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  • The Ecologist A to Z of beauty goodies
    The Ecologist
    'You can help to reduce your chemical count by switching to organic and natural beauty products,' continues Braithwaite. 'Organic beauty products use natural plant extracts, natural fragrances and gentle naturally derived ingredients so you can be sure ...

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  • REVIEW: Motions, Christopher Drummond Beauty
    Color Magazine
    During this journey he came up with the philosophy behind the products at Christopher Drummond Beauty: Simple Glamour. According to Drummond, "Our non-toxic makeup is effective, protective, and so easy to use that anyone can get results.


  • True Blood's Kristin Bauer van Straten Reveals Her Beauty Tips
    Wetpaint
    The gorgeous Kristin Bauer van Straten always looks picture-perfect, and the star of True Blood recently shared her beauty tips with ModWomen.com. Being the animal rights activist that she is, Kristin always uses products that haven't been tested on ...


  • The Estee Lauder Companies Reports Strong Second-Quarter Results
    MarketWatch (press release)
    "Our flexible business model enabled us to outpace the global beauty industry. As planned, we will build on that trend with significant advertising and marketing spending behind existing product successes and upcoming introductions in the third quarter ...

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Archive for August, 2010

When people talk about exercise, they usually mean working out, going to the gym or playing some sports. But this does not mean that all exercises require you to become tired and perspire a lot. One type of exercise wherein you will be able to relax and not perspire even one bit is facial exercises. Instead of helping you stay fit, these exercises are more used for eliminating the signs of aging.

Doing facial exercises is one type of exercise wherein you will not get tired as you generally do this sitting down. It will also just take a few minutes of your time each day to perform these exercises. Its benefits are very good especially if you want to obtain a smoother and younger looking face without having to spend any money at all.

Facial exercises are an effective way to eliminate wrinkles because it works by increasing the tone of your facial muscles. Doing this increases the strength of the pull of your facial muscles on the skin. Stretching of the skin will naturally cause it to sag less, as well as reduce the constant folding of the skin which results in the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.

In addition to just getting rid of wrinkles and fine lines, facial exercises are also a good way to relax. This is because it helps increase blood circulation in the face. When this happens, stress and tension that had built up on the face can easily be eliminated due to the increase in blood flow.

Aside from the elimination of stress, exercising your face also increases the delivery of nutrients. This helps increase cell regeneration so that older cells may be replaced by younger ones. As long as you eat the right kinds of food, rich in vitamins and minerals, your skin will surely have the materials that it needs to look younger and more elastic once again.

So if you are intrigued with the benefits of facial exercises and want to try it out, they are very easy to learn. First, you have to research on ways how to do these exercises. You can do some research on the internet, as some sites offer free tips on how to do these exercises. Others may also sell videos as to how these exercises are done.

Facial exercises should be started as early as possible so that you can get the full benefit from them. You can already start even though you have no wrinkles yet on your face. This way, the formation of wrinkles can be prevented even before they start to form. It is also a good way to help you relax and release tension after working hard after a long day.

Start with these exercises today and feel the benefits for yourself. Aside from prolonging or reducing the formation of wrinkles on your face, it also helps relieve tension and stress after a hard day’s work. Its great benefits will encourage you to continue doing these exercises as it is very easy to do and won’t take up much of your time.

Jen Hopkins has worked in the anti wrinkle skin care industry for years. She maintains websites about double chin exercises, and facial toning exercises. If you want to contact her, you can use the contact form at one of her sites.

- Jen Hopkins


Finding time for yourself between carpooling, after school activities, and your normal household chores is hard enough for a mom, let alone trying to find time to exercise and eat right. More often than not, you are eating what you can, when you can and don’t realize the weight gain till your favorite jeans can no longer be your favorite. Making a few changes that don’t take up your time with these tips on how to lose weight fast can help you get back into those favorite jeans and feel good again.

