The How, Why and Wherefore of Heart Rate MonitoringWe all have our reasons to exercise, loosing weight, looking good and feeling good are just a few, but how many of us consider the most important of them all, to improve the health of our hearts. Lets face it we all take our hearts for granted, yet this little muscle beats away on average at 70 beats a minute, that
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Monday, 31 August 2009
Safe Buying: Scams And Scammers
I buy a lot of music gear on Ebay, and I have been a user and browser for the best part of 6 years. Like most users (and paricularly buyers of expensive items) I have been the target of scammers. I regularly report these fraudsters to Ebay, but have grown tired of their (apparent) inability to prevent these unscrupulous individuals from hacking into my personal email and attempting to steal my money or otherwise deceiving me into paying for items that they do not own. It is with that thought, that I submit this guide, to help others not to get caught by the scammers.
This is a brief introduction to the scams that I have come across in the short time that I have been using Ebay. There may be others of which I am currently unaware, and I will periodically update this Guide as I become aware of others, so please do re-visit this Guide from time to time. If anyone is aware of other scams, please do get in contact with me (through Ebay of course!) and I will incorporate them.
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This is a brief introduction to the scams that I have come across in the short time that I have been using Ebay. There may be others of which I am currently unaware, and I will periodically update this Guide as I become aware of others, so please do re-visit this Guide from time to time. If anyone is aware of other scams, please do get in contact with me (through Ebay of course!) and I will incorporate them.
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Sunday, 30 August 2009
Fake gold or real? A few hints and tests.
25 years of being a pawnbroker and second dealer have taught me a few thing
about recognizing real gold. Even then I
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about recognizing real gold. Even then I
Orignal From: Fake gold or real? A few hints and tests.
To wear a pentacle...
To wear a pentacle.....I really am writing this to enlighten a few people about the pentacle as many who practise the craft refuse to wear them due to stigma although they are starting to become more of a fashion accessory to others. Its just a short this is guide, it tells you the most common forms of pentacle to wear and how to wear it. Very simple and very short.Pagans, wiccans, witches, druids and many other people wear pentacles and pentagrams this does not mean these people worship the devil in fact most do not believe there is such a pure evil in this world.A pentacle should have the point (of the star shape) facing upwards (north), this is to protect the wearer from evil the other way up can be connected to the grimoire. Generally it is worn close to the heart on women as a reproduction of a goddess.Choosing a pentacle can be quite complex however most true hereditary witches will tell you that they can not wear silver....Pewter is a favourite and comes in plain and very intreecut designs.Wood and gold have also been used recently.A pentacle cage can be worn with gem stones inside to help with pain, fertility, prosperity and numrous other reasons.The best way to wear a pentacle is with either a pewter chain or a lace/leather thread.They some in different sizes, some of which are easily obscured from view and others that are more blatent.Rings and braclets are also available for the more out there persons amongst us.Most of all dont be afraid of who you are, if someone says something and you do not want them to know then tell them its a fashion accessory.Prices vary alot as with any jewellery, you can pick up a cheap and cheerful pentacle for around
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Orignal From: To wear a pentacle...
GUCCI WATCH BEWARE
I was recently browsing the pages of lady gucci watches.Its a dam shame that people are selling Gucci copys beware people. Here is an example.
1 Gucci watch ladys 1500L 100% genuine gold plated showed you pictures and one of the pictures showed the bangle on the inside had hong kong and people were still bidding a lot of money. every gucci watch should have a serial number.
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1 Gucci watch ladys 1500L 100% genuine gold plated showed you pictures and one of the pictures showed the bangle on the inside had hong kong and people were still bidding a lot of money. every gucci watch should have a serial number.
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Welded Bliss DIAMOND GUIDE, 4 C'S and MORE
What is the meaning of carat?
Apart from not being a vegetable, the word carat has two distinct meanings. In relation to gold, carat refers to the purity of the metal e.g. 24 carat (pure gold) or 18 carat etc, also written as ct or
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links of london sweetie bracelets.
Please be aware. I have purchased two of these both stated authentic.The one with two charms was not a bad fake but not acceptable for
Orignal From: links of london sweetie bracelets.
Orignal From: links of london sweetie bracelets.
vintage chronograph 's and wristwatches
Hi my name is mark , and i thought i would share a little of my knowledge and experience , when purchasing vintage wristwatches .
1. When purchasing a vintage wristwatch for the first time , always allow yourself time to think
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1. When purchasing a vintage wristwatch for the first time , always allow yourself time to think
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AVOID FRAUD AND SCAMS ON EBAY
WHEN BIDDING ON AN ITEM, YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL, AS THERE ARE MANY CASES OF FRAUD ON EBAY EVERY DAY.
FIRST OF ALL, ALWAYS READ THE ITEM DESCRIPITION PROPERLY, AS OFTEN, EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THERE, AND MANY PEOPLE GET SCAMMED THROUGH NOT READING IT PROPERLY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE SELLERS WHO SELL EMPTY BOXES, E.G X-BOX BOX, AND PEOPLE BID HIGH, THINKING THEY ARE BUYING AN XBOX IN THE BOX. THEY PAY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, AND ARE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY RECIEVE AN EMPTY BOX IN THE POST. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, AS THE ITEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED.
THIS IS NOT CLASSED AS FRAUD, AS LONG AS YOUR ITEM IS AS DESCRIBED, IT IS NOT BREAKING ANY EBAY POLICIES.
ALSO, BE WARY OF LISTINGS WITH NO PICTURES. OF COURSE, IT COULD BE THAT THE SELLER HAS NO DIGITAL CAMERA OR OTHER MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT ALWAYS BE WARY OF IT. CHECK THE SELLERS FEEDBACK RATINGS, AND ASK THE SELLER QUESTIONS IF STILL IN DOUBT. IF THE SELLER HAS RECIEVED NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, CONTACT THE AUTHOR OF THIS FEEDBACK AND ASK THEM WHAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ITEMS WERE.
YOU SHOULD ALSO BE CAREFUL WHEN BIDDING ON ITEMS WITH PICTURES TAKEN OUT OF CATALOGUES, AS THESE SELLERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE A CAMERA TO TAKE THIS PHOTO, SO WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST PHOTOGRAPH THE ITEM ITSELF? ASK QUESTIONS, AND AGAIN, CHECK FEEDBACK.
ALSO, ITEMS SUCH AS CLOTHES AND HANDBAGS, LISTED AS DESIGNER WITH LOW STARTING PRICES COULD BE FAKE, BUT REMEMBER, WHEN LISTING AN ITEM, EBAY ADVISES THE SELLER TO USE A LOW STARTING PRICE IN ORDER TO GENERATE MORE BIDS. MANY SELLERS DO TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A HIGHLY DESIRABLE ITEM, AS THEY KNOW IT IS ALMOST GUARANTEED TO SELL AT A GOOD PRICE. ONCE AGAIN, ASK QUESTIONS, CHECK FEEDBACK.
Orignal From: AVOID FRAUD AND SCAMS ON EBAY
FIRST OF ALL, ALWAYS READ THE ITEM DESCRIPITION PROPERLY, AS OFTEN, EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THERE, AND MANY PEOPLE GET SCAMMED THROUGH NOT READING IT PROPERLY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE SELLERS WHO SELL EMPTY BOXES, E.G X-BOX BOX, AND PEOPLE BID HIGH, THINKING THEY ARE BUYING AN XBOX IN THE BOX. THEY PAY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, AND ARE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY RECIEVE AN EMPTY BOX IN THE POST. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, AS THE ITEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED.
THIS IS NOT CLASSED AS FRAUD, AS LONG AS YOUR ITEM IS AS DESCRIBED, IT IS NOT BREAKING ANY EBAY POLICIES.
ALSO, BE WARY OF LISTINGS WITH NO PICTURES. OF COURSE, IT COULD BE THAT THE SELLER HAS NO DIGITAL CAMERA OR OTHER MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT ALWAYS BE WARY OF IT. CHECK THE SELLERS FEEDBACK RATINGS, AND ASK THE SELLER QUESTIONS IF STILL IN DOUBT. IF THE SELLER HAS RECIEVED NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, CONTACT THE AUTHOR OF THIS FEEDBACK AND ASK THEM WHAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ITEMS WERE.
YOU SHOULD ALSO BE CAREFUL WHEN BIDDING ON ITEMS WITH PICTURES TAKEN OUT OF CATALOGUES, AS THESE SELLERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE A CAMERA TO TAKE THIS PHOTO, SO WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST PHOTOGRAPH THE ITEM ITSELF? ASK QUESTIONS, AND AGAIN, CHECK FEEDBACK.
ALSO, ITEMS SUCH AS CLOTHES AND HANDBAGS, LISTED AS DESIGNER WITH LOW STARTING PRICES COULD BE FAKE, BUT REMEMBER, WHEN LISTING AN ITEM, EBAY ADVISES THE SELLER TO USE A LOW STARTING PRICE IN ORDER TO GENERATE MORE BIDS. MANY SELLERS DO TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A HIGHLY DESIRABLE ITEM, AS THEY KNOW IT IS ALMOST GUARANTEED TO SELL AT A GOOD PRICE. ONCE AGAIN, ASK QUESTIONS, CHECK FEEDBACK.
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TANZANITE
IntroductionDisplaying an aurora of stunning royal blues, violets, indigos, lilacs, periwinkles, and ultramarines, Tanzanite's popularity is well deserved. Demand for Tanzanite has rocketed in recent years, outstripping sales of all other coloured gemstones, with the exception of Sapphire. A thousand times rarer than Diamonds and with a little over a decade of mine life remaining, Tanzanite is the fashion gem of the millennium.
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HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT BRIDAL/BRIDESMAID'S BOUQUET
The bride's bouquet is the floral centerpiece of any wedding, no matter how many other floral tributes and designs are displayed. Many important factors combine to create the final look.
A/ What is the size and age of the bride or bridesmaid? Small posey's are not flattering to a larger or taller lady. Whereas a small bride may find a large bouquet difficult to carry and an oversize arrangement will make a tiny bride look like a bouquet on legs! Also the term "mutton dressed as lamb" can apply to a hand held floral piece as well as an outfit or dress!
B/ What is the style of her dress. If she has gone for a look from a specific era, period, theme or country, what floral style would work best. Also if the dress or head dress
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A/ What is the size and age of the bride or bridesmaid? Small posey's are not flattering to a larger or taller lady. Whereas a small bride may find a large bouquet difficult to carry and an oversize arrangement will make a tiny bride look like a bouquet on legs! Also the term "mutton dressed as lamb" can apply to a hand held floral piece as well as an outfit or dress!
B/ What is the style of her dress. If she has gone for a look from a specific era, period, theme or country, what floral style would work best. Also if the dress or head dress
Orignal From: HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT BRIDAL/BRIDESMAID'S BOUQUET
Beware Of Fake Jade
A Brief Introduction To Spotting Fake Jade
Firstly it is important to realise that with Jade, even if you are in a shop and touching it, is very difficult to tell the genuine from the fake. Some cheap resins can almost perfectly imitate Jade and even feel cool to the touch.
Obviously buying Jade online is a risky business especially if it is being shipped from China. Ebay has excellent anti-fraud procedures in place but realistically cannot cater for all eventualities.
Another difficulty may arise because the word Jade, in China, not only refers to Nephrite and Jadeite, (which we tend to think of as true Jade), but also to Green Serpentine and Soapstone. These can look similar to and closely resemble Jade. Even if you receive a certificate of authenticity from an overseas Jade supplier and you can prove the item to be Soapstone the supplier may well have the law on their side if Soapstone is commonly referred to as Jade in that country.
Additional names to bear in mind which may cause confusion would be - Korean Jade referring to Serpentine, (Bowenite).- Transvaal Jade referring to Green Hydrogrossular Garnet.- Oregon Jade referring to green Chalcedony.- Indian Jade referring to Aventurine.- Amazon Jade" referring to Amazonite which can be turquoise or green feldspar.- Mexican Jade referring to green (dyed) Calcite.
There are others so be careful.
In addition actual Jade, (the real stuff ok?), varies greatly in quality. It's beyond the scope of this article but the actual buying of true Jade in Burma is a fascinating, (at least to me), and risky business for dealers. Low quality Jade can be stained to make it look more valuable.
Real Jade Is Not Cheap.
There are tests that can be done but common sense tells us that it is virtually impossible to test an object until you receive it and by then a dodgy dealer will have disappeard anyway. What are the tests? Well, one is a density test the other is a hardness test. Both are difficult for the untrained without the correct apparatus to perform.
The scratching, (hardness) test is the one usually performed. If Nephrite jade is scratched very hard with a steel object it can leave a mark in the softer stones. Jade is hard and will pass this test easily. Try to use a rounded steel and do not dig into the surface. You can see even this test requires a certain amount of expertise and a "feel" for Jade. Both types of true Jade, (Jadeite and Nephrite), are hard stones that do not chip easily.
Jadeite is the more rare and therefore the most expensive. It is mainly found in Burma with a few deposits in Guatemala and a few other areas. It occurs in many colours including green, white, yellow, black, red and even lavender. There are moree colours. Translucent emarald green Jadeite which is evenly coloured is called Imperial Jade.
Nephrite does not have as many colours as Jadeite. THe green hues are often more subdued than in Jadeite. It is also not as hard as Jadeite. Because of this it is not possible to finish a piece to such a high polish.
This is just a brief introduction to Jade. Be careful. If you like a piece of "Jade" and it is reasonably priced then buy it for what it is. If you are spending a lot of money then find yourself someone who knows about Jade and how to source the real thing.
Good Jade Hunting.
Ade
Orignal From: Beware Of Fake Jade
Firstly it is important to realise that with Jade, even if you are in a shop and touching it, is very difficult to tell the genuine from the fake. Some cheap resins can almost perfectly imitate Jade and even feel cool to the touch.
Obviously buying Jade online is a risky business especially if it is being shipped from China. Ebay has excellent anti-fraud procedures in place but realistically cannot cater for all eventualities.
Another difficulty may arise because the word Jade, in China, not only refers to Nephrite and Jadeite, (which we tend to think of as true Jade), but also to Green Serpentine and Soapstone. These can look similar to and closely resemble Jade. Even if you receive a certificate of authenticity from an overseas Jade supplier and you can prove the item to be Soapstone the supplier may well have the law on their side if Soapstone is commonly referred to as Jade in that country.
Additional names to bear in mind which may cause confusion would be - Korean Jade referring to Serpentine, (Bowenite).- Transvaal Jade referring to Green Hydrogrossular Garnet.- Oregon Jade referring to green Chalcedony.- Indian Jade referring to Aventurine.- Amazon Jade" referring to Amazonite which can be turquoise or green feldspar.- Mexican Jade referring to green (dyed) Calcite.
