The Supplemental Kick

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) provides a set of seven value factors for grading pearls. These are: Size, Color, Shape, Luster, Nacre Quality, Surface Quality, and Matching (within a strand or set). Traditionally, pearl farmers strived to create the perfectly round pearl. Today, Fashion gives us new, unique designs featuring pearls of interesting shapes that are far from round. This article talks about the Pearl Shape value factor, specifically, the shapes that are not created by Nature.

In the beginning, without going into too much detail, three Japanese gentlemen — Mikimoto, Mise and Nishikawa — developed commercial culture pearl farming as we know it today. This involved placing a round “seed” made from the shell of a mullusk shell into the Akoya oyster, thus stimulating it to make it to grow nacre (pearl skin) around that seed. Although overly simplified, this is the basic process they developed in the early 1900s that is followed still today.

Freshwater pearls are cultured a little differently. They do not require that seed bead. They begin with just a slip of mantel tissue from a donor mussel(mussels grow in freshwater; oysters in saltwater). This offers new possibilities for shaping the new pearl. First, with just a piece of mantel tissue, Chinese pearl farmers spent many years experimenting to get the gorgeous round pearls on the market today. Although no one really knows how they do it (trade secrets abound), I have heard that placing a perfectly square piece of mantel tissue as the “seed” seems to produce rounder pearls.

Freshwater pearls also come in an array of interesting shapes. Some of these are formed using seeds just like Akoyas, Tahitians and South Seas. Instead of using the round seed bead, a square tile or a round wafer is slipped into the mussel. The result is the beautiful square and coin pearls that are so popular.

Love those Petal pearls? They are actually the result of a mussel that has already grown a square or coin pearl and is allowed to form a pearl without a seed in the empty hole. When the pearl is removed from the mussel, it leaves an empty sac. If the mussel was not injured when the pearl was taken from it, the mussel can be returned to the water where it will continue excrete nacre and form another freeform pearl in the empty pearl sac. Petal pearls cost more than simpler pearls because the mussel must survive twice as long and thus require higher risk for the pearl farmer.

Almost any shape you can imagine can be created using tiles, wafers or sticks of paraffin and/or mussel shell. Crosses, tiles and coins have all been shaped using these techniques. If you are not sure if the pearls are formed by Nature or by human intervention, be sure to ask. Your retailer should be knowledgeable enough to provide this information, especially if this is a high-dollar item. Your retailer should be equally willing to disclose this information.

Beth Schmitz, CEO Avant Pearl, GIA Pearls Graduate

A jewelry designer, businesswoman and self-proclaimed diva, Ms. Schmitz spent more than 20 years in business. Her creative side took control in 2001 when she chose to dedicate her life to the jewelry industry and the smart women like her who appreciate gorgeous baubles and have the means to pay for them.

Beth’s online boutique features high-end pearl jewelry from leading designers, limited-edition manufacturers and skilled craftsmen throughout the world. She holds a degree from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Oh, how fun it is to pick a favorite poker hand out of the air! Say like 6-3, which you one time happened to win a really big pot in that cash game when you flopped a boat from the big blind and won a big pot against somebody slowplaying aces. So from then on you just can’t get over the idea that 6-3 is the jail breaker, and you’ll play that hand for a raise and reraise, because, man, that hand just works wonder for you.

And yeah, while it’s fun to play random poker hands and see what becomes of them, in the long run sticking in too much money on hands that got built up in your mind out of chance or superstition is a class A ticket to losing money.

One of the great examples of this kind of play is Doyle Brunson’s 10 – 2. How many times have you heard a good old boy recount the story of Doyle winning the World Series of Poker two years in a row by pushing all in with that safe cracker? They usually fail to mention that both times Doyle ended up making a boat with it, and had been a huge underdog on the hand. But it’s the way you remember the big hands, the weird cards that somehow made it, that will get your brain tied to hand that is hardly even speculative, and just needs pure gold 1 in 400 kind of flops to be worth anything at all.

Of course, you’ve got to have a little gamble in your poker game now and then, but do it in the right spots, not just out of habit.

You don’t need to spend a fortune buying the perfect diamond engagement ring. Forget surprising her. Get real, tell her of your intentions and then shop for the engagement ring together. Look at buying the ring in the same way you would look at buying a house or car. Budget the amount you want to spend and then shop around until you find what you want for the price you are willing to pay. In the long run you will satisfy her and probable save a lot of time and money.

