Cosmetics – GoldWiser Conroe

August 8, 2017August 14, 2017

Facts About Silver Jewelry And Gold Jewelry Metals/

What You Should Know – Silver and Gold Jewelry

About Silver Accessories and Karat Gold Jewelry

The two precious metals most often used in jewelry are alloys of silver and gold.

There are many different alloys used in modern jewelry making.

The type of jewelry you can wear is not just determined by your wallet –
but also by the way your body reacts to and tolerates exposure to metals.

Sterling silver tarnishes, especially in hot, humid weather. It contains 7.5% copper
by weight, which reacts with common air pollutants, darkening the surface of the metal.

This can prompt skin irritation if your skin is sensitive to (usually) nickel or Fats about (sometimes) copper.

If you have noticed that you have an itch that persists with drying and reddening of your
skin where your jewelry touches it, you are probably sensitive to the alloy in the metal.

Gold and silver are known to be non – reactive metals; but that does not mean
that everyone can wear any type of gold or silver jewelry without any problem.

Understanding more about metals can help you to choose
jewelry that is more comfortable and healthy for you to wear!

Higher karat gold alloys tend to be better tolerated than lower karat qualities because there is
less of the reactive metal in the alloy. Many people wear 18K or 22K gold jewelry for this reason.

Sterling silver is .925 pure, or 92.5% silver by weight, a very high percentage.
Most people don’t have any problems wearing sterling silver jewelry.

Modern silver alloys don’t contain nickel, the usual irritant in jewelry metals. Lower percentage
silver alloys like vintage “European” silver can irritate your skin more easily than sterling silver jewelry
if you have copper sensitive skin, because old European silver is .800 fine, or 80% silver / 20% copper.

Following is a listing of metals commonly used in jewelry making and an explanation of their properties.

Gold Facts – Alloys, Karats, and more!

Pure 24K gold is hypoallergenic. It doesn’t cause irritation to the body.

However, the metals mixed with gold to make it harder or
enhance the color of gold can cause adverse skin reactions.

Gold is very malleable, meaning it can be hammered
into very thin sheets – thin enough for light to pass through.

Gold is also very ductile – it can be pulled
through drawplates into wire much thinner than hair.

Pure gold is very soft. It is very easy to work with hand tools.To make it harder
it is mixed with other metals, creating an alloy. Gold alloy purity is expressed in karats.

Gold alloys are available in many colors. The color of the alloy is determined
by the percentage and type(s) of metal “mixed” with the pure gold.

Rose gold contains more copper; until recently
white gold was traditionally made with nickel.

Now white gold is also made with palladium, a platinum
family metal; green gold is made with an alloy of fine silver.
As an example, most green gold is 18 karat; 75% gold, 25% silver.

There are MANY other colors made with alloy combinations.

The percentage of gold used is directly related to the karat content of the alloy.

It does not matter what type of metal is “mixed” with the gold, just how much.

The chart (below) shows how much gold is in your jewelry.

1k Gold = 4.17% Gold and 95.83% alloy	2k Gold = 8.33% Gold and 91.67% alloy	3k Gold = 12.5% Gold and 87.5% alloy	4k Gold = 16.67% Gold and 83.33% alloy
5k Gold = 20.83% Gold and 79.17% alloy	6k Gold = 25% Gold and 75% alloy	7k Gold = 29.17% Gold and 70.83% alloy	8k Gold = 33.3% Gold and 66.67% alloy
9k Gold = 37.5% Gold and 62.5% alloy	10k Gold = 41.67% Gold and 58.33% alloy	11k Gold = 45.83% Gold and 54.17% alloy	12k Gold = 50% Gold and 50% alloy
13k Gold = 54.17% Gold and 45.83% alloy	14k Gold = 58.33% Gold and 41.67% alloy	15k Gold = 62.5% Gold and 37.5% alloy	16k Gold = 66.67% Gold and 33.33% alloy
17k Gold = 70.83% Gold and 29.17% alloy	18k Gold = 75% Gold and 25% alloy	19k Gold = 79.1% Gold and 20.83% alloy	20k Gold = 83.33% Gold and 16.67% alloy
21k Gold = 87.5% Gold and 12.5% alloy	22k Gold = 91.67% Gold and 8.33% alloy	23k Gold = 95.83% Gold and 4.17% alloy	24k Gold = 100% Gold and 0% alloy

In this chart, “alloy” means the other metal. It can be
silver, copper, zinc, nickel, iron or almost any other metal.

