Tidbits Archives
Having Trouble With My (Computer) Mouse Today
I've been having trouble all day today with my computer mouse. One second its working fine and the next second the mouse just shuts down on me?? Its been extremely frustrating trying to get anything done.
Do you think my mouse is just plain fed up of being manipulated and is giving me a taste of my own medicine?
My mouse is too smart??
Who Can Talk Diamonds When You're Buried In Snow!!
This past weekend the Tri-State area was hit with the first real Blizzard of 2005!
We had about 14 inches of snow!
It took me an extra 45 minutes to get to the office this morning (New York City Diamond District) due to the weather.
Valentine's Day Ads. For Dummies. (20 Days Left, Guys).
Diamond Billboard by Lorena Bobbitt.
For all the dummies out there who never heard about getting their woman some diamond jewelry for Valentine's Day; This billboard ad was made for you!
Valentine's Day is February 12
GIA Education Updates
GIA lists new night classes and other new class openings for interested students. You will notice them at the bottom of the page in this link.
Coffee is Ki$$ing Me!
How many of you guys go throught the same routine every morning; your'e on the way into the office and you grab a cup of coffee at the local Starbucks.
Well, this morning I actually did the math and it dawned on me that I'm shelling out an absolute fortune of money for my pricey Starbucks drinks!
Over Priced
Starbucks ought to have a picture of me in their window as the featured customer of the month at the rate I'm going.
My Picture in the window!
I gotta cut down on these coffees quick!
Blogs Are All The Rage!!
I was extremely happy to see this recent article.
Blogs that offer pertinent and up to date information for any industry as well as personal blogs, are making a huge impact in cyberspace!!
The key is to keep the info. fresh, interesting, and on target.
I hope you all have a great weekend!!
Diamond "Stars" In My Eyes.
Illinois lawmakers are currently debating a bill that could outlaw the practice of surgically implanting jewelry in the eye.
Chicago State Representative Kevin Joyce has sponsored a proposal that will keep doctors from performing the procedure in Illinois, reports The Chicago Sun-Times.
Developed in the Netherlands in 2002, about 100 people in Europe have opted for the procedure, but the practice has taken place just a few times in the United States, according to the Sun-Times.
Proponents of the procedure, which involves placing a metal charm in the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye, claim the practice is as safe as wearing contact lenses. But some ophthalmologists worry the implants could pose risk of irritation and infection, possibly effecting the wearer's vision.
Wearers can have the jewelry surgically removed if they later choose they no longer want eyeball jewelry.
What will they think of next?
"Love" Is In The Air
Korean electronic company LG Telecom is offering a pair of special telephone handsets decorated with 24 diamonds, to celebrate the luckiest couples contest. When the two cell phones are placed side-by-side, the diamond design forms the shape of a heart.
The company is inviting 100 couples selected from its subscribers to the White Day party at Grand Seoul Hilton on March 14, 2005, and will award the winning couple with the diamond couple cell phones.
Cute.
St. Patrick Day Parade Outside My Window!!
Help!!!
I cannot hear myself think!!
If you call our offices today looking for a diamond, don't think that we employ a full time band playing music in the background.
What you are hearing is the St. Patrick's Day Parade going on right outside my window. (We are located right off 5th Avenue in the N.Y.C. Diamond District)
Our Diamond offices and showrooms are located high above the street. However, this does not diminish the tremendous amount of noise filtering into our offices from down below.
I hope everyone has a great time today, but for the sake of my sanity I hope the parade ends soon.
Oh... and if you happen to be jealous of my excellent view to the parade; don't be.
This is what I've got to look at:
See any familiar faces???
Have Wrench, Will Travel; Also do Notary.
This entry is a bit far afield ( no doubt very far afield) for us at Diamondvues.com, but every once in a while it's good to survey the American landscape a la the late Charles Kuralt of CBS News, and see what's going on in the highways and byways of America.
Today we bring you Naked Dan, Handyman and Plumber working out of St. Petersburg, Florida. Handy Dandy comes to your home to do your plumbing repairs stark naked with nothing on except his toolbelt. You must sign a contract that you will stay far away from him and be very careful with your language.
Naked Dan; Plumber, Handyman, and Notary Public.
Dan is planning on adding Butler and Maid services very soon to his
inventory of services.
His website is here: http://www.nakedan.com/
Dan; just a word of advice: Be careful with that wrench.
These Gas Prices Are Absurd!
What is going on with these astronomical gas prices???
It has become cheaper to buy a certified loose diamond then a gallon of gas these days!!!
I found a few illustrations that pretty much sums up the gas situation these past few years!
Show me the Money, Honey!
More than three-fourths of jewelry store workers say that good pay from an employer will keep them from looking for a new job, according to a new study from Diamond Staffing Solutions.
The jewelry industry staffing agency surveyed about 100 of its job candidates to find out what factors would cause them to remain with a store or to leave.
Asked to list the five most important factors to remain on a job, respondents named:
Good pay/ compensation: 77 percent
Opportunities for career growth: 66 percent
Challenging, rewarding or interesting work: 65 percent
Good benefits: 55 percent
Recognition/ respect from the company: 42 percent
Asked to list the top five reasons they would leave a job, respondents cited:
Insufficient pay/compensation: 67 percent
Insufficient opportunities for career growth and advancement: 58 percent
Insufficient recognition/ respect from company: 38 percent
Work isn't challenging, rewarding or interesting enough: 35 percent
Job instability: 34 percent
So what else is new?
Ladies: Would You Accept A Diamond From A Math Professor?
