The Savvy Marketplace

Amsterdam takes a special place in the world of Diamonds. Walking down the streets you will see a lot of Diamond and jewelry stores as well as a lot of places that are locked up with signs saying “guided diamond tours from 2 to 4 PM”.

Actually going on some of these tours you’ll have a chance to see some fantastic diamonds and you’ll have a chance as well to see how they are cut and polished. And if you want to, you can buy them for $4000 to $400,000 each.

These are some of the companies offering guided tours:

Amsterdam diamonds

Amsterdam has a long heritage in the diamonds, and has been a major diamond centre since Sephardic Jews introduced the diamond cutting industry in the later 16th century. Nowadays there are about a dozen diamond factories in the city, five of which offer guided tours. The tours are free and are usually conducted 9am to 5pm every day. Diamonds aren’t necessarily cheaper in Amsterdam but prices are fairly competitive. At least you will have seen how they are worked, and when you buy from a factory you get an extensive description of the purchase so you know exactly what you are buying.

Diamond tours

The following renowned diamond stores offer diamond-cutting and polishing tours, and sales of the finished diamonds:

Coster Diamonds
Gassan Diamonds
Stoeltie Diamonds
Van Moppes Diamonds the first company to offer guided tours.

If you have a chance eat an “uitsmijter” as well.

Best time to visit is april or late september when the leaves on the trees are not blocking the view of the monumental facades. The winters are penetratingly cold and damp with lots of rain and sleet.

It actually feels colder than 30 below in Canada.

Bring a pair of good glasses: we tend to use very small letter types for the legends in museums.

Here are some of Amsterdam’s major attractions:

Anne Frank House (Anne Frank Huis)
National Museum (Rijksmuseum)
Van Gogh Museum
Red Light District
National Museum of Modern Art (Stedelijk Museum)
Amstelkring Museum (Our Lord in the Attic Chapel)
Museum Het Rembrandt Huis (Rembrandt House)
Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum)
Dam Square
Sauna Deco

Amsterdam sail:
Sail Amsterdam

If you love boats, KNSM Island is where you should go. Not just because of its shipping past. Every 5 years this harbor area of Amsterdam hosts the Sail event. Each new edition attracts more visitors (Sail 2000 welcomed 2.5 million people). Each edition also offers more Tall Ships and more cultural activities in the area.

The Van Gogh Museum contains the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh who shot off his ear and then committed suicide. You will find more than 200 fantastic works from the Master’s hand, as well as 500 drawings and 700 written documents. Together these provide a fantastic insight into his life and work.

Amsterdam is a fascinating place with lots of things to see and do.

Also, remember and try all its culinary delights.

J Shipper loves Diamonds and Amsterdam

www.diamondzmall.com

“Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.” is a famed Japanese maker of clockworks and watches based in Tokyo (Japan). Citizen has been mainly chartered as Shokosha Watch Research Institute in the year 1918. The business organization was established in 1924 when the first product, a tiny pocket watch called Citizen, was positioned on the market. In 1930 the company assumed the name Citizen Watch Company, too. The founders once have been selected the name Citizen because they attempted to get a direct way to the peoples spirit. This is still today the notion behind wrist watches built by Citizen.

First watch with Eco-Drive - Models reaching from dress to athletics


For instance the first Japanese wrist watch including a wake-up-function was launched by Citizen in 1958. In the 1970ties Citizen built the debut quartz watches with LCD display and later also the smallest LCD wrist watch ever. In the early 1990ties Citizen started the premier series production of watchcases consisting of titanium. In addition to that, they designed the leadoff voice recognition watch which was another big milestone in their history. More than that that the concern was an outrider in developing dive watches for professional use. A highlight was the embedded bathometer - no one else was able to offer a similar special function. Additional, Citizen is well-known for its Eco-Drive collection of light powered wrist watches. Fuelled only by light, it doesn’t require any batteries. Designs reaching from dress to athletics (e.g. professional dive watches), Citizen offers an assortment for everybody and every occasion. Find out more about Citizen watches

Where in history did we first see the value and beauty beheld in diamonds? What is the story behind diamond engagement rings. The word, diamond, historically derived its roots from “Adamas”, a Greek word which means unconquerable or indestructible. Diamonds have traveled our many different cultures throughout history affecting everyone in every possible way. The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were tears from the Gods. They were thought to be mystical and powerful stones that affected both the heavens and the hearts. Diamonds today continue to hold this fascination as it did throughout history.

