Fashion jewelry has been around for thousands of years now. In the early primitive days, some of our ancestors have even taken to jewelry more easily than they have with clothes. Glamorous looking or not, primitive men have made use of stones, twines, animal teeth and other materials which were found in their surroundings. And, although primitive men may have never heard of the concept of fashion jewelry, those stone necklaces probably may have been considered trendy even in those times, worn only by some privileged few who happen upon their last meal’s molars, bicuspids or some other part of dental treasure!

Because of the certain sense of personal satisfaction felt by people wearing jewelry that matched their personality, fashion jewelry has survived up to this age. And although gone were the days when people walked around flaunting the above-mentioned style of fashion jewelries, modern tools and easy jewelry-making tips have made sure that the modern man – or more aptly, women, enjoyed the same satisfaction of wearing fashion jewelries in crystals, gold, diamonds, beads and other precious stones.

One of the most popular and easy to make fashion jewelry now is the wire-wrap jewelry. The tools in making wire-wrap fashion jewelry is relatively cheap and available almost in every hardware or tool shops. These basic wire-wrap jewelry making tools include, wire cutters, pliers, ring mandrel, a scale, swiss pattern file and pin vise.

Wire-wrap jewelry, as one may surmise from its name alone, involves the twisting and binding of wires together into a chosen design with the use of tools. Wires may come in copper, brass, silver, gold or white gold and other malleable material. These wires or materials may also come in different shapes and sizes: round, flat, thick, etc.

Wire-wrap jewelries are easy to make. For amateur fashion jewelry makers or for those who are only starting with fashion jewelry as a hobby, select first a fashion jewelry design. Make sure that you understand fully how to go about starting with the design as designs may come in different levels of complexities. It is advisable for beginners to start with easy designs. Next, with the use of tools, begin your step-by-step twisting, bending and binding of the wires. Since wires are malleable, a beginner can easily alter and correct it should she make mistakes. Some designs may include stones, semi-precious or precious stones, and some designs may not.

Once the work has met with your satisfaction, attach a sturdy fashion jewelry latch. Fashion jewelry latches may be bought in jewelry shops and in hobby stores in the jewelry, beads or handicraft section. Some may want to add finishing touches to their wire-wrap jewelry by tinting it if the material used allows for it. Some jewelry makers also leave their masterpieces as is especially when they are in gold, or silver. It is up to the fashion jewelry designer’s good eye to decide how it may look better.

Wire-wrap fashion jewelry may be easy to make. But the satisfaction and sense of achievement felt by its designer-maker is definitely immense, knowing that he has carried on a tradition of art, beauty and fashion started thousands of years ago. Only this time, he or she accomplishes it with better tools, more raw materials to choose from, high level of design, and definitely a higher selling price!

Birthstones have gained its popularity in the 70s. Although it has waned in the 90s, it has made its comeback into the 21st century along with other jewelry and fashion accessories. Birthstones are not only fashion statements but personal statements as well. People love the idea of wearing the stone designated to their birth month.

The Peridot birthstone is no exception. It is the birthstones of those people born on the month of August. It is a sparkling golden green in color and does not change in color. This gemstone is ideal for women born on August and who also happen to have clear green eyes. It brings out the green in their eyes. Because of its clear, sparkling green color, the Peridot is also very refreshing to look at. It has a calming effect as one gazes into the multi-dimensionally-cut Peridot green color. The Peridot gemstone is even called the “evening emerald” in some jewelry circles.

The Peridot has come a long way in history of fashion jewelry and fashion accessories. In ancient Egypt, the Peridots were often used along with other sterling materials as adornment for queens and pharaoh’s headdresses. In the Medieval Period, the Peridot gemstone had been also used, along with some of the semi-precious and precious stones, to adorn, and beautify churches, and sacred church relics such as crucifixes, chalices used in mass, altars, etc.

The Peridot gemstone is ideal for fashion jewelry or fashion accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and anklets. Peridots look best with gold, copper and bronze settings, giving it a rustic look. Most especially, Peridots are excellent with silver and white gold settings. This latter pairing creates a dainty piece of fashion jewelry that can be used in day or night events.

As fashion jewelry and fashion accessories need not be expensive, this light green semi-precious stone can definitely serve the purpose of adornment for the August birthday celebrant without draining the pockets unnecessarily.

