Gold is beautiful yellow money that people all over the world cherish. The value of gold as a unit of exchange does not diminish. Gold is an excellent hedge against inflation and investors all over the world use gold as part of their investment portfolios.

The Gold Standard Magazine agrees: "Indeed, during the monetary crisis of the last several years, the price of gold soared in free world markets as more and more individuals around the world acquired gold as a hedge against actual and potential currency devaluations"

Gold is one of the most used mined minerals. The characteristic of gold make it useful in several industries. Some of the uses for gold include:

*As a conductor of heat and electricity

*Used in Dentistry for gold crowns and teeth restorations

*Used in computer manufacturing

*Used in the treatment of some arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Because "gold is malleable, a single ounce of gold can be drawn into a wire 35 miles long or hammered into sheets less than five millionth of an inch thick" Gold can be made into thread and used to embroider and sew clothing.

All of the other uses for gold are minimal compared to the amount of gold that is used for jewelry. Over one third of the gold mined is used to produce jewelry. Mouth jewelry or fronts is a popular fad among rap stars. These hip hop rappers sport "teeth covers" made of gold or platinum that are encrusted with diamond to show off their wealth. Gold is and always has been a symbol of wealth.

Gold is money. Owning gold has historically been a way to store wealth. The price of gold is independent of the trends that determine he prices of other financial asset. Equity might depend on the earnings or growth of the company. The prices in the bond market may be tied to the safety, yield or comparisons in the market.

The price of gold is dependent on supply and demand, foreign exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, there are other factors but the main point is the price of gold will move independently of the prices of other financial asset. Gold maintains it value over time.

Gold is a tangible or real asset.Gold is more stable than any other merchandise so even in the marketplace today gold can still out perform most markets. Gold bars, coins or jewelry are tangible assets that can be used for asset protection.

Engagement and wedding rings have an enormous emotional charge that comes with them, it is very important that the couples who look for engagement rings will understand some of the complexity and deeper meaning to the engagement ring.

The traditional engagement ring style often features a precious band that has on it a diamond or another kind of precious stone. Over the years, the modern engagement ring style seems to incorporate a wide range of band varieties, including silver, gold and the increasingly popular platinum option. In the last 40 years or so a single diamond is practically considered standard in today’s society. The well-known diamond company, De Beers, who pushed a highly successful advertising vision for the gem, made all of this possible.

In some cases emeralds, rubies or sapphires are taking the place of a diamond, but it is the latter that symbolizes strength and the concept of something that will last a lifetime. Engagement ring styles are often based on their durability, which is seen through the gems, as well as the bands. Gold and platinum last longer and represent higher quality than silver.

A growing trend among band materials includes titanium and stainless steel, which costs less, but also have a higher level of durability. It is these materials that allow a tension setting that projects the illusion of a stone that is floating.

Engagement Ring Style Options

There are many different engagement ring styles to choose from including classic and modern looks. With classic engagement ring styles, the settings are usually platinum in the bands with a round or emerald-cut for the stone. Modern engagement ring styles use a bezel-set design, making daily wear a compatible addition to any wardrobe.

Engagement Ring Style Trends

Platinum rings tend to be more expensive, but they will not only last longer, but will also keep its brilliant shine. It will not tarnish or yellow like other metals. These bands also make a variety of hand-carved, customized options possible.

The modern trend is to make the rings a little less heavy and less serious, more and more people are turning to colored stones for their engagement rings. It doesn’t mean that diamonds have been thrown to the wayside, but now the diamond of choice may be pink, blue, yellow or even black.

It is important to be aware of the different engagement ring styles because this is a decision that is meant to stand the test of time. You want to not only choose an engagement ring that is stylish, but also a ring that will fit the personality of the blushing bride-to-be. One of the hottest trends in engagement ring styles hitting the scene includes antique rings that present a vintage flair that allows you to feel like you are wearing something rather historic. Some of the characteristics of these rings include floral accents, as well as filigree settings.