There are others so be careful.
In addition actual Jade, (the real stuff ok?), varies greatly in quality. It's beyond the scope of this article but the actual buying of true Jade in Burma is a fascinating, (at least to me), and risky business for dealers. Low quality Jade can be stained to make it look more valuable.
Real Jade Is Not Cheap.
There are tests that can be done but common sense tells us that it is virtually impossible to test an object until you receive it and by then a dodgy dealer will have disappeard anyway. What are the tests? Well, one is a density test the other is a hardness test. Both are difficult for the untrained without the correct apparatus to perform.
The scratching, (hardness) test is the one usually performed. If Nephrite jade is scratched very hard with a steel object it can leave a mark in the softer stones. Jade is hard and will pass this test easily. Try to use a rounded steel and do not dig into the surface. You can see even this test requires a certain amount of expertise and a "feel" for Jade. Both types of true Jade, (Jadeite and Nephrite), are hard stones that do not chip easily.
Jadeite is the more rare and therefore the most expensive. It is mainly found in Burma with a few deposits in Guatemala and a few other areas. It occurs in many colours including green, white, yellow, black, red and even lavender. There are moree colours. Translucent emarald green Jadeite which is evenly coloured is called Imperial Jade.
Nephrite does not have as many colours as Jadeite. THe green hues are often more subdued than in Jadeite. It is also not as hard as Jadeite. Because of this it is not possible to finish a piece to such a high polish.
This is just a brief introduction to Jade. Be careful. If you like a piece of "Jade" and it is reasonably priced then buy it for what it is. If you are spending a lot of money then find yourself someone who knows about Jade and how to source the real thing.
Good Jade Hunting.
Ade
Orignal From: Beware Of Fake Jade
How to Spot a Fake Replica Rolex Watch?
How to Spot a Fake Replica Rolex Watch?
You can use a few approaches to identify a replica or fake Rolex, I list some methods below for your references. If you want to buy a genuine Rolex, you must ensure that the product you are getting is authenticate and not an elaborated copy.
Hologram Sticker: For a genuine Rolex you can notice a 3D hologram sticker on the caseback. For models after 2002, a Rolex crown can be viewed on the sticker, and it changes patterns when you see it from different angles. A replica usually has a sticker with Rolex printed on it, and it does not change color patterns when viewed from other angles.
Clear Caseback: A replica Rolex often has a clear caseback. You can easily identify it as a counterfeit, since the only clear caseback Rolex watches were non-production vintage ones in the 1930s. Some fake Rolex watches have opaque casebacks, but have engravings. Almost all genuine Rolex watches have an engraving-free smooth caseback(Exceptions are some ladies models before 1990s).
Tiny Crystal Crown: Only recently(after 2002), Rolex has introduced a tiny crown logo, etched onto the crystal at the area around the six o'clock direction. It is best seen with a magnifying device. Please note, this feature may not be applicable to all Rolex watches.
Orignal From: How to Spot a Fake Replica Rolex Watch?
You can use a few approaches to identify a replica or fake Rolex, I list some methods below for your references. If you want to buy a genuine Rolex, you must ensure that the product you are getting is authenticate and not an elaborated copy.
Hologram Sticker: For a genuine Rolex you can notice a 3D hologram sticker on the caseback. For models after 2002, a Rolex crown can be viewed on the sticker, and it changes patterns when you see it from different angles. A replica usually has a sticker with Rolex printed on it, and it does not change color patterns when viewed from other angles.
Clear Caseback: A replica Rolex often has a clear caseback. You can easily identify it as a counterfeit, since the only clear caseback Rolex watches were non-production vintage ones in the 1930s. Some fake Rolex watches have opaque casebacks, but have engravings. Almost all genuine Rolex watches have an engraving-free smooth caseback(Exceptions are some ladies models before 1990s).
Tiny Crystal Crown: Only recently(after 2002), Rolex has introduced a tiny crown logo, etched onto the crystal at the area around the six o'clock direction. It is best seen with a magnifying device. Please note, this feature may not be applicable to all Rolex watches.
Orignal From: How to Spot a Fake Replica Rolex Watch?
Freshwater Cultured Pearl Grading
The Pearl Grades listed below explain the different standards involved in the process of pearl grading. Those listed in this guide are the standards practised by the Mainland Chinese Pearl Traders.
A Grade - Extremely well-shaped, white, highly lustered with very minor surface blemishes.
B Grade - Well-shaped, white to light cream, highly lustered with minor surface blemishes.
C Grade - Irregular shape, off-white, medium luster with an irregular surface.
D Grade - Same as C grade, but one or more of the characteristics are excessively bad.
F Grade - These are for promotional use only. Not suitable for jewellery making ( most are actually ground to pearl dust and used in cosmetics ).
Some Pearls that fall between Grades are given the mixed grades, eg
Orignal From: Freshwater Cultured Pearl Grading
A Grade - Extremely well-shaped, white, highly lustered with very minor surface blemishes.
B Grade - Well-shaped, white to light cream, highly lustered with minor surface blemishes.
C Grade - Irregular shape, off-white, medium luster with an irregular surface.
D Grade - Same as C grade, but one or more of the characteristics are excessively bad.
F Grade - These are for promotional use only. Not suitable for jewellery making ( most are actually ground to pearl dust and used in cosmetics ).
Some Pearls that fall between Grades are given the mixed grades, eg
Orignal From: Freshwater Cultured Pearl Grading
Fake Gucci Jewellery
Please remember when you look at items for sale that the majority of designer jewellery on ebay is fake - at least 98% of it.
Orignal From: Fake Gucci Jewellery
Orignal From: Fake Gucci Jewellery
9ct gold ring jewellery chains stamps frauds and cons
hi welcome to my review let,s start
if your buying gold what do you look for first and foremost check feedback secondly ask questions its your money !!!!!!!
i have been buying and selling gold for quite a while and the first question i always ask is it stamped followed by how much does it weigh is it hollow are they the actual pictures and a good question does it stick to a magnet most people will get involved and answer honestly if they are avoiding answering questions it usually means a, they cant weigh the gold but easily done at post office jewellery shops etc so might ring alarm bells, please always get recorded delivery on any jewellery it saves argument and always if possible pay on paypal remember on chains the clasp will stick to a magnet only there is a tiny spring in clasps, lobster claws bangles , braclets also contain a metal spring or have metal cores
Orignal From: 9ct gold ring jewellery chains stamps frauds and cons
if your buying gold what do you look for first and foremost check feedback secondly ask questions its your money !!!!!!!
i have been buying and selling gold for quite a while and the first question i always ask is it stamped followed by how much does it weigh is it hollow are they the actual pictures and a good question does it stick to a magnet most people will get involved and answer honestly if they are avoiding answering questions it usually means a, they cant weigh the gold but easily done at post office jewellery shops etc so might ring alarm bells, please always get recorded delivery on any jewellery it saves argument and always if possible pay on paypal remember on chains the clasp will stick to a magnet only there is a tiny spring in clasps, lobster claws bangles , braclets also contain a metal spring or have metal cores
Orignal From: 9ct gold ring jewellery chains stamps frauds and cons
Man-Made Diamonds, A Buyer's Guide
It seems nearly impossible to watch TV or open a newspaper without seeing something about man-made diamonds. For hundreds of years science has tried to create a perfect synthetic diamond. Finally, 21st-century technology has made that prospect a reality.
There are many reasons to purchase synthetic diamonds instead of the mined variety. The prices charged for mined diamonds are, in the very best verbiage, an illusion. To put it more bluntly, Cecil Adams, in his award-winning newspaper column "The Straight Dope" says: "Diamonds are a con, pure and simple." Diamond prices are largely controlled by the DeBeers diamond cartel, and they are not a fair reflection of diamond scarcity. Additionally, studies show that one out of three diamonds sold in the US today has been altered to artificially increase its value. Further studies have shown that on average a couple pays 40% too much for their diamond engagement ring.
Beyond deceptive pricing, there are the issues of "blood diamonds", forced child labor, and a myriad of other disturbing diamond facts.
Recently, socially conscious celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Minnie Driver, and Angelina Jolie have made a vocal issue of wearing only synthetic diamonds to the many gala events they attend.
Good synthetic diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from the mined variety, but without the baggage, and additionally, they cost thousands of dollars less. But, which synthetic diamond is the best choice?
There are many types of man-made or synthetic diamonds available. The choices are numerous, but unbiased information is scarce. Here is an overview and comparison of the synthetic diamonds currently unavailable on the market:
Cubic Zirconia
The grandfather of simulated diamonds, Zircons are available widely. In their best examples, CZ's are actually a fairly decent diamond replica. Unfortunately, the commodity-like availability and vast differences in quality have made the stone synonymous with low-cost fashion jewelry. Perhaps a good choice for cheap bling, but not for fine jewelry. Many sources are available, a decent one is: czfanasy.com
Russian Diamonds
Including Russian Brilliants, Russian Stars and others, they are in fact nothing but high quality cubic zirconias. This is not mentioned prominently on their web sites and they will only cop to it when pressed.
Russian Diamonds are a fine jewelry selection and are usually mounted in quality precious metal settings.
Russian Brilliants are one of the best and oldest sellers of "Russian Diamonds" available at: russianbrilliants.net
Moissanite
Moissanite is a lab-created mineral that is a very good diamond stimulant. Moissanite has been on the market as a fine jewelry choice since the early 90s and has picked up quite a few fans. Moissanite is a hard mineral that, like diamond, will cut glass. There are a couple of minor downsides to moissanite however. First, it is quite expensive, (though still cheap compared to diamonds) usually priced about 250 per carat for good samples.
Secondly, moissanite does not have the same optical qualities as diamond and there are several indicators that make them easy to spot with the naked eye for an experienced practitioner. It is difficult to produce a pure white moissanite and they often appear slightly green when viewed in natural light. Also, moissanite has significantly higher radiance and brilliance factors then natural diamond, causing them to appear "too sparkly" to some. Overall though, moissanite is a beautiful synthetic diamond choice.
"Moissanite From the Sky" at fromthesky.com is a good source of fine moissanite jewelry.
Diamond Nexus
Diamond Nexus gemstones are the result of a fairly new scientific advancement in processing technique, and have only recently been available in the United States.
Diamond Nexus gemstones are excellent diamond stimulants and come very close to matching the properties of mined diamonds at many different comparison points. They cut glass, being virtually identical to diamond on the Mohs (hardness) scale. They refract perfect "hearts and arrows" and have radiance and brilliance readings extremely close to flawless diamond.
White Sapphire
Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by diamond. They are, unlike the others in this review, a natural stone. Their radiance and brilliance are not up to the standards of diamond however. Nevertheless, quality white sapphires are a good diamond alternative.
Gemisis Cultured Diamond
Gemisis diamonds are beautiful and almost perfect diamond replicas. Unfortunately, they are not available in a clear, white color, so they are not a good choice for traditional diamond settings. However, if a yellow, orange or pink diamond is what you crave, Gemisis offers stunning choices in beautiful precious metal, fine-jewelry settings.
Recap:
Synthetic diamonds offer many advantages over the mined variety. You can buy with confidence, knowing that you are getting exactly what you paid for, and have not been the victim of diamond pricing chicanery. If you are concerned with the world around you, you can have a clear conscience, knowing that your money has not contributed to the support of an unethical and abusive industry.
However, there are many choices of synthetic diamonds, with varying degrees of quality. Take a little time to review the seller's information to get a clear idea of what the science is behind the gemstones you are buying.
Orignal From: Man-Made Diamonds, A Buyer's Guide
There are many reasons to purchase synthetic diamonds instead of the mined variety. The prices charged for mined diamonds are, in the very best verbiage, an illusion. To put it more bluntly, Cecil Adams, in his award-winning newspaper column "The Straight Dope" says: "Diamonds are a con, pure and simple." Diamond prices are largely controlled by the DeBeers diamond cartel, and they are not a fair reflection of diamond scarcity. Additionally, studies show that one out of three diamonds sold in the US today has been altered to artificially increase its value. Further studies have shown that on average a couple pays 40% too much for their diamond engagement ring.
Beyond deceptive pricing, there are the issues of "blood diamonds", forced child labor, and a myriad of other disturbing diamond facts.
Recently, socially conscious celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Minnie Driver, and Angelina Jolie have made a vocal issue of wearing only synthetic diamonds to the many gala events they attend.
Good synthetic diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from the mined variety, but without the baggage, and additionally, they cost thousands of dollars less. But, which synthetic diamond is the best choice?
There are many types of man-made or synthetic diamonds available. The choices are numerous, but unbiased information is scarce. Here is an overview and comparison of the synthetic diamonds currently unavailable on the market:
Cubic Zirconia
The grandfather of simulated diamonds, Zircons are available widely. In their best examples, CZ's are actually a fairly decent diamond replica. Unfortunately, the commodity-like availability and vast differences in quality have made the stone synonymous with low-cost fashion jewelry. Perhaps a good choice for cheap bling, but not for fine jewelry. Many sources are available, a decent one is: czfanasy.com
Russian Diamonds
Including Russian Brilliants, Russian Stars and others, they are in fact nothing but high quality cubic zirconias. This is not mentioned prominently on their web sites and they will only cop to it when pressed.
Russian Diamonds are a fine jewelry selection and are usually mounted in quality precious metal settings.
Russian Brilliants are one of the best and oldest sellers of "Russian Diamonds" available at: russianbrilliants.net
Moissanite
Moissanite is a lab-created mineral that is a very good diamond stimulant. Moissanite has been on the market as a fine jewelry choice since the early 90s and has picked up quite a few fans. Moissanite is a hard mineral that, like diamond, will cut glass. There are a couple of minor downsides to moissanite however. First, it is quite expensive, (though still cheap compared to diamonds) usually priced about 250 per carat for good samples.
Secondly, moissanite does not have the same optical qualities as diamond and there are several indicators that make them easy to spot with the naked eye for an experienced practitioner. It is difficult to produce a pure white moissanite and they often appear slightly green when viewed in natural light. Also, moissanite has significantly higher radiance and brilliance factors then natural diamond, causing them to appear "too sparkly" to some. Overall though, moissanite is a beautiful synthetic diamond choice.
"Moissanite From the Sky" at fromthesky.com is a good source of fine moissanite jewelry.
Diamond Nexus
Diamond Nexus gemstones are the result of a fairly new scientific advancement in processing technique, and have only recently been available in the United States.
Diamond Nexus gemstones are excellent diamond stimulants and come very close to matching the properties of mined diamonds at many different comparison points. They cut glass, being virtually identical to diamond on the Mohs (hardness) scale. They refract perfect "hearts and arrows" and have radiance and brilliance readings extremely close to flawless diamond.
