Why A Diamond Engagement Ring?
Here is one theory: Ancients used to believe gem stones were solidified drops of divine essence, embedded in rocks when the world was created. Diamonds were sacred to the Mother of the gods because they “ruled” all other stones by their superior hardness. Diamonds were sacred to the Supreme Goddess and were taken over by the cult of the Virgin. Because of this association with virginity, they came to be considered appropriate betrothal gifts.
Just How Many Diamonds are there on American Soil?
As it turns out...more than some of us might think!
1853...California. The first diamond is discovered in the Cherokee district of Butte County. California deposits are likened to the diamantiferous gravel of Brazil. More diamonds are found, in five more counties: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, and Trinity. It ain't only gold what's in them thar hills.
1869...Idaho. Some small diamonds have been found in the placer diggings of Idaho. They're found under the same conditions as those found in California ...picked up by gold miners. A stir is created in the local papers. References are made as the abundant yield of Idaho diamonds. Out of curiosity, how many of you out there thought Idaho was only potato country?
1883...Montana. An octahedral diamond is found at a placer claim at Nelson Hill, near Deer Lodge County, Montana. It's brought to New York, submitted to a diamond expert, and pronounced real.
1884...Wisconsin. A Milwaukee jeweler buys a stone from a lady for $1.00. He tells her it's a topaz. It's said it was found while digging a well on her husband's property. Turns out it's a diamond, the first ever found in Wisconsin, and is therefore valued at quite a high price. Did this jeweler take the lady for a ride? I don't know. Once word got out, she sold her property at an inflated rate, so she made out okay.
1888...Cincinnati. A laborer is attending to a boulder-crushing machine and he finds a diamond weighing over 80 carats. A theory floats around that the stone might be one lost by a Mrs. Clark in 1806. Who know? Who cares? 80 carats! It's the lottery of 1888. Only thing is...they don't say whether it was a rough or cut stone. I think we're talking cut. But don't go rushing off to Ohio yet with your mining tools. Wait till I get some more info. I'll be sending you all a card...from Ohio, of course. :)
1888 again...Kentucky. There's an account of a diamond coming out of Russell County. It weighs a little over 0.43 carats. It's an octahedron. It's lustrous, nearly white, with a tinge of yellow. It was found in a gravelly field on top of a hill. A theory is advanced. Diamonds may have been formed in the peridotite of Kentucky. Ahh...for the sweet smell of blue grass country.
Arizona...don't know the year. A man called J.D. Yerrington of New York city owns a brown diamond. It weighs 1 carat. When cut, it will yield a 1/2 carat gem. It was found near Philadelphos, Arizona.
The time...many years ago. Sorry, that's the closest I can get. Koko Creek, in Eastern Tennessee...at the headquarters of the Tellico River. We're on the bench lands of the Smokey or Unaka Mountains. Three diamond crystals are found. This points to an extension of the diamond-belt of North Carolina.
There's more. It seems almost endless. There are diamonds found in Georgia--in Bangor, Maine--in North Carolina. The largest diamond ever found in America is supposed to be the Dewey Diamond, found in Manchester, Virginia, in 1855...found by a laborer while paving a street near Richmond. It's original weight was 23 3/4 carats. After cutting...11 11/16 carats. It's not very valuable. It's off color...it's imperfect. But so what? Corn and hay and beef and potatoes, and alfalfa and tobacco and chickens ain't our only resources folks. No sirree! There's diamonds out there...just for the pickin'.
And there you have it.
Diamonds...How and when they were created.
There is more than one theory as to how and when diamonds were created. We'll use one.
Let's go back back...to the beginnings of time...when the earth was young. We're talking about 70 million to 150 million years ago. It was the beginning of the continental drift...that time in history when the earth began to break up, and Africa and South America separated, and the Atlantic Ocean was formed. It was then, during the creation of the Atlantic Ocean, that violent volcanic activity created enough heat and pressure to create diamonds. How much heat and pressure? Well, we're talking about 7000kg/cm2 and 3,630 degrees Fahrenheit. (2000 degrees Centigrade) The only place on this planet of ours where that kind of heat and pressure can be achieved is roughly 120 miles deep into the earth. Sometimes, very rarely, a heavy meteorite hits the planet with enough heat and pressure to create diamonds. But this is a very rare occurrence. As the earth changed and shifted, diamonds slowly began to find their way to the surface...a great deal of the time via the eruptions of volcanoes. The name of the rock formed by these volcanoes is called Kimberlite...and much of it is found in South Africa...today's heart of the diamond producing mines of the world.