For instance, 10 karat yellow gold is 41.67% pure gold and 58.33% “other metals”,
mostly copper, maybe some silver and most likely some nickel or zinc to add hardness.

In the United States gold must be at least 9K to be sold as karat gold.

Lower karat gold alloys have a higher percentage of the other metals added to them.

They tend to react to the pollutants and other
impurities in the air faster than higher karat gold alloys.

This means that the high percentage of copper or other metal in the
lower karat alloy will tarnish (or oxidize), just like sterling silver items do.

This can occur especially in hot weather when the metals react to salt in perspiration.

If this happens to your sterling silver or lower karat gold jewelry, you may want to take it off
and wash the piece in hot water with a detergent like Dawn, Joy or whatever you prefer.

If your jewelry is really dirty, try scrubbing it carefully with a soft toothbrush.
Polish with a jewelry polishing cloth, if you have one. Rinse and dry before wearing.

If you have a problem with sterling silver, medium to
low karat gold will probably give you difficulties as well.

Medium to low karat yellow gold has a much higher percentage of copper in it than sterling silver.

Nickel allergies are the most common. Many people have problems wearing white gold –
the problem isn’t the gold. It’s actually nickel – the alloy – that causes skin reactions!

The new palladium white gold alloys are a bit more expensive, but are hypoallergenic.

Silver Jewelry Metal Facts

Sterling silver is generally used for jewelry, and that is what most people think of when they see silver.

Silver also comes in various quality grades, measured by 1/1000 parts per gram.

There are impurities that naturally occur in silver at the molecular level. These impurities
consist of other metals – usually copper, but traces of other metals can also be found.

These trace impurities are insignificant, and would be
too costly to remove – so .999 silver is considered pure.

The table (below) shows the types of silver alloys generally used in jewelry making.

Silver Alloys

.999 fine silver	Contains .001 trace metals.
.9584 Britannia	95.84% silver + 4.16% copper.
.925 sterling	92.5% silver + 7.5% copper.
.900 coin	90% silver + 10% copper.
.830 European	83% silver + 17% copper.
.800 European	80% silver + 20% copper.

All the alloys shown are legally referred to as “silver”.

The only legal requirement is that they are quality stamped or marked for sale to the public.

Silver Facts

As with gold, silver in its fine state is a non – reactive metal – allergies are possible but VERY rare.

People who have problems wearing silver jewelry are usually
allergic to the copper in the alloyed metal, not the silver.

During the European Industrial Revolution, people found that their .800 silver was tarnishing
much faster than before – a reaction to the new pollutants in the air – from burning coal in the factories!

Fine, or pure, silver with no copper content does not tarnish easily. Think about the fine silver
coins brought up from wrecked ships – everything from the Atocha to sunken pirate ships.

They come up out of the ocean after hundreds of years bright and shiny as new.

Fine silver can get dirty, of course, but will not tarnish like sterling silver.

There is a new alloy called Argentium® Silver. It is sterling, but contains germanium in place of copper.

Argentium® doesn’t develop firescale as easily during soldering and doesn’t tarnish the way
traditional sterling silver does because the germanium doesn’t react as the copper does.

Plated and Filled

There are different grades and methods of bonding precious metals to
a less expensive base metal, as indicated in the chart below.

Finished, Washed, Colored	These terms refer to the thinnest gold, silver, platinum or rhodium coatings. There is no standard thickness.
Plated, Electroplated	These metals have a required minimum standard thickness – usually .15 – .25 mils
Gold, Platinum or Silver Filled metals	A layer of karat gold, platinum or silver is mechanically bonded to a base metal, usually brass or steel. Filled metals usually have a thickness over 100 times that of plated metals. Gold filled may be marked with the gold percentage by weight and the karat value. If a piece of jewelry is marked 1/20 14K GF – 5% of the total weight is 14K gold. However, this is not required by law. Most times the quality is stated on a hang tag. There is no approved marking system in the US for filled metals.
Vermeil	Gold plated over silver Silver is the “base” metal

Many jewelry items are made of either plated or filled metals.

This is done to keep the cost of these items as low as possible.

The whole piece can be plated or filled metal, as with a chain. In many cases, the clasp and
metal parts of an otherwise top quality gemstone bead necklace or bracelet can be plated or filled.

