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Sexy shoes continue to gain popularity each year. Find out why!

sexy shoes, shoes, womens shoes, high heels, heels, sexy high heels, sexy high heel shoes, shoe fetish, fetish

What is it with sexy shoes? Why are they so popular today and why have they been popular for so long? Sexy shoes have a special place in the heart and soul of many people across the globe, but why?

To start with, a pair of high heels can instantly elongate the lines of the legs that can make the legs appear slimmer and create more elegant curves from the hip to the toe. I’ve also read that wearing high heel shoes can make the foot appear smaller than it actually is.

Additionally, high heel shoes alter the stance of the woman and this forces her breasts up and makes her derriere protrude farther out than normal. The correct pair of shoes can even help create an air of confidence due to the fact that they make the woman taller than normal and tend to attract more attention to her.

Sexy shoes aren’t just popular with women, but with men and cross dressers as well. Sexy shoes are known to be a fetish item in their own right. Sexy shoes are collectible and can be considered works of art without even having a foot to fill them. People all over the world collect exotic high heel shoes.

Although they may not be the most practical clothing item in the world, it really doesn’t come down to practicality. Sexy shoes are popular for reasons not related to their comfort or practicality. If you still don’t get it, then you probably never will.

Now, aren’t you ready for your next pair of sexy shoes?

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We have been manufacturing and selling The Bell Collection by Jewelry John since early 1998. All of our bells are made from Sterling Silver (we also make them on an individual basis in 14K gold).

Silver Bell ,Silver Charm,silver pendant ,Sterling Silver bells ,silver jewelry

We have been manufacturing and selling The Bell Collection by Jewelry John since early 1998. All of our bells are made from Sterling Silver (we also make them on an individual basis in 14K gold). They are cast, assembled and finished individually with jewelers care, giving utmost attention to every detail from bail to clapper. The entire Bell Collection is manufactured in Austin, Texas USA.

The bells are made using the “lost wax method?which means, we make a rubber mold from an original carved wax, a wax copy is then made for each body, bail and clapper. The parts are then attached (sprued up) to a wax tree. A temperature resistant plaster of Paris type material (investment) is poured around each tree in a rubber cup (this step is called investing). When the material hardens, it is removed from the cup and put into a kiln, which reaches a temperature of 1350?F. The wax is vaporized leaving a plaster mold into which molten silver is poured, making the bells. They are removed, cut from the tree and go through numerous processes before the 3 pieces are assembled by hand, making a completed bell. Each bell is then given a final polish before being sent to our retailers.

We are currently sold in more than 800 stores in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The Bell Collection is sold in every kind of store from The National Cathedral in Washington D.C. to family owned stores in small rural towns. We have been truly blessed throughout our entire journey. With an incredible staff and great stores, we continue to come up with fresh new ideas while staying true to our mission statement.

It is the mission of the staff at Jewelry John to bring joy into the lives of others with our craft and to honor God in all our endeavors by always putting God and family first, by providing prompt and courteous customer service and by building our customer’s trust by creating heirloom quality hand crafted jewelry of remarkable artistry and craftsmanship with a message that will touch people’s lives.

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D’couvrez ce jeu qui, pour moi est l’un des plus palpitant au sein des Casino: le Baccarat!

Ce jeu est n’ au moyen age en Italie. Son nom vient du mot italien de l”poque “z’ro” car les cartes qui sont normalement consid’r'es les plus fortes, soit les cartes habill’es donc les têtes et le dix, ont une valeur nulle au Baccarat. Puis le jeu a ‘t’ export’ en France o?il a fait ça place au sein de l’aristocratie. Aujourd’hui, il est c’lèbre dans le monde entier et est devenu le jeu favori des joueurs professionnels de casino. Le Baccarat est un jeu de carte très excitant. Petite anecdote, il a ‘t’ une composante embl’matique de la s’rie de roman James Bond Casino Royale par Ian Flemming.

Le but du jeu du baccarat est de pr’voir laquelle des deux parties (mains) remportera ou seront a ‘galit’. Le tout ‘tant de s’approcher le plus possible de 9.

