Cubic Zirconia vs. diamonds: Cubic Zirconia so closely resembles diamonds that it takes a trained professional to tell the difference, often using a microscope and other tools. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness diamonds are a 10 while cubic zirconia is 8.5. While not as hard as diamonds, cz is still harder than many gemstones.

Diamonds are usually judged by the four Cs: carat, clarity, color, and cut.

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Cubic Zirconia stones are 1.7 times heavier than diamonds of the same size. To compare the two stones one should go by the size and not the weight.

Clarity refers to the flaws or inclusions of a diamond. Diamonds usually have some sort of flaw. However, cz, due to its manufacturing process, is flawless.

Color In terms of color, diamonds are rarely truly colorless. On the other hand, cz can be produced to be totally colorless.

Cut refers to how a diamond has been shaped and polished. The idea is to cut the diamond to reflect the maximum amount of light and increase the sparkle. Cubic zirconia refracts and disperses light somewhat differently than diamonds so they are cut to take this into account.

Many people buy cubic zirconia because it is so much more affordable than diamonds, yet looks just as good. Another reason to buy it is to protect yourself from losing an expensive item. Whatever your reason, you will still end up with an attractive piece of jewelry.

Some will buy precious stone as an investment, for example, diamond. Jadeite jade is proved to be more profitable in these years. The price of jadeite jade rises about 100% to 50% per year.
But only those all natural jadeite jade can be looked as estate, which is called A type (or grade A) jadeite jade. If the jadeite jade is treated, it can only act as an ordinary accessory or ordinary product, no longer a precious stone, because its texture is damaged and durability is greatly decreased. After it has been worn for a certain period of time, irregular tension micro-cracks will appear.
It is the reason why the price of all natural jadeite jade is far higher than treated ones, which is the difference between precious stone and ordinary accessory.
If you want to buy jade as investment or buy a real precious stone, remember to choose A type jadeite jade.

What are A type (or grade A) jadeite jade, B type, C type and so on?

A type jadeite jade: all natural jadeite, without any treatment. This type of jadeite jade can be bought as a real precious stone or investment.

B type jadeite jade: the natural jade is soaked in a mixed strong acid solution. Next, soak it in epoxy resin mixed with hardener. Then take it out and heat it to harden it. This kind of treatment can improve the color and transparency of the jade. But its texture is damaged and durability is greatly decreased.
Be aware that B type jadeite jade can also be called “natural color jadeite jade”, because it is not dyed, its color is really natural. Ask the seller “is it soaked in acid solution?” as an additional question to confirm the jade you buy is an A type one.

C type jadeite jade: colored or dyed jade.
B+C type jadeite jade: the jade is dyed after acid-treated and resin-filled, which results in beautiful color and great transparency. But the color is not natural and the durability is greatly decreased.

D type jadeite jade: this kind is not real jadeite jade. It is another kind of jade or stone but looks like jadeite jade. It pretends to be jadeite jade because jadeite jade is the most precious and expensive one in the jade-like minerals.

Identification of A type, B type, C type, and B+C type jadeite jade

Some experienced craftsmen and traders can examine jadeite jade with naked eyes, by its color and luster. To consumers, the best way to judge a piece of jadeite jade is to ask for an identification certificate by a testing centre

Price Guarantee: Your purchase is direct from TraderLou.com with our partnering artisans. With our low-cost, cottage style production, we can offer a 110% price guarantee policy. If you find a similar item at a lower price elsewhere online (after shipping & handling charges) with the same or shorter lead time, before your purchase, bring it to our attention with your price quotation and seller’s information. We will match 110% of the price difference on the item from any online retail store, upon verification. When determining the price difference, Trader Lou prices shall include promotional discounts if applicable.

PROSELLERS WHOLESALE INFORMATION

It’s the middle of August and probably not many people yet are thinking about the upcoming holiday season – that is, of course, if you’re not a store owner. Here at Trader Lou we keep an annual calendar of upcoming holidays and events to work with our artisans on designs. We actually start Christmas sales to wholesalers in September, just a couple weeks away. Because our handcrafted items take a long time to design and manufacture, a well planned schedule is a must. You can count on us here to provide you with the best wholesale prices on quality sterling silver jewelry. All of our items are in stock and available for immediate delivery. And, with our huge volume buying power and over 10 years experience in the industry, you’ll know that the items you are receiving are the absolute best. For complete wholesale details, click here: http://www.traderlou.com/help.html#proseller

NEW ITEMS

You may have noticed that we’re receiving quite a few number of new designs during the past couple of months. Some of the items are from new partners and unique gemstones that we have never used before in our designs. Click here for all the new items: http://www.traderlou.com/newitems.html

Some will buy precious stone as an investment, for example, diamond. Jadeite jade is proved to be more profitable in these years. The price of jadeite jade rises about 100% to 50% per year.
But only those all natural jadeite jade can be looked as estate, which is called A type (or grade A) jadeite jade. If the jadeite jade is treated, it can only act as an ordinary accessory or ordinary product, no longer a precious stone, because its texture is damaged and durability is greatly decreased. After it has been worn for a certain period of time, irregular tension micro-cracks will appear.
It is the reason why the price of all natural jadeite jade is far higher than treated ones, which is the difference between precious stone and ordinary accessory.
If you want to buy jade as investment or buy a real precious stone, remember to choose A type jadeite jade.

