5 Things You Should Know Before Selling Jewelry

The drop of any economy always leads to the rising value of one substance in particular, and that is gold. When a currency loses its value, the value of gold goes up as it is seen as more stable than a government-backed piece of paper. This is due to a lack of trust in the government that backs the currency. Whatever reasons cause this, the United States is in the middle of a recession and you can tell by the surging gold prices in the market these days. Many different companies are now popping up, offering cash for spare gold, and they are advertising at an incredible rate.

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Now in major cities you can find places to sell jewelry and scrap gold for money right on the street. A jewelry buyer is a great place for someone to sell a watch, and other gold buyers will take pieces of gold and pay you for that too. However, if you do plan on selling, there are a few things you should remember before you dive headfirst into anything.

1. You can't trust engraving- When a piece of jewelry is made, an engraving is often made so future owners can tell the quality of the metals being used. However, there is no law in most countries that force engravers to be honest. So just because your ring says it's a certain grade of gold, doesn't mean that it actually is, and an expert jeweler will be able to point it out quickly.

2. Scrap gold prices don't reflect retail value- Just because the same ring in the store window is priced high doesn't mean that your ring will be worth as much to a scrap gold company. What this means is that when you sell a ring to a scrap gold company, they simply want the valuable gold and don't really care about looks or appeal. So you will get the money for just the gold, not the actual jewelry. Another way to look at it is by relating it to buying a car, the moment you walk with a ring out of a store, it is worth less than the same one inside the store.

3. Jewelers use appraising as a marketing tool- If you bring in scrap gold or an old piece of jewelry to a jeweler, you should know that the appraisal brings in a price for trade-ins only. What that means is that they will not usually give you cash back, but let you trade it in for a different piece of jewelry that is equivalent to the appraisal price.

4. Better kept jewelry is worth more- If you do want to bring in your old jewelry to a jeweler to sell it, make sure the upkeep on the jewelry is done well. If the jewelry is in good condition, it will bring in more money when you try to sell it.

5. New Jewelry is worth more than old, unless it becomes antique- Jewelry is also like a car in that its value goes down over time. Unless it is rare, or antique, kind of like a classic car, the jewelry will be seen as old and out of style, meaning that it will fetch a lower price in the market.

Guest Post by: Amanda

Tips on Choosing Watches As Christmas Gifts

Christmas is just around the corner. It's just less than two months to go before the merriest holiday of the year which means, people will start flocking the malls to buy Christmas presents in the next few weeks or so. So, do you already have a particular gift in mind to give to your loved ones? Why not give them a watch? A watch, aside from enhancing one's appearance, also helps keep track of time and schedules which makes it a very practical gift. Let me share to you some tips on how to choose watches as your Christmas gifts.

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1. Determine your budget. The type of watch that you could buy depends on how much money you are willing to spend. If you have a very big budget, you could go for the high end designer watches. On the other hand, if you don't have that much money you could just buy a good quality watch that is simpler with less features.

2. Personalize your gift. Consider name engraving to make your gift more special. Engraving the recipient's name on the watch makes it more memorable for the person.

3. Consider the recipient's lifestyle and interests. There are different types of watches that go well with different types of personalities and lifestyles. Choose a watch that fits the recipient's lifestyle and taste so that the recipient will appreciate it more... and use it more!

Christmas is all about giving and loving one another. Make your loved ones happy by giving them a gift that they could treasure and use for a long time, like a watch. Happy shopping!

This article is written by Peter Farrar, watches and jewellery expert for WatchShop.com. You can find more information on watches on our website Watch Shop.http://www.onediy.com/gifts/

Women and Fashion Jewelry – An Affordable Yet Fashionable Statement

It is not an understatement that jewelry has always been one of the most popular accessories that women have used to help add a unique style and character to their appearance. In fact the use of gold for jewelry can be dated back as far as 3000 BC in Egypt where it was the preferred metal of choice. Not only was gold rare, but it was also very easy to work with and more importantly did not tarnish. Rare golden pendants shaped into beetles and flowers from this time period can still be found on displays at museums across the world and were used as mainly a status symbol. In fact, it was not that long ago when many women wore exquisite jewelry with intricate designs that had diamonds and other rare colorful jewels, which helped them show their social status and fashionable style to not only people in their current social circle, but to new people they might meet as well.