White Sapphire
Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by diamond. They are, unlike the others in this review, a natural stone. Their radiance and brilliance are not up to the standards of diamond however. Nevertheless, quality white sapphires are a good diamond alternative.
Gemisis Cultured Diamond
Gemisis diamonds are beautiful and almost perfect diamond replicas. Unfortunately, they are not available in a clear, white color, so they are not a good choice for traditional diamond settings. However, if a yellow, orange or pink diamond is what you crave, Gemisis offers stunning choices in beautiful precious metal, fine-jewelry settings.
Recap:
Synthetic diamonds offer many advantages over the mined variety. You can buy with confidence, knowing that you are getting exactly what you paid for, and have not been the victim of diamond pricing chicanery. If you are concerned with the world around you, you can have a clear conscience, knowing that your money has not contributed to the support of an unethical and abusive industry.
However, there are many choices of synthetic diamonds, with varying degrees of quality. Take a little time to review the seller's information to get a clear idea of what the science is behind the gemstones you are buying.
Orignal From: Man-Made Diamonds, A Buyer's Guide
EBAY MEMBERS ARE NOW FAKING GOOD POSITIVE FEEDBACK !!
Can You Still Trust eBay Feedback?
The eBay feedback system has long been the backbone of the eBay.com buying and selling system. The system enables users to ascertain important information about who they are dealing with, by examining a users
Orignal From: EBAY MEMBERS ARE NOW FAKING GOOD POSITIVE FEEDBACK !!
The eBay feedback system has long been the backbone of the eBay.com buying and selling system. The system enables users to ascertain important information about who they are dealing with, by examining a users
Orignal From: EBAY MEMBERS ARE NOW FAKING GOOD POSITIVE FEEDBACK !!
Jewellery
When buying a piece of jewellery, you need to read what is written and point out key areas and key facts, if these are missing then they are areas to pick up on and to question the seller about.
The carat in gold will be; 9, 14, 18... etc/ The higher the better. There is also carat for the sizes, the weight of diamonds, and again the higher the better. The size of a diamond and the amount of pure gold in the ring or piece of jewellery
Orignal From: Jewellery
The carat in gold will be; 9, 14, 18... etc/ The higher the better. There is also carat for the sizes, the weight of diamonds, and again the higher the better. The size of a diamond and the amount of pure gold in the ring or piece of jewellery
Orignal From: Jewellery
Guide To Authentic Links Of London "Sweetie" Necklaces
This guide has been written to help you to determine whether you are bidding on, or have bought a genuine Links of London "Sweetie" necklace from ebay. I unwittingly purchased a fake from ebay, and was lucky enough that the seller happily refunded my money. I decided to purchase a "Sweetie" necklace from a genuine Links of London store, and wrote this guide with my jewellery in front of me.The Links of London "Sweetie Necklace" does not usually come with the heart attachment that is typically seen on fakes on ebayCharms for the necklace are not attached by what looks like a miniature "keyring hoop". There is one bail connected to the charm which is stamped with the Links of London "three overlapping OVALS" (not circles), and five Links of London hallmarks. The bail is almost the same width as the "sweetie rings" on the necklace.The only "keyring hoop" on the sweetie necklace is part of the toggle clasp. Its of substantial thickness, and it does not have a hallmark. The "coat-hanger" part of the clasp does have the five Links of London hallmarks stamped onto it.A genuine Links of London charm will hang from the necklace facing the right way. It will not be attached to the necklace sideways.The rings on the sweetie necklace will be soldered shut, with no splits in the rings. The only way to remove them from the necklace to add more charms is to remove the "keyring hoop" part of the toggle clasp.The two larger "sweetie rings" on either side of the necklace are engraved with the Links of London three overlapping ovals and "LINKS LONDON".The box the necklace comes in measures 7.5 inches across and 7.5 inches down. It is a beige colour with black outlined edges. It has "LINKS LONDON" and the three overlapping ovals on it. The bottom of the box is solid black.The interior of the box is lined in what appears to be faux suede. There is a raised mound that the necklace rests around. There are two pieces of black elastic with poppers attached to it, which attaches to another set of poppers on the base of the box. This is to hold the necklace in place.Also in the box is a large black drawstring pouch (6 inches x 8 inches) made from what FEELS like felt. It is not felt though, just a very soft material. It has a Links of London label stitched to the centre with "LINKS LONDON" and the three overlapping ovals on the label in a silver colour.If youre not sure whether you have purchased a genuine piece of
Orignal From: Guide To Authentic Links Of London "Sweetie" Necklaces
Orignal From: Guide To Authentic Links Of London "Sweetie" Necklaces
Fake Links of London Charms
Hi, I have just received two fake Links of London charms from the same seller.
Orignal From: Fake Links of London Charms
Orignal From: Fake Links of London Charms
fakes, scams, 0 feedback
I HAVE SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF GUIDES RECENTLY, ADVISING YOU NOT TO BUY FROM OR SELL TO EBAYERS WITH 0 FEEDBACK, DON'T THEY REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE A NEW EBAYER? BEING JUDGED BY YOUR FEEDBACK RATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ZERO, WITH NO NEGATIVES OR POSITIVES IS VERY UNFAIR.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU ARE SELLING A VALUABLE ITEM TO A NEW MEMBER, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WANT THE ITEM DELIVERED TO A DIFFERENT ADDRESS FROM THE ONE SPECIFIED, AND DON'T WANT TO USE YOUR STATED PAYMENT METHODS, THIS IS PROBABLY FRAUD. DO NOT SELL THE ITEM TO THIS MEMBER, AND REPORT THEM TO EBAY.
OF COURSE,
Orignal From: fakes, scams, 0 feedback
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU ARE SELLING A VALUABLE ITEM TO A NEW MEMBER, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WANT THE ITEM DELIVERED TO A DIFFERENT ADDRESS FROM THE ONE SPECIFIED, AND DON'T WANT TO USE YOUR STATED PAYMENT METHODS, THIS IS PROBABLY FRAUD. DO NOT SELL THE ITEM TO THIS MEMBER, AND REPORT THEM TO EBAY.
OF COURSE,
Orignal From: fakes, scams, 0 feedback
Gold.Solid, Filled, Rolled, Plated? What do they mean?
I have been a pawnbroker and secondhand dealer for 25 years and would like
to share some of my experiences in handling gold with you.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what
Orignal From: Gold.Solid, Filled, Rolled, Plated? What do they mean?
to share some of my experiences in handling gold with you.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what
Orignal From: Gold.Solid, Filled, Rolled, Plated? What do they mean?
Charles Horner, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Fake Jewellery
Before writing a guide and commenting on Charles Horner marks, please read the Tom Lawson book 'Charles Horner of Halifax'. There is a guide on here (eBay) which states 'If you see a Charles Horner piece with the CH makers mark but no hallmark then it's a copy.' - this is complete rubbish. The factory made batch commission work which was 'cheap' but high quality, the pieces were not hallmarked to keep the costs down. Any collector should be able to tell an early Charles Horner piece from a fake by just looking at the quality of the metal work and enamelling.After 1919, that factory made many pieces with the intertwined CH logo marked sterling silver, but not hallmarked.During the later years of the factory (50s onwards), quality control was poor and cheap unskilled labour was employed (disabled people and elderly exploited). There was a high turnover of staff during these final years and pieces from the factory at this time in no way compare with the quality of the late 1800s to 1940 - they are not fakes, they are just badly made.Charles Horner had quite a few different maker's stamps including the intertwined CH logo. As the Charles Horner factory became established, other silversmiths changed their CH marks so as not to be confused with Charles Horner. In the same 'guide' as the statement above it is stated that Charles Horner only used the Chester assay office, factory stamps were registered at Birmingham and Sheffield also, see Tom Lawson. Please note that silversmiths use stamps appropriate to the item. If the item is made of thin gold (cufflinks) then the silversmith is unlikely to use a heavy block stamp that will leave an impression on the detailed side of the piece. In this case, light letter stamps would be used.In essence - prior to 1940, check the quality of the work and enamelling. Many pieces were not hallmarked and the factory used different stamps from different assay offices. Later pieces (50s onwards) will be of much poorer quality, the enamel may have flaked off etc......Hope this helps and dispels any myths.
Orignal From: Charles Horner, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Fake Jewellery
Orignal From: Charles Horner, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Fake Jewellery
Creating Beaded Necklaces
Creating Beaded Necklaces with Beadalon Wire
Overview
Necklaces (and Bracelets) can be strung on many different cords or wires. However, over time, we have focused on making our own Jewellery using Beadalon brand stranded wire. Why is this? Well, Beadalon is very resistant to wear and tear (it will not fray like Silk or Nylon thread), it comes in many colours,
Orignal From: Creating Beaded Necklaces
Overview
Necklaces (and Bracelets) can be strung on many different cords or wires. However, over time, we have focused on making our own Jewellery using Beadalon brand stranded wire. Why is this? Well, Beadalon is very resistant to wear and tear (it will not fray like Silk or Nylon thread), it comes in many colours,
Orignal From: Creating Beaded Necklaces
Nickel Silver and FAKE Tiffany Jewellery
BUYING jewellery from internet auctions could seriously damage your health.A warning from
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Orignal From: Nickel Silver and FAKE Tiffany Jewellery
Replacing Your Swatch Watch Strap
Swatch watches are as popular now as they have ever been with hundreds of different models on the market. Unfortunately Swatch watches were originaly designed to be disposable making it difficult if not impossible to find replacement straps when the original began to wear and break.
You can now
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You can now
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All Silver isnt Solid Silver, So Beware,
Apoligies of the poor english , I am a Scottish Fifer and write how I would speak.
There is only
Orignal From: All Silver isnt Solid Silver, So Beware,
There is only
Orignal From: All Silver isnt Solid Silver, So Beware,
Pink Diamonds - One of Nature's Rarest Gemstones
One of the Rarest and Most Valuable Colours of DiamondAll
natural fancy coloured diamonds are very rare and expensive. Pink is
one of the rarest and most desirable colours. The Darya-i-Nur diamond
is the largest pink diamond in the world at about 185 carats.Natural or Enhanced?Natural
pink diamonds are so rare that most jewellers have never seen one, and
will probably never own one. In recent years, treatment processes have
been developed to alter the colour of some diamonds. Most of the pink
diamonds we have bought are natural, although we also happy to offer
enhanced or treated pink diamonds. How Rare?In
our first twenty years of designing diamond rings, we had only owned 5
coloured diamonds, four of which were certificated as natural. Among
the largest diamonds in the world only one out of the top 66 is pink,
although there are a number of other famous pink diamonds. In recent
years the Argyle mine in Australia has produced a relatively large
number of fancy coloured diamonds including pink ones. Surprisingly,
the increased availability of pink diamonds has increased the interest
and demand for pink diamonds. Argyle now produces about 90% of the
total world supply of pink diamonds.How Expensive?Quality
for quality, fancy pink diamonds are more expensive than ordinary
near-colourless ones. We have seen astronomical prices quoted for pink
diamonds, but we manage to source small numbers at reasonable prices.
We can also source large intensely coloured superstar pink diamonds. As
an example, we own a near 3 carat faint pink heart shaped diamond,
which we are offering at just over
Orignal From: Pink Diamonds - One of Nature's Rarest Gemstones
natural fancy coloured diamonds are very rare and expensive. Pink is
one of the rarest and most desirable colours. The Darya-i-Nur diamond
is the largest pink diamond in the world at about 185 carats.Natural or Enhanced?Natural
pink diamonds are so rare that most jewellers have never seen one, and
will probably never own one. In recent years, treatment processes have
been developed to alter the colour of some diamonds. Most of the pink
diamonds we have bought are natural, although we also happy to offer
enhanced or treated pink diamonds. How Rare?In
our first twenty years of designing diamond rings, we had only owned 5
coloured diamonds, four of which were certificated as natural. Among
the largest diamonds in the world only one out of the top 66 is pink,
although there are a number of other famous pink diamonds. In recent
years the Argyle mine in Australia has produced a relatively large
number of fancy coloured diamonds including pink ones. Surprisingly,
the increased availability of pink diamonds has increased the interest
and demand for pink diamonds. Argyle now produces about 90% of the
total world supply of pink diamonds.How Expensive?Quality
for quality, fancy pink diamonds are more expensive than ordinary
near-colourless ones. We have seen astronomical prices quoted for pink
diamonds, but we manage to source small numbers at reasonable prices.
We can also source large intensely coloured superstar pink diamonds. As
an example, we own a near 3 carat faint pink heart shaped diamond,
which we are offering at just over
Orignal From: Pink Diamonds - One of Nature's Rarest Gemstones
Buying a SEIKO watch - PARALLEL IMPORTED VS LICENSED
There are two types of Seiko watch sources on eBay - Parallel imported and licensed.
All licensed offical Seiko watch comes with at least a 12 month warranty and a Seiko watch box. Licensed Seiko watch is guaranteed with the watch genuineness and the watches are handled in professionally managed procedures during delivery from factory to destination dealers. You don't have to worry much buying a licensed Seiko watch with international warranty.
Parallel imported Seiko watch, is also coming from the same production factory but not offically managed by any authorized Seiko dealer watch shop. Some people brings the watches from the factory directly to their countries for selling. Most probably, those people will not check every Seiko watches' quality and the delivery is not proceeded with a professional way. No warranty is offered for parallel imported Seiko watch but you always enjoy a much lower watch price in return.
Watch price versus satisfaction. It is up to your choice to choose between licensed Seiko watch or parallel imported Seiko watch.
I hope this guide is useful to those Seiko watch lovers.
Orignal From: Buying a SEIKO watch - PARALLEL IMPORTED VS LICENSED
All licensed offical Seiko watch comes with at least a 12 month warranty and a Seiko watch box. Licensed Seiko watch is guaranteed with the watch genuineness and the watches are handled in professionally managed procedures during delivery from factory to destination dealers. You don't have to worry much buying a licensed Seiko watch with international warranty.
Parallel imported Seiko watch, is also coming from the same production factory but not offically managed by any authorized Seiko dealer watch shop. Some people brings the watches from the factory directly to their countries for selling. Most probably, those people will not check every Seiko watches' quality and the delivery is not proceeded with a professional way. No warranty is offered for parallel imported Seiko watch but you always enjoy a much lower watch price in return.
Watch price versus satisfaction. It is up to your choice to choose between licensed Seiko watch or parallel imported Seiko watch.
I hope this guide is useful to those Seiko watch lovers.
Orignal From: Buying a SEIKO watch - PARALLEL IMPORTED VS LICENSED
tiffany jewellery
i am sick of seeing tiffany jewellery sold as genuine when i have seen exactly the same in china for about
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Orignal From: tiffany jewellery
Links of London Fake Sweeties
Links of London is a successful jewellery brand in the UK and abroad.The brand has many ranges from high priced diamond jewellery to leather goods and men's collections but it is the Sweetie Bracelet which is its most recognisable product.As I said before Links is a highly successful brand, they do not ever sell their goods wholesale to be sold at a lesser price.
