Walking through the aisle of a jewelry store, you may not think diamonds are especially rare. But consider this: 250 tons (500,000 pounds) of ore must be mined and processed to produce just one carat of rough diamond. Since a rough diamond typically loses 40% to 60% of its weight when cut, that means that all these efforts are necessary to produce just one of the .50 carat polished diamonds you find in the store’s display counters. When you also consider the fact that only about one quarter of all rough diamonds are actually suitable for gem cutting, you can begin to appreciate the rarity and uniqueness of each diamond.

A quick, fun fact: The first diamond deposits were brought to the surface of the earth approximately 2.5 billion years ago. The most recent deposits are roughly 50 million years old. Your diamond is a truly unique piece of history.

The first culturing experiments took place in the lagoons of the atoll of Hikueru and Bora Bora islands of French Polynesia. This led to the first harvest in 1965 which resulted in over 1,000 black pearls. The first export of black pearls wasn’t until 1972 but soon the secret was out and by 1996 over $152 million worth of black gems were being shipped out of French Polynesia. Interestingly enough these pearls are not harvested in Tahiti but rather in the rich atolls that make up French Polynesia.

Featuring a rich, brilliant luster and smooth, clean nacre Tahitian pearls are perfect for pendants, necklaces, ear rings and other forms of jewelry. Since being discovered the demand for these rare stones, in particular Tahitian pearls, has increased steadily each year and has forced conservation in the bountiful French Polynesian waters to allow for oyster bed repopulation. When pearls were first discovered by colonists in the 1700′s several prime harvesting sites were quickly dried up due to the dramatic demand for the exotic gems.

Tahitian pearls come from the large black-lip oysters named Pinctada Margaritifera. These oysters are quite small and only a handful will survive the cultivation process and produce a fine gemstone. This makes Tahitian pearls rarer than other highly sought after jewels including Akoya and South Sea varities.

Each black pearl is a one of kinds unique and finding a match for a pair of ear rings can take quite some time. Jewelers and pearl experts often have to sift through hundreds of black pearls to find one that matches another closely enough to be used for ear rings or other fine jewelry.

Because of the rich luster, rarity and storied history Tahitian pearls are one of the most sough after gems on the jewelry market today and you can find terrific pearls on watches, ear rings, necklaces, pendants, cuff links and other decorative trinkets.

In an attempt to bring some uniformity to the industry description of natural color diamonds, gem analysis laboratories have developed the fancy colored diamond color scale to classify the strength or intensity of a diamond’s color. Generally speaking, such gradient scales and tools are a reflection of human attempt to categorize the color the eye sees and judge it within three parametric areas: color hue, tone and saturation. Natural color diamonds are evaluated from the “face up” position, meaning gemologists look directly through the top of the diamond. Experts at both the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) have three parameters by which they describe color for these exquisite stones: hue, tone and saturation.

Color hue refers to the dominant color of the stone, such as pink, yellow, blue. There can also be modifiers or tints, which impart more than one hue to the stone, casting it into a still separate color category. For instance, a purplish-pink diamond indicates a stone with principal pink hue and purplish tints. If no such tints are present, the hue of the stone is said to be a pure primary color. Color tone refers to how much lightness or darkness a stone appears to retain even when illuminated. The range, obviously, is from light or very light, to dark or very dark. Color Saturation describes the strength or intensity of the hue or main color. The saturation of light-toned diamonds can vary from a pastel to vivid and intense. Darker diamonds will range from dark to deep in description.

Natural color diamonds are graded by gemological laboratories in very high-tech environments under controlled lighting environments similar to natural daylight. First, diamonds are tested for treatment, synthetic additions or alterations to ensure authenticity. Most laboratories will scan diamonds with a spectroscope to compare readings with their historical data and utilize High-Pressure-High-Temperature detection and other proprietary equipment. Gemologists will also use comparison stones and proprietary color chips to compare two diamonds to each other. Though the face-up appearance is ultimately what determines the diamond color, stones are evaluated from other angles as well.

You may also find small wooden jewelry boxes meant to sit on a dresser or vanity. These may have glass or mirrors and different compartments, sliding drawers and hooks for chains. They are miniature versions of the jewelry armoires.