Shopping for diamonds online can be scary. Any time you shop online you are taking a chance of being scammed. You must be prepared and do a lot of research. Diamonds are not cheap and when dealing with large sums of money you have to be very careful who you deal with and the merchandise you are buying.

There are many stores these days that sell diamonds, from Tiffany's to Wal-mart, so you can buy a diamond almost anywhere. But there are times when it is not possible. Either you live in a remote location or want a better quality for your money. These are reasons to look online. The first thing you want to do is to research the type of diamond you want.

There are some questions you have to ask yourself to determine the right diamond for you. They are about the cut, clarity, color, carat, and price. There is square cut, pear cut, or the traditional princess cut, then you want to determine the right size. How you are going to use it may determine the answer. If you are going to put it in a ring, a round cut is very nice, but on a pendant, a square cut would look good.

Next you want to examine clarity, which means the amount of flaws that are visible. There can be a little bit of cloudiness or small bits of discoloration. Color is the natural color of the diamond that you can see, most diamonds are clear, blue, red, or green. The clear ones are the most valuable, but when they are in a set with other stones, having one with color can make it look even better. The next important consideration is the carat or weight of the diamond. Carat weight is used because diamonds are so small and light there isn't a better way to measure them.

After you have answered all these questions, you can start looking for your diamond. When browsing the web pages it is important to look for websites that have been approved by nationally recognized agencies, like the Gemologist Institute of America. This is a nonprofit agency that is committed to maintaining the standard of grading in the diamonds industry. You may also want to look at testimonials by previous customers or even contact them yourself to find out if it is a reputable company.

After you have done your shopping and are ready to buy, it would be a good idea to look into a company to act as a mediator. There are third party companies that will take the diamond and inspect it for you, then give you an unbiased report on their findings. If this is good then you can send them your money and they will send your money to the seller and then the diamond to you. This protects both parties from being scammed.

Diamonds are a wonderful possession. They can hold many memories of special occasions and memories of the people who gave them, but they also hold a high monetary value. If your diamond is lost, damaged, or stolen, how can you get it replaced? There is no way to replace the memories attached to a diamond but you can get another one of equal value with the right insurance policy.

There are many reasons diamonds are lost, usually it is because of carelessness on the owner's part. Insurance agents agree on the top reasons for the loss of diamonds. Leaving a ring on the bathroom sink or the back of the toilet can result in the ring going down the drain. There are also poorly fitted rings that can slip off at any time and any place. Some necklaces can have damaged or bad clasps that can break easily. There is also opportunity for someone to steal your diamonds if you leave them lying out in the open or don't keep them locked up when you are using them. You should be careful where you hide them so someone else doesn't come along and throw away the object you are hiding them in.

Usually in the case of loss or theft in the home, a home owner's insurance policy will cover the loss. But you are not always at home when bad things happen. If you have diamonds that have a high value the best thing to do is to insure them separately. The first thing you want to do is to have them appraised by a reputable appraiser. The appraiser will give you a certificate of value to take to the insurance agency. Then the agent can determine what the best policy is for your circumstance.

There are a few different types of policies to get. One is for the market value of the piece. This is to replace your piece for what it is worth at the time it is lost, not for the cost when it was purchased. Conversely, you can get a policy that will cover the diamond for a predetermined value. This is when you and the agent can put a single value on the diamond, no matter what the purchase price or market value is when lost. Then there is the policy that will cover the diamond for the amount it is valued at the time the policy was purchased, this amount does not change even if the value of the diamond increases.

All women would like a three stone ring from her partner. The three stone ring was designed by the De Beers Jewelry Company and became an instant classic, setting the jewelry industry on its ear. The three stones signify the message of love to the recipient. The first stone often smaller signifies past love. The middle and large stone represents present love and the smaller third stone is for future love.

Who would not want a beautiful classic ring? They can be altered to make them more personal using different stones instead of diamonds. You can use the birthstones of the couple with the smaller stones and leave the larger one a diamond. It can be as special and personal as the individual who will own it.

This ring can be changed to fit any occasion. It can be used as an engagement ring or for an anniversary present. Because it has a classic simple design it can be incorporated into a wedding set quite easily. Birthdays and Christmas are other occasions to give the three stone ring for those who can't wait until a special anniversary or romantic holiday.