Say no to eating your kid’s leftovers. It can definitely be tempting, especially when you are low on time and you know the food is good. You just hate to throw it away, but that is what you need to do, throw it away. You would be amazed at how many extra calories you take in just by eating off the kid’s plates without even realizing it.

Go ahead and start eating like your kids. Notice that they are ignoring the “clean your plate” rule and follow suit. You don’t have to eat everything on your plate to feel full and get enough food. Sometimes it can be hard though, so switch to using smaller kid’s size plates for your meals, that way no food is wasted and your smaller portions will look big.

Say no to talking on the phone in the kitchen, especially if you know you are going to reach for the cookies while doing so. How many times have you been talking on the phone only to discover a snack in your hand, half eaten, with no clue on how it got there? When you need to talk on the phone, walk around in another room or go outside, avoid the kitchen like the plague.

Always say yes to a good breakfast. Mornings are busy times in a household with kids, fixing the kids’ breakfast, and getting things ready for school, but you need to take time to eat something yourself too. Breakfast isn’t just the most important meal of the day for kids, adults need it to. This may also help to raise your metabolism and allow you to burn more calories during the day.

Don’t eat straight out of the bag or box. Doing that totally throws portion control out of the window and before you know it, you are left with an empty container wondering how it got that way. Always pour yourself a serving, doesn’t matter the size, so you can see exactly how much you are eating.

When you’re trying to achieve fat loss, do go ahead and splurge from time to time. It isn’t good to deprive yourself of those foods everyone calls “evil”. They are only evil if you go overboard and binge, and you will binge if you don’t allow yourself to give into a craving every once in a while. With kids, this isn’t as hard as you think. When you buy them ice cream, get yourself a child sized cone, you get to satisfy your sweet tooth in a controlled way.

Finding the time to take proper care of yourself to achieve fat burning is hard when you have to put everyone first, and the battle of the bulge seems to forever be waging war. However, you can win that war by paying attention to just a few of these tips on how to lose weight fast while still being able to enjoy fitting in your jeans year after year.

- Ben Pate


Growing old is a natural process that everyone has to live with. But together with this are many consequences such as formation of wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Since people generally do not want to be perceived as old, they will try a lot of things to get rid of these signs of aging and look younger for a longer period of time.

Some people would want to get rid of wrinkles and fine lines immediately so they would resort to surgical procedures such as facelifts. Others on the other hand, have much more patience and would use wrinkle creams to get rid of these problems. But using these methods have their downsides as well. Facelifts would have risks as would all surgical procedures. Using creams on the other hand, may expose your body constantly to chemicals which can have adverse effects in the future.

A surefire and safe way to get rid of wrinkles and the other signs of aging is by doing facial exercises. This works by training the muscles on your face, so that they increase their tone and exert a greater pull on the skin on the face. This results in skin being tighter and the reduction of wrinkles and sagging skin.

Due to the time that it takes for facial exercises to work, some people are choosing other methods of anti-aging as they want faster results and less amounts of work, but these exercises are not hard that hard to do. It will only take you around 15 minutes each day, and you can even do these exercises while sitting or lying down. This does not take that much longer than the application of creams.

Another benefit that you can get from facial exercises is that it stimulates better circulation for the face. This is a big help especially in releasing stress and tension that builds up on your face. The more blood that passes through, the faster wastes are eliminated so that they will not cause further damage to your skin cells. In addition, they also deliver more nutrients for better cell regeneration.

As stated earlier, the one downside of doing facial exercises is that it takes longer time to work compared to the other anti-aging methods. Exercising will usually take a few months before you will start seeing significant results. Other more expensive procedures have an instant effect while creams may take several weeks to work.

Although exercising your facial muscles may take a long time to work, it is the cheapest, safest and most natural way of getting rid of wrinkles. You will not be exposed to any risks of surgery, and you will not be exposing your body to any synthetic chemicals. With enough patience, you can take off up to 20 years from your face by just doing these exercises.