For thousands of years, it was the common belief that diamonds contained special magic abilities and power for royalty. Diamonds were thought to have the same powers as of Gods and these powers contained within the fiery gems were beyond the common man’s knowledge. Kings would go into battle adorned with diamond studded breast plates hoping that the physical presence and the spiritual power of the diamond would bring them victory. The belief was so powerful and so widespread that warriors in battle avoided the Kings and other nobles who were porting the powerful gemstones. Over the centuries, the history of diamonds has received its meaning as the highest gift of one’s love, probably because marriage and love are seemingly as powerful & as indestructible as the gemstone itself.

The first diamonds in history were discovered in India around 800 B.C. These diamonds were found to be a result of a volcanic source, however this source was never discovered. Indian diamonds continued to supply the world up until the eighteenth century, it was a large deposit. These diminishing supplies spawned the next finds in Brazil and in the mid 1800’s, South Africa. South Africa had a massive diamond deposit, and was a global supplier for a long time. In the mid 1900’s major diamond deposits were found in Siberia, and today Western Canada is the site of the world’s newest diamond mines.

Most of the history of diamonds, the gemstones were extracted from sand and gravel along river banks, like in India. However, when South Africa’s diamond rush started new process of finding the diamonds not along waterways, but in the earth, was discovered. Still today, diamonds are for the most part mined using various extracting methods.

Please follow the link for MORE history of diamonds. At AllAboutDiamonds.org, we discuss all aspects of the diamond. You can learn about how to buy diamond engagement rings to pages talking about the mystical powers of diamonds, to the most famous diamonds in history. And if you are search for a diamond engagement ring, we have a large and growing directory of trusted online jewelers.

British Hallmarks are the best in the world.

Who says so, the rest of the World. Although to be fair, other countries have great hallmarks too, it is just that they are NOT so often seen.

A book on World Hallmarks for Gold or Silver items is a must for any serious collector or dealer, but they can be a little intimidating and time consuming. Is that mark a Cockerel or a Tree? Could it be made in Switzerland or Germany?

Thankfully for the rest of us, a small pocket book on UK Hallmarks is more than up to the task, coupled with that very useful plastic 10X eyeglass I keep on hinting for you to buy.

It will show you that the item has been tested and stamped, to prove it is - what it says it is (9ct or 18ct etc).

British Jewelry with a full UKHM (United Kingdom Hall Mark) is generally clearly stamped and readable after you clean it (check the website below for another complimentary article on ‘How to Clean your Jewelry at Home’).

Once you are aware of the marks, you will always feel just that little bit better when you buy that ‘Could it be an Antique?’ item at the local market, or from the guy in the Pub that everyone talks about but nobody knows.

Buyer Beware….

*Six marks on British Jewelry.*

Yes… Six?

# 1: The Maker’s Mark (Usually some initials). Not all that important for everyday items, unless you want to collect Jewelry from one maker. Silver collectors may want to buy items from say, Bateman (I should be so lucky).

# 2: The second stamp is the Assay Office mark or ‘Mark of Origin’. It tells you where the item came from. The most common is the LONDON Hallmark. A Leopard’s Head. Sometimes this has a crown on the Leopard’s Head (until circa 1821). Modern items do
NOT have a crown on the Leopard Stamp.

The other most common Assay Office marks are from Birmingham (an Anchor). Once there were many Assay offices around Great Britain and Ireland, the Chester mark for instance. Now there are just three offices left in England, Sheffield being the last using a ‘Rose’ on gold Jewelry (DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH ‘ROSE GOLD’ JEWELRY) as that is a color, not a mark.

