Much More GOLD

2009-04-26T21:22:00.001+05:00

Bridal Jewelery: Fulfilling A Wedding Tradition

'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.' This is a saying that many brides take to heart when considering their wedding trousseau. From wedding gowns, accessories and motifs, brides from all walks of life throughout the years have tried their best to stick to this formula. It's interesting to note that bridal jewelry can follow this adage, too.

'Something old' could most often be a piece of bridal jewelry that is a family heirloom. Sometimes the groom would give to his bride a ring or another piece of jewelry that had once been owned by his mother, grandmother, or past brides in his family. Maybe the bride would wear her own mother's antique jewelry or some other gem that has been handed down to brides in the family from generation to generation. One thing is certain, wearing such bridal jewelry would reinforce a sense of family, tradition and continuity in a wedding ceremony.

'Something new' hardly needs any explanation. Thousands upon thousands of bridal jewelry stores, both the Internet e-commerce sites and bricks-and-mortar stores, offer a dazzling array of accessories to make the bride shine on her wedding day. The would-be bride can choose from among various jewelry pieces one or several items that she would wear at the ceremony and which she could treasure and keep as a memento of that most special day.

At first thought, 'something borrowed' doesn't seem applicable to bridal jewelry. After all, a bride would most probably want to wear her own jewels and not have to borrow and then return them. But for women who want to add to the accessories that they will be wearing on their wedding day without having to spend thousands of dollars more to buy new ones, renting jewelry offers a practical solution. Many establishments rent out antique or estate bridal jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, and only the rental fee plus a refundable deposit need to be paid.

Finally, for that 'something blue' in a bridal jewelry ensemble, there are several gemstones that fit the bill. Depending on the shade of blue that she wants, a bride can opt for a necklace, bracelet, or earrings that are accented with sapphires, aquamarines or blue pearls. Hair ornaments or tiaras with other blue-tinted stones such as agate and topaz are also beautiful accessories for the bride.

The bride is the belle of the ball on her wedding day and it is important for her to look her best on that special occasion. Bridal jewelry, chosen tastefully and worn properly, will complement her wedding dress and make her look as radiant and as beautiful as any bride should be.

2009-04-14T18:02:00.002+05:00

How To Pick An Ideal Engagement And Wedding Jewelery

Jewelry holds a special place in the celebration of a marriage. Jewelry is used to symbolize a couples love for each other, representing a lasting bond between the two people. Wedding and engagement jewelry is also there to make sure you look great on your wedding day! When planning for your big day, there are three main kinds of wedding or engagement jewelry options that you should be considering.

Engagement Rings

This is the thing that will start the whole process off . The engagement ring, representing the promise of marriage. While alternative gemstones are becoming more popular, you can never go wrong with a traditional diamond engagement ring. If you are a potential groom who wants to present a traditional diamond engagement ring to your significant other, there are three main types to choose from. The simplest, and perhaps most elegant, is a diamond solitaire ring, which is a single diamond set on a gold band. This basic design can be spiced up a bit by adding accents, which are smaller gem stones placed around the main diamond. Finally, a diamond three-stone ring, representing the couples past, present, and future is also very popular and attractive.

Wedding Bands

Wedding bands (or wedding rings) are exchanged at the wedding ceremony to represent the couples life long commitment to each other and the marriage. For this reason, your wedding bands may be some of the most important things you ever buy, since all of your relationships love and respect will be bottled up in them. Wedding bands are usually plain for men and women, although some women will now inset diamonds or other gemstones into their wedding band. The main decision you have when choosing a wedding band is whether you want gold or platinum. Whatever you decide, it is best to keep in mind what the band will look like matched with the engagement ring.

Your Wedding Day Jewelry

To add an extra bit of style and pizzaz on your wedding day, consider getting some wedding day jewelry. This can involve anything from a tiara or necklace for the bride, to new cufflinks for the groom. If you are concerned about costs, given the nature of wedding day jewelry you can likely get away with high quality costume jewelry. After all, you could spend a lot of money on a new tiara and never really find the right opportunity to wear it again.

Picking the Perfect Engagement or Wedding Day Jewelry

There are a few common steps you should take no matter what type of wedding or engagement jewelry you are thinking of purchasing. The most important thing is to take your time, do not just rush into a store and pick the first thing that catches your eye. You are going to be wearing this jewelry for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure it is something you will be happy with. You also want to ensure yourself that you are only buying jewelry of the highest quality, no matter how much you like your piece, if it is of lower quality, it will not last.

2009-03-27T20:00:00.000+05:00

A Brief History Of Gold

Gold has a place in history regardless of the country of origin. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that gold is seen as a common currency in every country in the world. Gold sees no boundaries. History states that gold coins have been minted since around 670 BC when King Gyges of Turkey minted some gold coins for his personal currency when traveling. The Roman Legions were apprehensive when Julius Caesar first issued gold coins as payment for their service. However, the tune soon changed when the legions realized that the gold coins actually increased in value.

Today, bouillon gold coins have a face value that is pretty much just symbolic. The true value of a gold bouillon is the gold weight by content and the ever-fluctuating price of gold on the world market. A one-ounce gold coin is worth the market value of one ounce of gold minus around 5% for minting and shipping. Of course, bouillon coins come in various common weights: 1/20 of an ounce, 1/10 of an ounce, 1/4 of an ounce, 1/2 of an ounce and finally a one-ounce coin. Gold bouillon is a legal tender and gold coins are guaranteed authentic by the country of origin. Almost anyone can purchase and sell gold coins because of the diverse market acceptance.
1489, King Henry VII introduced the first gold currency into the world market. In Britain during World War I, Britain issues banknotes because gold bouillon was needed to finance the war. Soon, these banknotes completely replaced the use of gold sovereign. The gold sovereign ceased gold mint production in 1917 and started again in 1925. Then production was stopped for World War I and restarted in 1957.

