Jewelry For Birthdays-How To Buy The Perfect Gift At A Fair Price

by: Sam Serio

Jewelry is the perfect gift for friends and loved ones at any stage in life. However the jewelry buying process can be a little tricky. Here are some hints for buying the perfect jewelry birthday gift at a great price.

1. There’s a big difference between 14 karat gold and gold-plated jewelry. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. Gold-plated describes jewelry with a layer of at least 10K gold bonded to a base metal. Gold plating eventually wears away, depending on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.

2. If you’re buying a watch, determine whether you want one that runs on a battery or one that must be wound daily. Ask if a warranty or guarantee is included, how long it lasts, and what parts and repair problems it covers. Also ask how and where you can get the watch serviced and repaired.

3. Know the difference between laboratory-created gemstones and naturally mined stones. Stones created in the lab are visually identical to stones mined from the earth. The big difference is in the cost: laboratory-created stones are less expensive then naturally mined stones. But because they look much like stones mined from the earth, they must be identified as lab-created. If you want a naturally mined stone, ask if it has been treated. Gemstone treatments– such as heating, dyeing or bleaching– can improve a stone’s appearance or durability. Some treatments are permanent; some may create special care requirements. Treatments also may affect the stone’s value.

4. Ask whether pearls are imitation or real. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks; imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks with human intervention; and irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow. Real pearls that are not cultured are fairly rare and expensive. The cost depends on the size, usually stated in millimeters, and the coating or “nacre” on a real pearl, which gives it its iridescence.

5. When you’re buying a diamond, consider four criteria: cut, color, clarity and weight, usually stated as carats. Each factor affects the price. Color is sometimes “graded” on a scale. However, scales are not uniform: a “D” may be the best color for one scale, but not for another. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color of the diamond you’re considering. A diamond can be described as “flawless” only if it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

6. Everybody is fascinated by their birthstones, here is a list of the commonly accepted birthstones for each month.

January Garnet-Dark Red
February Amethyst-Purple
March Aquamarine-Pale Blue
April Diamond-Clear
May Emerald-Deep Green
June Pearl-Pearly White
July Ruby-Red
August Peridot-Light Green
September Sapphire-Deep Blue
October Opal-Multicolor
November Citrine-Yellow
December Blue Topaz-Blue

About The Author

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.

This article was posted on January 13, 2006

What To Buy Your Girlfriend For Her Next Birthday?

by: Janette Vince

It’s time to buy your girlfriend a birthday present again and you’re still recovering from that look of disgust she gave you when she opened the present you gave her last year. This year, you promised, will be different.

You want to tell her how special she is to you, but you’ve already exhausted all your ‘great ideas’. The challenge of being a modern man who always knows what to buy for birthdays now just seems like an impossible ideal.

Your at your wit’s end trying to figure out the ideal gift and you can feel a sweat coming on just imagining those busy shopping centres on Saturday, as your mates are all out playing golf …

Ok, breathe and relax. Your worries are nearly over because by reading this article you are only a few minutes away from being armed with enough ideas to make sure you stay in her good books all year, plus you won’t have to go to any shopping centres.

Let’s clarify a few basics: chocolates and flowers are a bit passé on their own. Although she might be glad you remembered, they don't say much about you and your personality and there is the danger that you might have given her the same gift on another occasion, which means the gift has some but minimal impact.

You want her to feel special, right? Then stay away from clichés and avoid the last minute moment of madness of buying her flowers from the Petrol station. Give her something that will appeal to her interests, personality, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and passions.

One way to do this is to make a list. Think about some recent conversations with her and try to recall any hints she might have dropped.

Finding a perfect unique gift to fit people's personalities isn't always easy though you give yourself the best chance by using your time wisely and having a range of options and one way you can do this is to take a peak at websites that list fun and interesting gifts for her and have a range of ideas all under one roof.

Thankdarling.com offers a wide range of gifts just for her and by shopping online you can avoid the trauma of 5 hour shopping trips, moody shop assistants and traffic jams. You can do everything from the comfort of your own chair and search for her present online. You can do this by category or by ‘gift experiences’, and if you already know what you want to buy, you can do this by occasion, or simply by selecting ‘for her’.

Remember you are looking to buy a gift for her, so try and avoid getting distracted by all the latest boys toys for now. A day out paint balling and a radio-controlled helicopter might float your boat but as a gift for her? Probably a big no-no.

So to recap, draw up a list of her interests. Then think about what would suit her personality best. Is she artistic, adventurous, an animal lover, or a hopeless romantic? Once you have this sorted out you can choose from a variety of unique gift experiences for your significant other.

Here are 5 popular favourites that can make a memorable birthday for her:

You could treat her artistic taste buds to a Deluxe London Theatre Break with first rate theatre tickets, dinner and overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in the West End of London. Choose from a number of shows, such as Billy Elliott, Chicago, Evita, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, and many more. You can either relax in the hotel next morning or do some sightseeing before heading home after a relaxing break.