If it is taken care of and worn properly, such as over a sweater, a necklace with plated parts
can last for a very reasonable length of time, even years – but eventually the plated
metal parts will oxidize or the plating will wear through to the base metal.

Filled metals are much higher quality and a much longer useful lifespan.

They have one or more layers of precious metal bonded to a base with heat and pressure.

Filled materials are at least 1/20 precious metal by weight.

They are much longer lasting than ordinary plated objects.

Filled metal objects are not usually marked with a quality stamp, such as 12k GF or 14k GF.

For information on the care and cleaning of jewelry, please visit this article:Jewelry Care

Article written by Robert Edwards ©2015.
Robert is a jeweler and metalsmith, and is webmaster of http://www.jewelry24seven.com.

This article may be linked and used as content on blogs and websites conditionally … ALL content –
links, author, copyright – must not be changed in ANY way – it must appear exactly as the article appears above.

http://www.jewelry24seven.com/metal_facts.htm

August 6, 2017August 11, 2017

Coin Collecting 101: What All New Collectors Need to Know

Posted on March 28, 2012

This helpful beginners guide for coin collectors will give you the tools to collect coins with confidence. Many collectors launch into numismatics with enthusiasm only to be sold on the wrong coin or pay way too much. It is true that collector coins are just that, collector coins, and they can be sold for what people are willing to pay for them. However, having a better understanding of the market and knowing where to find low-premium coins will keep you ecstatic about your hobby for years. Like with any hobby, the better informed you are, the better collecting decisions you will make.

The first step in getting better acquainted with your hobby is to understand coin terms. When a coin salesman throws a bunch of fancy terms at you to describe a coin, it’s always nice to understand them as if he was talking about options on a new car. Be weary of representatives using high pressure tactics. This is a big red flag. There are certain situations where a company may only have a couple of an item in stock, but do not allow their inventory to sway your decision.

Basics of Coin Grading and the Importance of Quality

The topic of coin grading and in particular, the Sheldon Scale, is something all coin collectors need to understand. We cover this topic in a previous blog post where we breakdown the Sheldon Scale. Back in the 1940′s, Dr. William Sheldon began establishing a unique method of organizing his massive penny collection. Completed in 1949, his quality scale of 1-70 was quickly adopted by other collectors as “the best way to describe the quality of a coin”. Recognizing it’s efficiency, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) adopted the Sheldon Scale in 1977 with the major grading companies following shortly thereafter in the early 1980′s.

The single most important determining factor of value in a coin is it’s condition. The higher the grade, the more the coin is worth. Collectors have had and always will have a desire to own fine things. Knowing you have something of better quality than the majority of other collectors makes one feel good. Owning something that not everyone has a chance to own is why collectors collect. You may ask yourself why pay more for MS70 coins? Perfect 70 graded coins are highly desirable because of their flawlessness and rarity. Very few coins minted ever get submitted for grading and of those that do, a small percentage merit the flawless 70 grade. The natural minting, packaging and shipping processes leave way for small defects and scratches on coin surfaces. Any coin not in circulation will grade between 60-70.

It is extremely important to have an experienced advisor you trust to work with when collecting coins. This goes for new and veteran collectors. A good collectible coin advisor stays up to date with the market daily and has a better feeling for when great deals become available. At CoinAdvisor.com, we specialize in just that, offering each collector a person advisor to inform you of market updates, great deals and answer all of your collecting questions. To get in contact with one of our friendly advisors, fill out this contact form and we will be in touch same day.

Enjoy Discount Pricing on Your Collectible Coins

There is no worse feeling that finding out you paid way too much for a rare coin. This is another benefit of having an advisor you trust that proves themselves time and time again to you. There are many choices a collector has when buying collectible coins; online dealers, auctions, coin/currency expos and TV network infomercials. Without knocking any of these medias directly, you must realize that if the production costs to promote a coin are high, than so are the premium added to the coin. Some large companies that sell coins on TV pay millions and millions of dollars in media costs to air their coins and pay their hosts. This overhead has to be accounted for somewhere, unfortunately it trickles down to the cost of your purchase.

On the other hand, great buys can be found more regularly online and at coin expos because of the low overhead to market their products. Auctions are also becoming more popular however they takes days of close watching to get a good deal and you have little recourse if you don’t receive exactly what you bought.