Orignal From: Links of London Fake Sweeties
Orignal From: Links of London Fake Sweeties
A guide to Mexican Opal
As a radiologist, writing a review on mexican opals was perhaps the last thing I expected to be doing, but having fallen in love with this most beautiful and diverse of gemstones, and given the paucity of information available about this amazing gem on the internet, I have set about acquiring a collection of these stones on ebay
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handmade jewellery or NOT what is the difference
over 95% of jewellery sold is mass produced
the majority of this is assembled from castings or stampings, needing minimal assembly by hand.
only a tiny percentage of these require
Orignal From: handmade jewellery or NOT what is the difference
the majority of this is assembled from castings or stampings, needing minimal assembly by hand.
only a tiny percentage of these require
Orignal From: handmade jewellery or NOT what is the difference
9ct gold 14ct 18ct etc how do you know
hi welcome to my review on stamps on gold
so you have searched the ebay site found your item now what
well lets start all genuine gold is stamped by law to prove to the general customer that it has been assayed at the assay office in simple terms that it has the gold content its supposed to have per gram
Orignal From: 9ct gold 14ct 18ct etc how do you know
so you have searched the ebay site found your item now what
well lets start all genuine gold is stamped by law to prove to the general customer that it has been assayed at the assay office in simple terms that it has the gold content its supposed to have per gram
Orignal From: 9ct gold 14ct 18ct etc how do you know
What is an Opal?
What's an Opal?
Have you ever wondered how an opal is formed? How old is it? What is it? Well, here are some answers to those common questions.
Opal Creation
Opal is formed
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Replica designer watches.
Just a small guide on another replica I have come across...designer watches!
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Orignal From: Replica designer watches.
Real vs Replica Watches The Unbiased Guide
Real vs Replica Watches The Unbiased Guide Firstly a bit of background info ,I have been a watch fanatic for quite some years ,and have occured lots of useful information and knowledge of the watch industry, and want to crack the whip (shall we say ! ) to give you some insider info from a unbias a view i can give. I will not preach ethics to you like some other sellers / buyers on here want to do because that's just wrong .! I have real and replica watches, in the past I have sold replica watches ..Question 1:Should I buy a expensive Real Branded watch on ebay (omega ,tag , breitling)I want an orginal
Orignal From: Real vs Replica Watches The Unbiased Guide
Orignal From: Real vs Replica Watches The Unbiased Guide
WELDED BLISS GUIDE TO GOLD - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
What is the difference between 18 and 9 carat gold?
Gold is a pure metal but is inherently soft, therefore to make practical jewellery it must be alloyed with other metals to make it harder. Pure gold is known as 24 carat or 1000 parts pure in practice 999, 18 carat gold is a high purity gold alloy of 750 parts per 1000 (75%), 9 carat gold is the lowest UK legal standard at 375 parts per 1000 (37.5%). Alloys which fall below this standard cannot legally be described as gold, though some countries do allow lower standards.
Orignal From: WELDED BLISS GUIDE TO GOLD - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Body Piercing Care - new piercings and getting pierced
BODY PIERCING CARE AND GETTING PIERCED
This guide has been written by The International Shop of Mystery
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Gold Jewellery : What's Real and What's Fake on eBay
There are so many rock-bottom bargains on eBay, especially with jewellery
items, that it's all too easy to lose sight of what you're actually bidding on
and buying.
There's fine jewellery and there's costume jewellery - expensive and cheap -
superior quality and inferior quality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with
costume jewellery but make sure you haven't paid a fine jewellery price for it!
The descriptions that accompany "gold" items are limitless. Ruthless
sellers will often make a fake item appear to be more expensive than
what it's worth in a number of ways. Firstly, they'll list it in "Fine
Jewellery" instead of costume jewellery. Some buyers have felt proud
having just paid a mere $30 for a genuine 18K gold bracelet and
probably still, to this day are wondering why their wrist is turning
green or black. Key words such as "authentic" and "genuine" lull buyers
into a false sense of confidence that their purchase is exactly what
the seller claims it is. Bad mistake! People can claim what they like
but the reality is, unless YOU know the difference and ask the right
questions, you'll get a cheap import which is only gold-plated (not
solid gold) or electroplated (same problem) or goldtone (metal in a
gold colour - no solid gold at all). Any item which is plated will
eventually wear away to whatever lies underneath. Often, it's a ghastly
coloured metal which will give anyone with sensitive skin a rash from
hell. A classic example is Permagold. Within a week of wearing the
"real gold" bracelet, I developed a rash, my skin discoloured and the
bracelet was tarnishing - yes, the lifetime guarantee "not to tarnish"
was absolute rubbish.
Rule number one: always ask the
seller if the gold is hallmarked. Gold is stamped according to its purity. You
can have 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K
Orignal From: Gold Jewellery : What's Real and What's Fake on eBay
items, that it's all too easy to lose sight of what you're actually bidding on
and buying.
There's fine jewellery and there's costume jewellery - expensive and cheap -
superior quality and inferior quality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with
costume jewellery but make sure you haven't paid a fine jewellery price for it!
The descriptions that accompany "gold" items are limitless. Ruthless
sellers will often make a fake item appear to be more expensive than
what it's worth in a number of ways. Firstly, they'll list it in "Fine
Jewellery" instead of costume jewellery. Some buyers have felt proud
having just paid a mere $30 for a genuine 18K gold bracelet and
probably still, to this day are wondering why their wrist is turning
green or black. Key words such as "authentic" and "genuine" lull buyers
into a false sense of confidence that their purchase is exactly what
the seller claims it is. Bad mistake! People can claim what they like
but the reality is, unless YOU know the difference and ask the right
questions, you'll get a cheap import which is only gold-plated (not
solid gold) or electroplated (same problem) or goldtone (metal in a
gold colour - no solid gold at all). Any item which is plated will
eventually wear away to whatever lies underneath. Often, it's a ghastly
coloured metal which will give anyone with sensitive skin a rash from
hell. A classic example is Permagold. Within a week of wearing the
"real gold" bracelet, I developed a rash, my skin discoloured and the
bracelet was tarnishing - yes, the lifetime guarantee "not to tarnish"
was absolute rubbish.
Rule number one: always ask the
seller if the gold is hallmarked. Gold is stamped according to its purity. You
can have 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K
Orignal From: Gold Jewellery : What's Real and What's Fake on eBay
DEALING with YOUR 1ST NEGATIVE or NEUTRAL FEEDBACK?
OK So You've Received Your First Negative or Neutral Feedback Rating...?Dealing with Your 1st Negative or Neutral Feedback Received...
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Orignal From: DEALING with YOUR 1ST NEGATIVE or NEUTRAL FEEDBACK?
Saturday, 29 August 2009
SELLER'S BEWARE!
If you are selling watches or almost anything, and using Paypal to get payment, Here is something that you should be aware of, that has just happened to me, and could happen to anyone!
I have been selling on Ebay for over three years, and thought everything was hunky dorry, untill I came across a wheeler -dealer in Canada. Not being able to metion any names, but if you look at my feedback you will see a negative comment, of which I am looking into a liability claim through civil court action. This is What happened!
A Fusee pocket watch was brought by a Canadian buyer for a reasonable price, I list with 12 photographs and an in depth discription itemising any defects on all items I list. The parcel was sent to the buyer and went to customs as normal. The buyer was faced with a $45.00 cutoms charge, so he sent me and Email demanding I pay the charges. On top of that he said I was not 'Savy' ( what ever that means) and I should have falcified the customs documents so he could avoid charges. I replied informing him that would have made the insurance invalid. He then mailed back saying if I did not pay the charges he would send the watch back for a refund. Seeing were this was going, I mailed back saying, if he collected the watch and was not happy with it, he could send it back and I would give him a refund. It was no surprice when the next mail arrived saying the watch was not as described in that the case was slightly worn and one hand was slightly bent and the stamp on the case was a PH and not TH as
Orignal From: SELLER'S BEWARE!
I have been selling on Ebay for over three years, and thought everything was hunky dorry, untill I came across a wheeler -dealer in Canada. Not being able to metion any names, but if you look at my feedback you will see a negative comment, of which I am looking into a liability claim through civil court action. This is What happened!
A Fusee pocket watch was brought by a Canadian buyer for a reasonable price, I list with 12 photographs and an in depth discription itemising any defects on all items I list. The parcel was sent to the buyer and went to customs as normal. The buyer was faced with a $45.00 cutoms charge, so he sent me and Email demanding I pay the charges. On top of that he said I was not 'Savy' ( what ever that means) and I should have falcified the customs documents so he could avoid charges. I replied informing him that would have made the insurance invalid. He then mailed back saying if I did not pay the charges he would send the watch back for a refund. Seeing were this was going, I mailed back saying, if he collected the watch and was not happy with it, he could send it back and I would give him a refund. It was no surprice when the next mail arrived saying the watch was not as described in that the case was slightly worn and one hand was slightly bent and the stamp on the case was a PH and not TH as
Orignal From: SELLER'S BEWARE!
Spot a Fake Bape G-Shock
OK, this is my little guide to help you spot a FAKE Bape Casio G-Shock and save yourself a whole heap of cash and trouble. There are some other guides like this, but I've noticed that at least one of them is written by someone who is selling Fakes themselves!! Cheeky so and so.Right now there are LOADS of Bape G-Shocks for sale on eBay. Yellow ones, white ones, red ones, pink ones and black ones. I've seen them all. Some sellers are offering buyers the chance to buy more than one at a time and even to choose what colours they want. So far so good. Except, they are ALL FAKE!Now if you don't mind buying a fake that is one thing. But 99% of these sellers are advertising their Fapes (see what I did there?) as genuine Bape Casio G-Shocks, and that means some poor buyers are paying waaaaay over the odds for them. (I've seen one poor guy who paid over
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Orignal From: Spot a Fake Bape G-Shock
How to spot fake Tiffany
Some of this might seem flaming obvious but sometimes you have to point out the obvious.Firstly, I always look at their feedback and where they are from, if the item is coming from China, then it probably isnt genuine.Check what other items the other person is selling, if they are selling other Tiffany pieces at the same time then they are probably not genuine. If they are clever they will only sell one piece at a time so check their recent activity by looking at their feedback.Also, when looking at their feedback, look at the items they have been buying and selling recently. They make be selling a Tiffany piece that they recently bought and not satisfied with its authenticity. Always be aware of newbies and people with very low feedback selling high priced items. And dont fall for a sob story of their reason for selling their Tiffany
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Orignal From: How to spot fake Tiffany
Bidding Techniques and Auction Winning Secrets
Visit my Ebay Shop
To bid - or not to bid, that is the question.
Thankyou for taking the time to look at this brief article. As a real-life auctioneer and valuer, I can hopefully offer you a little insight into real life auction scenarios, which you may like to consider applying to your ebay bidding techniques. Either way, I hope you will find it interesting.
In a real life auction room you will find many bidders, some experienced, some not, some professional, others not so professional. You will also find, if you speak to the more experienced bidders, each will have their own particular techniques for bidding, and for securing that bargain at the best possible price.
Orignal From: Bidding Techniques and Auction Winning Secrets
To bid - or not to bid, that is the question.
Thankyou for taking the time to look at this brief article. As a real-life auctioneer and valuer, I can hopefully offer you a little insight into real life auction scenarios, which you may like to consider applying to your ebay bidding techniques. Either way, I hope you will find it interesting.
In a real life auction room you will find many bidders, some experienced, some not, some professional, others not so professional. You will also find, if you speak to the more experienced bidders, each will have their own particular techniques for bidding, and for securing that bargain at the best possible price.
Orignal From: Bidding Techniques and Auction Winning Secrets
Gold Jewellery : What's Real and What's Fake on eBay
There are so many rock-bottom bargains on eBay, especially with jewellery
items, that it's all too easy to lose sight of what you're actually bidding on
and buying.
There's fine jewellery and there's costume jewellery - expensive and cheap -
superior quality and inferior quality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with
costume jewellery but make sure you haven't paid a fine jewellery price for it!
The descriptions that accompany "gold" items are limitless. Ruthless
sellers will often make a fake item appear to be more expensive than
what it's worth in a number of ways. Firstly, they'll list it in "Fine
Jewellery" instead of costume jewellery. Some buyers have felt proud
having just paid a mere $30 for a genuine 18K gold bracelet and
probably still, to this day are wondering why their wrist is turning
green or black. Key words such as "authentic" and "genuine" lull buyers
into a false sense of confidence that their purchase is exactly what
the seller claims it is. Bad mistake! People can claim what they like
but the reality is, unless YOU know the difference and ask the right
questions, you'll get a cheap import which is only gold-plated (not
solid gold) or electroplated (same problem) or goldtone (metal in a
gold colour - no solid gold at all). Any item which is plated will
eventually wear away to whatever lies underneath. Often, it's a ghastly
coloured metal which will give anyone with sensitive skin a rash from
hell. A classic example is Permagold. Within a week of wearing the
"real gold" bracelet, I developed a rash, my skin discoloured and the
bracelet was tarnishing - yes, the lifetime guarantee "not to tarnish"
was absolute rubbish.
Rule number one: always ask the
seller if the gold is hallmarked. Gold is stamped according to its purity. You
can have 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K
Orignal From: Gold Jewellery : What's Real and What's Fake on eBay
items, that it's all too easy to lose sight of what you're actually bidding on
and buying.
There's fine jewellery and there's costume jewellery - expensive and cheap -
superior quality and inferior quality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with
costume jewellery but make sure you haven't paid a fine jewellery price for it!
The descriptions that accompany "gold" items are limitless. Ruthless
sellers will often make a fake item appear to be more expensive than
what it's worth in a number of ways. Firstly, they'll list it in "Fine
Jewellery" instead of costume jewellery. Some buyers have felt proud
having just paid a mere $30 for a genuine 18K gold bracelet and
probably still, to this day are wondering why their wrist is turning
green or black. Key words such as "authentic" and "genuine" lull buyers
into a false sense of confidence that their purchase is exactly what
the seller claims it is. Bad mistake! People can claim what they like
but the reality is, unless YOU know the difference and ask the right
questions, you'll get a cheap import which is only gold-plated (not
solid gold) or electroplated (same problem) or goldtone (metal in a
gold colour - no solid gold at all). Any item which is plated will
eventually wear away to whatever lies underneath. Often, it's a ghastly
coloured metal which will give anyone with sensitive skin a rash from
hell. A classic example is Permagold. Within a week of wearing the
"real gold" bracelet, I developed a rash, my skin discoloured and the
bracelet was tarnishing - yes, the lifetime guarantee "not to tarnish"
was absolute rubbish.
