The Alternative Broadcasting Online News Station

Moonstone, Haematite, Amber, and Other Gemstones

November 9th, 2009

Many people see gems purely as ornamental jewellery, such as gemstone jewellery; i.e., jewellery to put on just for aesthetical purposes. But gemstones are also considered to have numerous medicinal properties, such as (depending on the stone) the ability to promote confidence, concentration, relieve headaches and stress, promote a calm mind, and encourage positivity.

We will focus on a small variety of gems and their supposed curing powers. A disclaimer before we go any further : The details of this article are grounded on widely-held beliefs, and there can be no guarantee as to the effectiveness of these gemstones and their believed remedial powers.

Amber
This gem lightens physiological stress, quietens nerves and boosts self-confidence. It arouses creativeness by eradicating negativity. It is said to be good for joint problems and help stimulate the liver and kidneys.

Haematite
A powerful gem which bestows strength and aids willpower. Effective in balancing the body and spirit. A grounding stone which subdues anxiety and is claimed to help insomnia.

Moonstone
Amerliorates the emotions, increases the forces of intuition and improves the ability to gain access to the subconscious.

Sodalite
improves the ability to communicate and understand others feelings. Effective for the development of spirituality and intuition.

The above gems are just a small pick of stones that are claimed to possess healing properties. The only concrete way to find out if these stones can help you is to actually put on them if you suffer from an ailment that a stone is believed to help alleviate.

Ladies Wristwatches

July 25th, 2009

From pocket watch to a fashion accessory. What was once, in the earliest years of portable watches, considered to be unsuitable for gentlemen and only for women, has grown today into a fashion utensil that everybody has. Meanwhile, the wrist watch is no longer just a tool to tell the time. It is a designer piece and can indicate much more than the time.

A great deal of mechanics in a small housing

The first verifiable portable timepiece was made in 1500. This was not a wristwatch, but more of a pocket watch. Through technical advancement, which made it possible for people to house mechanics in an progressively smaller space, the necessary parts of the clockworks were able to be brought into a manageable form. In this way, the first pocket watch was born, which at the time was still the size of an egg.

The computerized wrist watch from Japan

A completely new wristwatch came onto the market in the 1970’s from Japan, which had developed its own watch industry. The new wrist watch from Japan was no more set on a mechanical basis, but on a computerized control. This wrist watch extended its range of capacity rapidly. The watch no longer just showed the time. The small timepiece on the wrist now also knew the date, the day of the week and even knew whether a leap year was involved.

The wristwatch as jewelry

Today, the wrist watch is no longer just a watch. The wristwatch has turn into a fashion accessory. Especially Ladies watches come in all colours and shapes imaginable. One can also get compatible watches from all fashion collection. The current watches are dominated by the correct fashion trends. Despite these various styles, there is something for every taste. The tiny watches, which need eyeglasses to tell the time, and the extravagant big watches, which make it difficult to walk upright. Anyway, one thing is clear: science is still likely to make so much advance - that the wristwatch will be seen on the wrists of people for a long time, to respond to the question as to what time it is.

ladies wristwatches

Nail Salon Supplies Wholesale: 75% Discount!

April 11th, 2009

salehoowholesale

Endorsed by FORBES: Wholesale Dropshippers
The ONLY eBay 100% Approved Wholesale Dropshipping Suppliers Online
Get Salehoo at 75% Discount, Only From The Above Discount Link!

Get Native American Wholesaler at Salehoo wholesale directories and help your online and offline business. They work in pairs with those touting dropshipping directories that are absolutely useless and mis-informing. Read on about Native American Wholesaler, Wholesale Cigarettes Cheap Discount and how Salehoo Wholesalers can help. Alternative Beauty is a wholesale beauty salon supply company For most women starting this kind of business is only a dream but those that do business with Alternative Beauty is can become a reality. More on Native American Wholesaler and Wholesale Cigarettes Cheap Discount at Salehoo wholesalers. Also see Wholesale Discount 3 X 6 Candles

