Gold Jewelry - Is the High Cost of Gold Affecting the Designers?

Gold Jewelry – Is the High Cost of Gold Affecting the Designers?
By Nan Wood

Gold has been pricing out over $580.00 an ounce in recent weeks. Earlier this year the price was $730.00 an ounce. On May 12th, the price reached a 26 year high of $732.00 an ounce. Since then, prices have dropped twenty-two percent which still leaves the price in the $580.00 an ounce range.

Prices for gold jewelry seems to depend more on the design value of the jewelry than the actual amount of gold contained in it. According to the World Gold Council, sales in the United States seem to be rising. The Council believes the US customers buy gold for adornment, not the investment value of the jewelry

Since jewelers place their orders months in advance, it will be interesting to see what merchandise is available for the holiday season. With the fluctuating prices, it will be more difficult for both designers and retailers this year.

The gold in the stores now, was purchased prior to this recent instability of the price. Since gold is at a high now, the gold in our stores for the holiday season will have been purchased at almost all-time high prices when the inventories must be increased for the seasonal sales.

Some retailers, including Blue Nile, an online jeweler, is not totally passing on the higher prices to the consumer. This creates lower profit margins for designers but make gold a better buy for the consumer.

Shop wisely. Check prices. If you can be flexible, your will find exactly what you want at an affordable price. Give the “Gift of Gold” to your special person.

Visit Nan online Gold

Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry Online

Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry -Buying Diamonds Online
by Nancy Woodward

With all of the potential for scams concerning
diamonds, buying diamonds online almost
seems unthinkable! However, you actually
can purchase diamonds online, without any
problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to
purchase the diamond online, as opposed to
making a purchase from a local jewelry store.
The most common reason is price. Due to
low overhead costs, online jewelers and
wholesalers are able to offer lower prices.
However, you must be careful – sometimes
a price that is too low is a sure indication of
a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing
online is the unlimited selection. When
shopping offline, you are limited to the
selection in the stores in your general area.
Online, there are no limits. But again, you
must use a great deal of care and
consideration before handing your money
over to someone that you cannot see and
have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can
about diamonds – especially cut, color,
clarity and carat weights. When you are
knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be
harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once
you know more about diamonds, you will be
ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first
diamond that you see that interests you.
Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale.
Do some comparison shopping to find the
lowest prices. Once you have found the
lowest price, start doing your investigation.
You know about diamonds, you’ve found a
diamond that you love, and you’ve found the
lowest price – but you are still quite a ways
away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as
professional jewelry associations that they
belong to. View and print the seller’s return,
refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire
about additional services, such as settings
and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do
a search for customer reviews on this
particular company around the Internet. Also
check with the BBB Online to see if there have
been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an
independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD,
EGL or AGS. You should see this before
making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable
escrow service for high dollar diamonds –
preferably one that will have the diamond
appraised while it is in their possession. The
seller sends the diamond to the escrow
service, and you send the money to pay for
the diamond to the escrow service. The
escrow service has the diamond appraised,
sends the diamond to you, and sends the
money to the seller. This is the surest way to
protect yourself…again, make sure that you
use a reputable escrow service! Do your due
diligence before making any purchases on or offline.

Nancy is an Accountant with an interest in diamond and
gold jewelry. Diamonds
GoldJewelry

Birthday Gifts - Create your Own Gift

Birthday Gifts - Create your own Gift
By Nancy Wood

One of the best ways to make your friend or loved ones feel very special is by giving them a great birthday gift. Birthday gifts can be absolutely anything, but for most people a great birthday gift is something personal or very practical that you know your friend or loved one will enjoy. Here are some tips on choosing the perfect birthday gift.

When choosing a birthday gift, price is not always the most important factor. While we tend to believe that expensive means good. Just because you receive an expensive gift from someone doesn’t tell you if they are a good friend. Most people love when they receive a gift that is personal or shows a close bond with another. Price has nothing to do with the birthday gift.

One of the ways to pick a great birthday gift is to put some thought into it. Coming up with the perfect birthday gift takes time, Don’t start thinking about a birthday gift for a friend or loved one a day or two before their birthday. To choose a great birthday gift, you should start thinking about a gift weeks in advance. Your thoughtfulness will surely show.

It is also important how you package or wrap a gift. Presentation is everything. If you bought a wonderful birthday gift, wrap it up or package it up nicely with another small gift or in quality paper. Making a friend or loved one feel special is always easy when you give them a great birthday gift.

Have you considering creating your gift with arts and crafts? You can make a card (scrapbooking sites will help) and enclose it in a gift basket. Look for gifts that are filled with 'love'. Making a gift can be a better way to say 'I love you".. Try a gift basket you create for this special day.

Nan is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional. GiftBasket

Gold Jewelry - Say it with Gold

Gold and Diamond Jewelry – What a fabulous way to say “I Love You”
By Nancy Woodward

Over the past five years, I’ve changed the way I buy and give gifts. Once upon a time, I bought ‘needed’ gifts. I then progressed to ‘should have’ gifts. Then I gave ‘you get it any way’ gifts. All of this obviously came from my theory about what others needed, wanted, or had to have no matter what.