Many centuries ago early man told time by following the path of the sun. And soon, man developed an ingenious way of keeping track of time by mapping the celestial bodies. One of the earliest time-keepers was the sundial and wonderful examples are to be seen in museums all over the world.

Watches although functional have changed with seasons, needs, and fashions. And the wristwatches that are integral to our lives today was popularized by Cartier in the 19th century. From mechanical, to battery powered, to solar, lithium, kinetic, and crystal display, watches seem to have kept time with man’s ingenuity and progress.

From just telling time today a watch can calculate, take pictures, listen to music, watch videos and more. Anything that is an inspiration or dream quickly turns into a reality. From the watch a person wears one can tell a lot about the person. Divers wear watches that can withstand pressure, connoisseurs wear gold or gem studded watches, scientists like gizmos that help them in their work, adventurers like tough functional watches and so on.

There are watches to suit every palate and color preference from antique watches that can fetch great value to designer ones. Then there are watches that feature Disney themes or super-heroes and are worn by teenagers and kids. Watches make a lifestyle statement and are yet functional they help people keep track of time and play a role in the day to day functioning.

One can buy watches at street corners, antique stores, malls, auctions, boutiques, and online. There are websites that feature watch catalogues and with just a click you can bid for a watch or buy one from the convenience of your home or office. The online site will even ship the watch to whichever address you provide.

There are sites like Laks and http://www.watches.co.uk/ which give a wonderful range of watches to choose from. They not only sell watches but also buy yours. Many sites provide guidelines as well as articles on watches so that surfers can learn about watches and shop at the site.

As with all else in the world you need to:

• Find out all you can about the make, price, and guarantees.
• Check whether the payment gateways are safe.
• Work within a set budget. It is easy to fall into the “buy now,” trap.
• Choose a watch from an established dealer and know what you are buying.
• Make an effort to study the qualities of any watch you like and determine whether it will really satisfy your needs.

It is not as simple as see, buy, and use. Today watches are a fashion statement and convey to others the kind of person you are. So, think about what kind of image you wish to project and choose a watch that compliments your arm and dress sense. If you are not certain you can trust your instincts seek the guidance of fashion gurus. On the World Wide Web there are umpteen tips and articles that will introduce you to the world of style.

One interesting myth related to cobra-pearls is that these cobras employ the light of the pearl that they carry in their hoods to hunt at night, as a means of brightening their pathway--this would certainly indicate a property of the pearl itself or in accord with the argument above that a symbiotic relationship is being alluded to here between the cobra and the spirit-elemental of the pearl that the snake hosts. In cases where a pearl is said to have glowing properties it is difficult to validate and affirm its authenticity or to determine whether some form of a gimmick is employed to working its magic because owners of such pearls invariably refuse testers closer inspection. In regards to fakes, we know that there are synthetic "stones" selling in Indonesia with an electronic component, the Light-Emitting Diode embedded within them; this is coupled to a tiny battery and a switch that closes the circuit and gives off light whenever the stones are immersed in water or when pressure is applied to them--this novelty item could probably be found in various countries as well--this stone is often appropriated for deception. What confuses the glowing-pearl issue of the above is that in ancient Vedic literature such as the Garuda Purana, the nature of the pearls that are said to be "brilliant" are described in terms that are open to interpretation and debate.

But to return to the subject of shamanic pearl-retrieval, there are times when the ritual fails for one reason or another or it may require extra effort to be channeled into it in which situation more ritual-sessions are repeated for consecutive days and this entails the shaman spending more days/nights in the mosquito-infested region. At times such prolonged struggles also fail and the shaman has to return empty-handed for his efforts. Generally speaking, the more difficult it is for the shaman to retrieve a pearl, the greater is its inherent powers/magickal virtues. It is a rare occurrence, but shamans do occasionally pay for their lives during psychic-struggles.

Shamans are often called to attention of unusual phenomena occurring in villages such as strange hauntings, poltergeists, possessions, etc.--subsequent psychic detection by these shamans may reveal that the haunting entities are guardians of magickal pearls who often desire for these to be given to certain individuals--rituals are then conducted to facilitate the transfer of these treasures. In other cases, haunting spirits are not predisposed of giving away pearls in their possessions but haunt as a result of the desecration or disturbances of their territory by humans. When shamans detect that these nature-spirits are protectors of pearls and wishes to acquire them, a psychic "battle" would ensue with the shaman engaging in an inner-struggle for victory over the spirit beings.

