Friday Gift Guide

What a delightful collection of spring gifts Irina has sent me today! It is even bigger than you can see here. This is only one page out of 11! Wow! (See the whole collection here)

Good spring to everybody! 

Jewellery Masterpieces. Pearls by MIKIMOTO

Since 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in producing the world's first cultured pearl, more than 120 years have passed, during which time the house of MIKIMOTO has continued to discover beautiful pearls.

Jewellery Masterpieces. Peacock necklace by Alessio Boschi

The resurgence of opals has been big news 2014 and the Plumes necklace by Alessio Boschi, with its cascading peacock feathers, is surely in the running for the year's ultimate statement necklace.

Testimonials

Here are some product reviews I copied from my etsy shop. I do not have many reviews since I do not ask my customers to leave them, but I am grateful if they take time to do that.

(Click on the pictures to enlarge them)

Giveaway - Snowdrop flower bobby pins set. Value $25usd

These 2 snowdrop bobby pins are kindly given by GentleDecisions shop. Snowdrops are made of cold porcelain by hand and then painted with oil paints. Flowers are made of hypoallergenic materials entirely by hand. They are gentle, realistic, and require careful handling.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Inspirational Quote

Pendant is available now at the Just Jewellery Gallery

Spring Home Decoration Ideas

Please, visit our team page to discover the featured shops as well as more ideas ideas for interior decor.

Bead Day. Bead art by Liza Lou

Liza Lou Image 13 of 37Homeostasis, 2005 - 2006 Glass beads on fiberglass 71 ¾ x 25 ½ x 15 inches (182.2 x 64.8 x 38.1 cm)

25 little known diamond facts (jewellery facts 25/365)

When I studied diamonds during my gemology course, I had an assignment to come up with as many diamond facts as I could. I have found 200+ diamond facts at that time! Here I would like to share only 25 the most interesting facts about diamonds. 

Diamond "Hope"

1) Diamond has got its name from the Greek "adamas" meaning "hard".

2) Diamond has three varieties: gem diamond, industrial diamond, carbonado.

3) Many new styles of cut for diamonds are invented every year.

4) The original source of diamond was India.

5) Austrlia produces colored diamonds.

6) Diamond has supreme position among gemstones because of its hardness, luster, high RI (Refractive Index) and high dispersion.

7) If diamond colored by radiation, they are not as valuable as those with natural tints.

8) Inclusions in diamonds are the crystals of other minerals and cleavages.

9) Mankind's first introduction to diamond is lost in the mist of antiquity.

10) The initial discovery of diamonds in Canada in the Lac De Grass area occurred more than ten years ago. Since that discovery the NWT has become one of the top producers of diamonds after Russia and Botswana.

11) The diamond industry is formerly conservative, secretive and tightly controlled.

12) De Beers is the largest diamond miner in the world.

13) Russia is the world's number two producer of diamonds.

14) Australia is currently the largest producer in the world by volume.

15) Congo and Angola have a large informal mining sector (smuggling).

16) The industry invests heavily to maintain consumer confidence in natural diamonds by developing technology to detect synthetic and treated stones.

17) Over the last 20 years India has increased the volume and value of diamonds processed by fife times, making it world's dominant polishing center.

18) America has a right to buy 400,000 carats a year of rough diamonds from Russia.

19) The USA makes up over 48% of the world diamond jewellery market.

20) Many observers predict that China could surpass America as the largest retail diamond market of the future.

21) Until the mid-1990s De Beers controlled 70-80% of rough diamond market.

22) De Beers heavily invested in generic advertising boosted the sales of all diamonds, not only their own ones.

23) Diamonds were used to fund civil wars in Africa.

24) Diamonds are a unique commodity that offers opportunities across economic sectors: mining, exploration, manufacturing, arts and crafts, tourism and retail.

25) The famous blue diamond is called "Hope" after name of a broker who bought it in 1830 in London.

My virtual wish list. Art by Wim Delvoye

Here is one more item for my totally unrealistic virtual wish list :) Since I adore  anything pierced I could not pass by this pierced tire by a Belgium artist Wim Delvoye. He actually has more work like this in his web-site. He also has other works there too. All of them are absolutely wonderful and inspiring! The link is under the picture if you have a few minutes, treat yourself and visit his web-site.

Pierced tire by Wim Delvoye