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www.mineralgallery.co.za
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1. Selling on the net. 2. Sapphires and how to buy them? 3. Stones have been regarded as having medicinal value for ages, just some notes on this. Thank you and enjoy reading the articles. Feedback is always appreciated Be blessed Gerdus
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1. Selling on the net. |
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GUARANTEE YOUR SUCCESS BY MODELING THE SUCCESSFUL |
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What Should My Web Site Look Like? Why spend thousands of dollars having a flashy site designed that's loaded with theme music and spinning graphics? Some of the most successful web sites online today have extremely sleek, simple designs. Of course, before I tell you to model proven successful web sites, I want you to be aware of "the catch"... When researching web sites to model, the ones you should be paying closest attention to are your competitors' and sites that have a profit model similar to yours (i.e. look for sites that make money in a similar way). For example, if you sell cotton balls on your web site, you shouldn't be modeling your site design after Amazon.com. First off, they sell books (among other things). You sell cotton balls. They offer a wide variety of titles and choices. You offer one product -- cotton balls. Finally, let's face it -- their advertising budget is out of this world! If you're a small or home-based business, you likely don't have the same kind of luxury to experiment and make expensive mistakes. So think practical -- be realistic -- and start looking for other sites that are successfully selling their cotton balls online (or one, similar product), and model your site after theirs. Your site doesn't need to be the next Yahoo! or eBay for you to be earning a significant 6 figure income. |
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How Do I Write Sales Copy That Really Sells? Writing sales copy that really sells takes practice -- and education! I have yet to meet someone who just has a "natural gift" for writing award-winning copy without any education whatsoever. Sure, some people might get "lucky" and stumble onto bits and pieces of the proven approach -- but I can guarantee you that anyone who hasn't studied the "art & science of sales copy" is missing key elements that could increase their sales by 400% - 1,200%. I'm not kidding here... So rather than playing a "hit or miss" guessing game with your copy, I highly recommend looking for sales copy that makes YOU want to buy and studying it. After you've read enough quality copy, you'll start to notice a distinct pattern that you can apply to your own writing. |
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3) How Do I Rank At The Top Of The Search Engines? If you plan on ranking at the top of the search engines, then I can't stress enough the importance of educating yourself. The search engines are a highly competitive arena where only those who have taken the time to "learn the rules" claim a Top 10 spot. Very rarely these days will you hear of someone "getting lucky" and just magically sliding into a top ranking. So if you want a top 10 listing under your best keywords and phrases (i.e. you want your site to appear in the top 10 listings when someone searches the key phrase "cotton balls" in Alta Vista, Yahoo!, Google, Excite, HotBot, etc.), then you need to do two things... a) Examine the web sites that already rank in the top 10 under your best keywords and phrases -- and look for patterns. b) Use the proven know-how of the search engine experts to learn the ropes. If you want a top ranking, then you'll want the experience and advice of someone who makes it their mission to keep up with the constantly changing rules of each search engine and directory. In fact, before you spend a lot of time examining the sites of your competition for clues as to why they are listed among the top 10, I recommend seeking out these search engine gurus. With their advice, you'll be better prepared to critically examine your competitors' web sites for clues that explain why they're at the top of the ranks. |
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How Do I Drive Targeted Traffic To My Web Site? If you want to increase the number of targeted potential customers who are arriving at your web site each day, then a listing in the search engines is a good start, but it's also exactly that -- a start. Again, take some time to research your competition. How are they attracting their visitors? Do they have a lot of links on other sites? Do they have their own Affiliate Program? Do they participate heavily in newsgroups? Do they have an established viral marketing campaign? Use the experience of your competition to your advantage by learning their secrets -- and then tweaking and improving on their approach to do them one better! Model the success of others and you'll not only guarantee your success, you'll achieve your goals in less time with less expense than you could on your own |