Haunting spirits such as the above are often the "siluman" class-types--the sort of jinns (genies) that manifest themselves as etheric creatures and sometimes even as physical animals that can be killed as ordinary beings. Beasts such as tigers, crocodiles and wild-boars menacing villages and killing humans are often regarded as siluman--they carry certain traits or have features that indicate that they are no ordinary animals--there is always something strange about them. To protect the community, the elders of a troubled village would typically decide to set a trap for the beast somewhere in their compound or to hunt them down. During the actual confrontation, these creatures often display extraordinary qualities of invulnerability, strength, fearlessness, and stamina; ordinary blades and weapons have almost no effect upon them--when they are finally vanquished with the assistance of shamans who casts an appropriate spell, they are found to contain pearls or stones in their bodies and these are discovered to possess the same properties displayed by their dead hosts. Normally the tribal chieftain or an elder would claim these pearls as their own. Not only pearls but every part of these unusual beasts such as their claws, fangs, teeth, horns, skin, etc., are likewise regarded as having magickal properties.

The power of invulnerability against the blade is often displayed by domestic life-stock as well, most of the time fowls--roosters, in particular; and even after the prayers conducted by the butcher which results in a successful slaughter, the decapitated chicken would still have the strength and the nerve-energy within it to run amuck albeit headless for several minutes. These roosters when later dressed and cut-open often reveal bezoar stones in their organs--Albertus Magnus and other naturalists of past centuries refer to these stones as Alectoria. At times, silumans are benevolent and they would mysteriously appear in a village as an animal, most of the time as large snakes; they find themselves an agreeable person to reach out to and who eventually adopts them as pets. After being with their new keeper and family for several months or years, these benign creatures would suddenly vanish as mysteriously as they came but not before leaving behind a pearl or two. Sometimes the keeper would notice a bulge on their pet's serpentine-head developing; this would grow and develop into a snake-crown and is the object given to their keeper during the creature's departure.

One interesting manner in which Nature offer pearls to individuals is through dreams. Villagers living adjacent to forests and jungles often have lucid-dreams in which a mysterious personage would visit them--most of the time such encounters is of an elderly person that would make contact and explain to the dreamer that a gift is being offered and that it may be found at a certain place; the nature of the gift is not always described, though, neither is the site where it is located in which case the dreamer would simply wake up before sunrise and resume his or her normal daily-routine until later in the day the gift is found unexpectedly. If the site is indicated in the dream, the dreamer in his waking-state would investigate and conduct a search which almost always yields the expected results. Sometimes dreams such as these precedes the mysterious arrival of a creature wishing to be adopted as a pet as described above.

Cubic Zirconia, that sparkling stone that could pass off as a diamond, is rarely found naturally. Most of what you see is man-made.

The beauty of cubic zirconia is this.

Have you ever longed for that gorgeous necklace dripping with diamonds, knowing very well you can never afford anything like it?

Have you stared at those gorgeous jewels stars wear as they strut down the red carpet, with bodyguards trailing them, protecting the diamonds they wear?

How would you like to wear jewelry like that? Necklaces dripping with dazzling stones? Earrings that sparkle with large fiery rocks, and still have lunch money.

That's the promise cubic zirconia brings. And it is a very tempting one.

The truth is, diamonds cost far more than cubic zirconia or any other stone because of the inherent resale value of diamonds. You hear of people investing in diamonds and locking them in safes, but you don't hear of people locking up cubic zirconia gemstones in safes. Diamonds are also valued for their preciousness. You give your fiance a diamond engagement ring. If you slip a cubic zirconia ring and pass that off as a diamond, when she finds out, you had better find somewhere safe to hide... preferably on another planet.

That said cubic zirconia is a fashionistica's dream come true. Unlike tacky paste jewelry, this feels like the real thing. It is harder than most gemstones (8.5 on the Mohs scale) which makes it hardy enough for the daily wear and tear that jewelry undergoes. It has a more prismatic fire than diamond, though it has a lower refractive index than the real thing. Still, it looks close enough to the real thing to wow the crowd.

