A Short Guide to Buying Celtic Jewelry

Does your taste run into designs and patterns from the past? Love the resonance of history in your jewelry? Then, Gothic and Celtic jewelry is definitely worth buying.

Celtic jewelry may have come back into fashion now but there is nothing new about them. Items like these have been gracing women's jewelry boxes for decades. But, these days, there has been a re-awakening; more and more women are collecting these timeless designs. For the fashion conscious, these items are like a breath of fresh air. So, if you are tired of boring old designs, Celtic jewelry can help you add an interesting angle to your looks.

Celtic jewelry designs are modeled on the designs and patterns used by the Celts, people who once predominated parts of mid and Western Europe. These days, people of Celtic origin are found in Ireland and Scotland. The Celts were specialists in intricate, lovely designs. They had exquisite craftsmanship and this was expressed in the beautiful jewelry that they crafted in bronze, gold and silver. Many of their designs are a fitting tribute to nature and religious faiths. Knots and crosses are examples.

Some of the most popular designs in Celtic jewelery include knots, cross and rings. The cross, for the Celts, is a symbol of eternity and faith. The four points on the cross indicate the four elements - air, water, fire and earth. To some, the four points also indicate the unity of soul, heart, body and mind. The knot, on the other hand, is meant to ward off evil and protect the wearer from the evil elements in nature. No wonder these designs evoke feelings that are hard to explain. Celtic rings have been traditionally used as wedding bands as these symbolize eternal love and total faith.

Before buying Celtic jewelery, it is important to make a decision about the material. While platinum and gold are obvious choices, silver is not only elegant and sophisticated but highly affordable too. Many designs and styles are available in silver Celtic jewelry. The contrast gained by combining sterling silver with pure black leather is stunning and magnificent.

In the past, buying Celtic jewelry was expensive and time consuming. This is because many stores did not have an eclectic collection. These days, fortunately, a wide variety of Celtic jewelry is available from online stores. By shopping for Celtic jewelry online, it is possible to buy the design and material of your choice.

The best way to buy Celtic jewelry is to shop from a reputed online seller. That way, you have access to a large number of styles. You also need not worry about the quality of workmanship or material used.

Popping The Question? Consider Buying a Certified Diamond

So you're considering tying the knot, making the big move, popping the question, and you are wondering what she would like to see sitting on her finger the rest of her life, for all to view, including her friends and family who will be doing some "comparing". Size and quality can be very important. And when you are making an investment in your future to the tune of a couple months salary or more, you want to make sure you are receiving what you think you are buying. A certified diamond from GIA or EGL can give you the peace of mind that you are getting what you are paying for.

Diamonds Aren't Depreciating:

Whatever you do, make sure you think over all the possible scenarios. Diamonds keep going up in price year to year and won't be getting cheaper anytime soon. The DeBeers cartel has a firm grasp on pricing and you won't be seeing any fire sales on diamonds in the near, intermediate or long term span of time. This means that if you make a substantial investment now, you probably won't have to reinvest in a larger diamond later on, thus saving you $$thousands in the long run. It's akin to purchasing that dream house right now if you could instead of waiting 20 years, because you know home prices are only going up. The same thing applies to diamonds, except not at such alarming rates as housing.

Give Her More Than She Expects:

Want to really win her over? Make sure the size and quality of the diamond or series of diamonds is bigger and better than what she anticipates receiving. This way she will always have that "sparkle" when she wears the ring you give her. And you will be her knight in shining armor that won her over. A diamond ring lasts a lifetime and will be a constant reminder of how much you love and believe in her. Trust me; this is important and will work in your favor many times over throughout the years. You can't go wrong with an impressive "gift from the heart" which will melt hers.

Be Unique:

Be sure to put some thought into which cart weight (size), cut, clarity and color diamond you will want to give her. What does she like? Does she want to be similar to her friends or different?
Weight: Diamonds that weigh a lot for their size, are often "cut too deep" and don't appear as big as they should for their carat weight. And vice versa; some diamonds look bigger than they should because they are cut too shallow in order to save diamond weight and maximize visible surface area. This is where a certified diamond comes in. When a diamond is certified, its dimensions are documented, so you can see if it has been cut right. Weight has a lot to do with a diamond's proper cut. If a diamond is cut properly to the right specifications, it will weigh what it should.

Clarity and Color: These attributes are also important since you want the diamond to be as durable, strong and beautiful as possible. If there are a lot of flaws in a diamond, it will lose some of its durability and possibly some visual appeal. The same goes with color. Most people prefer a colorless diamond. Some prefer fancy colored diamonds, but that is a different class of diamonds and another story all together. Typically, the less color a diamond shows the better. It also means the diamond will be more expensive. However, this is an investment of a lifetime, so you want to make sure you get it right.