Huit jeux de cartes sont n’cessaires pour jouer au Baccarat, tous plac’s dans un sabot.

Le croupier distribue au joueur la première et la troisième carte et conserve pour lui-même la seconde et la quatrième.

En fonction du total des deux cartes r’alis’ par chacun, une troisième carte peut être distribu’e.

Ce qui est amusant, c’est de voir au tour des tables les joueurs se pr’cipiter avec leurs fameuses ” strat’gies”.

Mais le saviez vous? Nulle strategie baccara n’existe. Vous verrez souvent au sein des casinos des joueurs, qui, pour ‘tablir une strat’gie au baccarat utiliseront le comptage des cartes. Le comptage des cartes est habituellement associ’ au blackjack et peut s’av’rer une m’thode assez efficace si elle est bien utilis’e et dans le bon casino. Mais même si le Baccarat utilise un sabot identique, les cartes utilis’es, contrairement au Blackjack, sont remises dans le sabot avant que trop de cartes ne soient distribu’es. Justement pour ‘viter le comptage des cartes !

De plus, le baccarat ne vous permet pas d’augmenter votre mise en cours de partie et n’offre aucune occasion de gagner contre le casino.

De par sa simplicit’, d’autres joueurs pensent utiliser les systèmes des martingales. Il s’agit simplement de doubler vos mises après chaque ‘chec afin d’essayer de r’cup’rer vos pertes. Si vous gagnez, vous finirez par gagner le montant de votre première mise. Ce système fonctionne parfaitement pour des jeux comme le baccarat et la roulette. ?cause de son efficacit’, les casinos ont impos’ un plafond pour les mises. Il existe donc des mises maximales (et minimales) ne permettant pas l’utilisaion de ces dernières.

Si le comptage des cartes, les pseudo spirales de la r’ussite, les cartes de scores et autres m’thodes s’avèrent inutiles pour ‘tablir une strat’gie au baccarat, quelle strat’gie adopter ? Au regard des statistiques, mieux miser sur le banquier. Mais en utilisant toujours cette m’thode, votre jeu serait ennuyeux. Les systèmes sont donc cr’’s pour rompre avec la monotonie et surtout pour vous faire r’fl’chir a des choses qui ne seront nullement valables, sans oublier la perte de vos mises, alors, a vous de voir? Pour moi, le bonheur de voir les joueurs se concentrer sur leur technique est l’une des plus belle chose a voir. Toutes ces expressions sur les visages. Incroyables!

Ce jeu est n’ au moyen age en Italie. Son nom vient du mot italien de l”poque “z’ro” car les cartes qui sont normalement consid’r'es les plus fortes, soit les cartes habill’es donc les têtes et le dix, ont une valeur nulle au Baccarat. Puis le jeu a ‘t’ export’ en France o?il a fait ça place au sein de l’aristocratie. Aujourd’hui, il est c’lèbre dans le monde entier et est devenu le jeu favori des joueurs professionnels de casino. Le Baccarat est un jeu de carte très excitant. Petite anecdote, il a ‘t’ une composante embl’matique de la s’rie de roman James Bond Casino Royale par Ian Flemming.

Le but du jeu du baccarat est de pr’voir laquelle des deux parties (mains) remportera ou seront a ‘galit’. Le tout ‘tant de s’approcher le plus possible de 9.

Huit jeux de cartes sont n’cessaires pour jouer au Baccarat, tous plac’s dans un sabot.

Le croupier distribue au joueur la première et la troisième carte et conserve pour lui-même la seconde et la quatrième.

En fonction du total des deux cartes r’alis’ par chacun, une troisième carte peut être distribu’e.

Ce qui est amusant, c’est de voir au tour des tables les joueurs se pr’cipiter avec leurs fameuses ” strat’gies”.