A study conducted by two Math Professors, Peter Sozou and Robert Seymour of the Center for Mathematics, University College of London was published this week in the Proceedings of The Royal Academy .
In their experiment they set up courtship as a sequential game and asked the question; What are the characteristics of a good courtship gift?
Their model was structured like this: The male offers a gift to a female; after observing the gift, the female decides whether or not to accept it; she then chooses whether or not to mate with the male. In one version of the game, based on human courtship, the female is uncertain about whether the male intends to stay or desert after mating. In a second version, there is no paternal care but the female is uncertain about the male's quality. The two versions of the game are shown to be mathematically equivalent.
Expensive investments during courtship does less to convince the woman of the man's long-term intentions and whether he'll stick around once there are kids.
Theoretical modeling put courtship as a sequential game, and concluded that an expensive night-on-the-town was a sounder investment than expensive jewelry, according to Sozou and Seymour.
So, Ladies, are these academics on target and which would impress you more about the guy? An expensive one time weekend trip to Paris or a big Diamond Rock?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Holidays to one and all. Best Wishes.
Eat well today, stores open at 6 A.M. tomorrow!!
And of course, the Internet is open 24/7.
Gem of A Bridal Gown! Most Expensive In U.S.
Most Expensive Bridal Gown (on record) To Be Worn In U.S.!!
When his little girl asked her dad for her dream wedding gown one Brooklyn father just could not say no. Even when the price tag for the schemata was a whopping $300,000! Anthony La Bate of Francesca Couture has been charged with the task to design what is most likely the most expensive wedding gown ever worn in the U.S.
The bride (whose name remains a mystery) has commissioned a dress encrusted with 1,100 diamonds totaling 300 carats and 3,000 Swarovski crystals all combined with 50 yards of silk organza. The wedding, scheduled to take place in New York in late summer, will definitely be one in which no guest will out sparkle this bejeweled 23 year old bride.
When the bride - whose father paid for the dress - called La Bate, she asked for an "over-the-top magnificent wedding dress."
"I've never heard of a gown at this price before in the U.S.," said La Bate. "I've designed gowns with semi-precious stones before, but never diamonds." And so when La Bate suggested using diamonds, "She said no problem... when I told her the value came out to $300,000, she was cool with it."
But the bride isn't cool with the world knowing who she is just yet. "She's a little shy and doesn't want to deal with any of this at the moment," said La Bate. "She comes from a great family."
The silk gown (pictured below) is in two pieces, with a diamond-adorned bodice that flares out like two leaves. The bottom of the dress is a detachable ball gown, which contains 50 yards of bias-cut petals in six tiers of scalloping, that the bride can take off at the end of the ceremony - so she isn't weighed down.
One of a Kind Bridal Gown
Each diamond was individually hand-stitched on the fabric. If they were to be replaced by crystals, the value of the dress would drop to $30,000, said La Bate.
On average, brides will spend anywhere from $500 to $12,000 on a gown. Further establishing this gown as one of the most expensive ever made in the US a rep at Saks Fifth Avenue bridal, which carries top bridal gowns priced from $3,000 said, "I've never heard of a gown of that price, not even from the highest couturier in the world."
(Source: IDEX Magazine)
St. Patricks Parade in The N.Y.C. Diamond District..Help!!
Hey Folks,
Happy St. Patricks Day to you all!
Unfortunately for me this day isn't going to well.
I'm sitting here in my office high above the street level in the heart of the N.Y.C. Diamond district where we have our diamond offices and showroom. I'm trying to do some work today on our diamond website before the weekend.
For anyone familiar with the famous diamond and jewelry district of New York City, we are right off Fifth Avenue and smack in middle of the yearly festivities of the St. Patrick's Day parade.
The noise is so loud I can hardly hear myself think. This is getting to be a yearly occurence...see my similar blog posting on St. Pat's day of last year over here.
So you might be thinking..well at least I can go downstairs and enjoy the view, no?
NO! I finally decide to go downstairs and get a coffee from the corner stand to ease my throbbing migraine. Well, the stand isn't there today (probably sent away by the cops), instead I am greeted at the corner by this:
Moral of the story; don't ASS-ume until you see the facts!!
Enjoy the weekend!
Diamond Identification Method for Consumers: Bring Napkins
The Financial Times of London reports on a novel way to identify Diamonds from fakes:
It is said that Alexander the Great found a valley full of both diamonds and poisonous snakes. No one could work out how to retrieve the jewels until Alexander had the idea of throwing down raw meat, to which the diamonds attached. When eagles flew down for the meat, Alexander's men just had to follow them to their nests.
It sounds like fantasy but diamonds are attracted to fat, and the story reminded people how to tell real diamonds from fakes. De Beers still practise Alexander's trick in their South Africa mines today: They use "grease tables" and only the valuable stones stick.
Today, most engagement rings are diamond but after the war, people wanted holidays, cars or colorful gems to celebrate a future marriage.
In 1947 a New York copywriter, given the task of finding a slogan for her client's product, stayed late in the office. "I put my head down and said: 'Please God, send me a line.'" Then she scribbled: "A Diamond is Forever" and the rest is History.
Diamond Bling Bling...For Your Teeth!!
This link is a must read!
Diamond Cleaning: Use Efferdent and Smile!
Saw this humorous posting today on Bridal Blog
Here's her story:
I keep meaning to stop in at a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned, but my mother-in-law to be (MILTB) told me this ridiculous slash terrifying story where she swears a friend of a friend of her cousin Phyllis did just such a thing and had her ring replaced with a fake. I realize that the chances of this story being true are infinitesimal, but I’ve yet to stop in and have it done, so clearly there is a tiny part of me that truly believes Phyllis’s friend’s friend. My MILTB went on to say that the BEST and ONLY means one should be using to clean a ring like mine is Efferdent—as in denture cleaner Efferdent.