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2.How to Buy Sapphires |
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A sapphire is a stone that has the same chemical and physical properties as a ruby. Both are varieties of the corundum family, which is an aluminum oxide compound that crystallizes in the ground over millions of years. All corundum that is not red is considered sapphire, while red corundum is ruby. Sapphires appear in colors other than blue, including yellow, green, and purple. However, the blue shade has always been considered the most desirable and therefore the most valuable of sapphires. The blue color of sapphires is caused by an iron impurity within the stone. Differing amounts of iron will give different tints of blue. Sapphires with a greenish tint usually come from Australian rough. Those of a grayish or violet cast are often from Ceylon; those with a royal blue color are from Burma. Sapphires with a fine cornflower velvety blue color are from Kashmir. Thai sapphires range from a very delicate blue to a blackish blue. Mining and Cutting Sapphires Sri Lanka is the major source of sapphire today; Thailand is the second. Principally, the stones are found either in the ground or on the banks of a river. In Sri Lanka, for example, the rivers carry the sapphire far from the original in situ deposit. By sorting out the gravel along riverbanks and wash - -away extraneous rock, miners can rescue the sapphire crystals. This process of searching for alluvial gem deposits-deposits carried by a river-is the most ancient of mining processes. Panning for gold, searching for river diamonds, and looking for river sapphires are all somewhat similar techniques. One can spend thousands of hours hoping to recover, perhaps once or twice in a lifetime, a significantly large sapphire crystal. Frequently, the key to finding sapphires is to search where the river used to flow, not in its current location. Over the course of millions of years, geologists believe, rivers that make wide bends have tended to change direction inch by inch. Sapphire crystals may be found in the debris if stones have settled down and formed sedimentary rock. Once a Sri-Lanka panner has collected a goodly supply of sapphire crystals, he passes them along to a merchant who buys from all of the miners at work on the riverbank. The merchant, in turn, takes the crystals to a cutting center. An expert planner looks at each individual crystal, holding it up to the sun to guess what is inside, where the imperfections lie, and how large a stone can be cut from that piece of rough crystal. He might be able to look into the stone only through certain angles; or the rough stone may be completely opaque from the outside and a section of it must be cleaved off for an interior view. How to Distinguish Genuine from Synthetic Stones Because of the high price of sapphires and the great demand for them, there are large amounts of synthetic sapphires being manufactured today. The Gemological Institute has perfected instruments that test the genuineness of sapphires. The process for testing synthetic sapphires is very similar to the testing procedure for synthetic rubies, including the use of the microscope and ultraviolet light to detect the nature of the inclusions and the growth patterns. Dr. Cubelin, Dr. Schubnel, and several other gemologists have done landmark research on both microscopic and photographic analyses of gemstone inclusions. A Burmese sapphire contains rutile needles that crisscross each other in a densely woven pattern that resembles silk. If the Burmese sapphire is heavily included the sunlight can often pick up the reflections of the silk so that they may be seen with the naked eve. This silk is certainly apparent under a 10-power jeweler's loupe and even more apparent under a microscope. Over the millions of years that Burmese sapphires were being formed in the Niogok Valley of Burma, liquid like inclusions were forming within the stones. Dr. Cuhelin has identified a "crumpled flag" type of inclusion: a tinv, fan-shaped liquid inclusion. Amazingly enough, under 100-power magnification this fan will have a serrated edge similar to the folds in a velvet curtain. If this edge is not serrated but simply rounded, it is a sign that the sapphire is from Ceylon. Highly accurate pictures in synthetic shades of color have been taken of these minute inclusions. Dr. Cubelin has also isolated patterns of inclusions that are common to the Kashmir sapphires from India. Kashmir stones are a fabulous cornflower blue color. However, their liveliness is dulled somewhat by a velvety, foggy texture. With the aid of a microscope, a mass of internal, slender, capillary like rutile fragments that pervade the internal world of the Kashmir stone are apparent. Sapphires from Thailand