Only buy conflict free rocks campaign!

To the serious and single-minded investor Gold, Platinum and Silver jewelry items are unlikely to come near the top of the potentially profitable opportunities that he or she will research.

It is reasonable to propose, that before venturing into this market, a tremendous amount of investigation should be carried out and knowledge assimilated that is not relevant to other investment vehicles.

Reliable contacts and dealers in the jewelry trade must be sought out and cultivated.
Perhaps most importantly the investor should treat jewelry as an all-consuming hobby so collecting aesthetically pleasing items that may, or may not, show a profit will still give pleasure.

This is as good a reason as any to explain why many savvy female investors take an interest in this market.

Silver jewelry as an investment, unless in the specialized antique market, is unlikely to provide serious investment opportunities unless sufficient volume can be purchased to produce a profit on the melt down value of the metal.

Investing in Gold Jewelry

Gold Jewelry as an Investment Vehicle.

Points to consider

Gold jewelry has been around for thousands of years, it has never gone out of fashion, never dates or fades. As a consequence there is a choice of two investment paths to take, antique or modern.

Antique jewelry with or without gemstones follows the pattern of other antique items in so far as age is not by any means the overriding factor.

There will be items of 100 years old or more that may not have a scarcity value to attract buyers into paying a premium over the basic value of the metal and gemstone content.

Entering this end of the market will therefore require an additional specialized knowledge of antiques and hallmarks. This will also apply to the antique silver jewelry market.
2700 tonnes of Gold is used annually in manufacturing jewelry.

Gold has a tendency to wear away over time and decrease in volume and weight when in use. It can also be subject to scratching resulting in loss of weight.

It is important to be familiar with the hallmarks and the symbols denoting purity. 18K means that the item is 75% pure, 14K = 58.5% pure. 1K is one twenty fourth part of 100% pure metal.

The balance is made up of other ingredients to make the item more durable or whiter.

It is believed that half of all the gold sold in the United States is stamped with a false

Karat weighting so only deal with established, reliable and registered merchants.

Trust is paramount; it is easy for jewelers to take advantage of unsuspecting investors who are not fully versed in the pitfalls of the market.

Investing in Platinum Jewelry

Platinum Jewelry as an Investment Vehicle.

Points to Consider.

Unlike Gold, Platinum has not got a long history of use in jewelry, anything earlier than 1900 is rare indeed.

Examples of Edwardian Platinum jewelry, often rings set with gemstones, can be purchased but beware of modern antique style platinum jewelry.

Studying antique platinum jewelry will need less application than studying gold antiques but it is essential to have a sound knowledge, particularly of the hallmarks, before entering the market.

Platinum is over thirty times more rare than Gold.

Approximately 85 tonnes of Platinum is used annually in the manufacture of jewelry.
Most of the Platinum used in jewelry is between 90% and 95 % pure.

The content is indicated in parts per thousand and not in Karats as in gold.

The properties of Platinum allow for more intricate and finer jewelry designs than possible with Gold.

Platinum is considerably more durable than Gold and will wear better and last longer in use.

Platinum is more resistant to scratching than Gold and if this occurs the metal is displaced and can be restored by a specialist and not lost, as is the case with Gold.

Platinum jewelry has become extremely fashionable and could be considered as the preferred jewellery of choice amongst the ‘glitterati’

In the US during the II world war Platinum was designated as a strategic metal and supplies were cut off from the jewelry trade.

Items that can be guaranteed as sourced from this period will have a considerable rarity value.

As with Gold, find a trusted and established dealer before parting with your money.

Bear in mind that the current value of the metal content of the piece and a view on the future direction of the price of the metal becomes an intrinsic factor in determining its’ potential as an investment.

Probably the best known of all diamonds is the Koh-I-Nor.

This gem is part of the British Crown Jewels and is set in Platinum.

It can be said that you get more for your money when investing in Platinum.

Palladium, which is recognized as a Platinum Group Metal (PGM) has overtaken

Platinum in the amount used in jewelry manufacture.

Both metals have considerable use in industry, particularly in automobile manufacturing where they are often interchangeable, so that usage can become dependant upon any price/supply differences.

When one has a price or supply advantage over the other a buying opportunity may occur in the jewelry market.

Summary

Investing in precious metal jewelry is to enter a highly specialized market with many hazards for the unwary and ill equipped.