So, today I did it. I walked into Duane Reade with purpose and conviction, found a box of denture cleaner and bought it. I was so excited to come home and try it out, I could barely contain myself. I heated up some water in a small teacup, dropped in the efferdent tablet, plopped in my ring and stood there watching the water fizzing for five long minutes. Even my dog looked up at me as if to say “you’ve officially crossed the line.”
When I couldn’t handle the suspense for one second longer, I fished my ring out of the icky blue solution, rinsed it off and Bing. Bam. Boom. Seriously, WOW. I may have been temporarily blinded. Dammit all if my ring didn’t look just as sparkly and shiny as the day I got it.
Now I just wonder if an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner can have the same cleaning results for dentures?
Smile!
David Yurman Jewelry: Evolution of a Jewelry Designer.
The Orlando Sentinel has an interesting feature on David Yurman today.
David Yurman jewelry is like your favorite blue jeans -- only much more expensive. The jewelry is "comfortable," says Yurman, 63, who recently visited his new boutique, which rubs shoulders with Cartier and Tiffany in Orlando's Mall at Millenia.
The jewelry is also versatile, he says. "You can wear it anywhere, day to evening." Just like blue jeans.
It wasn't always that way with jewelry. Before the 1980s, when Yurman's now-iconic cable bracelets became the most coveted, and copied, arm candy in the United States, there were two kinds of jewelry: Costume for everyday wear, and fine jewelry for special occasions.
The relaxed elegance of Yurman's designs bridged the divide. The jewelry is classic but with a modern twist that gives it go-anywhere elan.
Fashioned from gold and silver, many pieces also feature coral and turquoise, a sparkling array of gemstones and Yurman's current favorite, South Seas pearls. Signature motifs include a squared "cushion" shape, a hook-and-eye closure and the widely recognized twisting "cable" pattern.
The designs are "a combination of art, fine jewelry and fashion," says Yurman, who wears several of his creations: A ring, a bracelet and a square-faced watch.
Dressed all in black, his thick white hair swept straight back, his chin fashionably stubbled, he looks every inch the artist from Tribeca, the New York neighborhood where he and his artist wife, Sylvia, live and work.
Before designing jewelry, Yurman was a sculptor, hanging out with prominent Beat artists of the 1960s; writer Norman Mailer, painter Franz Kline, sculptor Ron Boise.
"I did these funny little silver angels," he says.
It was one of those angels, fashioned into a belt buckle, that sparked his career as a jewelry designer.
The buckle was a gift to Sybil, his girlfriend at the time. She wore it to an art opening, where it caught the eye of the gallery owner. He asked if it was for sale. Yurman said no, but Sybil said yes -- and within weeks they found themselves in the jewelry business.
Ever since, they've had good-luck angels perched on their shoulders. Their collections are in more than 450 stores around the world, and David Yurman is one of the best-known luxury brands on the planet.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Barbra Streisand wear the jewelry; Steven Spielberg and Kevin Spacey the watches; hip-hop moguls Jay-Z and Damon Dash the men's designs. Their ad campaigns have featured models Amber Valetta and Kate Moss, and the company's newest "face" is Naomi Watts -- who recently flashed Yurman earrings of rose quartz and diamonds at the Oscars.
Orlando real estate agent Virginia Morales, 49, collects Yurman bracelets. "I wear three, four at a time," she says. "My husband always knows what to give me for my birthday, anything David Yurman."
Since founding their company in 1980, the Yurmans have worked as a team.
"I have the vision; I design the collections," explains Yurman. "My wife does the styling and merchandising."
Their son, Evan, is part of their ever-expanding creative team. And let's not forget the lawyers.
The couple's designs, which range from about $300 for a simple bracelet to more than $7,000 for a multistrand couture necklace, are among the most copied in the world. Yurman is not flattered by imitators and spends $1 million a year protecting his brand.
"Copying is stealing," he says. People who wear copies are deceptive. "And that's not cool."
Worse, he says, they are supporting counterfeiters who may pay no taxes, have ties to illegal operations or use child labor.
As his company grows, Yurman finds himself more in the role of executive than artist.
"It's less like playing an instrument, more like being the leader of the band," he says. "I'm about ready to do more art work."
But that is not likely to happen anytime soon. First, he plans to introduce a line of Yurman eyewear and a Yurman fragrance, followed by Yurman handbags and luggage.
No wonder he believes in angels.
Lose Your Engagement Ring, Diamond Ring, Wedding band? Try This Internet Lost & Found Website!
The Associated Press today reports an item of interest: There is now an Internet Website where you can post your lost Engagement Ring, Diamond Ring and Wedding Band.
Maureen Silliman felt her empty pocket and gulped: Her new $300 iPod must have bounced out as she ran to catch a train.
While she sobbed, her boyfriend suggested a message on the lost-and-found section of Craigslist, an online bazaar of classified ads.
"No," the 24-year-old Silliman said. "Nobody would ever turn in an iPod."
Her boyfriend posted the message anyway. Within 24 hours, Silliman's iPod was back.
In an increasingly cynical world, there are still places where people try to do the right thing. Everyday on Internet message boards, honest folks post notes about valuables they found: cash, bank cards, diamond bracelets, engagement rings, wedding bands, digital cameras, and even a cockatoo valued at $1,200.