Our online store offers the coin market a low-cost option to buy rare collectible coins. Compare our pricing with the major coin catalogs out there and you will see the savings is significant. Browse our online coin store here and save up to 20% and even more shopping your favorite collectible coins. Enjoy FREE shipping and handling as well on all orders. We hope this guide is helpful for newer coin collectors. Remember, the more informed you are, the better collecting decisions you will make.

https://www.coinadvisor.com/blog/coin-collecting-101/

August 5, 2017August 10, 2017

American Eagle Coin Program

american eagle platinum, gold, and silver coins
In 1986, Liberty, as depicted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, was selected as the design that would grace the obverse of the American Eagle Gold Coins. The Saint-Gaudens design first appeared on the United States’ $20, or double-eagle, gold piece in 1907, where it remained until 1933.

Like their gold counterparts, American Eagle Silver Coins have been produced and sold in both proof and bullion finishes since 1986. They have always featured a rendition of sculptor Adolph A. Weinman’s magnificent Walking Liberty design, originally prepared and executed for the half-dollar coin in 1916.

American Eagle Bullion Coins for Investors

Congressionally authorized American Eagle Bullion coins provide investors with a convenient and cost effective way to add a small amount of physical platinum, gold, or silver to their investment portfolios. The American Eagle Bullion program was launched in 1986 with the sale of gold and silver bullion coins. Platinum was added to the American Eagle Bullion family in 1997.

A bullion coin is a coin that is valued by its weight in a specific precious metal. Unlike commemorative or numismatic coins valued by limited mintage, rarity, condition and age, bullion coins are purchased by investors seeking a simple and tangible means to own and invest in the gold, silver, and platinum markets. American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins are available in four denominations: one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce while the American Eagle Silver and Platinum Bullions Coins are only available in the one ounce size.

Watch the video below to see how the West Point Mint makes a gold bullion coin.

American Eagle Bullion Coins

How to Buy American Eagle Bullion Coins

Aside from the proof version, the United States Mint does not sell American Eagle Bullion coins directly to the public. Instead, the Mint distributes uncirculated Bullion coins through a network of wholesalers, brokerage companies, precious metal firms, coin dealers, and participating banks, a network known as Authorized Purchasers.

This method provides effective and efficient distribution, which maximizes the availability of the coins in retail markets as well as major investment markets. For more information about American Eagle Bullion Coins, call 1-800-USA-GOLD.

American Eagle Bullion coins are sold based on the current market price of platinum, gold, or silver plus a small premium to cover minting, distribution, and marketing costs. A portion of this premium is often recoverable upon resale. Prices between dealers will vary. Volume discounts often apply.

American Eagle Proof and Uncirculated Coins for Collectors

The United States Mint produces proof versions of the American Eagle Coins for Collectors. The American Eagle Proof program was introduced in 1986 with the sale of gold and silver proof coins. Platinum was added to the American Eagle Proof line-up in 1997.

The term “proof” refers to a specialized minting process that begins by manually feeding burnished coin blanks into presses fitted with special dies. Each coin is struck multiple times so the softly frosted, yet detailed images seem to float above a mirror-like field. After scrutiny by white gloved inspectors, each American Eagle Proof Coin is placed in a protective plastic capsule and mounted in a handsome satin-lined velvet presentation case.

An official Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each coin. American Eagle Proof Coins sell at a fixed price and can be purchased directly from the United States Mint.

American Eagle Proof Coins

American Eagle Uncirculated Coins

The United States Mint also offers collectible, uncirculated versions of the popular gold and silver American Eagle Coins. These coins are sold directly to the public, and all American Eagle Uncirculated Coins feature the same stunning designs found on their proof counterparts.

The term “uncirculated” refers to the specialized minting process used to create these coins. Although they are similar in appearance to American Eagle Bullion Coins, uncirculated quality coins are distinguished by the presence of a mint mark, indicating their production facility, and by the use of burnished coin blanks, which are hand-fed into specially adapted coining presses one at a time.

Each American Eagle Uncirculated Coin is carefully inspected before it is encapsulated in plastic. With its pristine finish now protected, each American Eagle Uncirculated Coin is placed in a protective outer box. A Certificate of Authenticity is included with each coin.

These magnificent coins sell at a fixed price and are available directly from the United States Mint. American Eagle Gold and Silver Uncirculated Coins are only minted and sold in the one ounce size.