There are many famous finds of gold in various regions of the world. These gold finds caused huge gold rushes. Gold rushes caused large amounts of people to migrate to these areas. Such places as the Klondike Gold Rush of Alaska, which occurred at Forty-Mile creek in 1886. In August of 1869, gold was then discovered at Bonanza Creek - a part of Klondike River, Yukon Territory. In the one-year starting in the winter of 1896 and ending in 1897, miners pulled out millions of dollars in gold bouillon. In the year 1915, over $50 million USD was exported from Alaska to the United States. The 1898 gold rush was a modern event. With the addition of media, the gold rush had world wide media coverage. This media coverage sent people rushing to the gold locations.

The history of gold is an amazing display of human endurance. It is estimated that only 120 to 140 thousand tons of gold is available above ground. Surprisingly, there is only $1.8 trillion USD total in gold above the ground. Compare that to the total US debt of almost $7 trillion USD. In addition, only $375 billion USD is held in reserves at banks around the world; $1.3 trillion USD in gold is owned by private parties.

2009-03-27T19:58:00.000+05:00

Wear Your Gold Pendant And Flaunt It!

A gold pendant is an ornament or charm (worn for protective or magical power) made of gold that hangs from a cord or chain worn around the neck. Even Necklaces have pendants.
Practical tips to purchase Gold Pendants?

Most gold jewelry manufactured in the U.S. is marked ''14K'' which means that the actual gold content in it is 58.3 percent. As pure gold is designated as 24-karat; hence, a 14-karat item consists of 14 parts gold and 10 parts of another metal known as an alloy which works out to 58.3 percent pure, unalloyed gold. The added alloy serves two purposes - They make the jewellery durable and reduce the prices greatly thereby making it affordable too.?

Sometimes gold pendants also come with the marking ''14KP''. Here ''P'' stands for plumb, meaning the pendant is exactly 14 parts pure gold. ?

On the other hand if a gold pendant is engraved ''999'' it means it is a pure gold pendant which equivalent to 24-karat gold. ''999'' is the European designation for pure gold. Also sometimes more plentifully available in the market are European-manufactured pendants marked ''750'' which is equivalent to 18-karat or 75 percent pure gold. Actually, it is the 14K gold that is much popular in the US.?

The heft or weightiness of a gold item is measured in terms of Pennyweight. One troy ounce equals 20 pennyweights which equals 31.1 grams. Ounces and grams are the most common weights used in the U.S. and when you see prices quoted on pendants, such as $20 per gram it should be kept in mind that finished items, such as jewelry, have an artistic value that may be actually greater than the actual value of gold in it. ?

Interestingly there are a few who would like to buy Gold in colors other than its natural yellow color which also has become quite a fashion. The most popular is the green gold. When gold is alloyed with metal combos like silver, zinc and copper, these metals contribute a subtle greenish tint. Only Copper is used to make pink gold and nickel is often used in white gold.?

Gold-plated items contain very thin topcoats of gold of about seven-millionths of an inch in thickness. Some better quality gold-plated items may also have more than the minimal 0.000007inch coating.?

Rules prescribe that the gold filling of an item should be at least 1/20 or 5 percent of the total weight of the item. Gold content must be stamped on items -- for example: 1/20 14K GF means the gold content is 14-karat and makes up one-twentieth of the total weight of the item.

2009-03-27T19:57:00.000+05:00

Make Yours A Gold Coin Collection

Luscious gold! Gold, which has the periodic table symbol of Au. Although we may not readily recall our high school chemistry and remember what the element Au stands for, when gold is one of the best known precious element on earth.

Gold in the history of mankind has always been the standard of wealth and prosperity. Back in the beginning of time, gold symbolizes affluence. Mankind has always been enthralled by this precious metal through the wearing of jewelry, of precious love through a wedding ring, or of wealth as demonstrated by stories of gold bullion hoarded or stolen.

In the present day, gold is considered by many to be a safe investment amongst the dizzying array of financial investment tools. Today's market stocks rise and fall in response to economic forecasts, company performances, and world situations. The risks are generally high. Only gold can hold its weight on its own and can not be influenced as much as the world situations.

One way to do gold investing is to start gold coin collecting. The value of your collection are determined on the coin's condition, the history and their uniqueness.

Plus, there are other specific financial benefits to gold coin collecting:

Inherent Value

Gold has historically been the de-facto standard that reflects wealth since the beginning of time, and this is true both for the individual, as well as the nations of the world. The value of gold is inherent in this precious metal as gold continues to play a key role as part of the reserves held by central banks, nations and supranational organizations such as the IMF.
Gold cannot be duplicated or be manufactured by man as it is a resource and often, when stocks rise and fall, the value and steadiness of gold remains constant. Besides, gold is durable and cannot be created nor can it be destroyed; therefore, collecting gold coins is an exciting and fairly secure investment.

Portfolio

So how should you determine your portfolio? Gold coin collecting is financially characterized as being a safe and steady investment. The best part is that it is easily transferable into immediate cash based on its being legal tender.
Again do note that as with any other investment there are risks based on market fluctuations. However, gold coins have traditionally been strong performers and have provided good returns on the investment. Thus through gold coin collecting, you allow some diversity in your investments portfolio and it also adds a safety net through the historical and consistent value placed on gold.

Tax Benefits

Well what do you know! Gold coin collecting actually is a legal way to defer taxation on your investment. What this means is that as your return on this investment increases, your investment is not subject to taxes until those coins are liquidated or sold. Only then when those profits realized are then subject to capital gains taxes. In addition, there are no taxes imposed if you choose to take your gold coin collecting to the level of exchanging or trading your collection for an equal or higher valued coin collection.
Gold coin collecting is not only a fun and interesting hobby but it is also a rewarding one that can bring you handsome returns. However, you must do your research before you embark on any investment.