Rule number one: always ask the
seller if the gold is hallmarked. Gold is stamped according to its purity. You
can have 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K
Orignal From: Gold Jewellery : What's Real and What's Fake on eBay
RADO Jubilee Ceramic Watches - ID a fake!
After having a bad trading experience with a seller on ebay whereby I paid several hundred pounds for a Rado watch which then turned out to be a fake! I thought the kindest thing to do would be to write a guide on here for other buyers wishing to purchase a Rado watch from any seller on ebay. After my watch broke on the first day of use, I then took it to a Rado dealer to have it authentisitated upon the advise of ebay. After taking one glance at the watch I had purchased, the shop assistant informed me that mine was definitely a fake as it had a second hand on it when genuine Rado ceramica jubilee watches do not. After checking this out on Rado's website http://www.rado.com/en/Collection/Integral/Pages/default.aspx?ref=160.0338.3.073 I realised that yes it deffinitely was in fact a fake. I would like to take this opportunity to advise any ebay users to be wary of sellers claiming the item they are selling is genuine and if need be check the item you are buying closely against a picture on Rado's own website. This was a stupidly easy mistake to make but has since left me without a very special 21st birthday present, so please avoid the upset this has caused me and be wary of buyers selling items at incredibly low prices as they may not be genuine. It is shame that I have had this experience and have had the need to write this review as there are many many genuine traders on ebay and it is sad that there are a few that need to ruin it for all the others. Any questions please feel free to email me :o)
Orignal From: RADO Jubilee Ceramic Watches - ID a fake!
Orignal From: RADO Jubilee Ceramic Watches - ID a fake!
Motorcycle Chain Link Riveting Tools
Just thought I better write a quick guide due to a bad experience with a chain tool I bought.
The case of the more you pay the better the tool does apply here. If you buy cheap you may never get it to work. I nearly lost my eyesight in the process. I purchased a chain riveter that came in a grey plastic box. The tool and accessories were black and the riveter looks like a 'G' clamp. There were four pins of varying diameters to push the old link pin out (after grinding off the head). It also had a tommy bar handle and a screw in handle for the clamp itself. There were some rectangular plates and some round formers and a spring.
Firstly the removal of the old link. I appear to have been lucky because I ground the top of the pin and then used the tool and with a bit of effort it worked. I have since read of people breaking the pin (part of the tool) on the first attempt to use it. Anyway, I removed the chain and put the new chain in place and assembled the link (using a link with a soft rivet for this type of tool). I had to guess what ends to use with the chain tool as it came with no instructions. I believe I used the right ends and clamped the side plate on the link and all that was left was to rivet the link by squashing the end of the chain pin with the chain tool until the end flared out to hold the link together. I must add that I was doing this on a 530 'O' ring chain that was being fitted to my GSXR 1000. The chain tool is suppose to do up to 630 chains! What happened was that when I tried tightening the chain tool to rivet the pin, firstly I tried reasonable pressure but the pin was hardly touched. Then a bit more and the tommy bar bent so I used a spanner on the hex end instead. I tried more pressure and the pin formed a bit. Then more pressure and the cast end piece of the tool shattered and pieces hit the sides of the garage and my face. I tired again with a different end piece and the same thing happened (I wore safety goggles after the first time). I tried once more using an end piece I made myself and this time the main threaded part of the tool broke. I am lucky to still have my eyesight so my main point here is make sure you wear safety goggles even if you think there is no chance of anything happening. Secondly, don't waste your money buying a tool like this if you have a 530 or bigger chain to do. I tried to get a refund but the seller never got back to me. I eventually bought a motrax heavy duty tool which was about
Orignal From: Motorcycle Chain Link Riveting Tools
The case of the more you pay the better the tool does apply here. If you buy cheap you may never get it to work. I nearly lost my eyesight in the process. I purchased a chain riveter that came in a grey plastic box. The tool and accessories were black and the riveter looks like a 'G' clamp. There were four pins of varying diameters to push the old link pin out (after grinding off the head). It also had a tommy bar handle and a screw in handle for the clamp itself. There were some rectangular plates and some round formers and a spring.
Firstly the removal of the old link. I appear to have been lucky because I ground the top of the pin and then used the tool and with a bit of effort it worked. I have since read of people breaking the pin (part of the tool) on the first attempt to use it. Anyway, I removed the chain and put the new chain in place and assembled the link (using a link with a soft rivet for this type of tool). I had to guess what ends to use with the chain tool as it came with no instructions. I believe I used the right ends and clamped the side plate on the link and all that was left was to rivet the link by squashing the end of the chain pin with the chain tool until the end flared out to hold the link together. I must add that I was doing this on a 530 'O' ring chain that was being fitted to my GSXR 1000. The chain tool is suppose to do up to 630 chains! What happened was that when I tried tightening the chain tool to rivet the pin, firstly I tried reasonable pressure but the pin was hardly touched. Then a bit more and the tommy bar bent so I used a spanner on the hex end instead. I tried more pressure and the pin formed a bit. Then more pressure and the cast end piece of the tool shattered and pieces hit the sides of the garage and my face. I tired again with a different end piece and the same thing happened (I wore safety goggles after the first time). I tried once more using an end piece I made myself and this time the main threaded part of the tool broke. I am lucky to still have my eyesight so my main point here is make sure you wear safety goggles even if you think there is no chance of anything happening. Secondly, don't waste your money buying a tool like this if you have a 530 or bigger chain to do. I tried to get a refund but the seller never got back to me. I eventually bought a motrax heavy duty tool which was about
Orignal From: Motorcycle Chain Link Riveting Tools
Ear Stretching
It currently seems to be all the rage to stretch your ears, particularly on the emo/hardcore scenes, although it has been around for much longer with tribes in Africa and Asia often stretching many piercings, including those in the lip. Whilst
Orignal From: Ear Stretching
Orignal From: Ear Stretching
How to Spot a fake Links of London!
Im so used to seeing fakes on a daily basis as I work in a company which sells offical LOL. I can usally tell straight away.
1. The links can often be quite thin, small, and NOT circular.
2. links look quite dirty and dark grey not a highly polished silver colour.
3.in between links look unfinished, best way to described would be it looks rusty (not brown) and it feels really un smooth.
4. quite often the links appear to have a line that runs around the centre of the ring.
5. on the bracelet there will be one larger link which is engraved
Orignal From: How to Spot a fake Links of London!
1. The links can often be quite thin, small, and NOT circular.
2. links look quite dirty and dark grey not a highly polished silver colour.
3.in between links look unfinished, best way to described would be it looks rusty (not brown) and it feels really un smooth.
4. quite often the links appear to have a line that runs around the centre of the ring.
5. on the bracelet there will be one larger link which is engraved
Orignal From: How to Spot a fake Links of London!
How And Why I Block PayPal eCheque Payment Method
My guide to PayPal eCheques.Hi,The latest news on eCheques as at 30th June 2008 is that eBay and PayPal are no longer going to allow sellers to block the eCheque payment method for eBay transactions but this is still an option for website transactions.My sincerest thanks to all those that have kept me up to date with their experiences and particular thanks go to eBay user cvb_tbs I have had reports that eBay will remove reported listings that state you are not allowed to accept eCheques so please remove any reference to this from your listings before someone reports them..I have recently had a buyer attempt to pay by eCheque and this was still successfully blocked. I can no longer be sure that if you follow the process below that eCheque for eBay payments will be blocked but I can state that this does work for payments processed on web sites.It is possible that sellers who have had this option checked prior to the latest PayPal software updates will continue to block eBap PayPal eCheque payments. The rest of the guide is still accurate and nothing has changed over the actual way that eCheques work and I VERY STRONGLY recommend that if you are in the position of having received an eCheque payment you contact your buyer immediately to inform them of this so they don't get upset with you for any delays in receiving their items.On with the original guide then.The way eCheques work.An eCheques is a means of making payments through PayPal when PayPal has no means of accessing your funds instantly. They are most commonly used without the sender even knowing that this method has been chosen by PayPal to make a payment with, as an eCheque is automatically chosen as the payment method when there is no means of accessing a credit or debit card. This results in a 7 to 10 day clearance time for the seller and a frustrated buyer not understanding what has happened and why they have to wait for their item.Quite often a buyer will make a payment for an item and assume that the payment has been made instantly and the seller will have the funds showing in their PayPal account and then get quite upset when the seller informs them that the item will be delayed. Because there is no access to a debit or credit card the funds have to be withdrawn from the buyers account through a direct debit instruction.The misunderstanding is usually as a result of an expired card that just needs updating with PayPal.For sellers that are having a problem with eCheques and frustrated customers I recommend using the Block Payment by eCheque option. This can be found by logging into your PayPal account and choosing the profile option under the "My Account" Page Tab.If you click on the actual "profile" link you will be presented with a page of categorised links. The "Selling Preferences" category has a link to "Payment Receiving Pages" and by following this link you will be taken to a page that has a list of Payment Receiving options.Place a tick in the"Block the following payments:Pay with eCheque for website and Smart Logo payments, or German bank transfer for all website payments except eBay. NOTE: You may not block eCheque payments on eBay."option.Press the "Save" Button at the bottom of the screen and you are done. Well not quite. You now have to amend all your listings to state clearly that you do not accept eCheques.The wording of the option has changed again and it is now clear that PayPal do not want you to block eCheque payments for eBay transactions. To my knowledge this block will now only work for non eBay transactionsYou will receive messages from confused buyers telling you that your PayPal account doesn't work or there is a problem. You will then have to explain to your buyers that the error message they are seeing is due to PayPal Payment method used has been an eCheque and you are unable to accept these. You can then give advice on why this may have happened and offer alternative Payment methods.Your buyer will usually then be very pleased that they had discovered an out of date card registered on their PayPal account and have been given the opportunity to rectify the problem and or find a quicker alternative funding source to eCheque's.Based on feedback I have received from my buyers I have come to the opinion that blocking eCheques is providing a service to my customers.If you do get an eCheque that you do not want to accept and you have specified on your listings that you do NOT accept eCheque payments then you are perfectly within your rights to cancel the payment (This has to be done by the seller as the buyer does not have the option) and arrange for an alternative payment method with your buyer.A cancelled eCheque will return the funds to the buyers' PayPal account rather than their bank account. You should be aware that many buyers get confused over the delay between funds leaving their bank account and reaching their PayPal account. This can cause the sender to believe that the money has disappeared. You should tell them to be patient as the funds will reappear in their PayPal account at around the same time as you would have received them had you not cancelled the eCheque so please bear this in mind when communicating with your trading partner.If you have found any of this information useful then please vote for it.You may also be interested in my other guidesMy guide to business selling on eBay What constitutes a business and should I start one
Orignal From: How And Why I Block PayPal eCheque Payment Method
Orignal From: How And Why I Block PayPal eCheque Payment Method
GUIDE TO BRITISH HALLMARKING AND PRECIOUS METALS by JSM
British Hallmarks
The idea of this guide is to give you a comprehensive guide to buying British Assay Office marked jewellery. There are a couple of others online which are useful,
Orignal From: GUIDE TO BRITISH HALLMARKING AND PRECIOUS METALS by JSM
The idea of this guide is to give you a comprehensive guide to buying British Assay Office marked jewellery. There are a couple of others online which are useful,
Orignal From: GUIDE TO BRITISH HALLMARKING AND PRECIOUS METALS by JSM
MUST READ; Obvious clues on spotting a fake watch!!
Hi, my reason for writing this no-nonsense guide is to educate the uneducated, the ignorant, or simply the undecided. I'm not trying to be eBay police or a Do-Gooder, I dont care if some muppet will pay
Orignal From: MUST READ; Obvious clues on spotting a fake watch!!
Orignal From: MUST READ; Obvious clues on spotting a fake watch!!
Dichroic Glass or Murano glass fake items
Dichroic glass has gained popularity over the past 5 years and as such the market has been flooded by products purporting to be 'dichroic' or 'murano'. Unfortunately an ever increasing amount of these items are not dichroic, some aren't even glass!
Dichroic glass is essentially a specialty glass with metal oxides coated to it producing fabulous colours that can reflect in different shades depending on the light. The glass is available in patterns from the main producers such as CBS or savoy studios.
Orignal From: Dichroic Glass or Murano glass fake items
Dichroic glass is essentially a specialty glass with metal oxides coated to it producing fabulous colours that can reflect in different shades depending on the light. The glass is available in patterns from the main producers such as CBS or savoy studios.
Orignal From: Dichroic Glass or Murano glass fake items
Stretching Ear Lobes - Mini How To Guide
Stretching (plus hints and tips)What is stretching?Stretching is the means by which one can slowly enlarge a pierced hole in the body, this is mostly done to the ear lobe, but can be done to nearly every piercing that you can get. This is done by slightly stretching the tissue, causing micro-tears to form, and maintain the hole at the new size until the tears heal completely. This process can then be repeated as many times as needed, to get to the desired size, as long as this is done safely and correctly, this means that nearly any size piercing hole can be created.How often should I stretch?Stretching is based on the individual, as every body is different you must gauge this time yourself and be sensible about this. As there is no set time frame that will work for everyone all I can do is give you a suggestion on how long to wait, but this will vary depending on aftercare and difference in size that you are going from and to. General rule is that most people feel that their ears are healed after 1 month, before stretching again it is advised to wait another 2-3 weeks. Or you can look at it this way one stretch every other month.Stretching By Taper MethodUsing a taper is the most effective way to stretch your ears with minimal stress. Firstly you will need a taper to do this, these can be made of metal or acrylic and should be:Smallest end - gauge below your currently gauge, so that you can get the taper in easilyLargest end - the size you want to get to or size up from your current gauge, this goes one size jump at a timee.g. small end would be 14G (1.6mm) and the large end would be 10G (2.4mm)WARNING! When you stretch it should never be painful, there might be a slight amount of discomfort from the pressure, but it should never be any more than this, also there should never be any bood while stretching.If you would like to know more about stretching and find out everything you need to know then you should buy my stretching guide and read it before you attempt to start stretching your ear lobes, this guide comes with some taper kits, check the listing to see if it's included with the kit you want! Search my shop for the
Orignal From: Stretching Ear Lobes - Mini How To Guide
Orignal From: Stretching Ear Lobes - Mini How To Guide
A GUIDE TO BUYING A SMITHS WATCH FOR PLEASURE OR PROFIT
FURTHER SMITHS INFORMATION AND SALES A BRIEF GUIDE TO POST WAR SMITHS ENGLISH WATCHES COMPILED IN AN IDLE MOMENT.If you are buying Smiths watches, firstly decide whether you are a
collector or dealer/investor, and whether you will use the watch as a
timepiece or not. This will define your buying area and budget.