We now shoot forward through the mists of time. No one knows exactly when man discovered diamonds. What we do know, however, is that from the beginnings of ancient times, when man first discovered diamonds, to the middle of the eighteenth century, India was the world's only supplier. There was a king in India around the years 320 to 298 B.C. His name was Chandragupa. It was during his reign that documentation was revealed that proved that not only were diamonds known in the fourth century B.C., but they were also used as commodities for trade. It was sometime in the eighteenth century, Brazil entered the arena and became a major force in the production of diamonds.
Diamonds are mentioned in the times of Alexander the Great. They appear in the stories of the Thousand and One Nights with Sinbad the Sailor, and later, in the stories written about Marco Polo.
Today, the Diamond Syndicates of South Africa control world diamond production.
Diamonds...Pressure...and Peanut Butter
Yeah yeah...an unlikely title...what's he going to come up with this time? Yawn yawn.
Okay. Here's the story...here's the problem...and here's the solution. This all has to do, once again--I've skirted this topic before--with the making of man made diamonds. And here's the story. In theory, it should be simple. Diamonds are made from carbon...and so is almost everything else on this earth, including plastics, wood, and even us. Take out the water, squish a human being with enough heat and pressure, and, theoretically at least, you should get a diamond. So, next time any of you start to think your fellow human may be a bit worthless...think again.
Now...here's the problem. Pressure! At the turn of the century, there wasn't a lab around that could achieve a continuous pressure of over three thousand atmospheres. If you want to know what this means... listen. Go down to the deepest depths of our deepest oceans, and you'll only reach pressures totally a tad over one thousand atmospheres. And three thousand atmospheres doesn't begin to cut it for creating a diamond. It turns out that fifty thousand atmospheres or more is what you need to do the trick. Impressed?
In 1905 a man called Percy Bridgeman was able to create a machine that could generate seven thousand atmospheres (50 tons of pressure per square inch). By 1910 he had things going up to twenty thousand atmospheres. He could now get water to become ice at room temperature. Okay...it wasn't a diamond yet...but still...ice without a freezer. Move over G.E.
1930 comes around and Percy's got his equipment cooking in the range of four hundred thousand atmospheres (that's nearly 3000 tons per inch). More than enough pressure...but no dice...um...make that diamonds.
And now...the solution. It will only work if you can sustain a temperature level of 1000 degrees centigrade while keeping up the pressure of over fifty thousand atmospheres. Percy never made it, though he did get a Nobel Prize in physics for his achievements. So...we're off to Sweden. Let me introduce you all to a Mr. Baltzar von Platen. He's considered a genius and an eccentic...all at the same time. But you can't touch him for brilliance in a laboratory. He designs a machine that produces over sixty thousand atmospheres...and sets the pace for those that follow him...re: a scientist by the name of Erik Lundblad. On February 16, 1953, Erik makes history. He subjects graphite to a pressure of 83,000 atmospheres for a full hour...and creates the first synthetic diamond. But it's not announced...and so the race continues...and we end up back in America...with a company called General Electric. The date is now December 8, 1954. Wednesday evening. Herb Strong, a research scientist for G.E., loads his machine with black carbon powder, raises the pressure to fifty thousand atmospheres and the temperature to 1250 degrees centigrade...lets the stuff cook for 16 hours...and makes two small diamonds. December 16, 1954, another scientist does it again. His name is Tracy Hall.
Since then man made diamonds have become almost commonplace accomplishments. Today, production exceeds over one hundred tons per year. But it's all industrial stuff folks...not to worry.