First do some homework. Since you will probable be looking for a diamond engagement ring learn the 4 C’s of diamonds; Cut, Clarity, Carat, and Color. Be realistic you will not be an expert just because you know the 4 C’s but at least you have a basic understanding of the subject when you speak with the jeweler about your purchase.

Next go to a local jewelry store where you can speak with a real person and ask more detailed questions. Armed with your basic knowledge of the 4 C’s this will be the most efficient way to learn more about the diamond engagement ring and the many choices of styles and ring materials available. Don’t forget the internet, you may be able to save a lot because an internet merchant may not have the overhead of a brick and mortar store and could past the savings on to you.

Then you should get a couple of quotes like you would for any other big purchase. You would not buy a car or car insurance without getting some quotes. Engagement rings are not unique you can get the same or very similar rings at more than one place. So shop around you should be able to get the ring of your choice very close to the price you want to pay. In any case when you finally decide on a ring, you know you did your homework, shopped around and got the best ring you could afford at the best possible price.

In the end make sure you are buying from a reputable merchant. Whether you decide to make your purchase online or at a local jewelry store, make sure you have some background on the store. Never buy a diamond engagement ring without getting a diamond certificate. A diamond certificate is a report created by a team of gemologists. The diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized. Also get the ring appraised by another jeweler or appraisal company. An appraisal is a document stating the approximate retail replacement value of the ring. The appraisal document ensures that in the case of loss, theft, or damage your insurance company will give you an equal replacement of your diamond engagement ring. You will want to do this for your own peace of mind and you will need to do this if you want to insure the ring.

Patrick Ort, the author of this article, also publishes blogs on the subjects of Engagement Rings and Diamond Engagement Rings at http://engagement—ring.blogspot.com and
http://diamond-engagement–ring.blogspot.com .

In buying any jewelry, one should look at more than the quality marking. Sometimes what you want to look for depends on the type of jewelry. Here are buying jewelry quality marking general guidelines:

Be satisfied that the metal is what it is supposed to be.
Inspect the claps and settings, if gems are involved.
Check any and all links carefully, regardless of the type of jewelry. Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and any jewelry is only as strong as its weakest link. The links may be an integral part of the jewelry or they may be used to connect the jewelry to the clasp or catch. The links should be well made, with no separation where the link is joined to form a circle. A link that is bent or is slightly apart may give way under wear, letting the rest of the jewelry or part of it slip through.

Keep in mind the intrinsic qualities of the metals, too. Platinum and silver are harder than gold, which is relatively soft in is purest forms. The purest the gold, the softer it will be and the more apt it is to wear thin or lose its shape with wear.

1) Rings.

Regardless of the kind of setting, check the stone and make sure it is held firmly in the setting, whether the setting is open or closed.
In an open setting such as high or Tiffany setting and the low or belcher setting, examine the prongs. They should grip the gem at the girdle, closing firmly just above it. The prongs should be smooth. Remember, the higher the setting, the more stone will be visible, with a greater tendency for prongs to catch on gloves or clothing. You want to be sure the prongs are made in such a way that there are no rough edges that could catch or that could lead to the prongs being bent or broken an d the loss of a stone.

In a closed setting, examine the rim or bezel that holds the gem. Some gems or coins may be set just below the rim and may have prongs at the back holding them against the rim. In this case, make sure the prongs are tight and well made to hold the coin or other material in place. As far as gold coins go, make sure the coins are mint perfect, not bent or scratched or damaged by the setting.

Cabochons are usually set in a closed setting, with the dome higher than the setting. Again, the setting should be made in such a way that the gem cannot fall out. This is particularly true if the gem has a tendency to contract or expand. A gem may feel very slightly loose, but by trying to move it you should be able to feel the firmness of the setting.

The fit of the ring is as important as a well-made setting. A too loose ring may fall of your finger, while a snug on may be difficult to get on and off. Making sure the ring fits in a store is not enough. You want to take into account whether your fingers have a tendency to swell in warm weather or not. If they do swell, you may want to consider a slightly large ring on which you can have a ring guard put.

