How to care for pearls

Yan Berry

Pearls are delicate and soft gems compared with other gemstones. They need extra gentle care. Here is a guide to pearl care.

� Clean - wipe pearls regularly and gently with a soft cloth moistened with water. Pearls can absorb perfume, skin oils and dirt easily. Do not clean pearls with detergents and don't soak pearls in water.

� Protect - avoid temperature extremes and chemicals such as vinegar, alcohol and hair spray. They can damage pearl surfaces.

� Wear - put on pearls after you have applied makeup and hair spray.

� Store - pearls can be scratched easily. They should be stored in a soft place such as a velvet box or a satin pouch. Avoid putting pearls next to diamond or gemstones jewelry.

� Restring - for a frequently worn pearl necklace, it is recommended to restring the necklace once every one or two years since silk thread may get weakened over time.



Mrs. Berry is a pearl expert. She is also the founder of Premium Pearl, a leading online provider of high quality pearl jewelry.

Dramatically Improve Trading Success. Learn how & when to trade stocks reducing your risk
SmartDayTrading.com

Dramatically Improve Trading Success. Learn how & when to trade stocks reducing your risk at SmartDayTrading.com



* Avoid those confusing "cookie cutter" technical analysis tips and tricks that you can read anywhere else for free.

* Let us show you an effective & practical approach

* Limit your risk and follow certain conditions

* How and where to pick the best stocks

* Identifying great opportunities

* When to trade them

* Choosing the right time frame during market hours

* Pre market and After hours trading tactics

* Avoid certain stocks and never overtrade

* Learn the simple powerful factors that will let you profit from momentum trading every day.



Momentum trading can be one of the fastest ways to make money when you pick the right opportunitites. The market can present you with a lot of momentum opportunities every day. Some of them are extremely risky while others are not as good as they seem. That's why it's critical for you to know how to identify and approach the best ones.

Our trading strategy helps you identify, sort, approach and take advantage of outstanding momentum opportunities in a simple way. We can show you how to define and find excellent trading opportunities, what stocks to avoid, how to limit or eliminate your risk and when to buy and when to sell hot momentum stocks day after day.



It's all about the small details

Success in day trading like with any other business in life comes from being able to see the big picture and from paying attention to the small details. Let's say for example that you are a business owner and you have a jewelry store on a given street just like the guy in the other corner does, but still the other guy is making 5 times more profits than you are only because he's doing something different. He knows something that you still don't and that's what makes him more profitable. The funny thing about this kind of situation is that you could be just a small distance away from being as successful as he is.

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Our trading strategy helps you concentrate and master well defined momentum factors that can greatly influence the price of stocks every day.

When it comes to trading stocks with momentum there is more to it than the over hyped technical analisys jargon. That is why we won't bore you and complicate you with the same bunch of technical tips and tricks that you can read everywhere. If you want to read a technical approach, you can simply go to your nearest public library and pick up a technical trading book for free.

We know that day trading stocks with momentum is not the only way to make money in the stock market. But it can be the fastest way when you do it right. We also understand that a lot of people shy away from momentum trading and think that only a few traders can profit from it. It's true. Only those traders with proven knowledge have the ability to profit consistently from momentum stocks.

You don't necessarily have to trade momentum hot stocks all the time. But you can learn how to take advantage of them when you have the best chances and at the same time limit your risk.



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$$$$ AVII FROM $2.10 TO $4.17

$$$ IMAX FROM $8.39 TO $9.29

$$$ MYGN FROM $22.40 TO $24.92

$$$ FLYI FROM $1.52 TO $2.43

$$$ IDBE FROM $14.40 TO $15.44

$$$ DESC FROM $2.47 TO $2.77

$$$$ NRPH FROM $14.58 TO $17.40

$$$$ ULBI FROM $15.90 TO $19.73

$$$ PACT FROM $10.03 TO $11.97

$$$ SUPVA FROM $4.12 TO $5.01

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40 Days and 40 Nights in the Wilderness with Venus

Nancy R. Fenn

Venus, the planet, goes retrograde (backwards) less frequently than Mercury, about every 18 months, and lasts 40 days. Because it is less frequent, it is more difficult to understand and wreaks more havoc than a Mercury retrograde. Mercury affects communication. Venus affects possessions, relationships, women's issues and most of all values. Venus asks, "What is it that you really value?"

Many astrologers also believe that Venus affects the stock market. The next Venus retrograde period begins May 17, 2004. Also check back to October 10, 2002 to see what was happening in your life during the last Venus retrograde so you can draw some conclusions as to how you handle these transits.

A client wrote me during an earlier Venus Retrograde: "I've been reading your eZines and wondering what the 'difficult time' we are all having is. Then, I experienced it with a deep, fast plunge to the bottom complete with a few extra bumps to round out the full force of impact. Whew! I haven't been down here in awhile. "

A student in my ongoing Tuesday night astrology class wanted to know, "How can a dinky little inner planet like Venus cause so much trouble?"

Well, these are very good questions.

The answer is partly imbedded in the relationship of the planet Venus to the esoteric properties of the Number 5. Let's take a closer look at this planet, Venus and the Number 5!

The physical planet of Venus (in the sky tonight) is a strange amalgam. Named after the Roman Goddess of Love, nonetheless, she is surrounded by such a noxious yellow atmosphere that life is impossible (permanent greenhouse effect). It doesn't surprise us, then, to know that the Roman goddess herself had several epithets. One of them was "Venus of the Sewers". Venus also rules venereal disease.

The ancient Aztecs had a Venutian goddess who walked the earth as a man for the 40 days of the retrograde cycle. The warlike Aztecs declared war when Venus went retrograde.

These are some of our clues as to what lies beneath the surface of a Venus retrograde transit and why it can be so disruptive on a very personal level.

In transit, Venus goes retrograde five times over a period of eight years, coming back to the same sign in which she started at the end of five 584-day cycles (or eight years). This is Venus' cycle to herself. She is working her way in stations back through the zodiac, 2 to 3 degrees earlier in each sign, each time.

The stations of Venus form a quintile (five-ish) pattern against the backdrop of the zodiac. A diagram of Venus stations across a horoscope actually makes an image like a pentagram.

The quintile aspect reminds us of the other quin in astrology -- the quincunx aspect (signs that are 5 houses before and after one another). As every astrologer worth her salt knows, the quincunx is the most difficult aspect of all to reconcile within an individual's chart (psyche). It is also very difficult to "read" in a chart other than saying there are "irreconcilable differences". There are certainly good ways for the professional to interpret this aspect but that isn't within the scope of this article.

For a good grip on the qualities of the Number 5, take a look at the "fives" in the Tarot deck. The Fives are ruled by the Major Arcana V, The Hierophant, the Teacher of Hard Life Lessons.

One of the meanings expressed by the Hierophant is that apparently there are some things in life that can only be learned in the School of Hard Knocks. People with a #5 Birth Force learn through doing not by reading books or listening to lectures.

Five is also known mystically as the "Number of Man". It represents the ability of man to understand things of an esoteric nature and is most familiarly represented in the drawing of Leonard DaVinci showing a male figure with arms and legs spread against a circular background. I remember seeing a very dramatic presentation of Marlowe's Faust in San Diego where this figure was cast in stagelights across the floor of the Dr. Faust's study as the curtain opened and Our Hero"Everyman/Faust began his mythical struggle with his own nature.