Oh yeah...one more thing. The Peanut Butter. Where does that come in? I'll tell you. As an experiment, a scientist named Robert Wentorf Jr. took a spoonful of the stuff and put it into the machine and presto... the chef's delight...diamond crystals. And why not? Peanut Butter is carbon too you know. As is plastic, and tar, and wood, and us.
Cost of Operating a Diamond Mine
A question that surely weighs heavily and inexorably on the minds of the readers of Tidbits--and any other breathing human being for that matter--is unquestionably this: Is there a cost versus location situation when it comes to operating a diamond mine? In other words...is it more or less expensive to operate a diamond mine in the valley than on the mountain top? The answer to this tantalizing rebus is that it makes no difference at all. The reason is in the final product. Unlike gold or iron or copper or lead...we don't need enormous carting facilities like railroads and pipe lines to ship out the day's yield. One hundred million dollars worth of product can weigh only a couple of pounds at most...and can be hauled away in a light aircraft.
South Africa. Land of the lion, the leopard, the cheetah, and the diamond. Our gem is in good company. Ten thousand feet up, over the Lesothan mountains, our plane heads directly into a mountain wall. Mists hang heavily in the air. Suddenly, micro-seconds before what is surely destined to be a crash, a landing strip appears and we touch ground with little bump. Brigadoon? Well...close, but no cigar. We're in Letseng-La-Terai--the highest diamond mine in the world. We're on the roof of Africa. Welcome my friends. Let's stroll about, shall we?
Against the side of the mountain is a square tower--a citadel of iron reaching through the fog. It's the separation plant. Large stones are the mainstay of this operation...large being defined as any rough diamond weighing over 14.8 carats. This plant produces about 200 such stones a year, and it is only one of two where large stones are regularly gleaned, the other plant being in Sierra Leone. Hit a forty carat rough gem, you got a half a million dollars coming into the coffers.
It's the fifteenth of the month. A bell begins to clang with grating persistence. A large diamond has just been found...the first one this month, and it is for it the bell tolls. There's excitement in the air. The mine needed a find like this in order to remain solvent. There was an ever increasing belief that the mine was tapped out with larger goods. Everyone hurries to the sorting house. Relief is in the air. For now, the mine will not have to be closed...though it needs two or three such finds a month in order to survive.
It weighs fifty eight carats. It's is top grade color quality. How much will it bring in? As a rough...about 340 thousand dollars. Maybe a little more. This money will support the mine for two weeks...then that's it. Another one better be found soon. This enterprise employs 800 workers at an average gross collective salary of 20 grand a week for labor alone. If you take in the salaries of the engineers and other support crew... supervisors etc., cost of fuel and machinery...our little mine residing as close to heaven as a mine can get...cost about 150,000 dollars a week to operate. One diamond a month, clearly, doth not do it. The logistics are overwhelming. This mine needs to sort through three to four tons of kimberlite-- the material in which diamonds are found--in order to glean one single carat of diamonds.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Garnet – birthstone for the month of January
Believed to represent faith, loyalty, truth and devotion, garnet is known as the stone of commitment. Most people think of garnet as a single type of gem that is dark red in color. Actually, garnet is a gem family that spans a range of red, green, yellow, orange, purple and brown shades.
Garnet's name comes from the Latin "Granatus," which means "seed-like." Many garnet crystals have the shape and color of pomegranate seeds.
Best known among the garnets are the deep red almandine and pyrope garnets. Their widespread availability makes them extremely affordable (under $40 a carat). In recent years rhodolite, a mix of almandine and pyrope, has become increasingly popular and is found in light to dark pink to purplish red, even grape. Rare garnets as the green colored tsavorite, can cost several hundreds of dollars per cart.
Buying Tips
Color is most important when determining the value of garnet. Lively, bright colors command higher prices than gems that are too light or dark. Better quality garnets are usually eye clean and very high clarity (not many inclusions) under magnification. Also watch out for synthetic imitations in lower priced jewelry.