Mais le saviez vous? Nulle strategie baccara n’existe. Vous verrez souvent au sein des casinos des joueurs, qui, pour ‘tablir une strat’gie au baccarat utiliseront le comptage des cartes. Le comptage des cartes est habituellement associ’ au blackjack et peut s’av’rer une m’thode assez efficace si elle est bien utilis’e et dans le bon casino. Mais même si le Baccarat utilise un sabot identique, les cartes utilis’es, contrairement au Blackjack, sont remises dans le sabot avant que trop de cartes ne soient distribu’es. Justement pour ‘viter le comptage des cartes !

De plus, le baccarat ne vous permet pas d’augmenter votre mise en cours de partie et n’offre aucune occasion de gagner contre le casino.

De par sa simplicit’, d’autres joueurs pensent utiliser les systèmes des martingales. Il s’agit simplement de doubler vos mises après chaque ‘chec afin d’essayer de r’cup’rer vos pertes. Si vous gagnez, vous finirez par gagner le montant de votre première mise. Ce système fonctionne parfaitement pour des jeux comme le baccarat et la roulette. ?cause de son efficacit’, les casinos ont impos’ un plafond pour les mises. Il existe donc des mises maximales (et minimales) ne permettant pas l’utilisaion de ces dernières.

Si le comptage des cartes, les pseudo spirales de la r’ussite, les cartes de scores et autres m’thodes s’avèrent inutiles pour ‘tablir une strat’gie au baccarat, quelle strat’gie adopter ? Au regard des statistiques, mieux miser sur le banquier. Mais en utilisant toujours cette m’thode, votre jeu serait ennuyeux. Les systèmes sont donc cr’’s pour rompre avec la monotonie et surtout pour vous faire r’fl’chir a des choses qui ne seront nullement valables, sans oublier la perte de vos mises, alors, a vous de voir? Pour moi, le bonheur de voir les joueurs se concentrer sur leur technique est l’une des plus belle chose a voir. Toutes ces expressions sur les visages. Incroyables!

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Learn a few easy tricks to tell a real diamond from a fake. These are “do it yourself” methods and do not require professional help or tools.

diamond jewelry, real diamond, diamond value, diamond jewelry, diamond ring, diamond earring, diamond identity, diamonds

Chances are, if you are buying a diamond ring for someone, you want your diamond to be special, durable, and most of all, authentic. With all of the imitation diamond jewelry on the market today, it is wise to know a few helpful hints on how to determine a real diamond from a fake.

Learn the tools of the trade and gather a few of these easy tricks up your sleeve. It is time to put your diamond to the test.

1. Real Diamonds are flawed; fakes are not.

While some might think that the goal in purchasing the perfect diamond is to find one that is virtually flawless-that is not always the case. Carefully crafted Cubic Zirconia sports absolutely no imperfections, making it easy to label as fake. Real, pure diamonds contain tiny ‘flaws?which oftentimes creates a brilliance that cannot be seen in fakes.

2. Look inside your Diamond.

Much like looking inside a crystal ball, looking inside your diamond will reveal the truth about its true components and its authenticity. The key is: Real diamonds always have something inside. If you look into your diamond with a 1200x microscope, you should be able to see tiny inclusions within the stones infrastructure. If you hold the diamond in front of your eye and look through its side, you should not be able to see through it, nor should it look to be one clear, unified color. If the stone exerts zero degrees of brilliance, and if you can see through it from the side, then it is definitely fake.

3. Look at the Setting & Mount.

Since stones made up of imitation substances such as Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite are so much cheaper than diamonds, they are usually set in less expensive metals. Chances are, a fake diamond would not be set in real gold.

4. Check the Wear and Tear of the Stone.

Real diamonds have remarkable durability and a hardened sharpness that is strong enough to scratch glass. If there or any scratches or nicks on the surface of your Diamond, or if you can make them, then your diamond is not real.

Simple Two-Minute Tests

1. The Reading Test.

If your diamond is not mounted, set it on a newspaper. If you can see through it at all, even if you just see distorted black smudges instead of clearly-marked letters, than your diamond is a fake. Real diamonds have so many intricacies in their infrastructure that it is impossible for light to pass all the way through them without being first refracted.