So don’t waste your money on expensive anti-aging techniques when you can settle for something that is free. Just have some patience and you will eventually see the results that you want. Be sure to start as early as possible so that you can even prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place.

Jen Hopkins has worked in the anti wrinkle skin care industry for years. She maintains websites about non surgical facelift, and facial exercise for jowls. If you want to contact her, you can use the contact form at one of her sites.

- Jen Hopkins


Standard Articles Of Fine Jewelry

Author: Lorraine Jacobs
09.08.2010

The visual appeal of fine jewelry has never ceased to arrest our interest. In fact, jewelry pieces have been objects that denote social status especially during ancient times. These precious objects have profoundly molded some of the most important traditions in history. From necklaces and earrings, to rings and bracelets, these articles have long provided humans with personal satisfaction that no other objects could provide.

There are many kinds of fine jewelry pieces available. Some are worn as adornments, while others serve as symbolic tokens presented in different occasions. There are also articles of jewelry that are simple in design and inexpensive, while there are also pieces that are expensive due to the materials used to construct them. In order to further understand the types of jewelry, some of the most popular pieces are tackled below along with their qualities and functions. Rings are probably the most common forms of jewelry known to man. They usually come in differing varieties, the most common of which are in plain cylindrical bands adorned with gemstones like diamond heart or round cuts, spiral or serpentine coils, signet rings, and open on one side. Rings have different functions but they are commonly used as symbolic tokens during engagements and weddings or just to accentuate the fingers. As for signet rings, these hoops are customized to carry the emblems of fraternal orders or insignias of some organizations and are worn by the members of such organizations.

The necklace is another popular form of jewelry worn around the neck. Generally, necklaces come in four different forms: close fitting collar band decorated with precious stones or beads, chain necklace with a pendant, raw of beads in graduating sizes set in a wire or chain, and strings of different lengths of necklaces worn on top of each other. Necklaces can be created from various materials but works well with metals, gemstones or the combination of two, and they are usually partnered with pendants made from gemstones with the diamond heart being one of the most sought after pendant design. To further highlight the beauty of necklaces, they appropriately worn with dresses that have low necklines as this design helps the jewelry to become the focal point of the person’s upper body.

Meanwhile, earrings are articles of jewelry used for the ears that could be set against the earlobes or are left as dangling drops. The most favorite form of earrings set against the earlobe is the pair of pearls, while popular hanging drops are the ones referred to as chandelier earrings. Traditionally, the use of earrings requires ear piercings as the practice of wearing such jewelry was once regarded as a barbarous act. Today however, earrings can be worn without the need for piercings, and instead they could just be clipped to the ears.

The bracelet is another type of fine jewelry, worn on the arm. This piece can be in the form of closed band, spiral coils, open on one side, closed with clasps or flexible rings made from several links. Other than the aforementioned pieces, there are other types of jewelry that one may encounter in the market including pins, cuff links, anklets, chains, brooches, and collar buttons to name a few. Overall, jewelry pieces comes in differing quality, sizes, design, price as well as functions; it is up to the owner where and when he or she intend to use these precious materials to gain satisfaction.

Fine jewelry pieces are created to adorn nearly every part of the body. Necklaces with diamond heart pendants are used to accentuate the neck, bracelets are worn to highlight the arms, while rings and earrings are used as personal ornaments for the fingers and ears respectively. Although artistic display has been the main function of jewelry pieces, they have also been utilized for reasons like currency, protection, status, and symbolic tokens to name a few.

- Lorraine Jacobs


Do Facial Exercises the Right Way

Author: Jen Hopkins
09.08.2010

Do you wonder why the skin on the face is usually the first part of the body that forms wrinkles and fine lines? This is because the muscles and skin of the face is constantly moving in similar directions when we talk or express what we feel. With the constant folding of the skin in one direction, together with the decrease of the skin’s elasticity as we grow older, the face becomes easily prone to sagging and forming wrinkles.