In turn, when there is no place left to look for something missing, the desperate sometimes take the longest of longshots and look online themselves.
Occasionally, it works for both sides. People such as Silliman get back their iPod, still loaded with Radio Head and Broken Social Scene.
The impulse to be honest doesn't surprise Lawrence M. Hinman, the director of The Values Institute at the University of San Diego.
"I think we perceive ourselves as being much worse than we actually are," Hinman said. "There are people who live lives of quiet honesty."
Take Monique Peddle, 48, in Hollywood, Fla., who posted a note online when she found a diamond studded gold bracelet that she could have just as easily slipped quietly in her pocket.. Or Blake Facente, 30, who also turned to Craigslist when he discovered a Dell Inspiron laptop leaning against his building in San Francisco.
The same for Agnes Satoorian, 27, who climbed into a cab in Boston last month and found a pricey digital camera that another rider had left behind.
"I know that pain," said Satoorian, who had recently lost her own camera loaded with sentimental pictures. "I decided I would try to make it right for someone."
Craig Newmark, the namesake and founder of Craigslist, said that the company added the lost-and-found message board in March 2003 after they noticed a proliferation of people looking for things that they were missing.
"The culture of trust is key, and the fact is that we work really hard at that," said Newmark, 53, who now has Web sites in 190 cities that boast more than 10 million users a month.
That means everyday there are new lost-and-found posts. Like the drawer in a school secretary's office where missing scarves wait to be claimed, the message boards accumulate a disparate collection of goods.
Some are outlandish.
The three teeth -- including a molar with a filing that needed replacing -- pick up in downtown Honolulu. The $100 bill found on a sidewalk on the Las Vegas strip. The man in Copenhagen who lost his ex-wife. Or the New Yorker who misplaced her clean-shaven cowboy and implored: "If found please send him to Queens."
In the lost column in Dublin, Ireland, a post under the heading, "$1 Million US reward," has a link to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted poster for Boston fugitive mobster James "Whitey" Bulger.
"I just want him caught," said the post's author, reached through e-mail, who declined to elaborate or give his name.
Other posts are authentic, and even touching.
The 39-year-old woman in Frankfurt, Germany, looking for her birth mother (Bridgitte Siglinde Stolba). The Homestead, Fla., mother searching for a lost dog named Sparky that detects her 17-year-old epileptic son's seizures and barks for help. The 1-carat diamond engagement ring that slipped off a woman's finger in the hills outside Berkeley, Calif.
Success of the Lost and Found is difficult to measure. Craigslist does not track its sites, and the free posting are only valid for 30 days.
But as stories about triumphs like Silliman's iPod circulate, more people keep playing the odds.
Last Fourth of July, scuba diver Stephen Klink found a solid platinum men's wedding band buried in sand beneath 30 feet of water off Cape Cod. Klink, 36, recently posted a note on the Boston-area Craigslist.
"It's a long shot, but I figured it's worth a try," Klink said from his home in Hillsdale, N.J. "Some married guy somewhere is getting whopped on because he lost his wedding ring."
Hey Guys: Can Diamonds Buy Women Love? Guess Again.
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend. Right?! Well, fellas, not according to a survey just released by True, an on-line relationship service. They found (surprisingly?) that women value Love and a long-term committment-relationship more than diamonds and jewelry.
Read the results of their survey here: Love Or Diamonds?
Diamonds For Sex: Prom Night Is Here.
The story is here: Prom Night
Just watch other jewelery stores use this sales approach.
Diamonds are Everywhere!
Diamonds are now everywhere!
There isn't a commodity on this earth that cannot be used or manipulated to market this "woman's best friend".
Ever hear of "diamond earphones"?
Check out the scoop here!
Have A Hurricane, Get A Diamond.
Suffer the devastating consequences of a Hurricane, like Hurricane Katrina?
Apparently some New Orleansians didn't let that bother them.
No Home? No car? No clothes? No problem! Gonna get me some diamonds with that there FEMA money.
Bush's fault, of course! Of course!
Hurri-Cane me a Diamond Ring, Please!
Sometimes Diamonds Are Better Left Home.
Just Bring your American Express Card.
Leave Your Diamond Jewelry At Home
Gals, Looking To Marry A Sugar Daddy Millionaire? Go To Ireland.
The Irish Times reports today that Ireland is now the second wealthiest nation in the world with more than 30,000 millionaires living here, according to new research published by Bank of Ireland Private Banking.
The average personal wealth per head of population in the Republic is nearly euro 150,000, the "Wealth of the Nation" report found. This is higher than average wealth of euro 137,000 in the United Kingdom and euro 129,000 in the United States.
Only Japan has higher net wealth per head of population than the Republic at euro 206,000.
Net wealth in the Irish economy has grown by 350 percent over the past decade - three times faster than the rate of growth in Britain. The growth rate takes into account the increasing levels of household debt in the economy.
Out of the estimated 30,000 millionaires, some 300 individuals are thought to have a net worth of more than euro 30 million. A further 2,700 people are reckoned to have a net worth of euro 5 million to 30 million. Bank of Ireland's definition of millionaire excludes people's main residences. If these were included, the number of millionaires in the country could be as high as 100,000.
Irish wealth is "disproportionately" skewed toward property, with 71 percent of total wealth invested in the asset last year. Some 16 percent of Irish wealth is invested in equities, while 10 percent is held in cash and 3 percent is invested in bonds.
Bank of Ireland forecasts that, by 2015, property will be less dominant. It predicts that the breakdown of investment will shift to 61 percent in property, 22 percent in equities, 12 percent in cash and 5 percent in bonds.
