Category Archives: Jewelry

These days, consumers can take their pick from an impressive array of fabulous items of diamond jewellery. For example, they can head online to select princess cut diamond engagement rings. All they need is a little spare time and a web connection.

As long as they know where to look, they should be able to find the perfect princess cut diamond rings for them, and within their budgets too.

Meanwhile, it seems as though the Earth is not the only planet in the Solar System to feature diamonds. According to a BBC report, these precious stones could be raining down on Saturn and Jupiter. Scientists in the US have calculated that there is an abundance of these items within the gas giants.

The researchers noted that lightning storms within the planets’ atmospheres turn methane into carbon. This soot-like substance hardens as it falls into chunks of graphite and then into diamond. Eventually, these unusual ‘hail stones’ melt into a liquid at the core of the planets.

Dr Kevin Baines from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory suggested that the biggest diamonds would probably be around a centimetre in diameter. Expanding on this, he noted they would be “big enough to put on a ring, although of course they would be uncut”.

The expert added: “The bottom line is that 1,000 tonnes of diamonds a year are being created on Saturn. People ask me – how can you really tell? Because there’s no way you can go and observe it.

It all boils down to the chemistry. And we think we’re pretty certain.”

Dr Baines stated that the process of diamond creation begins in the upper atmosphere or so-called ‘thunderstorm alleys’, where the soot forms. Explaining the subsequent processes, he said: “As the soot falls, the pressure on it increases. And after about 1,000 miles it turns to graphite – the sheet-like form of carbon you find in pencils.” By a depth of 6,000 kilometres, this graphite toughens into diamond.

The specialist went on to draw attention to the “hellish” temperatures on Saturn and Jupiter. About this, he remarked: “Diamonds aren’t forever on Saturn and Jupiter. But they are on Uranus and Neptune, which are colder at their cores.”

He presented his findings during the recent annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in the US along with his co-author, Mona Delitsky, from California Speciality Engineering.

When asked to comment on the predictions, fellow expert Professor Raymond Jeanloz told the BBC: “The idea that there is a depth range within the atmospheres of Jupiter and (even more so) Saturn within which carbon would be stable as diamond does seem sensible.” He added: “Given the large sizes of these planets, the amount of carbon (therefore diamond) that may be present is hardly negligible.”

Of course, consumers do not have to go to the lengths of trying to source precious stones in space. When they are after a princess cut engagement ring or other similar item, they can simply turn to the web and place their orders.

About the Author – Anna Longdin is a regular contributor to lifestyle blogs and loves perusing the fabulous range of jewellery products now available. Find out where she gets her inspiration by visiting Marlow’s Diamonds.

A pocket watch passed down for three generations. A bayonet from the Civil War. A baseball card collection that once belonged to your grandfather.

Family heirlooms come in all shapes, sizes, and values. Whether you have an attic filled with heirlooms or one particularly cherished item, insurance is something that you ought to consider to protect your treasures.

The Value of Family Heirlooms

According to the Telegraph, the value of family heirlooms has increased as older generations become wealthier. In the United Kingdom, research has found that 40 percent of the population inherits valuables. On average, the heirlooms are worth £3,000, with one in five holding a value of more than £10,000. This equates to $4,850 and $16,168 in US dollars, respectively.

Yet, even when people inherit something of great value, they don’t always know or appreciate its worth: two in three people don’t have their heirlooms evaluated while nine in ten don’t have adequate insurance for these possessions.

The Pros of Insuring Family Heirlooms

Insuring a family heirloom has many pros in its favor. First of all, insurance helps protect the monetary value of the item in the event that it is lost, stolen, or damaged. This is of particular importance when the value of the item is high. Otherwise, unforeseen circumstances can cost you — and your heirs — thousands of dollars. Second, you should be able to obtain insurance as an add-on to your homeowner’s insurance policy, allowing you to place your entire estate’s insurance with the same company.

Another benefit to insuring family heirlooms, per Insurance Magazine, is that the value for which the heirloom is insured can be a good prediction of its asking price in the event you ever opt to sell it. While most people prefer to hold onto their family heirlooms, some have to liquidate these items in trying times.

Depending on the item in question, insuring a family heirloom can also allow you to enjoy it more. If an antique doll is insured, for example, you may be more apt to allow you children to handle, admire, and cherish it than you would be if the item wasn’t insured.

The Cons of Insuring Family Heirlooms

The cons of insuring family heirlooms are minimal. One possible con can be that heirloom insurance works the way most of your insurance does: you pay money up front to protect you in the event something happens, and then nothing harmful occurs. If nothing ever happens, you are technically out of money via the monthly premium you’ve been paying. It is a very small, though admittedly tangible downside to paying for insurance.

Depending on the insurance company, you will likely be asked to have your heirloom appraised before a policy can be written, especially if it’s very valuable. You will also likely be required to file a police report in the event that your insured heirloom is stolen. Finally, if any activity seems suspicious, it is always possible that an insurance company will investigate you for possible fraud.

Ultimately, insuring family heirlooms has many more benefits than drawbacks. It might take a little effort to get the heirlooms insured, but your resulting peace of mind will be worth it. Not having heirlooms insured simply sets you up for heaps of regret down the road.