2009-03-27T19:56:00.000+05:00

Gold Investing - Retire Without Fear

This is the time! The day you have been longing for, but perhaps not so sure about. The desk may be cleared and everyone is admiring the presentation gold watch in its smart box. You may even have your retirement lump sum-could be the largest sum of money you have seen in your life. It is a good feeling but can also be an intimidating one. Now more than any time you need good investment advice. Even in being careful, you face financial risks at retirement time.
The Main Risks Are
* Longevity: the risk of outliving your assets is very real.
* Inflation: the inexorable price-rise in goods and services will eat away at the purchasing power of your hard-earned savings.
* Asset allocation: if you haven't chosen the right mix of investments, your portfolio could fail to grow.
* Health care expense: you need a reliable source of income to cover rising health-care costs.* Withdrawal rate: if you withdraw too much too soon, you are in trouble.
To be Secure In Your Retirement Investing:
* Diversify
* Safety First
* Build Continued Growth.
With this in mind have you considered gold investing?
1) DIVERSIFICATION
Whether your investment approach is conservative or aggressive, gold investing can play a vital role in the diversification of your portfolio. Most experts recommend a gold holding of 5%-10%.
2) SAFETY
Any stock, no matter how seductive it may seem, always has the potential to plunge to zero. This will never happen with gold. Life is full of unpredictables-hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorist attacks. Gold investing is the perfect way to protect the foundations of your portfolio from an unpredictable future.
3) GROWTH
Recently, a long-term subscriber to an investment newsletter wrote: "I have been following your gold suggestions since December of 2001 and have made a barrel of money. The ten gold stocks you recommend now, if held since then, are up about 500% on average. Not too shabby while gold bullion is up about 70%, a 7-1 ratio."
Currently, world gold demand exceeds global gold supply by 60%-100% annually; as the mines cannot extract gold fast enough to meet this demand. A shortage leads to higher prices. Nobody can guarantee that anything will last forever, but in the short term the gold price will rise.
So what shape could your gold investments be in?
Just as you can diversify your overall portfolio, you can also diversify the gold part of it. Gold investing takes three main forms:

1. Owning physical gold-the safest, "insurance" part of it. And the most exciting part? When you hold gold in your hands for the first time, you understand why it has generated such a passion through time!

2. Gold stock-investment in quality gold mines. This is for the "growth" part of your portfolio.

3. Gold derivatives-only for those who are not averse to risks!

Some people may give you a strange look if you are talking of gold investing! There are great ideas floating around:

* Gold provides no return. But it doesn't need to-it keeps going up in value!
* Central banks will sell their gold. They have in the past and have recently realized it is not a wise policy.
* The government could confiscate gold. It is true that this happened in 1933. But things have changed so much since that time; the chances of this now are virtually nil.

If others are uneasy about gold investing, all the more reason for you to do it and do it well! So that you can enjoy your golden years!

Summary:

The main factors of gold investment are... To be mindful of your retirement with diversification, safety and growth. With these in mind, you will do wonderfully well to consider gold.

2009-03-27T19:55:00.000+05:00

Gold And Rhodium Plating For Watch Bands And Rings

Whether or not a watch band will take an electro plate depends entirely on the band. If it is made of stainless steel, most jewelers do not have the capability to plate the band adequately. If they can do it at all, the plate would likely be quite thin and wear away quickly. Also, if the band has steel parts in it, electroplating solutions can be damaged. I believe it would be quite difficult to find a jeweler who would try doing the watch band.
There is a chance a jeweler can send the band out for plating, as well as the ring. This "farmed out work" will generally go to a plating company specializing in that work with the high level equipment and experience to do a good job and render a thick enough plate for better durability.
One company is Red Sky Plating. Jewelers can send items to this company for estimates and to get the work done properly.

To gold plate the ring would not be difficult for any jeweler with gold plating solutions. Keep in mind, the thickness of the plate and durability cannot be assured with most jewelry store plating services done in-house. For the best results, I would suggest the ring be sent to the company mentioned or to a similar company. You could have a jeweler gold plate the ring and then "try it" to see how well the yellow surface lasts.

Various items sold to "consumers" for coloring metals and adding a microscopic silver or gold color generally do not last long and are not effective overall, in my humble thought.
The "dipping" process is called "rhodium plating." Rhodium is a precious metal and plating is a less expensive alternative to platinum. (There is no white gold in nature.) The plated finish is long wearing and may not need to be redone for years depending on your wearing habits. If you were a client at my Zales location the plating would only be about $24.00.

One nice thing about rhodium plating is that it offers an option to people normally allergic to the nickel in lower-quality gold. The plating provides a barrier that allows many such people to wear 10k and 14k jewelry.

Normally in Hallmarking, the numbers represent the decimal for the gold quality.
For example 375 or .375 is equal to 375 parts gold out of 1000 or 9ct. If this were a genuine hallmark then 750 or .750 would be 750 parts gold out of 1000 which is 18ct.
777 does NOT fit any standard gold hallmark (being just over 18ct if it were) so I would suspect it may be a makers mark or design or model number.

2009-03-22T23:00:00.003+05:00

Wedding Jewellery - Why Accessorizing Yourself With The Right Jewellery Is So Important

No shopping prior to a wedding would be complete without the purchase of wedding jewelry. Most weddings are based on tradition so a wedding would be incomplete without jewelry, especially the rings.

The wedding ring is not just an ornament but a symbol of the love that you have for your spouse. So you need to buy the ring with extra care. After all, these rings are meant to stay with you for a lifetime. Remember on your wedding day, the first things people want to see are your wedding rings. Unlike the engagement ring, it is best to choose your rings together so that you are sure that you each have what you prefer.

It is an age old belief that wearing the wedding ring on left hand keeps your love with you forever. This is because it was believed that the vein of love runs from left hand to the index finger. This is why people wear the wedding rings on the left hand.

Though it used to be the tradition that the wedding rings be of plain gold, now gold rings with studded diamonds are also used.

Once you choose the desirable wedding ring, your search for wedding jewelry is not over. Depending on the dress you wear and hair style you'll have, you will need to plan for the other wedding jewelry as well. Give yourself enough time to choose them carefully. You can choose to have jewelry with gemstones, diamonds or ruby embedded into gold.