2. The Sandpaper Test.

Diamonds are the hardest known substance. That being said, it is impossible for real diamond jewelry to be scratched. Using either wet or dry sandpaper, test your diamond by scratching it vigorously on the brittle surface of the paper. If it becomes nicked, it is surely a fake.

3. The Sparkle Test.

View your diamond from the top, then from the side. Compare the shiny, reflective qualities that you may have noticed when looking down onto the face of your diamond, with the way your diamond shines and reflects when being viewed at a side angle. Imitation diamonds are purposely crafted to look like real diamonds from a birds-eye-view, but are less commonly apt to carry those same characteristics throughout the rest of the stone.

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Surprising your girlfriend with a beautiful diamond ring is a moment both of you will cherish your entire life. A once in a lifetime occasion, buying a diamond ring should be done carefully as your fiancée will wear it everyday, showing it off to her friends and family members, flaunting your love.

Diamond Engagement Rings, Platinum Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings, Antique Diamond Engagement Rings

Surprising your girlfriend with a beautiful diamond ring is a moment both of you will cherish your entire life. A once in a lifetime occasion, buying a diamond ring should be done carefully as your fiancée will wear it everyday, showing it off to her friends and family members, flaunting your love.

The market is flooded with numerous jewelers and shops claiming to sell the most authentic and beautiful diamonds there are. To make the right choice from the plethora of designs and variety can indeed be a confusing task. It would do you good to be aware of some basic tips on buying diamond jewelry before you buy one for your girlfriend. The ‘four c’s? color, cut, clarity and carat, are the deciding factors for a diamond’s purity and value. This king of gems comes in all colors, with white being the purest and costliest. Although it is the hardest stone available, diamond can be cut in a variety of fancy shapes and sizes. The shape and cut determines the shine of the gem.

One should choose the shape of the diamond according to your girlfriend’s personality. If she is dainty– buy a small elegant one; tall and well-buily? go for a large squarish rock. The sparkle of the diamond often holds more importance than the rock’s size. Clarity of the diamond ensures a dazzling shine every time the light passes through the stone. Carat, or the weight of diamond, also contributes to its price and value in the market.

Educating yourself about the ‘four c’s?will keep you from buying imitations. Even though it is conventional to spend two months salary on your engagement ring, you can buy synthetic diamonds, which will be easier on your wallet. Synthetic diamond has the same physical properties of a real diamond but is more affordable than the real one. Finally, do ask the jeweler to provide a purity certificate, which will serve as a guarantee and later help in insuring your gems.

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Whether you’re looking for pieces to add to your collection or are shopping for gifts, there are excellent online sources for handmade earrings, pendants, rings, barrettes, and necklaces.

handcrafted silver jewelry,handmade,chains,bracelets,earrings,pendants,rings,barrettes,gifts

Genuine handcrafted silver jewelry is as beautiful as it is unique. Whether you’re looking for pieces to add to your collection or are shopping for gifts, there are excellent online sources for handmade earrings, pendants, rings, barrettes, and necklaces. For a wonderful buying experience, follow these five tips.

1. Find a reputable source. This may go without saying, but don’t confuse commercially manufactured jewelry with handcrafted silver jewelry. The latter is made by artisans that take great pride in their work. It’s helpful to look for a company that has been in business for decades, and that has been selling online for at least five years.

2. Take advantage of customization. When jewelry is handmade, it can be customized in any number of ways, from the lengths of chains to the types of gemstones used in pendants and rings. You don’t need to settle for “almost good enough.” Instead, you can get the piece you’ve always dreamed of, in exactly the right size.

3. Measure carefully. Because customized pieces generally aren’t returnable, it’s important to make sure that the handcrafted silver jewelry you order will fit. It only takes a few minutes to get a good measurement, and doing so will ensure that the necklace or ring you order will be exactly what you want. For rings, ask a friend to take a piece of string, put it around the knuckle or largest part of your finger, and mark the string. To determine the size, hold the string against a tape measure and compare your measurement to the website’s sizing chart. If you’re in between sizes, it’s best to go with the larger size. You can also use string to measure for bracelet, necklace, or anklet lengths.