In Scotland there is Edinburgh, while in Ireland there is Dublin. Pity the poor Welsh are left out again!

# 3: The next is the Assay Quality mark and is shown as the ‘Lion Passant’ (which means ‘looking ahead’) and is a guarantee of quality. This was later changed to a ‘CROWN’ mark with a stamp showing the quality of Gold…. 9ct or 18ct etc.

# 4: Finally, and possibly the most important mark, was the Date letter mark. It changed each year so we can tell when the item was made.

Occasionally there is an extra mark.

# 5: An example was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Suffice to say if you see a Brooch with four or five marks and one of them is an Anchor with an 18 next to it and a letter ‘C’ next to that…. It’s a safe bet it was made in Birmingham in 1927, or was that 1952, or 1902, or, or, or…..

Buyer Beware the man in the Pub.

As with most Jewelry items though, our advise has always been to buy the best QUALITY you can afford from a reputable dealer who will guarantee it.

Other than that, your plastic 10X eyeglass sure helps a lot….

P.S.

If you administer a website or publish an ezine, please feel free to use this article as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed below. Although it’s NOT compulsory I would personally appreciate it if you could send me an email at: gemmo1@online-jewelry-appraisals.com to let me know if and where you used it. If you need other great content - complimentary of course - then drop me a line at the email address given - ’cause I’ve got Quality Content and Gallons of the stuff….

(c)David Foard - All Rights reserved

David Foard has spent over 30 years in the Antique Jewelry Trade as a qualified gemologist and member of the Valuers Council. Get a FREE 3 part ‘Hallmarking Report’ on How to Identify your Jewelry Hallmarks at Home or Work by going to ==> http://www.jewellery-antiques.com and grabbing yourself a
fistful of Hints, Tips, and Secrets.

gemmo1@jewellery-antiques.com

The earliest bracelets date back to around 2500 BC and were those worn by the Sumerians in southern Mesopotamia. Bracelets, necklaces, anklets, finger rings and ear rings made the women of Sumer into show windows of their husband’s prosperity. Bracelets were found in the tombs of Ur where it was customary to bury royalty with their jewellery and unfortunately their poor servants.

By about 2000 BC, in Ancient Egypt, bracelets emerged as major pieces of jewellery. Bracelets were found in the ruins from the Vesuvias eruption in Pompeii in 79 AD.
It was during the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs that charm bracelets were first seen although charms themselves dated back as far as the Neolithic era when men would gather unusual bits of wood or pieces of stone which would be carried about their person in order to ward off their enemies. So these charms were considered ‘lucky charms’ and powerful protectors against evil.
It wasn’t until the time of the Pharaohs though that these charms were incorporated into elaborate pieces of jewellery such as wrist and neck bracelets which were not only deemed to offer protection but were also a sign of how prosperous the person had been in life and after death would be an indicator to the Gods of this persons proper status in the after life.

In Grecian times bracelets were popular with men and soldiers wore defensive bands of leather, often decorated with gold, silver and or gemstones, on their forearms. They were known as ‘Bracels,’ from the Latin Brachium, meaning, ‘arm.’ When women caught on that these Bracels would look great on them, they started wearing smaller versions, called little Bracels…or ‘Bracel-ets.’

The history of bracelets stretches forward through the Middle Ages of medieval Europe through the Baroque period of the 18th century, and on right through to the present.

Throughout time, bracelets have been made from many different materials such as leather, iron, copper, beads, bone and teeth as well as precious metals and gemstone.
Throughout the ages bracelets have always been popular and the styles seem to have varied according to dress styles. In cultures where people wore sleeveless or short sleeved attire such as the Romans and ancient Greeks, the wearing of bracelets both on the upper and lower arm became popular with both men and women. The wearing of upper arm bracelets is still popular today with modern fashionable skimpy clothing lending itself well to the wearing of more jewellery.