The thing I like least about the lighter business is that the margins are not as high as with other products. I think its a fair trade because of the volume you can sell. The other thing with lighters is that people like to choose them. Instead of you selling whatever you have in the car people like to play with them before they buy them, they like to test them, to look at every one. Its a novelty, so they want to buy what they like, not necessarily what sells. Read on about Native American Wholesaler and Wholesale Cigarettes Cheap Discount. To do this you will need to do some basic research to help you. More on Native American Wholesaler and Wholesale Cigarettes Cheap Discount at our Wholesale Review website. Find out more about Native American Wholesaler and how Salehoo directory can help you start your own business from home. Native American Wholesaler, Liquidation.

Get: Native American Wholesaler at Salehoo wholesale directories, and get a head start in your own startup business. The only way to thrive in your startup business is to get quality products cheaply, and from 100%, weekly verified wholesale suppliers from all over the world.
100% Endorsed by CNN Networks, Forbes, Business Networks and Many other TOP Business Journals!

wholesale

100% Verified Wholesale Suppliers.
The ONLY eBay Approved, 100% Verified Wholesaler & Dropshipping Supplier Directory

Endorsed by CNN Money Network As The Top Wholesale Directory Online

Gold Jewelry - Is the High Cost of Gold Affecting the Designers?

June 27th, 2008

Gold has been pricing out over $580.00 an ounce in recent weeks. Earlier this year the price was $730.00 an ounce. On May 12th, the price reached a 26 year high of $732.00 an ounce. Since then, prices have dropped twenty-two percent which still leaves the price in the $580.00 an ounce range.

Prices for gold jewelry seems to depend more on the design value of the jewelry than the actual amount of gold contained in it. According to the World Gold Council, sales in the United States seem to be rising. The Council believes the US customers buy gold for adornment, not the investment value of the jewelry

Since jewelers place their orders months in advance, it will be interesting to see what merchandise is available for the holiday season. With the fluctuating prices, it will be more difficult for both designers and retailers this year.

The gold in the stores now, was purchased prior to this recent instability of the price. Since gold is at a high now, the gold in our stores for the holiday season will have been purchased at almost all-time high prices when the inventories must be increased for the seasonal sales.

Some retailers, including Blue Nile, an online jeweler, is not totally passing on the higher prices to the consumer. This creates lower profit margins for designers but make gold a better buy for the consumer.

Shop wisely. Check prices. If you can be flexible, your will find exactly what you want at an affordable price. Give the “Gift of Gold” to your special person

Nan is an Accountant and RealEstateAgent with an interest in GoldJewelry she makes giftbaskets which include all types of gold jewelry.

Horology - Back in Time

October 3rd, 2007

You should be familiar with some terminology before you learn about watches. Horology is the art of making clocks, watches and other devices for telling time and it is also the study/science of measuring time. An effort has been made to measure time since man appeared on earth.

Using candles marked at intervals, tracking the sun in the sky, oil lamps with marked reservoirs, and hour/sandglasses are some of the ways in which time was measured. Cords with knots were use as well as small metal or stone mazes filled with incense that burned at a certain rate. Water clocks did not rely upon the watching of the sky or of the sun.

Around 1500 B.C. the earliest water clock was found in Amenhotep’s tomb. They were called Clepsydras by the Greeks and were stone containers with sloped sides that allowed water to drip through a small whole in the bottom at a continuous rate. Cylindrically and bowl shaped containers that allow water to slowly fill up with water at a steady pace are also Clepsydras.

Hours were indicated by the markings on the inside of the bowl. This was used predominantly at night but it is believed they were used in the day hours as well. A bowl made of metal with a hole in the bottom was inside a larger bowl filled with water. It would fill up and it would then sink in a certain amount of time. Water flow was unpredictable and difficult to control accurately so timepieces that depended on water were very inaccurate.

People were desirous of developing more accurate ways of measuring and telling time. Creating a frequency was dependent upon the size, shape and temperature of the crystal in the development of quartz crystal clocks and time pieces. Still popular today are quartz crystal clocks and watches.

