
Orignal From: spotting Vivienne Westwood fakes.
Watch out for fake oakley listings!
There's quite a few fraudulent listings going about people,
especially for the OAKLEY JULIET DUCATI version.
The listing looks very real and draws your attention as the item is very affordable and Im talking about below
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especially for the OAKLEY JULIET DUCATI version.
The listing looks very real and draws your attention as the item is very affordable and Im talking about below
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Buying Silver Jewellery - when is 'silver' not silver?
Jewellery is one of the largest categories on eBay - lots of lovely things to buy! However, buyers need to read the descriptions carefully to ensure that the item they are buying is really what they want. The term 'Silver' in the listing title can mean many things, so never assume that the item is pure silver.
In the UK, the term Sterling is used for the purest form of silver usually used in jewellery. This term means that the metal used contains 92.5% of pure silver. The remaining 7.5% is another metal, often copper. The items will be marked 'Sterling', or sometimes '925'.
Outside the UK, the Sterling equivalent is
Orignal From: Buying Silver Jewellery - when is 'silver' not silver?
In the UK, the term Sterling is used for the purest form of silver usually used in jewellery. This term means that the metal used contains 92.5% of pure silver. The remaining 7.5% is another metal, often copper. The items will be marked 'Sterling', or sometimes '925'.
Outside the UK, the Sterling equivalent is
Orignal From: Buying Silver Jewellery - when is 'silver' not silver?
What is Gold Filled?
So what exactly is Gold Filled?
Solid gold products are as we know quite expensive, and what's the point of the centre of the item being gold when you're not going to see that centre? Most people would say because gold plate looks thin, and it will eventually wear away. But there is another product which is just as good as the real thing!
Gold filled,
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Solid gold products are as we know quite expensive, and what's the point of the centre of the item being gold when you're not going to see that centre? Most people would say because gold plate looks thin, and it will eventually wear away. But there is another product which is just as good as the real thing!
Gold filled,
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Sell your pennies for Scrap Metal
Most Lincoln pennies minted before 1982 were made of 95% copper. Each penny weighing in at 3.11 grams yields 2.95 grams of pure copper. It takes approximately 151 pennies (pre 1982) to yield 1 pound of pure copper. With copper prices averaging $3.95/lb. today, most scrap yards will pay about $3.00/lb for scrap copper. You could actually get 100% more money by selling your pre-1982 pennies for scrap metal rather than cashing them in at a bank!
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Orignal From: Sell your pennies for Scrap Metal
Safe Buying Spotting the rogues
Buying on eBay, how to spot illegal or unsafe sellers
You may have heard that Ebay attracts some who abuse the venue to sell fake goods. You may also have heard that many sellers on eBay are the worst kind of rogue sellers around.
Unfortunately this is not entirely wrong, although the majority of eBay sellers are perfectly respectable and honest, there are a number who spoil things for everyone with dishonest selling practices.
In many cases it is not possible to actually prove
Orignal From: Safe Buying Spotting the rogues
You may have heard that Ebay attracts some who abuse the venue to sell fake goods. You may also have heard that many sellers on eBay are the worst kind of rogue sellers around.
Unfortunately this is not entirely wrong, although the majority of eBay sellers are perfectly respectable and honest, there are a number who spoil things for everyone with dishonest selling practices.
In many cases it is not possible to actually prove
Orignal From: Safe Buying Spotting the rogues
SWATCH BUCKLE REPLACEMENT
SWATCH BUCKLE REPLACEMENT
Firstly You do not need specialist tools as none are supplied.
All you will
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Please read before buying silver cross 3d!
Hi!
I bought the silver cross 3D pram in March 2007. I had my eye origionally on the heritage silver cross but thought this would be the best deal as I get the bus alot and I wanted something that would allow me to get on and off easily and that would also fit into the boot of the car. I thought I would share my advice with you before you spend nearly 300 for a brand new one like I did!
Firstly, it does look good - especially when the 3d is in pram mode. Very nice to look at and if you have the white padded 'carry cot' thing in it, it's much better and comfortable for baby (plus it's better than having the car seat attachment - more cosy for baby lying down rather than being bent and in a 'sitting' position all day while you are out- not great for baby's developing back. My personal
Orignal From: Please read before buying silver cross 3d!
I bought the silver cross 3D pram in March 2007. I had my eye origionally on the heritage silver cross but thought this would be the best deal as I get the bus alot and I wanted something that would allow me to get on and off easily and that would also fit into the boot of the car. I thought I would share my advice with you before you spend nearly 300 for a brand new one like I did!
Firstly, it does look good - especially when the 3d is in pram mode. Very nice to look at and if you have the white padded 'carry cot' thing in it, it's much better and comfortable for baby (plus it's better than having the car seat attachment - more cosy for baby lying down rather than being bent and in a 'sitting' position all day while you are out- not great for baby's developing back. My personal
Orignal From: Please read before buying silver cross 3d!
How To Hunt Down The Elusive Bargains That Others Miss
Correct spelling of keywords within a listing
Orignal From: How To Hunt Down The Elusive Bargains That Others Miss
AGATE
Introduction
Chalcedony (also spelled Calcedony), is a catch all term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline Quartz gemstones. The two main varieties are Chalcedony, which is uniformly coloured, and Agate, characterized by bands/zones of different colours.
Agate is distinguished by its multiple colours that are often vivid. The bands of colour may be white, red, blue, grey, brown, or black. These are irregular and sometimes curved, caused by traces of iron and manganese. The parallel bands follow the wavy contour of the cavity where silica gel solidified.
Agate's name was derived from the site of its initial discovery, the River Achates (now Dirillo), in Southwest Sicily.
Legends
Orignal From: AGATE
Chalcedony (also spelled Calcedony), is a catch all term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline Quartz gemstones. The two main varieties are Chalcedony, which is uniformly coloured, and Agate, characterized by bands/zones of different colours.
Agate is distinguished by its multiple colours that are often vivid. The bands of colour may be white, red, blue, grey, brown, or black. These are irregular and sometimes curved, caused by traces of iron and manganese. The parallel bands follow the wavy contour of the cavity where silica gel solidified.
Agate's name was derived from the site of its initial discovery, the River Achates (now Dirillo), in Southwest Sicily.
Legends
Orignal From: AGATE
A History of Franck Muller Watches
A History of Franck Muller Watches - A Contemporary Success Story
Born in 1958Born in Switzerland on July 11th 1958, of an Italian mother and a Swiss father, Franck Muller was raised in a multicultural environment. From a very early age, he develops a growing interest for all mechanical devices. It does not take long before the young Franck starts to disassemble all the machines in the house to study their "hearts". During his teens, he collects antique astrological instruments that he buys at the flea market. Mechanics and time, an equation reveals itself naturally: it is Time to which he is going to devote himself.
School of Watch MakingHe enters the famous Geneva School of Watch making in 1981. After 4 years of remarkable studies, he receives the highest distinction and prizes. Faithful to his independence of state and mind, he chooses the most difficult path: to create his own workshop instead of joining a brand or a group of watchmakers. It does not take long before his reputation is made: gifted by exception technical talent, auction houses and collectors from all over the world send him their treasures for restoration.
Creating the StartAfter a few years in this field, he starts the creation of unique timepieces under his own name. Throughout his studies and first years as a watch restorer, Franck Muller comes to a conclusion regarding the horology world: since XIXth century, few technical inventions have been developed and applied to wristwatches. Willing to change this situation, he decides to devote his work to the realization of unique timepieces, wristwatches to be specific, which offer the same level of technical feats as those presented in pocket watches. This prerogative becomes a goal that the young entrepreneur will always hold at hearth.
The First WristwatchesIn 1983, after months of research and micro-mechanical tests, Franck Muller is proud to present his first wristwatches. They all present a complicated movement that has been entirely created by him.
World Premiere Once a YearAs of 1983, Franck Muller unveils a World Premiere once a year: the gifted watchmaker reveals his invention, may it be a Tourbillon (1983), a Tourbillon with jumping hours (1986), a Tourbillon with Minute Repeater (1987), an inverted Tourbillon with Minute Repeater and Perpetual Calendar (1989), etc...
The Watch Making GeniusIn 1992, the man that is now called by his peers the "watchmaking genius" has the privilege to see one of his models granted the exclusive title of "most complicated wristwatch in the world". This unique timepiece is forever in the history of Fine Watchmaking for never before has such a complicated wristwatch been made: Grande and Petite Sonnerie, Minute Repeater for the hours, quarters and minutes, a Perpetual Calendar programmed to the year 2100 with date, day of the week, month and monthly retrograde equation, leap-year cycle, 24-hour moon phase indicator, indicator of the internal temperature of the mechanism.
Franck Muller Genenve1992 is also a milestone since it is then that the talented entrepreneur establishes his own company, namely Franck Muller Geneve. Nestled in a village called Genthod, in the neighbouring countryside of Geneva, he finds, in this enchanting and poetic environment, the inspiration that will promote his creations. The extreme serenity and peacefulness of these surroundings reflect the quest of harmony and perfection to which the creator aspires.
The Important Step1995 symbolizes an important step in the history of Franck Muller: a new institutional and production site is inaugurated. Remaining faithful to his wish to evolve in a preserved environment, it is established in the very same village where he started his activity in 1983, namely Genthod. Only this time, it is a turn of the XIX century mansion that is restored to become, in just a few months, the marvelous headquarters of this promising brand.
The Wildest DreamIn 1998, Franck Muller once again surpasses collector's wildest dream: he adds to the 1992 and 1995 World Premieres a Chronograph with a 60-minutes counter and power reserve indicators to the striking-mechanism and movement. This exceptional piece is immediately recognized as the most complicated wristwatch of the world. 1998 is also the year that marks the beginning of the vast architectural expansion of the company. Watchland, an extraordinary concept, will enable to concentrate on the same property all the various stages of the making of a watch: conception, design, creation, prototype, research and development, stamping, assembling, etc... Watchland, a one of a kind site will be devoted to the world of watches. Not only will it allow to perpetuate the craftsmanship and tradition of watchmaking, it will also enable the public to discover this remarkable field since it will be entirely open to everyone.
The First World Presentation1998 is furthermore a milestone year since it is then that the first World Presentation of Haute Horology is organized. This exhibition, held on the Watchland site, is dedicated to the very best of this industry, namely the craft of the finest timepieces. The WHPP, greeted with success form its very first edition (2,800 visitors in 1998), has had an international reach ever since.
