Wearing silver earrings were once thought to keep the evil spirits from possessing an individuals body. Silver earrings were seen to create a protective barrier about an individual so that no evil spirits could penetrate exposed orifices. Also wearing silver earrings were thought to keep the devil away from the wearer. So sporting a simple pair of hoops could keep your body possession free while the wearer is being stylish.

The superstition of the engagement goes as is, if you have a ring on your ring finger don’t remove it, if you don’t have one there don’t put one there. It was considered bad luck if a woman removed her engagement ring for any reason before her wedding day. The reason for this was because of the fear that the wedding may never take place. It was also a big no no to let another woman try on your engagement ring. It was said that if that occurred, the woman that tried on the ring would steal the soon to be husband away. For the single ladies, it is considered bad luck to display a ring on the proposed engagement ring finger. If a woman was to wear a ring on that finger, she would be cursed to be alone forever.

Some believe that it is bad luck to wear a birth stone that isn’t yours. If that were the case, every bride in the world would be cursed unless their birthday fell in the month of April.

It offers wholesale pricing on things like whitegoods, furniture, groceries, alcohol and even luxury items like loose diamonds and jewellery. It is also one of the largest retailers of fine wine in the world!

So what does this mean for Australian consumers? well apart from more affordable pricing for wholesale items for everyday use, there are great bargains to be had in the Jewellery department, oddly enough.

With their immense buying power, Costco is able to bring down prices for diamonds and jewellery and this means competition gets fiercer, prices as a whole get better and in the end, the consumer wins.

Smaller jewellers may be squeezed out due to being unable to compete but for the end consumer, getting the best price for the diamond or diamond jewellery item they have their heart set on, is what matters the most. The jewellery department at Costco Australia is doing exceptionally well and continues to be a focal point for the business, not just in Australia but around the world.

Costco will be opening up another store in Auburn, New South Wales some time in 2011.

Chaim Even-Zohar of an Israeli Diamond Consultancy firm mentioned that Indian manufacturers needed to up their game if they wanted to stay ahead of the Chinese onslaught which offered exceptional quality jewels at more affordable prices. China has been aggressive in its purchase of mines across Africa and with their low manufacturing costs, many multinationals were beginning to setup shop in China.

The market share of India and China is a mere 7% and 6% respectively but if current figures are anything to go by, this could exceed 10% for both by 2016.

While the heavyweights in the diamond industry fight it out for the top spots, the end result for consumers is that the quality of diamonds and diamond jewelry will only get better and as for price, well, competition is always known to bring prices to a more affordable level.

Her foundation supports indigenous Australian children living on Palm Island.

Cathy Freeman

This is a great sign of generority and committment to the people by Cathy Freeman who celebrated 10 years since her momentous 400m win at the Sydney Olympic Games where she lit the Olympic Torch in an unforgettable ceremony.

The reason for the sale of her diamond ring? She wants to focus more on her foundation and the good work that it does.

They say that diamonds are a girls best friend but they also say that a girl can never have too many handbags or too many shoes. As for make up, well, all girls love make up and love to indulge in whatever will make them look and feel glamorous.

But we want to know, what do girls like the most – say, if they had to choose between handbags, shoes or diamond jewellery – what would they choose?

What would you choose?

There’s no right or wrong answer… just follow the link and click…

Results will be published on our blog and website soon…

GO HERE: http://www.diamonds-usa.com/girlsthings.html

Below is a picture of the pure refined Gold grains (Fine Gold), 130gr:

18k “White” Gold, rough metal, not covered.

18k Gold ring after finish and Rhodium dipping.

Pure gold is too soft to hold valuables like Diamonds with claws (prongs) therefore the Gold Alloys were invented. 58.5% pure gold in any alloy will be called 14k Gold, 75% of pure Gold is 18k Gold, 24k is pure gold, %100.
Since Gold is a yellow metal “18k White gold” is an alloy of Gold (75%) and Nickel (8%) or Gold (75%) and Palladium (15%).

10 to 15% of women are allergic to Nickel released to their skin while wearing a jewel. This will result in different skin rash levels.

Metal prices as of 13th April 2010

Pure Platinum      US$ 55      per Gram.
Pure Gold           US$ 37      per Gram.
Pure Palladium    US$ 16.4    per Gram.
Nickel                  US$ 0.025  per Gram !!!

It is clearly seen that using Palladium to make the alloy white will significantly increase the price and put it close to Platinum price.
The use of Nickel is banned by countries like Switzerland and controlled by regulations in the EU community; there is yet any Nickel use regulation in the USA.
European regulations limit the amount of nickel that could be released from any item which is intended to come into prolonged and direct contact with the skin.The regulations entitled “The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Nickel) (Safety) Regulations 2005″ clearly require that any finding component that pierces the skin may not release more than .2 micrograms of nickel per cubic centimeter per week, and that no other jewelry component release no more than .5 micrograms of nickel per cubic centimeter per week.
Nickel exposure is tested under BS EN12472 and BS EN 1811:1999. The first of these separate tests replicates two years of wear under normal use, and the second tests for subsequent exposure to nickel.
We at Diamonds-USA.com use only “Nickel free” metal alloys as required by the EU regulations.

Each zodiac has a gemstone that rules its sign and conducts its energies. However, the traditional astrology also mentioned that a single gemstone cannot control an entire zodiac sign which is why there are several gemstones that conduct energies with a single zodiac sign.
With all that in mind, it’s time to find out which gemstone represents your zodiac sign and the meaning of it:

Aries (March 21-April 19): The main gemstone is Ruby (although some believe it is diamonds) and it represents personal qualities like primal energy, daring, initiative and self assertiveness.