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However, today is a different era, and with the economy suffering the last few years many women have had to cut their costs when considering non-essential purchases such as jewelry. While the times have changed and most women in today’s modern world have no desire to flaunt their jewelry and make them feel superior to everyone else, some things have not changed that much. The desire to look unique and your best is still just as an important factor today as it was back then. Luckily with fashionable, yet affordable clothes, purses, and jewelry women do not have to spend a lot of money to look their best. New upcoming hot trends in fashion jewelry, such as vintage jewelry, are become more and more popular and are allowing once considered outdated and tacky items, such as some heirlooms or inherited pieces, to once again be stylish and fashionable. The uniqueness and the story behind these pieces are not only interesting to hear, but adds character to these once outdated pieces of jewelry. Many of these can be purchased at antique stores and specialized shops, however some of them are made of real gold and can still be very pricy. With hot trends in winter jewelry involving layering vintage pieces, it is good to know what most modern fashion jewelry can help you achieve the same looks that are created with the vintage era in mind. The best part is it can now be done at a fraction of the price.

Another popular trend is not your typical style of jewelry at all. Outrageous pieces that have different shapes, designs, and colors are becoming more and more popular as many celebrities and well known female stars are not necessarily creating the trend, but simply following it. While the older trends usually focused on purchasing a few nice pieces of expensive jewelry that would go with the majority of their clothes, the modern female might purchase several pieces of stylish, yet inexpensive, jewelry to wear with one specific outfit in mind. Sterling plated fashion jewelry with cubic zirconium jewels are now the standard and nobody cares whether it is real or not.

It is interesting to see that these trends have not just affected the accessories and appearances of women, but men as well. More men are following the trend and are wearing similar jewelry such as a mens fashion necklace with a unique and stylish pendant. While the styles of the men’s jewelry compared to the women’s are very different, one thing is for sure. With the wide variety of affordable fashion jewelry available, both women and men everywhere are creating their own personalized style to express themselves in a unique and affordable, yet fashionable statement.

5 Insane But True Things About Shopping

In a society where consumerism is encouraged, compulsive shopping is even treated as a joke. Presently, compulsive buying is being considered as a personality disorder. People buy, buy, buy items that end up piled in the attic and later sold in the annual garage sale. Unused blouses, bags, even make ups or what have you, originally bought using high interest rated credit cards are disposed of at give away prices. It is insane as you pay on debts for items bought which were never used.

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Buying bargain items near expiry dates. Buying discounted items, especially grocery stuff can sometimes cost you more. For the 50-70% off for a pack of vegetables or canned goods, you buy double. The trick is, consume all of it before the best before date arrives. Most likely, it will not happen. Crazy, because the “savings” supposedly gained is simply discarded into the bin.

More expensive is better quality MYTH. In many ways, branded buys in the past were proven more reliable and lasts longer, like branded shoes are more expensive. But this is not true all the way. A little diligence and research will reveal highly useful good quality items that are not expensive. There are start up businesses who introduce products at lower than average price to break into the market. They are virtually unknown and would not command high price. They would also make sure their products are of very good quality. Find and try one.

Being fashionable is good but is not always financially wise and practical. Wearing an expensive newly introduced design of a cardigan or blouse may only be worn once, and never get to be used again. What is the reason? That design is no longer in fashion and will not come back till the next 10 years, by then the design is the same but the material used is different.

Go healthy, wholesome and simple - and discover only 10% or less of items found in grocery stores are really of good use. The rest are unnecessary if not outright bad. A vegetarian living healthy, wholesome and simple lifestyle buying only chemical, fertilizer, pesticide, msg, artificial food color, artificial flavoring and GMO FREE products, aiming to get only down-to-earth use of basic essentials, will end up walking and peeking in the very limited section of these shops.

