Safety and comfort are the first requirements for my new
puppy’s collar, but pretty little lady Ms. JW’s new collar has got to have some
glitz, flair and pizzazz.
I’m not going to buy
anything too expensive, but Ms. JW need to always look glamorous, hot and fashionable.
So it’s off a shopping we go to the pet store for a blingy
doggy collar.
Irene’s March birthstone ring was a larger aquamarine solitaire,
well-cut, beautifully polished and a gem with a traditional water color tint. Perhaps you have an older co-worker or friend, like my ex-boss Irene, who wears the most distinctive and well-made jewelry.
Her ring's setting had longer, stronger
prongs and a thicker ring shank. The ring contained a generous amount of gold.
Irene’s choice of aquamarine birthstone ring was a mirror
image of her in many respects.
Unfortunately, in
2014, middle-class values for jewelry have somehow been translated into the words “cheap
and cheaper” as the price of gold has risen.
Some examples of poor craftsmanship include: thin shanks, short prongs, poorly polished gems and highly included gems. Further some material just looks better in gold instead of silver, like pearls.
I won’t forget Irene and her well-made aquamarine birthstone
ring.And just like she always inspired me to do
better on the job, I will always seek the best jewelry value for my money.
If “Ugh” is
your first reaction when you open a delivery of jewelry, you just need to
return it immediately to get your money back and restore your confidence.
Sending back a jewelry purchase will allow you to get your confidence back
after being hoodwinked into buying jewelry that looks nothing like the description
on the internet or in a printed catalog.
A stiff upper
lip is the number one thing that you need to return unwanted jewelry.
Otherwise your cash money could be tied-up in
jewelry that you don’t like and don't want. In these economic times, it's really is your
money versus their money.
Returning a
bad jewelry purchase is how you can save your own personal economy by restoring money to
your bank account.
Key Steps to
Ensure Trouble-free Returns
Read and understand the return policies of vendors before you buy:Is the return period 10 days, 30 days or longer? Or returns not allowed?
Does the vendor’s return policy state that a purchase can be returned for any reason or only if defective in some manner?
Will you be able to get a full refund?Or will you be charged a re-stocking fee, which can be as much as 10% of the purchase price.
Will you only be able to exchange an item or be given a store credit?
Packing and Mailing Returned Merchandise
Open cardboard boxes and plastic wrapping carefully so that it can reused.
Save all invoices, inventory tags and packing slips for at least 90 days.
Complete return forms accurately and completely. Carefully wrap the jewelry for return and include any inventory tags.
Pack and securely seal the return package. Get the package insured if the jewelry’s value warrants it.
Check your statement for a credit in 10 days.Contact the vendor if you do not see a credit in 10 days.
In Store
Returns
Gather your receipt and the jewelry inventory tag.
Repack the jewelry in the original box or packages to prevent damage before you get to the store.
Present the return and receipt to the sales clerk. Stoically explain that you are returning your jewelry purchase for a refund.
Provide your bank card if asked.
Obtain a refund receipt to check your bank statement or credit card records.
Check your statement within 1 or 2 days for a credit.
Instead of
staring at a piece of jewelry you will never wear, you can look at more money on your bank statement.But only
if you return the bad jewelry purchase. Now!
If you were born in February, here are 7 new looks of amethyst that will quickly upgrade your birthstone
jewelry style:
1.Wear
larger stones, 20 plus carats or more, in rings and pendants for the boldlook of statement jewelry.
2.Look
for checkerboard or other unusually cut gemstones with more intense sparkle and color.
3.Seek
Amethyst gems from a different country like Tanzania or Uruguay for more vivid gemstone colors.
4.Try
jewelry set with Drusy, crystalline geode pieces of Amethyst.
5.Examine
Amethyst
gems labeled “color-change” to see if you detect a true color shift.
6.Shop
for vintage and antique jewelry pieces,
many often contain extraordinary specimens of Amethyst gems.
7. Have some fun with Amethyst
carving of whimsical objects like insects, flowers and leaves!
Amethyst birthstone
jewelry doesn’t have to be boring and ubiquitous. The abovejewelry styles are ways to make your February birthstone jewelry look
fresh, hot and eye-catching.
Gemstone luxury jewelry with red rubiesand green emeralds has a leading role in Monae’s “The Electric
Lady” music video.Janelle’s Hollywood
glamour jewelry in the video is worthy of a stroll on the Oscar’s Red
Carpet.