Folklore
There are many ancient traditions and legends about garnets. According to the Egyptians, garnet is an antidote for snakebite and food poisoning. Some Hebrew writers include it as one of the 12 gems in Aaron’s breastplate. Christian tradition long considered the blood-red garnet symbolic of Christ's sacrifice. The Koran holds that it illuminates the Fourth Heaven of the Moslems. Garnet was said to give its wearer guidance in the night allowing him to see when others couldn’t. Legend claims that Noah hung a large garnet in the ark for illumination. Garnet was thought to help the wearer resist melancholy, cure heart palpitations, word off evil spirits, spark creativity and provide a grounding influence.
Care
Clean garnet with warm soapy water and a soft brush. A sonic cleaner can be used for most garnets except for Andradite (Demantoid) garnets because they are softer than other garnets. Do not use a steamer.
Garnet's name comes from the Latin "Granatus," which means "seed-like." Many garnet crystals have the shape and color of pomegranate seeds.
Best known among the garnets are the deep red almandine and pyrope garnets. Their widespread availability makes them extremely affordable (under $40 a carat). In recent years rhodolite, a mix of almandine and pyrope, has become increasingly popular and is found in light to dark pink to purplish red, even grape. Rare garnets as the green colored tsavorite, can cost several hundreds of dollars per cart.
Buying Tips
Color is most important when determining the value of garnet. Lively, bright colors command higher prices than gems that are too light or dark. Better quality garnets are usually eye clean and very high clarity (not many inclusions) under magnification. Also watch out for synthetic imitations in lower priced jewelry.
Folklore
There are many ancient traditions and legends about garnets. According to the Egyptians, garnet is an antidote for snakebite and food poisoning. Some Hebrew writers include it as one of the 12 gems in Aaron’s breastplate. Christian tradition long considered the blood-red garnet symbolic of Christ's sacrifice. The Koran holds that it illuminates the Fourth Heaven of the Moslems. Garnet was said to give its wearer guidance in the night allowing him to see when others couldn’t. Legend claims that Noah hung a large garnet in the ark for illumination. Garnet was thought to help the wearer resist melancholy, cure heart palpitations, word off evil spirits, spark creativity and provide a grounding influence.
Care
Clean garnet with warm soapy water and a soft brush. A sonic cleaner can be used for most garnets except for Andradite (Demantoid) garnets because they are softer than other garnets. Do not use a steamer.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Jewellery - Simple Tips for a Stunning Look
If you've been wondering how to show your jewelry off, or how to make your jewelry show you off, have a look at our jewelry ideas guaranteed to make you dazzle and look stunning.
Is it necessary to wear jewelry?
In a word, yes! Selecting the right jewelry can add that touch of class and sensuality, transforming you from plain Jane into a perfect princess.
When making a decision on what pieces of jewelry to wear, remember less is more. It only takes a pair of long dangly earrings to highlight your slender neck or a sparkling gem pendant to match your eyes, to create a startling effect.
Use the design, style and size of jewelry to enhance or deflect from particular aspects of your appearance.
If your arms upper arms are not as firm as they used to be, then avoid wearing bracelets and choose a dazzling ring instead.
Know your best asset, is it your face or an ample bosom? An attractive choker will draw attention to your face, while a long pendant will accentuate your cleavage.
Create different looks with your jewelry to match the clothes you're wearing.
Experiment with ideas like wearing layers of different length necklaces or several bracelets. Or why not go for one item that is really flashy and guaranteed to get you attention.
Celebrities have a huge influence on fashion trends but unless you are a celebrity or have a huge bank balance there is no need to splash out on expensive jewelry.
Most designers produce affordable, good quality costume jewelry and antique jewelry is also very popular and a good investment.
So you've selected the right pieces, how do you wear it?
One important point to bear in mind is, don't mix costume jewelry with antique jewelry.
Your choice of jewelry should reflect your personality and individual sense of style.
Whether your style is cool and sophisticated or more casual, make sure your jewelry is appropriate for the occasion.
The pendant you wear to a formal dinner should not be the same one you wear to work.
Next, think about the color of your jewelry. This will depend to a large degree on whether you are a warm or cool person.