Most people can afford them and although they tend to be slightly off of the correct time, they work well for the price. No minute hand was on the first watches but they did have natural movement.

Every twelve hours they required winding. Originally watches were worn for adornment rather than functionality. Weights in portable timepieces were not practical. From the beginning man’s goal has been to measure time and a time line will show you how watches have to gottten to be what they are today There are new functions on watches.

They have stop watches, times across time zones, the date and the time. Some kind of an alarm is put in most watches. I can really see the Dick Tracy kind of watch being real, the possibilities are endless. Although some of the years might not be in chronological order but they are as close as possible. Learning how watches have developed is very interesting.

It is incredible when I think of how smart and technical the minds of the people who had their hand in inventing watches. The driving power of timepieces prior to 1600, were balanced weights and it was a huge problem. This created difficulty in carrying them around. Henlien was paid fifteen Florins in 1524 for a gilt-musk apple with a watch. This, in fact, is earliest date known of watch production.

Watches that were probably French or German appeared in 1548. Swiss and English products began to show up in 1575. The was the time when the most advancements and innovation. The first watch movements were made of steel and then later of brass. These straight verge watches had no balance and were awfully inaccurate. The was the introduction of the use of spiral-leaf main springs.

The power of movement without hanging weights was allowed. These timepieces were not continually accurate. 1600 through 1675 was called the age of decoration. Rather than being practical watches developed into decorative pieces of jewelry.

Tambour cylinder cases were changed to a circular case with hinged, domed covers on the front and back. Two types of case Champleve Enamel and relieved cases filled with colored enamel appeared. Glass crystals were fitted to the cases as an alternate choice to metal opaque covers in 1620. The owner was able to see the time without removing the cover because the glass is clear. The cover needed to be removed in order to see the time and/or set the watch.

Plain watches came out of the Puritan movie in 1625. Fancy shapes and adornments were seen mostly on ladies’ watches after 1660. The first uses of spiral balance springs in watches occurred in 1675. The accuracy of a time piece was now being measured in fractions of minutes not fractions of hours. A dial was created by watchmakers that had a minute hand and was divided by minutes because of the increased accuracy.

Charles II in 1675 introduced waistcoats with pockets. Men now carried their watches not on a pendant but in their pockets. 1704 was the year Dullier and Debeaigre developed the method of using jewels as bearings. Sully determined in 1715 that creating a small sink around each hole would retain the oil because of the surface tension.

Finding a large diamond endstone in the cock was common in 1725. 1750 saw the beginning of putting watchmaker’s names on the dials, it had never been done. A clock made by John Harrison in 1761, that was so accurate they used it during sea voyages to measure longitude. In 1775 Champleve is now rare.

Self-winding watches began to be produced by Purrelet. These watches made by Rareguel, were produced in 1780. The pocket chronometer in 1800 was readily available and an extremely accurate watch. The first one who in 1814 used a push or pump with a rack that operated by pushing the pendant that turned on a ratchet basic or going bowl was Massey.

The first to use mass production was the United States in 1850 and got mixed results. Advances were made in metallurgy in1900. The introduction of the balance spring on the first verge watch was made at this time. Watches powered by batteries became available in 1952. Since 1970 electronic watches have been very successful. Watches today use quartz crystals, and even atomic power.

Advances in the field of Horology are being made all the time and time tracking has never been more accurate.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes
Watches and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Comparing Titanium and Tungsten Wedding Rings

October 1st, 2007

Both titanium and tungsten are considered “model metals” in the jewelry industry because they were not available to the consumer market as commodities until ten years ago. They have gained tremendous popularity since the introduction and become an integral part of the jewelry material spectrum.

Due to the rather little exposure, many questions arise concerning titanium and tungsten when it comes to choosing jewelry. The followings are some points of consideration if you are seriously thinking about buying a titanium or tungsten wedding ring.