A ring guard can be preferable, especially for rings with narrow backs. A wide ring is more difficult to fit with a guard, but it is also less apt to slip off or slip around your finger. If you do decide to have a ring made smaller, remember you are losing precious metal. At the same time, more precious metal will be needed to make the ring larger.

2) Earrings.

The choice of earring backs is strictly personal. Earring with screw backs should be checked care fully to make sure the screws are in good working order and are tight enough for you to fasten securely in or on your ears. Clamps should be tight, although not so tight that they are uncomfortable to wear. Comfort and a secure fastener, in fact, are probably more important for earrings than other jewelry, since there is no way you can add a guard or safety catch as you can for other jewelry. All you can do is make sure the backs are good ones and they work welland that means on both earrings.

Try putting both earrings on and taking them off several times. To put them on correctly, pull lobe down, place earring, and adjust back. When you have them on, shake your head vigorously to make sure the earrings don’t loosen or fall off. Shaking your head will also assure you of another factor: are they so heavy that they bother you or so light that you can’t feel them and could lose one just by using the telephone?
A store may sometimes not allow you to try on earrings, in which case you should ask to see the manager or go to another store. In case you are purchasing an earring from online store, most online stores have return policy. You need to try earrings on to judge whether the design and color flatters you because they are so close to your face. Then, there are size and weight. Not all earlobes are the same. Earrings that may fit one ear may be too large or heavy for other earlobes. Most necklaces and bracelets will fit anyone, but not most earrings. In short, when buying expensive earrings in particular, you need to try them on before deciding you like them and can wear them.

3) Clasps and Catches.

All clasps and catches, both regular and safety ones, should be worked several times, on you and off you. Do they fasten easily and firmly? Can you work them yourself without help? Make sure you try the jewelry on yourself as well as letting the clerk help you. If you find that you can’t put the jewelry on by yourself, it may be a bad buyregardless of costunless you always have someone available to help you.

Make sure the clasps are appropriate to the rest of the jewelry, which they are not so fragile they are apt to break or bend. The more expensive the jewelry, the more you want to be sure that the jewelry has a safety clasp or catch of some kind. A safety clasp or catch is like a hand brake on a car, you may never need it, but when you do it is indispensable. For this reason, any fine quality piece jewelry, especially with gems, that does not have a safety clasp or catch should have one added. The lack of one on jewelry with a big price, moreover, may indicate the jewelry is not what it is supposed to be. In any case, ask the jeweler to suggest a remedy ad be sure to look for quality markings.

You want to be just as careful of catches and safety catches on pins and brooches. Even better costume jewelry pins generally have safety catches, but make sure both the catch and clasp are sturdy and fasten firmly and easily.

In all kind of jewelry, make sure there are no rough edges that can catch on clothes. You do want to run the risk either of losing the jewelry or of its snagging or tearing clothes or catching on fabric when you put on or take off a coat. These are other reason for checking necklaces and bracelets and all jewelry to see how well catches and links are attached to the rest of the jewelry. A good catch flimsily affixed is little protection against loss. In addition, necklaces and bracelets that are strung should be well strung on good string and tightly knotted to clasps.

A popular motif in jewelry, even among city dwellers, is horses. Horse jewelry is enigmatic and evokes a sense of strength as well as of mystery. Now one would have to ask: why horses? Why care about an animal rarely seen in the city anyway?

Horses symbolize freedom, and pride in freedom. Wild horses come with the connotation of spiritual and emotional independence. Have you ever seen or read “The Horse Whisperer” or “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”? Perhaps the snow-white horse named Shadowfax in the “Lord of the Rings” movies has evoked a sense of unbridled freedom in you? And yet, Hollywood has not even begun to touch on the importance of horses in ancient cultures. Far from being mere beasts of burden, horses were also trusted friends. Native Americans paid great respect to the horses they have domesticated, for they were useful in hunting and traveling.

Wearing horse jewelry is a celebration of independence, a rallying cry to break free from the bonds of society and be graceful, proud and natural.

It is a popular belief that the wild horse chooses its tamer. Alexander the Great’s horse, the celebrated Bucephalus, was known to be the wildest horse in his day: king of horses, unconquered by conquerors. And yet when the young Alexander cautiously approached him, Bucephalus calmed down and allowed the teenaged monarch to climb on his back. Together the two conquered cities, leveled fortresses, and built an empire — kindred untrammeled spirits faithful to each other until the end.