There are many ways of how to get rid of these unwanted wrinkles on the face, but one of the safest and most effective ways to do this is by doing facial exercises. These exercises are made to increase the tone of the facial muscles so that it can exert a greater pull on the skin. Once this happens, the skin is stretched further thus reducing wrinkles and sagging skin, while also preventing the formation of new ones.

How does this exactly work you may ask. Similar to how bodybuilders and athletes have tight skin around their bodies, facial exercises uses the same concept. By increasing the muscle tone of your underlying muscles, it will pull harder on the skin, making it tighter thus eliminating the folding and sagging of the skin. When this happens, wrinkles are eliminated as well as sagging of the skin. this way, the body naturally gets rid of your wrinkles for you.

In addition to being very effective, it is also very safe as it will not require you to put any synthetic chemicals on your face or undergo possibly dangerous procedures. Chemicals may have long term effects on your body while exposing yourself to surgical procedures will always have some risks involved. You will also need to spend money with these other methods, as opposed to exercises which will not cost you any money at all.

These exercises will work effectively if done properly. This is by stretching the skin in ways that it does not normally move. This way, muscles are fully exercised while the skin is stretched in different ways to reduce the chances that the skin is folded.

Some ideas as to how to do these exercises is by pulling down on your eyelidswhile raising your eyebrows as high as you can. This helps eliminate wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. Be sure to do enough repetitions of this exercise, as well as hold each pose for a few seconds to fully benefit from this.

As for the lips and cheek, you can try doing alternate movements of smiling as hard as you can, and making an O shape with your mouth. Hold each position for at least 10 seconds before going to the next position. Do this again for at least 10 repetitions. You can also try pulling down on your cheeks as hard as you can while smiling. These exercises will help stretch your muscles to their capacity and make them increase their tone with repeated exercising.

You can now start doing your own facial exercises routine at home. For better results, you can try varying the exercises that you do everyday by searching other ways on how to do these exercises. With continued dedication to these exercises, you will eventually have a younger looking face that you will be proud to show off to everyone.

Jen Hopkins has worked in the anti wrinkle skin care industry for years. She maintains websites about double chin exercises, and facial exercise for jowls. If you want to contact her, you can use the contact form at one of her sites.

- Jen Hopkins


How To Purchase Diamond Jewelry

Author: Lorraine Jacobs
06.08.2010

Probably by now you’re thinking of offering your bride a diamond ring and ask for her hand in a marriage. The idea seems simple enough; you’d go to a jewelry store, select a diamond worthy for your beloved, pay for it and you’re ready to go. Realistically speaking though, this isn’t always the case because when you first look at the price tag of your chosen sparkler you’ll soon realize how nerve-racking it really is to purchase diamond jewelry gifts. If you are planning to buy a diamond, it is imperative that you take charge of your transaction, and in order to do so you must be well informed about the tricks of the trade in order for you to get the most for your money.

According to gemologist and diamond expert, Fred Cuellar, there are four basic things that one has to remember when purchasing diamond jewelry gifts: budget, expectations, savvy and timetable. When it comes to budget, you should be able to figure out how much money you are willing to spend and stick to that budget outlay; one month of your salary can already be a good guideline. As for expectations, it is advised for you to know and understand the needs and wants of the person to whom you’re about to present the diamond; by doing this you would have a feel of what diamond type would be appropriate for that person. Being savvy is a good means for you to be updated about the cost of diamond pieces and the current trend in design; on the other hand, you should give yourself enough time to prepare for things including when to purchase and when to give the diamond and this is when setting a timetable becomes essential.

Since you are now aware of the general basics, you should also consider where to buy your sparklers. You have two options where you could get your diamond jewelry gifts, first is for you to go online and second is to check your local jewelry shops. Buying online is a practical way to secure your diamond without the need to drive around since everything you need is just a click away; however, you should also consider the drawbacks associated with this practice, first you can’t appraise the jewelry and second you don’t know with whom you are transacting with; if this option is good enough for you, it is crucial for you to do an intensive background check so that you can be assured that you would really get the diamond you are about to purchase. The latter option of buying your diamond gifts on you local jewelry store is a better choice because you would be able to appraise the diamond personally and long time jewelers could help you out with your questions, which would assist you in arriving at the right decision.