Content last updated on July 17, 2017

https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-eagle

August 4, 2017August 10, 2017

How to Choose Jewelry That Looks Good With Your Skin Tone

Jan 19, 2015 11:30:00 AM / by Denise Joyce

If you’re looking for a piece of jewelry that will look the same on everyone who wears it, you’re going to have a very hard time finding one. There are many different reasons that jewelry looks different on different people, but one of the biggest factors is skin tone. Certain metals and gemstones look better against different skin tones. By understanding how different metals flatter different skin tones, you’ll be able to find more pieces of jewelry that you feel confident wearing.

Determining your skin tone

To determine your skin tone, it’s best to look at your skin in natural light. Try finding a spot where the veins are noticeable. For most people, their wrists are usually a good choice. If your veins appear blue or purple in color, you have a cool skin tone. If your veins appear green in color, you have a warm skin tone. If your veins appear blue in some areas and green in others, you have a neutral skin tone.

It’s important to remember that skin tone is not the same as skin color. It’s possible to have darker skin and a cool skin tone, and you can also have light skin and a warm skin tone. Skin tone is closely related to your ethnic background where as skin color has more to do with the environment.

Matching skin tone to metals

Once you’ve determined whether you have warm or cool undertones, it’s easy to find a metal color that will flatter your skin tone. People with cool skin tones look good in light or white metals such as white gold, platinum and silver. People with warm skin tones look good in yellow and rose gold, copper and brass jewelry. If you have a neutral skin tone, you’ll look good in both white metals and yellow metals.

Matching skin tone to gemstone colors

Matching metal colors to your skin tone help to make sure that your jewelry isn’t distracting, but the metal itself usually isn’t the focus point of a piece of jewelry. Gemstones that match your skin tone help to create a more cohesive look. Cool skin tones look good against bright colors such as red, blue, purple and green because they bring liveliness to cool skin. Earth tones such as orange, brown, yellow and turquoise are ideal for warm skin because the yellow undertone in the skin is earthy as well.

Does skin tone really matter?

When it comes to jewelry, there’s no concrete set of rules about which metals you can and cannot wear. If you have a cool undertone to your skin but you love rose gold, go ahead and wear it. Most people fall somewhere between warm and cool, giving you the ability to bend the rules to your liking. The skin tone rule is really just a guideline, and your personality and style are important factors to consider too.

These days, mixing metals, stones or textures isn’t something you have to avoid. Don’t be afraid to try new pieces of jewelry to find something that you love, even if it isn’t necessarily “right” for your skin tone. If you like something and it makes you feel confident, don’t be afraid to wear it.

https://www.gulfcoastcoin.com/blog/how-to-choose-jewelry-that-looks-good-with-your-skin-tone

July 8, 2017July 6, 2017

PRECIOUS METAL JEWELRY

Gumuchian Earrings

The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or it can refer to “pure” gold, meaning 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it’s usually mixed with other metal jewelry called alloys to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen-karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of an alloy metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.

Jewelry should be marked with its karat quality. Near the karat quality mark, you also should see the name or the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the
form of a name, symbol or initials. If you don’t see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.

List of precious metals:

Platinum is a type of precious metal jewelry that costs more than gold. It usually is mixed with other similar metals, known as the platinum group metals: iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium.
Different markings are used on platinum jewelry as compared with gold jewelry, based on the amount of pure platinum in the piece. The quality markings for platinum are based on parts per thousand.

For example, the marking 900 Platinum means that 900 parts out of 1000 are pure platinum, or in other words, the item is 90% platinum and 10% other metals. The abbreviations for platinum — Plat. or Pt. — also can be used in marking jewelry.

Metalsmiths Sterling

The words silver or sterling silver describe a product that contains 92.5% silver. Silver products sometimes may be marked 925 which means that 925 parts per thousand are pure silver.

Some jewelry may be described as silverplate: a layer of silver is bonded to a base metal. The mark coin silver is used for compounds that contain 90% silver. According to the law, quality-marked silver also must bear the name or a U.S. registered trademark of the company or person that will stand behind the mark.

Choose a Precious Metal that Fits Your Lifestyle

We all know that different people have different interests. But did you know that when choosing jewelry, you can pick a metal that fits your interests?

Certain precious metals, platinum for instance, are more durable and fit an active lifestyle. Look at the lifestyles below, and see the metals that fit yours!