1. Hardness

Titanium and tungsten are both known for the superior hardness over traditional metals such as gold, silver and platinum. One thing worth noting is that it is not the metals themselves in a pure form that possess the hardness, it is their alloys that do. Roughly speaking, the hardest form of tungsten carbide is harder than titanium alloys, and only under extreme circumstances, such as abrasion from diamonds, can it be damaged.

2. Ductility

Titanium is more ductile than tungsten in the common alloys used in jewelry. In other words, when a wedding ring is under high pressure, such as hit by a car door, a titanium ring would be bend out-of-round whereas a tungsten carbide ring would fracture into several pieces. Hence, in terms of safety, a tungsten carbide ring is “safer” to wear.

3. Hypoallergenic

This is the very same concern as buying silver jewelry to some people: Will I be allergic to the jewelry? In general, titanium jewelry is virtually safe to wear for everybody. Yet, some tungsten carbide jewelry contains the element cobalt that some people are allergic to. Interesting, another form of tungsten alloy using nickel as a binder metal is hypoallergenic, even to people who are allergic to nickel.

4. Weight

Titanium is lighter than tungsten, or more precisely, has a lower density. Titanium alloys are about 43% lighter than stainless steel and tungsten carbide is about 90% heavier than stainless steel.

5. Coloring

Titanium reacts with different chemicals and produces alloys of different colors. Jewelry makers use anodization to coat colored patterns on titanium rings. Black titanium is another form of titanium alloy that has a different color than the commonly used grey color. On the other hand, tungsten carbide is usually offered on in black color only.

6. Pricing

Titanium jewelry is in general cheaper than tungsten jewelry primarily due to the difference in equipment and environment control need to produce them. The temperature for forming a tungsten carbide is about 6000 Fahrenheit, which has to be in either a vacuum or hydrogen environment.

7. Engraving and resizing

Titanium wedding rings can be engraved and resized. However, a tungsten carbide ring is too hard to be engraved or resized. Although engraving can be done, the letters will be very faint and difficult to read. So if you are buying to ring to engrave, get titanium rings.

Scott Murff got his MBA from MIT business school and currently is the marketing manager in Titanium Kay that specializes in men’s titanium rings, titanium bracelets and tungsten wedding rings.

http://www.titaniumkay.com

History Of Charm Bracelets

September 30th, 2007

The historical custom of wearing charm bracelets dates back millenia, and though the materials and designs on them have changed, the concept itself has never gone out of style.

This form of jewelry initially had a religous function, and dates back to the prehistoric era. Based on data from Elizabeth Florence, president of the Jewelry Information Center, charm bracelets were first worn by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Hittites from 500 to 400 B.C. Those charms were created from lapis lazuli, rock crystal and other locally-available gems and were inscribed with symbolic designs, like figures of gods, humans and animals. They were closely associated with magical spiritual powers and served as protective talismans.

As time passed, charms diminished in religious significance and became fashion jewelry instead. The Victorians of the 1890’s spurred a renaissance of charms, due to their love of elaborate and intricate clothing and jewelry. Queen Victoria helped fuel the craze by wearing a charm bracelet of tiny lockets holding family portraits.

A second revival of charm bracelets occured in America in the Second World War era, as soldiers stationed abroad acquired charms as souvenirs from the European cities where they were stationed and brought these trinkets home as presents for wives and girlfriends. The fashion trend continued well into the 1950’s.

Charms have never entirely gone out of vogue, and are becoming increasingly popular today as personal keepsakes in an increasingly mass-produced jewelry market. Popular themes include horoscope signs, birthstone charms, travel souvenirs, and family keepsakes. Many women begin their charms collection when still in childhood, and the charm bracelet grows along with them, reflecting hobbies and experiences. A charm bracelet can hold a tiny replica of a sports trophy, a wedding bouquet, or even lockets holding family photos.

As well, charms are popular gifts because of their affordable cost. An intricate silver charm can be found for less than 10 dollars, though it’s possible to spend 100s of dollars on a 18k gold charm set with gems.