The move away from property will be prompted by "more realistic" property prices, while an ageing population will show more interest in investment and pension funds.
Most of the Republic's wealth is "new money" created by people's willingness to borrow to invest further, according to Mark Cunningham, Bank of Ireland Private Banking's managing director.
"It has been entrepreneurial and more risk-orientated than many other developed countries where inheritance features more prominently," he said.
Personal disposable income in the Republic has doubled over the past 10 years, and is forecast to double again over the next decade. The annual level of personal savings stood at euro 10 billion at the end of 2005 and this is forecast to increase to euro 13.5 billion by 2010 and to euro 24 billion by 2015.
Debt as a percentage of disposable income has increased from 89 percent to 140 percent in the past five years. But O'Sullivan said that neither the absolute level of borrowing nor borrowing levels relative to overall wealth were ahead of international norms.
Moissanite Sales Drop.
Charles & Colvard reported that Net sales during the second quarter slid 8.5 percent to $8.513 million, however the company drove up profits 48 percent to $1.096 million. Cost of goods dropped 34 percent to $2.13 million and operating expenses fell 2.6 percent to $4.71 million.
Bob Thomas, president and CEO said that while revenues fell during the second quarter the year-to-year comparison was difficult due to a large order by K&G Creations in 2005 required for the rollout of moissanite products into Finlay store locations.
Charles & Colvard's domestic sales in the second quarter decreased 15 percent to $7.2 million. International sales for the second quarter increased 59 percent to $1.3 million.
Shipments for the quarter dropped 5 percent to 51,100 carats.
Thomas said that Charles & Colvard expects to increase the number of doors with Finlay and introduce an exclusive collection of jewelry inspired by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. "We believe that we are positioned for a strong Christmas holiday season. We also expect an initial shipment of moissanite jewelry into approximately 170 doors at a major, national retail chain which has over 700 retail locations as well as a test of 22 doors at the jewelry counter of a major, national retail chain that has over 900 locations," he said.
For the first half of 2006, Charles & Colvard reports net sales declined 19.5 percent to $16.530 million and profits fell 4.8 percent to $2.620 million.
Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend.
Wedding Ring History.
Did you know that:
• The first finger rings appeared in Egypt more than 5,000 years ago. To the Egyptians, a circle, having no beginning or end, signified eternity. Numerous 2,000-year-old rings have been unearthed at Pompeii, buried and preserved by lava flow. Early Hebrews placed the wedding ring on the index finger. In India, nuptial rings were worn on the thumb.
• In the Third Century B.C., Greek physicians believed that the vein of love, ran from the third finger directly to the heart (they didn't count the thumb). So it became the logical digit to carry a ring symbolizing affairs of the heart.
• On Aug. 17, 1477, Mary of Burgundy became the first bride-to-be to receive a diamond engagement ring. Fearing rejection, her betrothed, Maximilian of Austria, heeded counsel that the diamond would impress her.
• By the 17th Century, diamond engagement rings were all the rage in Europe. A bride's status was greatly reduced without one.
From Our Can You Believe This!! Dept.
MarketWatch reports that Ryanair Holdings Plc, Europe's largest low-cost airline, gave the U.K. government an ultimatum on Friday: lift restrictions on carry-on luggage and ease other security measures within seven days or risk being sued for compensation.
The Dublin-based airline sent the demand to Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander and urged him again to send army or police personnel to assist front-line security staff if the government insists on requiring that 50% more passengers than normal are body-searched.
Ryanair said that if security were restored to normal International Air Transport Association (IATA) levels within a week, then the airline would "not make any claim for compensation which it is entitled to under the provision of section 93 of the Transport Act 2000."
'We are now body searching five- and six-year olds flying to Spain for a vacation with their parents. We're not adding to security, we're adding to public hysteria.'
Chief Executive Michael O'Leary once again called the new security measures, which forbid passengers form taking liquids, perfume and cosmetics through security and restrict the maximum size of carry-on bags, "nonsensical."
"We are now body searching five- and six-year olds flying to Spain for a vacation with their parents," he said.
"We're not adding to security, we're adding to public hysteria," he added.
O'Leary said the U.K. government is handing terrorists a victory by allowing the new security measures to disrupt travel.
"They must be rolling around the caves of Afghanistan laughing at the British people and the British government," O'Leary said.
Hey O'Leary! Lay off the sauce, will ya. Did you notice that two of the terrorists caught by British Police the other week were a young Muslim couple with their 6 month old baby that they were going to blow up on the plane. Just make sure to do whatever is necessary to keep your passengers safe and insure that the terrorists don't indeed have the last laugh.
Prospecting for Diamonds In The U.S.A. A Lost Pastime Returns.
Prospecting for Diamonds, Diamond Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands, and Jewelry has returned with great popularity.
The story is here: Diamond Treasure Hunt
How Do I Clean My Diamond Engagement Ring?
Is a question we get all the time.
Our answer is that while Ultrasonic cleaners are the rage today with manufacturers touting their magical cleaning prowess, they are expensive to purchase, expensive to maintain (you have to change the dyed/perfumed alchohol cleaning fluid constantly...also expensive), and the violent shaking and spinning inside the machine's container while cleaning has been known to loosen the diamond(s) on your ring to the point where you'll be at the office, a party, or some other corporate or social function, look down and find to your horror that your diamond is gone.
We've found the best cleaning solution to be isopropyl (rubbing) alchohol ($1.59 at your local drugstore) and a small bristle brush (from any shaving kit) with medium to hard bristles.