A driven, successful, hard-to-get professional woman may appreciate a gift of horse jewelry — in celebration of her strong, free-spirited nature. A young carefree lad may also benefit from horse jewelry, as an expression of virility and natural strength.

Horse jewelry comes in a variety of forms — from pendants to hairclips, brooches to bracelets, anything that catches attention! The flashier the better, or the more muted the more desirable, for people who gravitate to horses.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit 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 www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Good question – why indeed? To answer it we need to go back to basics but also, by answering it, a whole avalanche of questions open up, so let’s start at the beginning.

1. It is hypoallergenic, which in short means that very few people have skin so sensitive that they will react to it – unlike gold or silver where reactions are quite common. A lot of customers come to us with this problem and are very pleased when they find that they have the opportunity to wear an item of jewellery that not only will cause them not to break out in lesions of Biblical proportions, but also looks stunning when inlaid with gold, platinum or diamonds.

2. Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance due to the fact that when it is scratched or machined, the surface forms a protective oxide layer almost instantaneously. This accounts for the reason why it does not lose its colour by tarnishing like gold or silver does.

3. Strength to weight ratio – Titanium is as strong as steel but with around half the weight making rings made from this material some of the most comfortable to wear. Design also plays a big part in the comfort of a ring as well of course, GETi rings are shaped for comfort and highly polished on the inside which makes them some of the easiest to wear. Many people apprehensive about wearing a ring quickly grow accustomed to wearing one of ours, this is especially true due to the fact that the majority of our rings can be modified in wall thickness and width to the personal requirements of each individual.

4. Long lasting – Titanium rings will last a lifetime if not seriously abused with hammers and spanners, but, on the other hand, they are not Kryptonite and will show signs of wear in time. Small scratches will appear quite quickly as with rings made from gold or silver and the same rule applies to Titanium rings as to precious metal rings – if you buy a polished ring it will dull down, and if you buy a satin ring it will polish up, meeting somewhere in the middle. Refurbishment of your ring is quite straight forward to us because we specialize in Titanium.

Buying your ring from a GETi stockist either online or from a ‘bricks and mortar’ gallery ensures the best possible service with regard to sizing and refinishing. We do not recommend internet auction sites or major high street jewellery outlets for your ring. A lot of these stockists import their rings from the Far East and their knowledge of the product is very limited. Also please be advised that some rings with what appears to have a reasonable solid gold inlay only have sections of thin gold plate on them – this will wear off very quickly. Please contact us for details of your nearest GETi stockist to avoid disappointment.

5. And finally (“At last!!” I hear you all cry) the answer to the question – Why buy a Titanium ring? Why not? – dare to be different. Titanium is a new, exciting material and can be enhanced with gold, platinum, diamonds or sapphires to make it as bold as you like Your ring will command a lot of attention and if the novelty wears off – just get a divorce and buy a new one!!

GETi are the UK’s leading brand of Titanium rings, hand crafted in the UK. http://www.geti.cc

This can be found in a good range of lengths, widths and colors. The pliable construction of the Vac-U-Loc 8 Inch makes it possible to achieve penetration at angles that are not achievable during straight sex, making it possible for you to find exotic new found enjoyment and previously un-discovered parts of your body. The Vac-U-Loc 8 Inch formed from easily washable glass, making it quite safe to use. The Vac-U-Loc 8 Inch is supplied with a free hi-octane vibration super booster, meaning this is sex toy of top quality. The Vac-U-Loc 8 Inch is made with cleverly crafted gnarly bobbles along its length, which can help raise your your adventures to a different league.

The manufacturer of this toy, Tambo are amongst the the most widely known and liked names working in the distribution of toys. They are producers of a huge selection of different high end vibrators such as the Soft Touch Penis as well as the Lifeforms 7 Inch. Tambo are one of the most cost competitive, meaning you are unlikely to see any a better buy by another company.

The Vac-U-Loc 8 Inch is a really good selling dildo for Tambo. It’s popularity is due to it’s pleasing aesthetics. The Vac-U-Loc 8 Inch is ideal for stimulation of any of the female erogenous zones. This product would also be a great first sex toy for someone who does not already own a dildo. This sex toy is the perfect perfect compliment to any dildo vibrator enthusiasts collection. Initially produced for two people, but is also great for use on those those lonely nights.