When using the three stone ring as an engagement ring there are several options to turn it into a lovely wedding set. Because the center stone is set higher than the other two it is possible to use a plain band to accompany it. Another option is a wedding band with a channel set of stones the same size as the two smaller stones in the engagement ring. This type of band can really highlight the beauty of the engagement ring. The groom's ring can also be a band with three matching stones in the same pattern. Usually men don't like a large flashy ring with protruding stones that can be caught on things.

The cost of one of these rings can very well depend on the type of stones used and the setting. A plain silver band with small traditional round cut diamonds will cost less than one with a white gold or platinum band and large stones. The first thing before buying a ring is to determine the price range you are willing to spend. Many jewelers will try to get you to upgrade to more expensive settings and stones, but you have to stick to your guns or your gesture of love could be a real budget breaker.

Throughout history, gold has held a certain allure to just about every major civilization. If you are considering buying gold jewelry, you should know more about the allure.

Gold has been the driving force behind many of the world's biggest events. Wars, colonization, westward expansion and more have all been caused because of the search for this precious metal. Today, gold is still the standard on which most forms of trade and money are based – the cost of gold per ounce, along with the amount of gold a country has stockpiled, can make a difference in the wealth of a country. Gold is also still a very important part of the jewelry business.

Gold's abbreviation on the periodic table of elements is Au – and it is one of the first known metals in history. Valued by almost all major societies and historical cultures from the beginning of time, there are terms for the word gold found in almost every language (some examples are oro and tesoro). Gold quantities are measured in a specific measurement type called “Troy Measurements”. One Troy pound is divided into 12 Troy ounces – and these do not correspond to typical pounds and ounces. This is a good thing to remember when purchasing gold.

Gold also is designated by its purity. Karatage, which is shown by the letter “K” following a number, shows buyers the purity of the metal. Karatage is divided into 24ths, with 24K gold being fully pure. Pure gold is not good for making jewelry because it is incredibly soft and would bend and lose its shape if used for a piece. Other karats of gold are mixed with different metals in order to give them more strength and stability. 22K gold, the next level down from pure, is 91.7% gold and still too soft for jewelry. The two best karat types for jewelry are 18K (used for very fine jewelry with 75% gold) and 14K (most gold jewelry is made of this type of gold, which is 58.3% gold).

Another issue concerning gold that you might not anticipate at first is the color. There are typically three gold colors: yellow (what some consider to be real gold), white and rose. White and rose golds are created by adding different alloys and metals to yellow gold. This alters the chemical makeup of the gold, and can lessen its worth, so be sure you are okay with this before purchasing colored gold. In general, white and rose gold are valued less than the typical yellowing color.

They say a diamond is a girl’s best friend, but there is much more to them than that. Next to gold, it is hard to think of another item that has been more valued throughout history.

A diamond is forever. Or so the commercial tells us. From little girl on, women are taught to love these beautiful sparkling gemstones, and to highly value diamond jewelry. What makes diamonds so special? Is it their rarity, their cost, their beauty? Or is it just what a diamond signifies to the world? For many people, it is a matter of personal taste and the reasons vary. What is undeniable is people seek out diamonds whenever they can afford to.

Diamonds are the only gemstones in the world that are created from just one compound: carbon. Carbon is a substance that is dark black when it is in its powdered form, and is the basic molecule that makes up all life on Earth. When it is affected by tremendous pressure and heat, carbon is transformed into a crystal clear substance, which was originally named diamond from the Greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable. When diamonds are produced under the Earth's crust, they are brought to the surface of the Earth via volcanic eruptions. It is estimated most of the diamonds in the world today are between one and three billion years old. Over 80 percent of diamonds that are mined are not suitable for jewelry. These diamonds are used in other applications such as machinery, lasers and cutting saws since diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth.

The most expensive piece of diamond jewelry cost $16,548,750 – for a total of 100 carats. The largest diamond ever found and cut, however, was far larger than that. The Cullanan weighs in at 3106 carats, and adorns the scepter of King Edward VII of England. It is currently housed in the Tower of London.