If like most people you have brown eyes and black hair then you will fall into the cool category. For you, white metals like platinum, white gold or silver are the most flattering. For others who fall into the warm category then go for yellow gold, brass or copper.
Experiment with wearing warm and cool jewelry and see which one enhances your skin tone and make you dazzle.
And finally, for any of you who remember dressing up as a child, you should view wearing jewelry in exactly the same way it should be fun!
Is it necessary to wear jewelry?
In a word, yes! Selecting the right jewelry can add that touch of class and sensuality, transforming you from plain Jane into a perfect princess.
When making a decision on what pieces of jewelry to wear, remember less is more. It only takes a pair of long dangly earrings to highlight your slender neck or a sparkling gem pendant to match your eyes, to create a startling effect.
Use the design, style and size of jewelry to enhance or deflect from particular aspects of your appearance.
If your arms upper arms are not as firm as they used to be, then avoid wearing bracelets and choose a dazzling ring instead.
Know your best asset, is it your face or an ample bosom? An attractive choker will draw attention to your face, while a long pendant will accentuate your cleavage.
Create different looks with your jewelry to match the clothes you're wearing.
Experiment with ideas like wearing layers of different length necklaces or several bracelets. Or why not go for one item that is really flashy and guaranteed to get you attention.
Celebrities have a huge influence on fashion trends but unless you are a celebrity or have a huge bank balance there is no need to splash out on expensive jewelry.
Most designers produce affordable, good quality costume jewelry and antique jewelry is also very popular and a good investment.
So you've selected the right pieces, how do you wear it?
One important point to bear in mind is, don't mix costume jewelry with antique jewelry.
Your choice of jewelry should reflect your personality and individual sense of style.
Whether your style is cool and sophisticated or more casual, make sure your jewelry is appropriate for the occasion.
The pendant you wear to a formal dinner should not be the same one you wear to work.
Next, think about the color of your jewelry. This will depend to a large degree on whether you are a warm or cool person.
If like most people you have brown eyes and black hair then you will fall into the cool category. For you, white metals like platinum, white gold or silver are the most flattering. For others who fall into the warm category then go for yellow gold, brass or copper.
Experiment with wearing warm and cool jewelry and see which one enhances your skin tone and make you dazzle.
And finally, for any of you who remember dressing up as a child, you should view wearing jewelry in exactly the same way it should be fun!
Monday, February 5, 2007
Infinite Abundance With a Piece of Jewelry
“Abundance is, in large part, an attitude”, says Patton Thoele. With the proper approach, a positive thinking perspective and an apparently insignificant piece of jewelry, you will certainly find yourself in possession of that specific attitude. Certainly, you have heard until now about bijoux attracting prosperity. Some of you must have dismissed the issue with a suspicious look and thought. And yet some of you have given it a closer look and realized that, actually, there is a great degree of plausibility in such an approach.
Nothing has ever been accomplished in the absence of positive thinking. And when you blend positive thinking with Abundance jewelry, you may be certain that profusion will turn into an undeniable fact. We are not talking exclusively about material prosperity. There is also spiritual richness provided by such jewelry. In point of fact, equipped with such a bijou and mentally prepared for the prosperity to come, you can even “plunge” into sessions of contemplation of the best possible attitude necessary for a favorable outcome to what concerns your well-being.
There is one great truth: we, people, are practically unrestrained in our inventive, productive abilities. If you focus your energies towards this particular point, starting with the premise that you have been built according to the likeness of your Creator, favorable results will not fail to turn visible. Of course, your productive potential is augmented if during such sessions you allow Abundance bijoux complete your equipment and your constructive energies.
This particular type of jewelry will help you discover that there is a sacred dimension embedded even in the material aspects of our life. Once you have become certain of this fact and you have grasped its profound meaning and implications, you can go on with your contemplation and reach that stage where your mind and spirit are no longer restricted. Abundance jewelry will attract prosperity. Material prosperity will attract spiritual richness. The principle is not truly innovative; we have all known it for quite some time: like attracts like.