The First StonesIn 1999, the first stones of the two new Franck Muller Watchland buildings are laid. The constructions should be completed by the beginning of the year 2001. 1999 also represents the year of continuity and reinforcement. Just like at the very beginning, one of the main priorities of the brand is to remain independent. Independence of creation, of innovation, of strategy, the brand is proud to use all means to respond to one unique criterion: the creation of exceptional timepieces. Between the 21st and the 28th of April 1999, the 2nd edition of the WPHH is held on the production site in Genthod and is visited by more than 3500 people. In 2000, the improvement of the institutional and production departments has assured the constant expansion of the brand. Although the two new buildings aren't completed, a project for 2 additional buildings is already under study, in order to follow the developments and success of the brand.
The Office Inauguration2001 is symbolized by the official inauguration of the Franck Muller Watchland. This one-of-a-kind concept unites on the same site all the steps of production of a watch: design, creation, engineering, study and development, prototypes, movements, stamping, watchmaking, casing, after sales department, etc... Located on a superb private park of 38,000 square meters in the outskirts of Geneva (village of Genthod), the Franck Muller Watchland is unforgettable. Its breathtaking view of the Lemon Lake and of the Mont-Blanc, its turn-of-the-XIXth century architectural style, its luxuriant vegetation, all these elements and many more make of this place one that is absolutely unique. Open to the public by appointment, visitors from all over the world come to visit it. Furthermore, at the Franck Muller Watchland, the visitors have the liberty of visiting all the steps involved in the process of the making of a watch: the mystery of watchmaking is unfolded in front of them. So far, it is the first time ever that one is allowed to enter so intimately the secret world of this secular art.
The Public OpeningOn March 31st 2001, amongst the representatives of the state of Geneva, of celebrities from all over the world, of the Swiss and International Press, of clients and friends, the Franck Muller Watchland is officially inaugurated. On such an occasion, a memorable day and evening was organized: formal inauguration by the "Vieux-Grenadiers" (typical Geneva Protocol) who fire their rifles, thus symbolically "opening" the site to the public; cocktail and exclusive dinner gala; fashion show; private concert with world famous singer Charles Aznavour; followed by a dance party until the end of the night with the hippest Paris DJ's.
The First Jewellery Collections2001 is also the year of the creation of the first jewellery collections by Franck Muller. This is a project that Franck Muller held at heart for a couple of years already. After many months of studies and creation, Franck Muller presents two jewellery collections that respect in all points the criteria that he has always applied when manufacturing his watches: quality, originality, unique design.
Two New BrandsIn 2001, two new brands are launched at the WPHH to complement the range of high quality watches already produced:
PIERRE KUNZ: a brand carried forward by a watchmaker who has been developing highly complicated pieces for Franck Muller for a couple of years and to whom the founder of the company has given the liberty to realize watches under his name. ECW: a brand of sporty, trendy, high quality watches with an innovative and resolutely outstanding design. The Stylish Celebration2002: Tenth Anniversary of the company Franck Muller Geneve. Evidently, the prestigious House had to celebrate this year with style. Throughout the world, various events took place to mark this very special date. In April, the 5th edition of the W.P.H.H. is held on the premises of the Frank Muller Watchland. Again, an extraordinary Dinner Gala is offered to the local authorities, internation VIP's, clients and friends. Paul Anka himself will host the evening and all guests agreed that this was the best party ever. To mark this anniversary, Frank Muller reveals an outstanding wristwatch: The Tourbillon Revolution. This amazing time piece is the result of many years of research and development. Its mechanical conception is simply unique. Once again, Franck Muller is granted the title of all time "Master of complication".
First Prize is GrantedIn October 2002, Franck Muller Geneve is granted the first prize, men's category, of the Geneve Watch Making Grand Prix. This exclusive prize confirms the watchmaker's exceptional talent.
Orignal From: A History of Franck Muller Watches
Spotting Fake Rolex Daytona's
Rolex never made Daytonas with "Winner" or other engravings on back. If watch shown as any engavings on back be wary. Another simple way to spot a fake Daytona is to see if the markings of the 3o'clock and 9o'clock line up through the centre of the inner dials. If they do don't buy! The centre of the inner dials is above the 3 and 9 markers. Look closerly at a realisticly priced rolex ie
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Orignal From: Spotting Fake Rolex Daytona's
Don't buy fake tiffany.
Tiffany is of course expensive. If you buy fake tiffany it will still not be very cheap so don't waste your money. Sellers who frequnetly spell "Tiffany" Wrong. For example by constantly spelling it wrong on every "Tiffany" item they list by putting "TFIFANY" it is clear that these are fakes. Why would someone make the same mistake over 100 times? They wouldn't. Don't stand for it. Fair enough, if they make the mistake once or twice you might get a real authentic bargain. BUT if the same seller is constantly listing scores of "Tiffany" items spelt wrong they are doing this for a reason. Also another way to spot the real accidental spelling mistakes is to look at the description and you will usually find that this person has spelt it right there but not in the actual title- A common
Orignal From: Don't buy fake tiffany.
Orignal From: Don't buy fake tiffany.
Brief history of diamond cut
Brief history of diamond cutUncut diamonds appeared in Europe in the fourth century
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Orignal From: Brief history of diamond cut
Color Enhanced Diamonds
New AdvancesBeautiful fancy colored diamonds are steadily growing in popularity. Natural fancy colored diamonds are very rare, extremely attractive, and tremendously expensive. Very few people have the pleasure of owning one of these brilliantly intense stones. But with modern advancements in the diamond industry, it is now possible to enhance the color of a dim or pale diamond into a radiating colored stone.The most common color enhancing process is known as irradiation. Brown and yellow diamonds are transformed into fancy colored diamonds by controlled exposure to periods of radiation. The color change is permanent unless the diamond is subjected to extreme heat.HPHTHigh Pressure High Temperature treatment (HPHT) is another common color changing process in the diamond industry. Through exposure to extreme pressure and heat, similar to a diamond
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Orignal From: Color Enhanced Diamonds
The Finish of a Diamond
Aesthetically Beautiful.The finish on a diamond is more of an aesthetic term rather than a term that would change the value of a diamond. The finish just refers to the polish on the external part of the stone. Most diamonds that you will buy will already have a polished finish to them to give them the sparkle and clean look that you would want in a stone. Diamonds are essentially created for the commercial market, so you everything from mining, to cleaving, to setting it on your ring is done to make the stone more aesthetically beautiful. This is what polishing achieves, when it is well cut and polished, it is said to have a beautiful finish.A Common MisconceptionMany people think that the finish of a diamond refers to the coating of a diamond. Coating is a treatment done to change the color of a diamond. A finish is a treatment to smooth down the diamond and make it look better to the naked eye, but will not actually change the appearance of the stone. It can be done with a rough surface in certain ways to achieve the look that the customer would enjoy. It is simply just a thorough polishing or cleaning. A normal diamond can have a smooth or granular finish. Neither is better than the other, it is just up to your personal preference. Most diamonds, however, are done in a smooth finish to make it more reflective. Frequent cleanings can help maintain the appearance of the diamond finish.Why not read our other reviews?How To Avoid Purchasing/Buying Conflict Diamonds Rate this Review!If you feel that this review has been of use to you, please let us know by voting YES below!
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Orignal From: The Finish of a Diamond
The 'Depth' of a Diamond
The depth of any diamond is extremely important in regards to its brilliance and value. The depth is defined as the height of the diamond from the culet to the table. You can usually find the two different measures of depth on your diamond grading report. The actual depth is done in millimeters and the depth percentage which shows you how deep the diamond is as compared to the width.
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Orignal From: The 'Depth' of a Diamond
Silver Jewellery : A Quick
There are many different types of silver jewellery items for sale on eBay but
what's the difference between them all? The main types I'll be explaining are:
sterling silver, silver plate/electroplate, alpaca silver and silver tone.
STERLING SILVER
As a general rule, the best kind of silver jewellery to buy is Sterling
Silver. It will be located in the FINE JEWELLERY category.
Orignal From: Silver Jewellery : A Quick
what's the difference between them all? The main types I'll be explaining are:
sterling silver, silver plate/electroplate, alpaca silver and silver tone.
STERLING SILVER
As a general rule, the best kind of silver jewellery to buy is Sterling
Silver. It will be located in the FINE JEWELLERY category.
Orignal From: Silver Jewellery : A Quick
Gemstones by Months - Official Birthstones List
For centuries gemstones were associated with different times of the year. In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers - Jewelers of America (JA) had published an official list of gemstones associated with months
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Orignal From: Gemstones by Months - Official Birthstones List
Monday, October 26, 2009
HOW TO SPOT FAKE ROLEX WATCHES
HOW TO SPOT FAKE ROLEX WATCHES:they say theres a "sucker born every minute", but your not a sucker if you intentionally know what youre getting into. this guide will help you determine if that watch you want to bid on is in fact real or fake.the first think you will need to look for is a clear caseback. a fake rolex may feature a clear backing so the inner workings of the watch are on display. a few mechanical components inside may even display the signature crown to appear more impressive. this is probably the easiest way to recognise a counterfit watch. ROLEX HAVE NEVER MADE A WATCH WITH A 'SKELETON' CASEBACK!also look out for the cyclops magnification bubble. the crystal on authentic rolex watches features a 'cyclops bubble' that offers 2.5 times magnification of the date. on fake rolex watches, this bubble is often off-centre or made of glass, and usually only has 1.5 times the magnification.check the micro-etched crystal. some counterfeit watches dont even attempt to mimic this feature, but many fakes will try to match the micro-etched rolex logo that has become standard on genuine watches made after 2002. rolex began micro etching their coronet symbol into the crystal just below the 6 o'clock position. the mark is so small it is often diffictult to see with the naked eye, but can be identified under magnification. the detail is so precise that counterfeit rolex's often cannot replicate the logo accurately.look for the hologram sticker. fakes can attempt to re-create the hologram sticker that comes on all rolex case backs. the sticker features a hologram of the rolex crown possitioned just above the case reference number. most forgeries are not hologram stickers at all, but simply patterns that do not change when viewed from different angles.check the triplock crown seal. the daytona, submariner and sea-dweller models feature an extra seal between the winding tube's threads. many replicas will compleately leave this feature off or posess a fake seal that serves no practical purpose.size and weight matters. although it is not the most scientific method of determining a fake, it should be noted that authentic rolex watches are very sturdy and therefore relitively heavy. fake watches are made from cheaper materials and feel typically light. also, the bands on genuine rolex watches are full whereas fakes often display hollow links.also, check the hand movement. you obviously cant do this before bidding, but if you have just brought a rolex and want to determine if it is in fact genuine, then this is an important factor. the second hand on a genuine rolex watch features a smooth and continuous movement that often cannot be duplicated by fake watches. their movements are often in small, jerky increments.sapphire composition. many fake rolex watches will use regular glass instead of true sapphire crystal. a good test of the materials is to check the water surface tension. a smeared film of water will pull together on sapphire due to the extreamely smooth surface.be sure to check the dial of your potential purchase to see if the lettering is precise. under high magnification, the type should reveal clean edges not found in many fakes.make sure you check the case reference numbers. the serial and case reference numbers can be found inbetween the lugs on the side of the case. authentic rolex numbers are engraved with great detail and are very smooth. the numbers on fake watches often look 'sand-blasted' or are roughly etched into the case.HOW TO SPOT FAKE ROLEX WATCHES ON EBAY:if the item takes an extended period of time to ship (item will be shipped in three weeks time etc).the seller has many of the same items.if the seller is based in hong kong (loads of fake merchandice is made there).or if the seller uses the same photo for all auctions. this is not always the case but USUALLY is.if
the seller gives you a hard time about taking aditional photos, be
wary. most sellers are happy to sell their product and will be eager to
keep more people interested in bidding.DO NOT BUY A FAKE:first
off, its illegal and funneling money to dodgy people. (its rumoured
that counterfit goods gave funding to the bombing of new youk's world
trade centre in 1993). it also takes away from the economy because the
unlawful businesses that produce these handbags dont pay taxes. besides
this youre taking away the status and quality for the designers that
come up with the designs in the first place. most importantly, youll
have a rubbish quality watch that wont last more than a few months.hope you liked my guide and if it stops just one innocent person on buying a fake watch then it was worth writting.