For the diamond, always consider the 4Cs”"clarity, color, cut and carat, as these elements help determine the true value of such gemstone. Clarity is an indication of how clear the gemstone is and how free it is from blemishes or external imperfections and inclusions or internal imperfections. Different types of diamond are assigned with clarity grades that may range from flawless to obvious inclusions. There are also clarity enhanced diamond pieces that are treated to reduce imperfections through irradiation, filling imperfections, or laser drilling.

With regards to color, diamond pieces are available in different shades; however, colored diamond pieces are very rare and expensive, so it is more likely that when you visit shops you’d observe that only white and yellow sparklers are available but between these two colors, it’s always best to settle for whiter diamond pieces. This is because the yellow coloring of sparklers came from nitrogen which affect their sharp and sparkly features; hence, as a rule of thumb, the yellower the diamond, the cheaper it becomes. When it comes to cut, diamond pieces could be cut in different ways, the most common of which is the round brilliant cut. The first thing to know is that more than the indication of shape, the cut of your diamond also determines how sparkly it can be.

Aside from being clear and white, a diamond cannot be considered as a diamond unless it sparkles, which could only be achieved by properly cutting it. As cut is extremely hard to analyze, the three things that you should look at are brilliance, fire and scintillation; however, if you really want to make things easier, the standard round brilliant cut is probably the most preferable choice compared to other cut. Lastly, the carat refers to the unit weight of a diamond. Majority of diamond pieces utilized for fine jewelry often weight one carat or less; a fraction of a carat could significantly change the amount of the diamond.

If you intend to buy diamond jewelry gifts, chances are, you’re having trouble with what to pick. Regardless if you want to buy a round brilliant cut diamond or clarity enhanced diamond, it is always advised to adhere to the BEST guideline which refers to budget, expectations, savvy and timetable. You should also consider the 4Cs of diamond which stands for carat, color, clarity and cut.

- Lorraine Jacobs


06.08.2010

Bands have been well acknowledged in betrothals and marriages since ancient times. As a matter of fact, it would be hard to imagine having an engagement and wedding without referring to bands. Due to their enduring presence, the use and purpose of wedding ring and engagement ring are often confounded with each other. However, it should be understood that while both these jewelry pieces are worn by women, they greatly differ from each other in many aspects.

In order to identify the differences of wedding ring and engagement ring, let’s take a closer look at their individual functions. Basically, an engagement ring is purchased or given by the man to the woman as an indication of their engaged status. On the other hand, wedding bands are jewelry pieces exchanged by the couple during their wedding ceremony to seal their marriage vows, and serves as indication that the wearers are bound by marriage. After the wedding ceremony and into the future, both the bands are worn on the same finger, this applies to women since men do not wear engagement bands though there are engagement bands intended for men.

Between the two mentioned bands, many couples invest more on their engagement bands than on their wedding bands. In fact, an engagement ring is more attention-grabbing than a wedding ring because it is somehow a silent announcement of the soon-to-be married status of couples. Engagement bands traditionally have prominent center stones that are commonly constructed from fine diamond jewelry. Today though, it is no longer a requisite to have diamond engagement ring as other precious stones can also be used as central accents such as ruby, sapphire, and opal to name a few.

Meanwhile, wedding ring is often plain in design and finish, or at times is designed as the simpler version of the engagement ring. However, the design of the wedding bands is always dependent on the couple’s choice; there are couples who also use fine diamond jewelry for their wedding bands, though this is not always the case as the plain finish of such band represents the sanctity of marriage. Traditionally, both wedding and engagement bands are worn on the left finger between the index and pinkie fingers because according to belief the said finger on the left hand has the vein that is directly connected to the heart which is called as vena amori. However, there are also cultures that traditionally wear their wedding and engagement bands on the right hand, specifically on the right ring finger.

