Thursday, 29 October 2009

How to Recognize a Non Conflict Diamond

Many people are absolutely devastated when they learn about conflict diamonds. They think about their engagement ring, their glittery jewelry, and all of the diamonds that they have admired over the years. The brilliance of these pieces is diminished greatly by their bloody history. Diamonds that come from countries in a state of insurrection or rebellion are often obtained by violent and inhumane means.

Tyrant groups take over mines and the villages nearby, forcing villagers into slavery and intimidating their families with murder, rape, and amputation. They sell these diamonds to industrial country and use the money to buy weapons and fund illicit activities. However, there are many places around the world and some parts of Africa that mine clean diamonds through peaceful means. A large part of the money helps support the economy and some reconstruction. It is possible to get a jewelry piece made from a non conflict diamond from most major diamond retailers, if you know what to ask for.

However, there is no way to know for sure if a diamond is non conflict. Once the rock has been cut and polished, it is impossible to tell where it was mined. Thus, for a diamond to be "non conflict" certified, its mining, cutting, polishing, and shipping must be extensively recorded, regulated, and double checked. The jeweler that you go to should have a license and official paperwork in order to prove that the diamond did not come from a conflict area.

There are four questions you should ask the salesperson whenever you buy diamond jewelry. The salesperson should be able to answer these questions, as blood diamonds are a huge issue in the diamond industry, so everyone involved is fairly familiar with them in the same way that they are familiar with diamond quality issues, such as IGI appraisals or GIA appraisals. If the salesperson cannot or does not answer any of these questions, then you should politely take your business elsewhere.

The first question is, "How can I know for sure that these are non conflict diamonds?" A guarantee from the store is not enough, if a diamond is non conflict then it will have gone through the Kimberly Process, and the salesperson should have some nice papers for you, with embellishments and special textures to prevent forgeries as best as possible. There also might be a certificate or something along those lines that indicate that they only sell non conflict diamonds. Several Canadian diamond retailers or retailers that sell Canadian diamonds will have this.

The second question is, "Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?" Many countries in South Africa, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo are known conflict areas, so diamonds from them are most likely to be blood diamonds. If you are extremely knowledgeable about blood diamonds, then you know that some areas of Africa actually have clean diamonds that are good for the local economy. However, if you aren't heavily researched, it might be best to stay clear away from the region.

It also helps to have your diamond certifications straightened out; for instance, GIA diamond rings are not necessarily non conflict diamonds. The third question you should ask is the retailer's policy in buying and selling blood diamonds. If you are dedicated to this cause, then you might want to only support jewelers who refuse any association with blood diamonds. The fourth request is to see a guarantee from their diamond suppliers that the rocks they sell are clean.

What Are Non-Conflict Diamonds?

If you are a conscious shopper, you will ask more questions when shopping for diamonds that just about the details of the stone. You should inquire if the stones you are admiring with the possibility of purchasing are non-conflict diamonds. The answer you receive should satisfy your mind that these diamonds have not come from a country where the sale of diamonds is used to cause bloodshed and terror for others.

Non-conflict diamonds do not look any different from other diamonds so there is no way you can identify them by looks alone. The appraisal report, whether it is of EGL loose diamonds or from another gemological appraisal facility will not be able to give you the answer either. Conflict diamonds, also called blood diamonds, should be a cause for concern because they come from countries in Africa where they are used to provide financing for wars and military action against innocent people. In some cases, child labor is used in the mining process.

When you make sure that the diamond jewelry you buy contains non-conflict diamonds, you can do your part by putting an end to this type of activity. Even though you may pay a high price for the diamonds, in this respect the purchase will be one of best value diamonds. Jewelers who are confident that they are not selling conflict diamonds will be happy to answer any of your questions.

The UN along with countries in the developed world used the Kimberley Certification Process to identify non-conflict diamonds. This means that rough diamonds exported from countries in Africa that are using the sale of the diamonds to further the economic activities of the country will provide a government certificate attesting to this fact. Diamonds cannot be legally shipped across borders without being accompanied by this certification.