There is a good book written for professional astrologers about retrograde cycles, including Venus Retrograde, called "Retrograde Planets" by Erin Sullivan, published by Penguin Books in 1992 which explains the basic characteristics of Venus as she "turns her back" on us. The effects of this transit are among the most difficult to predict (and describe) perhaps because it is one of the very most unique and personal to each individual. This makes generalities very difficult.

Here are some examples of things that have happened to real clients of mine during Venus retrograde transits in the past.

Retrograde Venus through the 1st house:
�widow moves out of 5,000 sq ft home to downsized residence and begins to realize that house and relationship were prisons and that she is well rid of both;
�elderly woman resolves long standing issue with IRS who removes lien on her house and frees up her CD.

Retrograde Venus through the 2nd house:
�husband gets self and wife new cell phone numbers after five years with the old ones (?)

Retrograde Venus through the 3rd house:
�walls close in on man as he realizes he might lose his wife, mistress and home, all in the same month!

Retrograde Venus through the 4th house:
�Consultant breaks up with woman 15 years older, moves to another city to start over with a woman 15 years younger;
�heiress' brother announces divorce, completely upsetting family power structure;
�married boyfriend goes back to his wife with no explanation;
�woman vacillates between declaring BK, selling house and selling heirloom family jewelry

Retrograde Venus through the 5th house:
�middle aged woman comes to terms with death of mother and estrangement from brother, releasing her own intense creativity

Retrograde Venus through the 6th house:
�obsessive love for a younger man triggers long repressed memories of tragic first love in manicurist;
�boyfriend who is in the Diplomatic Corps leaves for South America for a year, triggering deep depression and abandonment issues in young girlfriend

Retrograde Venus through the 7th house:
�PhD candidate stops studies when his girlfriend is almost killed by a hit-and-run driver and hover for weeks between life and death

Retrograde Venus through the 8th house:
�husband of college professor suddenly offered opportunity for work as interpreter with a government "provider" believed to be involved in undercover work in a foreign country if he will leave with two days' notice and without knowledge of exactly where he is going

Retrograde Venus through the 9th house:
�young housewife with 2 year old baby joins metaphysics class and finds terrific outlet for her social nature and brilliant mind

Retrograde Venus through the 10th house:
�young man has Tarot card reading, discovers reasons behind many of the mysteries from his painful past

Retrograde Venus through the 11th house
�gifted intuitive artist attends Jonathan Edwards demonstration and has experience afterwards that convinces her she is going completely mad

Retrograde Venus through the 12th house:
�elderly woman seriously considers selling her home (which is free and clear) to get really free and clear!

As you can see, many of these events have to do with the areas of life which are ruled by Venus, possessions and desires.

Another mystical thing about Venus Retrograde is that the cycle lasts for 40 days. It is as if we all wander in the wilderness with our Christlike selves, and return with greater conviction about who we are and greater dedication to our selves and our purpose, some through the act of denying temptation.

During this cycle, the creative and the destructive are so closely interacting with one another it may be hard to tell the difference as ridiculous as this sounds. Feedback from trusted friends or a professional astrologer can help if you think you might be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

During a retrograde cycle, you may have no idea which end is up. But by the end of the cycle, a New Order is revealed, and order forms out of chaos. Venus retrogrades are intensely introspective and even anti-social transits that bring forth great bursts of personal creativity when complete. This is the kind of creativity which produces an art, the palette of which is life itself.

Nancy R. Fenn is a professional astrologer in the San Diego area.

Making $2000 on eBay, selling Silver Jewelry
Apisith C.

Making money selling silver jewelry is simple. All you need is a computer with an

internet connection and some basic computer skills, and a suppplier that provides

you more than just jewelry.

You will be needing a supplier to caters to your specific needs. If you want to

succeed selling jewelry on ebay you need to have a large variety of items,

beautiful pictures, and new products consistently.

Since you would be starting a new business, it would not be easy for you to

purchase from suppliers with minimum orders, even a minimum order of $100 is too

high for newbies. Silver jewelry costs around $2 and above per piece; depending on

the design/make. A $100 minimum would end you up with 50 pieces; and what if the

items do not get sold? Most suppliers do guarantee their products, and will refund

you for incorrect merchandise. Is there any supplier that would allow you to

return products that are not sold within a certain period of time?

If your supplier provides pictures, it will save you a LOT of time, taking good

pictures of jewelry requires a good camera, the correct lighting, and a lot of

time.

Further more, if a supplier packages products individually; it would save you a lot

of time to package the products. You should be receiving a shipment with all the

products prepackged, in either plastic bags, or bubble wrap; so all you have to do

is sort them out, insert them into envelopes/boxes and mail them to your clients.

You can easily profit up to 200-300% of your buying cost, ie. buying a ring for

$3.00 and reselling it on ebay for $10. That is $7.00 profit, from just clicking

your mouse.

If you list 10 rings a day, it would be $70 In 30 days, for a total of 30 days,

that is $2100.00 ; minus 10% for ebay expenses and other costs; you would be left

with approximately $1900.00 This is only the minimum, by selling 10 rings / day.

You can list a lot more. There are other products too, such as earrings, bracelets,

pendants...and more. All of this; and more are profitable items.

A supplier that allows you to return items that are unsold, is your guarantee to

success. There is no real investment involved, if it does not work; just return the

items. However if it works, build on from there.

http://www.925silver4u.com

Mr. Apisith is founder/president of www.925silver4u.com, An excellent resource for home businesses looking to start a silver jewelry retail business.

Dress to Impress

Marisa Pellegrino

Have you ever wondered why that girl from the bar never called you back? The conversation came easy, the drinks were flowing, you could feel the chemistry, and you were dressed to kill-or were you?

Your mother always told you that you only get one chance to make a first impression and first impressions can make or break you. Women look at every last detail, from your tasseled shoes to the amount of goop you have in your hair. Be honest guys, women aren't the only ones who try on five different outfits before deciding what to wear for a night out on the town. And it is perfectly normal. But how do you know which outfit is the right one to impress the girl on your first date?

Let me take you through it step by step. Clothes aren't the only thing a woman looks at when you're dressing to impress; it's the whole package. Fortunately or not, the outside is what she sees first. What you see is sometimes what you get. So what do you wear?

Out with the Old-

Rule number one is: don't under dress. Guys have a tendency to pull on a pair of pants and the first shirt they find and head out the door. You have to look put-together, like some sort of effort was made for her. So take those ratty, old tennis shoes and toss 'em! Take your t-shirts with big, loud prints and forget about them! And yes, women think carpenters are sexy but that doesn't give you the green light to wear your paint-stained jeans. The solution is simple. Ask a friend (male or female) over the day of your big date. Not only will they help calm your nerves but they'll also give you their honest opinion on your chosen outfit. Second, an iron can also be a man's best friend. You'd be surprised what a little pressing can do to change your look. Finally, don't rush! There's nothing wrong with taking an extra half hour to prepare. If you take the time to get ready, your date will take the time to notice.