True Romantic Tim

Tim leads a moderately active lifestyle. He likes to play sports with his friends, but you won’t catch him on the field every day.

When it comes to romance, he’s a traditionalist. What should he do to match his lifestyle?

Buy gold.

Coveted for its luster and beauty, gold is the traditional metal for wedding rings. However, gold continues to hold its own among a bevy of new metals.

The percentage of gold in a ring is measured by karats. Since gold is a relatively soft metal, the higher the percentage of gold (and the higher the karat), the softer the ring. Men’s rings generally are made in 10, 14 and 18 karat gold, so that the rings will be more durable.

Most gold jewelry is either yellow or white. The alloys used will alter the color. Some gold is plated with rhodium to make it appear a brighter white. Since the coating can wear away with time, active individuals may prefer a more durable white metal such as platinum or palladium.

Visit your local American Gem Society jeweler for quarterly polishing and cleaning to keep the luster alive.

Everyday Evelyn

Evelyn likes to wear jewelry every day. Earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces — and she likes to wear different jewelry often. What should she buy?

Silver.

Silver is the softest — and the least expensive — of the fine metals. Since it scratches easily, it is best used for jewelry that is not worn daily.

Since it is inexpensive, silver allows you to have many pieces you can switch out. People who are extremely active or enjoy gardening or working with their hands, may want to consider a harder metal.

Gotta Go Gary

Gary is active. He likes sports, and he often helps his wife in the garden. He’s found he often forgets to remove his gold wedding ring, and it is covered in scratches. What should Gary do?

Purchase titanium.

Coming in an array of silvery colors, titanium is a great metal for the most active of people. Titanium is the hardest of the metals, therefore more scratch, dent, and bend resistant. Another benefit is that in its pure form, titanium is 100% hypoallergenic.

Titanium does have its drawbacks: since it cannot be soldered, titanium rings cannot be sized and in an emergency, it is much harder to cut off than other metals.

Allergic Anna

Anna is young and active with many interests. But she also has sensitive skin, which white gold tends to irritate. Being young, she is still climbing the career ladder. What should she buy?

Palladium.

This is a popular choice among the young and active. As a white metal, palladium strikes a harmonic balance between white gold and platinum. Harder than gold, yet softer than platinum, palladium can be used in jewelry in its near pure form, making it hypoallergenic.

Also, palladium, unlike white gold, is naturally white. Palladium is also less expensive than platinum and can be sized and polished.

Nancy Nightlife

Nancy keeps her schedule full, day and night. She needs jewelry that can keep up with her and can have the style she needs if a late business dinner leaves her running for the night club. What should Nancy do?

Invest in platinum.

This prestigious — and expensive — metal is hypoallergenic dense, heavy and scratch resistant. It fits an active style where a sense of class and elegance are desired, even while on the run.

