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Many of us buy gold fashion jewellery because – it feels great, our mother said so, it compliments the color of our skin, its a great possible investment, yaddy, yaddy yah. The reasons are as plentiful as the wonderfully honest dealers who would sell you the jewellery.

Perhaps I shouldn’t pass too quickly over the “great investment theme” because its or can be somewhat important to know that “10 Carat gold” all the way up to “18 Carat gold” is not generally considered to be great investment material. It is simply not investment grade, hard assets even if your home insurance covers it in case of theft.

Some of us want to claim an investment while still flaunting the bling on our skin and there is nothing wrong with that so flaunt something a little or considerably better than 18 Carat in order to claim the investment angle. The trick, especially in North America and England, is – where does one buy 24K Gold?

Some jewellers who don’t sell 24 Carat gold are likely to inform you that there is no such thing in jewelry since its too soft for most applications. They are not altogether incorrect however from experience I can tell you that 22 Carat Gold necklaces of 110 grams have been known to support the pull of a 50 pound child.

I first started buying gold in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. It was, at one time very cheap there. Later I frequented the gold souks of Dubai and the other middle east commercial centers. Real 24K stuff can be purchased there – not the 10K worthless stuff sold in england or the 14K **not-to-die-for* stuff sold as gold jewelry in Canada and the United States.

If truth be told, I thought it was 24, but the jewelry was often only 97-98% pure, but hey, still better than the 14k stuff sold in North America.

Then I found them. These were the massive jewelry stores on both the Hong Kong and Kowloon side. They sell amazing pearl, emerald and wonderfully carved gold pieces. Supposedly, the HK government certifies what they are selling, but a few of these tourists traps have all kinds of interesting motivational **deals** especially in Kowloon. Anyway, they have certificates claiming their 24 Carat Gold is 99.999% pure, but when I took their stuff to Toronto, I was told that the purity was extremely good but a little more than 22 Carats.

I took their stuff to an internationally known goldsmith to melt down, he again informed me that the material was only 22 to 23 Carats Gold purity. I keep thinking about how embarrassing it would be to pull out one’s own little gold volume/weight measurement tool in one of those massive elite stores and proudly if not loudly proclaim that the pure piece they were trying to sell wasn’t truly pure at all – I am also imagining that one would be set on not unkindly by the police for creating such a fine performance.

I am expecting a counter plug where someone will say I am from HK and the government certifies these big stores blah blah but I have purchased big items 4 times in 6 years and each time while trying to sell elsewhere in North America and the UK have been told similar bad news ( Even when I presented the govt stamped HK certificate|It made no difference to the buyers even when presented with the certificate of authenticity which comes with each piece purchased from HK ) Can authenticity certificates be faked? Certainly. Might certain shops fake them? I can’t say.

The lesson to learn perhaps is when buying gold internationally don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of authenticity proofs blah blah blah.

Some might respond and say, but you still got 22 Carat right? Truly the answer is “Yes I did and perhaps even slightly better than 22″, even if I thought I was purchasing 24 Carats. And would I do it again? Oddly enough I would, particularly, now that I know that it is really 22.5 Carat necklaces and bracelets that I am buying and not 24 like the store is claiming, I would bargain the price down with a better understanding of what I am probably getting.

If your goal is truly for investment and you have no real need to put on your bling then buy a certified gold bar from a western based dealer who is very much liable in western courts and has both insurance and liability coverage.

If what you are looking to purchase is 14 Carat or below, ignore everything said above since, 14 Carat is not investment quality anyway.

If you are in Hong Kong and hesitating to buy. Don’t hesitate, just understand that it’s not often that a street vendor sell you absolutely 24 Carats, even if he believes that is truly the gold carat. Dicker the price with the knowledge that you’re are probably getting substantially more than 22 Carats but is unlikely to be truly 24 Carats. Compare this to the North American or even Australian experience where you are most likely being sold only 14 Carats.

Wear it, enjoy it, don’t lose it and have fun.