Commonly, wedding and engagement bands are separately purchased. It is also possible that they can be bought as a set, which is why some wedding bands are equally grandiose to their engagement counterparts. However, if you are to purchase each piece separately, remember that you are going to wear them everyday, so when you select the shape of the stone always consider your lifestyle. Diamond might be naturally hard, but if it has pointy edges or is protruding on the ring it is more likely to chip or break off due to over usage; in such case, it would be more preferable to purchase wedding and engagement bands that have embedded round brilliant cut gemstones to ensure that they will last for a lifetime.

Generally, wedding ring and engagement ring are important pieces that represent two important stages in a couple’s relationship, the engagement and marriage. They indeed have distinct qualities that sets them apart from each other. Setting aside their differences though, what is apparent is that they share the same concept of undying love and commitment, apparently shown from their round shape that has no beginning and no end as well as the materials used to develop them. They also serve as material seals that reinforces the symbolic meaning and sentimentality of devotion.

Wedding ring and engagement ring differ greatly in appearance and function. An engagement ring is worn prior to the marriage to denote the engaged status of the couple. Traditionally engagement ring has center piece that’s of fine diamond jewelry with round brilliant cut. Meanwhile, wedding bands are the ones exchanged by couples during wedding ceremonies to seal their marriage vows. Such ring is usually a plain band or designed to match the theme of the engagement ring but is simpler.

- Lorraine Jacobs


For those of you whom are wondering how to lose weight fast in the greatest possible way, you can rest easy knowing that there are a few techniques you can employ. Such techniques have been proven time and time again to provide efficient results. With so many different pills, supplements, and other complex tactics; there is no question that it can be hard to remain focused. Of course, without focus your chances of success are minimal. Stick with basic strategies, and you will achieve what you set out to do.

First off, investigate the current life you live. Contemplate the amount of food you eat on a regular basis. How much of that is good for you? How much of that is bad for you? Then look at your exercise regimen. What physical activities do you perform on a daily basis? Do you even have a regimen? Answer these honestly and base your lifestyle changes on such answers. The first thing you will need to change is good intake.

The food you are consuming right now probably has high levels of poor ingredient within them. This may be grease or sugar, but there is no doubt your diet could use some improvements. Reduce the chips and junk food you eat, and replace them with healthy substitutes.

Salads may not appeal to all, but they are definitely not all that popular. If you do not like salads, consider purchasing some fruit and vegetables. Many different fruits have a filling ingredient in them, which fills you up and prevents you from eating huge quantities of food. This is your first step; review your eating habits and correct them with healthy substitutes.

Bear in mind that healthy eating is not the only thing you have to do. You should try to exercise too. As you might be able to tell, this is leading to the calories in vs. Calories out rule. Keep track and eliminate the calories you consume by exercising them off. You should not lift weights though, as it will not burn the fat in an efficient way. Try to restrict your exercises to cardio.

You are going to want to start out with something simple. Running is the ideal choice for this, and you can certainly achieve a lot of results from such an activity. The trick is to begin moderately and slowly progress. For instance, start with thirty minutes for a week or two and then increase the time spent running to forty-five minutes.

There is no doubt that fat burning will be extremely difficult to do in the beginning. Needless to say, you need to ensure you are completing them on a daily basis though. Do not feel as though you absolutely must run though. You can play a sport such as baseball or soccer, depending on your situation. As long as the activity gets you moving and sweating, you should be able to shed the extra pounds you have.

Hopefully through these steps you will no longer wonder how to lose weight fast. It really is about balancing the food you eat and exercising on daily basis. Follow these beginner steps and you will achieve fat loss results much quicker than you thought possible.