And, if you really think about it, it actually makes sense. Material Abundance will eliminate the material needs you are burdened with. Once this burden is removed, you are free to continue on your path towards spiritual Abundance. Subsequently, Abundance bijoux will not act only at the level of material achievement, but they will also call upon your assistance spiritual energies to help your spiritual fulfillment.
In other words, this particular type of jewelry will facilitate your understanding of the way things are organized in the whole universe. The key is this: you need to grow aware that you could enjoy anything – materially and spiritually – as long as you truly want it and you really focus your energies toward the attainment of this objective. An Abundance piece of jewelry will assist you in the proper distribution of your energies. Silver or gold, it really doesn’t matter at this point. The material out of which your bijou is built is strictly a matter of your personal choice, of your personal preference. If gold is the thing that gives you the feeling of abundance around you, then gold should be your choice. If, on the contrary, silver is the material providing the same feeling, you would better opt for silver.
You have probably reached the following conclusion on your own: you need to create an aura of profusion around you. Abundance bijoux are just the thing for it: they will increase the feeling of prosperity and, subsequently, you will be able to better focus on reaching that stage. So take your pick with an Abundance ring or Abundance pendant and see the results with your own eyes.
Source: http://www.ka-gold-jewelry.com
Nothing has ever been accomplished in the absence of positive thinking. And when you blend positive thinking with Abundance jewelry, you may be certain that profusion will turn into an undeniable fact. We are not talking exclusively about material prosperity. There is also spiritual richness provided by such jewelry. In point of fact, equipped with such a bijou and mentally prepared for the prosperity to come, you can even “plunge” into sessions of contemplation of the best possible attitude necessary for a favorable outcome to what concerns your well-being.
There is one great truth: we, people, are practically unrestrained in our inventive, productive abilities. If you focus your energies towards this particular point, starting with the premise that you have been built according to the likeness of your Creator, favorable results will not fail to turn visible. Of course, your productive potential is augmented if during such sessions you allow Abundance bijoux complete your equipment and your constructive energies.
This particular type of jewelry will help you discover that there is a sacred dimension embedded even in the material aspects of our life. Once you have become certain of this fact and you have grasped its profound meaning and implications, you can go on with your contemplation and reach that stage where your mind and spirit are no longer restricted. Abundance jewelry will attract prosperity. Material prosperity will attract spiritual richness. The principle is not truly innovative; we have all known it for quite some time: like attracts like.
And, if you really think about it, it actually makes sense. Material Abundance will eliminate the material needs you are burdened with. Once this burden is removed, you are free to continue on your path towards spiritual Abundance. Subsequently, Abundance bijoux will not act only at the level of material achievement, but they will also call upon your assistance spiritual energies to help your spiritual fulfillment.
In other words, this particular type of jewelry will facilitate your understanding of the way things are organized in the whole universe. The key is this: you need to grow aware that you could enjoy anything – materially and spiritually – as long as you truly want it and you really focus your energies toward the attainment of this objective. An Abundance piece of jewelry will assist you in the proper distribution of your energies. Silver or gold, it really doesn’t matter at this point. The material out of which your bijou is built is strictly a matter of your personal choice, of your personal preference. If gold is the thing that gives you the feeling of abundance around you, then gold should be your choice. If, on the contrary, silver is the material providing the same feeling, you would better opt for silver.
You have probably reached the following conclusion on your own: you need to create an aura of profusion around you. Abundance bijoux are just the thing for it: they will increase the feeling of prosperity and, subsequently, you will be able to better focus on reaching that stage. So take your pick with an Abundance ring or Abundance pendant and see the results with your own eyes.
Source: http://www.ka-gold-jewelry.com
Saturday, February 3, 2007
How to Buy Genuine Rolex Watches
Today, millions of people are buying and selling Rolex watches and other fine timepieces over the internet. It is said that Rolex produces around 650,000 to 800,000 watches annually. Sadly enough, counterfeiters around the world produce 10 times that amount each year, turning what was once a business operated in street vendors into a multi-billion dollar industry
Without knowing what tell-tale signs to look for, the average Rolex consumer may easily fall victim to scammers. And while connoisseurs will certainly discern between a $5,000 Rolex and a $50 replica, the existence of large number of counterfeits inevitably affects demand at some level
The best and most accurate way to tell a Rolex from a replica is by checking its Serial#, Model#, Case back ID, and Movement Signature (the 4 primary verification methods used by professionals) by looking between its bottom lugs (part where the band connects to case), top lugs, and by opening the case back respectively.