Unless your wedding rings are a mixture of metals, such as white and yellow gold, it is best to stick to one metal for your wedding jewelry. Wearing different metals around the neck, earrings and wrist looks unattractive.

Select a proper necklace that matches the style of your dress. With a strapless bodice, you may choose to have a choker. A dress with V-neck line looks good with a single diamond chain. If your hair is short or swept off your face, your earrings will be easily seen. You may go for diamond earrings, pearl earrings or those of gold. Designs may include studs, drops or rings.

Sometimes as a sentimental touch you may have the opportunity to wear the jewelry of your family members. It may be that your grand mother's diamond ring, your aunt's pearl earrings, your mother's bracelet and your sister's necklace are available for you to wear. This adds a special touch to the wedding jewelry and helps with the 'something old' part of the wedding pieces.

Unless you are going for something non-traditional, deep colored stones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds are not considered suitable for the wedding day. It is probably best to choose lighter colors like topaz, aquamarine and citrine.

If you have you dress designed with beads you may consider wearing a pearl necklace and earrings.

Some brides like to have simulated precious stones on their dress, especially the bodice. You might like to wear diamond wedding jewelry if your dress is designed with crystals. However, if your dress includes a lot of beading, it is best to either go for a simple style of necklace or none at all to avoid a too-made-up look.

As far as wrist is concerned, a bracelet to match your other jewelry would look attractive.

A wedding is a based on tradition and so is the wedding jewelry. Take time to choose the appropriate jewelry to make your wedding a perfect one.

Summary:

A wedding is a based on tradition and so is the wedding jewelry. No shopping prior to a wedding would be complete without the purchase of wedding jewelry. So take time to choose the appropriate jewelry to make your wedding a perfect one.

2009-03-22T22:58:00.000+05:00

Types Of Wedding Rings

Wedding rings are a very special item of jewelry not only do they symbolise love, marriage, commitment and fidelity they hold history that dates back centuries. In fact years ago these rings were actually made from materials such as plants, grass and even hair.

Thankfully today wedding rings are made from stunning metals such as gold, titanium, platinum and white gold. They often have a gem stone like a diamond sapphire or ruby.

The most common type are the plain gold band although there are many other varieties. The standard plain band is sometimes not enough and more and more often people are turning their attention to more details and unique wedding rings.

Generally speaking most men do not wear an awful lot of jewelry and their wedding ring is possible the only ring they will wear. Therefore having something a little bit different can really look stunning and stand out from the rest.

Most mens wedding rings are made from platinum due to its strength and durability, however titanium is often overlooked and could prove a popular choice as this metal is not only strong but also holds less weight than other metals, making the ring lighter and easy to wear.

Everyone knows that wedding rings are worn on the left hand, however this isn not always the case, in countries such as Germany, Russia, Norway and other western countries wedding rings are often worn on the right hand.

If you are looking for matching rings and want something a little different than the plain gold band but nothing too extravagant then there is always the option to have your wedding rings engraved. Having you wedding rings engraved with a personal message will make them not only unique but extremely personal to both you and your partner.

Remember if you do decide to have your wedding rings engraved they will not have much space for many words so most couples opt for having their pet names engraved or sometimes the couple's favourite song. Whatever you do decide to have engraved on your wedding rings this will be a special message between you and your partner.

To make your wedding ring unique in a different way could be to choose a diamond wedding ring and choose a color rather than the standard clear diamonds, what do you mean you did not know diamonds could be colored? Yes it is true, some diamonds are pink or blue and although stunning they are more rare than the clear diamond.

There are so many designs and different styles of wedding rings the choice is endless, it really is worth while spending some time researching these rings before purchasing one, shop around and if you decide to purchase a diamond ring bear in mind you can purchase the diamond and the ring setting separate.

2009-03-22T22:51:00.001+05:00

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Ring That Fits Properly As Well

The kind of ring you are wanting and the inventory of the jewelers will help you in choosing the perfect wedding ring. As you may already know, wedding rings come in many different metal types, platinum, white gold, or yellow gold, the choice is yours. When choosing the perfect ring, of course you want it to look perfect. However, you will also want it to feel perfect. When you have picked out the perfect one for your wedding, you will need to have it sized to ensure the fit is perfect as well.

When it comes to sizing a wedding ring, it could be a little tricky. You also need to schedule enough time to adjust the size if necessary. The following are a few tips that you should follow in order to get the perfect fit your ring.

The best situation for sizing your wedding ring is to ensure that the atmosphere is comfortable in regards to temperature and climate. Any variations rather too hot or too cold could increase or decrease your actual ring size. It is suggested that you do not size the wedding ring directly after purchase. The ring needs time to adjust to your finger; many people find that sizing is not necessary after wearing it for a few days. Temperature, climate, and activity all determine how well the ring will fit your finger.

If the ring you want must be sized, you can determine your ring size by visiting your local jewelry store, purchasing a ring sizer, or even using a string in your home.

It is possible to measure your own finger for ring size, however, it is best if you leave it to a professional. The string technique is not always accurate, therefore, should never be relied upon. Jewelers will often have their own trained employees and professional ring sizers to do this for you. This will ensure that you obtain the right size for your wedding ring. After all, the perfect wedding ring is not so perfect if it does not fit.

It is ultimately important that the ring sizer fit comfortably onto your finger, prior to authorizing the jeweler to make your wedding ring of that size. Have a fitting ring will ensure that your ring will not fall off or hurt your fingers because it is too tight. After proper sizing, the ring you have chosen will be completely perfect and you will feel confident in wearing in and in your choice.

2009-03-22T22:48:00.001+05:00

Gold Jewelery Discoloration

Did the dishwashing solution contain any ammonia? I find most do not contain ammonia are a safe method of cleaning jewelry, including pearls. If ammonia was there, that "could" account for some of the discoloration. Also, chemicals and salts in the air in the beach environment are known to cause problems with jewelry. Even in almost invisible amounts, these chemicals can work to cause smudges and discoloration on gold items. Generally, a regular cleaning like you did will prevent problems.