-In with the New

So while the first rule might seem simple enough, some guys might take it too far, which brings us to rule number two: don't overdress. We don't expect you to know all the latest fashion trends of the day and we don't expect you to follow them either. This second rule doesn't only deal with being a label whore but also with men going overboard; that is to say those men don't know when enough is enough. While some guys take a shirt, smell it and decide whether or not it is clean, others think their shirt has to say Hugo Boss, Armani, or Ralph Lauren to look good. So let's make your sweater selection. Stay away from Grandma's knitted birthday gift and nipple shirts. The former screams little kid while the latter leaves nothing to the imagination. The tight shirt may not be an option if you're not comfortable enough with your body, but if you are physically fit, why not let the woman imagine what's under there to maintain an element of mystery. You can't go wrong with a button shirt, leaving the first couple of buttons at the top undone. It's casual, comfortable, and classic.

A Dab Will Do You.

Do you remember the last time you were walking down the street and almost got whiplash because someone passed by you with an overwhelming smell? Our sense of smell is one of our most powerful senses, which leads us to rule number three: always remember to smell good. Some smells take us back to childhood and others remind us of something very specific. The same applies to your cologne. But why is cologne used in the first place? Its purpose is twofold: it becomes your "signature" and the sense of smell is heightened when things start getting hot and heavy. Again, less is more. No need to drown yourself with the stuff, keep in mind that when it comes to cologne, a little goes a long way. The best places to apply your signature are the inside of your wrists, your neck, and even your chest.

Attention to Detail

Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference and rule number four reminds you to pay attention to detail. We all know women have an eye for the minute and the slightest thing can turn us off. So the solution is simple boys, don't overlook the small stuff. Just like women like carpenters, some women also think scruffy is sexy, but on your first date, go with the clean shaven look to be safe. And not only are you going to brush your teeth, you're also going to break out the dental floss for this one just to be extra safe. Make sure your hair is neat and doesn't hold an entire bottle of product in it. Remember to clean those nails. You may look like a man's man with dirty nails, but it's a turn off for women. Finally, keep the accessories to a minimum. You can wear your watch and necklace or a ring but that's it. If you're wearing more jewelry than your date then we could have a problem!

Of course, not all women are the same but most will agree that less is more when making a good first impression. So remember the four simple rules: don't dress like you're going to watch the game at a buddy's house or like you're about to walk down the runway; smell great and put in the effort to care of the details. You're sure to have plenty of second, third, and fourth dates!

Marisa Pellegrino is freelance journalist and a writer for a Montreal radio show called Passion, a program about dating, relationships, and sex. She is also the writer/webmaster for Dating Ideas (www.dating-idea.com)
a website with advice about dating and relationships.

Spam Spasms & Spamocidal Mania
Linda Cox

Below is a letter I wrote to the following organizations:

S.H.U. (Spam-Haters Unanimous)

N.A.A.P.W.H.S. (National Association for the Advancement of
People Who Hate Spam)

P.W.H.P.W.D.H.S. (People Who Hate People Who Don't Hate
Spam)

P.F.W.S.H.I.A.L.C. (People for Whom Spam-Hating is a
Lifestyle Choice)

S.A.P.W.R.R.R.H.S. (Society for the Advancement of People
Who Really Really Really Hate Spam)

P.W.H.S.S.M.I.M.L.W.S.C.O.T.E. (People Who Hate Spam So Much
It Makes Little Wisps of Steam Come Out of Their Ears)

And, of course: Spam Haters In The Business of Internet
Resource Directory Services.

DEAR FELLOW SPAM HATERS,

I'm writing to suggest that we combine forces in order to
present a common front in our righteous war on unsolicited
commercial email:

Spam!

I suggest we disband the myriad sites and organizations now
opposing unsolicited commercial email in order to form a
single, unified organization:

The Spammish Inquisition!

And I further suggest we elect me, Linda Cox, as our leader.
Our Grand Inquisatrix!

WHAT ARE MY QUALIFICATIONS?

You think YOU hate spam? You don't even know what hate is!

I hate spam so much that I... well, just a LOT! That's how
much!

If I hated spam any more than I already do, I think my head
would burst into flames and spin like a top! Can you say
that?

Don't think so.

I don't mean to say that I don't hate other things, too,
like pedophiles and Nazis and that drunk guy who backed over
my cat when I was seven.

But spam... hooboy!

SQUISH 'EM LIKE BUGS!

I believe we should have a constitutional amendment allowing
cruel and unusual punishment in the case of spammers. Maybe
that tummy thing like the Japanese do when they get
depressed.

As with drugs, mere possession of bulk emailing software
should result in the immediate confiscation of the computer
it was on, as well as any nice clothes, jewelry, or lawn
statuary that might have been purchased with spam profits.

Just thinking about sending spam should be illegal, like
joking about bombs in an airport. If I get to be Grand
Inquisatrix, I'll have my own force of men-in-black dudes to
sniff out spamsters and be really mean to them and call them
names until they promise to be good little Netizens again.

It's for their own good.

IN CLOSING...

Having looked at the Websites of some of the anti-spam
crusaders, I know that I am not alone in my revulsion,
disgust and utter skin-crawling contempt for spam.

Like them, I have turned a blind-eye to more mundane
problems like hunger, illiteracy, disease, country music and
poverty so as to focus on the true menace plaguing our
cyber-society.

If you wish to support my crusade, you may do so by sending
me $99, and as a free gift I'll send you a CD with the email
addresses of 40 million Netizens eagerly awaiting news of
your latest product or service.

Linda Cox (J.A.M.G.) was born in a speeding stagecoach amid
the screams of fellow passengers as insane, wild-eyed horses
dragged them all crashing toward the brink of destruction.
That stagecoach was the planet Earth, those passengers were
the human race, and Linda Cox is Just Another Marketing
Guru. (The horses were just regular horses.)
http://www.LindaCox.com/

Trinkets, Lockets And Empty Pockets

Dean Phillips

It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up a
website, without any type of plan or clue about how to
promote it, how to write a sales letter, how to write an ad--
nothing!

Even more amazing is how many people try to conduct business
online without any money.

The other day, I received an e-mail from a woman named Nadia
inquiring about my E-mail Consultation Service.

In her e-mail, she explained she had "empty pockets" and
couldn't afford my subscription fee. However, since her
ancestors were gypsies, she had plenty of jewelry and she'd
be willing to pay me with a few "trinkets and lockets," in
exchange for my help. I politely declined her offer.

I get my share of crazy e-mails, so I have no idea if that
one was a hoax or not. I'm assuming it was, since I never
heard back from Nadia. Besides, I get so many e-mails every
day from people asking me for free help and advice, I
generally skim over them quickly and delete them.

People, listen to me, please! You can't conduct business
online or offline without any money. You just can't do it!
Now I'm not saying you need thousands of dollars--although
that wouldn't hurt.

However, you need to at least have two or three hundred
dollars in the bank to work with.

It's a myth that you can make money without having any money-
-just a myth!

The number one reason why most businesses fail is because
they're undercapitalized. They come online with just enough
money to buy one ad--hoping to make a killing!

If that ad happens to be a success--bingo, instant cash
flow! But if that one ad fails, just like that, they're out
of business.

I know you're excited about your new business, and you can't
wait to get started. However, instead of rushing into
things, take a few more weeks or months to save up a little
more money, and then get started.

Doing it that way does require a little more patience. But
by having a little money to fall back on, you give yourself
a greater chance to succeed, and in the long run, you'll be
a lot better off!



Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer,
publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be
reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net


Collection of Jewelry from I800's through mid 1900's
Laura Thykeson - Owner of "Ice Originals II - Vintage Collectibles, Music and Jewelry"

A special collection of jewelry, some of European descent, from a New York Estate, has recently been offered to the public for sale. Quite a few extroadinary pieces, especially for collectors and researchers of the time frame are available.
Body Copy: Recently "Ice Originals II", a collectibles and antique website, had the pleasure of acquiring a portion of a large New York Estate that includes jewelry items from the 1800's through the mid 1900's. Quite a few of the earlier pieces are of definite European manufacture, as they feature the European style clasps and hinges and definite European designs. There are some very interesting pieces, that appear as if they could have historic and research value, as well as the normal interest related to collectors.

Several of the pieces feature hand chasing and enamel, inlaid into the gold. Several are watch pins, as well as sash pins, brooches, and some very nice cut steel and gold earrings. The art deco and art nouveau movements are clearly represented as well as some transition pieces. These jewelry items, each very well designed and crafted, are true representations of the jewelry of these early decades. The collection can be viewed at "Ice Originals II" which is located at:

http://www.tias.com/stores/iceorig/

Anyone who is a serious collector, as well as anyone researching this period of jewelry in encouraged to visit this website and view these beautiful pieces. Along with all the items described, there is also a collection of hand carved shell and hard stone cameos, as well as cameo rings. Some of these pieces pre-date the 1860's, and have been so carefully protected and stored that they appear to be in nearly new condition! As said previously, these items are part of a New York Estate, passed down though a family, and only a portion of this beautiful collection has recently been placed up for sale to the public. Other pieces not for sale include an entire suite of mourning jewelry, made of jet, that is just phenomenal, as well as several pre-1860 pieces that are just perfect, in gold, and containing precious stones such as diamonds and rubies. Many appear to be custom made pieces and contain strong European influences, most likely originating in the UK or surrounding areas. The owner of the collection is not completely sure of all lineage of the family, so any viewers of the pieces up for sale are welcomed to email any input they may have on the items and their origins to the owner of the website, as the collection owner is eager to learn more about the items before they are sold. These pieces are offered on consignment basis to the seller, so therefore, prices are firm, although most are moderately priced, well within the serious collectors price range.

Whether looking for that special gift for a special lady,interested in Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Edwardian design, or doing research of the time frames indicated this is definitely a visit worth your time!



Laura Thykeson owns "Ice Originals II", a collectibles and antique website, as well as being an artist, published poet, freelance writer, and owner of two other websites dealing with the arts and collectibles venue. She researches items for others as well as selling on consignment. She is also a big advocate for "unknown" artists and artisans and enjoys promoting new Artists and their works.

10 Ways To Sell Your Products Faster

Anton Cheranev

1. Give people a deadline to order. Tell people if they order by Jan 28, 2000 they will get a discount or free bonuses. This will create an urgency so they don't put off buying.

2. Offer people a money back guarantee. The longer the guarantee the more effective it will be. It could be a 30 day, 60 day, 1 year, or lifetime guarantee.

3. Offer a free on-site repair service for products you sell. This is convenient for people because they won't have to send it away for repair and they won't have to be without the product for a long period of time.

4. Publish testimonials on your ad copy. They will give your business credibility and you'll gain peoples trust. It's important to include the persons full name and location with the testimonial.

5. Give people free bonuses when they order your product or service. The free bonuses could be books, jewelry, reports, newsletters, etc.

6. Allow people to make money reselling the product or service. Tell people they can join your affiliate program, if they order. You could pay them per sale, per click, per referral, etc.

7. Offer free 24 hour help with all products you sell. Allow customers to ask you questions by e-mail, by toll free phone, by free fax, etc.

8. Provide free shipping with all orders. If you can't afford it, you could offer free shipping on orders over a specific dollar amount.

9. Give away a free sample of your product. You will gain people's trust when you allow them to try out a free sample of your product. If they like it they won't hesitate buying it.

10. Offer a buy one get one free deal. If you sell more than one product this type of deal works great. People will feel they are getting more for their money and order quicker.

Sincerely,
Anton Cheranev

Copyright © 2005 Profitable Marketing. All Rights Reserved.

Can You Afford to Lose 200,000 Potential Customers Every Month? How Easily to Get Over 200,000 Potential Customers (Every Month) From All Chief Search Engines Similarly Google, Yahoo and MSN! Using a "Little-Known Robot"! If You Think I'm Kidding, You Might Like To Know That This Is Something That Has Been Tested and Proven To Work! http://www.atargetedvisitors.com/cgi-bin/tk.cgi?ezine1

Color Contact Lenses - Are They Safe?
Tanya Turner

Do you want to find out how you would look with blue, green or amethyst eyes? But you have heard that color contact lenses might cause problems? Here we will discuss how color contacts can affect the health of your eyes, and give you simple tips to follow so your color lenses never give you any troubles.

There are two main reasons why color contacts cause your eye problems, and both are easily avoidable. The first cause is buying color contacts of inferior quality without a doctor's prescription; and the second is not caring properly for your color lenses.

Sometimes you see color contacts for sale in beauty salons and even in flea markets! You should never buy your lenses in these places. Color contacts aren't fashion jewelry: most paints are very toxic, so the lenses should be properly manufactured, to avoid direct contact between the paint and the sensitive surface of your eye. Most color lenses sold without a doctor's prescription fail to meet these requirements. They might look good and cost less than brand-name color contacts, but they are really dangerous for your eyes.

Since the second common cause of eye infections from wearing color lenses is not caring for them properly, you should always follow your doctor's instructions about caring for your lenses.

Color contact lenses safety rules

If you follow these simple rules, your lenses will be no threat to the health of your eyes.

1.Obtain an eye doctor's prescription before ordering your color contacts. Even if you don't need vision correction, you need an eye doctor to select the lenses that would be best for you

2.It is cheaper to order your color contacts online than buying them from your doctor, but make sure that you order from a reputable contact lens retailer

3.Don't wear your color contacts continuously for too long. Most color contacts block the flow of oxygen to your eyes. This is usually not a problem, though, if you wear your lenses only for 8-9 hours at a stretch, but any longer than that could cause problems.

4.Never sleep wearing your lenses - this is the most dangerous thing you can do, in terms of eye health. If your eyes don't receive enough oxygen for days on end, then you are sure to suffer inflammation of the corneas. Some color contacts, like Acuvue 2 Colors, are FDA approved to wear for up to 7 days straight. However, many eye doctors agree that it is better not to risk your eyes even with the best quality color contacts

5.Don't swim or shower wearing your color lenses. Firstly, it is very easy to lose a lens in the water. Secondly, whenever water gets into your eyes it creates favorable conditions for bacteria, putting you at risk of infection

6.Make sure you clean your lenses properly, and always keep your contacts in soft contact lens solution. You shouldn't rub your color contacts while cleaning them, because it may damage the color. So it is best to use a no-rub multipurpose solution.

7.Never share your color contacts with other people. It might be very tempting to exchange color lenses with a friend but, unfortunately, it is a sure way to pick up an eye infection.

Color contact lenses are fun. As the saying goes, "The eyes are the mirror of the soul", and it is amazing how much different eye colors can transform your appearance. Caring for your color lenses isn't hard work - people who wear color contacts every day report that it takes them less than a minute to clean the lenses and put them in - so you should always follow the safety rules. If you do, then color contact lenses will bring you only joy, with no troubles.