have a large number of included crystals; deposits of minerals that entered the sapphires (zircon, pyrite, rutile, etc.) became trapped there while the stones were crystallizing. Sapphires also came from Australia and from Yogo Gulch, Montana. They have a distinctive colorcast, but more telling is the fact that their included crystals and liquid like inclusions form a definable unit. Sapphires tend to have fewer inclusions than rubies or emeralds, but the investor should not expect to find a flawless colored stone. Comparison of Prices of Precious Gems It is interesting to note the long-term relationship between the prices of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. Rubies and emeralds of fine quality, in sizes above 3 carats, are more valuable than diamonds above 3 carats. Sapphires have a value of generally one-third to one-half less than rubies and emeralds. These ratios have been in existence for three thousand years. In Brazil a sapphire rough could conceivably be cut in some six to ten hours. But that is like saying a Rembrandt canvas could be painted in an hour of diligent work. The more delicate the desired results, the more human decision and imagination will be required each step of the way. For the last three thousand years, Sri Lanka sapphires have been cut with a very deep pavilion, or bottom, to the stone like cutting an egg in half, with the flat top of the egg as the table of the stone and the rounded part the bottom. This deep portion assures a lot of internal reflection, and Sri-Lanka stones tend to be very lively. On the minus side, this large bottom half of the stone adds considerable weight to it. Since the gem world quotes prices on a per carat basis, as opposed to a per stone basis, one pays for the extra weight. Dealers derisively refer to such sapphires as having a '~Bombay back" and want to pay less per carat. Another frustrating feature of the deep pavilion is that the back of the stone cannot be seen when a Sri-Lanka stone is mounted in a ring. Only the smaller tabletop is visible, giving the sapphire a 10-20 percent smaller appearance than its total weight would indicate. It is an amusing experience to show a Sri-Lanka sapphire to a diamond dealer who may have a call for a sapphire. The first thing a colored stone dealer will do when shown a colored gem is to put it on his fingers and look down without the use of an eye loupe in order to examine the stone for color. The first thing a diamond dealer does when shown a stone is to grip it fiercely with a pair of tweezers and immediately apply a jeweler's loupe to it. Color in a diamond can be seen very clearly by a trained jeweler's eye through a loupe, especially when the stone is viewed through the girdle, or edge, of a stone. In any case, white is white, and the major nightmare for a diamond dealer is not that the color may be off, but rather that there may be some incredible flaw within a stone-and that is what he is looking for. Put a Sri-Lanka sapphire on a table before an Antwerp diamond merchant and invariably, within one second, he will inspect it through a loupe. The facets of a Sri-Lanka sapphire appear so helter-skelter and disproportioned that from the diamond dealer's viewpoint the cutter might as well have been drunk while he cut the stone nothing could be further from the truth. Sri-Lanka sapphire cutters have a most difficult problem: the color often radiates from one portion of the stone; other portions of the stone may be pale or even colorless. The cutter's art is to angle the piece of rough in such a way as to bring this spot of color closest to the table of the stone. Symmetry is invariably sacrificed to achieve depth of color. In addition to newly mined sapphires from Thailand and Sri-Lanka large numbers of very fine stones are appearing throughout the world via secondhand jewelry pieces. At auctions and through estate settlements, a New York gem dealer can buy quality stones that often may be superior to stones found at any given time in the Far East. When shopping for loose gems, you can see thousands of carats of small round stones approximately the size of a small letter on this page (2 to 3 mm. in diameter). These stones are called "melee," the French word for confusion. They are sold in large boxes by the thousands, and their colors vary markedly. Ring manufacturers worldwide buy these stones to set with diamonds in cocktail rings and other jewelry. A typical cocktail ring might contain five sapphire stones worth $3 each and five diamonds worth $20 each, as well as a gold mounting. The whole ring would sell for $200 to $300 in a local retail store. Sapphire melee, along with ruby melee, emerald melee, and diamond melee, account for the vast percentage of precious stones in the world: far greater in weight than the single carat size stones. The reason lies in the method of formation of the precious stone rough. Generally speaking, a piece of rough is so flawed internally that only a tiny portion of it perhaps 1 percent can be used to facet a gemstone. Just a little squiggle at the end of the rough is clear and consistent in color. This tiny piece will become material for a faceted round stone. How to Value a Sapphire In the last three years, sapphire prices have increased by a factor of two, if not by more, and a quality gemstone on a wholesale basis sells at a price often exceeding $5,000 per carat. This is for the finest quality stone of a Burmese or Kashmir color that is fairly well proportioned. As mentioned earlier, the best way to ascertain value is to have a comparative selection of sapphires in different shades of blue and different levels of clarity and proportion. Shade of color is the most important price factor |