Many couples believe the rings signify eternal love and the unbreakable bond of marriage that’s why more and more people are being meticulous about it. Of all the kinds of wedding and engagement rings available in the market today, one of the most popular and in demand is the timeless diamond solitaire engagement ring because of its timeless and classic appeal. Most women also agree that the simplicity and elegance of the diamond solitaire ring can complement any existing fashion sense out there.

Shopping for that diamond solitaire engagement ring can be quite an adventure/misadventure if you don’t gear up for it. Here are some important details you must bear in mind to lessen the stress during that diamond solitaire engagement ring hunting day.

1. List down what are the things you’re looking for your diamond solitaire engagement ring. Jotting down preferred cut, shape, metal, and cost can help you find that perfect diamond solitaire engagement ring for your fiancée.

2. Surf the net for the latest trends in diamond solitaire engagement ring designs. This kind of ring comes many different beautiful styles, textures, shapes, and colors. Searching for different web sites in the Internet that feature such product will help you determine which ones are valuable. You might even buy online because countless unique collections of every diamond solitaire engagement ring out in the market are also featured there.

3. Since the solitaire ring will exalt the magnificence of the diamond itself, you should examine the stone closely. If you’re on a limited budget, you can purchase the best stone your money can afford and just choose a mount—metal—that is less expensive.

4. Consider the size of the diamond. Make sure that stone size of the diamond should reciprocate the size of the bride. As a general rule, petite woman should wear smaller stones than those full-figured women.

5. Be creative and imaginative. A diamond solitaire engagement ring itself is a traditional style but you can be creative and imaginative about it by experimenting in the shape of the stone and the color of the setting.

6. Consider the cut you prefer. Aside from the size of the diamond stone, the cut or shape of your diamond solitaire engagement ring can set it apart from the rest. The safest and most common cuts are round but you can also opt for princess solitaire or square cut stone, modern heart shape, pear or tear drop shape, oval shape, marquise shape, emerald cut, radiant shape, and asscher shape based on your personal taste.

7. After choosing your stone and its shape, decide on the setting or the metal you want to use. Gold—either white or yellow—is the most common options but you can also choose platinum if you want to be different. The setting can be a four-prong setting that shows off the stone while the six-prong setting offers more of a security advantage.

A gemstone usually refers to a rock or mineral that is used in jewelry or as a collector's item, usually after it has been polished, cut or faceted.

Gemstones are classified through several ways. They may be grouped according to chemical composition -- for example, rubies are made of aluminum oxide and diamonds are made of carbon. If they are crystals, they may be classified using the crystal system, which divide gemstones into cubic, trigonal or monoclinic. They are also classified according to habit, which refers to the shape of the stones. It's also possible to group gemstones according to species -- for example, the mineral species beryl would include such gemstones as emerald, aquamarine, bixbite, goshenite, heliodor and morganite.

Buying a gemstone can be an absolute joy. Imagine the thrill of being surrounded by a roomful of precious gems, with colors that dazzle and captivate. Over 30 types of gem varieties have been identified, not counting those rare, singular gemstones that show up once in a while and defy category. Some of these gemstones have decorated and adorned the earliest civilizations of man, while others are recent discoveries but nonetheless as impressive as their forebears.

Emeralds are the most popular gemstones in the world and have been esteemed since ancient times. They are a dazzling green all over, alternately shiny and intense to the eye. The highest-quality emeralds are more coveted than diamonds, a little known fact. They were named from the word "esmeralde" which is Old French for "green gemstone." Their rich history dates back to the times of great ancient civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs. Its roots are buried deep in the jungles of South America where the rarest of emeralds can still be found.

The ruby is the gemstone that best represents love and vitality, passion and intensity. The ruby has long been regarded as first among gemstones, their bright red glow that conveys strength and warmth. These qualities made the ruby the most valuable gemstone for centuries, a royal favorite of emperors and kings.

Often compared to the blue sky in literature and history, sapphire has as many shades as the sky has hues. Legend has it that early man actually believed that the sky was made of one big block of sapphire and that the earth was simply a thorn on its side. Among emotions, Sapphire is associated with noble feelings of harmony, friendship, loyalty and sympathy. And since blue is the favorite color of about half the world's population, sapphire's appeal and popularity worldwide is not surprising.