I’m past all these internal theories related to gift giving. I now look for gifts ‘from the heart’. I’ve found that it is such a beautiful thing to find a special charm to add to the lovely gold charm bracelet I gave my daughter several years ago. I’m adding charms that tell a story of our lives together.

Last year I decided to add these mementos in a special gift basket that I make for each of my children and my niece. I found lovely gold charms created by a craftsman who only sells them at fairs. He takes gold coins, actual coins from other countries, and cuts them into beautiful patterns. Since I appreciated his gold coins, as well as, the jewelry he made with diamonds, he spent some time talking to me describing his craft.

He actually agreed to make me several more pieces. I was truly appreciative since he does not do orders. He is a one of a kind craftsman who willingly shared his time and artistry with gold with me. These beautiful gold coins were a wonderful addition to last year’s gift basket.

I have not found the ‘perfect I Love You’ gift for this year but I’m sure I will.

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional affiliated with ‘The Dream Team’. Visit her online GiftsinBaskets and GoldJewelry

Gold and Diamond Jewelry
by Nancy Woodward

If you had a choice what would you chose? I would want to have 18K Gold Jewerly, perhaps with diamonds on it. I prefer the color - which is just a buttery beautiful gold - to that of 14K gold.

I have been fortunate to both buy and receive some beautiful jewelry over the years and have many favorites. I'm sure you do also.

So, what do you prefer - Gold, diamond, gemstones???

Nancy

Scrapbook Ideas for Gifts

Scrapbook Ideas for Gifts
By Nancy Woodward

Scrap books have always been a popular home based craft. Today there are so many great ideas for a scrapbook that making them are irresistible. Here are some tips on making scrapbooks.

First off, most scrapbook topics should be creative, fun to make and reflect the artist’s personality. There are a host of topics that many people choose, but the sky’s the limit. You can make a scrapbook about anything.

Many people choose to make scrapbooks about big events in their lives, such as a wedding, honeymoon, birthdays, newborn babies and children. However, don’t stop there, create whatever you enjoy. For instance creating a scrapbook on the seasons, or if you love a holiday such as Halloween or the 4th of July. Ideas for scrapbooking are endless only limited by your imagination.

There are many products that cater to scrapbooking, such as entire kits that include the book, some ideas on creating your scrapbook, and the bubble quotes seen in cartoons to add a funny comment above a picture. You can also buy these individual pieces separately or make them yourself. Always keep in mind that a scrapbook is an extension of you and your loved ones. So have fun, be creative and take pleasure in the joy of scrapbooking.

I’ve been using my scrapbook ideas adding them to the gift baskets I make. I find great pleasure in giving a handmade gift inside of another gift. Be resourceful. Turn your scrapbooking project into a fabulous gift.

Nancy is an Accountant with an interest in jewelry and gifts. Her online presence is Gifts

Gold and Diamond Jewelry - What a great way to say "I Love You"

Gold and Diamond Jewelry – What a fabulous way to say “I Love You”
By Nancy Woodward

Over the past five years, I’ve changed the way I buy and give gifts. Once upon a time, I bought ‘needed’ gifts. I then progressed to ‘should have’ gifts. Then I gave ‘you get it any way’ gifts. All of this obviously came from my theory about what others needed, wanted, or had to have no matter what.

I’m past all these internal theories related to gift giving. I now look for gifts ‘from the heart’. I’ve found that it is such a beautiful thing to find a special charm to add to the lovely gold charm bracelet I gave my daughter several years ago. I’m adding charms that tell a story of our lives together.

Last year I decided to add these mementos in a special gift basket that I make for each of my children and my niece. I found lovely gold charms created by a craftsman who only sells them at fairs. He takes gold coins, actual coins from other countries, and cuts them into beautiful patterns. Since I appreciated his gold coins, as well as, the jewelry he made with diamonds, he spent some time talking to me describing his craft.

He actually agreed to make me several more pieces. I was truly appreciative since he does not do orders. He is a one of a kind craftsman who willingly shared his time and artistry with gold with me. These beautiful gold coins were a wonderful addition to last year’s gift basket.

I have not found the ‘perfect I Love You’ gift for this year but I’m sure I will.

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional affiliated with ‘The Dream Team’. Visit her online GiftsinBaskets and GoldJewelry

Diamonds - Are Diamonds Rare?

Diamonds - Are Diamonds Really Rare?
by Nancy Woodward

When you walk into a jewelry store and see
all the diamonds in all of the various settings
that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that
diamonds are indeed rare. Most people
don’t even stop to consider how that
diamond came to be sitting in that jeweler’s
case! There is quite a bit of work that is done
before a diamond is ready to sell to the
general public!

For every one million diamonds that are
mined, only one will be found that is a quality
one caret diamond. In order to find a two
caret diamond, about five million diamonds
must be mined. More than two hundred tons
of ore must be mined to find one small
diamond, and even then, more than 80%
of the diamonds that are mined are only
good for industrial use, such as diamond
drill bits.

So, the next time you visit your local jewelry
store, ask to see the one carat diamonds.
You should look at this diamond with new
appreciation – knowing that it truly is one
in a million! Amazing what great beauty we
find and mine from this wonderful earth of ours.