Jewelers who deal in buying rough diamonds will have the Kimberley certificate ready to show you when you ask about the origin of the diamond. A local retail jewelry store
may not have this certificate, but can direct you to the supplier to whom you can direct your questions. However, any legitimate jewelry store should be able to answer "Yes" as soon as you ask whether the stone in question is a non conflict diamond.

If when you ask a jeweler about the origin of the diamonds for sale and receive a black stare when you mention the Kimberley Certificate or the chain of warranties of the World Diamond Council, then you would be well-advised to walk away from the sale no matter how good of a deal you think it may be.

Upon purchasing a diamond, you should receive certification that the diamonds were purchased from one of the countries approved by the UN. You should also receive an appraisal report on the diamond which provides you with the details of the four C's. New laws that have come into force in the past decade require jewelers to provide documentation about diamonds that they sell to their customers.

It is important to do your homework when buying a diamond in addition to determining that it is a non-conflict diamond. Without an understanding of how best value diamonds are appraised, such as with EGL loose diamonds, you may not be able to understand the appraisal report that you receive. Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, but the report will also provide details of the length, width and depth, no matter how tiny the stone may be.

Clarity refers to the quality of the sparkle and shine you will see from the diamond each time it catches the light. The cut can be one of five different types and basically refers to the shape of the diamond. The color may not be pure white, but could be a pale shade of yellow. All of these factors help determine the value of the diamonds that you buy.

Sunday, 25 October 2009

The Indian Handicrafts

The tradition and culture of a particular place is reflected by its handicrafts items. It carries tales of ancient times of the kings and queens, and tells stories of its heritage. Wooden handicrafts like carved figures, painted figure, chess board, animal figure and other Indian Handicraft Items of wood are designed aesthetically by the skilled craftsman. The Indian handicrafts directory can provide you all these information in detail.

If you take a closer look at these wooden handicraft items, they represent the spirit of Indian Craftsmanship in true spirits along with style and beauty. They are widely used as gift articles due to their attractive looks. Today, handicraft is flourishing in the Indian industry because of its rich cultural heritage and diversity.

Indian handicraft items ranges from wooden stone, papier mache, metal, glass, bamboo, cane, clay, terracotta ceramics, and textiles. Majority of its production is exported to different countries; the most popular items in Indian handicrafts are brass ware, pen holder, vases, candle stand, Christmas items, ceramic pots, papier mache and other products of paper. Different states of India like north eastern Manipur, Tripura, Northern States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kashmir or the southern part, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala are popular for its handicraft collection. Each States offers a wide range of handicrafts, with its own identity. These handicraft items represent quality craftsmanship. Metal handicrafts metals like iron, silver, gold, white metal, sand stones and semi precious stones which are embossed and etched with beautiful designs. From time to time handicraft trades and exhibitions are organized for handicraft lovers all over the world. The Indian handicraft directory furnishes all the information about its trade shows with venues.

The European Market

Today the European Union (EU) has become one of the important destinations for export of Indian handicrafts, after the USA. Indian handicraft has already established their strong presence in Germany and Italy. The rising global popularity of Indian handicrafts is attracting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to foray into the EU market with their merchandise. This can be felt if you see the number of companies listed in Indian handicraft supplier directory.

About 45% of the EU handicraft imports come from China while India accounts for only 5% only. To compete with the volumes of China, Indian SMEs have increased their production and exports of handicrafts items to the EU.

In the recent years, the supplies of handicrafts by Indian SMEs are increased in France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. This can be attributed largely to the rise in demand of wooden handicrafts in these countries. The participation in handicraft trade shows and fairs and listing in Indian handicrafts supplier directory has helped Indian suppliers get priceless insight of the EU market. They have also established connections with distinguished distributors and importers.

Nevertheless, Indian handicraft exporters are required to resolve issues about quality, color, environmental friendly products and compliance of products with EU regulations and standards to earn the market loyalty. Expansion of their exports and operations and diversification of their product line-up can help Indian handicraft units to grab a huge market share in the EU.

Buying Jewellery For Women! A Guide To Choosing A Perfect Gift

Most women desire jewellery but often do not buy it for themselves as it is a luxury item. Giving the right jewellery as a gift can allow you to demonstrate how well you know the lady you are giving it to. It symbolises strength and longevity so it is a good gift to give to an important lady in your life, whether that is your girlfriend, wife, sister, mother or a friend. Choosing the right item can be a daunting prospect; this guide is here to try to help you to choose the perfect gift whatever their style.