What are A type (or grade A) jadeite jade, B type, C type and so on?

A type jadeite jade: all natural jadeite, without any treatment. This type of jadeite jade can be bought as a real precious stone or investment.

B type jadeite jade: the natural jade is soaked in a mixed strong acid solution. Next, soak it in epoxy resin mixed with hardener. Then take it out and heat it to harden it. This kind of treatment can improve the color and transparency of the jade. But its texture is damaged and durability is greatly decreased.
Be aware that B type jadeite jade can also be called “natural color jadeite jade”, because it is not dyed, its color is really natural. Ask the seller “is it soaked in acid solution?” as an additional question to confirm the jade you buy is an A type one.

C type jadeite jade: colored or dyed jade.
B+C type jadeite jade: the jade is dyed after acid-treated and resin-filled, which results in beautiful color and great transparency. But the color is not natural and the durability is greatly decreased.

D type jadeite jade: this kind is not real jadeite jade. It is another kind of jade or stone but looks like jadeite jade. It pretends to be jadeite jade because jadeite jade is the most precious and expensive one in the jade-like minerals.

Identification of A type, B type, C type, and B+C type jadeite jade

Some experienced craftsmen and traders can examine jadeite jade with naked eyes, by its color and luster. To consumers, the best way to judge a piece of jadeite jade is to ask for an identification certificate by a testing centre.

First thing to consider when buying any Ammonite fossil is what kind of quality you are after, most ammonite fossils are of lower quality and found all over the world, you will find they have little or no color , black with some red and maybe green when it is held at an angle or they will be a milky white. most of these types are coming from madagascar and Russia,,i have seen these at trade shows for around 10 dollars a pound. the size of the pieces and other factors will dictate what it is most likely worth, there does not seem to be a set standard for the price, it is just a matter of who is selling it. with stuff like this, i have seen some high prices before. and they do make nice conversation pieces, i have also seen some of them turned into jewelery boxs and these are in the store for up to 4000 dollars canadian. But the thing that really made ammonite popular is the high end gem fossils and gemstones from alberta Canada, this is where you see the real bright colors of red green, blue,yellows and sometimes a bit of pink, very often compared to the real expensive opal that you never see just anywhere that sells at about 5000 dollars a square inch and higher,

PRICES

Now lets talk about price for these high end gem fossils.4 to 6 inch fossils would wholesale around $2000 to $4000 if it has 90% gemstone on it, these little guys are expensive because they are so rare in these sizes,

next we have 6 to 10 inch, these would be around $3000 to $10,000.

next we have 10 to 15 inchs at around $7000 to $20,000 and 15 to 22 inchs would be about $15,000 to $50,000,,all these prices are US Dollars and wholesale, retail would be more than double.

Mexican opal mines exist all over Mexico, many are near the town of Magdalena, where several Mexican opals are sold. One of the largest opal mines is the San Martin mine which produces almost all of the types of Mexican opal described below, many newer mines are appearing all the time and there is much unexplored territory in Mexico which may yet yield opals.

First, what is Sterling Silver? Silver is a precious metal and much like gold it is too fine to be made in a 100% from. To make it durable for jewelry, pure silver (999 fineness) is often alloyed with small quantities of copper (7.5%), thus becomes sterling silver (92.5% or .925). Copper is added to strengthen the silver and make it durable to be used as a decorative or in fashionable jewelry. That being said here are some tips on Silver Jewelry:

• Silver is resistant to scratches but not scratchproof, so remove your silver when you plan on doing heavy work with your hands
• Never immerse your silver jewelry in chlorine, salt water, mineral springs, or suntan lotion
• Do not expose your silver to intense light for prolonged periods of time
• Clean your silver with pads, felt or cloths that are specifically made for cleaning silver
• Avoid using tissue, abrassive mediums and liquid cleaners which can bleach silver jewelry
• Regular dishwashing soap and water will also help keep your silver looking good. Remember do not dry silver off with paper towels or tissues, always use a soft cloth

This is what we suggest for Cubic Zirconia Care, but first a little lesson as to what Cubiz Zirconia really is. Undoubtedly the best diamond simulant available today, CZ has been established as an affordable substitue as well as an important fashion staple in itself. The CZ story began in 1937, when the form of zirconim oxide, (CZ for short) was discovered by two German mineralogists. It was not until the 1970’s however-when Soviet scientists learned how to “grow” this mineral in a lab that it gradually became popular with jewelry designers. Most people, even trained gemologists, can not tell the difference with the naked eye between CZ’s and real diamonds. Here are our tips:

• Clean your Cubic Zirconia rings and jewelry with warm, soapy water and a soft cosmetic brush (like the type used to apply eye shadow)
• Be sure to dry the Cubic Zirconia stone to keep its brilliance and shine
• Remove your CZ’s when doing heavy work such as gardening or moving.
• Keep your CZ’s in a fabric-lined box for protection and keep other gold jewelry pieces away to prevent scratches.