You can find small wooden boxes that open and play music. Some may even have moving figures inside such as a dancing ballerina. You can also find many different kinds of small trinket boxes maybe meant for only a ring
or other small object.

There are jewelry boxes made out of glass, porcelain and of course wood. Some have even been made out of types of metals. There are stacking jewelry boxes meant to build on and custom boxes that can be engraved with a name, initials, date or other special features.

There are just so many options when it comes to jewelry boxes that you are sure to find one that suits your needs.

How To Store Pearls. Pearls prefer being stored at moderate temperatures, and can be damaged or lose their sheen if exposed regularly to extreme temperatures. So the glove box of the car is definitely not a place for your pearls on a hot day! Don’t store them in a place that might get cold or damp, either, like an attic.

Being so soft, pearls scratch very easily, so store them in a box lined with something soft. Or at least wrap them in a soft cloth before you put them away. Most other gemstones, like diamonds, are much harder than pearls, and can give them a nasty scratch if they’re jostled together. If you have to put them in the same box, the pearls must be wrapped up to protect them.

Keep chemicals away from pearls, or they will get damaged. Chemicals can erode the pearl’s lustrous surface, leaving them dull. So avoid any alcohol based cleaning fluids, or anything with vinegar. It’s a good idea to put your pearls on just before you leave, so that you don’t accidentally get any makeup or hairspray on them. Both of these can stain or damage your pearls.

As an extra precaution, it might be worth getting your pearl jewelry restrung every year or two. Pearls are often strung on silk thread, and this weakens over time. If you wear your pearls a lot, the constant movement of the pearls can also damage the silk. Although pearls require some care to keep them at their best, it’s definitely worth the effort.

Just like other gemstones, pearls are given to a single month as a birthstone. June is the month of the pearl and many women and men born in the month of June proudly display their pearls to honor this fact. The birthstone chart was first established in the 16th Century, when it was believed fair favor and good luck would fall upon the wearer of their birthstone.

In Christianity, St. Augustine deemed the pearl to be a symbol of Jesus Christ, after evaluating a passage of Biblical text that gives each of the twelve apostles a specific gemstone in their honor. There are actually several passages in the Bible that refer to pearls, the most well known one an allegory about the “pearly gates” of heaven and “casting pearls before swine.”

The Japanese have always held pearls in high esteem, and often associate good luck to those to wear the round beauties. It should be noted that the Japanese only hold meaning for the salt water variety of the pearl, since the round salt water pearls are native to the archipelago chain and have made the island native quite popular due to the innovations of pearl harvesting companies like Mikimoto.

Pearls have been the most popular accessories with bridal wear historically and still continue to be a strong favorite today. The innocence and beauty symbolized by the pearl is also symbolized by the bride, so the match is perfect. From the traditional princess length pearl necklace to a stunning pendant, earrings, or bracelet mixing pearls with other precious gemstones, pearls are a fast favorite for weddings. Even many bridal gowns, veils, and headpieces are adorned with pearls to create a stunningly elegant effect.

If you have a low budget then you can buy certified loose diamonds and set it up with engagement ring setting. This is the cheapest way to buy a high quality diamond engagement ring. The reputable websites offer no charges for setting the certified diamond, free shipping and free ring sizing. You can also find a learning section that will give you all the information about diamonds.

Before buying the diamond engagement ring you must know about 4C’S which include color, carat, cut and clarity. The 4C’S determine the value of diamond. Among these four factors the cut of a diamond is the most important factor. Because the cut determines sparkle and brilliance of a diamond and the price of a diamond ring depends on its cut only. By knowing the 4C’S you can easily find the best certified loose diamonds according to your budget.

The next most important thing is to set your budget. No matter how much you have spend in your engagement ring but you should always set a budget and always remember to buy best quality EGL, AGS or GIA certified loose diamond for your budget. EGL, AGS and GAI are the respected independent gem grading labs in the U.S. It is very important to buy a diamond of best quality because diamonds are forever and wearing an engagement ring is a lifetime commitment.

Generally grooms think what kind of diamond engagement ring their soon-to-be-bride would prefer. The best way to know about her taste and preference is to ask her directly. And if you want to give her a surprise then you can ask her family and friends. You can also have some idea by looking at what type of jewelry she wears daily. Before purchasing engagement ring you must keep in mind her ring finger size, the shape of her hands and fingers, lifestyle and her personal style.

