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Only a percentage of all harvested diamonds are actually gemstone quality – giving diamonds their rare reputation. So when a diamond is able to capture the world’s attention as one of the world’s famous diamonds, it must be truly exceptional. Diamonds are revered for their hardness as well as their high dispersion of light. However, some of the world’s diamonds have been made famous not necessarily because of their quality but because of the story behind the diamond.

The Great Star of Africa

At 530.20 carats, the Great Star of Africa currently listed as the largest cut diamond in the world. It is pear shaped with 74 facets and is part of the “royal scepter” being held in the Tower of London with the other Crown Jewels. This amazing diamond was first cut from the Cullian, the largest diamond crystal ever discovered at 3106 carats, which was used to create 96 similar stones. Discovered in the year 1095, the Great Star of Africa is famous not only because of its size, but thanks to a legend that suggests the other “half” of the Cullian may have existed, making it one impressively sized diamond crystal.

Taylor-Burton Diamond

First discovered in 1966, the Taylor-Burton Diamond came from the Premier Mine in South Africa. Its original weight was 240.80 carats which was eventually cut into a 69.42 pear-shaped jewel. Its connection to celebrity is what makes this diamond famous. The diamond was purchased by actor Richard Burton for his wife Elizabeth Taylor, who co-starred with him in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” Burton paid $1,100,000 for the diamond – still considered an astronomical price some 40 years later. After Burton’s death in the 1970s, Taylor sold the stone to charity for $2.8 million, allowing the stone to go to a museum. Today, is resides in Saudi Arabia.

The Orloff

A bluish green stone, the Orloff is considered to be an exceptionally pure gem made famous by its history. Legend holds that the stone began its life being used as the diamond eye of the Hindu idol of Vishnu, located inside the sanctuary temple in Sriagam. In the 1700s, the stone was stolen, and later passed into the hands of the Russian Count Grigon Orloff, a paramour of legendary Empress Catherine the Great. Orloff heard the rumors of the stone and brought it to Catherine to earn her favor. Although he could never earn her love, he did unknowingly eternalize his name in the process. Napoleon later sought the stone; however his Army became wary of the stone after a ghost warned them of the consequences. Currently, the diamond is being held in the Diamond Treasury of Russia in Moscow.

The Centenary Diamond

Introduced to the world as recently as 1986, the Centenary Diamond weighs 273.85 carats, coming from a rough carat weight of 599. In total, the diamond contains 247 facets. It took three years to craft the stone into what is known today as the world’s largest, most modern cut and flawless diamond in existence. The Centenary is only surpassed in size by the Great Star of Africa diamond and the Lesser Star of Africa. The stone was unveiled in 1991 at the Tower of London, and although it was never officially appraised, it is believed to be worth more than $100 million. Once owned by DeBeers, today its owner remains anonymous.

The Regent

Once considered the heaviest diamond in the world, the Regent today is regarded as the most beautiful diamond ever seen. The stone was originally discovered in 1698 in India and owned by Thomas Pitt, Governor of Madras. It then came into the hands of French Prince Phillippe II, the Duke of Orleans in 1717. The French royals used the stone for the crown of Louis XV, as well as for the crown of Louis XVI, and as an adornment in a hat worn by Marie Antoinette. During the Revolution, the Regent was stolen and recovered. Napoleon Bonaparte used the stone in his sword until his death, when it was finally transported back to Austria by his second wife, Marie Louise of Austria. Later, Mary Louise’s father returned the Regent to France where it again became part of the French Crown Jewels. Today, the Regent is at home in the French Royal Treasury at the Louvre.

The Hope Diamond

Perhaps the most famous diamond of all, the Hope Diamond weighs 45.52 carats and is named after jeweler Henry Thomas Hope. It is believed to be the same Blue Tavernier Blue Diamond that was discovered in 1642. The diamond was owned by King Louis XIV who had the stone re-cut to further enhance its brilliance. It disappeared during the French Revolution and was never officially recovered; however there are claims that it is the same diamond that was purchased by Henry Thomas Hope in 1830. The Hope Diamond is believed to place a curse on its owners. For instance, Hope’s son lost his fortune after inheriting the diamond. Following its purchase by Mrs. Edward McLean, the family suffered a series of fatal events and the eventual suicide of Mrs. McLean herself. As the legend and curse of the diamond grew, few wanted to even touch the stone when it was presented again in 1949. Today, the Hope Diamond can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute of Washington.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.

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Gemstones and gems are often referred to as precious or semi-precious stones. These attractive minerals are transformed into much sought-after jewelry or other adornments through a process of cutting and polishing. Other rocks, such as lapis-lazuli and organic materials, such as amber, are not minerals. However, they are frequently used in jewelry and often considered to be a gemstone as well. Gemstones are considered valuable because of their luster or other unique physical properties, in addition to their rarity, which also lends value.

The world’s foremost authority in gemology, the Gemological Institute of America was established in 1931, and is the world’s largest and most respected nonprofit institute of gemological research and learning. They, along with other gemological organizations, have created gemstone classifications to aide in understanding and appreciating the characteristics of gemstones.