Today, bracelets are worn by both men and women in a variety of materials such as traditional precious metals like gold silver and platinum. Modern plastics and acrylics are now much used to make trendy, unusual bracelets as well as metals like titanium and zirconium which have become popular because they are hard wearing, very light and hypoallergenic. Whatever your tastes and whatever your budget, there is an enormous choice of bracelets and bangles to suit everyone.

Written by John Lewis of Love2Have. Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer bracelets made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Sterling Silver jewelries have been a staple in the lives of many people since humans exposed the flexibility of silver and its several uses. Silver has been used for efficient and artistic purposes.

Silver is produced in various different areas, though the maximum concentrations of silver yield come from Mexico and Peru.

Sterling is a fusion of fine silver and other metal alloys. The purity of sterling silver is measured to be 92. %. 7 % of copper is mixed to make the jewelry for strong and long lasting. Sterling silver is more prone to smudge with time due to the presence of copper the presence of copper; though this comparatively not serious side effect can be lessened through suitable care. By cleaning your sterling silver bracelets at regular intervals you’ll never even observe anything other than a stunning polish and gleam.

The affordability and adaptability of the sterling silver jewelries is one of the main reasons for its popularity. Sterlingsilver can be crafted into a lot of different jewelry items including charms, rings and chains and bracelets. Silver jewelry is frequently mistaken for other new precious metals as well as white gold and platinum.

The sterling silver bracelets have been very popular among women. These bracelets are available in different shapes, sizes and styles. All of the different sterling silver bracelets make incredible and reasonably priced gifts for holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries or any other special occasion.

Below are the top five sterling silver bracelets:

Sterling silver Byzantine bracelet:

The rich Byzantine look is textured by the Polished silver links, which are woven together. This sterling silver bracelet is worn securely on the wrist and you can also pair it up with a matching necklace.

Sterling silver triple heart bracelet:

A sterling silver bracelet with three Italian-made sterling silver hearts that are estranged by lengths of sterling round-link chain. The hearts are about juicy looking and, when united with the chain, present the piece a subtle exterior. The bracelet closes up with a lobster-claw clasp.

Shoe Fetish Charm Bracelet:

Every shoe-lover must possess this bracelet. The bracelet is about seven inches in length and five shoe charms hang from the oval links of bracelet.

Charm bracelet with glittery purses

From the circular links glittery charm purses dangle which are studded with cubic zirconium. Sterling silver and rhodium plated.

Silver Nugget Grains with “Glowing Gourd” Charm

Two filaments of stocky silver grains make an elegant wrap for the wrist. The little nuggets are improved with an imprinted gourd-like charm that hangs near the clutch. Thai artisan Chalermkwan Veerasilp designed this sterling silver bracelet.

Apart from these five bracelets there are other sterling silver bracelets like Sterling Silver Bangle with Marcasites, Sterling Silver Script Name Bracelet, Sterling Silver Heart Clasp Bracelet, Sterling Silver Family Name Bracelet

All these are priced around 50 $.

Maintaining the silver bracelets:

After you purchase any sterling silver bracelet you must see to it there quality and shine is maintain. In order to do so, you must regularly clean sterling silver with a phosphate free detergent. A low coarse cleaner, such as 3M Tarni-Shield Silver Polish, is a good choice for removing light tarnish. Some people use toothpaste to clean their sterling silver, but most silver experts warn against it because they feel toothpaste is too rough and might lead to dullness of the bracelet.

Once you possess any of the top sterling silver bracelets you will realize that they are worth the money spent!

Choose the one that suits your style the most! Pick out the best silver sterling bracelet! Visit http://sterlingsilverjewelry.zupatips.com/ for more information.

Roy Dietelzieg had worked in the jewelry industry for years serving costumers from every background and writing his reflections on jewelry. Roy writes Sterling Silver Jewelry tips for ZupaTips.com

May’s birthstone is the emerald. Since the early ages, people have believed that birthstones lend special powers to their wearers, especially if a person wears a stone that is associated with his or her birth month. Some also believe that being born in a specific month gives you specific virtues, which are embodied by your birth stone. In the case of the emerald, the virtues happen to be purity, both of the mind and the body.