Trust and integrity are priorities when buying or selling through a dealer in the market place.

There is no substitute for intensive research into all aspects, not only in the jewelry application, of the metal under consideration as an investment.

As an investment guru once said, ” If in doubt, stay out”.

read comments (0)

Do I need an education to be a fashion designer? You might be asking yourself this question at the end of high school or sixth form. The answer is preferably yes, as a degree in fashion will give you the practical tools and training and creative stimulation to follow your dream. But if the thought of spending money and time at school or university puts you off, the answer could be an Internet course in fashion training.

A career in the glamorous world of fashion must be one of the most exciting and lusted after jobs in the world. The field attracts people who have high levels of creativity, an eye for matching colours and designs and an interest in popular and designer fashion. Your course will build on these abilities and teach you much more.

Throughout your training you will learn about the different talents that are necessary for you to get the best start in this highly competitive career. Options taught include how to design and present your ideas, and more practical essentials such as textiles and garment making basics.

A degree may also equip you with the knowledge, skills and attitude you will need to succeed in the business side of fashion. You might want your qualification to lead to a job with an established clothing design company- anywhere from Prada to Primark. Or maybe you fancy using your talent and training to start your own business. Individual courses may give you extra training in options such as business studies and media and advertising.

Other complementary courses include Pattern, Cutting and Design training, Dress Making or Textiles courses and related subjects like Free Hand Drawing or Art and Design. Wherever you choose to follow your interest, whether at college or on the net, the education providers should help you choose which combination of fashion degree options is best for you.

An Internet course has the added benefit that you can complete it in your own home, at your own pace. This means you can complete you training without having to give up your current job or even move away to study. These online courses vary in expense and quality, so it is important to think carefully about you decision before committing to anything.

In an online course you will still benefit from the expertise of knowledgeable tutors who should have lots of experience in the fashion business. These tutors will work with you individually, guiding you through your studies via email and interactive websites. There may even be options such as virtual lectures or message boards where you can discuss your ideas with other students.

Most fashion training courses will end with some form of coursework or outside assessment. Upon completion, you should find yourself with the skills, ability and confidence to use your talent and make your mark on the streets and on the dance floor. Good luck!

read comments (0)

People always want to be special, to be looked at, to be praised and to be noticed. That is why people will always try to be unique and to be different that everybody will see them. They always dress fashionably and using make up so that the others can never take off their eyes from them. But then, their appearances are not the only one that will make other people praise them because nowadays the home where they live will also become one of the things that make others admire them. Read the rest of this entry »

read comments (0)

What is birthstone jewelry? Each month of the year has a specific gemstone associated with it that is considered the “birthstone” for that month. Your birthstone is the gemstone that the month you are born is assigned to.

Since the custom of wearing birthstone jewelry began, it has been thought to provide the wearer with luck and other virtues specific to their month of birth. It also was rumored to provide the wearer with protection from evil forces. In modern times,birthstone jewelry makes a perfect gift for any occasion – Holidays, Birthdays, Anniversaries and any other time you need a thoughtful, yet cost effective gift.

Birthstone jewelry is not hard to find at any department store, or online. Due to its popularity, merchants usually have a decent selection of birthstone rings, pedants, earrings and other birthstone jewelry. You can often find coupons and discounts on birthstone jewelry, especially around the Holidays, Valentines Day, and Mothers Day when it is a popular gift item.

Here is a handy list of months and their birthstones:
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine, Bloodstone
April – White Topaz
May – Emerald
June – Pearl, Moonstone
July – Ruby
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire
October – Opal, Tourmaline
November – Yellow Topaz, Citrine
December – Turquoise, Blue Topaz

Birthstone jewelry makes a great gift for young girls. There is inexpensive quality costume birthstone jewelry that is made specifically for 5 – 12 yr old girls. Kids will find it neat that they are wearing “their” birthstone, not to mention that they will enjoy dressing up in their jewelry just like mom.