When you hear people talk about the King of Precious Gemstones it is the Ruby. In the ancient language of Sanskrit the Ruby is called ratnaraj, which translated means the King of Precious Stones. Rubies have been significant in history as a prized and valuable gemstone. Over the centuries and presently today it is still one of the most precious gemstones, not only due to its beauty, but also its durability. Ruby is a 9 on the Mohr scale, which makes it well suited for daily wear.

There are considerable variations in a Rubies, Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Size that can impact cost. Prices can range from the 15.97 Carat sold at an international auction for $3,633,000 in 1988 to everyday prices you will see in most jewelry shops and on-line gemstone stores. Like most gemstones it’s the size and quality that dictate the value and ultimately the price you pay.

Lets take a look at the Color, Cut, Clarity and Proportions and see how they impact the value of this gemstone.

Color. The color of Rubies can range from orangey red to purplish red. The most valuable Ruby is a vibrant red to a slightly purplish red hue. The saturation of the color is equally important, as the most valuable Ruby will have a vivid saturation. Another consideration is tone as it should be medium to medium dark, if it’s too dark then it will impact the gemstones brilliance. If the gemstone is too light it will look pink and then it cannot be called a Ruby, and must be classified as a Pink Sapphire. Most sellers would like borderline colors of pink/red to be classed as Rubies as they are more valuable. If you are purchasing a more expensive Ruby its important to have it graded by a reputable laboratory, such as GIA or EGL to have the color authenticated against color master stones.

Cut. Today fine quality Rubies over 1 carat are rare, but commercial quality Rubies are readily available. The most common cuts for Rubies are Ovals and Cushions with brilliant cut crowns and step cut pavilions. You will find Round, Trillion, Emerald and Pear in smaller sizes but they are rare in larger sizes with higher qualities. Cutters will try to cut the gemstone to minimize the orangey red color, due to the Pleochroism (different colors of the gemstone depending on which way it is observed) to increase the value.

Clarity. Most Rubies contain some inclusions as flawless Rubies are very rare, expensive and usually belong to collectors. Some of the inclusions you might see are silk, needles, included crystals, fingerprints, growth and color zoning, and color banding. There are different grading scales available throughout the world but the most commonly used one is from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The gemstones are graded into 3 Types and each Type has the following grades Eye Clean, Slightly Included, Moderately Include, Heavily Included and Severely Included. Corundum is a Type 2 and if you have the opportunity to purchase one that has a clarity rating of Eye-clean you will have the highest clarity available.

Proportions. Symmetry in any gemstone is important as you will find many commercial Rubies will have variations in its symmetry when looking face up. These include out of round, uneven lobes in Heart shapes, uneven wings in Marquise cut, uneven shoulders in Ovals. The other area of focus is the pavilion, as cutters will add weight with a resulting pavilion bulge, but this adds nothing to the beauty of the Ruby. Brilliance can be affected by shallow pavilion causing large windows or by offset pavilions. The other important grading characteristic that is important is finish; you should not be able to see polishing lines, scratches, pits or abrasions on the Rubies surface.

The process of cutting and polishing gems is called gem cutting or lapidary, while a person who cuts and polishes gems is called a gem cutter or a lapida. The cutting of the diamond includes three series' of operations: splitting (or cleaving), cutting and polishing (which includes setting and polishing the diamond).

The rough diamond is given to the splitter and it is he who determines the future of the stone. He decides how it should be shaped to retain the utmost weight with the most brilliant effect.

From the splitter the diamond passes to the cutter. His expertise lies in giving the stones the definite form which they are to preserve.

After a gemstone is sawed and ground to the desired shape and sanded to remove rough marks left by coarser grits, it is usually polished to a mirror-like finish to aid light reflection from the surface of the stone (or refraction through the stone, in the case of transparent materials).

