Be Mine...Bejeweled...Beware. Advice for Buying Gemstone JewelryWritten by Larry Denton
Gemstones can be naturally mined, laboratory-created or total imitation. Natural gemstones (like rubies, sapphires, diamonds), as name implies, were made by Mother Nature. Stones created in a lab can look identical to stones mined from earth since they have essentially same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. The major difference is cost. Laboratory-created stones do not have rarity or uniqueness of naturally colored stones and, consequently, are much less expensive than naturally mined stones. Because these synthetic stones look similar to real stones, they must be identified (labeled) as being lab-created. In contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones.Gemstones can be measured by weight, size or both. The basic unit for weighing gemstones is carat (with a C), which is equal to one-fifth of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 smaller units, called points. For example, a half-carat gemstone would weigh .50 carats or 50 points. When gemstones are measured by dimensions, size is expressed in millimeters (for example, 7x5 mm.). Many gemstones are treated in some manner to improve their appearance or durability, or even change their color. Jewelers should tell you whether gemstone you are considering has been treated since it may affect its value or require some special care. Diamonds, proverbial girls' best friend, are valued on four basic criteria: color, clarity, cut, and carat. The color of a diamond is usually "graded" on a scale. However, scales are not uniform: a "D" may be best color on one scale, but not for another. Clarity refers to presence or absence of internal flaws, called inclusions, which occur naturally within stone, or to external blemishes, such as scratches or chips. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under a 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent color or clarity of diamond you are considering. Cut refers not only to shape of diamond, but also to size, angle, uniformity and polish of facets (faces of stone). Carat weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat, as described above.
| | How stay-at-Home Moms can Build a Web BusinessWritten by John Lynch
How Stay-at-Home Moms can Build a Web Business Many mothers who look after their children at home often consider starting a part-time business. The problem is they do not have a lot of time. And money can also be a consideration. However, internet has opened possibilities that were not available a decade ago. 1) Advantages of an Online Business A work-at-home business on internet can solve many problems. It can lead to extra income while being flexible enough to allow you to take children to school and collect them in afternoon. And help with homework! You simply work few hours during day or grab opportunities when they arise. For example, I have started to write this article at swimming pool while my children have their weekly swimming lesson. The internet allows this kind of flexibility. 2) What do you Need to Start a Web Business? The initial requirement for this business is to have confidence that you can be successful regardless of your experience with computers or internet. Persistence is also vital as many people jump about from one internet opportunity to next. The right tools and right information to guide you are essential. Many people wonder what sort of web business should they start. Here I am giving you a link to several free ebooks on how to start and grow an Internet business. Topics covered include: a) How to be an online Service Seller. b) How to be a successful affiliate. c) How to start an Internet Auctions business. d) How to drop ship goods without touching them. Click below to download these free ebooks now. http://www.merchant-account-service.com/free_courses_online.html 3) How do you Build a Web Site? In recent past, task of putting up a web site and submitting it to search engines and getting a merchant account and taking online orders was quite a task. Definitely, something for technies.
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