Research

The first thing to consider is what she already wears. Most women will have a few items of jewellery that they love. Use these as a guide when you buy your gift.

The things to look out for are:

·The colour and type of metal she prefers. Silver, gold and white gold are the most common.

·What type of jewellery she wears. Does she have her ears pierced? If so note if her earrings are studs or drops. How about bracelets or necklaces? Try and think about the size and shapes of the items and the length of the chain of her necklaces.

·The colours that she wears. Look at both her jewellery and the colours of her clothes. If you wish to buy jewellery with coloured stones it is normally best to try to coordinate it with what she already wears. Red; start with garnet or ruby. Blue; try topaz or sapphire. Green; peridot or emerald. Yellow; citrine. Purple; amethyst. If you are unsure about colours then perhaps stick to jewellery that does not have a stone or go with diamonds or clear cubic zirconia which go with just about everything.

If you are still unsure try talking to friends and family. They are likely to be able to advise you about her preferences.

My top tips for buying the perfect gift

·Play fairly safe! If you are not 100% sure about what to choose, you should probably buy something that fits in with the research you've done.

·You could go for something that matches another item in her collection. For example if she has an amber pendant, try to find earrings to match.

·Alternatively find out her birthstone. If you need to know her birthstone you can find various birthstone jewellery here. Choosing birthstone jewellery is a lovely way to personalise a present.

·With jewellery choose quality over quantity every time.

·If possible buy real not imitation stones.

·Precious metals such as silver or gold are better than cheaper alternatives like copper. Not least because base metals such as copper could turn her green!

Good Luck! If you have any concerns please phone or email us. We will be happy to talk you through your options.

Monday, 19 October 2009

Emeralds – the Ultimate Colored Gemstone!

Emeralds, with their rich and lively green color, are the ultimate symbol of style, sophistication and luxury. But it goes far beyond this; hundreds of years ago emeralds were thought to have significant healing power and offer unlimited protection from disease to their wearers. Many people and cultures continue to believe in these powers, and wear emeralds as protection and to help through recovery. During the Renaissance, emeralds were exchanged between members of high society as symbols of friendship. It was believed that if the friendship was true, the emerald would stay intact and not break. Maybe this is why emerald jewelry is an incredibly popular choice for gifts among friends! Emeralds are also a popular investment. Since they are so rare and in such high global demand, the value of emeralds (especially 100% natural emeralds like we offer) has risen consistently year-on-year, over time. In fact, if you look at any Christies or Sotheby’s jewelry auction, you’ll almost always see a few incredible pieces of emerald jewelry selling for many times what they originally cost – even more than fine art! That’s probably why emerald jewelry becomes part of family tradition, passed on from generation to generation, beautiful, protective, and valuable.

Loose Emerald

While many gemstones are found in one or countries in one specific region, like Tanzanite which is only found in Tanzania, emeralds come from a few places geographically spread apart. Zambia in Africa, Colombia and Brazil in South America and India in Asia are the largest “producers” of emeralds. We have access to sources in each of these places to get you the very best quality at a fraction of the retail prices elsewhere.

Emeralds are as much about their inclusions (or natural internally-placed minerals or fractures) as they are about their color. If you see a very clean emerald with very few visible flaws inside be very careful! Almost all emeralds have natural inclusions that were formed during the intense pressure (also known as Angara) within the earth. These tiny fracture or mineral inclusions are known as Jardin (the French word for Garden). In fact, most people prefer emeralds with these tiny fractures and inclusions since they prove the authenticity of the emerald, and tell the story of the origin of the emerald millions of years ago and are not extraordinarily expensive. Many times an is cut with fewer facets than other gemstones to bring attention into the middle of stone, to set off the Jardin and the depth of color rather that attempt to reflect light and take away from the natural beauty of the stone.

Emeralds are also the birthstone for May – a month where much of the USA becomes green with life. What a perfect month for this perfect green gemstone!

Birthstone Jewelry - The Perfect Gifts For Women

What do you give the woman in your life?