Generally collectors work on buying lower value pieces, judging the
bidding numbers. Some are restricting themselves to budgetary limits,
and bid a maximum figure of, say
Orignal From: A GUIDE TO BUYING A SMITHS WATCH FOR PLEASURE OR PROFIT
collector or dealer/investor, and whether you will use the watch as a
timepiece or not. This will define your buying area and budget.
Generally collectors work on buying lower value pieces, judging the
bidding numbers. Some are restricting themselves to budgetary limits,
and bid a maximum figure of, say
Orignal From: A GUIDE TO BUYING A SMITHS WATCH FOR PLEASURE OR PROFIT
Ring Sizing Advice - What Finger Size?
Getting the Correct Ring Finger Size
Finger Sizes
To get the maximum pleasure out of wearing your favourite ring, it is important that it fits you correctly.
This may seem like stating the obvious, but we are continually astounded by two facts.
First, the average Briton wears their rings about two sizes too large,
our theory for this is that it's easier for shops to send customers out
with their ring slightly too large than it is to try to pinpoint the
size and risk having to resize it up. For obvious reasons, customers
are happier with a ring which is a size or two too large than one which
is even a half size too small.
It follows from the above that most people who think they know their finger size, don't.
Many people seem to worry that having a ring size adjusted is going to
be a major life threatening event. Either they are going to "lose some
gold" by having it sized down, or the shank will become thinner if they
have it sized up.
Having a ring adjusted to your correct finger size need not be a traumatic event.
Adding Gold or Stretching?
Another question we are frequently asked is about whether it is better to add gold to a ring or to stretch it.
Each case can be different. For a new wedding ring, it is usually
better to "tap" or stretch it up, whether it is being increased only
fractionally or a considerable number of sizes. This applies especially
if the ring has been "engineered" from a blank, rather than cast.
For a gem ring, it is usually better to add an extra piece of gold,
unless the size is being adjusted upward only slightly. In fact the
correct way to carry out a sizing is to add or remove gold to make a
finger size fractionally too small, and then make the final adjustment
by "tapping" up to the correct fit. The "tapping" is done by hammering.
Won't This Leave A Join?
Yes!
But not many people realise that most mass produced rings are made to a
standard finger size, and then cut and soldered to a variety of sizes.
Even some custom made rings are often made to a "stock" size, and then
adjusted later.
How Do I Get My Correct Size?
Most jewellers use a set of plain metal finger size rings. This is the
best way to measure your finger size. Cardboard or plastic devices are
not sufficiently accurate.
We believe that the best way to find your correct size is to start with
a size that slides easily onto the finger. Then progressively try
smaller sizes until you find one which will not go on. Your correct
size will be about half to one full size larger.
This assumes that the ring you wish to wear is about the same width as
the sizing ring, and also depends whether it is a plain solid hoop. If
it has a hollow head, you may find that you can wear a smaller size. In
general a wider ring may need to be slightly larger, and a narrow ring
may need to be slightly smaller. It also depends on your basic finger
shape.
The Three Basic Finger Shapes
At Chard, we have formed a theory that there are three basic finger shapes.
Expressed rather indelicately, these could be called fat, medium, and
thin, perhaps we should call them well-built, typical, and slim.
A typical or medium finger shape is one where the knuckle joint is
slightly larger than the fleshy part above it where the ring is worn.
In this case, the ring should be a close fit over the knuckle, but feel
comfortable to wear once it is in place. With a little luck, the ring
will not tend to slip around the finger, even in the case of large or
heavy rings. Owners of medium finger shapes are fortunate!
The owners of well-built fingers will find that the fleshy part of
their finger is larger than the knuckle joint. Perhaps we should call
these people "small-boned". In this case, obviously the ring will slide
over the knuckle easily, but there is a slight danger that the ring
could slip off. To avoid this, it is better if the ring fits slightly
more tightly on the flesh than for people with "medium" fingers. It may
be worth a short period of slight discomfort with a new ring to ensure
a snug fit ever after, as the flesh under the ring will usually adjust
slightly to the ring.
The people who often have the greatest problem with getting a perfect
ring fit, are those with slim fingers, where once the ring is squeezed
over the knuckle, it is too slack on the finger, and spins round. For
this problem, we have developed a "trick" which a number of other
jewellers also use. We adjust the finger size so that it is a few sizes
too large, we then add two "bars" across the inside back of the shank.
If the top of the ring is considered as 12 o'clock, then the bars are
added at about 4 and 8 o'clock. This hardly ever fails to work,
although it has to be done by trial and error, as there is no simple
scientific way to gauge the "correct" finger size. On average, we
expect to take two attempts to get this right.
I Want To Buy A Surprise Gift - What About Guessing The Size?
This is an extremely common question.
Our usual advice is to take the ring in its existing size, present it,
and then take or bring the lucky owner into a jeweller's to have their
finger measured properly, and the ring adjusted accurately. We advise
this for two reasons. In the knowledge that most guesses are wrong, and
also that, although adjusting the finger size does not normally harm
the ring, there is no point sizing it twice rather than once.
Leading Edge or Centre
Some jeweller's believe in measuring standard width rings by the
"leading edge", but broader rings by the measurement at the centre. We
believe this is inconsistent and illogical. We always specify our
finger sizes by "leading edge" rather than "middle". It is often
necessary to specify broad rings in a slightly larger finger size than
for thinner rings.
Can the Gold be Added Back?
If a ring is going down in size, occasionally people ask can the gold
that is removed be "added back". Without melting it down and remaking
the ring, this is not possible. The amount of gold "lost" is usually
very small, and in any case it is in the form of swarf, filings and
dust which may be contaminated by metal from other jobs, broken saw
blades etc. Re-using any form of scrap gold without refining is usually
inviting quality control problems.
What About Ordering a Ring By Mail Order?
What is the best policy about getting the correct finger size when ordering by mail or over the internet?
We believe it is worthwhile to visit a good local jeweller, and offer
to pay to have your finger size measured. If it costs a few pounds or
dollars, it can be worthwhile. You should now be in a position to order
the correct size by mail.
Alternatively, if the ring is made in a stock size (we aim to make our
stock rings two to three sizes bigger than average), order the ring in
the stock size, and have it sized locally. This should not cost an arm
and a leg, and will often be better than trying to guess the size
remotely, and sending the ring to and fro in the post.
Obviously, if the stock size happens to be a perfect fit, that would be
ideal, but following on from what we say above, if the ring is just
slightly tight, it should be possible to "tap" it up fractionally.
International Size Scales
We get asked about finger size conversions quite frequently, and we
have never seen a chart which lists British, European, Japanese, and
American systems side by side, so we created our own!
Unfortunately, the International Ring Sizes page of our website will
not format correctly as an eBay Guide, as we cannot use HTML tags to
format it neatly into a table. If we manage to find a work-around for
this problem, we will add a separate guide.
Was This Guide Useful?If
you found this guide interesting, informative or useful, please spare
few seconds of your time to vote for it by clicking on the "Yes" button
below, thanks.
Other GuidesYou may be interested in viewing our other guides:-
Buying Jewellery as an Investment
Sniping - Is it Good Strategy for Winning Auctions?
Orignal From: Ring Sizing Advice - What Finger Size?
Finger Sizes
To get the maximum pleasure out of wearing your favourite ring, it is important that it fits you correctly.
This may seem like stating the obvious, but we are continually astounded by two facts.
First, the average Briton wears their rings about two sizes too large,
our theory for this is that it's easier for shops to send customers out
with their ring slightly too large than it is to try to pinpoint the
size and risk having to resize it up. For obvious reasons, customers
are happier with a ring which is a size or two too large than one which
is even a half size too small.
It follows from the above that most people who think they know their finger size, don't.
Many people seem to worry that having a ring size adjusted is going to
be a major life threatening event. Either they are going to "lose some
gold" by having it sized down, or the shank will become thinner if they
have it sized up.
Having a ring adjusted to your correct finger size need not be a traumatic event.
Adding Gold or Stretching?
Another question we are frequently asked is about whether it is better to add gold to a ring or to stretch it.
Each case can be different. For a new wedding ring, it is usually
better to "tap" or stretch it up, whether it is being increased only
fractionally or a considerable number of sizes. This applies especially
if the ring has been "engineered" from a blank, rather than cast.
For a gem ring, it is usually better to add an extra piece of gold,
unless the size is being adjusted upward only slightly. In fact the
correct way to carry out a sizing is to add or remove gold to make a
finger size fractionally too small, and then make the final adjustment
by "tapping" up to the correct fit. The "tapping" is done by hammering.
Won't This Leave A Join?
Yes!
But not many people realise that most mass produced rings are made to a
standard finger size, and then cut and soldered to a variety of sizes.
Even some custom made rings are often made to a "stock" size, and then
adjusted later.
How Do I Get My Correct Size?
Most jewellers use a set of plain metal finger size rings. This is the
best way to measure your finger size. Cardboard or plastic devices are
not sufficiently accurate.
We believe that the best way to find your correct size is to start with
a size that slides easily onto the finger. Then progressively try
smaller sizes until you find one which will not go on. Your correct
size will be about half to one full size larger.
This assumes that the ring you wish to wear is about the same width as
the sizing ring, and also depends whether it is a plain solid hoop. If
it has a hollow head, you may find that you can wear a smaller size. In
general a wider ring may need to be slightly larger, and a narrow ring
may need to be slightly smaller. It also depends on your basic finger
shape.
The Three Basic Finger Shapes
At Chard, we have formed a theory that there are three basic finger shapes.
Expressed rather indelicately, these could be called fat, medium, and
thin, perhaps we should call them well-built, typical, and slim.
A typical or medium finger shape is one where the knuckle joint is
slightly larger than the fleshy part above it where the ring is worn.
In this case, the ring should be a close fit over the knuckle, but feel
comfortable to wear once it is in place. With a little luck, the ring
will not tend to slip around the finger, even in the case of large or
heavy rings. Owners of medium finger shapes are fortunate!
The owners of well-built fingers will find that the fleshy part of
their finger is larger than the knuckle joint. Perhaps we should call
these people "small-boned". In this case, obviously the ring will slide
over the knuckle easily, but there is a slight danger that the ring
could slip off. To avoid this, it is better if the ring fits slightly
more tightly on the flesh than for people with "medium" fingers. It may
be worth a short period of slight discomfort with a new ring to ensure
a snug fit ever after, as the flesh under the ring will usually adjust
slightly to the ring.
The people who often have the greatest problem with getting a perfect
ring fit, are those with slim fingers, where once the ring is squeezed
over the knuckle, it is too slack on the finger, and spins round. For
this problem, we have developed a "trick" which a number of other
jewellers also use. We adjust the finger size so that it is a few sizes
too large, we then add two "bars" across the inside back of the shank.
If the top of the ring is considered as 12 o'clock, then the bars are
added at about 4 and 8 o'clock. This hardly ever fails to work,
although it has to be done by trial and error, as there is no simple
scientific way to gauge the "correct" finger size. On average, we
expect to take two attempts to get this right.
I Want To Buy A Surprise Gift - What About Guessing The Size?
This is an extremely common question.
Our usual advice is to take the ring in its existing size, present it,
and then take or bring the lucky owner into a jeweller's to have their
finger measured properly, and the ring adjusted accurately. We advise
this for two reasons. In the knowledge that most guesses are wrong, and
also that, although adjusting the finger size does not normally harm
the ring, there is no point sizing it twice rather than once.
Leading Edge or Centre
Some jeweller's believe in measuring standard width rings by the
"leading edge", but broader rings by the measurement at the centre. We
believe this is inconsistent and illogical. We always specify our
finger sizes by "leading edge" rather than "middle". It is often
necessary to specify broad rings in a slightly larger finger size than
for thinner rings.
Can the Gold be Added Back?
If a ring is going down in size, occasionally people ask can the gold
that is removed be "added back". Without melting it down and remaking
the ring, this is not possible. The amount of gold "lost" is usually
very small, and in any case it is in the form of swarf, filings and
dust which may be contaminated by metal from other jobs, broken saw
blades etc. Re-using any form of scrap gold without refining is usually
inviting quality control problems.
What About Ordering a Ring By Mail Order?
What is the best policy about getting the correct finger size when ordering by mail or over the internet?
We believe it is worthwhile to visit a good local jeweller, and offer
to pay to have your finger size measured. If it costs a few pounds or
dollars, it can be worthwhile. You should now be in a position to order
the correct size by mail.
Alternatively, if the ring is made in a stock size (we aim to make our
stock rings two to three sizes bigger than average), order the ring in
the stock size, and have it sized locally. This should not cost an arm
and a leg, and will often be better than trying to guess the size
remotely, and sending the ring to and fro in the post.
Obviously, if the stock size happens to be a perfect fit, that would be
ideal, but following on from what we say above, if the ring is just
slightly tight, it should be possible to "tap" it up fractionally.
International Size Scales
We get asked about finger size conversions quite frequently, and we
have never seen a chart which lists British, European, Japanese, and
American systems side by side, so we created our own!
Unfortunately, the International Ring Sizes page of our website will
not format correctly as an eBay Guide, as we cannot use HTML tags to
format it neatly into a table. If we manage to find a work-around for
this problem, we will add a separate guide.
Was This Guide Useful?If
you found this guide interesting, informative or useful, please spare
few seconds of your time to vote for it by clicking on the "Yes" button
below, thanks.
Other GuidesYou may be interested in viewing our other guides:-
Buying Jewellery as an Investment
Sniping - Is it Good Strategy for Winning Auctions?
Orignal From: Ring Sizing Advice - What Finger Size?
Buying a Genuine Rolex Watch
This guide is designed to help you to buy a genuine Rolex watch.
There are many freudsters out there in Ebay land, who will happily see you part with your money for a cheap Rolex copy, or even nothing! There are some simple rules that you MUST adhere to if you are to be successful in your transaction.
First you must not answer or even read emails regarding sales of Rolexes unless the email is inserted in 'My eBay Summary. Some of these emails look very professional and you can easily think they are from eBay. THEY ARE NOT. Ignore second chance offers unless they are in your 'eBay Summary.They will often tell you your account is to be suspended, unless you follow the 'sign in' link. If you do this you will be giving someone your password.Watch out. The consequences are dire to say the least.
When you see an item for sale there are particular things to watch out for. Nobody sells a Rolex Masterpiece for a few quid. Don't
Orignal From: Buying a Genuine Rolex Watch
There are many freudsters out there in Ebay land, who will happily see you part with your money for a cheap Rolex copy, or even nothing! There are some simple rules that you MUST adhere to if you are to be successful in your transaction.