4. Do your gemstone research. The best online jewelry sites have a wealth of information on gemstones. Before you order, read up on the gemstones you are considering. It’s important to know, for example, that aquamarine can be cleaned with dishwashing detergent, but that ultrasonic and steam cleaning may damage the stone. Similarly, you may know that pearls are delicate and can easily absorb liquids, but you might not know that turquoise is also porous and can easily become stained.

If you’re going to order jewelry with gemstones, it’s also crucial to know whether the stones are natural or if their colors have been enhanced. Reputable artisans will freely share this information. Don’t be alarmed, however, if the stones have been heated or irradiated to intensify or change their colors. Naturally colored rubies, sapphires, and topaz, for example, are extraordinarily rare; it is an accepted practice within the jewelry industry to enhance gemstone colors.

5. Invest in the real thing. Silver jewelry is gorgeous, but only if it’s real silver. Make sure that the online source you select uses either sterling silver (.925 or 92.5 percent silver) or fine silver (99.9 percent pure silver). When you invest in handcrafted silver jewelry, you’re not only buying a piece you will treasure, but one that is likely to become an heirloom for future generations.

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Retail clothing storeowners inevitably face the same situation year after year ?a surplus of last season’s styles in some form or another. This is good news for the consumer, as prices on these items are typically slashed well below retail in order to make room for new products. But what to do with the clearance items that remain on the shelves well into the next season?

baby,clothes,baby clothes,clothing,baby clothing,overstock,donate,donation,clearance

Retail clothing storeowners inevitably face the same situation year after year ?a surplus of last season’s styles in some form or another. This is good news for the consumer, as prices on these items are typically slashed well below retail in order to make room for new products. But what to do with the clearance items that remain on the shelves well into the next season? Or what if there simply isn’t enough room to hang on to these items any longer once new products arrive? Storeowners who find themselves facing these questions may want to consider donating overstock and/or clearance items to a worthy charitable organization.

In many cases, making a sizeable donation will not only benefit the many people touched by the organization receiving your donation, it may make a positive impact on your bottom line by allowing your business a tax write-off at the end of the year. If you are considering making a sizeable donation, you may first want to contact your tax advisor to discuss how the donation would impact your tax scenario.

It is advisable to spend some time researching potential organizations prior to donating. There are seemingly countless organizations out there that are willing to take donations of clothing and accessory items. When choosing an organization, make sure first and foremost that the organization is not-for-profit, as this ensures the potential tax-benefit of donating. It may be easier to locate large national organizations, but it is worthwhile to research smaller local organizations as well. These local organizations often do not receive the level of exposure necessary to meet theirs demands at the same level as larger organizations. As is the case in so many situations, the internet is generally the best source of information for researching charitable organizations. In addition, consult your local phone book, and ask around. Chances are you already know somebody who has some sort of connection to a local charity ?use those connections!

Once you have selected a non-profit organization to receive your donation, it is important to obtain a single point-of-contact within the organization. This person can organize the receipt of your donation, which in many cases can be arranged to take place at your business or warehouse. It is a good idea to provide an itemized list of the donation, including wholesale value, to your point-of-contact at the time of the donation. This list will not only help to document inventory in your records, it will also be a helpful tool for the charity to reference while incorporating the donation items into their existing product supply. In turn, ask that they provide you with a “letter of receipt? acknowledging and referencing the value of the donation. This letter will provide documentation that will be needed to validate the tax write-off. Be sure to discuss the significance of this letter with your point-of-contact prior to making the donation, and follow-up soon as the donation is made to be sure the letter is generated in a timely manner.

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If you ask around, you’ll get a lot of different opinions about body piercing, both pro and con. Many people use piercings to help express who they are and what they’re about, completely endorsing this type of adornment and what they endorse. However, you’ll also get people who are completely against body piercings and couldn’t imagine who in their right mind would allow something to be permanently placed through their skin.

bodyjewelry,belly button rings, tongue rings, belly rings, belly button ring, cheap belly button rings, cheap belly rings, cheap tongue rings,body jewelry

The idea of body jewelry has come a long way since the post modern preference for ear piercing on women. Today’s generation, believe it or not, much like ancient societies throughout history, have gone to the more extreme multiple piercing of various body parts.