Is the bracelet gold? The color change is not a direct indication the item is not gold as marked. However, there should be a makers mark near the 14k mark. That is law at least in the U.S.A. and the mark should be there. Sometimes the mark is quite small or only a symbol of some sort, perhaps mixed with the 14k metal quality mark.

Do you have faith in the place the item was purchased? If reputable, there should be no problem and they might offer to clean and buff the bracelet or even replace it.

If purchased with no recourse, the only way to truly tell is to have a jeweler who will test gold run a test for karat on the bracelet. These test involve either a simple acid test or use an electronic instrument. The cost should be low. Call and check around before you go since some jewelers do not have anyone on the premises who does this testing. Almost any store with a working bench jeweler should be able to test the bracelet.

If this is gold, why the color change? One possibility and only a possibility is that the bracelet was given a quick flash plate of yellower high karat gold to make it look richer in the first place. We see lots of necklaces and some bracelets(lots with CZ stones) with a plate of very yellow high karat gold. This is all for merchandising to make the color more rich and perhaps more appealing. Unfortunately, repairs will easily remove that surface plate and leave the natural 14k color. The 14k color is just fine as it is! However, some of such plated items do show a more coppery look when the surface flash of gold is removed, perhaps an underlayer used in the plating process or the natural color of a less than attractive 14k gold mix which the maker knew would be flash plated to look rich yellow. I doubt the cleaning or polishing cloth removed the plate.

I simply suspect the environmental conditions led to the discoloration but that should be rather easily removed by a good wipe with a special jewelry polishing cloth. (Your cleanng would remove ocean air salts but not repolish the bracelet or remove tarnish unless a jewelry polishing cloth was used.) These special coths contain no messy polishes but do contain some chemical ingredients. One make is called "sunshine" cloth, used as is till totally soiled then simply disposed of. These cloths are available from jewelers and crafts stores. If not in stock, this cloth may be ordered for you.

My first suggestion is to have a jeweler who does metal tests check the bracelet if the item was not purchased locally and cannot be locally corrected. Then, if 14k as marked, get one of the cloths mentioned(or a similar one). Clean regularly just like you did being sure there is no ammonia in the cleaning solution.

2009-03-22T22:46:00.000+05:00

Jewelery: Gold And Silver Basics

Now a days, with so many metals and precious stones around, it seems very difficult to decide which way to go. Being in the buyer end and in need to simplify my latest jewelry purchase, I decided to prepare myself. First, I did my research between the most common metals: Gold and Silver.

I learned the simple basics about these two metals: weight measurements, color, density and the most usual definitions. Here, I will share my findings with you. Hopefully, it will assist you on your next jewelry purchase adventure.

Gold

When looking for quality gold jewelry, the first thing you need to be aware of is how the metal gold is treated or cured. 24K gold means "pure gold". The "K" means karat which is a quality measurement for this metal. Do not confuse it with carat, with a "C", which is one of the 4 C's when looking for a Diamond.

To say that a piece of jewelry is 24K, is to say that that specific item is 100 or more of silver. Like gold, silver is also a very soft metal, that is why it also needs to be combined with a different metal, like copper, to make it harder.

The called Sterling Silver jewelry is the one kind of jewelry that contains more silver in one single piece of jewelry. If a piece contains less than 92.5% of silver, it is not as bright and shiny because silver is combined with other metals.

Always look for "92.5", "Sterling Silver", "925" markings on items that you are considering on buying, this will assure you that you are getting quality.

Now you also know the basics. The easiest way to get your piece of gold and/or silver jewelry is through the net. Browse the top retailers and find the one you like. Read the description of each item that caught your attention and decide which one is the one that best fits your needs.

Use your judgment. I always believe that if you are going to give jewelry as a present is because is for someone very special. Know the person's likings; observe what he or she mostly wares.

Now you know the basics. Shop around, take your time and have fun with it. I hope you enjoy your next jewelry purchase.

2009-03-17T16:52:00.002+05:00

Buying Best Wedding Ring Sets

Are you shopping for a wedding ring set? With so many options from traditional and online jewelry shops it might be difficult to decide what ring set would suit you the most. There are several factors you need to consider searching through wedding ring sets to find the best one for you.

Wedding ring set styles

To decide on the style first think if you are going to wear your ring set every day. If so, it should not only be beautiful but practical. The style should be elegant enough to go with most of your cloth.

What wedding ring set styles are available to you? Most popular is a set that consists of a classical ring with a single diamond and a ring with channel set diamonds. But there are other possibilities. If you like something more elaborate think of engraved style or a beaded edge style. There are also vintage wedding ring sets and Celtic style bands.

The best way to find a style you like is to visit a big online wedding ring shop. Don't mind the prices for now, just look at different ring set styles they offer and see what you like the most.

Choosing the right metal for your ring

After deciding on the style, you will have to make up your mind about the material for your ring set. Here you have a choice of gold, white or yellow, platinum and titanium. But even before you go for a particular material asks yourself do you want a yellow wedding ring set or a white set? If you want yellow, than your only choice is traditional gold. White wedding rings are becoming more popular in recent years, because they look more modern and easier to match with any cloth. Think of the other jewelry you own and wear often, will white or gold go with most of it?

Also think of how much you can afford to spend on your ring set. Most expensive is not necessarily the best. If you go for a cheaper metal, you can have a set with bigger, better quality diamond.

Gold wedding ring sets

Yellow gold wedding ring set is the easiest to find. Yellow is traditional and also it has that warm feeling that is associated with marriage. When looking for traditional gold sets most people think that more carats (more pure the gold) the better. This is not always true. Gold is a very soft metal, and 24 carats gold ring can get scratches easily. For the purpose of durability 14 carats gold ring sets are the most popular, but if you want more pure gold, 19 carat is a good balance between purity and durability of your ring.