Since this particular gem represents clarity of thought, individuals who wear the emerald are thought of as pensive, insightful people. It is believed that wearing the emerald not only clears the mind and the body, but also cleanses the spirit. Some even believe that emerald jewelry protects its wearer from evil spirits!

The color green itself - the color of most emeralds, and therefore the color associated with the jewel - speaks of harmony, a communion with nature, and an affinity for the act of creation and preservation. Green is the color of new things sprung from the earth, whereby it is associated with freshness, and also the feeling of being refreshed.

Like many other gems, May’s birthstone doesn’t come in just one color. There are other shades and colors of it, of course, but among the rarest ones is the color red. The “red emerald,” also known as the bixbite or red beryl, is one of the hardest stones to find on earth, and also one of the most difficult to cut! A perfectly cut red emerald is very small, hardly large enough to fit into metal bases in order to make jewelry. Thus, jewelry made of red emerald comes at an extremely high price. In fact, jewelry made of the green emerald alone can be very expensive!

Perhaps the least-known secret about the emerald is that it is the most valuable stone in the world, in terms of carat weight. Everyone thinks it’s the diamond, right? Well, the diamond may be the hardest and most highly prized gem out in stores… it’s certainly the most hyped-up one. But when it comes to gemstone appraisal, the emerald holds more weight, as it were. Inclusions, which are found in nearly all emeralds, depreciate its value, but in its purest form, nothing approaches the emerald’s worth.

The emerald is a form of the mineral beryl, the purest form of which is colorless, but which is more commonly found in colors like blue, white, yellow, green and red. Since the emerald is commonly green, it is also known as the “green beryl.”

Emeralds can be manufactured synthetically, through a process called flux growth. You can tell an artificial emerald from a natural one by looking very closely: an artificial emerald emits a reddish sheen, which means it was manufactured with the help of long wave UV light. Synthetic emeralds are often full of easily-detected inclusions, which means they are significantly less in value than natural emeralds.

Another mystery of the May’s birthstone is its real significance in the Bible. It was said by Rebbenu Bachnya, a 13th-century rabbi and scholar of Judaism, that the emerald was the stone on the Ephod representing the tribe of Judah. However, other scholars claim this was actually the garnet, and that the emerald truly represented the tribe of Levi.

May’s birthstone is popular among both the old and young nowadays despite the mysteries and enigmatic roles it has played in cultural history. Or perhaps it is the emerald’s enigmatic significance in various cultures — plus its beauty — that makes it so attractive.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician, and writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com Also includes informative articles, comparison shopping, rare book excerpts, & link directory.

Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry

Nothing more personal than our response to color. Color is the new language of passion, and nothing captures it better than distinctively styled jewelry.
Leave her speechless with our brilliant colorless and fancy colored diamond or bold brilliant gemstone jewelry styles.

Jewelry and gems, The Buying Guide

How to select a reputable jeweler

It’s very difficult to give advice on this matter since there are so many exceptions to any rules. Sizes and years in business are not always absolute indicators of the reliability of a firm. Some one person jewelry forms are highly respected; others are not. Some well established forms that have been in business for many years have built their trade on the highest standards of integrity and knowledge.

One point worth stressing is that for average consumer, price alone is not a reliable indicator of the integrity or knowledge of the seller. Aside from variations in quality, which often are not readily discernible by the consumer, significant price differences can also result from differences in jewelry manufacturing processes. Many jewelry manufacturers sell mass produced lines of good quality jewelry to jewelers all across the country. Mass produced jewelry, many of which are beautiful, classic designs, are usually much less expensive than handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces, or those on which there is a limited production. the work of some designers may be available in only a few select establishments, and may carry a premium because of skill, labor, reputation, and limited distribution. Handmade or one-of-a-kind pieces are always more expensive, since the initial cost of production is paid by one individual rather than shared by many, as in mass produced pieces.

Furthermore, depending upon the store, retail markups also vary, based on numerous factors unique to each retailer, including differences in insurance coverage, security costs, credit risks, education and training costs, special services such as in-house design and custom jewelry production and repair, customer service policies, and more.