If you ask around, you’ll get a lot of different opinions about body piercing, both pro and con. Many people use piercings to help express who they are and what they’re about, completely endorsing this type of adornment and what they endorse. However, you’ll also get people who are completely against body piercings and couldn’t imagine who in their right mind would allow something to be permanently placed through their skin. Although both sides seem to have valid points, the reality is that many of the piercing holes will close up as long as they’re not made too large.

Body piercing, the process of puncturing your skin in various locations and placing a metal jewelry adornment through the hole is a very ancient statement. Even today, many indigenous cultures practice body piercings for both adornment and as a status symbol. Though there has been a recent resurgence in native and tribal body piercings, most modern body piercings are done as purely a form of adornment.

So, should you get a body piercing? The answer varies greatly from person to person, but regardless of who you are there are a few things to consider. Answering these questions honestly and openly will help you realize whether or not body piercing is right for you. Are you particularly attached to a certain image that means something to you, or do you want to get a body piercing merely for the sake of getting a body piercing? Most people who are satisfied with their body piercings years on down the road are happy because they have made this decision not because of peer pressure but is something meaningful to them personally. Can you see yourself with the same body piercing when your seventy-five years old? It’ll probably still be there.

Since a body piercing is permanent, don’t just waltz into the nearest body piercing parlor, look at the flash in the case, and pick out something you like. Though this can be a good technique for getting ideas, there’s no rush to get it done immediately.

One final thought about body piercing is that it can cause some unexpected side effects. Do you think it will matter to your future significant other that you’ve pierced a certain part of your body? Understand that this decision “may” limit your choice of partners at least a little.

Next up on the unintended consequences list is that body piercing can dull the senses of the pierced body part. This may not be important today be understand that the decision is long term — lifetime — and losing sensitivity in private areas can be something that might be missed later in life.

Lastly, there’s the issue of loose stools. That’s right, we’re talking about leakage. A couple of piercings usually are not a problem but if you tend to go all out and get quite a few, the risk of anal leakage goes up with each piercing. The reason is that the metal from the piercings tend to leach into your body and increase the level of certain heavy metals. Nickel is especially prone to this effect and can cause leaking anal problems

Although the problems are something to consider, if the desire to have piercings for the right reasons continues to interest you, then take a deep breath and go for it.

If you have an image that you’re attached to, decide where you want it on your body. Most people who get body piercing ed, even those with large body piercings covering their arms, legs, or back, will avoid getting body piercings on their hands, neck, or face, due to the fact that many employers frown on body piercing and because body piercings which are always visible can make it tougher to get hired at certain jobs. Think of how visible you want your body piercing to be; should it be seen when you’re wearing short sleeves? What about shorts?

Finally, make sure you get body piercing ed at a respectable body piercing parlor. All of the needles should be sterile, as should the general working conditions. Be picky about your artist as well, view his or her portfolio and see a sketch of your design before getting inked, since you should be 100% happy with your body piercing.

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Interesting information and FAQs about Pearls

pearls, cultured pearls, natural pearls, freshwater cultured pearls, affordable pearls, white pearls, South Sea pearls, buying pearls, about pearls, all about pearls

Are all Tahitian pearls black? What’s the difference between a cultured pearl and a natural pearl? Are freshwater pearls inferior to saltwater pearls? Are South Sea pearls really golden?

Good questions. With all the different pearl colors and types out there, it can be difficult to know just what you’re looking at. For those interested in buying pearls, or for gem enthusiasts who wish to learn more, here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about pearls.

Are All Tahitian Pearls Black?
Not only are Tahitian cultured pearls not exclusively black, they’re also not grown in Tahiti. Called “black?because of their exotic dark colors, Tahitian cultured pearls can also be gray, blue, green and brown. And they’re grown in the lagoons of small islands that are part of a group known as French Polynesia. Tahiti, the largest island, serves as the group’s center of commerce, and not as a pearl growing mecca.