Why Clean Your Fashion Jewelry?

• Soap scum, hair, dirt, skin and grease all collect into crevasses beneath the stones
• Many skin rashes due to an accumulation of unwanted dirt on jewelry can be avoided
• To look it’s absolute best, jewelry should be cleaned regularly. CZ’s are as beautiful as they are because of the way they reflect light, and jewelry cleaning is the best and only way to maintain this
• Skin oil, soap, grease or hand lotion will drastically decrease the brilliance of your jewelry. Cleaning will alleviate the problem

With these tips, your Sterling Silver and Cubic Zirconia jewelry should last you for many, many years. Enjoy your jewelry!

You cannot wear a ring, bracelet, bracelet, or even cuff-links, just once and throw them away. Fashion is cyclical anyhow, and who knows when today’s staid colors will become talk of the town again? You cannot get best returns from your gemstone jewelry investments without knowing how to take care of the beads and their settings. It is fine to put off things for a day or two if you have suffered a tough day at work, or need to get over a draining party, but if the weather is moist or the air is dusty, then ever hour that your gemstone jewelry lies around neglected on a dresser, can take away some of its value forever.

It helps to keep in mind that your children can enjoy your gemstone jewelry selections even more than you might during your lifetime. Imagine the heirloom value in some distant future! Consider also how much precious stones and metals which you have inherited mean to you. Fortunately, gemstone jewelry pieces and sets need very little care, and small steps can keep them looking like new for generations. However, longevity is affected by cut, chemical treatment, and polishing, which means that cheap beads will not last as long as the best stones and genuine metals used as settings.

Gemstone jewelry ensembles are like people. They like to live and to await your pleasure in clean and dry surroundings, with a modicum of privacy at least. Abrasion, dust, and air laden with wet fungal spores are their worst enemies. Wrap each stone or necklace individually in soft tissue, so that it does not rub against any hard surface. Soft stones are especially vulnerable to scratches and other tiny imperfections if handled carelessly. Find a safe or a drawer which is airtight, for storage.

Gemstone jewelry maintenance has much to do with cultivating good habits. Take rings off when washing hands, not just to keep them safe from harsh soap, but away from sinks as well! It is not likely that gemstone jewelry aficionados will be in to heavy physical work, but it is worth remembering nevertheless to take everything off when working with tools, moving heavy objects, or doing anything else which can damage your beloved dress accessories. Chemicals in cosmetics can harm stones and affect the appearance of metals as well. Therefore, put on your gemstone jewelry only as a final act in dressing.

Do take your collection back to the person or the store from where or from whom you bought them, every year. Have them professionally cleaned, and carefully inspected for integrity of mountings. Beware of polishing tools which are promoted as do-it-yourself aids, for their correct use needs training and maintenance. You do not want your budding gemstone jewelry collection to be spoilt by an unfortunate experiment!

Members of The Tourmaline Group are:

•Buergerite (Sodium Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)
•Chromdravite (Sodium Magnesium Chromium Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)
•Dravite (Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide)
•Elbaite (Sodium Lithium Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide)
•Feruvite (Calcium Iron Magnesium Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide)
•Foitite (Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide)
•Liddicoatite (Sodium Lithium Aluminum Boro-silicate Oxide Hydroxidem Fluoride)
•Olenite (Sodium Aluminum Boro-silicate Oxide Hydroxide)
•Povondravite (Sodium Iron Boro-silicate Hydroxide Oxide)
•Schorl (Sodium Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide)
•Uvite (Calcium Sodium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)

Tourmalines have many unique properties not found in other gems.

First, they are piezoelectric. This means that when a crystal is heated, compressed or vibrated a different electrical charge will form at opposite ends of the crystal one end being positive and the other being negative. Tourmaline crystals will also vibrate when an electrical currant is applied.

Secondly Tourmalines are pleochroic. This means that the crystal will look darker in color when viewed down the long axis of the crystal than when viewed from the side. Gem cutter will often use this to their advantage cutting gems to enhance this quality.

Specific color group names for Tourmaline:

- Dravite subgroup: Brown – dravite (from the Drave district of Carinthia)
- Schorl subgroup: Black – schorl
- Elbaite subgroup: named after the island of Elba, Italy
- Rose or pink – rubellite (from ruby)
- Dark blue – indicolite (from indigo)
- Light blue – Brazilian sapphire
- Green – verdelite or Brazilian emerald
- Colorless – achroite (from the Greek for “colorless”)