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3. Stones have been regarded as having medicinal value for ages, just some notes on this |
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Why were colored stones used for medical treatments for so many centuries? Probably because they had fabulous colors and they were rare? So it was apparent in ancient times that variety in color was the thing that made the stones so valuable. What about rings? Even in the Bronze Age, metals were twisted around as knots and as chains. We learn from Genesis 41:42 that Pharaoh took the ring off his hand and gave it to Joseph so Joseph could become his manager. Ancient art, in Greece and Rome, rings were seen to be in common use. In 429 B.C., an emerald in a gold ring was guaranteed not to fall out before the end of 23 years The most interesting jewel of antiquity was the breastplate of the High Priest vestments to give the High Priest both dignity and also magnificence during the 40-year sojourn in the wilderness. This specific instruction from the Lord as to its making was detailed in Exodus 39: 8-21. The breastplate was first made in 1250B.C.and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586B.C. However, we have some representation today in the silver plate for the Torah on the ark and in the York Rite of The Masons. However the most famous copy today is the one made by the Baptist Church, now on exhibit in the Baptist Assembly at Green Lake, Wisconsin; was described in colorful detail in the Lapidary Journal [Dec. 1968]. Through Orran Evans and Paul Davis, a brilliant lapidary, and with the help of many of the woman of the Church over a period of four years, this great breastplate was made. The making followed exactly the details in the Bible. Arguments still exist today as to whether the stones in these gorgeous vestments were actually those present in Biblical days or a modern interpretation of these. These stones, representing the twelve tribes of Israel; were thought be available in Egypt at the time or brought in travels from the Near East. According to the Bible, for this breastplate the first row included topaz, sard and carbuncle; the second emerald, sapphire and so-called diamond; the third row hyacinth, agate and amethyst; the fourth row beryl, onyx and jasper. Much has been written about the reasons for the selection of the specific stones, folklore, superstition, magic, talisman, health etc. Some thought stones were supernatural beings in miniature. In Revelation 21:9-21 we read about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the twelve stones representing the 12 apostles. Another bit of ancient history is the interest of Pliny the elder, 23-79A,D. He was intensely interested in precious stones, and also about the glass from Egypt and about obsidian. In the western world of course, the "BIG FOUR " of the precious stones are the diamond, emerald and sapphire. However to the Chinese, it is the beautiful jade which is their treasure. Here is an example some of the virtues attributed to specific stones: 1. Ruby-fire burning within the stone, the color of blood good for inflammation and the arrest of hemorrhage; virility.. 2 Sapphire: blue -faith and happiness .The Buddhists still believe this is sacred.. 3 Diamond - purity and joy. Also for heart trouble and even as an aphrodisiac. 4 Emerald - for swellings 5 Amethyst - rich violet protects against poisons if used as a rub, alcoholism; holds love, now used in the Bishops ring 6 Topaz - yellow-golden warmth. For eye disorders, baldness and anti-depressant. Also for eye disease and plague. This stone was listed in Exodus 28 and Revelation 21. 7 Turquoise - blue color - finest from Iran - for headaches. For purulent infections.. 8 Garnet - red glow - depression, prevents bad dreams. 9 Cinnabar - red streaks, styptic insecticide. 10 Jade - for kidney disease; the divine liquid of the Chinese - powdered jade plus rice and dew water boiled in a copper pot. 11 Pearls - for heart disease - in lemon juice and in milk for psychoses, as love potions and for ulcers. 