Orignal From: HOW TO SPOT FAKE ROLEX WATCHES
the seller gives you a hard time about taking aditional photos, be
wary. most sellers are happy to sell their product and will be eager to
keep more people interested in bidding.DO NOT BUY A FAKE:first
off, its illegal and funneling money to dodgy people. (its rumoured
that counterfit goods gave funding to the bombing of new youk's world
trade centre in 1993). it also takes away from the economy because the
unlawful businesses that produce these handbags dont pay taxes. besides
this youre taking away the status and quality for the designers that
come up with the designs in the first place. most importantly, youll
have a rubbish quality watch that wont last more than a few months.hope you liked my guide and if it stops just one innocent person on buying a fake watch then it was worth writting.
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Links of London Sweetie Bracelet (FAKES) Beware!!
My husband said dont go near these bracelets on ebay as ALL are fakes!
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Orignal From: Links of London Sweetie Bracelet (FAKES) Beware!!
Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelets AVOIDING THEM!
Here's how to avoid wasting your money on a fake Sweetie Bracelet without having to take delivery to find out it's a dud.
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Orignal From: Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelets AVOIDING THEM!
Authorised Watch Dealer? Citizen, Seiko, D
Hi,Following on my guide about Seiko, many people have asked me how to find out if you shop you are buying from is an authorised dealer for that specific brand.Most official dealers will say so on their site.
Orignal From: Authorised Watch Dealer? Citizen, Seiko, D
Orignal From: Authorised Watch Dealer? Citizen, Seiko, D
Swarovski crystal
What is Swarovski Crystal?
SWAROVSKISwarovski is an Austrian company that makes high-quality rhinestones, beautiful cut crystals, costume jewelry, and other glass-related items. The company was founded by Daniel Swarovski (1862-1956), the son of a glass faceter. In 1892, Daniel developed a new mechanized technique for faceting glass crystals, creating a sparkling, diamond-like "chaton." He then started a factory (and company) in Wattens, Austria (in the Tyrolean Alps) in 1895. In the 1970's, the company expanded to the Providence, Rhode Island, USA - they later moved to Cranston, Rhode Island. In 1955, Swarovski and Christian Dior developed the iridescent Aurora Borealis stone. The company began a line of rhinestone costume jewelry in 1977.
Many people misunderstand that the raw material used in the manufacture of Swarovski crystal objects occurs naturally, like rock crystal. Swarovski Crystal is not a natural crystal, it is man made at the factory in Wattens using basic formulae perfected by Daniel Swarovski and his three sons. In this section, we will tell you more facts about Swarovski Crystal Beads and answer a number of questions frequently asked.
Why is Crystal more expensive than glass?
Higher density and purity.Crystal quality is dependent on the production method and the processing of the raw material. Both factors play a major role in determining its brilliance and the measure of its value.
What distinguishes Swarovski products from imitations and those made by other manufacturers?
The factor that sets Swarovski crystal products apart is -and always has been - the superior quality of the cutting and polishing. In recent years,crucial role has also been played by exceptionally creative in - house and freelance designers.
The Swarovski Logo?
Orignal From: Swarovski crystal
SWAROVSKISwarovski is an Austrian company that makes high-quality rhinestones, beautiful cut crystals, costume jewelry, and other glass-related items. The company was founded by Daniel Swarovski (1862-1956), the son of a glass faceter. In 1892, Daniel developed a new mechanized technique for faceting glass crystals, creating a sparkling, diamond-like "chaton." He then started a factory (and company) in Wattens, Austria (in the Tyrolean Alps) in 1895. In the 1970's, the company expanded to the Providence, Rhode Island, USA - they later moved to Cranston, Rhode Island. In 1955, Swarovski and Christian Dior developed the iridescent Aurora Borealis stone. The company began a line of rhinestone costume jewelry in 1977.
Many people misunderstand that the raw material used in the manufacture of Swarovski crystal objects occurs naturally, like rock crystal. Swarovski Crystal is not a natural crystal, it is man made at the factory in Wattens using basic formulae perfected by Daniel Swarovski and his three sons. In this section, we will tell you more facts about Swarovski Crystal Beads and answer a number of questions frequently asked.
Why is Crystal more expensive than glass?
Higher density and purity.Crystal quality is dependent on the production method and the processing of the raw material. Both factors play a major role in determining its brilliance and the measure of its value.
What distinguishes Swarovski products from imitations and those made by other manufacturers?
The factor that sets Swarovski crystal products apart is -and always has been - the superior quality of the cutting and polishing. In recent years,crucial role has also been played by exceptionally creative in - house and freelance designers.
The Swarovski Logo?
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indian Gold 22ct
How to identify Indian Gold 22ct 22k, always indian gold carrys an hallmark and it is identifed easily encrypted on the items, if it is a old gold, you ask the seller to crosscheck for value certificate.
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Orignal From: indian Gold 22ct
PAYPAL UNFAIR TREATMENT
SELLERS BEWARE, YOU THINK YOU WILL GET A FAIR HEARING FROM PAYPAL WATCH OUT.I SOLD A BRAND NEW WATCH WITH ALL THE PROTECTIVE WRAPPINGS STILL ON.BUT BECAUSE BUYER CHANGED HER MIND ABOUT THE WATCH, SHE PUT IN A FALSE PAYPAL CLAIM, STATING THE WATCH WAS MISSING DIAMONTIES OUT OF THE WATCH.I SENT IN ALL THE RELEVANT EVIDENCE DISPUTING THE CLAIM.THE BUYER SENT THE WATCH BACK TO ME WITH A CRACKED CLASS WHERE SHE FORCED OUT 3 OF THE DIAMONTIES SURROUNDING THE WATCH FACE.I COMPAINED TO PAYPAL OVER THE PHONE WAS ASSURED THE MATTER WOULD BE LOOKED INTO,NEXT THING I GOT AN EMAIL STATING PAYPAL HAD FOUND IN BUYERS FAVOUR AND GIVEN HER THE MONEY BACK.WHERE IS THE FAIRNESS IN THAT.I NOW HAVE A DAMAGED WATCH I CAN DO NOTHING WITH.
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Orignal From: PAYPAL UNFAIR TREATMENT
First Thing when you buy a Gold item
Basically most of the sellers will list 22ct as their trade identity for Selling any Gold/other relavent items, but you need to check for Hallmarked items. Because Vintage gold may or may not have Hallmarked but may claim for 22ct gold plate or hard plate, which may trick the buyer to buy without realising the quality.
First thing to do when u buy a gold item
1. Check the description as sold.
2. check the weight
3. check the quality
4. Think about possessing or reselling through ebay
5. Make profit if possible by resell or possess for future use.
6. Secure the item at home safely
7. If it is new, make sure no marks on it for quality
Orignal From: First Thing when you buy a Gold item
First thing to do when u buy a gold item
1. Check the description as sold.
2. check the weight
3. check the quality
4. Think about possessing or reselling through ebay
5. Make profit if possible by resell or possess for future use.
6. Secure the item at home safely
7. If it is new, make sure no marks on it for quality
Orignal From: First Thing when you buy a Gold item
A History of Tag Heuer Watches
A History of Tag Heuer Watches
Edouard Heuer founded his workshop in 1860. His aim was to make time measurement more precise. The company has always been known for as the
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A History of Panerai Watches
A History of Panerai Watches
In 1860 Giovanni Panerai (1825-1897), founded the family business and opens the first watchmaker's shop in Florence on the Ponte alle Grazie and establishes contact with the most prestigious and longest established Swiss watch manufacturers. Giovanni is succeeded by his son, Leon Francesco.
1890 - 1900, Guido Panerai (1873-1934), grandson of the founder, expands his grandfather's business and gives it new impetus, specializing in high precision mechanisms and becoming official supplier to the Royal Italian Navy. At the turn of the century, the shop moves to the Piazza San Giovanni site in Florence, where the Panerai boutique can be found today, and the Orologeria Svizzera name, still visible today, appears on the shop door to underline the close link between the watches and their Swiss origin. In this period, the first deliveries of precision optical and mechanical instruments are made to the Ministry of Defence.
1910 - The first experiments with luminous materials begin and a system is developed to make instrument dials and sighting and telescopic devices luminous. The luminescence is achieved using a mix of zinc sulphide and radium bromide given later the name Radiomir. Inserted into tiny glass tubes to increase its resistance over time, this mix was the subject of patent applications by Guido Panerai in Italy and other countries.
1915 - 1918. The Royal Italian Navy employs the precision instruments supplied by Panerai during the First World War. The products delivered include luminous devices for sighting naval guns at night, timing mechanisms, depth gauges and mechanical calculators to launch torpedoes from MAS, high speed motor torpedo boats.