The first ever diamond engagement ring was given in 1477, as a gift from Archduke Maximillian of Austria to his fiancée. The diamond engagement ring is traditionally worn on the third ring of the left hand because ancient Egyptians believed that a vein ran from this finger directly to the heart.

We all know that 'diamonds are forever,' but it's also a well known fact that many end up paying for them forever as well. But how do you create the feel of elegance that a diamond gives while on a budget? The answer is moissanite jewelry and it's a secret that has been waiting in the wings for over a century. In 1893 an inventor named Henri Moissan discovered a mineral called silicon carbide but it wasn't until 1995 that moissanite was recognized for its brilliance and a jeweler decided that if cut properly the substance could be almost identical to diamond jewelry.

It's so similar, in fact, that many jewelers have trouble telling the difference between real diamonds and moissanite jewelry. Available in the same cuts as diamonds, the possibilities with moissanite jewelry are endless. From elegant earrings to wear for an evening out to a princess cut engagement ring to present when you're ready to ask the love of your life for her hand in marriage, moissanite jewelry presents a lasting impression. The difference is, it won't break your budget.

How does moissanite jewelry compare to other diamond look-alikes? The most common look-alike, and the only one that could even be considered a competitor, cubic zirconia, is still a little cheaper than moissanite but lacks the luster and brilliance of a piece of moissanite jewelry. Moissanite is also much harder than cubic zirconia., which is very important if the piece is going to be worn frequently or even daily, as would be the case with an engagement ring.

Moissanite ranges from near colorless to shades of green. The green can be elegant, but it is important to make sure that the stone you choose is exactly what you are looking for. Make sure the light is optimal when you are examining your pieces. Moissanite is durable, but it still isn't as hard as a diamond, which means that you will need to be careful with your moissanite jewelry.

Finally, there is the stigma that can be attached to "fake" diamonds. Although moissanite is genuine, the wedding industry would have you believe that diamonds are the only acceptable symbol of love. It's becoming more and more common for couples to buck this trend, since purchasing moissanite can mean getting more glitter for their money, but it's important that, if you're planning to propose with a moissanite ring, you clarify your sweetie's feelings on the matter first.

Modern technology has advanced to the point it is very difficult to tell diamonds and cubic zirconia apart. Let’s delve into this a little bit more.

CZ vs. Diamonds

When searching for the perfect diamond gift, the price of this beautiful stone might be a little daunting. Diamonds are often the most expensive of stones, with prices ranging up to the hundreds of thousands of dollars. With the high price of diamonds, you might be tempted to purchase one of the many diamond look-alikes or fake diamonds that are available today because of their much lower price tag.

CZ is by far the most common and accepted substitute for a diamond, especially when used in costume jewelry. There are other stones that are used to simulate diamonds, such as moissanite, white sapphire and white topaz, but is most commonly used because of its relatively low cost and high sparkle. It is hard as well (although not approaching the hardness of a real diamond) and has “fire”, a term often used to describe the sparkling qualities of diamonds.

CZ is a lab created synthetic stone, meaning it does not (usually) occur in nature in this state. This stone starts with zirconium oxide, which is heated and then made to keep a stable shape by adding another compound known as yttrium oxide. It was found only once in nature, in 1937, but was never again seen outside a laboratory. In the 1970's Russian scientists figured out how to create their own CZ, and it has been in production as a diamond simulating stone ever since.

So what is the distinction between diamonds and CZ? Diamonds definitely do occur in nature, they are mined from the earth and are made of just one element – carbon. They are harder, rarer, in a finite supply (we can't make more once we've mined them all) and more beautiful than simulations. While it is said that most people would not be able to tell the difference between the two stones with the naked eye, the choice of settings and other materials in the jewelry often gives away whether a stone is a CZ or a diamond.

It's your choice whether you want to invest in a diamond or spend less and get a substitute such as a CZ. Just be sure never to try to “trick” someone into thinking a simulation is the real thing, and remember that diamonds will appreciate in value while CZ will not.