The best way to select wisely is to shop around and compare the services they offer, how knowledgeable the salespeople seem, the quality of their products, and pricing for specific items. This will give a sense of what is fair. As you do so, however, remember to ask the right questions to be sure the items are truly comparable, and pay attention to design and manufacturing differences as well.

If the jeweler can’t or won’t provide the necessary information, then you go to another jewelry store, no matter how much you’ve fallen in love with the piece. And, if you are making the purchase on a contingency basis, put the terms of the contingency on the bill of sale.

Never allow yourself to be intimidated into accepting anyone’s claims. A trustworthy jeweler will have to ask for your trust; he or she will earn it through knowledge, reliability, and a willingness to give you any information you request; in writing.

Again, in general, you will be in a stronger position to differentiate between a knowledgeable, reputable jeweler and one who isn’t if you’ve shop around first. Unless you are an expert, visit several firms, ask questions, examine merchandise carefully, and then you be the judge.

A word about gemstone investment
Caution!

Caution is the only word we can apply to gem investment. If you have taken the time to read any of the articles, you should now fully understand that the world of gems is very complex, that fraud and misrepresentation can be costly, and that the average consumer lacks the knowledge and experience to make sound judgments on the purchase of expensive gems without the assistance of a qualified gemologist appraiser.

It is for this reason primarily that we (at The Jewelry Hut) recommend that gems and jewelry be purchased first and foremost for pleasure they will bring to the purchaser/wearer, or as something to be handed down to future generations. The investment consideration, while it is certainly a valid consideration, in most cases should remain secondary.

Congratulations-You are getting married! Now that you have begun your search for the wedding ring of your dreams, you have some decisions to make, starting with the choice of metal. Titanium is the perfect choice for a wedding ring today. No other item of jewelry has played such important role in demonstrating affection as the wedding ring. Of the precious metals used to create wedding rings, titanium has merits that supersede gold or platinum in its beauty, quality and value that make it an ideal choice as the symbol of your love.

Why a Titanium Wedding Ring?

While titanium has been known to us for many years, it was originally used in aerospace and salt water projects, becoming widely used in commercial applications and now in jewelry designs during the last two decades. One reason why titanium rings are gaining in popularity, especially with men, is because of its strength that belies its light weight feel.

The style and design of your wedding ring aside, there are some practical reasons why choosing titanium makes sense. Because it is an inert metal, it is ideal for people with sensitive skin. This fact accounts for its use in the production of equipment and tools for medical procedures. You will never have to worry about damage from the elements to your titanium wedding ring, unlike silver, it will remain completely tarnish-free.

Whenever you buy jewelry, quality is always the primary concern. The wide spread use of titanium within jewelry industry confirms its quality and its market appeal. In respect to the purity of the metal itself, neither gold nor platinum can match titanium. Today, jewelry designers are using titanium for more of their work, taking advantage of titanium’s beautiful grey sheen that rivals the look of platinum at a more affordable price.

How to Buy a Wedding Ring

A wedding ring is an investment that brings beauty and aesthetic pleasure. But keep in mind that there is a distinct difference between the shape of the hand of a man and a woman. Some are slender with tapered fingers. For this type of hand, a ring that is designed with a diagonal pattern works well, even with an array of stones. However if the hand is broad and fingers are very thick, a flat design, perhaps with contrasting bands could be a good starting point. With the variety of men’s titanium wedding ring designs available, you are sure to be impressed. You can find solid titanium as well as titanium rings in combination with gold or platinum.

What to Look for When Choosing a Men’s Titanium Wedding Ring

Be aware that just like gold, there are different grades of titanium on the market today. You will find many designs made from alloyed titanium, but if you want your wedding ring to be pure titanium, make sure you ask your jeweler for the CP grade of titanium of the ring you are interested in. Purchasing a titanium ring with a CP grade of 2 will prove to be a good investment.

Uma G. Bennett is a part-time copywriter at Titanium Kay that specializes in titanium and tungsten men’s wedding rings.