Clear Casebacks – If you encounter one of these, don’t bother strapping them on. Often times, a replica will have a clear caseback allowing you to see the inside of the watch. Rolex does not make watches with clear casebacks!
Engraved Casebacks – Again, with the exception of a rare Ladies model (circa 1990’s) and the “Sea-Dweller” model, Rolex does not engrave any logos or slogans on their casebacks. Moreover, they are free of any engravings.
Hologram Stickers – A newly purchased Rolex watch will come with a 3-D hologram-encoded sticker on the caseback. The Rolex “crown” trademark is featured just above the case reference number and can be easily identified when viewed. Often times, a fake hologram sticker won’t even have the 3-D effect when viewed. It is simply a hard, concrete pattern that won’t change in appearance one bit. If this is evident, it is surely a counterfeit Rolex.
Date Magnification – All genuine Rolex watches excluding the “Sea-Dweller” features the cyclops that magnifies the date by 2.5x. As you can see in the picture above, the cyclops on the counterfeit is significantly smaller and a bit misaligned. These are common flaws made by counterfeits and you will see many of them today with a larger font date to fool the average consumer.
Triplock Crown Seal – This pertains to the owners or future owners of the Sea-Dweller, Submariner, and the Daytona. These three models feature the “Triplock crown”. The image above shows that the genuine Rolex utilizes the extra seal by the rubber o-ring on the winding tube whereas the counterfeit comes with no seal at all. It is also worth mentioning this to be a case by case situation when purchasing a pre-owned Rolex, in which many original Rolex parts or accessories can be replaced by aftermarket parts and accessories.
Micro-etched Crystal – In 2002, Rolex began micro-etching the Rolex “coronet” or “crown” right below the 6 o’clock marker. Though it is better distinguishable using a jeweler’s loupe, you can see by the illustration that the genuine “crown” is much more distinguishable and robust as opposed to the counterfeit. Moreover, the counterfeit is poorly designed and is a clear indication of a fake.
Without knowing what tell-tale signs to look for, the average Rolex consumer may easily fall victim to scammers. And while connoisseurs will certainly discern between a $5,000 Rolex and a $50 replica, the existence of large number of counterfeits inevitably affects demand at some level
The best and most accurate way to tell a Rolex from a replica is by checking its Serial#, Model#, Case back ID, and Movement Signature (the 4 primary verification methods used by professionals) by looking between its bottom lugs (part where the band connects to case), top lugs, and by opening the case back respectively.
Clear Casebacks – If you encounter one of these, don’t bother strapping them on. Often times, a replica will have a clear caseback allowing you to see the inside of the watch. Rolex does not make watches with clear casebacks!
Engraved Casebacks – Again, with the exception of a rare Ladies model (circa 1990’s) and the “Sea-Dweller” model, Rolex does not engrave any logos or slogans on their casebacks. Moreover, they are free of any engravings.
Hologram Stickers – A newly purchased Rolex watch will come with a 3-D hologram-encoded sticker on the caseback. The Rolex “crown” trademark is featured just above the case reference number and can be easily identified when viewed. Often times, a fake hologram sticker won’t even have the 3-D effect when viewed. It is simply a hard, concrete pattern that won’t change in appearance one bit. If this is evident, it is surely a counterfeit Rolex.
Date Magnification – All genuine Rolex watches excluding the “Sea-Dweller” features the cyclops that magnifies the date by 2.5x. As you can see in the picture above, the cyclops on the counterfeit is significantly smaller and a bit misaligned. These are common flaws made by counterfeits and you will see many of them today with a larger font date to fool the average consumer.
