When Selling Your Gold Convenience Will Cost You, Why You Need a Professional Appraisal

From barber shops, to church halls, home parties to craft fairs, and even store fronts that have popped up in neighborhoods across the country, seemingly overnight, it's hard to miss the signs all around you. As the value of gold has sky-rocketed, so too has the number of people looking to buy gold and take advantage of those looking to cash in. Everywhere it seems there are places where you can bring your unwanted jewelry and walk away with money in your pocket. But beware, because what you can get in convenience can leave you less-the-richer in terms of the payment on the value of your gold.

When looking to sell your gold, it is important to get it evaluated by a professional jewelry appraiser. It may seem like an easy transaction, but there are factors involved when appraising jewelry that goes beyond just its weight in gold:

A professional jeweler has their reputation at stake. Look for a jewelry company that has been around for a number of years who will pay better because your repeat business is important to them.Gold prices fluctuate day-by-day. A professional appraiser will know today's value.In addition to simply weighing your gold, an appraiser will be able to identify its karat, or level of purityA reputable jeweler will explain how your gold is weighed, and how you will be paid (dollar amount per gram, troy ounce or pennyweight)If your piece is an antique, vintage jewelry or from a famous maker such as Tiffany, a professional jeweler will take that into consideration and pay you what its worth, not just by weight

If you'd like cash in your pocket, now is a great time to sell the gold you can part with. Make sure you get the price you deserve by doing your homework and dealing with a jeweler who has earned your trust. When you know that your gold was evaluated by a reputable jewelry appraiser for what it is truly worth (and not just thrown on a scale by a non-professional looking to cash in) you'll walk away with confidence that you haven't been taken advantage of. More importantly, you'll walk away with more money for your gold.

How to Design My Own Engagement Ring

When you get engaged, you want it to be a unique and memorable experience. The ring you give your wife-to-be on the day you get down in front of her on one knee will symbolize your promise to love, care for and cherish her for the rest of your lives. This moment could be made all the more special and sincere if you surprise her with an engagement ring of your own design or with one that the two of you design together.

When you're designing your fiancé's engagement ring, it is important to remember that she has to wear it for the rest of her life, not you, so make sure you make your choices based on her tastes, not your own. Take your time and be sure to find the right style for your soon-to-be bride. Does she prefer classic or traditional? Does she dress in conservative colors, print and cuts, or does she project a more flamboyant image? Look at her jewelry and start taking small mental notes regarding their attributes and apply those to your ideas about designing her engagement ring. Ask her friends and family what they think she will like. If it comes time to design the ring and you still haven't figured it out, go with something simple and elegant, like a solitaire.

When your design your own engagement ring, consider the type of metal to be used for the ring. Most engagement rings are made in either gold or platinum, although alternative metals such as white gold, rose gold and titanium are becoming increasing popular. Be aware that if you choose titanium to design an engagement ring you will not be able to form very intricate patterns. Platinum is more malleable but also less durable and significantly more expensive than titanium.

Next, select the right precious stone or stones for your engagement ring. Make sure that you choose something that compliments the setting. Go with a diamond unless you are sure that your fiancé would appreciate something more unique, or choose another stone, such as an emerald, sapphire or pearls, to go on either side of the diamond. There are many cuts to choose from, some of the most popular being round, princess, emerald, marquise, pear oval, radiant, heart and Asscher. Then figure out what kind of size and quality you can afford, and buy the best diamond in your price range. You may once again have to think about what your future bride will prefer - quality or quantity?

There are a number of places you can design a personalized engagement ring for your bride. One of the most popular places to design rings on the web is the Blue Nile. You can choose from nine different cuts of diamonds, all of which are GIA certified, making it easy to compare the quality of different diamonds within your price range. After you chose a cut and a size for the ring, you can choose the setting. Blue Nile offers Platinum and 18K Gold settings in Solitaire, Three Stone, or Settings with Side stones configurations.

How to Take Care of Your Pandora Jewelry

Pandora Jewelry is like a story-telling book. It tells of the taste and style of the user, and becomes more valuable when loved ones gift you with charms and beads to add to your Pandora bracelet, or necklace. It gives a certain sentimental value because it creates a piece of jewelry whose parts come from people close to you, and whose story is yours.

But just like any other thing in this world, each goes through inevitable wear and tear. Although Pandora bracelet can last (or even surpass) a lifetime, one should always practice care for your Pandora piece of art.

Here are some ways you can take care of your Pandora jewelry:

Use lukewarm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid. Then with a soft toothbrush, clean off your Pandora jewelry gently. The toothbrush is excellent because it can reach the jewelry patterns that are hard to clean. When you find your piece to be very dirty, just continue soaking it under lukewarm water with a drop of dishwashing liquid. The rinse off thoroughly.

For pearls, never submerge them in water or clean them using any cleaning agent. It can cause damage to the pearl. Just use a soft cloth to wipe off the dirt. Never expose your Pandora jewelry to harsh, strong chemicals. They can have an ugly effect on your piece. Take note that oxidised silver and pearls are highly susceptible to damage.

Rubber can also bring bad effects on your piece. Be sure your bracelet, earrings, or whatever Pandora piece you have will not come in contact with rubber, such as rubber bands, rubber containers, etc. You may bring your Pandora piece to the place or shop where you bought it, as these usually provide cleaning services, and more tips on how to handle cleaning for your Pandora jewelry