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant with an interest
in diamond and gold jewelry. Diamonds
GoldJewelry

Diamonds - All About the Clarity of Diamonds

Diamonds - All About the Clarity of Diamonds
by Nancy Woodward

Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond,
and it is important to know how to grade the
clarity of a diamond before you buy one. It is
actually quite easy to learn how to grade the
clarity of a diamond. There are basically two
things that you must understand: Diamonds
with visual inclusions and blemishes, and
those that are ‘eye clean’ meaning that there
are no inclusions or blemishes that can be
seen with the naked eye. From there, the
clarity of a diamond is further broken down
into subcategories.

Many people mistakenly think that diamond
clarity refers to how clear it is. This isn’t so.
Clarity actually refers to the internal and
external imperfections of the diamond. The
best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL
or IF – Flawless or Internally Flawless –
meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2
or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect,
with a grade of I-3 being the worst.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which
means that the diamond is very, very slightly
imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the
diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and
SI-2, which means that the diamond is
slightly imperfect.

When buying diamonds and diamond jewelry, visit
a reputable dealer and ask the right questions.

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant with an interest in
jewelry. Diamonds

Diamonds - Are Diamonds Really Rare?

Diamonds - Are Diamonds Really Rare?
by Nancy Woodward

When you walk into a jewelry store and see
all the diamonds in all of the various settings
that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that
diamonds are indeed rare. Most people
don’t even stop to consider how that
diamond came to be sitting in that jeweler’s
case! There is quite a bit of work that is done
before a diamond is ready to sell to the
general public!

For every one million diamonds that are
mined, only one will be found that is a quality
one caret diamond. In order to find a two
caret diamond, about five million diamonds
must be mined. More than two hundred tons
of ore must be mined to find one small
diamond, and even then, more than 80%
of the diamonds that are mined are only
good for industrial use, such as diamond
drill bits.

So, the next time you visit your local jewelry
store, ask to see the one carat diamonds.
You should look at this diamond with new
appreciation – knowing that it truly is one
in a million! Amazing what great beauty we
find and mine from this wonderful earth of ours.

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant with an interest
in diamond and gold jewelry. Diamonds
GoldJewelry

Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry -Buying Diamonds Online

Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry -Buying Diamonds Online
by Nancy Woodward

With all of the potential for scams concerning
diamonds, buying diamonds online almost
seems unthinkable! However, you actually
can purchase diamonds online, without any
problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to
purchase the diamond online, as opposed to
making a purchase from a local jewelry store.
The most common reason is price. Due to
low overhead costs, online jewelers and
wholesalers are able to offer lower prices.
However, you must be careful – sometimes
a price that is too low is a sure indication of
a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing
online is the unlimited selection. When
shopping offline, you are limited to the
selection in the stores in your general area.
Online, there are no limits. But again, you
must use a great deal of care and
consideration before handing your money
over to someone that you cannot see and
have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can
about diamonds – especially cut, color,
clarity and carat weights. When you are
knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be
harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once
you know more about diamonds, you will be
ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first
diamond that you see that interests you.
Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale.
Do some comparison shopping to find the
lowest prices. Once you have found the
lowest price, start doing your investigation.
You know about diamonds, you’ve found a
diamond that you love, and you’ve found the
lowest price – but you are still quite a ways
away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as
professional jewelry associations that they
belong to. View and print the seller’s return,
refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire
about additional services, such as settings
and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do
a search for customer reviews on this
particular company around the Internet. Also
check with the BBB Online to see if there have
been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an
independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD,
EGL or AGS. You should see this before
making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable
escrow service for high dollar diamonds –
preferably one that will have the diamond
appraised while it is in their possession. The
seller sends the diamond to the escrow
service, and you send the money to pay for
the diamond to the escrow service. The
escrow service has the diamond appraised,
sends the diamond to you, and sends the
money to the seller. This is the surest way to
protect yourself…again, make sure that you
use a reputable escrow service! Do your due
diligence before making any purchases on or offline.

Nancy is an Accountant with an interest in diamond and
gold jewelry. Diamonds
GoldJewelry

Diamonds and Diamond Weights

About Diamond Weights
by Nancy Woodward

Diamonds are measured in Carat Weight.
One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a
diamond is referred to as four grains, this
also means that it is a one carat diamond.
The word Carat comes from the word carob.
A carob is a bean that grows on a tree in the
Mediterranean. In times past, if a diamond
weighed the same as a carob bean, it was
one carob, or one carat.

However, in the far east, where Carob trees
do not grow, rice was used to measure the
weight of a diamond. If a diamond weighed
as much as four grains of rice, it was four
grains – or one carat as we know it to be
now. The majority of diamond purchases
are for diamonds that are 1/3 of a carat.

Beware when shopping for diamonds that
are already set or mounted. If more than one
diamond is used in the piece, the tag on the
jewelry will give the CTW or Carat Total
Weight – it does not tell you the carat weight
of each stone in the piece. You need to ask
the jeweler for the total carat weight of the
largest diamond in the piece to truly
understand what you are buying.

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant with an interest
in jewelry. Visit Diamond