Tahitian pearls are cultivated for about two years in Pinctada margaritifera cumingi, a large mollusk native to French Polynesia. One of the ways this unique oyster differs from other species is its interior shell color, which is dark. This so-called “black lipped?oyster also has black mantle edges-the “lips?that give this animal its descriptive name.

Today, the most sought-after Tahitian cultured pearls are dark green-gray to blue gray with ros?or purple overtones. Pearl colors are determined by several factors, including variations in the host oyster, color variation of the implanted donor mussel tissue, the number and thickness of nacre layers, and variations in growing environment such as temperature and water quality. Tahitians are most often variations of gray, black, green and blue, but other colors exist.

At an average size of 8mm-14mm, Tahitian cultured pearls-especially those specimens that are gem-quality and round-are very expensive. According to the latest information from the Gemological Institute of America, up to 40 percent of implanted black-lipped oysters produce a gem-quality cultured pearl, but only about 5 percent of the pearls they produce are round. And only 1-2 percent of the entire crop will result in round cultured pearls of the finest quality. No wonder a Tahitian pearl strand is so costly! If you want to wear Tahitian cultured pearls, one way to do so without breaking the bank is to choose a pendant-style necklace with a single pearl, pearl stud earrings, a single pearl ring, or baroque (non-symmetrical) pearls. These designs are every bit as exotic and a lot more affordable than a matched strand.

What’s the difference between a cultured pearl and a natural pearl?
Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a parasite, makes its way into a pearl-producing animal such as an oyster or mollusk. To protect itself, the animal coats the irritant in nacre-a combination of organic substances that also makes up what we call mother-of pearl. Over time, the layers of nacre build up around the intruder and eventually form the organic gem we all know as the pearl.

Cultured pearls are formed in the same way as natural pearls, with one big difference: they get their start not by chance, but deliberately, when man intervenes with nature. To produce cultured pearls, a skilled technician, called a nucleator, induces the pearl-growing process by surgically placing an irritant-a mother-of-pearl bead and a piece of mantle tissue, usually-into a mollusk. The animal is then placed back into the water and monitored, cleaned, etc. until the pearl is ready to be harvested.

The Chinese have been culturing freshwater blister pearls (pearls that grow underneath the mantle on the inside of the animal’s shell) since the 13th century, but Kokichi Mikimoto, a Japanese man, is credited with developing modern pearl culturing techniques. By the early 1920s, Mikimoto was selling his cultured pearls worldwide.

Natural pearls can be very beautiful, but due to overfishing, pollution and other factors, they are a rare find indeed. Thus, nearly all pearls sold today are cultured pearls. There are two main types: freshwater and saltwater. South Sea cultured pearls, Tahitian cultured pearls and akoya cultured pearls are all types of saltwater pearls. Cultured pearls of all types can be found in jewelry stores worldwide.

Are saltwater pearls better than freshwater pearls?
It depends on who you ask, but many pearl experts today agree that freshwater cultured pearls can rival the beauty of their saltwater cousins. Due to improvements in culturing techniques, freshwater pearl farmers are producing beautiful, round, lustrous pearls that are a vast improvement over the wrinkled, rice-krispie-shaped gems that typified the freshwater pearl crop of the not-so-distant past.

Produced mainly in China, freshwater pearls are often nucleated, or implanted, with mantle tissue only (rather than a mother-of-pearl bead). Because they do not contain a starter bead, tissue-nucleated freshwater pearls are 100% nacre. This gives them a beautiful luster and a durable surface that won’t easily flake or peel to reveal the inner bead. By contrast, pearls that are bead-nucleated and harvested too soon often have only a thin coating of nacre that will flake or peel. This is a major problem: Unlike many other gemstones, pearls cannot be polished back to perfection.

Freshwater cultured pearls come in many beautiful natural pastel colors including cream, white, yellow, orange, pink and lavender. (Universally flattering lavender pearls are very popular right now.) White pearls are bleached to enhance their natural shine. Black freshwater cultured pearls are treated with dye or heat to produce their inky color.