Italian charms, a genre in and of themselves, don’t dangle from a chain like traditional charms. Instead, each pattern is soldered onto a flat link which snaps onto an extensible bracelet. The patterns consist of letters, symbols, pictures, precious gems, or even have enamel pictures painted on them. Charms can be snapped on and off these modular bracelets to come up with new configurations to match different moods and outfits. These bracelets are traditionally manufactured of stainless steel, though the more expensive ones come in 18k gold. Each italian charm is of a standard interchangeable size and the resulting bracelet can be customized to any woman’s wrist; the smallest size holds seventeen or even less links, a medium eighteen, and a large nineteen or even even more.

There are different corporations which make Italian charms, however all brands are supposed to be interchangable on the basic bracelet. The “starter” bracelet of blank links costs around 5 dollars, and on the average charms run 15 dollars and higher. Ironically, China also manufactures a great number of these “Italian” charms, and while they are popular due to their low price, a select few consumers report occasional oddities like reversed images and off-size fit on the standard bracelet.

Frank Hague is a self-professed connoiseur of Italian Charm Bracelets. www.italian-charm.info www.italian-charm-bracelet.info www.italian-charms-now.info

Your Diamond-Stuck In An Ipod?

September 21st, 2007

Diamonds are allotropes of carbon , whose hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry.

Diamond in Greek means “impossible to tame”.
Diamonds are found mainly in central and southern Africa ,although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada, Russia, Brazil, and Australia.

There are Synthetic Diamonds and Natural Diamonds.

There is something so special about diamonds, and they are so valuable, that people have been trying to make them for a long time.

Synthetic diamonds were first produced in 1953, in Stockholm ,Sweden by ASEA ,Sweden’s major electrical manufacturing company. Pressure was maintained within a device at an estimated 83,000 atmospheres for an hour to produce these diamonds.

It now seems that it is possible to make diamonds in a laboratory so perfect down to the same atomic structure that DeBeers, the world’s largest diamond consortium, is running scared.

And you know what, these diamonds can be made and sold at a profit.

Apparently there are in Russia alone 5 laboratories producing synthetic diamonds that have the same atomic structure as natural diamonds but with ONE difference, they are too perfect.
They have the same characteristics as real diamonds, the same hardness, same conductivity, the same sparkle.

Different types of Synthetic Diamonds

2 different processes are being used to produce Synthetic Diamonds:

The oldest process uses pressure, lots of it, and carbon.

Since diamonds are carbon, eventually people were able to make diamonds in this manner, but these diamonds were easily distinguishable from natural diamonds.

Originally, the pressure process was developed by GE and, by major manufacturers, on a much larger scale.

There is also a cubic press system.

The newest process actually grows diamonds layer by layer as a chemical process and is called Chemical vapor deposition.
This process allows many new uses for diamonds which in the past had previously been either too expensive to implement or too difficult to make.

The most important characteristic of CVD diamond growth is the ability to control the properties of the diamond produced.

Diamonds are now being used to machine tools, especially for non-ferrous alloys.
CVD diamond also has applications in electronics. Conductive diamond has been demonstrated as a useful electrode under many circumstances.

Diamonds are also being used as radiation detection devices.
Diamonds also have uses as semiconductors because the diamonds can be contaminated with impurities.

Diamond is the ideal material. It can be used in computers to run them at speeds that would melt anything on the market today.

Diamonds can also replace rubies to make lasers of extreme power.

Diamonds can be used as memory storage devices which could be so small as to allow a cellphone to fit into a watch and an iPod to store 20,000 movies.

J Shipper is very interested in diamonds.

http://www.diamondzmall.com

http://www.qxt.com

http://www.pearls-now.info

Men’s Titanium Wedding Rings Shopping Guide

September 7th, 2007

Congratulations-You are getting married! Now that you have begun your search for the wedding ring of your dreams, you have some decisions to make, starting with the choice of metal. Titanium is the perfect choice for a wedding ring today. No other item of jewelry has played such important role in demonstrating affection as the wedding ring. Of the precious metals used to create wedding rings, titanium has merits that supersede gold or platinum in its beauty, quality and value that make it an ideal choice as the symbol of your love.