Unless she specifically requests for one, a vacuum cleaner or a new set of pot and pans, no matter how much they cost, might well disappoint her. Practical though they may be, household gifts lack that special touch. You know the look on her face when she opens a gift she really loves. One that gives her that unexpected thrill?

You are more likely to get a genuinely thrilled response from her if you give her jewelry than if you were to give her a new apron or a new cupboard.

What if she already has everything?

All women love shiny things. Precious jewelry that catches her eye would certainly get her vote. It could be an absolutely gorgeous necklace that sets off her favorite dress beautifully. Or it could be a pair of stunning shoulder duster earrings that highlight her slender neck. Or it could be a cuff bracelet that makes a simple sheath dress look amazing.

When it comes to a birthday gift, nothing beats birthstone jewelry for her.

Birthstone jewelry is any kind of jewelry that is set with the gemstone of her birth month.

Who invented birthstone jewelry in the first place?

There are lots of theories as to the origins of birthstones.

One common belief is that these 12 birthstones originated from the breastplate worn by the high priest of the Jews. Each gemstone representing one tribe of Israel and later, representing one month of the year.

These 12 gemstones are beryl, topaz,ruby, turquoise, lapis lazuli, emerald, jacinth,agate, amethyst, crysolite,onyx and jasper.

Astrologers associated the gemstones with each zodiac sign. As each zodiac month overlaps largely with the calendar month, the monthly birthstone list can be derived from the zodiac birthstone.

The Tibetans, in ancient Tibet, had their own birthstone list. That list of mystical birthstones is more than a thousand years old.

Even the Indians have their Ayurverdic birthstone list, based on that branch of medicine originating from India.

Eventually, in 1912, a modern birthstone list was compiled by the National Association of Jewelers in Kansas with a specific gemstone associated with each month of the year. This is the list accepted in U.S.

According to this modern birthstone list, the birthstone for January is garnet. For february, the gemstone is amethyst. March calls for aquamarine, April's gemstone is the diamond. May's birthstone is Emerald. For June, the birthstone is Pearl. Ruby is the july birthstone while peridot is August's birthstone. September calls for Sapphire. October's birthstone is Opal. November calls for Citrine and the December birthstone is Turquoise.

Throughout history, mankind has been fascinated with gemstones. Their color, beauty and rarity cause men to prize them. So much so that many stories and superstitions surround the various gemstones.

Lore or not. Gemstones are beautiful and that alone makes them wonderful gifts for women. The way they enhance the wearer's looks, like the icing on the cake make birthstone jewelry wonderful jewelry gifts for women.

The great thing about birthstones is that they make great personalized gifts for women. After all, that gemstone is chosen based on her birth month. When you want to get a woman jewelry and aren't too sure which gemstone to get, you could use any of these lists as a guide.

Yes, diamonds are a girls best friend and no woman would protest if you give her diamonds. But if you want to get her something more affordable, you could go for one of the more affordable gemstones for her month.

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling Silver Bracelet

A sterling silver bracelet may take many forms, shapes and sizes. The sterling silver bracelet may be an elegantly simple link sterling silver bracelet. It may be a bangle that is an engraved or smooth sterling silver bracelet. A sterling silver bracelet is a piece of jewelry that will be worn and treasured for many years.

A sterling silver bracelet is an excellent gift to announce the arrival of a baby girl. Engraved with personal information, the sterling silver bracelet is an item that will be treasured by both Mother and child for years to come. Likewise, a sterling silver bracelet is quite often the beginning of a charm collection for a young girl. Most young girls have owned a sterling silver bracelet laden with special charms of their favorite things.

In recent years, a sterling silver bracelet has been the perfect gift for a new Mother. She will have an engraved charm representing each of her children attached to her sterling silver bracelet. There could very well be a representation of special anniversaries or other family occasions on the Mother's bracelet. And, of course, as grandchildren enter the scene, the sterling silver bracelet will receive even more additions to truly represent the story of the Mother's life and all who are special to her.