Byline

Dillon Roebuck is a freelance writer primarily concentrating on finance & insurance. To learn more about insurance Dillon encourages readers to visit Protectyourbubble.com.

Image credit goes to epSos.de.

Born in jewel business and starting in the old jewelry business, Jeff Brooks has come from far and last year, the jeweler invested in Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and 3D printing technology in aim of bringing the company in to the Jewelry future. According to Jeff Brooks, the owner of Brooks Fine Jewelry, the new technology is like a bridge between the old and the new world. The new technology can be taken and used in the old way to come up with a product that is completely different. According to Envision Tec 3D printing marketing coordinator Jenna Franklin, Brooks Fine Jewelry has the capacity to create any jewelry piece using the Computer-Aided-Design software.

In just the 3^rd year of their business, Brooks Fine Jewelry has entered one handcrafted piece and 3 other pieces that are technologically crafted into the Creative Achievement Recognizing Arkansas Talent (C.A.R.A.T) Awards of the Arkansas Jewelers Association in Little Rock. According to Jeff Brooks, this show will be the company’s best food forward. The company has entered the competition in all the four categories that are available: the best craftsmanship award, the 3,000 to unlimited, up to $1,000 and under $1,000.

In the C.A.R.A.T awards, the Brooks Fine Jewelry most expensive jewel will be the Lady Liberty Ring that has been valued at $5,000 – $6,000. This ring which has a 2.7 carat diamond surrounded by a rose and blue gold was designed by the use of 3D technology so as to incorporate into the ring’s design 50 stars. According to Jeff Brooks, this was done so as to show everyone that the technology is available to both the customers and other Jewelry stores

Currently, Brooks fine Jewelry makes use of three methods to provide jewelry to their customers: the CAD program, a traditional hand fabricated method that was crafted by Jeff Brooks and another one based 15,000 rings database that are pre-made such that each of them is capable of being manipulated. According to Jeff Brooks, the new technology has made the jewel production easier. One year ago, it took 8 hours to craft one ring but with the use of 3D printing technology and the CAD program, up to 12 rings can be produced in a period of six hours. Brooks have now made over 150 pieces of jewels using the new technology.

Brooks Fine Jewelry, originally located on 611 Court Street, moved closer to the downtown in Oak Street after the family purchased eight buildings there. With the relocation to the new area, the company will have access to a bigger storefront where they can display their jewelry and also ample space in the back where the manufacturing and repairing of jewelry can be done. Kathy Brooks, wife to Jeff Brooks, plans to expand the operation of the company by starting to sell in wholesale to other jewelry stores in Arkansas. Kathy also said that they plan to have at least ten jewelry stores in Arkansas to begin with. The company also plans to expand their operations using the rest buildings they purchased.

Investigators are leaving no stone unturned to search for important clues into the theft of jewels at an exhibition at the French resort city, Cannes. According to the office of the prosecutor near Grasse, the jewels stolen were worth $136 million.

According to the deputy prosecutor looking after the department for organized crime, the robber had his face covered with a scarf and hat. He was also carrying a semiautomatic weapon with which he threatened to kill the guests and exhibitors. He also added that although security guards were present at the situation, but they were not armed. This further boosted the confidence of the robber to carry out the mission successfully.

The incident eventually leaves everyone into fuzz coming close to similar jewel heists during the Cannes Film Festival this year, when a precious necklace worth $2.6 million was reportedly stolen form a party organized in a hotel followed by an incident involving stealing of $1 million worth of jewels from a safe.

Meanwhile, in an exciting revelation a former jewel thief, who is now a reformed person, reported to journalists of CNN that the third crime was surely committed by professionals and even bore exceptional hallmarks of any event carried out by professional thieves.

A noted motivational speaker and author, Larry Lawton said that the act was certainly a professional heist. He is also of the opinion that the mastermind had an insider to pass crucial information about the security purview of the exhibition including the locations of the jewels.

According to the author, the act was definitely not the job of any single person; but an outcome of successful and coordinated strategy. He even pointed out that the miscreants just went inside the exhibition arena and completed their task within only five minutes, which definitely proves the link of an insider with the incident, without whose support the operation would not have been possible within such a short period.

However, the author was surprised to inform about the fact that such precious jewels displayed for exhibition were not kept under electronic security. That would have prevented any notorious incident like this, triggering an electric shock to any person carrying the jewels beyond any definite distance by any chance. On the other hand, he even refrained to blame the security guards for the incident.

Shortly after the fateful incident, the union tried to handle the situation by calling the French government and urged them to initiate immediate investigative process to look into the safety concerns associated with such jewelry exhibitions carried out in major hotels of the country.

The firm, Leviev jewelry, has innumerable flagship boutiques throughout Dubai, London, Singapore and New York. They are one of the largest and reputed manufacturers of diamond in the whole world. They are famous for they extraordinary assortment of rare, colored and large diamonds.

In a recent development, it is reported that a statement issued by CGT has vehemently put the blame on Carlton management and has even made them responsible for favoring financial operations.