Overall, freshwater pearls are more plentiful than other pearl types, thus they are generally more affordable.

Are South Sea pearls really golden?
Yes. Pearls produced in the aptly named “gold-lipped?oyster (P. maxima) can be a gorgeous creamy yellow, referred to as “golden?in the trade. (The silver-lipped variety of P. maxima produces beautiful silver or white pearls.) Grown in the South Seas-which stretch from the southern coast of Southeast Asia to the northern coast of Australia-these pearls are grown in one of the biggest oysters used in pearl culturing. Because they can accept a larger bead and secrete nacre faster than their smaller counterparts, these big oysters produce large pearls of exceptional luster and beauty. South Sea pearls?thick coating of nacre gives the gems a wonderful luster, or glow, that appears to come from deep within the pearl. The warm waters, abundant food supply and low pollution levels of the South Seas also help these oysters produce beautiful cultured pearls.

Although Australia produces 60% of the world’s South Sea cultured pearls, Indonesian farmers work more with the gold-lipped oyster, and thus produce more golden pearls. The silver-lipped variety produces equally beautiful pearls that come in white to silver and often have ros? blue or green overtones. Aside from giving them a light wash, pearl farmers do not treat South Sea pearls after harvest.

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When it comes to fashion don’t play safe, have some fun with your style and enjoy your look. Make your fashion statement! And the world will notice! Estate jewelry is the perfect finishing touch to your wardrobe so don’t forget to compliment your look with jewelry!

fashion, fall styles, trends, jewelry, fashion statement

When it comes to fashion don’t play safe, have some fun with your style and enjoy your look. Make your fashion statement! And the world will notice! Estate jewelry is the perfect finishing touch to your wardrobe so don’t forget to compliment your look with jewelry!

Even the most conservative dresser can find a beautiful piece of estate jewelry that says loads about them. Show your personality with your jewelry. From the serious corporate executive to the sexy flirt there is an estate jewelry necklace or earrings for you!

Estate jewelry stays in style year after year. It stands you out from the rest of the crowd. While others are busy buying the same modern necklace, earrings, or brooch, you’ll be showing off your unique style and tastes. You’re not likely to find someone wearing exactly the same piece as you.

You can turn estate jewelry from sophisticated, to fun, to trendy. Dress it up or down. Mix and match color, style, shape, and size. And you simply cannot beat the quality of estate costume jewelry from the past.

Estate jewelry can be used to show your individual personality. Think of it as fashion art and personal expression. We tend to think of our fashion statement as our hair style, the clothes we wear, the shoes and hand bag we carry. But your jewelry is an important part of that fashion statement.

Every now and then you change the style or the color of your hair. Each season you add and remove pieces from your wardrobe. But your estate jewelry will take you from season to season, year after year. All you need to do is mix and match it to give it a whole new look.

All types of estate jewelry are very flexible. They can be worn to the office, to that important executive meeting, for a night on the town, to the beach, or for that intimate evening. Bring out your softer feminine side, the sexy goddess, or present simple charm, sophistication and elegance. Wear it with your most formal evening gown, your casual sportswear, your office wardrobe, or your favorite pair of jeans. Wear it in the summer, winter, fall, and spring.

Estate jewelry is available with a variety of base metals. Silver, gold, copper, and brass are all popular. There are shiny pieces, matte piece, there are glittering rhinestones, subtle gemstones. Large pieces, dainty pieces. There costume jewelry of the earlier eras was often based on design ideas of fine jewelry and it had an artistic flare that has never been surpassed in the jewelry industry. Truly a time period where jewelry stood out above the rest. And it still does!

Estate jewelry has been popular for many years but just recently it has seen an incredible surge in popularity. Women are tired of looking like everyone else. They want to show off their unique personality and their very own fashion statement. Since this can be difficult to do with clothing that is mass produced and jewelry that is mass produced they have turned to estate jewelry for that gorgeous unique finished touch. They know that they will have the finishing touches that no other woman has. When they walk into the room they know that they will be unique and beautiful and make their fashion statement! No one will forget!