1934 - Guido Panerai's children, Giuseppe and Maria, continue developing their father's business. Maria is mainly concerned with running the Orologeria Svizzera shop, while Giuseppe devotes himself almost entirely to the company's business of supplying underwater instruments, torches, wrist compasses and wrist depth gauges to the Royal Italian Navy. He can take credit for the creation of the famous Radiomir and Luminor watches.
1936 - Following disappointing tests carried out on the watches available at that time, the Royal Italian Navy asks Panerai to develop a watch able to withstand the extreme conditions it will be subjected to. A Radiomir prototype is submitted to the Command of the First Submarine Group and the watch passed all the tests with flying colours.
1938 - Production of Radiomir watches begins for the Italian Navy, with a large (47 mm in diameter) cushion-shaped case, wire loop strap attachments welded to the case, screw-down crown, luminous dial easy to read under water in the dark, and a hand-wound mechanical movement supplied by Rolex. The wide strap was made of oiled and punched leather, and with its extra long length it could be worn over the diving suit.
1943 - Officine Panerai presents the prototype of the first Panerai chronograph, the Mare Nostrum, designed for deck officers. Due to events in the war, the Mare Nostrum never went into production but remained at the prototype stage. The device protecting the winding crown was fitted to the Radiomir watch to keep the crown in position. This device will enable the watches to descend to a depth of 200 metres, a remarkable achievement for the time.
1949 - The patent is granted for Luminor, the luminous substance based on tritium, which replaced the previous Radiomir mix developed between 1910 and 1915. The Radiomir and Luminor watches take their names from these two luminous substances.
1956 - On the request of the Egyptian Navy, Panerai creates a large Radiomir watch with an Angelus movement with 8-day power reserve and 5-minute intervals to calculate immersion times. For other Mediterranean Navies, Panerai makes limited production runs of approximately thirty pieces each. In the same year the patent is granted in Italy for the device protecting the winding crown, which clamps it in position and ensures the water-resistance of the watch. This device will be patented in the U.S.A. in 1960.
1972 - On the death of Giuseppe Panerai, the running of the Florentine company is handed over to the engineer Dino Zei and the family firm becomes Officine Panerai s.r.l. The close collaboration with the Italian Navy continues in the supply of watches, instruments and sophisticated devices for its men.
1980 - A watch is designed capable of withstanding a pressure equivalent to a depth of 1000 metres. The only prototype built has a titanium case, an automatic mechanical movement, a rubber strap and a luminous dial achieved by using tiny phials of tritium on the dial face and on the hands.
1993 - Officine Panerai creates a numbered series in a limited edition of models aimed at the civilian market: Luminor, Luminor Marina and an edition of the Mare Nostrum chronograph.
1995 - A special edition of watches called Slytech is created. Sly is the nickname of actor Sylvester Stallone, a great admirer of the watch, who had requested a special edition called Submersible to use during the shooting of the movie Daylight. Subsequently, Stallone requested an edition with a white dial, named Daylight, and a personalized re-edition of the Mare Nostrum. All of these watches bear the actor's signature engraved on the back.
1997 - The Vend?me Group, now RICHEMONT, takes over Officine Panerai and the company's range of watches, compasses, torches and depth gauges. New productions are started up, with a significant improvement in quality, and the official watch of Italian Navy commandos takes on an international dimension following a worldwide launch.
1998 - The first Panerai watches with automatic mechanical movements are presented to an international public: the Luminor Submersible professional diver's watch; the Luminor GMT with a second time zone indication and the Luminor Power Reserve with a function of high quality watchmaking which enables the power reserve to be read.
1999 - At the International Salon of Haute Horologerie in Geneva, Panerai presents a new range of Contemporary watches based on important innovative features: a smaller case, 40 mm in diameter; a Panerai Luminor fitted with a metal bracelet; the use of the chronograph function and an exclusively designed Luminor chronograph case, in which the push-pieces are integrated into the device protecting the crown in total respect of the aesthetic of the historic watch; the use of a titanium-steel combination for the case parts and the links of the bracelet of the Panerai Luminor Chrono.
2000 - Panerai creates the Luminor Submersible 1000 metres, a professional diver's instrument designed according to the NIHS (Normes de l'Industrie Horlog
Orignal From: A History of Panerai Watches
Amber
Introduction
Amber is the ancient and fossilized resin of long dead trees that grew in forests millions and millions of years ago. Over the eons, chemical and physical changes occurred, fossilizing the resin to produce the Amber we know today.
Although a fossilized plant resin that generally consists of organic carbon, hydrogen and oxygen structures, the compositions vary depending on the type of parental plant species.
Research indicates that Amber ranges from about 2 million to 360 million years in age, although most gem quality Amber ranges from 5 million to 50 million years.
Amber is a unique gem. On top of its beauty, Amber bequeaths man valuable scientific data through its ability to act as a window on the past. Its unique ability to preserve the organic tissues of prehistoric life forms is highly valued by both gem collectors and scientists alike. Legends
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Amber is the ancient and fossilized resin of long dead trees that grew in forests millions and millions of years ago. Over the eons, chemical and physical changes occurred, fossilizing the resin to produce the Amber we know today.
Although a fossilized plant resin that generally consists of organic carbon, hydrogen and oxygen structures, the compositions vary depending on the type of parental plant species.
Research indicates that Amber ranges from about 2 million to 360 million years in age, although most gem quality Amber ranges from 5 million to 50 million years.
Amber is a unique gem. On top of its beauty, Amber bequeaths man valuable scientific data through its ability to act as a window on the past. Its unique ability to preserve the organic tissues of prehistoric life forms is highly valued by both gem collectors and scientists alike. Legends
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Aquamarine
Introduction
Adrift in my hammock, my gaze floats off into the seamless horizon that welds the sea with the sky. Aside from the myriad of blues that envelop me, the only colour to be seen is the occasional flash of green from the swaying palms above. The whispering sea lulls me into tranquility, I close my eyes and the indelible image of cool Aquamarine waters envelops me in their warm caress. I find peace at last. Legends
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Adrift in my hammock, my gaze floats off into the seamless horizon that welds the sea with the sky. Aside from the myriad of blues that envelop me, the only colour to be seen is the occasional flash of green from the swaying palms above. The whispering sea lulls me into tranquility, I close my eyes and the indelible image of cool Aquamarine waters envelops me in their warm caress. I find peace at last. Legends
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Chocolate Topaz (TM) A guide to the facts
Chocolate Topaz (TM)
Chocolate topaz is a trade mark of Martin Furber
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Chocolate topaz is a trade mark of Martin Furber
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laptop backlight problems
If your laptop has a dim screen or looks as if the light has gone it then the most common problem is the inverter. What is an inverter ? The inverter is a small motherboard just below your screen. If this has a problem the tube in your screen will not light up. You can buy the inverter and replace it and the screen will light up. Just type in laptop repair screen in google and there are companies that tell you exactly how to do this. You may however have a problem with your tube this is a bit more serious. The thin tube inside your screen may need to be changed.
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Orignal From: laptop backlight problems
The Fluorescence of a Diamond
Hot Topic!Diamond Fluorescence is a hotly debated topic among the diamond industry, because some feel strongly that it has an impact on a value of the diamond, whereas others feel that it makes very little difference on the appearance of the diamond. What diamond fluorescence refers to is the ability of the diamond to emit a soft colored glow when put under an ultraviolet light, or black light as it may be called.It is found that if a stone has a grade from J to M a moderate amount of fluorescence actually makes the stone more attractive to people because with these color grades the fluorescence helps to cancel out some of the yellow coloring. This makes it appear more colorless then it actually is. However if you have a stone with a grade from D to F, which means it has a high color, fluorescence is thought to get in the way of the flow of the light. The makes the diamonds appear oily or dirty looking. This may not actually be true, but it is perceived to be true by some of the diamond industry, hence the lower price of the diamond. In some cases D to F stones should not be bought anyhow with any fluorescence just because of the possible discoloration but again, that is still up for debate.In general, the average fluorescence makes absolutely no difference when the diamond is looked at flat side up. You should not let the amount of fluorescence influence your choice of diamonds. Why not read our other reviews?How To Avoid Purchasing/Buying Conflict DiamondsThe Finish of a DiamondRussian Diamond Mines - Host to Masive Open Pit Mines Rate this Review!If you feel that this review has been of use to you, please let us know by voting YES below!
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Orignal From: The Fluorescence of a Diamond
Russian Diamond Mines - Host to Masive Open Pit Mines
The ElementsDespite the extremely cold temperature, Russia plays host to some of the largest open pit diamond operations in the world.
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Orignal From: Russian Diamond Mines - Host to Masive Open Pit Mines
Biography of Rubies
Ruby comes from the latin word ruber meaning red
Rubies are probably the rarest of the four main precious stones and are red in colour. They belong to the gem species called corundum which has only one other group, sapphire. They occur in mines and alluvial deposits in conjunction with various semi-precious stones.
Rubies have always has a superstition attached to them because they are a the colour of blood, and in Far East where they are mainly found they are considered to enhance the wearer's divinity and protect him/her aginst force and illness. Ruby gemstones are valued according to size colour cut
Orignal From: Biography of Rubies
Rubies are probably the rarest of the four main precious stones and are red in colour. They belong to the gem species called corundum which has only one other group, sapphire. They occur in mines and alluvial deposits in conjunction with various semi-precious stones.
Rubies have always has a superstition attached to them because they are a the colour of blood, and in Far East where they are mainly found they are considered to enhance the wearer's divinity and protect him/her aginst force and illness. Ruby gemstones are valued according to size colour cut
Orignal From: Biography of Rubies
" Tiffany " Silver jewellery COUNTERFEITS !!
'COUNTERFEITS' ABOUND WITH 'TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENTS' BUYERS BEWARE ANY ITEM SHOULD BY LAW BE DESTROYED AND IS THEN ONLY WORTH ITS SCRAP WEIGHT VALUE IN SILVER 925 STERLING .
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Orignal From: " Tiffany " Silver jewellery COUNTERFEITS !!
Kenneth Jay Lane Strawberry Necklace - Genuine or Not??
The big question - are they GENUINE? I am a huge fan of Kenneth Jay Lane and am lucky enough to own a few pieces of his gorgeous jewellery - my lovely husband is very generous!