- Ben Pate


06.08.2010

It is normal for people with extra money to invest their funds in assets that would allow their money to grow.Keeping it in the bank just wouldn’t do so putting it in assets like stocks, condominium units or land would be the logical step because this gives more power to their money in terms of interest.

On the other hand, other people would skip investing on assets like these and would rather spend on things that would cater more to their interests.And there is nothing more appropriate than to invest on their hobbies where they can directly enjoy money they have spent.

Some hobbies are also considered an investment because as time goes by they also increase in value just like luxury cars, fine jewelry and toys.But of course not all of them appreciate in value, only a selected type of toys or jewelry like diamond rings can really gain vale over time.

Rare toys that are kept intact and in the box over time usually gets more expensive and can be sold for almost twenty times more of its original price.On top of the list of hobby investments that gains value over the years is fine jewelry.Jewelry with diamonds like diamond rings and bracelets can definitely get more valuable as the years go by.

Diamond rings can also be a investment not only in the financial sense but also a material asset dedicated for someone you love or care for.Diamonds pretty much last for a lifetime so it can be smart investment compared to other things like cars or houses that can depreciate as time takes its toll and cause mechanical or aesthetic problems.

So for those ready to take the next step, it is a wise thing to invest excess money in assets that can deliver the planned results as the years go by.Investing does not necessarily have to be boring because there are numerous ways money can grow over the years but at the same time address your wants and interests like toy and jewelry collecting.

Investments do not necessarily need to be traditional ones like land or mutual funds. Some investments can actually be a source of happiness and entertainment for an investor like fine jewelry or luxury vehicles. Just like land or stocks, diamond rings or luxury cars can appreciate in value over time and give the owners the option to sell it at for a much higher price after a few years.

- Lorraine Jacobs


06.08.2010

The round brilliant cut is seen as the gold standard for diamond cuts. Designed to maximize the potential of a diamond’s brilliance, this cut is also known as the most improvident, with over half of the raw diamond disposed of to get to this ideal shape. Not to say that it’s the sole shape diamonds should come in. In fact, the diversity of diamond cuts adds to their overall appeal.

And diamond heart jewelry is as appealing as it gets. Heart cuts have a lot in common with the pear cut, but vary in height and width. The heart cut retains some brilliance found in the round brilliant cut, but also shows off the diamond’s other qualities, like clarity. Bear in mind that this shape was not invented frivolously. The heart cut is fundamentally the pear cut with a cleft added in.

Admittedly, diamond heart jewelry is not for everyone. Some people may feel that it is too trifling to use in their wedding rings. Still, it is hard to dispute the romantic appeal of the heart shape. Since it is a relatively new cut, there are less regulations in making heart cut diamonds compared to round brilliant.

In comparison, with round brilliant cut diamonds, your primary consideration really is just the brilliance of the piece. Diamond makers refined Tolkowsky’s Ideal Cut, the original standard for the round cut. Thanks to advances in the science of refraction and manufacturing technology, they’re able to utilize a raw diamond’s potential to reach maximum brilliance.

It is crucial that you do a quality check before you acquire any diamond heart jewelry. Specifically, you need to verify that it does not have any blemishes, cracks or other imperfections. Some imperfections are not discernible to the naked eye, but still affect the diamond’s value. These imperfections do become apparent under the microscope, and are considered when the finished diamond is graded and priced.

If you prefer to get more value for your investment, you should watch out for enhanced diamonds. These are treatments performed on diamonds after they have been cut and polished, to excise these imperfections. Government regulations require that any enhancements be divulged to potential buyers. These treatments diminish their value and are only performed on seriously flawed diamonds.

It is imperative that you do a quality check before any purchase of diamond heart jewelry. Particularly, you need to check that it does not have any blemishes, cracks or other imperfections. With round brilliant cut diamonds, your primary concern really is just the brilliance of the piece. You should watch out for enhanced diamonds. These are treatments performed on diamonds after they have been cut and polished to remove these imperfections and reduce their value.

- Lorraine Jacobs


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