The natural form of a diamond will determine the shape of the final polished diamond. Of all the cuts, the most popular is the round brilliant because of its ability to give a stone the greatest possible brilliance and fire with the most minimal amount of weight loss. A standard round brilliant cut has usually 57 or 58 polished facets. Sometimes months, and even years, are required for the perfecting of single stones. African diamonds are said to be particularly hard and difficult to polish; but, in the end, the most hopelessly resistant gem yields to the indefatigability of man. Diamond cutting is a great skill, practiced from generation to generation. The monotonous toil, patience and technical skill inherited and acquired by the workman are at last rewarded by the glitter of the magnificent stone polished to perfection. The traditional diamond cutting and trading centers are based in Antwerp, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, New York and Johannesburg. China and Thailand are more recently developed centers.

When you purchase your next gemstone be sure to ask if the gemstone has had any treatments, as this can affect the value and durability of the gemstone. A good jeweller will automatically make this disclosure as part of the sale.

If you are purchasing a high-value gemstone such as Ruby, Emerald or Sapphire make sure it has a certificate from a laboratory that has the expensive equipment required to be able to detect some of these treatment. Most jewellers and gemologists have equipment that can detect certain levels of treatment, but it is only the laboratory equipped grading companies such as Gemological Institute of America and European Gemological Laboratory that can detect all the treatments available.

There are 10 major gem treatments that require disclosure from the seller to the buyer.

Bleaching, Cavity Filling, Colorless Impregnation, Dying, Fracture Filling, Heat Treatment, Irradiation, Sugar & Smoke Treatment, Surface Diffusion, Surface Modifiers. In this article we will look at 5 of them.

Cavity filling This type of treatment refers to those gemstones that have defects on the surface of the gemstone; these cavities and surface reaching fractures reduce the appearance and value of the gemstone. To enhance the value these imperfections are filled with different resins, plastic or glass, which improves the appearance and increases the gemstone weight. Due to the different Reflective Index of the filler material most gemologist can detect the fillers.

Dying. Is used to enhance the color of gemstones such as Chalcedony, Lapis, Jadeite, Cultured Pearl and Turquoise. These gemstones have one thing in common they are all porous, which enables the dye to reach just below the surface. To assist in having the dye penetrate, some gemstones are heated and then cooled quickly by quenching in water, this causes minute surface cracks into which the dye will flow. The more color a gemstone has the more appealing to the consumers.

Heat Treatment This is the most common among treatments and is used extensively on corundum (Sapphire, Ruby) to enhance the color of the gemstone. Heat can also be used to remove internal blemishes, or color centres to improve the gemstones color consistency. Most gemstones that are heated result in enhancing or changing the color are stable, however they are still enhancement and should be disclosed.

Irradiation You will find this treatment in some colored gemstones and colored Diamonds. This process began in the early 1990s and is used widely today, there are minimal traces of radiation in the gemstone but its never harmful if the correct procedures have been followed. The challenge in gemstones is the lack of stability and its sensitivity to heat once the process has been completed. Therefore it is important that you know the gemstone has been irradiated, if you ever have a jewellery item repaired make sure the stone is removed, as the heat will change the color. Most colored Diamonds are made affordable by irradiating the natural browns and yellow, which can turn them into blue, green and red colors making them more attractive and increasing their value. The process in diamonds is more stable but is still susceptible to changes with heat.

Surface Diffusion This treatment is becoming more common today with the enhancement of more valuable gemstones such as corundum. The gemstone is heated just below melting point, and then chemicals are used to penetrate the surface to become part of the crystal structure. This process is also used to produce stars (asterism) in some gemstones, again increasing value.

Disclosure It is not only unethical, it is also against the law to sell a natural gemstone that has been treated and not disclose the treatment. If a jeweller or gemologist does not know if a gemstone has had a treatment then he should assume it has and disclose it, or send to a laboratory to confirm one way or another. All treatments must be disclosed at the time of sale to the consumer. Unfortunately, today there are a lot of treated gemstones being sold as natural.

Synonymous with diamonds is the word “forever.” This is basically why most people—especially couples—choose this as a symbol of their affection and eternal love for their partner by putting it in a ring or any other jewelry. Unless stolen or lost, real diamonds are meant to stand the test of time and generations. No wonder these are considered as the most expensive mineral used as a gem.

For men, a pair or two of jewelry is enough. But when it comes to women, it is altogether a different story. Most of the time, men have to contend in buying the engagement or wedding ring alone to keep some element of surprise while women would want to have a companion while choosing a ring to get better perspectives.