Soak your ring for 1-2 minutes in the alchohol, then brush vigorously with the brush, especially in between the prongs and on the undersides of the basket and shank, re-soak for another two minutes and pat dry on a kleenex. Will look like it just came out of the factory.
You should this at least once every 48 hours. In addition you should check to see if your diamond is securely held within the prongs. Take your thumb and forefinger and place at opposite ends of the girdle. Very gently try to move the diamond. If there is even the slightest "give" it's a sign that the prongs need tightening. Another test is to hold the ring up to your ear and shake. If you hear a Rattle 'N Roll, it's time to tighten those prongs.
Quantum Computers Wear Diamonds, Too.
Interesting article on the role of Diamonds on Quantum Computers.
That's A BIG Diamond!
Novosti News reports that Moscow residents and visitors will soon have a chance to see the third-largest diamond found in Russia after authorities in Siberia's main diamond-bearing region sold it to the national fund of gemstones and precious metals.
Vladimir Rybkin, the head of the collection, said Monday the 298.48-carat diamond was valued at "several million dollars." But he declined to name the price at which the stone had been bought from the government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), which owns the mining company that unearthed it in July 2004.
The new acquisition will be displayed to the public in Moscow's Kremlin Armory Palace, where the Diamond Fund, started by Tsar Peter the Great in 1719 as a royal jewelry collection, is now housed.
"There has never been the desire to sell such stones in our country's history," Rybkin said.
The fund's largest Russian diamond, of 342.5 carats, was uncovered in 1980 and the second largest, weighing 320.65 carats, emerged nine years later. Other highlights include the diamond-encrusted coronation crown of Catherine the Great and the 190-carat Orlov Diamond, given to the empress by her lover Count Grigory Orlov. The collection also boasts the world's largest sapphire and Easter eggs designed by imperial jeweler Carl Faberge.
According to Russia's Finance Ministry statistics, Russia is the leading producer of diamonds by volume and second to Botswana in terms of value. Some 99% of Russian diamonds are mined in Sakha.
New York's Diamond In The Rough
Is the Naked Cowboy who you'll find everyday in his Jockey briefs, strumming his guitar on the traffic island on 45th Street and Broadway to the admiring ogles of his many female fans.
Certainly ends our day on a bright note.
His story is here.
N.Y.C. Diamond District Mostly Closed In Observance of Rosh Hashana
Rosh Hashana, which marks the new year on the Jewish calendar begins this Friday evening.
Many diamond and jewelry stores here in the N.Y.C. diamond district will be closed in observance of the Holiday, begining tomorrow morning through Sunday evening.
Google has a really cool logo with a Shofar in honor of Rosh Hashana
See it here. http://www.google.co.il/
Inspiration for this blog entry taken from Barry of CartoonBarry!
Custom Diamond Jewelry...Made With Wood??
I just saw a recent article in an industry magazine that deals with a new and very cool phenomena in the world of diamond jewelry.
Wood- from ebony to exotic African species- has become a suprisingly popular look in fine jewelry.
Many upscale, luxury diamond jewelry designers, are incorporating wood into their diamond jewlery creations. IWC, the Richemont-owned watch brand known for its upscale sport watches, has a new watch style that features timbers from the decks and othe parts of the Calypso, the famed research vessel of pioneer marine researcher Jaques Cousteau. IWC chose the case back of the watch to house the ocean going memorabilia.
The famous Calypso
The limited edition Aquatimer chronograph "Costeau Diver" watch also has a silhouette of the Calypso stamped into the wood. Costeau's widow has released sections of the ship for use in collector memorabillia in order to raise funds for the Cousteau foundation.
IWC "Costeau Diver Watch
This company manufactures mens cufflinks made out of wood from various ballparks, including Yankee Stadium.
This company manufactures some beautifully crafted writing instruments made from a combination of exotic woods and precious metal, like gold or platinum!
Gorgeous Pen made From Exotic Wood and 24 Carat Gold!
This stuff is really incredible! I always thought it would be interesting to fuse the desireability, beauty, and aesthetic value of exotic woods with the timeless appeal of diamonds and precious metals, in custom jewely creations!
These companies are finding that there is indeed a niche market af savvy consumers who appreciate these unique jewelry pieces.
Ashley Judd Teams With Jewelry Designer, H. Stern
Actress Ashley Judd is the new face of H. Stern. The star reinforces the brazillian jeweler's ongoing international branding campaign, dubbed "Part of You", which spotlights bonds between "strong, powerful, and sensually modern women" and the jewelrs she must have. (sheesh... howzat for marketing fluff!!)
Judd gushed about H. Sterns jewelry in this interview.
Ashley Judd at the H. Stern Inaugural Party.
You Choose The Topic At DiamondVues.com!
Check out this awesome new poll I was able to access courtesy of PollDaddy, and through Barry of CartoonBarry
Basically, you pick the topic to discuss!
Please vote and see the results!
Spend More On Your Diamond Or Your Wedding Gown?
Here are the results of a recent survey conducted by a local bridal website. Pretty cool stuff!
The Weekend Never Looked This Good!
What a hectic week!
Crazy amounts of orders to get out with all manners of custom rings and engagement rings.
Tons of appointments to view loose diamonds in our N.Y.C. diamond showroom.
Everyone needs the diamond ring yesterday...and everyone's got a good reason for it.
From the couple who ordered a custom engagement ring last week, for their wedding this weekend (I kid you not)!....to the brave and honorable serviceman being deployed to Iraq next weekend and needs to present his gal with our Custom 'Tiffany' diamond enagement ring before he goes overseas.....