And what about that red belt with the embellished silver
buckle?!
Everything is NOT black and white for the high octave and
high octane performer, especially her luxury jewelry.
A heart shaped diamond solitaire gift transcends the elemental
chemistry of geology and becomes the biochemistry of love, something very
useful for Valentine’s Day.
But gems' composition and structure are just chemical formulas of molecules, that’s what we
are taught. Or are they?
To me, no other gemstone, an inanimate object, truly reflects love like a
heart shaped diamond solitaire. Test my theory for yourself… which rock in
the photo below really tugs at YOUR heart?
A variety of diamond cuts
See what I mean! (The trillion cut diamonds are close seconds.)
It doesn’t even have to have lots of carats or be flawlessly
cut.In fact, a heart shaped diamond can
have very visible imperfections with a dull yellow color and very little
sparkle.Even very flawed, it will still
evoke a feeling of pure love.
If you want to acknowlege that you are imperfect, a
heart shaped diamond might be the perfect jewelry gift for Valentine’s Day this
year. Let the diamond do the ‘talking’ for you.
Over Christmas Dinner it finally occurred to me that Ms. Ann
must be a January baby, because she only wears Garnet jewelry--that month’s
birthstone. I remember thinking ‘Hmmm… that so unusual for any woman, let alone
a young gal to exclusively, only, wear birthstone jewelry.’
Her jewelry look is demure, usually classic Mozambique, coffee or tea colored, garnet cluster designs
in earrings and bracelets.She’s a pretty and demure girl who’s also NASA smart. I like that about
her: there’s no riff-raff going on here.
A Rare Style of Big Bead Garnets
Too bad we didn’t realize her real style when we all went jewelry shopping for her gift
a few Christmases ago.
And I do mean “We”.
Lil Loren enlisted the aid of his Mom,
grandmother and me to help him select the perfect jewelry gift for Ms. Ann.
After the sales clerk reminded us, gently, that our selections
were “too old” for a young girl, we shut-up and left Lil Loren to his own
devices to select a gift.If I recall,
he settled-on sapphire earrings. Sapphire is his grandmother's birthstone.
He made a good choice. I’d like to think that it was because I previously told
him that a good girlfriend is rare and precious.
And that’s the compelling thing about rich red Bordeaux
colored garnet jewelry, it’s always rare
and precious looking despite being inexpensive and very accessible.
At one time there were 2 jewelry stores in Chicago that sold nothing but exquisite red rhodolite, berry-colored, garnet jewelry - One on Michigan Avenue and the other on Howard Street. Go figure!
But I’ve seen
paintings of Queens, like Elizabeth I and Victoria wearing garnet jewelry.I recall a photo of Elizabeth Taylor wearing
garnets.
These were women who
could afford royal jewelry or luxury
designs but chose to wear garnets when it suited them. Ms. Ann said "Yes".
I’m beyond happy that Lil’ Loren and Ms. Ann chose each
other.So let’s forget about the garnet birthstone
jewelry momentarily.I want to see video and photos of that diamond engagement
ring.
Just window shopping for bling made with the noble metal platinum
seems to be getting a little easier these days. This is especially true if you aren’t
looking for wedding jewelry and you just want a casual platinum neck chain,
bracelet or ring.
The Platinum Hip-Hop chain I secretly desire
I saw some hot buys for pure
platinum jewelry on a TV shopping channel right after Christmas. Yeah! On TV!
I bought a chain for
my small platinum cross. It was thin, but still had that subtle, sultry white glittery
glow of platinum.I was given the cross
several years ago, but I could never find an affordable chain for it.
So I always wore it
with white 14k gold.
The commodity price of platinum, along with gold, has been falling over the past 12 months. In January 2014, the price per ounce is $1,412 per ounce, down from $1,740 a year ago. (Source Monex).
So
look at platinum jewelry again, the price is easier on the eyes now!
This year on January 19, 2014 Ethiopian Eastern Orthodox Christians will start celebrating their world famous religious festival: Timkat. The festival will held on palace grounds and baths in Gondar, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Christian Crosses
Ethiopian Priest With Ancient Bible Manuscript
Detail of an Ethiopian Ancient Manuscript Page
The Biblical reference for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity is Acts 8: 26-40 in which Philip witnesses to an high-ranking Ethiopian.