Rocks, stones and crystals, precious or not have their own electromagnetic frequency. They contain a specyfic energy, express oneself by their color and inner structure. With all this, we don't like just all stones, but just those which enter into resonance with our enercetic field, sending us the energy that we need in that precise moment.

Gold, silver and copper

For the healing effect of the stones to be more intense, they must be carried into the right of energetics center that we have on our body, respectively, above ours heart or above ours neck, by all means direct on skin, because the energy and our heat amplifies the inner energy of the stone, and in the same time magnifying the efficiency.

The ear-rings with crystals balances the energy of our cerebral hemispheres, and the rings stimulates the power to the specific meridians to the hand that they are carried ( on the left hand they stimulates the reception of energy, and right hand the emission).

It is important to keep in mind that the recomanded metals for the stones mounting are silver, gold and copper, the others beeing energetic unstrung, reason for which they act as some power energetic vampires.

The compulsory purification

Before you use or carrie the stones, we recommend to purify them, in order to don't take over, negative power and his weak load, stored before they came into our possession.

For this it is enough to hold the stone a hour below strong water cold spurt, for choice of spring, or between 30 as far as 70 hours in brine. If you want a drastic purification, therefore either we keep 24 of hours the respective stone in bay salt either we bury it in earth on all of a lunar loop.

Diamonds are said to be symbols of wealth, status and timeless love; however, there are diamonds that spell anarchy, bloodshed and genocide. These are the 'conflict diamonds' that have become synonymous with the killing fields of the African continent. Also known as 'blood diamonds', these diamonds owe their description to the fact that they have their origins in war zones and they are traded to finance the illegal and subversive activities of rebel groups and terrorist outfits. These groups, which control the local diamond trade, could be fighting for or against a government, but their activities always have the most frightening impact on the civilian population of the country. The ordinary people are the hapless victims of the killings, mutilations and other forms of violence unleashed by the terror outfits. The countries which have been most affected by conflict diamonds are Sierra Leone, Angola and Liberia. The military groups that are involved in these conflicts are the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone and the UNITA in Angola; in Liberia, ironically, it is the government itself, which is funding the rebels in Sierra Leone despite international condemnation.

The blood diamonds or 'war diamonds' have a complex channel of trading and transit. Usually rough diamond caches obtained directly from the mines are used by the rebels to fund purchases of arms and ammunition. Contacts and support groups in neighboring countries are used to help sell these diamonds. Once the stones are polished it is almost impossible to trace their origins or to learn their identity.

Many countries of the world have been involved in an effort to curb the trade in conflict diamonds. Cutting off trade in these 'blood stones' can effectively choke the funding channels for wars and help in putting an end to the vicious strife. Further it is also a fact that if diamond-producing countries can be rid of conflict, they can enjoy the fruits of economic development and make necessary infrastructure investments for improving the legitimate diamond trade.

Some years ago, the major diamond-mining countries of South Africa joined hands in a move to trace the origins of all rough diamonds, in an effort to curb the sale of diamonds from conflict regions. This led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme or KPCS, which aims to track and trace all uncut stones entering the countries participating in the scheme. Accurate and verifiable documentation is to accompany all diamond consignments and strict norms for tamper-proof packaging of the stones to be observed. Subsequently the United Nations approved the KPCS; sometime later the United States Government promulgated the Clean Diamond Act for banning imports of stones tarnished in conflict.

With these measures, the trade in conflict diamonds has suffered a decline, yet there are still clandestine movements of diamonds that are eluding legal barriers and finding their way into the diamond centers of the world. Total elimination of conflict diamonds can only happen when the entire diamond industry of the world decides to dissociate firmly from the stones that fuel conflict and genocide. This is largely a question of corporate ethics and calls for immediate attention.

Gems are often valued for their appearance or monetary value. As this introduction to moonstone gems details, certain gems carry a more spiritual value than monetary.