Tanya Turner is a contact lens and eye health expert and a founder of www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/, where you can find unbiased information about all types of contact lenses including color contacts reviews and pictures

Overview of Cozumel In Mexico

Clint Leung

The island of Cozumel is only 12 miles (19 km) off the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula's east coast and 44 miles (71 km) south of Cancun. For years, Cozumel was a quiet sleepy island that didn't get many visitors until Jacques Cousteau did a documentary on it after discovering the world class scuba diving at the Palancar Reefs nearby.
Since 1961, Cozumel has been known as one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. In fact for decades since that time, the only tourists visiting the island have been primarily scuba divers. Mainstream tourists went to the resort intensive Cancun in the mainland instead. However, Cozumel became a regular cruise ship port of call in recent years and today it is one of the busiest with two separate terminals. It is common to have five or even six different cruise ships at port on any given day. I've been to Cozumel twice, the first time staying several days on a scuba diving vacation and the second time for a day via cruise ship (also scuba dived during my second visit).

As a result of the cruise ship boom, there has been lots of retail development along the main waterfront road of Avenida Rafael Melgar in the island's only town of San Miguel de Cozumel. There are countless jewelry and t-shirt shops most with staff standing in the entrances enticing visitors to enter their stores. Both silver and liquor can be good bargains here. There are also some nice Mexican crafts shops too. The one problem that we found was that after about 4 jewelry shops, they all started to look the same. It was almost a retail overload. For those who came for a wilder time, there are some bars such as Carlos 'n' Charlie. The town's main outdoor square, Plaza del Sol, is just opposite the main ferry dock to the mainland. There are usually street vendors and artists in the Plaza as well local entertainment during some evenings. The artists do some amazing artwork with spray paints and their prices are very reasonable. San Miguel's main tourist area can be very busy during the day when the cruise ship passengers are in town but since most ships depart at dinnertime, the evenings are actually very quiet. The only tourists left at night tend to be the scuba divers staying in Cozumel.

Most of the hotels and resorts are south of San Miguel and are not within walking distance. However, there are numerous white taxicabs that are readily available. The larger and more luxurious resorts tend to be even further south of town along the southwestern shores. This is actually not surprising since most of the best scuba diving sites are southwest of the island. An easy way to see the 33 mile (53 km) by 9 mile (14 km) island is by renting a scooter or a 4x4. I once rented a scooter and zigzagged along most of San Miguel's streets to see the neighborhoods. Then I went on the main road leaving town and went south. After passing by the larger resorts and going around the southern tip of the island, I found the beaches along the southeastern shores. The shores near San Miguel along the crowded west coast are not known for beaches but the southeast part here have some really spectacular ones. Even better is that there is very little traffic here so the beaches are pretty quiet. Sometimes people can park their scooters and enjoy a beach all for themselves. There are a few stops with refreshments and more souvenirs at prices even better than in San Miguel. After traveling north again, there is a road about halfway up the island that goes across and takes you back to San Miguel entering the town's east side. My scooter tour of the island took just over 2 hours and cost $25 US for the rental. Cozumel has several ancient Mayan ruins but they are not nearly as large or spectacular as the ones on the mainland. After seeing some photos of them in advance of my trip, I didn't even bother to see the ruins.

Cozumel is a nice port of call for cruise ships as there are many shopping opportunities. Passengers who scuba dive or snorkel can easily book directly with the many dive shops in San Miguel without going through their cruise ships which will cost much more. For cruise ship tourists who do not intend to do any water sports and have some time after shopping, it is highly recommended to rent a scooter or 4x4 to tour the island. This is also a nice way to spend the last day of a scuba dive vacation in Cozumel.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery ( http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca), an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

Amber is a beautiful! A true gift from mother nature. It comes in many different colors - yellow, orange, red, white, brown, green, blue and almost black. It may be transparent or clouded. Transparent tones range from pale to dark yellow, to yellow light brown. Cloudy amber comes in a wide range of colors.
Amber is fossilized resin of ancient trees that grew in amber forests. Through various physical and chemical changes the resin becomes Amber. Amber is unique because it is able to preserve the organic tissues in it. It is very common to find pieces of plants and insects, trapped in amber making it extremely valuable to both collectors and the scientists. A beautiful and fascinating gem!
Amber is found in various parts of the world. The largest amber deposits are off the shores of the Baltic Sea. Baltic Amber is the most sought after and valuable for making amber jewelry.
Baltic Amber has been used for decorative items since prehistoric times. A Baltic amber amulet has even been found in Egyptian tombs . Amber was also very popular in ancient Rome during the reign of Neron when: jewelry, ornaments, amulets, and even dice were made from amber. During the Middle Ages, amber prayer beads were exported. From the 16th century into the 18th century item made from amber included jewelry, dishes, buttons, pipe mouth pieces, chess sets and a host of other fine products.
The majority of Baltic amber comes from a 400-square-mile area - the Samland Peninsula, now known as the Kaliningrad region. The Kaliningrad amber mine supplies 99% of the Baltic amber. Up until the 19th century amber was retrieved manually from the sea. During the latter part of the 19th century operations became much more sophisticated as they began dredging and mining for amber. Since then millions of pounds of Baltic amber have been mined.. A small town in the Kaliningrad region has the world's largest amber mine.
Amber has a special beauty in its ability for each piece to be truly original in nature and content. The downfall to amber is like anything organic it does not last forever. Baltic amber is known to have the longest life expectancy. Taking proper care of your amber will result in enjoyment for many years, sometimes thousands of years as seen with the recovery of jewels from the past.
Some important tips for caring for your amber:
Never store amber where it may rub against hard surfaces such as metal or other jewelry.
Do not expose amber to harsh chemicals such as soap, jewelry cleaners, perfumes, hair products.
Do not expose amber to direct sunshine or heat.
To clean your amber wash in lukewarm water. Use a soft cloth to wash and dry. To restore the shine polish with pure olive oil.
Where amber with pride, add it to your jewelry wardrobe and be sure to make your fashion statement!

Promoting Your Business on CD

Kenny Love

In the Music industry, whenever most independent
musicians release a new recording today, a
certain aspect of their promotion entails their
distribution and giveaway of FREE samples of
their music on a separate promotional compact
disc. This serves as a 'teaser' in enticing
prospects to then go to record stores to buy the
full-length recording.

As 'writeable' promo discs can be purchased
inexpensively at stores such as Wal-Mart, after
which the music samples are copied from the
hard drive to the CD, or by using what is known as
a CD burner (high-speed duplicator), it should
come as no surprise that even the most financially
challenged musicians are now embracing this
invaluable and well proven promotional aspect for
bringing immediate attention to their music.

And, as this method has proven unanimously
beneficial in terms of ease of finance, promotion
and time, there is absolutely no reason that a
similar process cannot also work for your own
business, albeit, a few elements properly
customized (be sure your computer's compact
disc is a "writeable" type, and not simply a
"readable" one).

As such, I am providing a "from start to finish"
outline that you should find very effective, almost
immediately, whether you wish to reach out to your
prospects locally, regionally or nationally.

Hypothetically, let's say you are in the field of
Cosmetology, and own and operate a hair salon.
Though your industry has a ready-made market,
with women repeatedly visiting on a regular basis,
naturally, there is also a fair degree of competition
from other salons in your area as well.