Speaking of Mom, birthstone jewelry makes an excellent gift for women as well. There are many varieties of gold, silver and platinum birthstone jewelry. Some of them can be pricey, but are often coupled with diamonds and/or other precious stones. Your recipient will be touched at the personal thought that went into their gift. Or, as a twist, you can even find custom jewelry that has several birthstones, one for each child or grandchild.

read comments (0)

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and as the days get shorter we are quickly being presented with the thought that the season for giving will soon be upon us. But what to get the special people in our lives? Jewelry is always in fashion. The size is always right and every woman will tell you you can never have too much jewelry or too many pairs of shoes! There are so many choices that it can be hard to know what’s right for the person we’re shopping for. With that in mind, here is some advice on what to shop for this holiday season, starting at the top and working our way down.

Earrings

No matter the taste in earrings of the person you’re buying for, you can find them a nice pair by spending a little time doing some digging. The choices in earrings range from hoops to studs with a short stop in the dangle range. With earrings being made in every metal imaginable, you can find them in white gold, yellow gold, silver and palladium. You can add gemstones or diamonds to really make an impression, but whatever the case, there is something out there for absolutely every taste.

Keep in mind your recipients’ taste when purchasing as well as their lifestyle. If buying for somebody with small children, avoid hoop or dangle earrings in favor of studs. Good advice is to look for studs with a security clasp as this will give the wearer peace of mind that the earrings will not easily fall off and be lost. Many jewelers can swap out current clasps for the security type. It may cost a little more, but it’s definitely worth it. Every woman will tell you that earrings can easily get lost! If all of their jewelry is either silver or white gold, keep it along those lines, or buy some palladium jewelry. Also keep in mind that some people do have allergies to certain metals, and buying them a pair of earrings that they’ll be allergic to will certainly take some of the specialness out of the moment.

Necklaces

A lot of the rules that applied to earrings also apply to necklaces. Avoid necklaces that hang too low for those with small children or who work in the nursing field. Small children and patients may try and grab for the necklace chain, resulting in a broken necklace . You can choose a variety of chain lengths and most jewelers can easily shorten the chain length on a necklace. Don’t be afraid to ask for this. Most women love wearing a necklace and finding one that can be worn everyday is a true treasure! A simple charm hanging on a chain is beautiful and timeless. Choosing a necklace with a yellow gold chain and a white gold charm or diamond is especially versatile because it can always be worn with white or yellow toned jewelry.

The Journey Diamond Necklace has grown in popularity, with companies like Danforth Diamond and Kay Jewelers promoting this necklace with its string of diamonds that can be set in both white gold and yellow gold. This necklace is perfect for couples that are just dating, have just married, or have been married for years.

If the Journey Diamond Necklace isn’t quite to the recipient’s taste, there are always a host of necklaces with both pendants and jewels that can fit with any person’s style, be it high fashion or jeans and a t-shirt, in a variety of metals and with numerous precious stones.

Bracelets

White gold, yellow gold, diamonds ? it can be tricky to decide on which bracelet to give as a holiday gift. While the decision between white gold and yellow gold is more of a personal taste issue, the styles in each range from simple bangles to charm bracelets that can be personalized both by the gift giver and the person receiving the gift. If the person you’re giving the gift to doesn’t want too many things dangling from a bracelet, keeping it to something simpler like a gold bangle bracelet is probably the better way to go.

Of course, diamonds never go out of fashion, and when most people think of bracelets around the holidays they think of the Diamond Tennis Bracelet. Available in just about any metal, the diamond tennis bracelet, and really any diamond bracelet, is a great compliment to any style and is always a sure hit at the holiday season.

Rings

Of course, no discussion about jewelry shopping would be complete without mentioning rings. Of course “rings” doesn’t have to mean diamond engagement rings, though there is certainly much to be said about a holiday proposal. Diamond rings that don’t have a commitment attached to them come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fashions, from the simple to the gaudy. Picking the right one as a holiday gift is simply a matter of knowing what best fits the style, taste, and lifestyle of the person you giving it to. Having a budget limit doesn’t hurt either.

Rings at the holidays aren’t limited to those with diamonds attached to them. There are plenty of rings with colored gemstones that make excellent presents. Also, with colored gems you can pick a ring that matches the recipient’s favorite color or signifies their birthdate, making the present even more personal.

Plan Ahead

In the end, shopping for jewelry at the holidays involves patience, so plan ahead. Whether you’re shopping online or going to an actual store, the holiday shopping experience can be a stressful one, so give yourself plenty of time to do all of your shopping and you’ll not only avoid raising your blood pressure, but you’ll find a better selection of jewelry to give this holiday season.

read comments (0)