Taurus (April 20- May 20): The main gemstone is Sapphire and it represents personal qualities like pure substance, physical beauty, stewardship and passive force.

Gemini (May 21- June 21): The main gemstone is Topaz and it represents personal qualities like dualistic, facile intelligence, mimicry and instinctual mind.

Cancer (June 22- July 22): The main gemstone is Emerald and it represents personal qualities like motherliness, protective and fertility.

Leo (July 23- Aug 22): The main gemstone is diamond and it represents personal qualities like self assertive, playfulness, sexuality and love, pleasure seeking and chance taking.

Virgo (Aug 23- Sept 22): The main gemstone is Jasper and it represents personal qualities like discrimination, conservativeness, attention to detail, hygiene conscious.

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 23): The main gemstone is Aquamarine and it represents personal qualities like cooperativeness, businesslike, persuasiveness.

Scorpio (Oct 24- Nov 21): The main gemstone is Black Opal and it represents personal qualities like Metaphysical, passion, violence and destructiveness.

(From Opal33.com)

Sagittarius (Nov 22- Dec 21): The main gemstone is Garnet and it represents personal qualities like philosophical, expansive and extravagant, expended conscious and independence.

Capricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19): The main gemstone is Topaz and it represents personal qualities like organization, constructiveness, serious and materialistic.

Aquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18): The main gemstone is Turquoise and it represents personal qualities like humanitarian, socialistic, progressive and idealistic.

Pisces (Feb 19- March 20): The main gemstone is Amethyst and it represents personal qualities like self- sacrificial, sensitive, vague and emotionally receptive.

What is your zodiac sign? Did you find yourself nodding in agreement to the personal characteristics mentioned it this post? Did this information change your perspective towards gemstones?

Many of you must wrinkle your forehead in fear at this point, wondering how it is possibly better to purchase an engagement ring online than in a “real” store. Buckle your sit belts because your entire world is about to be turned upside down once you will discover the magical world of online shopping:

Criss Cross Bridal ring sets

»  It’s much more discreet- unless your day jobs include serving as a Federal agent- you will probably find it difficult to purchase the engagement ring without the knowledge of you future wife. Online shopping allows you to keep your project entirely to yourself without ever raising a suspicion.

The only obstacle at this point is to find your wife’s finger measurements, an obstacle you will have to face weather you have decided to purchase an engagement ring online or not.

Our recommendation is to borrow one of your wife’s rings and to take it for professional measurements. This clever act will assure that your hunt for the engagement ring shall remain top secret.

You can use the measurement table here.

Cathedral engagement ring

»  Much easier to concentrate- purchasing an engagement ring is a confusing task for most men: They aren’t likely to know what their future wife would like to receive and their knowledge regarding diamonds and rings is well, mostly poor. That is why online shopping can do great service to one lost soul.

Purchasing an engagement  ring in a store might guarantee many distractions that the groom to be should have to avoid in order to select the perfect engagement ring – whether it’s the other costumers loud voices, the over enthusiastic sales person or the huge variety to choose from- many elements can confuse a guy in his big decision.

Online shopping allows the man to sit comfortably with a cup of coffee in front of the computer screen at the privacy of his own home and in peace.

Online shopping allows the costumers to narrow down results based on different elements in order to make the selection easier.

Online shopping allows you to consult 3rd party only when you need help instead of having to hear a bungle of irrelevant advice while trying to choose.

Pink princess sapphires side stones engagement ring

»  Online shopping: a window to endless information- this statement is not only truthful regarding search engines and online encyclopedias- it’s also true about the world of online shopping: while shopping in a “real” store, one might encounter sales people that are so eager to sell the product that all kinds of important facts might be unmentioned during the conversation.

When it comes to purchasing an engagement ring- it’s crucial to know all the full objective information regarding the ring’s specifications. Online diamond store are just as eager to self their products with the small difference- they realize how important it is to allow the client an access to the complete information regarding the product.

The virtual store will elaborate all the important details in an accessible list that will allow you to decide if this particular ring is the right choice for you.

Three Princess diamond ring

»  It’s cheaper! Most online shops offer their clients bigger discounts and more attractive prices than “real stores”. Although the merchandise in online stores and in regular stores is similar- the reason for the price range differences has to do with the fact that online stores aren’t obligated to pay fees and taxes for the rental of a store which allows them to cut the prices and to allow more attractive numbers for their clients.

As you might see- fearing online shopping is unnecessary. We live in a high tech world and we need to be open to technological changes instead of fearing them. Once you will overcome the initial fear, you will realize how easier and more comfortable it is to shop online.

The World’s Most Expensive Lingerie – Diamond Thong: If you adore exceptional gifts, you will certainly like a black lace thong studded with 518 brilliant-cut diamonds in a floral pattern.

The skimpy Triumph Luxurious Diamond Thong became very much the centre of attention at a lingerie show during the Singapore Fashion Festival. Just imagine, the total weight of the diamonds is 30 carats! They also attached to the thong 27 tassels made of white gold. In general the diamond thong left little to the imagination.  The price for the thong with diamond – the world’s most expensive undies is worth 122, 000 dollars!

Romanian model Danielle Luminita was showcasing the thong sitting on the shoulders of two shirtless male models that carried her down the runway. “It is very comfortable, it’s not heavy or scratchy or anything,” Luminita said backstage.