Often a silver charm bracelet and a silver charm collection come to symbolize an ongoing romance between a couple. Much more versatile that rings, a silver charm can be added to the bracelet every special event or anniversary and continue to build on the beauty of the silver charm collection.

Wearing a lot of silver charm designs on a bracelet is the fashion and the tradition. This versatility provides many more options for wearing the whole collection, rather than having to pick and choose.

Most couples will have special things in their life that remind them of their love for each other. These special reminders can be hobbies or special events they have shared, or even a romantic spot they visited. Finding a silver charm to represent that memory is a great way to add romance and love.

Although special places and events make individual silver charm collections personal, the tried and true favorites are still much appreciated. Silver hearts in any style are the traditional romantic silver charm option.

For some couples angels, cupids or even cherubs may also symbolize love. The silver charm designs using these themes are wonderfully detailed, providing beautiful romantic charms of all different styles.

One option to really add a bit of romance to silver charm collections is to add a silver locket style charm. Within the locket a special romantic message, a favorite scripture or even the date of your wedding can be engraved. Pictures can also be added to the locket for a very welcome gift.

For a special romantic event a silver charm with a diamond, emerald, sapphire, ruby or other gemstone may really be a special and treasured gift. These charms are both elegant and beautiful, adding to the charm collection on any bracelet.

Traditional romantic gifts are beautiful and very much appreciated, but you may want to consider silver charm collection on a silver bracelet as a slightly different gift. The great thing about silver charm designs is that they can be worn everyday or saved for those very special occasions.

Some of us purchase gold fashion jewelry because – it looks good, our mother said so, it compliments the color of our skin, its a great possible investment, yaddy, yaddy yah. The reasons are as plentiful as the wonderfully honest dealers who would sell you the goods.

I guess I shouldn’t pass too quickly over the “great investment theme” because its somewhat important to know that “10 Carat gold” all the way up to “18 Carat gold” is generally not considered to be shrewd investment material. And unfortunately the fact that your home insurance will cover it still doesn’t make it investment grade material.

Some of us want to claim an investment while still flaunting the bling on our skin and there is nothing wrong with that so flaunt something a little or considerably better than 18 Carat in order to claim the investment angle. Typically, the areas of the world where stronger than 18 Carat Gold can be purchased are parts of India,Philippines,Hong Kong and the Middle East

Most jewellers who don’t sell 24 Carat gold are likely to inform you that there is no such thing in jewelry since its too soft for most applications. They do have a point there however from experience I can tell you that 22 Carat Gold necklaces of 110 grams have been known to support the pull of a 22 klg child.

I first started buying gold in the souks of the middle east. It was, at one time very cheap there. Later I moved on to the gold souks of Dubai and the other middle east commercial centers. Real 24K stuff can be had there.

Truth was, I thought I was buying 24, but the jewelry was often only 97-98% pure, but hey, still better than the 14k fluff sold in North America.

It was a while before I found them but I did. These were the massive jewellery stores on both the Hong Kong and Kowloon side. They sell amazing pearl, emerald and exquisitely carved gold pieces. Supposedly, the HK government certifies what they are selling, but a few of these tourists traps have all kinds of interesting motivational **deals** especially in Kowloon. Anyway, they have certificates claiming their 24 Carat Gold is 99.999% pure, but when I took their stuff to London, I was told oh no, its only 22K not 24.

I took their stuff to a reputable goldsmith to melt down, he again informed me that the material was only 22 to 23 Carats Gold purity. I kept thinking about how embarrassing it would be to pull out one’s own little gold volume/weight measurement tool in one of those massive elite stores and proudly if not loudly proclaim that the pure piece they were trying to sell wasn’t truly pure at all – I am also imagining that one could expect a nice long talk with the local police for creating such a fine performance.

And I know someone else will post and tell me that they are from HK and the govt certifies these big shops blah blah but I have purchased big items 4 times in 6 years and each time while trying to sell elsewhere in North America and the UK have been told similar bad news ( Even when I presented the govt stamped HK certificate|It made no difference to the buyers even when presented with the certificate of authenticity which comes with each piece purchased from HK ) Can authenticity certificates be faked? Certainly. Might certain shops fake them? I can’t say.