The first characteristic gemologists employ is chemical composition. For example, many gems are crystals, classified by a crystal system such as cubic or trigonal or monoclinic. Gemstones are classified into groups, species and varieties. For instance, ruby is the red variety of the species corundum, while any other color of corundum is considered a sapphire. Gemstones are also identified according to their hardness, luster, and refractive index.

While there is no set standard for grading gemstones, other than the diamond’s 4 Cs, the GIA has created a system for choosing and purchasing gemstones. This system may help those interested in purchasing gemstones and understanding what makes one gem more valuable than another.

Gems and Color

Gems come in virtually every color of the spectrum. What may surprise some is that gems come in varying hues as well. The sapphire, for example, comes in blue, yellow and pink. Gem varieties such as tourmaline and garnet are available in almost every color. Prices for different gem varieties are affected by rarity, durability and popularity. Lesser-known gems are sometimes surprisingly beautiful and affordable.

For every gem, color is the most important value factor. Hue, tone and saturation are also important factors when considering a gem’s value. Brighter, more vivid colors with a medium tone are the most sought after. A “grass” green gem is typically most valued, followed by pale celadon, lime or dark hunter green, which is less expensive. Very pale, very dark or brownish-hued gems are less valuable.

Gems and Light

Light is an important factor when considering the value of a gem. The color of most gems is affected by light sources. Blue sapphires often look best illuminated by a fluorescent light, while rubies look better under incandescent lighting. When choosing a gem, always examine it under different lights, especially the light it will be worn in most.

Gems and Clarity

The way gemstones form in the earth often creates inclusions, or in laymen’s terms, a birthmark. The fewer inclusions in a gem, the rarer and more valuable it is. But inclusions are also responsible for the optical phenomena observed in many gemstones. For example, cat’s-eye chrysoberyl and star sapphires, created by inclusions, actually increase the gem’s value. In gemstones such as emerald and red tourmaline, the presence of inclusions and their lack of clarity does not detract from their value. Clarity has the most impact on value for gems with pastel colors because the inclusions are more visible to the naked eye.

Gems and Weight

Gems are sold by weight – measured in a carat, which is one-fifth of a gram. Therefore, buyers can expect to pay more per carat for a large stone than for a small one. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and alexandrite, for example, rarely occur in large sizes. Amethyst, citrine, blue topaz, and amber are more widely available in large sizes, so these gems have similar price per carat as smaller stones. To clarify, a one-carat emerald and one-carat ruby are the same weight but not the same size. Each is a different mineral with a different density. This difference in density also helps gemologists indentify gems.

Gems and Cut

While Mother Nature creates her gem masterpieces, it is the skilled gem cutter that releases a gem’s brilliance and beauty. As gems handle light differently, their cut helps to create the unique optical properties of its crystal structure. The cut of a gem refers to the three-dimensional shape of the gemstone and the quality of the cutting, or how well the gem’s shape delivers brilliance and beauty.

When judging the cut of a gemstone, examine how the stone returns light to the eye. Preferred cuts are symmetrical and return light across the entire surface of the gem.

Synthetic and artificial gemstones

Gemstones can be manufactured to imitate other gemstones. For instance, cubic zirconia is a synthetic diamond simulant. However, gemstones created in a lab are not imitations. Diamonds, ruby, sapphires, and emeralds are all manufactured in labs and can possess identical chemical and physical characteristics to the naturally occurring variety. These synthetic stones cost only a fraction of the natural stones. Natural gemstones are still considered more valuable because of their relative scarcity.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.

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Many advantages can be identified when you use free online surveys in order to make money taking surveys while working at home on your own time.

It’s obvious that free online surveys have some advantages that are even more substantial than other online surveys. The major advantage is that of cost. You can get started to make money taking surveys with almost no cost to you. You can be earning income within a matter of a few minutes after the decision to begin. However, economics is not the only reason to participate in this type of income choice. Convenience of the work site, lower transportation costs and flexible working hours all encourage home based work in this field. This combination of pluses often goes by the term job satisfaction.

Work at Home

Free online surveys can be done from your home. You don’t need to leave your living room in order to earn a satisfactory income. You can enjoy this advantage and it is an important one. Imagine leaving your kitchen with a cup of fresh brewed coffee in your hand and walking the few steps to your home office with a waiting computer. You complete a few surveys quickly before taking the time to step out for a brisk walk or settle back for a power nap. You can do a load of laundry or bake a cake while you are completing surveys.

Choose Working Hours

Another advantage you will get when you make money taking surveys as your revenue source is that of choosing your working hours. You can work when your internal time clock tells you that you are at your peak. You can fit your working hours around the needs of your family. You can slip in a few hours of work while waiting for something else to occur. You can work this week and take next week to go on vacation or to deal with a medical emergency. If you are working when you choose, you will undoubtedly get more done when you do work.

Flexible Income Levels

Free online surveys allow you to adjust your income up or down. You can choose to do a few surveys that take only a few minutes each and have a nice sized extra income. You can add more quick surveys whenever you need a higher paycheck to pay a larger bill or to add to your savings. Or, you can concentrate on more extensive surveys that take more time, but also pay a higher rate. Essentially, there are several ways to adjust your income, depending on what you want to accomplish. You can work full time or part time, do more pricey surveys or just the simple ones.