An Introduction to Moonstone Gems

Moonstone is one of the most mythical of all gemstones. With its exotic, lunar name and its milky unique rainbow sheen, moonstone is highly prized by many practitioners of crystal and stone healing, as well as some mystic religions. Moonstone is a sacred stone to the people of India, and was named by the Romans for its ability to reflect moon light, making it a sacred stone to this culture as well. Today, the many aspects of moonstone gems continue to make them a sought after stone.

Moonstone is one of the birthstones that are used for the month of June (along with pearl) and it is also used to represent the 13th wedding anniversary. Gifts of jewelry made with this stone are commonly given for this anniversary. Moonstone comes from the mineral family of feldspar, and it is the most valuable of all stones in the feldspar family. It is composed of the mineral albite (which helps to give the stone its blue sheen) and orthoclase feldspar. Moonstone can come in many different colors, ranging from the typical milky white or gray to blue, peach, pink, yellow, brown and transparent.

The most beautiful type of moonstone is rainbow moonstone, which is a milky white to gray color with a blue and rainbow sheen that catches the light. The moonstone gem is found in several different areas of the world, such as Brazil, India, Germany, Madagascar, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Tanzania and the US. It is prized in many cultures and used in Zodiac, traditional crystal medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and many other areas.

Moonstone gems many mystical properties offer the wearer or the possessor protection and healing in different ways. It is believed that moonstone brings good fortune, protects women and children (who are generally under the protection of the moon), enhances passion and balances yin and yang. In ancient times, one belief stated that if a person held a moonstone in their mouth during the full moon, they could tell the future. Moonstones were also used to assure good crops.

Moonstone gems have also been attributed to have healing qualities, a notion generally believed in some cultures who value stones for spiritual healing. These properties are said to promote digestion, stop nosebleeds, and protect against epilepsy and sun stroke. Whatever the reason you choose, owning a moonstone is a good idea, even if it's just because of its beauty

Even with the best planning and preparation, most weddings go over budget. If you find yourself sinking deeper into debt with each passing day, consider an idea that could literally cut thousands from your budget.

Diamonds are the traditional stones for wedding sets, but many couples are choosing to take a less traditional route for trendy and monetary reasons. One of the most popular choices for these couples is choosing moissanite wedding bands.

Moissanite is a mineral substance not so unlike diamond. Most moissanite stones are near colorless (colored stones are a variety of elegant greens) and can actually offer more brilliance than a diamond at a fraction of the cost. Since moissanite is man-made and larger stones are not any rarer than smaller ones, if you choose moissanite you'll be more likely to get the wedding set that you want instead of having to settle for something that you can live with to reduce the strain on your budget.

For Example, a simple diamond wedding set, with small round cut diamonds equaling one carat may cost around $2000. A similar, simple moissanite wedding set will cost about half the price. Imagine what the price difference would add up to with larger stones. For some, budget is not the reason that they ultimately choose to purchase a moissanite wedding set.

Moissanite is known for its "fire" and a brilliance that can actually exceed the diamond. Although diamonds remain the hardest gemstones, moissanite is next on the list, its durability exceeding that of every other stone, meaning that you won't have to worry about your moissanite wedding band being damaged because of daily wear and tear. Most moissanite wedding bands also come with lifetime warranties.

There are some things to consider before purchasing your moissanite wedding set. First of all, moissanite is not entirely colorless and some stones can have a slight grey or green tinge. It's a good idea to examine your wedding set in several types of lighting to ensure that you purchase stones that you are happy with. The green tinged stones can actually be incredibly elegant and your moissanite wedding set could end up becoming an excellent conversation piece.

In addition, although most people love the extra "fire" that moissanite stones produce, some consider it to be too gaudy. In the end it is just a matter of finding the wedding set that you are most comfortable with and that fits not only your finger but your budget and personal style the best. Moissanite wedding sets almost always fit the bill.

Purchasing a moissanite wedding set does not suggest that you or your intended didn't have the money for a "real" diamond so you had to settle for a "fake." Instead, it should say that you weighed your options and went for the wedding set of your dreams. You can spend a few extra dollars on your honeymoon while wearing your moissanite wedding bands proudly knowing that your stones have all the endurance and brilliance, of diamonds