Why a Titanium Wedding Ring?

While titanium has been known to us for many years, it was originally used in aerospace and salt water projects, becoming widely used in commercial applications and now in jewelry designs during the last two decades. One reason why titanium rings are gaining in popularity, especially with men, is because of its strength that belies its light weight feel.

The style and design of your wedding ring aside, there are some practical reasons why choosing titanium makes sense. Because it is an inert metal, it is ideal for people with sensitive skin. This fact accounts for its use in the production of equipment and tools for medical procedures. You will never have to worry about damage from the elements to your titanium wedding ring, unlike silver, it will remain completely tarnish-free.

Whenever you buy jewelry, quality is always the primary concern. The wide spread use of titanium within jewelry industry confirms its quality and its market appeal. In respect to the purity of the metal itself, neither gold nor platinum can match titanium. Today, jewelry designers are using titanium for more of their work, taking advantage of titanium’s beautiful grey sheen that rivals the look of platinum at a more affordable price.

How to Buy a Wedding Ring

A wedding ring is an investment that brings beauty and aesthetic pleasure. But keep in mind that there is a distinct difference between the shape of the hand of a man and a woman. Some are slender with tapered fingers. For this type of hand, a ring that is designed with a diagonal pattern works well, even with an array of stones. However if the hand is broad and fingers are very thick, a flat design, perhaps with contrasting bands could be a good starting point. With the variety of men’s titanium wedding ring designs available, you are sure to be impressed. You can find solid titanium as well as titanium rings in combination with gold or platinum.

What to Look for When Choosing a Men’s Titanium Wedding Ring

Be aware that just like gold, there are different grades of titanium on the market today. You will find many designs made from alloyed titanium, but if you want your wedding ring to be pure titanium, make sure you ask your jeweler for the CP grade of titanium of the ring you are interested in. Purchasing a titanium ring with a CP grade of 2 will prove to be a good investment.

Uma G. Bennett is a part-time copywriter at Titanium Kay that specializes in titanium and tungsten men’s wedding rings.

Sterling Silver Jewelry — Classic Simplicity

August 19th, 2007

Sterling silver jewelry is synonymous with class and style in the world of fashion. Its versatility and flexibility make it a welcome and useful addition to any person’s wardrobe. Sterling silver jewelry epitomizes classic simplicity in itself, but as the setting for gemstones or combined with other precious metals, the aesthetic value it lends to the wearer is inestimable.

Pure silver by itself is too soft and would not be practical for jewelry and other ornamental objects. Sterling silver is made when another metal, such as copper, is added to the silver to make it hardy and tough. So while it is not as sturdy as stainless steel, sterling silver jewelry is nonetheless very durable and long-lasting. That is why a wide array of rings, necklaces, bracelets, cuff links, belt buckles, body jewelry and more are made from sterling silver.

All sterling silver jewelry is marked as such, and sometimes the name of the designer or manufacturer is engraved on the piece. It is a highly reflective precious metal whose simple yet elegant look is appreciated by both the young and old, the famous and not-so-famous. Some celebrities adorned with sterling silver jewelry on television or in magazines include actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Davis, musician Sheryl Crow, and hotel heiress and budding thespian Paris Hilton.

Certain maintenance measures need to be taken to care for sterling silver jewelry. To prevent unsightly tarnishing, it should be washed with water and a mild detergent after it is worn, and since it is softer than some other precious metals, abrasion and shock to the piece should be prevented to avoid scratching or marring its surface. In the event that tarnishing does occur, sterling silver jewelry can be polished to restore it to its former sheen.

Whether your dress of choice be casual jeans, practical office attire or a slinky, little black dress for a night out on the town, sterling silver jewelry is the perfect accessory. It adapts easily to all fashion trends without sacrificing the wearer’s personal sense of style. Its allure remains undiminished as it continues to evoke the idea of simple luxury.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Next Page »