Lower My Living Expenses

Using free online surveys for your income can reduce your living expenses. This occurs because you no longer need to pay out part of your income just to get back and forth to work. There are many costs involved with getting to work for most people. For example, if you have been commuting a few miles or many miles just to get to your work site, you will no longer need to pay out increasingly onerous fuel costs. Make money taking surveys at home costs less in food costs, clothing acquisition and maintenance costs.

If you are looking for Free Online Surveys, do not hesitate to visit the site at Make Money Taking Surveys. Here you will have lots of choices of free survey sites to join and start to make some money.

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When it comes to the holiday season, few things are as fun or as exciting as finding great presents for everyone on your list. With the economy the way it is at this current time, many people are trying to insure they stretch their hard earned dollar, and finding cheap Christmas gifts is the ideal way to make the dollar go further. Finding those presents at affordable prices does not mean a reduction in quality. In fact, your gift recipient may never know the difference!

Finding those cheap Christmas gifts just means taking extra time to get the best deals. Window shopping is a great way to get ideas for future gift giving ideas, but it is also going to tell you a lot about the stores you frequent. By the time the holidays roll around, you know which store has the best deals, and you will probably have a great deal of your shopping done.

How do you go about finding those cheap Christmas gifts? Take a look at these suggestions.

Shop early. There are many great deals when it comes to holiday specials. Every storefront is aglow with discounts just waiting to lure you in. But as a smart shopper, you know that sometimes, those sales are not as special as they make them out to be. When you do your shopping all year long, you will be saving money because you can get the best prices on items you want.

Make a list. Making a list is perfect for planning the perfect budget and the perfect holiday. The problem with a list is that if you are too specific, you may end up paying too high a price. Make a list with your gift recipients, and then make a list of a few characteristics you would like those gifts to have. When it comes to saving time and money, making a list just makes good sense.

Give the gift of Mexican food. Food is a wonderful way to insure you get the cheap Christmas gifts you are looking for. Mexican food can be as simple as salsa and tortilla chips or as extravagant as a tortilla kit complete with cast iron griddle. You choose your budget, and there are opens that will insure you are giving the gift that will be cherished for a life time.

Remember, everyone loves food!

Shop online. What’s great about shopping online is that you get the opportunity to browse for great prices without the pressure of a salesperson. Choosing what you need is going to be easier without stress and pressure. In addition, you will be saving money on gasoline and helping save the environment by staying home and having that present shipped right to the gift recipient.

When it comes to saving money, cheap Christmas gifts are an easy way to go. You will not be negating the quality. In fact, these few ideas just changed how you shopped, not what you shopped for. This coming holiday season is quickly approaching, and with this few tips, you will be ready to tackle this holiday shopping season in style and for a lot less money.

More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.

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With the holiday season quickly approaching, knowing what to purchase and where to purchase what you want is vital. There are many tricks to getting the best prices while insuring you get the best quality, but when it comes to really getting more bang for your buck, having some secret cheap Christmas gift ideas to help goes a long way in insuring you and your gift recipient are satisfied long after the tree comes down.

When it comes to gift giving, we always want to give the best of the best. Unfortunately, the best of the best usually costs a lot of money. These tips are designed to insure you get more reward for each penny, and while not all of these ideas will work for you, one may be just what you need.

Salsa and tortilla chips is a marvelous way to keep the holiday alive with the bright colors of Mexico while appeasing that spicy part of our lives. Tortilla chips come in an array of colors perfectly suited to the holiday season, and a good, high quality salsa will be not only healthy but also extremely colorful filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Another great benefit of tortilla chips and salsa is that it is easy to wrap, easy to ship, and easy to store.

Glassware is always a favorite when it comes to giving presents and receiving them as well. Glassware can range from margarita glasses to water glasses used for supper. Decorate glassware is always popular, and you will find that you can get glassware in the colors, designs, and styles perfect for the recipient. Of course, glassware is not as easy to ship, but it is always appreciated under the tree.

Cookware is another of those wonderful ideas when it comes to cheap Christmas gifts. You get to choose the options you want, and then there is a wide array of prices to choose from. If you happen to be shopping early, you will find an abundance of choices even on a tight budget. Whether you choose a single cast iron skillet or w hole set, these are a popular favorite under the tree every year in many homes.

Decorative spoons, glassware, and other types of decorative oddities afford the opportunity to be unique while searching for that perfect present. Decorative goods make it easy to get something unique for someone that will appreciate the uniqueness. Brilliant colors that will decorate a room are available for a lot less than you may imagine. Of course, you may want to pick up more than one set so you have one of your own!

Gift certificates, while convenient, do not always give the message you want to give. In addition, people tend to spend more when they are giving a gift certificate. Avoid cash or gift cards if possible. Instead, opt to go that extra mile and choose a wonderful present that will be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Remember, finding cheap Christmas gifts is a wonderful way to save money while giving something perfect to that someone special.

More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.

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