First you must not answer or even read emails regarding sales of Rolexes unless the email is inserted in 'My eBay Summary. Some of these emails look very professional and you can easily think they are from eBay. THEY ARE NOT. Ignore second chance offers unless they are in your 'eBay Summary.They will often tell you your account is to be suspended, unless you follow the 'sign in' link. If you do this you will be giving someone your password.Watch out. The consequences are dire to say the least.
When you see an item for sale there are particular things to watch out for. Nobody sells a Rolex Masterpiece for a few quid. Don't
Orignal From: Buying a Genuine Rolex Watch
Modern UK Silver Hallmarks in Current Use
There are several ebay guides about old silver hallmarks, but little about hallmarks currently in use so I thought I'd fill the gap...
UK hallmarks are assigned by the Assay Offices, of which there are currently four: London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Modifications to the 1973 Hallmarking Act in 1999 changed the way articles made of precious metals are hallmarked. The UK hallmark now comprises a minimum of three compulsory symbols: a makers (or sponsors) mark; a purity mark; and the assay office mark.
The compulsory Assay Office marks appear as follows:
London: A leopard's head
Sheffield: A rose
Birmingham: An anchor
Edinburgh: A castle with 3 turrets
The compulsory purity marks appear as follows:
An oval disc with one of the following numbers inside:
800 for 80% silver content (often called Continental Silver)
925 for 92.5% silver content (often called Sterling Silver)
958 for 95.8% silver content (often called Britannia Silver)
999 for 99.9% silver content (often called Fine Silver)
The compulsory maker's or sponsor's mark vary and appear as one more letters within a shield.
There are other marks (known as Voluntary Marks) that can be applied to the item. The following list explains some of them:
Date mark: Curently a single letter within an octagonal shape. The letter for 2007 is a lower-case 'h'
Common Control Mark: A set of scales with a purity number (eg 925) set in the middle. This is an international mark.
Commemorative Marks: These vary, depending on the occasion (eg Queen's Head for her Golden Jubilee)
Hope this was helpful! If so, please vote below!
Orignal From: Modern UK Silver Hallmarks in Current Use
UK hallmarks are assigned by the Assay Offices, of which there are currently four: London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Modifications to the 1973 Hallmarking Act in 1999 changed the way articles made of precious metals are hallmarked. The UK hallmark now comprises a minimum of three compulsory symbols: a makers (or sponsors) mark; a purity mark; and the assay office mark.
The compulsory Assay Office marks appear as follows:
London: A leopard's head
Sheffield: A rose
Birmingham: An anchor
Edinburgh: A castle with 3 turrets
The compulsory purity marks appear as follows:
An oval disc with one of the following numbers inside:
800 for 80% silver content (often called Continental Silver)
925 for 92.5% silver content (often called Sterling Silver)
958 for 95.8% silver content (often called Britannia Silver)
999 for 99.9% silver content (often called Fine Silver)
The compulsory maker's or sponsor's mark vary and appear as one more letters within a shield.
There are other marks (known as Voluntary Marks) that can be applied to the item. The following list explains some of them:
Date mark: Curently a single letter within an octagonal shape. The letter for 2007 is a lower-case 'h'
Common Control Mark: A set of scales with a purity number (eg 925) set in the middle. This is an international mark.
Commemorative Marks: These vary, depending on the occasion (eg Queen's Head for her Golden Jubilee)
Hope this was helpful! If so, please vote below!
Orignal From: Modern UK Silver Hallmarks in Current Use
The Ring Size Chart!
The Ring Size Chart below show you sizes in U.K., Metric and U.S. This is very useful if the items you want to buy are described in sizes you don't recognise (like buying them from a different country):
Orignal From: The Ring Size Chart!
Orignal From: The Ring Size Chart!
London Gold Fixing Price
London Gold FixingThe price
of gold is fixed twice daily in London by the five members of the
London gold pool, all members of the London Bullion Market Association.
The fixes start at 10.30 a.m., and 3.00 p.m. London time. The length of
time taken to reach an agreed fixing price can vary. Nowadays it is
often reached in minutes, but we have known in take several hours on at
least one occasion. There are a number of common misconceptions about
the London gold fix.Three CurrenciesMany
people, including most of the media, are under the impression that the
gold price is fixed in US dollars. It is actually fixed in pounds
sterling (GBP), and Euros also, although the Euro pricing is fairly new.Media - Take NoteWhenever
you see a gold fix price quoted, it will almost always be in dollars.
This applies even in the UK. Most people in the UK who need to know a
gold price, need it because they have bought or sold some gold at some
predetermined price dependent on that particular fixing price.
Naturally because they are in the UK, they wish to know the price in
sterling. It is quite frustrating for many of these people to see a
price quoted in a newspaper, of more commonly on Ceefax or Teletext,
which is quoted in dollars. We have actually been telling the BBC's
Ceefax department about this for years, and suggesting that they give
the quotes in sterling and dollars , but they originally said there was
insufficient space on the screen, which was incorrect, they would think
about it (they appear to still be thinking). We have given up trying to
advise them.Not A Fixed PriceThe
other common error is for people to think the gold fix price is a fixed
price, as in today's price or this morning's price, and that all gold
transactions for the whole morning, afternoon or day, are carried out
at the fixing price. This is not true. The fix price is the price at
the exact instant in time at which it is agreed. Within seconds it will
be trading at different prices. Amateurs, and also many who should know
better, may then wonder what is the point, and why it is called a
fixing price. The simple answer is that the five members use it to
establish a market price which is fixed only for that precise moment,
at which they can balance their sales and purchase requirements,
including orders and commissions from clients. We ourselves often use
the London gold fixing as a basis for our transactions with other
professionals. We are also happy to do this with private individuals,
but we find most people are happier for us to quote them a current
"spot" price for gold. When we deal on the basis of a London fix, it
will always be a future fix, often the next one, but not necessarily.
We will agree to buy, or sell as the case may be, a fixed amount of
gold in the form of bars, krugerrands, sovereigns, or other gold
bullion formats, at either a percentage or a fixed amount relative to
the fix. Neither party knows what the actual striking price will be,
but this is usually not a problem. It is also possible to place a
conditional order, for example to buy 500 ounces at the next fix,
subject to a limit, so that if the fix is above a certain level the
transaction will not be concluded. The concept of dealing at an unknown
price may seem strange to some, but for most gold professionals, any
plusses and minuses usually average out over a period period of time.
It saves much time which would be wasted in haggling about two
different views of the market.ClosedThe London Gold Market closed in 1939, and re-opened on 22nd March 1954.
Where?London gold fix prices can be found on the site of the LBMA, the London Bullion Market Association.There
are also live spot gold prices on our own website, in up to 12
different currencies. We are not permitted to include a link here.
For the same reason, we cannot provide a live feed on this page to the most recent London Gold Fixing price, sorry.Was This Guide Useful?If
you found this guide interesting, informative or useful, please spare
few seconds of your time to vote for it by clicking on the "Yes" button
below, thanks. If you don't find this useful, think about letting us
know rather than hitting the "No" button.Other GuidesYou may be interested in viewing our other guides:-$1.2 Million of Krugerrands @ 10% Under Spot - Scam? London Gold Fixing PriceHow to Photograph Coins - Advice, hints, tips
Orignal From: London Gold Fixing Price
of gold is fixed twice daily in London by the five members of the
London gold pool, all members of the London Bullion Market Association.
The fixes start at 10.30 a.m., and 3.00 p.m. London time. The length of
time taken to reach an agreed fixing price can vary. Nowadays it is
often reached in minutes, but we have known in take several hours on at
least one occasion. There are a number of common misconceptions about
the London gold fix.Three CurrenciesMany
people, including most of the media, are under the impression that the
gold price is fixed in US dollars. It is actually fixed in pounds
sterling (GBP), and Euros also, although the Euro pricing is fairly new.Media - Take NoteWhenever
you see a gold fix price quoted, it will almost always be in dollars.
This applies even in the UK. Most people in the UK who need to know a
gold price, need it because they have bought or sold some gold at some
predetermined price dependent on that particular fixing price.
Naturally because they are in the UK, they wish to know the price in
sterling. It is quite frustrating for many of these people to see a
price quoted in a newspaper, of more commonly on Ceefax or Teletext,
which is quoted in dollars. We have actually been telling the BBC's
Ceefax department about this for years, and suggesting that they give
the quotes in sterling and dollars , but they originally said there was
insufficient space on the screen, which was incorrect, they would think
about it (they appear to still be thinking). We have given up trying to
advise them.Not A Fixed PriceThe
other common error is for people to think the gold fix price is a fixed
price, as in today's price or this morning's price, and that all gold
transactions for the whole morning, afternoon or day, are carried out
at the fixing price. This is not true. The fix price is the price at
the exact instant in time at which it is agreed. Within seconds it will
be trading at different prices. Amateurs, and also many who should know
better, may then wonder what is the point, and why it is called a
fixing price. The simple answer is that the five members use it to
establish a market price which is fixed only for that precise moment,
at which they can balance their sales and purchase requirements,
including orders and commissions from clients. We ourselves often use
the London gold fixing as a basis for our transactions with other
professionals. We are also happy to do this with private individuals,
but we find most people are happier for us to quote them a current
"spot" price for gold. When we deal on the basis of a London fix, it
will always be a future fix, often the next one, but not necessarily.
We will agree to buy, or sell as the case may be, a fixed amount of
gold in the form of bars, krugerrands, sovereigns, or other gold
bullion formats, at either a percentage or a fixed amount relative to
the fix. Neither party knows what the actual striking price will be,
but this is usually not a problem. It is also possible to place a
conditional order, for example to buy 500 ounces at the next fix,
subject to a limit, so that if the fix is above a certain level the
transaction will not be concluded. The concept of dealing at an unknown
price may seem strange to some, but for most gold professionals, any
plusses and minuses usually average out over a period period of time.
It saves much time which would be wasted in haggling about two
different views of the market.ClosedThe London Gold Market closed in 1939, and re-opened on 22nd March 1954.
Where?London gold fix prices can be found on the site of the LBMA, the London Bullion Market Association.There
are also live spot gold prices on our own website, in up to 12
different currencies. We are not permitted to include a link here.
For the same reason, we cannot provide a live feed on this page to the most recent London Gold Fixing price, sorry.Was This Guide Useful?If
you found this guide interesting, informative or useful, please spare
few seconds of your time to vote for it by clicking on the "Yes" button
below, thanks. If you don't find this useful, think about letting us
know rather than hitting the "No" button.Other GuidesYou may be interested in viewing our other guides:-$1.2 Million of Krugerrands @ 10% Under Spot - Scam? London Gold Fixing PriceHow to Photograph Coins - Advice, hints, tips
Orignal From: London Gold Fixing Price
Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelet
I have bought a fake Links of London bracelet not knowing it was fake at the time.
Orignal From: Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelet
Orignal From: Fake Links of London Sweetie Bracelet
Fake Armani Men's Clothing (It's Out There)
eBay is a place where you can purchase items from the Giorgio Armani lines of clothing at bargain prices (and no one has to know). Over the past 7 years, I have found some wonderful bargains on Armani clothing on eBay. I try to give every seller the benefit of the doubt but there are some sellers out there that knowingly try to defraud buyers. I have been taken twice in 7 years with fake Armani clothing. Both sellers have been suspended by eBay since then.
The first time, I bought an Armani t-shirt that looked like the ones you frequently see in Emporio Armani boutiques or the A/X Exchange stores. The way she was able to pull it off, was she did not show a photo of the tag inside the collar of the shirt. When I received the shirt, the tag said, "Hecho en Mexico." Translated, it means Made in Mexico. Clearly it was a fake Armani t-shirt. The seller received numerous complaints from other buyers including myself and was suspended. She even gave me negative feedback because I left her negative feedback. The second time I was scammed by a guy who showed a nice photo lay out of an Armani Black Label suit including the labels. The suit was real but what I received was a cheap wool/polyester suit with a real Armani Black Label tag glued where it would normally be in the suit!
Most of the Armani counterfeit suits and dress shirts are made in China and distributed through a network website called TradeKey.com. On this site is an extensive list of manufacturers of counterfeit merchandise including Armani, Hugo Boss, Gianni Versace, Prada and others. The website offers people the opportunity to sell these counterfeit suits and other merchandise with drop-shipping. So there is no inventory to carry. Once the auction is over, the "Armani" suit is shipped directly from Asia to you. You as the auction winner thought you got a bargain and what you get is a poor quality counterfeit Armani suit.
There are a lot of Armani fakes listed on a daily basis and I wanted to create a guide to help fellow eBayers from getting duped. I will breakdown the various lines for Giorgio Armani:A/X Armani ExchangeArmani JeansMani (Sportswear line)Mani (Suits, dress shirts)Emporio ArmaniGiorgio Armani Neve (very rare)Giorgio Armani Golf (very rare)Armani CollezioniGiorgio Armani (Black Label)Giorgio Armani Classico (Blue Label)Armani Priv
Orignal From: Fake Armani Men's Clothing (It's Out There)
The first time, I bought an Armani t-shirt that looked like the ones you frequently see in Emporio Armani boutiques or the A/X Exchange stores. The way she was able to pull it off, was she did not show a photo of the tag inside the collar of the shirt. When I received the shirt, the tag said, "Hecho en Mexico." Translated, it means Made in Mexico. Clearly it was a fake Armani t-shirt. The seller received numerous complaints from other buyers including myself and was suspended. She even gave me negative feedback because I left her negative feedback. The second time I was scammed by a guy who showed a nice photo lay out of an Armani Black Label suit including the labels. The suit was real but what I received was a cheap wool/polyester suit with a real Armani Black Label tag glued where it would normally be in the suit!
Most of the Armani counterfeit suits and dress shirts are made in China and distributed through a network website called TradeKey.com. On this site is an extensive list of manufacturers of counterfeit merchandise including Armani, Hugo Boss, Gianni Versace, Prada and others. The website offers people the opportunity to sell these counterfeit suits and other merchandise with drop-shipping. So there is no inventory to carry. Once the auction is over, the "Armani" suit is shipped directly from Asia to you. You as the auction winner thought you got a bargain and what you get is a poor quality counterfeit Armani suit.
There are a lot of Armani fakes listed on a daily basis and I wanted to create a guide to help fellow eBayers from getting duped. I will breakdown the various lines for Giorgio Armani:A/X Armani ExchangeArmani JeansMani (Sportswear line)Mani (Suits, dress shirts)Emporio ArmaniGiorgio Armani Neve (very rare)Giorgio Armani Golf (very rare)Armani CollezioniGiorgio Armani (Black Label)Giorgio Armani Classico (Blue Label)Armani Priv
Orignal From: Fake Armani Men's Clothing (It's Out There)
How to tell real 925 sterling silver from fakes
by Hong(Lisa) of 8SeasonFirstly, I want to say that all my sterling silver items are real 925 sterling silver
Orignal From: How to tell real 925 sterling silver from fakes
Orignal From: How to tell real 925 sterling silver from fakes
Buying a Tag Heuer watch
As an owner of two genuine Tag Heuer watches, a 2000 series and a Monza Calibre 36, I consider myself to be a watch lover or a watch nut some would say. I am always on the look out for more and have one particular Carrera watch in mind. However, I am alarmed by the number of fake Tag watches out there and I would advise you to research them as much as possible.