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Orignal From: Kenneth Jay Lane Strawberry Necklace - Genuine or Not??
Coloured Diamonds
Colored Diamonds
Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage these days.
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Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage these days.
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Selling Antiques
You want to sell your antiques or collectibles online but before you get started there are a few basics that you need to know. Online auctions from Ebay to uBid.com to Yahoo! Auctions are becoming a more common venue for sellers of everything from teddy bear collectibles to antique armoires.
Research
Before you list any item on an online auction, search for your item or similar items. Watch some of these auctions until they close. Do this over the course of several weeks. This will give you a good indication of how many similar items there are currently up for auction, how many auctions are successfully completed and, the prices commanded for the item. If there are many similar items to yours listed that are not selling or selling for a low price, price your item accordingly. Conversely, if there are only a few similar items that are selling for a high price, you
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Research
Before you list any item on an online auction, search for your item or similar items. Watch some of these auctions until they close. Do this over the course of several weeks. This will give you a good indication of how many similar items there are currently up for auction, how many auctions are successfully completed and, the prices commanded for the item. If there are many similar items to yours listed that are not selling or selling for a low price, price your item accordingly. Conversely, if there are only a few similar items that are selling for a high price, you
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Trifari jewellery ranges from 1932-1972
1932-1972 Trifari jewellery lines
1932 Gainsborough1945 Jewels of Tanjore1946 Talisman1948 Moghul1949 Scheherazade1949 Day and Night1950 Orientique by Trifari1951 Gems of India1952 Coronation Jewels1952 L'Opera1954 Evening Star1958 Pins
Orignal From: Trifari jewellery ranges from 1932-1972
1932 Gainsborough1945 Jewels of Tanjore1946 Talisman1948 Moghul1949 Scheherazade1949 Day and Night1950 Orientique by Trifari1951 Gems of India1952 Coronation Jewels1952 L'Opera1954 Evening Star1958 Pins
Orignal From: Trifari jewellery ranges from 1932-1972
Buying Body Jewellery Made From Fimo
Dangers of Handmade Fimo Body JewelleryBody jewellery made from Fimo (polymer clay) can have some serious health implications when used as body jewellery particularly when used in stretched lobes. Fimo in particular is known to give some people irritation or other allergic reactions, which many people that buy fimo body jewellery to be worn in piercings are unaware of.Even those covered in Fimo's varnish aren't going to be any different, in fact many of them are worse as that adds a load more chemicals that the body can broken down by the body's acids and absorbed. One way to combat this is to use a natural varnish, that has very few unnatural chemicals in it, there have had no reports of any irritation or allergic reactions, to a natural based varnish but there is still a risk.Although the longer the fimo item is in the piercing the more the body can break down and absorbed by the body, this is the same for all materials like acrylic, fimo, PMMA. The only way to combat the body's natural acids is to wear natural items made from wood, bone, buffalo horn or stone, but as these can be expensive surgical steel items seem to be the next best option, and with regular cleaning tend not to cause a problem like Fimo.We do not advise that anyone stretch their ear lobes (or any other piercing) with any fimo items as every time you stretch you are creating in effect a fresh piercing that needs to be treated with care and cleanliness of a new piercing. If you have your heart set on stretching with Fimo items please, please be aware of the risk that is involved and be prepared for the worst. Many people who have had reacts to Fimo when used as body jewellery have ended needing corrective surgery, and have had to endure server pain from infections and inflammations. If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at the address below, or through the contact member button on ebay.Email: bobsworldstore@hotmail.co.uk
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Orignal From: Buying Body Jewellery Made From Fimo
Vintage brooch fastenings
Pin fastener is the most common fastener and spans the eras, from edwardian onward, though the very early fasteners closed with a c shapedend instead of a rotating one. Fur clip was designed to be worn on the thick lapels of fur coats, or other heavy materials such as tweed. Not suitable for lighter materials such as wool or silk as the prongs can leave marks, mainly used from 1940s to 1950s, Dress clip is a flattened hinged fastener and was used in the 1940s mainly Duette clip,made by many companies,most famously Coro. Comprises of a frame which allows two brooches to be worn together, the whole mechanism comes apart if you wish to wear the brooches seperately
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Orignal From: Vintage brooch fastenings
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
What to look for in a Scuba Diving Mask
There are many masks on the market and they all differ - the question is what should I look for when choosing one? How should I be sure I have bought a quality mask that is going to serve me well while diving or snorkeling? Below are some pointers to help you find the right mask for you -Construction and materials - the two materials used to make the soft skirts out of (the part of the mask that seals ont the face) are plastic and silicon. Plastic masks are usually inexpensive - these can be good for kids in swimming pools but in terms of getting a good seal and for longevity go for a silicon skirt. Chlorinated water and sun damage the plastic skirtsmore easily. Silicone moulds to the shape of the face more easily and provides a better seal. Silicone skirts on masks come in two colours - clear and black. The clear seal allows more light in and gives a brighter view, however the black masks are favored by photographers who do not want additional light entering the viewfinders on their cameras.What should I do withmy new mask? There is a protective coating on the inside of the mask when you first get it. Take a pea size peice of toothpaste and rub it on the inside of the mask lens for about a minute and then rinse off. This will stop the mask from fogging up when used. Then before you use the mask each time add a few drops of Sea Drops Anti Fog solution and this will ensure the lense does not fog during your dive and spoil your enjoyment.Hope this helpsPlease rate the guide.ThanksSpanchops
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Orignal From: What to look for in a Scuba Diving Mask
Beware of RingLovers: don't deliver, leave bad feedback
Ringlovers is a site based on eBay.com but accessible from eBay.co.uk, which is how I came to make three purchases from them at the same time. The goods never arrived. I wrote to them several times and they tried telling me that the parcel was stuck in UK Customs;. not for this length of time, it isn't. So I raised a dispute for non-delivery. Ringlovers claimed to PayPal that because they had the number of the despatch note, this proved delivery (of course it doesn't). Now I've just found out that they left negative feedback for me - while the dispute is still open. Fortunately, eBay wrote to me saying that they'd investigated the negative feedback and removed it (thank you, eBay) but this is a warning: don't deal with this bunch of sharks.
Orignal From: Beware of RingLovers: don't deliver, leave bad feedback
Orignal From: Beware of RingLovers: don't deliver, leave bad feedback
Nigeria mobile phone scam!
I decided to do this small write up and share my experience as a seller with fellow trust worthy ebayers. The so-called NIGERIAN scammers got me twice one week in a row. After winning my auction, one cleverly[or so he/she thought] send me a phoney paypal page demanding i send the phone to a address in Nigeria! Well i have been arround ebay for a while and this prompted me to check on the links, which concluded my doubts and i forwarded the mail to ebay spoof email reporting department. What followed was even more cleverly put up, because the mail came from an ebay page saying that that account has been restored to the original owner and thus i should consider the transaction as genuine and send the phone to the Nigerian address! Once more i checked the links and satisfied that it was the same con, o forwarded to the spoof email handlers at ebay. The con did not stop there and now followed a legal mail from their paypal page demanding that i send the phone to the Nigerian address or face legal action since funds were held at their paypal money dispatch office[as they call it]! Once again i forwaded this to ebay and having had enough of these spam mails i started blocking them from my inbox- all mails from this con buyer. This happened to me twice. One scammer was in the US, japan and the other in London. These con artists are hard to dodge and no matter what you do to block them from your auctions they find ways to get through. CAUTION! i fell once for these fake pages and what saved me was that after realising that i had entered my ebay password into a fake webpage.. i logged into my ebay account and changed the password immediately. That saved me. My advice is when you get these guys report them to ebay and block their email addresses from even reaching your spam box. I hope this will HELP someone not to fall into the hands of these crooks. The victim - ebay store
Orignal From: Nigeria mobile phone scam!
Orignal From: Nigeria mobile phone scam!
Body Piercing - Types of Piercings and their names !
I have written this guide to explain some of the various types ofPiercings available and their placings - If you know of any i have missed then please let me know !Ear PiercingsEar LobeHelix piercing ( Top outer ear Cartilage ), Auricle Piercing ( Middle Outer ear cartilage ) Rook ( Inner ear cartilage )Conch ( Centre of the ear )Diath ( Inner ear cartilage just above the the opening to the ear canal )Forward Pinna ( front rim of the ear cartilage )Tragus ( Flap of skin at the enterance to the ear canal )Anti Tragus ( Outer rim of the ear oposite the tragus )Scaffold ( Two seperate rim piercings designed to be worn with a long barbell )EyebrowYou cant really do much with these !Nose PiercingsSeptum ( cartilage at the base of the nose )Bridge ( between the eyes at the very top of the nose )Tongue piercingsOnly really one place for these too !Lip and Cheek PiercingsLower LipMadonna Piercing ( 2 of these are called twin madonna piercings !! )Filtrum Piercing ( upper lip labret piercing )Superior Fraenum ( Central piercing inside the mouth behind the upper lip )Inferior Fraenum ( Central Piercing inside the mouth behind the lower lip )Neck PiercingsPendant ( in the fold of skin below your adams apple )Oblongata ( Back of the neck )Belly or Navel PiercingsUpper Belly ( The most common )Lower Belly ( the bottom of the belly is pierced instead of the top ! )Side ( dont need to explain this one ! )Scaffold ( one piece of jewellery worn in both top and bottom belly piercings )Nipple PiercingsNipple ( can be horizontal or vertical )Brooch Piercing ( off centre on the fleshy part of the chest )Cleavage Piercing ( no prizes for guessing this one ! )Adult PiercingsChecking with Ebay on this bit !!!
Orignal From: Body Piercing - Types of Piercings and their names !
Orignal From: Body Piercing - Types of Piercings and their names !
