The knowledge many people have of gemstones is limited to a small range of precious stones, a range that will normally include the likes of diamonds, emeralds and rubies. These famous stones make up only a small fraction of the…
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Diamonds are beautiful and expensive, that means many people can’t afford them. Man made substitutes can provide the sparkle and save money. One of the most successful substitutes has proven to be Diamonique. Diamonique may sound exotic; yet it is…
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The Rolex firm has been creating precision watches for over a hundred years, and for a large part of that history have been viewed as expensive status symbols. Prices for genuine Rolex watches are high, which has meant that cheaper…
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Most pieces of jewellery go in and out of fashion, and their appeal will vary from generation to generation based on look and often the precious metal that they have been manufactured from. The locket is currently one of those…
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Cecil Rhodes was a man of his times. A British imperialist, Rhodes worked for the greatness of the Empire. He was though far more than just an imperialist; he was an explorer, an entrepreneur, a businessman, and a politician. The…
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Louis Vuitton Malletier, or LV, is one of the icons of the fashion world. The luxury brand is splashed across magazines as careful marketing campaigns have ensured that female celebrities would be seen out with nothing else on their arms…
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The name of “Harry Winston” is now known as one of the world’s most prestigious jewellery companies. It is a name linked to the most beautiful jewels and settings, and traditionally has also been linked to exclusivity. Jewellery has been…
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One name springs to mind when you think of lead crystal manufacturers, and that is the Swarovski company. It is a brand name that has for over a hundred years produced luxury and exquisite glass items, and has in recent…
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When people talk about Murano glass then it is inevitable that most people will immediately think about paperweights and the millefiori technique of canes of glass. Murano glass though is the glass created by the glassworkers of the Murano Island…
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Pearls are one of the most sought after gemstones, especially by women. They are though basically only minute fragments of calcium carbonate that is layered until a small smooth, round ball is formed with the mantle of a shelled mollusc….
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It is a question that many people will ask hoping for a sensible answer, what is the difference between 9 and 18 carat gold? Men in particular often seem confused between the different grades of gold, and whilst they will recognise…
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Carat is one of those words that most people know, but are unable to actually describe its specific meaning. Specificity though is an issue as it does have two different meanings, one meaning relates to the weight of precious stones,…
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The opal has become an increasingly important ingredient for jewellers with many beautiful bracelets and necklaces make use of the opal as the centrepiece. The opal is the national gemstone of Australia, and although the country produces its fair share…
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It is hard for most people to consider jewellery to be unique, as most items are purchased from High Street jewellers, and although items may not be mass produced, are produced in large numbers. In general to buy a unique…
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In real terms there is no difference between costume jewellery and fashion jewellery, and are terms basically used for the same thing, jewellery made from non-precious metals or gemstones. Everyone would love to own a piece of gemstone clad jewellery…
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Purchasing jewellery from High Street jewellers is all well and good but the fact is that unless you are prepared to spend a fortune on 18K gold, diamond and ruby encrusted necklace, it will not be unique. There is though…
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The fact that the majority of pearls are now cultivated and not dived for has not detracted greatly from their value. Good quality pearls are still an expensive item, and having spent a lot of money on the gemstone it…
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The term mother of pearl is a common one, and most people will be able to point out the obvious link to the pearl. In terms of nature mother of pearl is a far more common occurrence than the creation…
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Any owner of jewellery should have a safe place to store their precious items, a place where jewellery pieces will avoid being damaged. This has normally meant the purchase of a jewellery box, some of which are beautiful to behold….
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There are many facts and legends associated with pearls, but for countless generations they have been some of the most prized possessions of many a household. The myths surrounding pearls date back as far as their known history does. The…
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There are of course obvious differences between rubies and diamonds, and people will immediately concentrate on the colour of the two gemstones. It would obviously be impossible to mistake the red ruby with the almost colourless diamond. Colour aside though…
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Purchasing diamonds and other precious stones can be a confusing undertaking. For the amateur is can be difficult to know just whether the diamond on offer is really worth the asking price. When looking at diamonds though it is worth…
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Gold plating and silver plating are common terms in the jewellery and antiques trades although unsurprisingly they are not often publicised. Gold plating is in essence the method by which cheap jewellery is made to look much more expensive. In…
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Silver is a clean, simple metal and whilst sterling silver jewellery may not be as desirable as high carat gold jewellery, it is a more affordable option. Sterling silver is not the same as pure silver, pure silver being 99.9%…
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Purchasing jewellery can cost relatively little or can cost a small fortune, depending on whether items are being brought from Tiffany’s or from a High Street retailer. The likes of Tiffany’s and Harry Winston though are exclusive outlets, and few…
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Most people would like to be ethical in the purchases, perhaps buying fair trade coffee or free range chickens; people though are often put off when being ethical costs more money. In principle the Kimberley Process has been brought in…
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Tanzanite is one of the most alluring of all gemstones, and the blue and violet colouring has made it into one of the most popular of stones. A rare stone, mined in East Africa, it has quickly become many a…
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Opals are now one of the most popular gemstones when it comes to jewellery settings, as with any gemstones though they do need at least occasional cleaning. Many people think that cleaning opals and other gemstones is an easy thing…
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Diamonds remain as popular today as they have ever been. Purchasing diamonds though can be a daunting prospect. Whilst most people looking for a diamond know to look for the 4 Cs; Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut, knowing how to…
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Buying diamonds for a loved one can be overwhelming to many people, after all what makes a good diamond? Knowing how to check diamond quality could be the difference between buying a good diamond, and buying a poor example. Before…
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