Then we had a power outage in our dedicated computer for our in-house Gemex BrillianceScope Machine and had to wait for a new power supply before we could re-calibrate the machine.... :( :(
Don't get me wrong, being busy is good.
Still, this weekend never looked better!!
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Diamond Vues.com Wishes Everyone a Happy Halloween!
The staff at www.DiamondVues.com would like to wish all of our readers a very Happy Halloween!
Halloween begins tomorrow evening and we hope all of you have a great time and encourage you to stay safe and sober!
We hope to welcome you back right after the Holiday with more updated information on all things related to diamonds and diamond jewelry, so check back with us soon!
Remember, don't drink and drive, and try to make sure you don't look like this pumpkin at the end of the evening!
Halloween Costumes Using Duct Tape?
Google today, has this realy neat image up for Halloween depicting a taped-up and mumified Google Icon.
Then, I turn on the radio and hear a news report on WABCvarious Halloween costumes that can be created using duct tape! I know that duct tape has many functions, but a costume wasn't on my list.
It seems many people disagree. Check out this Fox news report on Halloween duct tape costumes.
Barry Gutwein In Our Diamond Showroom
My Dad (Barry) met with a wonderful couple the other day in our New York City diamond showroom to showcase some of our beautiful loose diamonds. This couple researched our diamond company on the Internet and flew in from sunny Puerto Rico to meet us in New York!
The lovely couple stayed for awhile, wound up buying a gorgeous diamond and even took a picture with my dad (unfortunately, Carlos' absolutely beautiful fiancee was not in this particular shot)!
Here is the photo and the e-mail diamond testimonial that we got with it!
Barry Gutwein & Carlos
Barry,
Thank you! What a great experience we had. In the last couple of
months we had gone to a lot of different jewelers, but none had such
beautiful diamonds and the sales people where always very pushy. You
were very helpful in answering all our questions and never tried to
pressure us into buying anything, I appreciate that. We are extremely
happy with our purchase and can't wait for the ring to arrive. I will
definitely recommend you to all our friends.
Again thank you very much,
Carlos
How Much "Sex", sells Diamond Jewelry??
It seems like everywhere I look these days, I see jewelry companies and websites promoting their diamond jewelry with pictures and banners of scantily clad models wearing some kind of diamond necklace, or diamond jewelry.
The interesting thing is, the focus is almost always highlighted around the models voluptuous chest.
What gives?
I mean, I know the age old expression that "sex sells", but how much of it...and where do you draw the line?
At what point does the jewelry become secondary to the female anatomy?
At what point do you actually look at an ad slick for some diamond jewelry and entirely miss the point that some jewelry store is soliciting your business for JEWELRY, because you are too caught up with the racy photo?
I would think that at some point, the use of an almost nude model, in what is actually an ad for an entirely different product ;), becomes more of a diversion and distraction than an ASSet (pardon the pun).
We also feature a nice looking model on the cover of our SuperbCert diamond website. My designers talked me into it and I agreed to go with the photo. At that point I thought it to be cool but a bit risque.
A few years later..and by today's apparent standards, our model seems almost mummified next to some of these other models!
Here is a look at a recent banner that caught my eye...(for the beautiful jewelry..of course ;))
This banner ad was sent to me in an e-mail and it REALLY confused me:
Hmm....wonder what these guys are selling??
This one tops everything I've seen so far...the recently created diamond bra from Hearts on Fire diamonds.
Does "Sex really sell" or are we just losing touch....(and a bit of control)??
Tripping On Fresca At The Office!
We go through alot of soda cans here at the office every week.
Between meeting with clients in our showroom (sodas are gratis...diamonds are not ;)), and our own consumption, we need to stock a decent amount of soda cans.
The problem is, my Dad has no clue what a "decent stock" ought to look like, so instead he just has a boat-load of soda cans ordered!
The other problem is that Dad really likes Fresca so that's all we have! The rest of us in the office like Fresca too...but I think it might be time for a change.
I guess this means were gonna order a boat load of diet coke for next week!
I'll know we need serious help when there are more soda cans than diamonds flying around here!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Today Is My Birthday!!!
Today I turned 28.
I was born on November 20, 1978.
Methinks I'm gonna ask Dad for BIG diamonds to set in a pair of cufflinks!
....or maybe a vacation! ;)
Trendy Mall Stores Changing Their Facade
New York Times reports that in mall stores across the country, the floor to ceiling glass storefront is giving way to elaborate walls that make it impossible to see inside.
Intrigued by a store they cannot see into, connsumers walk in to solve the mystery and stay to shop.
Executives of hip retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch have already noted and mentioned the effectiveness of this game plan!
Architects note, however, that opaque storefronts could prove disasterous for retailers that must appeal to multiple generations.
I guess you could say, this brings to new meaning to the term "window shopping"!
Chocolate Sprinkled in 24kt. Gold Flakes!!
...And you thought Godiva manufactures expensive chocolate!!
This company manufactures swiss chocolates which are sprinkled in 24 karat gold flakes and come in two sizes: "Celebration" and "Intimacy" which sells for $99 (8 pcs.) and $37 (2 pcs.) respectively.
You can even customize the box with a special message!
Diamond Engagement Ring Tale: How Do You Spell "Gratitude"?
WINS 1010 NewsRadio reports this morning that a Queens taxi driver returned a black travel bag carrying 31 diamond rings to a passenger -- after she paid him a 30-cent tip on a nearly $11 ride.
Hours after Chowdhury Osman had dropped off the passenger, he returned the bag to her, which she had left in the taxi's trunk.