In my opinion, the best way is to go to the Tag Heuer web site and look at their catalogue as a comparison. You can also search google using the serial numbers you are given as part of the description - make sure you see them enscribed on the watch rather than trusting what you are told. If you do not find the same watch by searching elsewhere, do not touch it.
Also, make sure you have all the correct documentation with the watch - the case, instructions, warranty card and where possible the original receipt. If like me you are spending a lot of money on your watch you are likely to keep as much information about it as possible; if even only for insurance purposes. However, just becasue it has the box, certifcates and warranty card does not mean it is genuine. These are for regularly for sale on Ebay and can be attached to any fake watch an unscrupulous Ebayer wants to.
There are also watch forums out there http://www.timezone.com/ is really good and has brand forums where you can ask for advice about any watch and get some decent and honest replies.
My advice is to be canny. Authorised dealers are dearer but if you are patient and look around, you can find bargains out there. I saved a lot of money on my Monza - it was half price and well worth the wait and guaranteed genuine.
I love Tag watches so felt compelled to write this having broused around for a while although I think this advice will be the same for any luxury watch you are considering buying - be careful and as usual if its too good to be true then it usually is!
Orignal From: Buying a Tag Heuer watch
In my opinion, the best way is to go to the Tag Heuer web site and look at their catalogue as a comparison. You can also search google using the serial numbers you are given as part of the description - make sure you see them enscribed on the watch rather than trusting what you are told. If you do not find the same watch by searching elsewhere, do not touch it.
Also, make sure you have all the correct documentation with the watch - the case, instructions, warranty card and where possible the original receipt. If like me you are spending a lot of money on your watch you are likely to keep as much information about it as possible; if even only for insurance purposes. However, just becasue it has the box, certifcates and warranty card does not mean it is genuine. These are for regularly for sale on Ebay and can be attached to any fake watch an unscrupulous Ebayer wants to.
There are also watch forums out there http://www.timezone.com/ is really good and has brand forums where you can ask for advice about any watch and get some decent and honest replies.
My advice is to be canny. Authorised dealers are dearer but if you are patient and look around, you can find bargains out there. I saved a lot of money on my Monza - it was half price and well worth the wait and guaranteed genuine.
I love Tag watches so felt compelled to write this having broused around for a while although I think this advice will be the same for any luxury watch you are considering buying - be careful and as usual if its too good to be true then it usually is!
Orignal From: Buying a Tag Heuer watch
Fake sweetie bracelets and charms
After officially being stung i decided to write this guide:
1.DONT BUY IT you might not want to hear that, but after finding out how to spot a fake, i looked at the listing and the majority of them were fake! if you are going to spend
Orignal From: Fake sweetie bracelets and charms
1.DONT BUY IT you might not want to hear that, but after finding out how to spot a fake, i looked at the listing and the majority of them were fake! if you are going to spend
Orignal From: Fake sweetie bracelets and charms
= RING SIZE CONVERSION CHART =
Ring SizeThere are several systems of ring size around the world, to convert to your size please use the chart below.If you dont know your ring size simply draw around the inside of a ring you know fits, then measure the diameter. Choose the closest size from the table.US Ring Size
Orignal From: = RING SIZE CONVERSION CHART =
Orignal From: = RING SIZE CONVERSION CHART =
A Beginner's Guide to Pearls
Introduction
This guide is intended to be a simple introduction to pearls and pearl farming. I hope you find it useful
About Pearls
Pearls are an organic gem so called because they are created by living creatures. Each pearl begins its existence when a foreign object (like a piece of shell or coral) makes its way into the shell of a marine or freshwater mollusc - oysters, mussels and clams. A defence mechanism kicks-in and coats the particle with layer after layer of a substance called nacre until a pearl is formed. Nacre gives the pearl its unique lustre and sheen, and as the nacre becomes thicker, so does the quality of the pearl.
Sadly, the romantic image of the pearl fisherman diving off the side of a small boat to harvest pearls from the ocean floor is gone. Natural pearls are now very rare and most pearls these days are cultured. These are grown mostly in freshwater and are initiated by man, by the process of inserting a bead or other object into the mollusc. They are known as
Orignal From: A Beginner's Guide to Pearls
This guide is intended to be a simple introduction to pearls and pearl farming. I hope you find it useful
About Pearls
Pearls are an organic gem so called because they are created by living creatures. Each pearl begins its existence when a foreign object (like a piece of shell or coral) makes its way into the shell of a marine or freshwater mollusc - oysters, mussels and clams. A defence mechanism kicks-in and coats the particle with layer after layer of a substance called nacre until a pearl is formed. Nacre gives the pearl its unique lustre and sheen, and as the nacre becomes thicker, so does the quality of the pearl.
Sadly, the romantic image of the pearl fisherman diving off the side of a small boat to harvest pearls from the ocean floor is gone. Natural pearls are now very rare and most pearls these days are cultured. These are grown mostly in freshwater and are initiated by man, by the process of inserting a bead or other object into the mollusc. They are known as
Orignal From: A Beginner's Guide to Pearls
JUST BECAUSE THE TITLE SAYS " STERLING SILVER/9 GOLD"
Just because a title says "Sterling Silver" or "9/18ct Gold" does NOT mean that it is, in fact, just that.
Orignal From: JUST BECAUSE THE TITLE SAYS " STERLING SILVER/9 GOLD"
Orignal From: JUST BECAUSE THE TITLE SAYS " STERLING SILVER/9 GOLD"
Costume jewellery tip number one
Whenever you consider buying a piece of costume jewellery the back is just as important as the front. Apart from the quality of the finish, what does the back look like? Is it in keeping with the age the item is supposed to be. Does it look new, is it dirty, faded or shiny and yellow? Does the signature of the designer look crisp, or is it sloppy and risen. I always check the back before I even begin to examine the front of the piece. It holds so many clues. It becomes second nature and after a few pieces a glance will usually tell you wether you have a superb item or a good copy.
Orignal From: Costume jewellery tip number one
Orignal From: Costume jewellery tip number one
Buy a genuine Rolex Submariner or other Sports Model
Rolex watches are highly sought after, and the right one can represent a great investment, or a treasured posession that will last a lifetime.The Rolex "Sports Model" watches, such as the Submariner, GMT, Explorer and Yacht Master watches can be particularly hard to find in shops.
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Orignal From: Buy a genuine Rolex Submariner or other Sports Model
Thursday, 27 August 2009
LINKS OF LONDON ON EBAY A BUYERS GUIDE
I decided to write this guide after twice falling for buying Fake Links of London jewellry on ebay.
I'd like to start by saying, 90% of links of London Jewellery on ebay is Fake!
A few pointers to knowing a fake:
If the seller does not offer you any links of london packaging, you have to ask yourself, why not?
If the seller is stating that; if you are not satisfied they will give you a full refund as one of there main selling points, why? This is for those of us that realise that we have purchased a fake item, its a way of keeping us quiet, if you leave them Negative feedback saying the item is fake, their response will be 'I offered them a refund' and they will give you negative feedback in return. Not once do they ever question your opinion on the fact the item is fake, this is because they are fully aware the item is fake.
If you have purchased and received an item,
Orignal From: LINKS OF LONDON ON EBAY A BUYERS GUIDE
I'd like to start by saying, 90% of links of London Jewellery on ebay is Fake!
A few pointers to knowing a fake:
If the seller does not offer you any links of london packaging, you have to ask yourself, why not?
If the seller is stating that; if you are not satisfied they will give you a full refund as one of there main selling points, why? This is for those of us that realise that we have purchased a fake item, its a way of keeping us quiet, if you leave them Negative feedback saying the item is fake, their response will be 'I offered them a refund' and they will give you negative feedback in return. Not once do they ever question your opinion on the fact the item is fake, this is because they are fully aware the item is fake.
If you have purchased and received an item,
Orignal From: LINKS OF LONDON ON EBAY A BUYERS GUIDE
BEWARE OF FRAUD BUYERS,SPECIALLY NEW MEMBERS
Owing to small minority of ebays NEW MEMBERS, are fraudters, a Conner. So sellers BEWARE!!! we
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Orignal From: BEWARE OF FRAUD BUYERS,SPECIALLY NEW MEMBERS
PAYPAL IDENTITY THEFT WHEN YOU LOGIN !!!! PLEASE READ !
I know these scams have been around a long time but
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Orignal From: PAYPAL IDENTITY THEFT WHEN YOU LOGIN !!!! PLEASE READ !
Juicy Girls, beware of counterfeit Juicy tracksuits
Beware Fake Juicy Tracksuits
(sorry, I have no images for evidence, I haven't set up my digital camera yet)
I brought my first Juicy Couture tracksuit from Harvey Nicholls in Knightsbridge, for
Orignal From: Juicy Girls, beware of counterfeit Juicy tracksuits
(sorry, I have no images for evidence, I haven't set up my digital camera yet)
I brought my first Juicy Couture tracksuit from Harvey Nicholls in Knightsbridge, for
Orignal From: Juicy Girls, beware of counterfeit Juicy tracksuits
Pocket watch Collecting
This guide is intended to give a brief outline of the history of the pocket watch, from
Orignal From: Pocket watch Collecting
Orignal From: Pocket watch Collecting
Fakes On Ebay (Gucci)
I cannot believe the number of fake Gucci items on Ebay. Please be very careful when bidding. You must read the sellers feedback and ask questions. I only sell 100% genuine gucci items or your money back and cannot believe the prices buyers are paying for fake items. If they are coming from Hong Kong then you can almost guarantee they are fakes. Please also be aware
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Orignal From: Fakes On Ebay (Gucci)
A present for a girlfriend turned into a nightmare
This valentines day (I know it was a long time ago) i decided to buy my girlfriend a Tiffany and Co necklace and Bracelet set. I didn't buy it from the shops as ebay is always cheaper and i don't have much money.
The set was still expensive for me so i was very dissapointed.
When i receive the item i thought that it looked nice, however the weight wasn't right. It didn't feel like sterling silver at all. As i'm not a jewlery expert
Orignal From: A present for a girlfriend turned into a nightmare
The set was still expensive for me so i was very dissapointed.
When i receive the item i thought that it looked nice, however the weight wasn't right. It didn't feel like sterling silver at all. As i'm not a jewlery expert
Orignal From: A present for a girlfriend turned into a nightmare
English Pocket Watches and Escapements
English 18th and 19th century pocket watches can be classified into several basic types, and this short guide aims to guide you through the many types available and the various pitfalls and mistakes to avoid when selecting a watch to buy either as a present or as a new or well seasoned collector.
1.
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Tiffany Jewellery Is It Fake or Genuine?
If you are considering buying Tiffany jewellery from Ebay you need to read this article:
As I am unable to copy the link, you will need to type
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As I am unable to copy the link, you will need to type
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PANDORA ~ Selecting the right size bracelet and charms
~ How to select the best length Pandora bracelet
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Orignal From: PANDORA ~ Selecting the right size bracelet and charms
FAKE AMBER
In this section of my Guides you will find current information on Amber. Topics will include:
What is Amber, Identifying Fakes and the Biggest Amber Scam No One Talks About, How was Amber Formed, Amber History, Inclusions, Powers, Testing Amber,
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What is Amber, Identifying Fakes and the Biggest Amber Scam No One Talks About, How was Amber Formed, Amber History, Inclusions, Powers, Testing Amber,
Orignal From: FAKE AMBER
How many Grams in 1 ounce, When Selling Gold?
How many grams in 1 Ounce, When selling Gold?
Over the past months after looking at various ebay scrap gold listings many ebay sellers who do not
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Over the past months after looking at various ebay scrap gold listings many ebay sellers who do not
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Fake emails from "Paypal" - BEWARE! You could lose
Received another email today from 'PayPal' stating that my payment of
Orignal From: Fake emails from "Paypal" - BEWARE! You could lose
Orignal From: Fake emails from "Paypal" - BEWARE! You could lose
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Fake Links Of London sweetie bracelet
DON'T BE FOOLED.... recently purchased a sweetie Links of London bracelet and the buyer asured the bracelet was authentic which I am not saying they did or didn't know that this was a fake.
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Orignal From: Fake Links Of London sweetie bracelet
WARNING PAYMENT ADVICE !!! FROM EXPERIENCE
Sound advice based on years of experience about payment methods and the risks associated with them.
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Orignal From: WARNING PAYMENT ADVICE !!! FROM EXPERIENCE
Buying Jewellery on eBay? Hallmarks and Hints
This Guide will help you make an informed decision
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Orignal From: Buying Jewellery on eBay? Hallmarks and Hints
Faked fossils in Amber
Fakes and Frauds with Amber FossilsI have been prompted to write this guide by the amount of transparently faked fossils in amber listed on E-bay. Much of what follows is common-sense but I hope it may still be useful. Some genuine pieces may fit one of the criteria - it is the combination that you have to look for.Excessive sizeAmber is made from tree-sap - it stands to reason that it is rare for a tree to be able to produce enough to form a piece of amber 6 - 7 inches across. Excessive regularityA perfectly oval piece of amber is thus also a bad sign for a genuine fossil.Lack of any other inclusions in the amberAlmost all genuine amber with fossil insects will have various bits of plant debris as well. The amber will probably have a "textured" rather than totally transparent and smoothe interior. Remember the drama took place in a forest; how likely is it an enormous insect got trapped in this huge pool of resin but not a single leaf fragment drifted down to obscure the clarity of the view of this mighty insect?Animal flat and perfectly positionedIn the position the creature would be if carefully laid out, rather than subject to chance and struggle.Rare animalsAnything preserved in amber has to be:a) reasonably likely to be found on a conifer treeb) Weak enough to be overpowered by the sticky resin, or else dropped on to it after death. It is thus rare to find a frog, mouse or scorpion in amber. It is not impossible, but this leads us to our next factor.Ridiculously cheap priceIf a humble fly sells for over
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Orignal From: Faked fossils in Amber
CHEAP DIAMONDS - How to spot a fake and save your money
This guide is aimed at all you bargain seekers out there looking for the perfect diamond for the perfect occasion - The last thing you want to do is spend all of that hard earned cash only to find that you have been a victaim of Fraud - Hope this helps!
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Orignal From: CHEAP DIAMONDS - How to spot a fake and save your money
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