For some peaceful quiet time together in the sky in a hot air balloon flight available from 70 locations across the UK. You can fly above some of England’s most beautiful countryside, enjoy breath-taking views, take some fabulous aerial photos, and a drink glass of champagne each! A bonus includes assisting in the inflation and the deflation of the balloon if you wish.

If you’re considering gifting her a day of relaxation and self-indulgence, then go for the Special Pamper Spa Day voucher. This nationwide voucher offers at least two spa treatments at a choice of seven UK spas to spend the special day. You can spend hours together relaxing in steam and dry heat rooms, and wet areas including jacuzzi, spa baths, showers and therapeutic foot spas. In addition, you get refreshments on arrival and a scrumptious lunch at your chosen spa! You can also use other facilities such as the gym, relaxation classes and swimming pools.

You can also spend your day mingling with some perky meerkats at the wildlife park in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. You can enter their enclosure with the keeper at feeding time and assist in feeding them. The friendly meerkats will enjoy taking treats from your hand, sitting in your lap, untying your shoelaces, and peeking in your pockets! You can also take along a few friends to take pictures of this unique experience!

If you’d like to gift your girlfriend a completely new pampering experience, then go for the Emerald Makeover Experience—complete with a fabulous array of beauty treatments including facial, manicure, and moisturising hand massage; high fashion photo shoot; and a complimentary glass of Bucks Fizz! Treat her to a memorable makeover by top make-up artists and hair stylists, and get professional photographs to remember the experience!

With gifts like these and many more like them you have no excuses not to woo and impress her on her birthday this year!

About The Author
Janette Vince is the managing director of http://www.thanksdarling.com Thanks Darling provides a wide range of gifts and experience days out to suit all occasions. For a range of gifts including health spa treats visit http://www.thanksdarling.com/44-5.htm

This article was posted on September 21, 2006

Giving Unforgettable Birthday Gifts

by: Tzippi Moss

Big birthdays are great opportunities to get creative. Instead of buying a gift that may or may not be appreciated, you can show your love, care and appreciation in ways that will leave a lasting impression and cost little or no money.

I was recently talking to a friend of mine who had just celebrated a big birthday. He told me how people went all out on the gifts, sparing no expense. When I asked him what his favorite was, he said, "Oh, that's easy. No contest. It was the one from my daughter. She gathered pictures of both of us and made a big collage that she then had framed. On the wood frame, she painted 'I love you' with hearts and stars. That gift made me cry. None of the other store bought ones did."

That got me thinking. What were the best gifts I have ever received? One that immediately stands out is what my then 17 year old daughter did for me at my last birthday. She told me that I needed to give her a couple of days notice before she could give me her gift. She said that I would need to clear a few hours on my calendar and tell me what day I had chosen. That got me curious. I was sure she was planning on taking me somewhere. One morning, I told her I had cleared my calendar for the next day. The following morning, just before leaving for school, she dropped an envelope on the table. "Happy Birthday, Mom- don't open this until after I leave. I hope you like it."

I was surprised. What in the world could she have given me? I tore open the envelope. Inside was a page of yellow lined paper with the following message:

Dear Mom,

You have your present coming to you, but like the parties you throw for your friends, you have to work for it! That is why I am sending you on a treasure hunt! Make sure to follow instructions carefully. Your notes are small yellow or orange notes. If you have any problems, send me a SMS. Wear comfortable shoes.

Here's your first instruction. Go to….

P.S. If you had given me more advance notice, I would have had more time to prepare. Thanks a lot! :)

Oops. So much for my following her pre-gift instructions of giving her a couple of days warning. Anyway, my blooper didn’t keep her from planning an incredible tour of one of the historic areas in our city that I barely knew. I searched for notes that directed me to a hollow tree stump, to a certain sales person named Dan in a local bookstore and other hilarious instructions that entertained and taught me about hidden gems in my own home town. The different stops included historical information about what I was seeing, a coupon for a used book, and a gift certificate to buy myself some article of clothing at her favorite store, so I would stop borrowing her cool clothes.

Follow the tips below and you'll be remembered for unforgettable gifts as well.

- Give a gift that expresses your love loud and clear. My friend’s daughter’s gift stood out because of the effort she made to personalize her present and her clear message of love.

- Give an experience. My daughter’s gift scored big because she sent me on an adventure that I will never forget! The more novel or unusual the experience and the more it fits the person’s interests, the more memorable it will be.

- Give the gift of your time. Again, my daughter’s gift was a winner as it was clear how much effort she had gone to to surprise and delight me. My mother's favorite gift was a hand made book of coupons she received from her grandkids that could be redeemed for giving her a piano concert, baking cookies together and other activities where they spent time just with her.

- Know the celebrant's dreams and desires and help them come true. My husband knew how much I had wanted to go on a meditation retreat and for one of my birthdays he made all the arrangements so that could happen. I have never forgotten that present. If you can make someone's dream come true, you have given a gift beyond measure.

About The Author
Tzippi Moss is an expert in the areas of imagery, expanding creativity, dream work, stress reduction, and goal setting. She is the author of "A Dash of Soul" and "Real Women Sizzle". Read more about them at: http://www.WomensBirthdayClub.com.

This article was posted on October 23, 2006