And, as such, you've noticed that your business
sales and clients, have either begun to level off,
stagnate or, possibly, even diminish. What can
you quickly do to maintain and increase your
clientele and, accordingly, your salon's income?

1. Why not take all of the elements of your
business, such as your weekly specials,
information about your salon such as its history,
your web site address, email address, regular
prices, business hours, contact information, along
with the various products and services you offer,
then format them into attractive files and place
them on compact discs for distribution?

Your prospects are certain to be pleasantly
surprised with this new out-of-the-norm promotion
method and anxious to see what surprise awaits
them on the CD.

2. Next, consider all the businesses women might
patronize, such as women's shoe stores, women's
clothing stores, jewelry stores, supermarkets, mall
stores, cosmetic stores, etc. Your goal is to
consider businesses that are complementary to
your own services, yet, are not in competition in
any way.

3. Now, contact the store managers and/or owners,
informing them that you are a fellow local business
owner, and request to know if they will consider
handing out your CD of information to their
customers and/or clients who have computers and,
hopefully, have Internet service. You might even
request to enter into a barter agreement with these
businesses, whereby, you distribute their sales
information as well.

While all contacts you make might not be receptive
to this idea, undeniably, you will acquire more than
a few who will be interested, if for no other reason
than the opportunities to offer their customers a
little something extra and/or to get their own
business information into the hands of new
prospects (your customers) as well.

4. Also, be sure to not only consider distributing
your CDs hand-to-hand on your own, always
having them available on your person ready to
hand out, but also having them available at your
salon to give to your existing and new customers.

5. Another avenue, is to consider doing a local
or regional mail-out campaign. You could simply
contact prospects via telephone and attempt to
qualify them by simply asking if they own a computer
and, if so, that you would like to send them a CD of
info regarding your hair salon and its services.

6. If your budget allows, yet, another method is to
contact an area print publication that specifically
targets women and request if you can pay to have
your CD attached to one of their issues, or
included as an insert.

7. To backtrack for a moment, be sure that your
web site contains a form readily viewable on it so
that when prospects with online service access
your site, your form can readily capture their email
address, as well as their mailing address.

This is vital information that you need in order to
provide your customers with any updates to your
products, services, prices or any other changes
that might occur. And, speaking of the provision
of updates, you should also consider starting a
newsletter for this purpose as well if you have not
yet done so.

Again, you also want to be sure your CD contains
as much vital information for people who don't
have online access although, practically anyone
with a computer these days, also has access.

This aspect of promotion could serve to either
offset and eliminate any print, radio or television
advertisement costs you currently have, or serve
to complement them. Your overall production
costs (bulk rate price and time spent copying files)
on the compact disc will probably be between $.30
and $.40 per unit.

If you distribute, say, 1000 info CDs at a cost of
$400, and gain merely 10% (100) new customers,
I believe you will find that the $400 will be a very
wise and worthwhile investment, not to mention
that you can continue and/or repeat the process
as often as you wished.

And, if you happen to reside in a small rural area,
you could also experience great results by simply
distributing your CD information county-wide, or
regionally.

Again, this promotional analogy is applicable to,
virtually, any business. Further examples include:

1. Auto dealerships working with car parts
suppliers, or vice versa.

2. Lawn services working with lawn mower repair
shops, or vice versa.

3. How about photography services including their
CD of info in their yearly school/student packages?

4. Even in an agricultural community, feed stores
could include a CD of their info in farmers'
purchases.

5. Why not even go a couple of steps farther by
placing audio files or, perhaps, even video files on
the CD as well?

Your audio could include your voiceover giving a
welcome to the prospect at the beginning, and
also serve as a direction to the various business
elements on your disc. Likewise, your video could
integrate animated video for an even more
pleasing experience for your prospective client.

As I stated previously, virtually, everyone, in all
areas of your community has a computer and/or
the availability of online access through friends,
relatives, area schools, libraries, etc. And, the
creativity of any part of the promotional CD is
only limited by your imagination.

So, why not truly give some serious thought to
bringing the marketing and promotion of your
business into the 21st Century? At the very least,
your promotion via CD should certainly get you
noticed far above your area competition.

Kenny Love is a business marketer,
promoter and also authors inexpensive handbooks
on unique but highly-profitable businesses that
many people are unaware of, or simply overlook.
His web site is located at http://www.kennylove.net.

Wonderful White Gold Wedding Rings
Donna Monday

The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. There's nothing quite like it.

Some people never grow tired of the look of pure gold jewelry. Gold, being our most precious metal, is often a first choice among couples looking for that perfect gold wedding ring.

While yellow gold remains very popular with the wedding crowd. Many people prefer the brilliant hue of a white gold wedding ring.

White gold will look beautiful on you whether you're a man or a woman. You can find online a great selection of white gold diamond wedding rings and white gold wedding ring sets. Also, if you're looking for something a little fancier that can also become a piece of wonderful keepsake jewelry, white gold makes a very elegant engraved wedding ring that can be passed on to future generations.

The one thing you need to be aware of when buying a white gold wedding ring is that it will need periodic maintenance in order to keep it's luster.

To obtain it's much desired glittering white color, white gold is coated with another alloy called Rhodium (the natural color of white gold is really light gray). Rhodium will wear down after a while, so to maintain your ring's luster, you'll need to visit your local jeweler about every 12-18 months and have it re-plated with a new coating of Rhodium. The cost for this should be very reasonable.

Whether you're looking for a plain gold wedding band, or a wedding ring with sparkling diamonds, white gold is an excellent choice for those looking for something a little extra special.


Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

The Bigger the Carat the Better the Wedding?

Donna Monday

Ahh . . . sweet romance.

The flowers. The chocolate. The late night whispers of "I love you."

For most people in love, the culmination of months of togetherness and special friendship comes down to one single moment: The marriage proposal - - featuring a simple, but elegant, diamond engagement ring.

Of course, if you're a celebrity, a simple ring may not have enough wattage to suit your tastes. Thus, we see many celebrities sporting five-carat to seven-carat diamond studded engagement and wedding rings.

Well, if you can afford it, why not flaunt it, right?

Take for instance the recent marriages of Britney Spears and Star Jones. When Britney Spears got engaged to her former back up dancer, Kevin Federline, she promptly bought herself an awesome-looking five-carat diamond engagement ring. (Does anyone really believe that Kevin bought this for her on his dancer's salary?)

Britney bought herself the ring she felt she deserved - nothing wrong with that. Then, she and Kevin quickly made the leap to matrimony in a matter of months with a surprisingly nice (no lip kissing of Madonna) wedding ceremony.

As for Star Jones, it's not known whether her stunning seven-carat princess cut diamond ring was bought or donated, but she too happily skipped off to a wedding ceremony with all the trimmings.

So, does all this extra diamond wattage mean that celebrities have a better wedding ceremony than everyone else?

Absolutely, not.

There's absolutely no proof that their multi-carat diamond rings and fancy wedding accommodations gave them any more satisfaction at the alter than Joe and Jane Doe's down right sparse nuptials in a run-down back yard.

Buying the biggest and fanciest diamond engagement ring on the planet doesn't guarantee anything but a nice piece of ice jewelry to show off to your family and friends. Other than that, celebrities have the same odds for a successful, happy union as the rest of us.

And that's the way it should be.


Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com


The History of Rings
Martin Smith

During the Medieval period is when rings became popular. All classes of people wore rings from the poorest to the richest. Rings were typically made of iron, copper, silver, and gold. The material of the ring worn usually indicated the class of the wearer. It wasn't until around the 14th century that faceted jewels appeared in rings.

Some cultures have rings typically associated with them. Cultures such as Native Americans use silver and turquoise in their jewelry. Early Christians used the Greek symbol, the Icthus, which resembles a fish.
One of the best known is the Irish Claddagh that also has an intriguing story attached to it. Richard Joyce was among the crew of a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh, Ireland that was captured, he was to have been married that very same week. During slavery Richard Joyce was put to the trade of Goldsmith-ing. Through the years of capture neither married. Richard Joyce created a ring for his love with a heart for love, a crown for loyalty, and two hands.

After Joyce escaped capture, he returned to the village of Claddagh and was overjoyed to see his love again and to know she had never married. She always knew he would return to her. He gave her the ring that has become known as the Claddagh ring. If the Claddagh is worn on the right hand with the crown inward (toward the wrist) the heart is not yet committed. If it is worn on the right hand with the crown turned outward the wearer is committed to someone. Finally if it is worn on the left hand with the crown outward it means "Let our love and friendship reign forever, never to be separated."

Rings are worn for a variety of reasons including adornment. There are rings given as a reward for a job well done such as the Super Bowl victory.
They are given to represent commitment as in engagements and marriages. Women religious to signify their commitment to God also wear rings.

Rings can be made of almost any material now. They can be made from plastic, silver, gold, or copper, even wood. They can be made of ceramic materials as well. They can be of simple design or something as intricate as filigree.

They can be plain and simple or they can be adorned with jewels or gemstones, as in the case of birthstone rings. There is a birthstone for each month of the year and each has its own meaning. See the listing below.
January - Garnet - the gem of faith and truth; protects from poisons, thought to stop bleeding, cure sickness of the blood and infections.
February - Amethyst - aids soldiers in battle, control evil thoughts, helps hunters to catch animals, and helps the owner be good in business.
March - Aquamarine - sailors used aquamarine to gemstones to keep them safe and to prevent seasickness. It gives the wearer courage, foresight and courage
April - Diamond - Symbol of strength, courage, and invincibility. It is the ultimate gift of love. In 1477 Archduke Maxmillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring, thus starting the tradition of diamonds being given as engagement rings.
May - Emerald - Sharpened the wearer's eyesight and mind. Travelers used them as protection against the hazards of long trips. The green color is said to give the owner power to predict the future.
June - Pearl - Freshwater pearls give the power of love, money, protection, and luck. It is said they give provide wisdom through experience and protect children from harm.
July - Ruby - Its red color is related to sex, passion, strength, health, physical energy, courage, and protection. It is associated with blood, birth, and death
August - Peridot -It is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace, and success. Its powers include health, protection, and sleep. It attracts love, calms anger, eases anxiety and negative emotions
September - Saphire - Its powers include spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. It is said to aid in the healing of rheumatism, colic and mental illness
October -Opal - It has healing powers that aid inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight. It also aids in remembering past lives.
November - Yellow Topaz (Sanskrit for fire) - In the Middle Ages was thought to heal both physical and mental illnesses and prevent death. Citrine - also for November - Aids the kidneys, heart, digestive tract liver, and muscles. It promotes creativity, personal clarity and eliminates self-destructive tendencies.
December - Blue Topaz (Sanskrit for fire) - In the Middle Ages was thought to heal both physical and mental illnesses and prevent death. Turquoise - also for December - It attracts money, success, and love. It gives protection, healing, courage, friendship, and luck. It eases the mind and mental tension.


There are school rings, engagement rings, wedding rings, friendship rings and mothers rings (usually the birthstones of her children set on a band. The price range of rings can be anywhere from fifty cents (usually found in the toy machines you see in stores) to thousands of dollars and more or even higher.


About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes
Earrings and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
Drop by the site for more information if you have time

Antler Shed 101

"Wire Jewelry" with gold filled and sterling silver; cabochons, cameos and faceted stones including bracelets, pendants, necklaces and earrings custom handcrafted. Fashion Jewelry uniquely designed for that one-of-a-kind look, durability and satisfaction. Intricate wire sculptured designs in latest contemporary, vintage or traditional styles. graceful and intriguing for that lasting impression. Each piece is carefully put together in my home to essentuate your character and style. No Mass Produced Machine-Made Jewelry only beautiful pieces you won't find anywhere else... or see on anyone else.

Sculpted Wire Jewelry-Glass Dichroic Pendants

Shop from home for the most extensive and affordable selection of appealing unique wire sculpted designs to keep or give.

14K Gold or Sterling Silver;Birthstone, cameo, Cabochon, Dichroic or Gemstone Pendants sculpted for that one-of-a-kind look that suits you and your wardrobe perfectly. Nobody else will have anything like it!

Handcrafted Jewelry designed using Cameos, Glass Dichroics, Faceted Gemstone, Osmena Pearl, Turquoise, Onyx, �Birthstones and many other brilliant stones. Choose from Wire Jewelry sculptured into beautiful faceted gemstone pendants, Cameo pendants, Dichroic glass pendants, Birthstone necklaces, earrings and bracelets all hand sculpted in 14k gold filled and Sterling Silver.

Whether your taste is traditional, contemporary, vintage, antique or high-fashion you have arrived at an art gallery that's as distinctive and unique as you are...Search the entire list of handcrafted designer creations for that special "one of a kind" art that your friends and family will love.

Gemstone And Cameos

The designs you see has been conceived and executed with artistic ideas created into dazzling reality with timeless beauty and enduring value. Gold Jewelry lovers or Sterling Silver; all designs are artistically hand sculptured designed work of art.

Wire Jewelry With Gold Filled, Sterling Silver, Gemstone Pendants
Bright Builders

"Wire Jewelry" with gold filled and sterling silver; cabochons, cameos and faceted stones including bracelets, pendants, necklaces and earrings custom handcrafted. Fashion Jewelry uniquely designed for that one-of-a-kind look, durability and satisfaction. Intricate wire sculptured designs in latest contemporary, vintage or traditional styles. graceful and intriguing for that lasting impression. Each piece is carefully put together in my home to essentuate your character and style. No Mass Produced Machine-Made Jewelry only beautiful pieces you won't find anywhere else... or see on anyone else.

Sculpted Wire Jewelry-Glass Dichroic Pendants

Shop from home for the most extensive and affordable selection of appealing unique wire sculpted designs to keep or give.

14K Gold or Sterling Silver;Birthstone, cameo, Cabochon, Dichroic or Gemstone Pendants sculpted for that one-of-a-kind look that suits you and your wardrobe perfectly. Nobody else will have anything like it!

Handcrafted Jewelry designed using Cameos, Glass Dichroics, Faceted Gemstone, Osmena Pearl, Turquoise, Onyx, �Birthstones and many other brilliant stones. Choose from Wire Jewelry sculptured into beautiful faceted gemstone pendants, Cameo pendants, Dichroic glass pendants, Birthstone necklaces, earrings and bracelets all hand sculpted in 14k gold filled and Sterling Silver.