Osman told the Daily News that he never even thought of keeping the gems. He said that he wouldn't take another person's property or money to get rich.
Osman had drive the woman from the Hilton New York to an East 35th Street apartment. For a $10.70 fare, she gave him a $20 bill -- and asked for $9 back.
The woman, who was not identified by the Daily News but told a reporter that she was a jeweler, offered Osman a $100 reward.
He begrudgingly accepted the money -- for the lost fares from tracking her down and returning the bag.
See This Video: Diamond Engagement Ring Proposal.
Our friend Barry Schwartz of Cartoonbarry fame CartoonBarry brought to our attention this great and very recent diamond engagement ring proposal by Rand Fishkin!
Rand's saga began a while back when he launched his website www.mysuperproposal.com in an effort to snag an ad spot for this past weeks Super Bowl game (Colts vs. Bears) which boasts a whopping 93 million viewers. His website became hugely successful and sparked an almost cultish interest and following all over the country. It seems everyone was hoping his ad would air during the Super Bowl game....and it almost did!
Things fell apart at the last minute and the proposal you see here aired instead during a popular T.V. program Rand's girlfriend was tuned into at the right moment!
Read the entire story and this guy's incredible journey here.
You guys getting closer to popping the question to your Gal might be able to pick up some pointers from this Video. Enjoy!
Or, If you're not too impressed with what this guy did...airing out his private moment for the entire world (as he hoped..) to see, you'll find you have much in common with this slightly different perspective....
Now check out her reaction!
Super Cool!! Thanks, Barry S!!
How You Can Scam A Telemarketer!
Are you tired of getting spam calls from telemarketers who offer you everything from free cable T.V. to free diamond jewelry?
Well here is a really cool way to turn the tables back on them!
Check it out!
http://consumerist.com
/consumer/tom-mabe/tom-mabe-pranks-telemarketer-with-own-death-206986.php
How about those nagging and confusing bills we get from the bureaucrats at Verizon, PSE&G, or any of those other big companies...wanna get back at them?
Shawan Hogan dug up this awesome graphic illustrating what happened when an engineer got ticked off by a typically convoluted Verizon phone bill...LOL!!
Enough Of The Retarded Diamond Ads
With Valentine's Day just behind us, I cannot help but think back to some of the incredibly cheezy diamond ads we have had to endure by the likes of Debeers.
Obviously, ya gotta give Debeers some credit for their consistent and effective marketing of diamonds to the general public.
Via their website, a diamond is forever they have effectively created and promoted an aura of magic around the notion of purchasing diamonds and diamond jewelry as the ultimate expression of love.
However, some of their ads (especially for Valentine's day) leave much to be desired.
It's almost as if they specifically hired a marketing guy who prefers tacky and tasteless ads...
Here are some of the recent "ads" from Debeers....
If this rubbish passes for an advertisement...heck...I'm in the wrong business!!
In my humble opinion, effective advertisements, for any product, are the ones that are both "catchy" and memorable, not blase and forgettable.
Here are a few examples...I hope you will agree!
In a Podiatrist's office:"Time wounds all heels."
On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon :"Yesterday's Meals on Wheels"
At a Proctologist's door:"To expedite your visit please back in."
On a Plumber's truck: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."
At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee :"Invite us to your next blowout."
At a Towing company :"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
On an Electrician's truck:"Let us remove your shorts."
On a Maternity Room door: "Push. Push. Push."
At an Optometrist's Office"If you don't see what you're looking for,
you've come to the right place."
On a Fence:"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive."
At a Car Dealership:"The best way to get back on your feet - - -
miss a car payment."
Outside a Muffler Shop:"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."
In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
At the Electric Company:"We would be de-lighted if you send in your payment.
However, if you don't, you will be. "
In a Restaurant window:"Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in and get fed up
In the front yard of a Funeral Home:"Drive carefully. We'll wait."
At a Propane Filling Station,"Thank heaven for little grills"
And don't forget the sign at a Chicago Radiator Shop:"Best place in town to take a leak."
Our Diamond Gemex Reports Lost In The Mail??
As we have the Gemex Brilliancescope technology in-house, many of our loose diamonds get evaluated on the machine and an official, validated Brilliancescope report registered, (issued) printed, and mailed to us.
A Gemex diamond light performance report adds value to your loose diamond
A validated diamond BrillianceScope report
Recently, we have experienced some delay in getting our printed and validated reports in the mail.
This has been somewhat of an inconvenience for us since loose diamonds have sold and shipped out without a Gemex report, which had not yet arrived and therefore had to be mailed under seperate cover.
When I inquired as to what could possibly be causing the delay, I was told that stuff "gets lost in the mail all the time".
So I'm wondering....how could stuff simply "get lost in the mail"....???
Truly......how difficult is it for the mailman to just pull the envelope out of the mailbox, put it on the truck and deliver it on time??
After seeing this cartoon, I'm thinking anything is possible!!!!
This Teacher Should Be Tarred and Feathered.
It's not often that we blog on news items that are not directly related to Diamonds and Jewelry but this item on todays wires made us sick to our stomachs and is good reason for instituting strict screening hiring measures.
The link is here: Teacher Run Amuck
Diamond Shirt Modeled in Milan
While everyone was having a great time at the recent Oscars, a diamond top worth $1.3 million was featured during Milan fashion week. It is represents a partnership between Gianfranco Ferré and Dalumi. The sheer black top is covered with more than 900 diamonds weighing more than 300 carats. The outfit was modeled by singer Skin and also featured tuxedo pants and a silk cape.