The lesson to learn perhaps is when buying precious metals in the form of jewelry internationally don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of authenticity proofs blah blah blah.

Lesson learned, when buying precious metals in the form of jewelry internationally don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of authenticity proofs blah blah blah.

If your aim is truly for investment and you have no real need to put on your bling then buy a regulated certifiable gold bar from a western based dealer who is very much liable in western courts and has both insurance and liability coverage.

If what your concern is to buy 14 Carat or below, ignore almost everything said above since, 14 Carat is not investment quality anyway.

If you are in Hong Kong and hesitating to buy. Don’t hesitate, just understand that it’s not often that a street vendor sell you absolutely 24 Carats, even if she believes that is truly the gold carat. Dicker the purchase price with the knowledge that what you are getting is substantially more than 22 Carats but really not 24 Carats. Compare this to the North American or even Australian experience where you are most likely being sold only 14 Carats.

Wear it, enjoy it, don’t lose it and have fun.

People all around the globe consider diamonds to be the most beautiful and valuable gemstone available. For many, the desire of owning a diamond comes close to an obsession. Due to the unique appeal of diamonds, they are often used in jewelry. As a symbol of eternal love, diamonds are the most frequently used gemstone in the creation of engagement and wedding rings.

Diamonds are also a favorite in other jewelry as well. From diamond earrings to diamond bracelets to diamond necklaces, there are endless possibilities in having stunningly beautiful jewelry. What is it that is so unique about diamonds?

Gemologists have established that no two diamonds are alike. This means that each and every diamond has its own good-looking devise. The assortment in slash and shade of each human being diamond gives each its own unusual exterior. The excel and intensity of diamonds make them truthfully one of nature’s most high-quality creations.

The discovery of diamonds can be traced back to India around 800 B.C. For many years only royalty wore them as a symbol of their strength, although all were taken with their extreme beauty. In modern times common people also wear diamonds as an everyday accessory. Diamonds are rated on the 4 Cs: Carat Weight, Clarity, Color and Cut. The rating system determines what grade each diamond is and thus determines the price which will be commanded for purchasing each diamond.

In order to calculate the value of a gemstone, the weight of the gem must be determined. gemstone weight is calculated based on a value know as a ‘carat’ and the total weight of a gem is its Carat Weight. The more carats any gemstone weighs, the higher the price for that stone.

Diamonds are graded on clarity – how crystal clear they are. Minerals or rocks that are near the diamond in its natural state can transfer to the diamond, causing blemishes. A diamond’s value is highest when it is clear and has few, if any, blemishes.

Diamond colour is simply its actual colour. Contrary to popular belief, all diamonds are not clear. Although a more perfect diamond is considered completely colourless, they can be found coloured from clear to yellow to sometimes even black. In most cases the less color a diamond has, the more value it has, but this is not always the case. The Hope Diamond is considered the most valuable diamond in the world, but it is a black diamond.

The last quality used in the 4C grading system is Cut. This is measures the amount of brilliance and sparkle the diamond has. There are various cuts of diamonds that include round, marquise, and princess cut stones. The round cut has long been one of the world’s favorites, but princess and marquise are also very popular. The cut of a diamond can determine how shiny and reflective it is thus enhancing its beauty. There are many reasons why diamonds are adored all around the world.

What compels people to wear diamonds varies from simple appreciation of their beauty, to feeling that diamonds increase ones self worth in the eyes of society. This variety in appeal is one of the reasons that diamonds have remained a constant favorite of men and women alike, generation after generation. This trend is likely to continue far into the future. Diamonds will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Everyone knows the fabulous grandeur of diamonds. Everyone wants diamonds, because of the elegance it possesses and the beauty that it has got. Diamonds are very rare and can be very expensive since it takes a long time to get and to process. It is also very precious because of its quality and its antiquity.