Expert Advice From An Old Box Restorer
Types Of BoxesBoxes have existed it seemsfor ever .Even today its good advice to keep the box in case you need to return or resell an item Boxes have always been used to store specific items,A caddy to keep the tea in and keep it dry.A sewing box for needles, thread, buttons etc. A writing slopeto write on, and incidentally it has recently been rediscovered that a slope is a huge benefit for better handwriting, its also a place to keep pens ,ink, paper ,rulers and letters.Many scientific instruments needed specialised boxes .One of the most curious boxes must be the glove box, simply for gloves and always lockable.Most of the boxes are no longer used for their original purpose.Many have been slightly adapted for modern use. For keeping TV remote controls locked away until homework is finished.For holding mobile or cell phones and their charging devices.Mementos.keepsakes,photos of loved ones all need somewhere special,somewhere you can be sure is safe.In the dreadful instance of fire the contents of a box usually survive.Types of finishesMost boxes consist of a carcass with a veneered finish.The benefits are that they are inevitably stronger than a solid wooden box and the veneer can be spectacular.Solid wooden boxesare usually older dating from the Georgian period 1760 to 1800. Mahogany is the most popular due to its ability not to shrink or crack but country pieces can be made of elm ,or oak or any number of woods that appealed to the craftsman.Many Georgian boxes have a fine holly lipping around the uprights and lid. Holly when first used is a creamy white contrasting with the rich red of mahogany.Veneered boxes used all manner of finishes .Rosewood was highly thought of and is so called because when cut it smells or roses.It also polishes to an almost mirror finish and highly figured rosewood was always expensive and invariably used in top quality boxes.Ageing rosewood is helped by the fact that its almost black when first sanded and only becomed lighter to an almost walnut colour with age.Its one way of quite accurately dating a box.Another way is weight.As wood gets older it gets heavier.Dealers in antique furniture would be seen to lift a chair to judge its weight and to be sure is really was an antique.In England walnut is highly thought of, lighter in colour than mahogany ,and often having a delightful figuring or graining and usually the better the figuring the better the box.Good veneer ended up on top quality boxes.Oak was never a popular veneer and tended to be usedas a solid wood.Out of interest old clock makers used oak a lot but never the tiger skin oak with the wide rays.They thought this was a common wood and instead used the very fine grain almost like a partridge wood with tiny little flecks of grain.Ebony ,a very hard wood, was used in Georgian period for edging quite sensibly really.Most expensive is corommandel or calamander.It was only available from a small region in India.It is rare, difficult to work, polished even shinnier than rosewood. It is liable to form hairlane cracks but live with this small defect.This wood is darker than rosewood being almost black and does not get lighter with age.The grain is chocolate which almost shimmers.Due to its rarety it was primarily used on lids and fronts with the slighty cheaper and more available ebony on the back and sides.Many other woods were used.Rosewood coupled with birds eye maple in intricate patterns was always popular.Another finish was penwork.Rich young ladies would buy a plain box of sycamore, which is almost white,with the lock already in place.Then they would draw using waterproof indian ink all manner of patterns and pictures.Many of these were of a poor standard, being rich did not make you automatically talented in the arts but some survive and are quite lovely.The good ones are very highly thought of .Inlay WorkIn an attempt to enhance a plain box,even if it had wonderful veneer work, and to get a better price ,many were inlaid.The very best has alway been Tunbridge Ware. Craftsmen from Tunbridge Wells in Kent in England created wonderful pieces always using self coloured wood ,never any that were dyed.The wood was cut into strips of about an eigth of an inch or say a millimetre in diameter then stuck together in bundles to create a patern or picture .Time consuming , expensive and fabulous.Tunbridge bands or parquetry bands was the more affordable because it used larger sections of wood.Not so subtle as Tunbridge Ware and definately easier to mass produce and because of this many survive in very good condition..Mother of pearl is a sea shell and Indian craftsment excelled at creating wonderful shapes and brilliant designs nearly alway on rosewood.Abalone is another shell with a blue and grey finish ,more expensive than mother of pearl and usually used in conjunction. with mother of peal to form a contrast. Marquetry , that is pictures in veneer ,was rarely used.Great works of carving on sandelwood come form Indian craftsmen and wonderful patterns from the middle east.Sadly they are out of vogue and if they appeal to you buy now they will never be cheaper.Then we have brass inlay. Indian craftsmen hammered small pieces of brass or fine rope style wire into the wood.English writing slopes had brass bands and corners for protection. These are known as campaign boxes or slopes.They were used by Officers on campaigns at the front of perhaps the Crimea or India or a dozen other places we were at war with.Points of interest.Locks.As a rule a box without a lock is not Victorian or Gorgian.The Victorian locked up everything.The thought of the box being stolen never occured to them ,only the contents would be pilfered.A box contained something of value and it simply had to be locked to prevent the servants slealing.Most period boxes are sold with a lock,a few with a key, and fewer still with a working lock,hasp and key.Cutting a key for an old box lock is time consuming but it qualifies as commendable restoration. A lock that is old is a delicate thing,treat it with care do not force it and a little oil occasionally goes a long way.Watch out for the delightful French double lock.The hasp is usually round ,turn the key twice to lock and twice to unlock.The theory was that a thief would turn the key once and thinking it was faulty would give up.Look out for writing slope locks.These are no longer produced.On a box the prongs or hasp goes into the lock on a slope the prongs are part of the lock ,this is to prevent sleeves catching as you write or paint.Robin Edwardes March 14th 2009To Be Continued
Orignal From: Expert Advice From An Old Box Restorer
Orignal From: Expert Advice From An Old Box Restorer
Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelet
I was thrilled when i recently purchased my LL sweetie bracelet only to find upon taking it to the shop that it was a fake.I had my suspicions when i opened the parcel to find the bracelet was wrapped in plastic packaging which i thought was quite odd, after much speculation i took it to the Links of London store within Selfridges manchester and the kind lady took one look at it and confirmed my suspicions. The points to look out for are:1) the engraving on the fake LL sweetie bracelets are quite faint, the real ones are boldly engraved2) on either the left or right side of the clasp normally two rings in, there should be a stamp/hallmark3) the weight of the fakes are much heavier than the real ones and they have a tinny sound if shaken4) No real sweetie bracelet is sold with a charm already attached apart from the childrensversion.All charms are sold separelty and retail at
Orignal From: Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelet
Orignal From: Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelet
SURFER JEWELLERY - BEACH STYLE
SURF JEWELLERYNothing says Summer has arrived like putting on some beach jewellery. Usually unisex, 'surfer' or beach jewellery is just what you need to get in the holiday mood, wherever you are. Made from a combination of leather thong, cord, glass, wood and shell, beach jewellery can be bought in fashion shops, surf shops andright on the beach in holiday resorts.Surfing style has crossed over into mainstream fashion because people admire the image of the laid back surfer, leaving the rat race behind and following the waves.Beach jewellery fits in with the casual style of Summer. It's simple, goes with everything and can be worn in the water ( though this will shorten the life of most jewellery, but it is usually cheap!). So even if the closest you are going to get to the beach this Summer is watching re-runs of 'Hawaii 5 0' put on some beach jewellery for that instant laid back holiday feel.Look at my new range of Surf Style Jewellery in my shop, RUNNING WILD JEWELLERYSURF JEWELLERYI live on the spectacular north coast of Northern Ireland and there is nothing I like better than walking on the beach, rain or shine! Thisrange of jewellery was inspired by all the different bits and piecesyou find washed up on the beach from around the world that have been smoothed by the waves. I never leave the beach without a sandy pocket full of shells, pebbles, tiny pieces of driftwood or a piece of smoothed glass. The different beadsI use alsocome from all around the world, yet compliment each other perfectly.IF YOU WANT TO DO MORE THAN JUST LOOK THE PART, YOU CAN LEARN TO SOUND LIKE A SURFER WITH THIS DICTIONARY OF SURF LINGO!air - getting airborne with fins out of the water. aerial - airborne manoeuvre with many varieties borrowed from snow
Orignal From: SURFER JEWELLERY - BEACH STYLE
Orignal From: SURFER JEWELLERY - BEACH STYLE
BLOOD DIAMONDS - CONFLICT DIAMONDS.
The release of TheBlood Diamond film will heighten awareness of the real issues of 'conflict diamonds'The term conflict or
Orignal From: BLOOD DIAMONDS - CONFLICT DIAMONDS.
Orignal From: BLOOD DIAMONDS - CONFLICT DIAMONDS.
Napier
Napier are often overlooked and dont command the same high prices of designers such as Trifari and Corocraft, so I have put together a brief history of this often overlooked and unsung hero of costume jewellery. Napier is the oldest Costume Jewellery company being founded in 1875 in North Attleboro Massachusetts. It started under the name of Whitney
Orignal From: Napier
Orignal From: Napier
What to consider when buying and selling Italian Charms
When purchasing Italian charms make sure that you consider the following key points -The priceYou can easily get wholesale lots of laser, photo, letter, mood and simple designs for under 10p each on ebay provided you are not to picky. Cheap charms are best bought from Hong Kong. Enamel charms are more expensive but you can often pick up lots fromEbay for around 15p each. Enamel charms are best bought from America.ProfitHow much can you make back on what you buy? I sell my charms from 40p - 60p and find that people are happy to pay that much for them. You can get away with charging
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Orignal From: What to consider when buying and selling Italian Charms
Monday, October 19, 2009
Misleading jewellery info! 925 silver or plated?
It always astounds me how misleading jewellery ads are. Gold is advertised as '10kt GOLD! GP .... which the actually mean to say 'Gold plated'or layered with gold .... gold plated! Duh! White Gold or should we say WGP (white Gold pated) or the best Silver (colored or tone).... hmmm could that be Silver Plated? Yep sure is! Sterling silver is 925 - stamped! Without the 925 sign it isn't sterling silver and will tarnish!Let's go on to Diamonds - the are described in various ways to promote 'Cubic Zirconium' Read ads carefully - Don't be fooled.
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Orignal From: Misleading jewellery info! 925 silver or plated?