Past life regression, also known as PLR, can often locate the reason why we have problems with friends in our present life or why we are scared of certain situations. You have sisters around you in your current lifetime that you have astonishingly met with before, imagine being competent to identify what happened and what your relationship was to them at that time and lift blocks that plague you in your current lifetime and even find out talents and bring them into your present lifetime. Past lifetime regression, aka PLR, is super. Discover Past Life Regression with Anne Jirsch.

When you are having a past life regression, aka PLR, session you should go back to the lifetime you would most need to know about in your current lifetime. This is sensational and might describe an enormous deal about your current life and help you would to go forward with your life with a greater understanding of yourself, your life and the work colleagues around you.

You can often also ascertain why you are the person that you are, now that is great. If you adore nature perhaps you were once working as a farmer, if you enjoy to travel maybe you were a traveller. Instead of minimising our strengths we should acknowledge them.

Each experience is mind-blowing and unique. Other people have visited places they had lived in before and knew where to go.

The thought of a safari might well probably stir up the visualisations of joys and the location of warm Africa. African safaris have been well accepted in South Africa for decades and have become beloved with the Scottish holiday tourists because of the tremendous weather and the good wildlife that will be explored.

The best time to scout out South Africa for a nice walking safari is around May as the weather is great. The number of Welsh tourists who travel over to Zambia for a walking safari has significantly risen in the last 9 years due to the strong pound and also due to the increased attention of South Africa.

The wildlife that you might well observe is extensive, you can often see tigers and zebras all up close. Africa is spot on for people who wish to come and visit the wildlife and also wish for a romantic holiday. The safaris are not too strenuous that you cannot go back to your marvellous hotel in the evening for a romantic evening. That is why walking safaris in Africa will often be perfect for a honeymoon. South Africa has some of the greatest privately owned hotels and walking safaris in the country and should be experienced by everyone at least once. Explore Zambia with a Zambia safari.

Many people are having problems with their weight. These weight problems are the results of a person’s eating habits. In the United States, there are about 50 million of Americans are enroll weight loss programs. However, there are also people who wishes that they would have a lesser weight and resulted to suffering from eating disorders.

Eating disorders may be categorized as a psychiatric problem. Although many experts say that obesity is not truly a psychiatric problem, they consider that the state of being obese is also a form of eating disorders. Some people who are trying to lose weight may lead to the improper obsession of thinking of a person that his dieting becomes abnormal.

Another form of eating disorder is the anorexia nervosa. This form of eating disorder may happen to those people who may have a normal or a little above the average weight. These people think that their body is always overweight. This illness may begin to those who that have continuous diet regimens and eventually led to restraining the person’s balanced eating.

Anorexia nervosa can be identified to most women that are teenagers and are in their early adult stages. Although it is not common to males and to older adults, it can also occur to these types of people. The known classic dieters do not eat any food in a day which lead them to starvation. The self-starvation of a person is the point where he suppresses hunger sensations, which may lead an individual to become skeletal in appearance. These individuals are considered anorexic by type because they suffer from phobia on gaining weight.

Bulimia can be truly associated to many dieters especially to those individuals aged 17 to 25 years old. The process of bingeing and purging of most bulimics can make an individual addicted on what he has started in his diet regimen. Most of the time a person can no longer control the binge and spurge cycle that and led a person to be underweight and or even obese. However, most bulimics appear to be normal and have a normal body weight. Most of the time, the process in which they do their dieting is kept to themselves because most bulimics are shameful of their activities of bingeing and purging.

There are side effects an individual may suffer from for being bulimic especially for women that are actively in this process of dieting. An irregular menstrual cycle may occur to some women and the decrease of sexual interest may be experienced. Most bulimics have disturbing behavior on whatever things they would like to do. There are instances where bulimics have tendencies to be drug addicts and alcoholic. Some of which have records of shoplifting and other cases that are associated in such acts.

There are some different approaches on how to treat these forms of disorders. These ways may help bring back the proper eating and correct way to have a balanced diet. A well-known stage for bulimics could return the right eating pattern by not practicing the activity of bingeing and purging. They are able to control the incorrect dieting behavior on the diet regimen.

A consultative approach that would be advisable to those bulimics and anorexic is the therapy program. Many of the patients have been found to cooperate well and let themselves to be educated in psycho educational programs that will give them the information on the illness.