A ring to stand the test of time

If there were one kind of ring that exemplifies eternal sparkle and beauty, that would be the diamond eternity ring. Long before, diamond eternity rings were already described as the as the best “dress” or the “best wedding ring” because its endless or eternal loop is great symbol of love that would last for eternity.

Generally, all diamond eternity rings are set with a stone or diamond set. These are categorized as a “full eternity” ring—that has stones set completely around the shank—and a “half eternity” ring—which has stones set partially around the shank. Today, many eternity rings come multi-stranded or plaited, among other themes or designs.

If you are looking forward to getting a diamond eternity ring—whether as a wedding or engagement, for purely personal satisfaction, or a major investment—take note of its special characteristics aside from carefully examining the 4Cs—the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

In a jewelry store, two diamonds may look alike but they can be very different and just like two diamonds of equal size that have very different values. The four qualities of a diamond namely color, clarity, cut and carat weight determine the real value of the gem you are looking for. These standards are also applicable to most gemstones.

Usually, a full diamond eternity ring costs twice or thrice as much than the half eternity because it has more diamonds. More and more people—especially women—focus in buying half diamond eternity rings that have stones concentrated in the “head” or front of the ring because they can easily be sized compared to full eternity rings, more comfortable to wear, and less expensive.

Bear in mind that square, oblong and round stones are excellent choices for diamond eternity rings because of its continuity.

Don’t forget to compare prices. Diamond eternity rings need not always be expensive. If you have found a design that you really admire in a specific jewelry store or an online jeweler, try looking in other stores because they might be selling the same product with the same specifications for a lesser price. Make sure that you at least have a minor comparison of prices from several different jewelers before you finally buy that princess cut diamond engagement ring.

Check and double-check the bill of sale carefully. After buying your dream diamond eternity ring, make sure that everything about the ring is fully described in written from and explained to you by the jeweler.

Topaz is a gem that has a long history of being associated with the sun. This is because the colors of a sunrise or sunset are captured in this gem. Egyptians thought that wearing an amulet or pendant of topaz provided protection by the sun god Ra to the wearer. The Romans associated topaz with the sun god Jupiter, and felt that topaz was a powerful bringer of good fortune and positive events.

Many cultures historically believed that wearing topaz allows you to be clear of vision and thought, and to be able to ward off evil spells or enchantments. Historically it was also believed to give the wearer almost super-human strengths and abilities when in emergency or crisis situations. In ancient times many nobles wore topaz, as it was believe to change color when in the presence of poison. They often wore it in rings and placed their hands over their food or drink to see if it had been meddled with. Topaz was also thought to gain strength with the phases of the moon, and thought to cure some diseases and conditions such as insomnia, respiratory problems and some blood disorders.

In more modern tradition, topaz is the birthstone for those born in the month of November. While a very hard stone, it can be split fairly easily if hit at the right angle.

Colors

Topaz naturally comes in many different colors. The most recognized color of topaz is an amber or gold color, with highlights of peach, tans, browns or shades of orange. A cognac color of topaz is slightly darker than the amber shade, and tends to have more of the brown highlights.

The largest topaz is the Braganza topaz. It is found in set in the Portuguese Crown, and was originally thought to be a large diamond. This topaz, while called white topaz, is really colorless and is the most common type, found in China, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Nigeria and India.

Pink topaz occurs naturally in Pakistan and Russia, and is occasionally found in other locations. Pink topaz is usually pale pink; anything that is described as “hot pink” or “bright pink” is artificially treated or heated to produce the enhanced color. Heating some shades of pink topaz will remove the orange color and will leave a lavender colored gem.

Brown, red, dark pink, yellow, orange and sherry colored topaz are found naturally in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Heating and enhancing of these different naturally occurring colors can lead to a wide variety of darker shades and truly unique colors.

Pale topaz can be irradiated in a lab to create a blue topaz. The color of this gem is very pale to medium blue, and is not a dark blue color. The pale topaz needed to make a blue topaz is found in Sri Lanka, China, Brazil and Nigeria.

In 1998, gemologists began surface-enhancing pale topaz to create a green topaz. This topaz ranges in color from a leaf green to an emerald green. Again, this is not a naturally occurring gem and requires surface-enhancement to produce the color.