PRECIOUS METAL JEWELRY The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or it can refer to “pure” gold, meaning 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it’s usually mixed with other metal jewelry called alloys to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold. The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen-karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of an alloy metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry. Jewelry should be marked with its karat quality. Near the karat quality mark, you also should see the name or the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you don’t see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece. List of precious metals: Platinum is a type of precious metal jewelry that costs more than gold. It usually is mixed with other similar metals, known as the platinum group metals: iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium. Different markings are used on platinum jewelry as compared with gold jewelry, based on the amount of pure platinum in the piece. The quality markings for platinum are based on parts per thousand. For example, the marking 900 Platinum means that 900 parts out of 1000 are pure platinum, or in other words, the item is 90% platinum and 10% other metals. The abbreviations for platinum — Plat. or Pt. — also can be used in marking jewelry. The words silver or sterling silver describe a product that contains 92.5% silver. Silver products sometimes may be marked 925 which means that 925 parts per thousand are pure silver. Some jewelry may be described as silverplate: a layer of silver is bonded to a base metal. The mark coin silver is used for compounds that contain 90% silver. According to the law, quality-marked silver also must bear the name or a U.S. registered trademark of the company or person that will stand behind the mark. Choose a Precious Metal that Fits Your Lifestyle We all know that different people have different interests. But did you know that when choosing jewelry, you can pick a metal that fits your interests? Certain precious metals, platinum for instance, are more durable and fit an active lifestyle. Look at the lifestyles below, and see the metals that fit yours! True Romantic Tim Tim leads a moderately active lifestyle. He likes to play sports with his friends, but you won’t catch him on the field every day. When it comes to romance, he’s a traditionalist. What should he do to match his lifestyle? Buy gold. Coveted for its luster and beauty, gold is the traditional metal for wedding rings. However, gold continues to hold its own among a bevy of new metals. The percentage of gold in a ring is measured by karats. Since gold is a relatively soft metal, the higher the percentage of gold (and the higher the karat), the softer the ring. Men’s rings generally are made in 10, 14 and 18 karat gold, so that the rings will be more durable. Most gold jewelry is either yellow or white. The alloys used will alter the color. Some gold is plated with rhodium to make it appear a brighter white. Since the coating can wear away with time, active individuals may prefer a more durable white metal such as platinum or palladium. Visit your local American Gem Society jeweler for quarterly polishing and cleaning to keep the luster alive. Everyday Evelyn Evelyn likes to wear jewelry every day. Earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces — and she likes to wear different jewelry often. What should she buy? Silver. Silver is the softest — and the least expensive — of the fine metals. Since it scratches easily, it is best used for jewelry that is not worn daily. Since it is inexpensive, silver allows you to have many pieces you can switch out. People who are extremely active or enjoy gardening or working with their hands, may want to consider a harder metal. Gotta Go Gary Gary is active. He likes sports, and he often helps his wife in the garden. He’s found he often forgets to remove his gold wedding ring, and it is covered in scratches. What should Gary do? Purchase titanium. Coming in an array of silvery colors, titanium is a great metal for the most active of people. Titanium is the hardest of the metals, therefore more scratch, dent, and bend resistant. Another benefit is that in its pure form, titanium is 100% hypoallergenic. Titanium does have its drawbacks: since it cannot be soldered, titanium rings cannot be sized and in an emergency, it is much harder to cut off than other metals. Allergic Anna Anna is young and active with many interests. But she also has sensitive skin, which white gold tends to irritate. Being young, she is still climbing the career ladder. What should she buy? Palladium. This is a popular choice among the young and active. As a white metal, palladium strikes a harmonic balance between white gold and platinum. Harder than gold, yet softer than platinum, palladium can be used in jewelry in its near pure form, making it hypoallergenic. Also, palladium, unlike white gold, is naturally white. Palladium is also less expensive than platinum and can be sized and polished. Nancy Nightlife Nancy keeps her schedule full, day and night. She needs jewelry that can keep up with her and can have the style she needs if a late business dinner leaves her running for the night club. What should Nancy do? Invest in platinum. This prestigious — and expensive — metal is hypoallergenic dense, heavy and scratch resistant. It fits an active style where a sense of class and elegance are desired, even while on the run.

https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/precious-metal-jewelry

May 9, 2017May 10, 2017

Picture Perfect part two

Hey everybody, i left off at highlight, you use your brush to apply the highlight on your cheeks where we put the concealer and down your nose. Next, you apply the blush to your cheeks, i use more of a bronze blush on my cheeks for a more contour look instead of having to contour. Next i work my way to my eye shadow after i apply the concealer to my eye lids i apply the transition shade in my crease, after that i apply a more shiny darker color depending on what eye palette i use, i then apply a lighter shiny color to my inner corner and, lid blend the colors together more. After that i apply the mascara to my lashes i use to different brands that make my lashes have more volume. When i am completely done with my make up i add a setting spray to make sure my make up is set, and that it last. That’s how to be picture perfect!

Come see me at GoldWiser in Conroe TX, Monday-Saturday 10 am – 7 pm

May 5, 2017

How to look picture perfect

So today I’m going to show you how to look picture perfect! First, when you wake up in the morning, wash your face! Never forget to wash your face!! After washing your face apply the primer, depending on what type of skin you have, whether its dry or oily find the best that fits your skin. Primer is a life saver, it also helps the make up last longer. Next step is to apply the foundation to help with flaws, or maybe to even change your skin tone! I use a beauty blender to apply the foundation, it works very well. I then add the concealer under my eyes and a little line down my nose for the places that I’m going to lighten up or add concealer, blend concealer with beauty blender, but do not blend to the face to hard. Tomorrow we will talk more about highlight, and eyeshadows!

Do you want to chat sooner about makeup? Come see me at GoldWiser. I am located at 1235 North 336 Loop East Conroe, TX 77301 I am open Monday-Saturday 10a.m to 7p.m