A sterling silver bracelet can be tubular and the sterling silver bracelet may be smooth, etched or even hammered. A popular item is an oval shaped sterling silver bracelet. Unlike the traditional round sterling silver bracelet, the oval sterling silver bracelet is made to conform to the natural shape and curvature of a woman's wrist. Many say the sterling silver bracelet which is oval is more comfortable.

The sterling silver bracelet may have a clasp. There are several types of clasps and one kind is not necessarily preferred over another. Most popular on a sterling silver bracelet is the lobster claw clasp. A sterling silver bracelet which is securely fastened is a sterling silver bracelet which most likely never drop off the wrist.

A sterling silver bracelet may also have a toggle closure. A sterling silver bracelet with a toggle closure has become popular in the last decade. The toggle closure on the sterling silver bracelet is especially enjoyed by women who would otherwise have difficulty closing the traditional clasp of the sterling silver bracelet. This is a feature of a sterling silver bracelet to remember when buying for the elderly; the toggle clasp on the sterling silver bracelet is more easily seen and manipulated.

What makes a sterling silver bracelet so popular? A number of reasons top the list - affordability, durability, versatility and the knowledge that the precious gift of a sterling silver bracelet is a gift that will span the ages of time. A Mother's sterling silver bracelet may be her gift to her daughter as she becomes a teenager, or the sterling silver bracelet may be a family's legacy to be passed at a person's death. A sterling silver bracelet will last forever. All it needs is a wrist to be worn on and a person to love it and care for it.

Diamond Hoops, Diamond Studs, And Other Diamond Earring Choices

There are a lot of different kinds of diamond earrings on the market for those women who just love this gemstone. Diamond hoops in many different designs and sizes, along with other earring types, are available on a lot of jewelry sites.

Diamond hoops, diamond studs, and a whole lot of other diamond earring styles can make the perfect gift for a daughter’s graduation from college, a gift for a loved one’s birthday, or even for your wife on your wedding anniversary. Whatever the occasion, diamonds always come across real well as a present, and giving them in the form of earrings can show your loved ones just how much you care about them.

Diamond Studs, Diamond Hoops, And Your Other Earring Choices

The selection for earrings can go on and on if you really scour the many online jewelry sites for diamond earrings. There are diamond studs, diamond dangling earrings, and diamond hoopsthat come in many different sizes. Your choice as to whether you should get diamond hoop earrings, diamond circle earrings, or even studs may depend on the person you are giving this kind of gift to. Diamond stud earrings are the simplest of the lot and may be the best bet for women who are of a conservative nature. If you are giving these earrings to a more flamboyant individual or someone who is into fashion a lot, then diamond hoops or even dangling earrings may do well as a gift of choice.

There are a number of sizes you may need to look at when you consider buying diamond hoop earrings for a gift. Since diamond hoop earrings may come in a small one inch diameter size to a rather sizable three inch diameter or so, you may need to ascertain what hoop size your recipient might feel comfortable wearing. The size of the diamond hoops you choose also dictates the number of diamonds that will be covering the hoop. This will also translate to a more expensive earring, so careful scrutiny of the diamond hoop earrings you are choosing is needed here before you take out your credit card and purchase the earrings you see.

Choosing the Right Kind of Earring

When you choose the kind of earrings you want to purchase, you will need to decide on how much you are willing to spend on this kind of a gift first. You will have to remember that the more elaborate and more flamboyant earring choices, like hoops and dangling earrings, often cost more than some studs or circle earrings simply because of the number of diamonds involved in the crafting of such items. Diamond hoops can come with the whole hoop having a single line of diamonds straddling the whole hoop from front to back.

There are also diamond earrings that have diamonds placed in the front part of the hoop alone. There are even hoops that have diamonds embedded inside the hoop itself, which means the diamond hoops are totally diamond encrusted. These kinds of earrings may cost you a bundle as compared to a pair of stud earrings. Stud earrings can also cost more than some gem-encrusted diamond hoop earrings —that is if the stud earrings you are planning on buying come with huge diamond studs that are of superior quality.

These earrings also cost more depending on the kind of precious metal being used to make them. There are hoops made of platinum and gold. There are also dangling and circle earrings made of a combination of these precious metals. Depending also on the kind of gold your hoops are made of, prices may rise or fall so you may need to consider this as part of your selection process.