People resize rings for many different reasons. For some it is weight loss or weight gain, and for others it is simply to be able to wear the ring on a different finger. Resizing is very common and can be done on most rings, but there are some exceptions. To better understand when sizing can and cannot be done, one must understand the process.

Making a Ring Smaller

Decreasing the band size on a ring is fairly easy when done by a jeweler. For the ring to be made smaller, the jeweler must cut out a small portion of the band. The ring must then be reshaped to the proper circular shape and then it can be soldered back together. The jeweler must make a weld that is virtually invisible, and it must then be polished and smoothed so that no indication of the sizing is visible.

This method can easily be used for rings with a plain shank or band. Rings which are ornate or have a design which carries around the complete band will need to be rebuilt over the sizing. There is sometimes an area on ornate rings which has been left for resizing. This area, however, is usually used for making the ring larger instead of smaller.

Some rings have jewels all around the band or are channel style less than half way around the band, and may require the jeweler to remove the gems before sizing. This depends on the setting and pattern. For rings being made smaller, the diamonds or gems may be moved to balance the setting of the ring.

Making a ring larger

Increasing the size of a ring can be done two ways. When a ring needs to be made just slightly larger, sometimes a jeweler can stretch the ring to the desired size. The ring needs to be cut and an additional piece of the shank or band soldered in if the size increase is a half size or larger. If a jeweler needs to resize an ornately patterned ring, or one with jewels throughout the band, the sizing can pose a problem. The jeweler will discuss options with you which may include changing the setting.

Rings not to re-size

You should not try to re-size a ring which has channel set stones more than half way around the band. If the ring has an elaborate setting or certain types of gems, some of the stones may need to be removed and reset before the ring can be sized. If the ring is an antique or is an older white gold ring, there may be some discoloration around the repair area. It is not always possible for the jeweler to know the cause of the discoloration. Most jewelers will make every effort to minimize lines or discoloration on the ring. Usually it is only noticeable with the use of a magnifying glass. It is imperative that you discuss options with your jeweler.

Celtic rings with the design all the way around the band can be made slightly larger or smaller without distorting the pattern. Increases or decreases of a significant amount are usually not successful without distortion to the pattern.

The Pacific Ocean is home to the black-lipped oysters that produce large Tahitian pearls. The ocean waters are warm, and this allows the oysters to grow much larger than in other areas, thus producing larger pearls. Tahitian oysters are farmed in large sheltered lagoons that are kept free of pollution and overcrowding. Water temperatures and nutritional levels, as well as environmental and biological conditions are monitored carefully. These well cared for oysters are responsible for producing the beautiful Tahitian Pearls.

How a Tahitian pearl is formed

Aragonite, which is a form of calcium carbonate, is secreted by the pearl oyster. This substance coats the inside of the oyster shell and produces the “mother-of-pearl” lining. It also forms the layers of the pearl. The oyster can produce aragonite secretions up to four times a day with each secretion forming another layer. The layers are about one micron or 0.001mm thick. Tahitian oyster live for about two years which means they produce up to about two thousand layers; more than most other pearls. The light passes through these multiple microscopic layers and is reflected and refracted to produce a shimmering effect. This shimmering creates magnificent colors which seem to travel and move throughout the pearl. This is part of what makes the Tahitian pearl so unique.

Criteria

Pearls are graded based on certain criteria. These are:

• Size – the expensive pearls are the larger ones. The Robert Wan Pearl is the largest Tahitian Pearl and it measured over 20.92mm or 13/16 of an inch in diameter. Tahitian pearls usually measure between 9mm and 14mm and are considerably larger than Chinese or Japanese pearls.

• Pearl Thickness – layers surrounding the nucleus.

• Shape – round pearls are the most sought after and cannot vary more than 2% from being perfectly spherical. Tahitian pearls can also be semi-round and semi-baroque.

• Surface Purity – surface imperfections on the pearl.

• Quality – the luster and the imperfections of the pearl.

• Brilliance – the orient and the luster of the pearl. The orient, which is the shimmering quality of the pearl, is very noticeable in Tahitian pearls.

Colors

Although Tahitian pearls are naturally black, they are very unique in their coloration. The pearls highlights can be silver and even gold. The overtones on a Tahitian pearl can be blue, purple and even green. The variations in the colors of the pearls make very striking jewelry when combined with other gemstones and metals.