Gondar Palace Bath Area Before Timkat
Each year, Ethiopian Christians celebrate the baptism of Jesus and this Ethiopian during the Timkat Festival.
Pink gold watches were all over the TV in courtroom scenes this
year.First, a star witness in a
high profile Florida murder trial grabbed attention with her big pink gold
fashion watch.Then, Judge Judy, the $41 million
lady, appeared to be wearing a solid, pink gold Swiss watch in several scenes
on her TV show.
The new pink gold watches are true eye candy. The pink gold
of newer watches is much more pleasing to look at than vintage watches made
with colored gold.The red gold of
vintage timepieces often appears to be bizarrely rusted yellow gold.
Shopping for a pink gold watch has never been easier: Big
selections are in all the watch displays at major department stores in the
mall. And the pink color, conspiratorially allows consumers to forget that 24K Yellow
gold is still too costly for average consumers, at about $1290 per ounce as of
December 2013.
Gold Plus Copper Equals Colored Alloys
Copper Nugget
River Bed with Alluvial Gold Nuggets
Copper is added to gold in varying amounts to manufacture alloys of pink, rose or red gold jewelry.
Maybe you want to upgrade your jewelry accessories with a
pink gold watch, but you don’t want anything with too big of a dial face or a rose
or red gold metal color that’s too over the top and just too dressy.
The New Look of Casio Baby-G Shock
I was, well, shocked
to see a Pink Gold Casio sports watch in a mall department store watch display.
You remember Casio watches, don’t you?That’s one of the Japanese watch brands that
forced the Swiss watch industry to redouble their efforts a few decades ago.
The Casio Baby G’s watch
is trendy looking and not utilitarian. It's a great look for the office and the beach. The model I bought is MP-MBGA5-2, movement
3189 3252 BG-169G.
The Pink Gold Casio Baby-G is a pure fun fashion, not too dressy.
(Thankfully, there’s no tiny Casio calculator on a black watch band like back in
the day!)
The sales clerk refused to set the watch time for me…he had
a line of customers.So he gave me the
dreaded Casio watch manual and told me to read it. Which I
did at home, but I still had to go online to a YouTube video to figure-out how to set
the day name.
That’s OK. My Baby G pink gold sports watch was priced right,
less than $100.The size is not too big.
And the sporty fashion color is just too hot…
hot pink!
If your skin gets that ghostly look during winter, forget more make-up, here are some amazing gemstone jewelry fixes with December birthstones. The cool blue tones of Topaz and Tanzanite, alternative December
birthstones, can really cheer-up grayish winter skin: So will mined Zircon, another alternative
December birthstone, which has an enthralling sparkle unlike any other
gemstone, including diamonds.
Blue topaz is true eye candy.And not all of this gemstone jewelry is a dyed
or enhanced blue color. True blue, blue topaz gemstone material is mined in
Texas, USA.It’s an authentic cool
glacier blue color.
Wake-up Your Skin Tone
Just like make-up, the deep lavender of tanzanite
will perk-up anybody’s skin tone dulled by a lack of sun in winter. The specific color tone (there's no red tone) of Tanzanite in stud earrings can work wonders for the skin on your face.
The same goes for Zircon, a God given element. It’s number 40 on the
periodic table. It’s mined from the earth unlike manmade cubic zirconia.
White and blue zircon
jewelry has a “captured light” sparkle that captivating to gaze at on its wearers. It’s a great
sparkly birthstone look that you can buy without taking a big hit from the dollars in your wallet.
Finding edgy-looking Turquoise jewelry, December’s
birthstone, can be a real adventure. Most turquoise seems to be made
into Southwest style silver jewelry or Arts
and Craft projects with tiny beads.
Why settle for those styles just because turquoise is your birthstone?
Turquoise has a storied past of unique and expensive jewelry looks: From antique Persian baby blue turquoise neck
strands to 1920s art deco jewelry designs with diamonds and onyx.
Turquoise ballerina
style rings with diamonds were super popular in the 60s and 70s.
Turquoise gold and pearl earrings
If you were born in December, here are tips to find fashion-forward
turquoise jewelry:
Ask your personal jewelry about turquoise styles they have warehoused or not on display.
Check estate jewelers for art deco looks made with turquoise.
Check pawn shops with diverse styles of jewelry
Look at online jewelry stores.
Finding the eye-pleasing blue of turquoise with a
modern flair can be a real challenge, but worth it, to discover a unique piece of birthstone jewelry.