Cut: This is where you can really be unique. Don't necessarily choose a round brilliant diamond. There are so many cuts now days which give you nearly all the scintillation or "brilliance" that a round brilliant cut gives you. Good examples include the Trilliant (triangular) cut, Radiant, Cushion, Marquis and many other variations of those shapes. And if you don't need to have the brilliance of a round diamond, you may want to look at the Emerald cut, Oval, Heart or Pear shaped cuts.

The bottom line is to find a good quality diamond. A certified diamond assures you of the quality and size. You can certainly purchase diamonds that have been analyzed by a jeweler or diamond dealer, but you are placing all your trust in one person instead of an institution such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America ) or EGL (European Gemological Laboratory).

Chris Murphy is a freelance writer dedicated to writing articles of interest to his readers. For additional information on buying certified diamonds, please visit http://www.southafricanjewels.com

Buying a Guinea Pig - Grooming

Supplies needed:

Nail clippers - small animal, can range any where from $2 to $7 or more.

Brush - small animal, from $3 to $5 and higher

Shampoo - $4 to $8 and more

Ear cleaner - around $4

Scissors - anywhere from $2 to $10

Grooming is essential to owning a guinea pig. Improper care can lead to a decline in your little friend's health. So first things first, you need to make sure you have all of the required supplies listed above.

Basic grooming for short-haired guinea pigs does not really need anymore than gentle brushing with a soft-bristled pet brush. Normal stroking will remove loose hair. Try dampening your hands while brushing so that the loose hair will stick to your hands. Always remember to check their nose, ears, little bottoms are clean, free of discharge, scabbing, etc, and if necessary, wipe gently with a damp cloth. If left for too long without being properly groomed it can lead to serious health problems.

Basic grooming for rough haired guineas, like short-haired piggy's, only need minimal grooming. A soft-bristled brush will suffice.

Basic grooming for long-haired guinea pigs requires regular combing with a wide-toothed comb to tease out knots and tangles. Trimming and shampooing are also required as the hair is easily dirtied while the piggy is roaming about.

How often should my guinea pig be shampooed?

An often debated question but you should definitely shampoo your pig whenever it is required, though no more often than 3 month intervals. This will prevent their natural oils from being dried out and causing irritation. Guinea pigs, especially short-haired breeds, are mostly successful at keeping themselves neat and tidy. Keep in mind that if your piggy is undergoing treatment shampoos, shampooing them more often may be necessary.

Why should I trim my piggy's hair?

If you have a long-haired piggy, you have probably noticed how quickly their coats tend to get damp, tangled, and matted if you do not keep it trimmed short. Make sure you trim your piggy's hair regularly to avoid making him or her uncomfortable. You should try to trim your piggy's hair every 3 months before you shampoo them. Do I need to trim just the bottom, or do I need to cut all of his hair? Mostly this is at your own discretion. For health and hygienic reasons, a small trim around the bottom area is all that is needed, though sometimes if you trim her whole coat your piggy will be more energetic. A good pair of scissors for trimming, an apron, to prevent the loose strands from sticking to your clothes, a wide-toothed comb for tangles, a spray bottle of water, to dampen the hair and make it easier to trim, treats, to keep your piggy busy while you groom him or her, and a long sleeved top to prevent uncomfortable nibbling from your little friend are all the things you need to groom your long-haired guinea.

*Note: If your piggy is making a huge fuss while you trim them, do not panic. This is natural because they do not enjoy being trimmed. Just be as gentle as you can during the process and when you are finished let him settle down.

Why do I need to trim my guinea's nails?

There are quite a few reasons to trim your piggy's nails.

1 - You do not want them to get caught on something while they are running around and cause injury

2 - If a guinea's nails grow too long they can curl under and grow into the soft padding of their paw, this can be extremely painful and easily get infected.

3 - You furry little friend will feel much better with trimmed nails, they will be much more comfortable running around.

4 Your piggy can grow 'spurs'. Spurs are a sort of hardened nail growth from the side of her paw that can also curl under their foot if not clipped. They can be painlessly clipped off when you trim your guinea's nails to prevent them from catching or tearing. However, if you are not 100% certain it is a spur do not clip it. Consult a vet so that you do not injure your pet.

Remember to check your guinea's nails every week or so, just to keep an eye on them. It usually works out to where you should only have to trim them every month to a month and a half. All you need is a small nail clipper like the kind used for small dogs and cats, a hand towel to wrap around your piggy in case they like to squirm, and another set of hands to help hold your guinea while you clip their nails.

Gwen Garrett is a Guinea Pig enthusiast. She has owned at least one piggy since she was five years old! To find out more about Guinea Pigs click here Guinea Pig Guides Subscribe to out Mini Course to access our forum!