The diamond is the hardest natural gemstone to date. It scores 10 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness and has great resistance to scratches. It can cut through glass. It has existed long before humans had trod this world. The youngest diamonds are around 1 billion years old and the oldest as old as 3 billion years! This is the core to the diamond’s preciousness, antiquity and its beauty. It can also range from different colors, from classic crystal to violet or even pink.

The costly diamonds are usually the natural ones. Those diamonds that were fetched from the Earth’s depths are the expensive ones. However, diamonds do not have to be expensive anymore. This is because of the rapid growth of the human race and technology. Modern technology has enabled humans to process diamonds that are 100% man made. It has the same appearance and quality but it is not a natural diamond. It is cheaper. This is possible through the use of diamond simulants.

The need for diamonds and the materials required to make them has radically increased concurrent with the flourishing diamond trade worldwide. For the trade to be stable, many artificial and synthetic materials have been used to feed the need for diamonds. There are some natural simulants such as topaz, beryl, and quartz, which have high hardness rates but low refraction indexes. Artificial simulants are the sorts of moissanite (silicon carbide), white sapphires, and cubic zirconia.

A good example for man made diamonds is the new Star Hybrid simulated diamond. It possesses the same quality and clarity of real diamonds yet harder than the common moissanite or cubic zirconia. The Star Hybrid is not the only simulated diamond. There are lots of other man made diamonds that are for sale. These are finely cut by hand and have the good attributes of majesty that the diamond must have. Remove the connotation that man made diamonds are fake. In fact, they are considered as true diamonds. The only difference is that it is laboratory made and not taken out of the Earth’s depths.

Lab created diamonds are far cheaper than the real ones but still have the shine, the sparkle, the elegance, the majesty and the appeal of real diamonds that are attainable at a lower price. New methods of diamond making have led humans to have these types of synthetic diamonds.

Diamonds really have unmatchable opulence compared to other gemstones. It has the best hardness, the best glamour and probably is the best kind of gemstone that has ever existed on Earth. Since it takes billions of years to form, humans have developed new ways of making synthetic diamonds that look the same and feel the same.

Generally an engagement ring is a symbol of building future together though it has got its own history.

Mary of Burgundy received a diamond ring from Archduke Maximilian of Austria in the year 1477. 24 hours later, the first engagement ring, was on the hand of a married woman and so begins the tradition of proposing marriage with a ring.

As we probe the more distant past, we find that the engagement ring and its meaning dates even farther back than the 1400s. In ancient Rome men gave betrothal (truth) rings and in time also used to engrave their lover’s name in the ring.

This tradition was not established without thought to just the symbolic meaning. The Egyptians believed that the vein in the ring finger leads straight to the heart, so by attaching the beloved’s name or symbolic gesture to it, he or she was forever connected to the heart.

The idea of diamond being used for engagement and for symbolizing blessed union started from the Middle ages. The diamond is the strongest and hardest mineral known and it can resist fire and steel too. Thus it is a perfect symbol to indicate the unbreakable bond between a married man and woman. Although, during this time period, only those people with wealth and power could afford to show their love in such a grand way.

Moving forward to the nineteenth century, diamonds were more easily accessible to the average person. Many markets were filled with too many diamonds after the Kimberley diamond region in South Africa was discovered. Many people started to select engagement rings with birth stones instead of diamonds, because they perceived them to be rarer. Those who were rich exchanged diamond engagement rings for those with other gems such as sapphires, emeralds, and rubies with diamond accents, thus opening the diamond door for the general public.

It was Hollywood’s sense of style and glamour that saw the diamond make a comeback during the 20th century. Marilyn Monroe, the blond bombshell made the diamond very popular with the hit song Diamonds are a Girl’s best friend.

When looking at the history, it appears that the diamond is not the essence of the engagement ring. Like every fashion fad, the diamond has gone in and out of style, and then in again, but one common quality among all the versions of the engagement ring stands forever strong. Every girl dreams of being a princess, of being swept off her feet. The presence of a diamond on her finger placed by her prince charming gives her the right to declare her royalty. At this point in history, diamonds are a symbol of glamour and prosperity while the continuity of the ring shape itself symbolizes the relationship.