12 Gold - locally as a cauterizing agent; internally for melancholia. Although medical qualities were attributed to stones many years before the pharmacopeia of the 17th centuries, called the Superstitious Period of Medicine according to Ertc Ponger, as the 'Confused Period of Medicine". These were listed in great detail for internal use of these precious stones. Incidentally, there also are magic stones, so-called from the stomachs of animals. The ancient Arabians detailed much more practical use of stones. Chemo-therapy was described by the famous physician, Avecenna. He introduced potassium nitrate, bi-chloride of mercury, silver nitrate, bismuth and antimony. All these medications are in use today. In Indian medicines, silver and gold were used for rejuvenation. Major jewels classified, were diamonds, rubies, pearls, topaz, sapphire, emerald, cat's eye and coral; as minor jewels; tourmaline, sunstone, moonstone, lapis lazuli and turquoise. The stones were used in powder form or boiled in various juices. Rubies were used for bronchitis and sterility; pearls were used for longevity and virility; topaz as a cleaning agent. Some are still used for thus. There were some brave souls who protested that all this superstitious stuff was 'therapeutic garbage'. Fortunately, most of these stones were without any internal toxicity except a stone called 'Polytrix' It may be of interest to review some of the specifics. Jade was used for kidney disease. It is true when one sees jade one is compelled to touch it, for the touch feels cooling and soothing. In China jade is a fabulous talisman stone. The development of jade was in the following phases. 1.Weaponry 2.Mythological emblems. 3.The Imperial emblem. 4.The ritual emblem. 5.The symbolic article. 6.The utilitarian use. 7.The decorator's value. The emerald green of the jade resembles the plumage of the sacred bird of the same name. Montezuma offered Cortez one jade, which he said, was worth two carloads of gold. Exactly where the sources of American jade to the New World is from is not clear. The highlands of Guatemala and some pools and rivers may be the sources. Another one of the old favorites with its beautiful glistening multicolored iridescence of opal. Its not a crystal, it is an amorphous form of silicate. The milky form is widely distributed. The opal was used from 400B.C, especially from the mines in Czechoslovakia. The fire of precious stones has different structural development from other stones. For example; in diamonds fire comes from the prisms developed by faceting and increased wavelengths to make for repeated reflections. In pearls, the fire comes from alternate layers of calcium carbonate separated by organic films. In opals the fire comes from the size and arrangement of the various grains. The Australian opal is today the most important. It was assumed to be bad luck; possible due to Sir Walter Scott:s famed heroine Ann of "Geierstein". The "curse" was broken really by Queen Victoria who liked opal. Perhaps some of the bad luck was the difficulty to polish, repair and set opal by inexperienced jewelers. It is interesting to review present "turquoise mania": the blue heavens in this gorgeous stone, is often simulated by various types of plastics and substitutes. This was the royal stone of the Egyptian Pharaohs and the sky blue stone of the American Indians .In the middle ages it was more of a minor stone, even considered a bit vulgar by men. The many substitutes would include glass with copper and cobalt, enamel, plastics, dyed quarts, chrysocolla and varicoise. Turquoise was used for eye disorders and also for the bites of scorpions. Another ancient belief was that turquoise grows pale as the owner grows sick and changes color at the death of its owner until it is placed on the finger of a princess. The pearl of ancient times was used exclusively by the nobility in Rome. Amber, the hard and natural resins of 40 million years ago, has been used as a jewel since the Neolithic Period. This noble resin which offers fabulous opportunity for the study of the ancient insects, trapped in them, and also the various other kinds of inclusions as affecting the study of the diseases of antiquity. New microscopic technics may reveal the great detail of interesting material. With the discovery of America; jewels were made in US$pe from the gold and silver from the New World. The greatest age of jewelry was exemplified by the extraordinary designs of Cellini, with his fabulous salt cellar. Too often the long tedious work of these artists has given way to the easier path mold designs of plastics. For the jewelry also, as Turner indicates, "Throughout the centuries of recorded time, men and women of all cultures have felt the compulsion to adorn themselves. Today, cosmetics, millinery regalia as well as jewelry are used as an extension of this urge that links us closely to our primitive ancestors. So we adorn ourselves as the ancients did to promote our position within the tribe, to show our possession, to exhibit ourselves as a superior different being ... |
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