Whether your taste is traditional, contemporary, vintage, antique or high-fashion you have arrived at an art gallery that's as distinctive and unique as you are...Search the entire list of handcrafted designer creations for that special "one of a kind" art that your friends and family will love.

Gemstone And Cameos

The designs you see has been conceived and executed with artistic ideas created into dazzling reality with timeless beauty and enduring value. Gold Jewelry lovers or Sterling Silver; all designs are artistically hand sculptured designed work of art.

Handmade jewelry, the designer jewelry that no one owns by you, is the only kind of jewelry I sell.
I've got so many extraordinary pieces of handcrafted jewelry to show you? Each has been built strand by strand of gold and silver wire into a singular work of art. There's no soldering, no gluing, and no welding. Just the alchemy that I use to transform precious metal and gemstones into more precious pieces of breathtaking handmade jewelry.

Before You Move

IDENTIFICATION
Before you can find out what a piece of jewelry is worth, you need to find out what it is. This can be as simple as turning it over and finding a maker's mark or complicated as in "hours of research". First thing first: Examine your jewelry for a maker's mark. Look on the back or on the clasp. Thoroughly examine every inch of the piece. If you see a maker's mark, start your research! Not finding a maker's mark doesn't mean it's not valuable, on the contrary; many fine pieces of jewelry were never marked. It does mean you will need to put in a little more effort in research.

If you received your jewelry from a family member, ask them about it's history. Did your grandfather give it to your grandmother right before he went off to war? Was it handed down from her mother? Answers to these questions will give you a general idea of how old it is.
Look at the style of the piece. Although many styles come back into fashion after a time, it is still possible to ID an older piece by the style and material.
Does it appear to have gemstones? Determine it they are real gemstones. You will need some sort of strong magnifying glass or ideally, a jeweler's loupe. A loupe is a small magnifying glass in various degrees of magnification. A 10X loupe should be all you need and they are relatively inexpensive. Craft and hobby stores usually sell them. Go to a well lighted place and look at the stone through the loupe. Do you see tiny bubbles in the stone? Tiny air bubbles mean it is made from glass or plastic. It's not a real gemstone. Is it open backed? Can you see the back of the stone when you turn the piece over? Does the back of the stone look shiny as in gold or silver colored foil? These are foil back rhinestones and not real gems. Foil was often added to reflect the light and create a better sparkle. Most real gems contain some type of natural inclusion. Unless you are familiar with gems and diamonds, your best bet is to take it to a jeweler or appraiser if you think it is real.
Look at the construction of the piece. This can be extremely helpful in dating a piece! Look at the clasp or pin. Are the stones individually riveted on? Is the clasp rather ornate? Does it have a layered look? What type of style is it? Does it remind you of old black and white movies? Perhaps Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn? Does it look Victorian?
By now, you should have a general idea of age and you are ready to start your research in earnest!

RESEARCH
Head for your local library or heat up an Internet search engine! I can spend hours in my local library poring over books and books and more books. There are plenty of good jewelry reference books. Stop by your library or bookstore and check them out before buying. No sense in buying a book you will hardly use! If you choose the library, bring your jewelry with you. You can also make copies of any pages you wish to take or check out the book and bring it home. As with other research, libraries are extremely helpful. Searching on the Internet is also a quick and easy way to get fast information. Some search terms to try are:

maker's mark
vintage jewelry
the name of the maker's mark you found on your piece
the decade i.e. "1930's jewelry"
antique jewelry
collectible costume jewelry

This will give you hours of research and hundreds of pages to sort. Look at anything relevant, look for similar pieces or styles. Visit online vintage jewelry shops. Look for forums where you may be able to post a picture and ask for identification help.

If you love to research like I do, this is right up your alley! It can take hours, days sometimes weeks to find out about a certain piece. As you go, you will gain more knowledge about old jewelry and hopefully you will be as enchanted as many other collectors and dealers. It's a fascinating world of "junky jewelry"!

We are always here to help you with your pieces, so feel free to send us an email if you have questions.


"Don't Sell Grandma's Jewelry at a Yard Sale...What's It Worth?"
JoAnna Gilford

IDENTIFICATION
Before you can find out what a piece of jewelry is worth, you need to find out what it is. This can be as simple as turning it over and finding a maker's mark or complicated as in "hours of research". First thing first: Examine your jewelry for a maker's mark. Look on the back or on the clasp. Thoroughly examine every inch of the piece. If you see a maker's mark, start your research! Not finding a maker's mark doesn't mean it's not valuable, on the contrary; many fine pieces of jewelry were never marked. It does mean you will need to put in a little more effort in research.

If you received your jewelry from a family member, ask them about it's history. Did your grandfather give it to your grandmother right before he went off to war? Was it handed down from her mother? Answers to these questions will give you a general idea of how old it is.
Look at the style of the piece. Although many styles come back into fashion after a time, it is still possible to ID an older piece by the style and material.
Does it appear to have gemstones? Determine it they are real gemstones. You will need some sort of strong magnifying glass or ideally, a jeweler's loupe. A loupe is a small magnifying glass in various degrees of magnification. A 10X loupe should be all you need and they are relatively inexpensive. Craft and hobby stores usually sell them. Go to a well lighted place and look at the stone through the loupe. Do you see tiny bubbles in the stone? Tiny air bubbles mean it is made from glass or plastic. It's not a real gemstone. Is it open backed? Can you see the back of the stone when you turn the piece over? Does the back of the stone look shiny as in gold or silver colored foil? These are foil back rhinestones and not real gems. Foil was often added to reflect the light and create a better sparkle. Most real gems contain some type of natural inclusion. Unless you are familiar with gems and diamonds, your best bet is to take it to a jeweler or appraiser if you think it is real.
Look at the construction of the piece. This can be extremely helpful in dating a piece! Look at the clasp or pin. Are the stones individually riveted on? Is the clasp rather ornate? Does it have a layered look? What type of style is it? Does it remind you of old black and white movies? Perhaps Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn? Does it look Victorian?
By now, you should have a general idea of age and you are ready to start your research in earnest!

RESEARCH
Head for your local library or heat up an Internet search engine! I can spend hours in my local library poring over books and books and more books. There are plenty of good jewelry reference books. Stop by your library or bookstore and check them out before buying. No sense in buying a book you will hardly use! If you choose the library, bring your jewelry with you. You can also make copies of any pages you wish to take or check out the book and bring it home. As with other research, libraries are extremely helpful. Searching on the Internet is also a quick and easy way to get fast information. Some search terms to try are:

maker's mark
vintage jewelry
the name of the maker's mark you found on your piece
the decade i.e. "1930's jewelry"
antique jewelry
collectible costume jewelry

This will give you hours of research and hundreds of pages to sort. Look at anything relevant, look for similar pieces or styles. Visit online vintage jewelry shops. Look for forums where you may be able to post a picture and ask for identification help.

If you love to research like I do, this is right up your alley! It can take hours, days sometimes weeks to find out about a certain piece. As you go, you will gain more knowledge about old jewelry and hopefully you will be as enchanted as many other collectors and dealers. It's a fascinating world of "junky jewelry"!

We are always here to help you with your pieces, so feel free to send us an email if you have questions.



Junky Jewelry buys, sells and offers consignment options for vintage, antique and collectible costume jewelry. All their licenses are current in the state of FL. Receive Junky Jewelry updates and articles in their free newsletter by visiting www.junkyjewelry.com.