Platinum wedding rings and ring sets

Platinum is an excellent material if you can afford it. Platinum rings have a whiny white look and last forever without a single scratch. Platinum doesn't come in carats because the metal used in jewelry is pure and not mixed with any other metals.

Titanium ring sets

Titanium ring set is another option. Titanium doesn't shine as much as platinum or white gold, but it has a stylish modern look, it is very durable and not as expensive as platinum. Titanium wedding ring sets are not as widely available as ones from other metals, so you will have to do a special search online for them.

Finding the perfect wedding ring set might take time, but with some research you can find exactly what you are looking for. More and more people are buying their wedding rings online these days. The reason is that you can look through several online jewelry portals without leaving your home and the selection is much greater than in any traditional jewelry shop. Another reason is the price - you can save a great deal buying wedding ring sets online.

2009-03-17T16:46:00.002+05:00

Choosing The Perfect Engagement Ring

Rings have been used as a symbol of love since ages. No matter whether it is an engagement ring or a wedding ring, a ring is perhaps one of the most memorable gift item that always keeps sweet memories of your wedding alive in your heart. In addition to being a symbol of love, in most traditions around the world, a ring is undoubtedly an important element of the wedding process. That is why one should always buy a ring that will remain relevant even after the years of marriage. So, when you start planning for your wedding you need to learn the basics of buying a ring from the market.

The very first thing that you have to decide is the style of the ring you are going to wear. You should give top most priorities to the comfort because you will not be able to resist yourself from taking out the ring from the finger if it is uncomfortable. Although we buy different type of rings, plain rings never go out of fashion. Similarly, you can be assured that plain gold rings are going to be there for decades to follow. If you do not like plain at all, you may opt for engraved ring or a ring with beaded edge. Alternatively, you may also buy a diamond ring in channel set style. The main point is that you should choose a ring that can clearly reflect your style and personality. Now, when it comes to choose the metal for the wedding rings, you may choose gold, silver or platinum.

If the bride has chosen silver for most of the jewelry, then the ring should also be silver based. If the groom wears the golden watch, then gold should be opted as base metal. Here again you may choose any one from the yellow gold or white gold. Yellow gold is most common of all the metals used for the rings. Depending upon the increasing quality of purity and softness yellow gold can be 14K, 18K or 24K respectively. However, most of the people avoid buying 24K gold just to prevent the scratches. Recently, white gold is also becoming popular, because it resembles with platinum and also less expensive than platinum.

However, if you have no monetary limitations, then you may also choose platinum. Platinum is safest of all the metals as one can not mix any other metal.

2009-03-17T16:44:00.000+05:00

Paved In Gold

A thing of beauty is joy forever said John Keats. Beauty attracts human like a magnetic field. Jewels have long been the most alluring ornamental force for women and even men. Kings and queens, emperors and their wives clad themselves with heavy gold. Somehow gold has always been preferred over other elements. Diamonds hold a secondary place when it comes to wedding rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Although it can't be denied that this drift is more relatable to the Asians. Europeans are inclined toward white gold and diamonds.

There was a time when people wore pure heavy gold jewelry. It was a symbol of the rich. Brooches made of gold with convoluted designs where a must on the women gowns during balls and other occasions. The use of white gold is comparatively lesser than yellow gold because it is relatively expensive.

Weighty gold earrings and necklaces plus the anklets are worn on weddings. Not only the bride is adorned with gold jewels but every woman in the wedding room has something or the other around her neck or wrists and fingers. Nothing short of gold tends to give a sense of completion.Today's gold jewelry is it not heavy and purely original any longer.

The economies of the world now face a shortage of supply of resources that embraces every single criterion. Technological changes have placed its print even on ornaments. Gold jewelry once shaped into a necklace or ring manually passed on to generations. Now the inheritors simply get those jewels remade according to the trend.

A 24 carat gold set is melted and remade occasionally. That reduces its value double fold down to 13 or 12 carat only. A single gold bracelet can now give a woman two pairs of gold earrings. A conventionally smart transaction!Gold is assorted with other metals in order to make it light weight and economical. Besides this factor plain gold jewelry has become obsolete. Necklaces and rings made out of gold are decorated and embodied with beads, pearls, emeralds and stones.

Another feat of jewelers is gold platted jewelry, making gold affordable. Most gold jewelry patterns are machine made and designs repeated. What the present world is doing with gold jewelry makes a person think, all that glitters definitely isn't gold. But at least it helps self and status conscious people in showing the world, they too can afford to wear gold.

2009-03-17T16:40:00.001+05:00

Gold Investment: A Few Helpful Tips

Throughout history, gold has been a highly valued substance. It's unique properties and relative scarcity caused almost every world culture to use it as a form of money, as well as a way to "store" value. Although it has lost much of its importance as a form of currency, gold investments still provide a great way to protect your money and diversify a portfolio.

Over the past few years, gold prices have been steadily rising. There is a very good chance this trend will continue over the long-term, making it a good idea to put some money into gold investments now. Also, buying gold is a great way to hedge against other investments. Due to uncertainty in the stock market and the value of the US dollar, it's a good idea to put 10-20% of your money into a hedge fund in order to protect yourself. Gold and silver have always been considered to be among the best forms of hedge investments because they have relatively stable values (due to very small changes in supply).

How to Invest in Gold

Before you buy gold, it's a good idea to get the help of an investment consultant. This is especially true if you've never invested in gold before. He or she can help you determine the best moves to make based on your own personal financial goals and risk tolerance. If you already have a personal financial adviser, tell him or her that you'd like to use gold to hedge your portfolio. If he or she doesn't have much experience dealing in gold investments you may want to find someone who does.

If you're interested in profiting from the price movements of gold, buying gold bullion coins are an excellent option. The best choices are the American Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Britannia, and the Australian Nugget coins. You can buy gold bullion coins from precious metal and coin dealers, both offline and online.