Buying Jewellery as an Investment
Buying Jewellery as an InvestmentJewellery as an InvestmentWe are often asked about buying jewellery as an investment. Even morefrequently we get customers telling us that jewellery in an investment,or so they have always believed. Just today two LOL's (Little OldLadies) who told us that "they always say jewellery is a goodinvestment". We asked them who said it, which seemed to confuse themslightly, one answered "exactly", and the other one said "everyone",but sounded a little uncertain about it.Old Wives' TalesWhat is likely is that their peers or relations at some time have giventhem some homely advice about how to spend their money. It was probablyquite good advice within its context as consumer advice, but notaccurate as investment advice. We have noticed that amongst people overa certain age, there is a general belief that jewellery is a goodinvestment. At the risk of disappointing them, we inform them that, inour opinion, it is not correct to buy jewellery primarily as aninvestment. We are happy to explain why.Consumer AdviceIf we consider what else a consumer can spend their money on, there arevery few consumer purchases which will retain much of their value overa long period of time. Cars are probably the largest consumer spendingitem, but whatever car you buy new, you would probably have to paysomebody to tow it away in 20 years time. Clothes, shoes, computers,televisions, telephones will show a similar pattern. They variouslywill wear out, go out of fashion, break down, or otherwise deteriorate.Some consumer items can be repaired, but it is becoming increasinglycommon for repairs to be uneconomic compared with buying a newreplacement, which may be more advanced or superior in some other way.One way or another, most consumer items become unsaleable or worthlesswithin a relatively short timespan, say one to twenty years. Comparedwith almost all other consumer purchases, a piece of gold jewellery ora diamond ring will retain some of its value, and may appreciate invalue over a long period of time. The LOL's advice might have beenquite good after all.Investment AdviceAs pure investment advice, it is very unlikely that buying jewellery ofany kind will prove to be a good financial investment. There will beexceptions to this, but the exceptions will be a tiny minority. Pleasedo not take this statement as advice not to buy jewellery or diamondrings. In some circumstances buying a diamond ring could be anextremely good investment, and we will explain below.Luxury Goods and Retail MarginsMost jewellery is sold as luxury goods. This means that the buyer willexpect to be able to select it in sumptuous surroundings. Even if youbuy it from a High Street multiple retailer (chain store), it is likelyto be bright and attractively shopfitted, furnished, illuminated, andstaffed with smart and helpful salespeople. All this costs money, andthe money it costs can only come from the profits on the jewellerysold. Most jewellery stores, at least in the UK, are in prime HighStreet locations, with high rents, rates and other operating costs,wages, display material, packaging, insurance. It is often believedwithout question that competition drives prices down, but it can workin the opposite direction. There is competition among retailersincluding jewellery retailers, to acquire the most attractive premisesin the most popular locations. These units have the highest rentalcosts. It follows that jewellers who who occupy these premises need tomake more profit, and also the jewellers who make the most profits canafford the best locations. Consumers buying luxury goods expect a widerange of choice, but this costs more to provide. Most consumers expectto be able to pay by credit card or be offered interest free credit,this also costs money, and retailer need to recoup the costs from theircustomers, even if these costs are concealed.For these and other reasons, the mark-up on jewellery is very high,typically at least 100%. There is also VAT (in the EU, and sales taxelsewhere) levied on or included in the selling price, and is unlikelyto be recovered when reselling.Manufacturers and wholesalers also expect to make profits to pay fortheir services, and here again greater selection costs more to provideand finance.Quality CountsAs with most things in life, buying high quality will cost moreinitially, but there is more chance that a high quality item will holdits value better than a poor or mediocre quality one. Most of thevaluable antiques in existence were of high quality design,construction and materials originally, and have survived because theywere more durable or desirable than their cheaper counterparts. So itis likely to be in the future with modern goods. The higher qualitymore durable pieces will survive, the lower quality items will wear outand be discarded.Add back the pleasure and enjoyment derived from owning and usingbetter things, and it can be seen that there is a strong case forbuying the best quality and design available, this will usually costmore than lower quality goods, but not always.Obtain Value at Acquisition Time to Retain ValueIf you pay too much for a thing when you buy it, it can never recoupthe value lost through buying it badly. Lets give an example. Assumetwo people bought identical gold sovereigns 100 year ago. If one boughthis at face value (
Orignal From: Buying Jewellery as an Investment
Orignal From: Buying Jewellery as an Investment
14k Gold and Hallmarking gold items
Over the past years I have been bought a fewitems of Goldduring trips to Turkey, usually from the Marmaris area.I have not had a bad experience (yet) from any of the deals, which have beenfound to be well worth the prices paid.In Turkey the normal Gold type is 14ct, (585) which is 58.5% pure gold,higher than the 9ct (375) which is 37.5% puregoldas we have in the U.K.However, I have heard a few "horror" stories from fellow holiday makers, these range from traders offering to clean and polish clients goldjewellery for free as they take the time tothink about possible purchases.Yes the item has indeed been beautifully restored to a new finish, but during the process a small amount of gold has beenfiled from the item, the owner is oblivious to this fact, the trader can commit this act hundreds of times a week and ends up with a small fortune in gold filings!Another is the one that worried me.Turkey does not have an international known Hallmark, gold is usually stamped with it`s carat type, ie 14K and or 585, some times you will find the makers name/mark also stamped, NONE of which means that it is GURANTEED to bereal gold!Thisis what you will find on the gold that you have bought from that nice man who give you a coffee/water/apple tea as you choose that special gift at well below the cost in dear old blighty, and a higher gold content!As negotiations of the price commences the trader will usually weigh the item (at the time of writing this pure gold is about
Orignal From: 14k Gold and Hallmarking gold items
Orignal From: 14k Gold and Hallmarking gold items
HOW TO CHECK WHETHER A PREMIUM LINE NUMBER IS A FRAUD
On 10th Nov the Working Lunch programme onBBC 2 reported that this scamhad been investigated by Icstis and the premium line number had been discontinued. I am leaving this guide here as all the help numbersare still relevant. My original guide started here - Christmas is fast approachingand surprise parcels and presents might arrive -and the following scam has been reported by Trading Standards Office.A cardis posted throughyour letterbox from a company called PDS, saying theyare unable to deliver a parcel andyou need tocontact them on 0906 6611911.DO NOT call this number. It is a mail scam. If you do call this number and listento theirrecorded message, you willbe billed excessively for thatphone call. Andthere is no parcel.If you are concerned that a number could be a fraud, contactthe PremiumRate Service Regulator -'icstis.org.uk'( you will need to type www in front - ebay wont let an outside link in a guide), you will be able to type in any number to check its OK. When I checked the number above I learnt that it was 'under investigation'. You can alsophone Royal Mail Security Help Desk 0207 2396655, or your local Trading Standards Office.So if you findany 'advertising' with a telephone number you are not sure ofyou can check it with ICSTIS.Grateful if you can say if you found this guide helpfulWinifred
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Orignal From: HOW TO CHECK WHETHER A PREMIUM LINE NUMBER IS A FRAUD
Choosing and Using a Jewellery Loupe
What Is a MagnifierJewellery professionals use a magnifier, also called a loupe (pronounced loop), to inspect gemstones and other jewellery. These magnifiers have special lenses that allow our eyes to focus on an object at a much closer distance than is normally possible, making the object appear to be larger and revealing tiny details we couldn't see with our normal vision.
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Orignal From: Choosing and Using a Jewellery Loupe
Amethyst
IntroductionDionysus, known for his love of grape juice, was the Greek god of wine, however after a few goblets he became a little confrontational. One day in the forest with goblet in hand, the tipsy Dionysus took insult from a passing mortal that refused to show him respect. The incident provoked his wrath and Dionysus swore revenge on the next mortal that he saw
Orignal From: Amethyst
Orignal From: Amethyst
How Do I Tell A Diamond From a CZ (Cubic-Zirconia)?
How Do I Tell A Diamond From a CZ?To answer to the question of how to tell a diamond from a CZ isn't as simple as it might be for the layman. There are many indications jewellers and gemmologists use in combination to make that determination, and it is always preferable to have a seasoned professional make the identification for you to be sure. Here are a couple of the methods jeweller
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Orignal From: How Do I Tell A Diamond From a CZ (Cubic-Zirconia)?
How to avoid fake Gucci Jewellery on E-Bay
I decided to write this guide after being thoroughly conned by a seller who advertised her listing as 100% Authentic. When I received the item it had no Gucci markings whatsoever, and wasn't even hallmarked. Since then I've done my own research, which I'd like to share with you. First of all check Gucci's web site, all their Jewellery is available for you to see, so why would someone be listing a genuine ring at
Orignal From: How to avoid fake Gucci Jewellery on E-Bay
Orignal From: How to avoid fake Gucci Jewellery on E-Bay
HALLMARKS
THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT HALLMARKS!All British items madegold and silver items should carry the proper assay office hallmarksas many items that are just struck with 9k are liable to be all that glitters is not gold.Proper Hallmarks should consist of at least 4 marks a crown for gold, Anda lion passant (on all fours) for England, and a lion rampant for scotland (stood on hind legs )for silver.also there should be a makers mark usualy consting of the intials of the maker.Also the assay office mark, a anchor for Birmingham a rose ongold and a crown on silver for sheffield. Aleopards head for london and three castle towers forEdinburgh.there are other townassay marksfrom officeslong closed which can add a premium to a object, a good subject to study.and also the date letter which have a 20 yr cycle in different types of script.from 1784 the 1897 the was a fith mark a duty mark which is the monarchs head, also for gold can come in 9ct 373 parts per thousand 14ct 585 parts per thousand 18ct 750 parts per thousand and 22ct 916 per thousand,all sterling silver is 925 per parts pure. it always better to purchase a item whith these marks made from gold or silver as you are guaranteed to be getting exactly what they say, they are after all the oldest consumer proction system in the world.
Orignal From: HALLMARKS
Orignal From: HALLMARKS
Georg Jensen Biography
Born in 1866, the son of a knife grinder in the town of Raadvad just to the north of Copenhagen. Jensen began his training in goldsmithing at the age of 14 in Copenhagen. His apprenticeship, with the firm Guldsmet Andersen, ended in 1884 and this freed young Georg to follow his artistic interests. From childhood, Jensen had longed to be a sculptor and he now pursued this course of study at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He graduated in 1892 and began exhibiting his work. Although his is clay sculpture was well received, making a living as a fine artist proved difficult and he turned his hand to the applied arts. First as a modeller at the Bing
Orignal From: Georg Jensen Biography
Orignal From: Georg Jensen Biography
Just cos it's gucci.
I just thought that i'd write to let people know about the stupidity that has been displayed on here. I'ma jeweller by trade andgucci's are a brand that i sell, i've been on extensive training and to be fair unless you have your hands on the watch it's very hard to tell, however on this site you have gucci's selling at 500 for a model you can buy new for as little as
Orignal From: Just cos it's gucci.
Orignal From: Just cos it's gucci.