The rest of the items found in the store will just be categorized junks. For example, there is no need to visit the canned goods section if the goal is NAFA feeding for the family. NAFA is no artificial food additives or preservatives. It will save precious time going directly to the fresh food section- altogether avoiding the junk foods section of chips and chemical-laden juices. What about cleaning products harmful to the environment? No need to mention.

Visits to department stores will be very limited to the basic ESSENTIALS rather than what is fashionable. Good fashion for people who want simple, wholesome lifestyle can be out-of-fashion, the items they are looking for could not be readily found. They would intentionally choose products from hair essentials to clothing and accessories made of organic or natural materials rather than synthetically produced. But this is temporary, the trend now is going back to basics and to nature- helping mother earth recover its wholeness and health too.

This article is written by Kelly of BigCrumbz which helps consumers find the best cash back rewards program on the internet.

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Would You Wear An Engagement Ring that You Saw in a Film?

Earlier this year, an engagement ring was brought out by the merchandising team behind the phenomenal success that is the Twilight saga.  Putting aside arguments about shameless consumerism, this got me wondering whether anyone would choose to wear such an engagement ring?

The engagement ring is a symbol of your promise to marry – a lasting and physical reminder of your love.  Do you want this cherished possession to be associated with a movie that years down the line you are unlikely to care about?  And that you might even be embarrassed about?

So, what should you look for in an engagement ring?

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Your ring should be a lasting reminder of your love for your husband-to-be.  While it has become traditional to wear a diamond, there are no rules that say it has to be.  Indeed, this custom began as a marketing tactic, so you should choose whatever you feel comfortable with.

While the Twilight engagement ring is a massive gold oval embedded with diamonds, you should only choose an ostentatious style if it suits your personality. 

Traditional ladies might prefer old-fashioned styles, or even antique rings.  Modern and chic women might like simple and classic styles.  Creative and quirky types may choose an unusual cut of diamond, such as a pear shape, a twisted band or an unusual material for their ring.

There are many different guides to buying the perfect ring available, but my advice is simple:  Choose something that you can afford, that you like and try lots of rings on before deciding. 

If the Twilight ring is everything that you ever wanted then wear it with pride.  But if you’re just in love with the story and like the idea of playing out the roles of Bella and Edward in your relationship, maybe look again.  After all, you want something that suits your love story, not theirs.

Chloe Watts works for Portfolio of Fine Diamonds, an online retailer selling an exclusive range of one-off diamond engagement rings and platinum engagement rings.

Choosing pretty rugs fashioned from luxurious cashmere

Soft and warm, cashmere products are popular for the cosiness they offer. Moreover, its not limited to garments for you only – home décor accessories are also available. Cashmere rugs are just the perfect example. Throw it over your cushions or use it as a blanket, the versatility makes it a good choice.  

Wool from a certain breed of goats goes into making cashmere. Do you often wonder why it is so costly? The reason is – it takes the wool, sheared from a goat in four seasons, to make a single item. The rarity of the material makes these pieces so expensive. If it was as easily available as other wools, this could never happen.

The colours of cashmere vary from white to grey to browns. However, you need not worry about a limited colour palette. Use of dyes brings in myriad hues to these rugs. You can opt for solid coloured ones or the ones with checks or weaves. This depends on the interior décor of your home and your taste as well.

When you go out to buy cashmere rugs, the most important deciding factor is softness. The genuine pieces are super fine and therefore very soft. The wool for these comes from the underbelly and throat of the goats. Feel the fabric – blends are not as soft as original cashmere. The feel of it helps you decide on what to buy.

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Buying original cashmere is a bit too heavy on the pocket. However, it is a better option to invest in one, qualitatively it is the best and thus the expense is quite justified. Exuding natural warmth, the comfort is just one factor. The style statement it makes is another. Cashmere has always been on the favourite list of generations.

If you take good care of your rug, it is sure to last a lifetime. Hand wash is the right way to clean these. You can use mild shampoo to clear away the dirt. It is best to go for professional cleaning if there is a particularly difficult stain to remove. Opt for dry wash only if it is recommended.