Before making a gold bullion purchase, always shop around for the best prices, as the markup on coins will vary from dealer to dealer. Also, do everything possible to make sure the dealer you're buying from has been in business for awhile and has a good reputation. If possible preserve your gold coins in the original mint packaging and protect them from scratches to maximize resale value.

Gold bars are another gold investment option you may want to look into. Smaller bars are usually more expensive (per ounce) than large bars but are often easier to sell. In general, bars carry a higher price premium than coins. As with gold bullion coins, only buy and trade with reputable dealers.

2009-03-17T16:35:00.002+05:00

What Shoudl You Consider Buying A Gold Ring?

When buying a gold ring, size will be a determining factor, but there are many other things to keep in mind. Durability, style, and price are also important, but how do you know if you are getting the best deal? Learning more about the way gold jewelry is made, classified, and priced, will help ensure that the gold ring you choose is the ideal one for you.

First, it helps to understand that other metals are alloyed with gold, such as copper, iron, nickel, platinum, steel, silver, and zinc. Alloying gold with different metals makes it easier to work with as well as more affordable. Different alloys can also be used to give gold a different color. For example, nickel or platinum can be used to create white gold and copper is used to create a golden rosy tone.

Another issue that determines cost is the amount of skill and difficulty that goes into the creation of a gold ring. Since gold is a considered a soft metal, it is fairly easy to work with, but it can quickly loose its shape or become scratched. The purer the gold, the softer it is, which is why alloys play an important part in the making of a gold ring.

An everyday ring should be made from lower karat gold or from metal that is gold-plated. Delicate rings with intricate designs that are not intended to be worn everyday can safely be made from the purest quality of gold, which is 24-karat. Being the purest, it is also the softest and the most expensive.

Slightly lower in price is 18-karat gold, which is about 75% pure and 25% alloy. It is still soft enough to create a detailed design for a gold ring, but it is also somewhat stronger and less expensive than 24-karat gold.

The most popular quality of gold used in jewelry making is 14-karat gold, which is perfect for rings. It is slightly over half-pure, and is priced accordingly. It is very strong and is a good choice for frequently worn jewelry, especially a gold ring, such as an engagement ring or wedding ring, which is worn on a daily basis.

For jewelry to be advertised as gold in the U.S., it must be at least 40% pure, which is classified as 10-karat gold. This is the strongest quality for gold jewelry and is also the most affordable.

Once you choose a gold ring, learning to care for it properly is also important. Washing it with a soft towel and warm soapy water, rinsing it completely, and allowing it to dry thoroughly before putting it away will help your gold ring remain beautiful. It is also a good idea to keep special pieces separate from other jewelry. You might want to keep your gold ring in the box it came in when not wearing it, or wrap it in cloth before putting it into your jewelry box.

2009-03-17T16:30:00.002+05:00

Feel The Gold Rush With Gold Coins

A lot of people find collecting gold coins as not only an incredibly interesting hobby but a fairly lucrative one as well! Over time, your collection will accure value and parts of it can be sold if you desire. This way, you will have additional income for yourself later in life in addition to a fantastic collection of valuable coins.

1. Face To Face: Coin Collectors Know Best

The internet is home to a lot of gold coin dealers wherein you can meet all sorts of people from all over the world who are into both buying and selling gold coins. Of course, it is a rather convenient venue for you to be able to do your transactions. You must be extremely conscious, however, when it comes to dealing with other gold coin collectors that you will meet through the internet. While there are some real gold coin enthusiasts in the internet, there are also those people who are posing as gold coin collectors and are just looking to rip you off.

2. Why Gold Coins?

The history of gold coins dates as far back as 2,700 years ago. The first gold coins in the world were issued in Lydia around 640 B.C. certain internet websites will provide you with a lot of information about the history of gold coins.

As money, gold coins have been a convenient way for people to do their transactions. Gold was only used for coins that were considered of a higher value. As gold is not the most common ore, it became impractical for gold to be used in the common coin systems of all major countries. This means a collection of gold coins is extremely rare due to the fact that gold coins are no longer being produced.

3. Gold Coins For Investment

- Gold is sensible investment: all major countries use reserves of gold (such as Fort Knox) to maintain their national worth

- A highly convenient investment

- Physical gold is extremely stable in value

4. Commemorative Coins

When it comes to the commemorative gold coins, since gold is deemed as a highly valuable kind of metal, it is an obvious choice when it comes to making or producing special commemorative coins. In the past, there are sets of gold coins that were just issued to mark coronations as well as other important state events. A lot of financial reserves that are being held by banks are in the form of gold coins. Gold coins are a desired form of a reserved asset since gold coins are not really used for circulation anymore.

5. About Collectors

There are a lot of various gold coin sellers, buyers as well as collectors who are waiting to bid on the best kind of gold coins in the market most especially in the internet. For most gold coins that can be bought as well as sold at prices that are closely related to their intrinsic gold content. The most popular bullion gold coins are the krugerrands as well as the sovereigns.

For most gold coin collectors, there are the highly coveted rare gold coins and a lot of gold coin collectors are interested in these rare gold coins that they will offer high bids just to be able to get their hands on these.

A lot of people who are looking for things to collect are in real treat if ever they try out collecting gold coins most especially because gold coins can be bought in highly excellent and may be in even mint condition for only a relatively low premium over the gold coin's gold content. Also, since the coin is made from gold, it is highly unlikely that it will tarnish or even discolor.

If you are looking into collecting gold coins, first research the various gold coins that are available in the market today. Find out how much they are really worth due to their gold content, and then factor in any additional value to the coin for being rare. Always be on the lookout for fake coins, and have coins appraised by a gold coin expert to avoid large differences in price.

2009-03-17T16:26:00.001+05:00

HOw To CHoose The Best Gold Weddign Band For Your Wedding?