Over priced ear piercing studs
I have noticed several adverts selling 24k gold plated ear piercing studs on buy it nowthat are vastly over priced!One advert is selling 2 dozen pairs of 24k plated studs in packets on a buy it now price of
Orignal From: Over priced ear piercing studs
Orignal From: Over priced ear piercing studs
Ring Conversions from Harris Michael Jewelry
Ring Conversions from Harris Michael Jewelry United States British Equivalent French Equivalent German Equivalent 000 00 0 1/2 A 3/4 A 1/21 B 1 1/4 B 1/2 1 1/2 C 1 3/4 C 1/22 D 41 1/2 13 1/4 2 1/4 D 1/2 2 1/2 E 42 3/4 13 3/4 2 3/4 E 1/23 F 44 14 3 1/8 F 1/2 3 3/8 G 45 1/4 3 1/2 14 1/2 3 5/8 G 1/2 3 3/4 H 46 1/24 H 1/2 15 4 1/4 I 47 3/4 4 1/2 I 1/2 15 1/4 4 7/8 J 495 J 1/2 15 3/4 5 1/8 K 50 5 3/8 K 1/2 5 1/2 L 51 3/4 16 5 7/8 L 1/26 M 52 3/4 16 1/2 6 1/4 M 1/2 6 1/2 N 54 17 6 3/4 N 1/27 O 55 1/4 17 1/4 7 1/4 O 1/2 7 1/2 P 56 1/2 17 3/4 7 3/4 P 1/28 Q 57 3/4 18 8 1/4 Q 1/2 8 1/2 18 1/2 8 5/8 R 59 8 7/8 R 1/29 19 9 1/8 S 60 1/4 9 3/8 S 1/2 9 1/2 19 1/2 9 5/8 T 61 1/210 T 1/2 20 10 1/4 U 62 3/4 10 1/2 U 1/2 20 1/4 10 5/8 V 63 3/4 11 V 1/2 20 3/4 11 1/8 W 65 11 3/8 W 1/2 11 1/2 21 11 5/8 X 66 1/4 11 7/8 X 1/2 12 Y 67 1/2 21 1/4 12 1/4 Y 1/2 12 1/2 Z 68 3/4 21 3/4 12 3/4 Z 1/2 13 22
Orignal From: Ring Conversions from Harris Michael Jewelry
Orignal From: Ring Conversions from Harris Michael Jewelry
Tibetan Silver -Run the Other Way
This is not Sterling Silver, this is mainly tin and if you don't mind having black/blue marks on your body from wearing this junk, have at it. You can avoid this from happening by either spraying on a clear coat or if it is a smaller item use clear nail polish to cover the item before your skin gets tarnished. :
Orignal From: Tibetan Silver -Run the Other Way
Orignal From: Tibetan Silver -Run the Other Way
PLEASE BEWARE OF SWEETIE BRACELET FAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IPLEASE BEWARE AND I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO BE VERY CAREFULL WHEN THINKING ABOUT MAKING A PURCHASE ON A LINKS OF LONDON SWEETIE BRACELET ON EBAY.THE MAJORITY OF SWEETIE BRACELETS SOLD ON EBAY ARE 'FAKE'!I fell for it hook, line and sinker.....please don't you! I recently purchased a lovely and what i believed was a genuine, authentic links of london sweetie bracelet, as the seller stated it was a genuine item of jewellery and apparently he explained he had purchased them in bulk from an auction....yeah right! I cant believe i fell for this. I bought the bracelet as a 'Buy now' and payed through paypal...which i'm so glad i did. Only to find out later ebay had removed it from the listing as the seller breached one or more of their policies. As you can probably guess the seller never kept in contact. I sent anemail, getting him to confirm again to me that the bracelet was '100% authentic/ genuine. Did i get a reply...did i heck! i filed a dispute with paypal and only then did the seller reply with a nasty comment explaining he didnt live at the computer and had a life, and explained the bracelet would be sent out soon. Well to be honest i wasnt to sure about the whole thing and sent a few emails saying i would just like a full refund. Did i get a refund...No. Just as i thought he sent outthe bracelet...probs hoping i would just keep it and that would be the end of it..... Well its now in the hands of paypal, and i have to say paypal have been brilliant! When i received the bracelet i took it straight to the jewellers who checked and tested it and confirmed it was a fake piece of jewellery. At first inspection i doubted the authenticy of the bracelet as you could visibly see the join marks where links had been solded together, it didnt even feel like real silver and when comparing it to a genuine links of london sweetie bracelet you could then notice all the obvious un- genuine markings. It was a good fake...but that wasnt what i wanted, i wanted as do all of us want the 'REAL' thing.The bracelet came with a heart charm and came with a FAKE box, bag and even copied FAKE care labels. The seller (daneb2008)was immediately removed from ebay. I hope this helps to stop more genuine people falling into the same trap as me, its such a shame to see so many fakes on ebay now, ive purchased quite a few things from ebay over the years and have found all my items genuine and authentic, why do people have to spoil things?TO ALL THOSE GENUINE BUYERS OUT THERE...PLEASE...PLEASE BEWARE! I WISH I HAD HAVE READ THESE GUIDES BEFORE I PURCHASED MINE.
Orignal From: PLEASE BEWARE OF SWEETIE BRACELET FAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Orignal From: PLEASE BEWARE OF SWEETIE BRACELET FAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which cake stand?
Careful attention should be given to wedding cake stands. The wedding cake always plays one of the most interesting and special parts of the wedding reception. The wedding cake should be placed in a prominent and focal position for all to see as the bride and groom cut the cake . Therefor, a good and stable wedding cake stand should be usedMost important is to know your cake sizes and that it will fit the stands.also that the stand is able to take the weight.Types of Wedding Cake StandsOne of the most popular styles is the three-tiered wedding cake, it will require a stand capable to hold this style of cake, this normally a square or round stand. As most wedding cakes are three-tier, wedding cake stands are often either a) an unraised cake plate; b) a plateau stand (flat or raised uniformly off the table); or c) a pedestal (raised in the center by some sort of pillar) stand. Glass, acrylic, ceramic, china, metal and even single-use Styrofoam cake stands can be used. To accommodate the wide variations of the traditional wedding cake, there are many styles of wedding cake stands availableGrouped Arrangements of Wedding CakesWedding cake stands come in all sorts and types and are also available for grouped arrangements of wedding cakes. This allows each cake to be displayed individually on its own stand, and the stands are usually staggered in various heights for a beautiful presentation. This type of cake stand allows cakes to be displayed in a variety of ways: in stair-step format, in a rounded appearance (symmetrically with tallest in back and shortest stands in front), in a cascading appearance, or in an asymmetrical grouping. The design options are ample to satisfy all requirements.Separate wedding cake stands arranged in these types of groupings create a wonderful effect and work well with intricate and individually decorated cakes. Shapes that are non-traditional also work well in this format because they can be displayed individually. Keep in mind if you choose a cake stand of this nature you will need a cake table with ample room to display the cakes.If in doubt to what stand to use ,your cake maker of local bakery will offer useful advice
Orignal From: Which cake stand?
Orignal From: Which cake stand?
Fixed wire lug military trench officers WW1 watches
What is meant by fixed lug, wire lug, trench, or officers watch?Although wrist watches had been made before the First World War (WW1 - 1914 to 1918) they were mainly worn by ladies: they were not fashionable items for men, who mostly wore pocket watches. But the benefits of a wrist watch were well known in military circles. The German Emperor Wilhelm I had ordered a large quantity of wrist watches for the German navy in 1879, and during the Boer war in South Africa (1899 - 1902) British army officers achieved success against the Boers by using precision timing to coordinate simultaneous troop movements, and synchronize flanking attacks against the Boer's formations. Strapping a watch to ones wrist so that it could regularly be checked quickly and easily, rather than having to fumble in a pocket to extract a watch, was essential under fast moving battlefield conditions. Leather straps with cups, such as the one shown below, were made so that pocket watches could be strapped to the wrist. But such applications were restricted to the battlefield, and to small numbers of professional soldiers operating far from home.What really changed public acceptance of men wearing wrist watches was the First World War - WW1. During WW1 military tactics such as the coordinated attack along a long front, synchronised with artillery barrages, demanded precision timing; and unlike any previous conflict, there were millions of men involved. There was a hugeupsurge in demand for wrist watches from military men, who found the still standard issue pocket watch cumbersome to wear in the trenches, under a great coat, or in the cockpit of an aircraft. The easiest way for manufacturers to satisfy this sudden demand for wristwatches was to solder small loops of wire, called lugs, to the case of an existing model of pocket watch, and pass a strap or band of leather through these to secure the watch to the wrist. Because the wire loops were fixed to the case, these watches are often referred to as "fixed lug" or "wire lug" watches. You can see an example of a watch with fixed wire lugs soldered to the case in the picture below. As these watches were often purchased by officers for use in the trenches, they are also often referred to as "officers" or "trench" watches. As the war progressed, the public became used to seeing battle hardened military veterans returning from active service still wearing their wristwatches. This soon changed the public perception that wearing a wristwatch was not manly, and sales of wrist watches to the man-in-the-street started to take off. By 1930 sales of wristwatches had overtaken those of pocket watches.For some reason now lost in the mists of time, the width used for the lugs on these earliest wristwatches was about 10mm, allowing a narrow strap or band of flexible leather to be looped through and across the back of the case. This design persisted after the war and into the 1920's, with the lugs gradually increasing in width to 12mm, 14mm, etc. over the years until they were superceded with the fixed horns and spring bars seen on modern watches.The nature and size of these fixed lugs presents a problem to the collector of these interesting early wristwatches. After cleaning and servicing, watches that are now around a hundred years old go just as well now as when they were new, and they cry out to be worn. However, modern wristwatch straps and bands either just do not fit the narrow fixed wire lugs,or a narrow strap meant for a ladies watch has to be used, which usually looks completely wrong. A 35mm diameter mans wristwatch on a 10mm wide ladies strap just looks ridiculous!I had exactly this problem when I wanted to wear my grandfather's 1918 silver Rolex and after much searching I realised that there was nothing suitable available on the market, and that I would have to get a strap made to my own design and specification. I now make these straps available in several different designs and leather colours so that fellow enthusiasts can enjoy wearing their own vintage watches. It gives me great pleasure to know that a vintage watch, one that perhaps saw service during the first World War, or belonged to somebody's grandfather like mine, can be worn and enjoyed today, looking good on a properly designed and made strap. One of the most touchingcomments I have received was from a customer who was visiting the First World War battlefieldsin France, and he remarked that with the strap I had supplied "I will be able to wear mygrandfather's watch at the very spot where he went 'over the top' on the Somme in 1916." The picture below shows my grandfather's watch on one of my straps.I hope you have found this guide helpful. If you have then I would be grateful if you would register a vote for it. Ifyou haven't found it helpful for some reason, or if you think that there is something wrong or that could beimproved, then please let me know. Thanks! Regards - David
Orignal From: Fixed wire lug military trench officers WW1 watches
Orignal From: Fixed wire lug military trench officers WW1 watches
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