Purchasing loose diamond is a better option because you can have better quality of diamond in loose form and you can set them in a unique design according to the choice of your love.

Take Time To Plan Your Jewelry Making Business

Craft businesses can be easily operated from home – especially jewelry making businesses. Your supplies, components, and tools are small and will be easy to store and transport. Your work area and materials aren’t hazardous and probably won’t pose any major storage problems. Although if you have small children you will need to come up with some storage solutions for your smaller materilas. Most people can easily run their business from one room in their home – I know people who don’t even devote an entire room to their business.

The Transistion from Hobbiest to Professional

If you’ve been making jewelry as a hobby, starting to make jewelry for profit won’t take much more room. The transition from hobbyist to professional requires little or no adjustment in the way you manufacture your products. You may already have sufficient work space in the form of a shop or workroom. Because you will be increasing production volume, you will probably have to find or create adequate storage space, and you’ll want an office of some sort for attending to all the details of running a business. Otherwise, you probably already have most of the tools and other items you need.

Musting up the Confidence

What you may not have is confidence. Confidence is every bit as important as skill. You must have confidence in your craft, in yourself, and in your ability to run a business and sell your products. My goal is to help you develop that confidence by helping you understand how to successfully run your own business.

Don’t Undersell Yourself or Your Work

I know a lot of designers who are guilty of this one. Infact I have been guilty of downplaying my work and designs. It’s important to never think of your products as homemade, but rather as meticulously handcrafted to exacting standards. Handcrafted products are in great demand, because they provide customers with a quality you don’t often find: they’re handmade, they’re unique, and they can be individualized. Handcrafted jewelry often sells for a premium, because customers are willing to pay for something unique and special.

Should You Start Your Own Home Based Jewelry Business?

No one but you can determine whether or not you should start your own jewelry business, but certain indicators can lead you toward the right choice. Of course, if you have little or no skill, poor coordination, and no interest in getting better- find another business. If you don’t enjoy making jewelry, there’s no reason to start a business. If, on the other hand, you’re a competent artisan — even a good one — but have no patience for or interest in managing a business, then you’d better work for someone else and treat jewelry making as a hobby.

Even if the idea of being self-employed as a home-based craftsperson appeals to you, and you either have or are willing to get the necessary skills and knowledge, you still need to understand your strengths and weaknesses. This is part of the planning stage of your business. It’s a process that’s never too early to start and one you should continue throughout the life of your home based jewelry business.

When these words are attached to an actual product, they bring the qualities out in the product they are representing. Watches are a great example. There are thousands of watches on the market all with their own unique differentiating features. However, when a person walks into a shop looking for a watch to buy, their attention is likely to go towards the most beautiful and the most elegant watches first.

There are many different beautiful and elegant watches that a person has to choose from. One brand that has a large selection of beautiful and elegant watches is Emporio Armani. Armani are known for their excellence in fashion and their sub-division – Emporio Armani – is no different when it comes to watches. All of the Emporio Armani watches in their range have their own look and feel about them and have various distinguishing features too that set them aside from other watches. Most importantly however is that all of the watches are as beautiful and as elegant as each other and customers choosing to buy a watch would certainly be very happy to purchase one of these.

It is often seen that it is the celebrities who sets the year’s hottest trends. Fashion jewelry is also one such product which the celebrities try to flaunt. High-end fashion jewelry pieces are available as collectible replicas of the latest accessories celebrities have been seen wearing to weddings, parties, clubs, awards shows and even in their latest movies. The fashion jewelry realm has shown a celebrity status in direct proportion to the consumers that display their fashion tastes and style sense. Fashion jewelries in vintage and antique designs is also gaining popularity. It gives that classy and unique look. Bright and bold in color and design, they are indeed the funky accents to daily outfits.

Whether your wish to follow celebrity fashion trends, or sport your own unique style or collect antique pieces, fashion jewelry offers unique pieces just right for you. Choose one that reflects your true taste and style. To coincide with your personality, fashion jewelry comprises every accessory from hair to foot starting from the hair pin to your anklet. To match every taste, a wide range of jewelry designs are available at affordable prices. When these jeweleries be it beaded earrings or glass arm lets or dangles are worn by fashion-minded people it displays a real sense of fashion.