Gold, by itself is a very soft type of metal that can be shaped and bent quite easily. This is the reason that many wedding band manufacturers mix gold with other types of metal to increase the strength of the gold. When it comes to gold wedding bands there are many different varieties. For example, you can get several different types of gold bands with ranges of 14 karats to 24 karats. A gold wedding band consisting of 24-karat gold is the purest form you can get.

The purer the gold, the softer the wedding band will be, which means it will not easily stand up to the roughness that can be placed on it.

Therefore, if you are looking for a stronger type of wedding band your best bet is to opt for a 14-karat gold wedding ring. In a 14-karat gold ring, it is not pure gold; it is typically mixed with other metal types in order to make it stronger for use. However, this mixture could cause the gold to fade in color occasionally.

Therefore, most people choose to go with eighteen-karat gold wedding bands. They can hold their gorgeous golden color and still be strong enough to withstand use. Yellow gold is not for everyone, some people prefer to choose a white gold, which is often mistaken for silver. It looks very similar to silver; however, white gold has a slight golden tint to the ring. It also contains better properties than that of silver, which includes the fact that it will not tarnish or decay in the way silver wedding bands do.

Back to the varieties of gold wedding bands, there are many. The wedding band you choose can be elegant but simple plain gold. You could also choose to have embedded diamonds on the gold wedding band. One such ring is called the Eternity wedding band; these are absolutely gorgeous bands with exquisite diamonds eloquently placed within the entire band.

In general, people like setting themselves apart from other people; this is especially true with men. Diamonds are generally a girl's best friend, but men like having one or two diamonds embedded into their gold wedding band so he is different.

In conclusion, your wedding band can be anything you want it to be. You can have it encrusted with diamonds all the way around the band, a few diamonds here or there is an elegant design or no diamonds at all, which is the traditional wedding ring. Furthermore, today you can get bridal sets, which include three rings all matching each other. These sets come with an engagement ring, and two bands, one for the groom and one for the bride.

2009-03-16T20:48:00.001+05:00

The Truth About Gold Jewelery

Without a doubt, Gold is one of the world's most precious metals. It is also a certainty that gold enjoys an unsurpassed popularity as a medium for jewelry expression. Both jewelry artisans and consumers alike are "in love" with gold. There seems to be no end to the range of colors, finishes and styles available and gold remains a perennial favorite setting for gemstones.

Gold can last forever, will not corrode or rust and can be found anywhere. Gold exists in plants, rivers, oceans, mountains, it's nearly everywhere but it is extremely difficult and costly to extract this amazing metal. Did you know that a single ounce of gold can be pulled into a thin wire that stretches nearly five miles long? An artisans hammer can work that same ounce into a very thin sheet that can cover a 10ft x 10ft(100sq. ft.) area. Also, it takes nearly 3 tons of gold or to extract a single ounce of pure gold. Well if you didn't now you know!

Gold Basics:

The word Gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it's usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.

The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.

Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you don't see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.

Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.

Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.

Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.

Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.

Vermeil (ver-may), a special type of gold plated product, consists of a base of sterling silver that is coated or plated with gold.

2009-03-16T20:45:00.002+05:00

Gold Investing - "Times Are Changing"

Do you remember your history lessons in school? Were you paying attention? You may recall lessons that discussed the weight of gold or the history of gold in the world. Gold has been used for purchasing, bartering and collecting throughout history. Gold has even been a hedge against inflation and helps to preserve and protect future earnings of Americans.

Today, we can purchase, trade or make a gold investment in a variety of ways. Gold comes generally in two forms, also called bullion, these forms are coins or bars made of gold. With trading, most investors trade in gold futures on the market. Gold Investments are often made in refining or mining companies.

If you take a look at history, you will begin to notice that gold was very helpful all through the changing times. It provided a safe avenue during times when the world's economy was unstable. For major gold investors, gold can improve a portfolio and decrease the amount of risk.

There is a variety of avenues when it comes to gold investing. The options for invest are; gold coins, bars, statement accounts, accumulative plans, mine shares and mutual funds.

Possibly the most popular avenue of gold investment is in coins and bars. There are different sizes and weights available to invest in. Some of the weights include 1 gram, 1 kilobar and the international bar. But that's not all.

An investment in gold bars is one way to produce cost efficient methods of investing in gold. This is because broker commissions are minimal for selling and purchasing gold bars. Gold coins are as popular among small and medium investors. The reason for this is that in the issuing country, gold coins are considered legal tender and guaranteed for their face value even through economic changes.

Some of the leading gold coins include:

*The American eagle- It is available in weights of 1/10, ?, ? and 1 troy ounce

*Canadian Maple Leaf- It is available in weights of 1/10, ?, ? and 1 troy ounce

*South African Kruggerand- It is available in weights of 1/10, ?, ?, and 1 troy ounce

*English Britannia- It is available in weights of 1/10, ?, ? and 1 troy ounce

*Australian Kangaroo- It is available in weights of 1/20, 1/10, ?, ? and 1 troy ounce

*Chinese Panda- It is available in weights of 1/20, 1/10, ?, ? and 1 troy ounce

*Austrian Philharmonic- It is available in weights of 1/10, ? and 1 troy ounce

*Mexican Centenario Family- It is available in the following; 2, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pesos.

*Mexican Onza- It is available in weights of, ?, ? and 1 troy ounce

As you see above, gold coins are a popular form of gold investing and good planning for the future. Gold will be a good investment through changing times because it will keep its value.

Summary:

Gold Investing has been the best form of investment throughout history. Today, gold can be purchased in two types of bullion. You can also invest in "gold statement accounts", "accumulation plans", "mining shares", "options" and "mutual funds".

Gold investing assures that your future is secure.

2009-03-16T20:17:00.001+05:00

A Brief History Of Gold

In 1489, King Henry VII introduced the first gold currency into the world market. In Britain during World War I, Britain issues banknotes because gold bouillon was needed to finance the war. Soon, these banknotes completely replaced the use of gold sovereign. The gold sovereign ceased gold mint production in 1917 and started again in 1925. Then production was stopped for World War I and restarted in 1957.