Triplock Crown Seal – This pertains to the owners or future owners of the Sea-Dweller, Submariner, and the Daytona. These three models feature the “Triplock crown”. The image above shows that the genuine Rolex utilizes the extra seal by the rubber o-ring on the winding tube whereas the counterfeit comes with no seal at all. It is also worth mentioning this to be a case by case situation when purchasing a pre-owned Rolex, in which many original Rolex parts or accessories can be replaced by aftermarket parts and accessories.
Micro-etched Crystal – In 2002, Rolex began micro-etching the Rolex “coronet” or “crown” right below the 6 o’clock marker. Though it is better distinguishable using a jeweler’s loupe, you can see by the illustration that the genuine “crown” is much more distinguishable and robust as opposed to the counterfeit. Moreover, the counterfeit is poorly designed and is a clear indication of a fake.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Titanium vs. Gold, Silver and Platinum
Either you are buying it as a gift or for yourself, there are many reasons why titanium jewelry can be a better choice than jewelry made in traditional precious metals like gold, silver and platinum.
Firstly, titanium is highly corrosion resistant and therefore does not tarnish easily. Especially for high-polish finished jewelry like gold and silver wedding band rings, it is expected that the jewelry will lose its color and shine over time. Even if they are stored properly in jewelry boxes or safe, the oxygen in the air reacts with the metals and turns the color. This process is of course accelerated if the jewelry is worn daily because the sweat combined with body temperature, acts as catalysts to the chemical process.
Also, titanium is hypoallergenic, which means that very few people have skin that is sensitive to it. People who are allergic to gold, silver or, more commonly, nickel, which is found in most gold and silver jewelry, don't have to worry about outbreak when wearing jewelry made from titanium and its alloys.
A widely known property about titanium is its durability. It is this attribute that makes it perfect for active individuals who frequently engage in outdoor activities, even water sports. It is not uncommon that people find their gold or silver jewelry damaged, or even lost, after a day of exciting outdoor events. These disappointments can easily be avoided if titanium jewelry is worn instead. In addition, titanium has a high strength to weight ratio. In other words, although it is much stronger than gold and silver jewelry, even steel, it is much lighter and hence more comfortable to wear.
Finally, it is fashionable and trendy to wear titanium jewelry. The metal is relatively new in the fashion industry with many new ideas being applied on it. Titanium is so versatile that it not only can be combined with gemstones, gold and silver, engraved and finished like traditional jewelry; it can also be anodized to create eye-catching colored titanium jewelry.
Common titanium jewelry includes wedding band ring, men's titanium rings and men's titanium bracelets. There is every reason to explore the vast possibilities and express your personality in a whole different way.
Firstly, titanium is highly corrosion resistant and therefore does not tarnish easily. Especially for high-polish finished jewelry like gold and silver wedding band rings, it is expected that the jewelry will lose its color and shine over time. Even if they are stored properly in jewelry boxes or safe, the oxygen in the air reacts with the metals and turns the color. This process is of course accelerated if the jewelry is worn daily because the sweat combined with body temperature, acts as catalysts to the chemical process.
Also, titanium is hypoallergenic, which means that very few people have skin that is sensitive to it. People who are allergic to gold, silver or, more commonly, nickel, which is found in most gold and silver jewelry, don't have to worry about outbreak when wearing jewelry made from titanium and its alloys.
A widely known property about titanium is its durability. It is this attribute that makes it perfect for active individuals who frequently engage in outdoor activities, even water sports. It is not uncommon that people find their gold or silver jewelry damaged, or even lost, after a day of exciting outdoor events. These disappointments can easily be avoided if titanium jewelry is worn instead. In addition, titanium has a high strength to weight ratio. In other words, although it is much stronger than gold and silver jewelry, even steel, it is much lighter and hence more comfortable to wear.
Finally, it is fashionable and trendy to wear titanium jewelry. The metal is relatively new in the fashion industry with many new ideas being applied on it. Titanium is so versatile that it not only can be combined with gemstones, gold and silver, engraved and finished like traditional jewelry; it can also be anodized to create eye-catching colored titanium jewelry.
Common titanium jewelry includes wedding band ring, men's titanium rings and men's titanium bracelets. There is every reason to explore the vast possibilities and express your personality in a whole different way.
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