Diamond Diva Online

Do I have an alexandrite?

I hear this all the time. Soliders sending back stuff from Iraq and Iran. For the most part I'm seeing synthetic alexandrite like corundum. Intense color changes and molded facets give it away.

I just read this article from National Jeweler Online and I thought I'd share it with you...

Gubelin turns microscopes to alexandrite, chrysoberyl
March 28, 2007

The Gubelin Gem Lab has initiated methods to determine the origin of alexandrites and chrysoberyls due to increased supply.

Lucerne, Switzerland—Now that there are more gem-quality alexandrites and chrysoberyls on the market, researchers at the Gubelin Gem Lab have initiated a research project to analyze the stones and their origin, drawing samples from all commercially significant production areas worldwide, the Switzerland-based lab announced.

"Gem-quality alexandrites and chrysoberyls are now available from a large number of sources. This was not always the case," the lab said in its newsletter issued on Tuesday. "Methods of origin determination must keep pace with this increased supply."

The Gubelin newsletter also noted that mineralogist Thomas Armbruster has won the Mineralogical Society of America's Dana Medal for 2008. In addition, the new mineral species "Armbrusterite," a silicate of potassium, sodium and manganese, has received International Mineralogical Society accreditation, and will be named in honor of Armbruster, who teaches at Berne University in Berne, Switzerland. He is the first European researcher to receive the Dana Medal, and several Gubelin lab gemologists are his former students.

So if your stones don't look like these...it's a good chance the stones are synthetic.
Patti

2.75 Carat Wowser!

I actually got to hold this in my hand! Isn't it spectacular!

The center diamond is a trillion cut 2.00 carat. It has a total of 2.75 carats in the entire ring. Caressed in 18 karat white gold the diamonds sparkle from EVERY angle.

Here's a side view... and another view..... You can double click on these photos to enlarge!

REGO style number 6759-01

I love the way I felt wearing it..The diva doesn't get tingly too often, but this tingled me!

For more tinglies..go to www.regoonline.com. Call me if you wanna have a tingly, too!

Ebay Items up today!

We've got several EBAY items in their final day today. If you have a moment, go to www.wayfil.com and look over the items dated March 16. Call me if you have a question!

(662) 844-2427 We're on CST and close at 5pm.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from this Patti to you! And don't forget to donate blood to be eligible for the pair of princess cut diamond earrings we're giving away through United Blood Services!

The Diamond Diva

Blood and Diamonds

The buzz last shopping season was over the movie "BLOOD DIAMONDS". Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for an Oscar.

The buzz at Way-Fil Jewelry this week has a lot to do with blood and diamonds, too! We have donated a pair of princess cut diamonds, total weight is 1/2 carat, to the United Blood Services here in Tupelo. If you donate blood this week, you are automatically entered into the drawing for the diamond earrings. Here's what they look like!

And all you have to do is donate blood. Lifesaving, life giving blood. Now why would the "Diamond Diva" be interested in associating blood and diamonds.

I have an illness called Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID). Sometimes people call it the "Boy In The Bubble Disease". For some reason, I stopped making enough stuff to fight off bacteria and germs. Since 2000, I have received either Immune Gamma Globulin infusions to replace that which I don't have anymore. At first the infusions were monthly and took four hours to administer. Now, I do them weekly, at home over the period of an hour. Either way, I'm still here and that's a good thing.

It would have been so easy to crawl into a bubble and retreat, but that's not me. Now if you think Howie Mandel is a germophobic...hey stick with me a few hours! To borrow and change a line from "Finding Nemo" germs are not my friends! I don't let CVID rule my life. I let it be a part of my life and go on. But I couldn't go on without all you blood donors out there. It takes about 1200 blood donors to acquire the Gammunex I take every month! Imagine! Then it goes through cleaning and processing to be packaged and shipped to me.

To say I am grateful, sounds hollow. I am indebted and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please donate blood. You never know who might be the final recipient of your time and generosity but I do!

Engagement rings on a soda budget

Simply....Diamonds!

That's right, a simple diamond in a gold engagement ring says everything your heart feels. To help you muster up the courage to ask her, I've assembled a collection of romantic diamonds, set in 14 karat yellow and white gold, just for you. Now here is the best part...$199.00 each! I'm not kidding, either.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

Yellow or white gold...your choice $199.00 each.

We have same day sizing available too!

So, when other jewelry stores say NO WAY!....Try WAY-Fil Jewelry

1125 West Main Street in Tupelo, Mississippi  877-844-2427

We accept MC VISA and Discover!

Go ahead...SCAM ME!

I just finished reading an article by Stuart M Robertson, a graduate gemologist, on the latest gem scams. This one deals with rough (right from the mine..not cut or faceted). The short version of this story is that a banker wanted to lend $10 million dollars to a group of investors that presented a collection of corundum (ruby) crystal for collateral. These crystals had a gem report from a recognized lab with all the weights an measurements, but no value. The banker was told these crystals had been appraised for $450 million dollars! The banker was impressed and this deal seemed like a no-brainer! But the banker decided to be safe and called up Stuart for a consultation. Good thing he did. Again..the short version is if the loan had gone through, the bank would have been the proud owners of 15 pounds of ruby crystals valued at $20,000.00 in US dollars. Think about it..if the crystal were worth $450 million...sell those suckers and retire!

Stuart's article mentions that these schemes have been around for a long time, with investors ready to "chomp at the bit". But that couldn't happen in a small town like Tupelo, could it?

In the mid 1990's, I was approached by a group of local investors ready to throw money (in the millions) at a scheme operated by a guy from Africa. He had a plausible video, lots of little teaser, rough cut diamonds and a fantastic story of wealth just waiting for the investors! After examining the rough and leaving the room to laugh, I composed myself and came back with the bad news....Scram, it's a scam!

But several of the men decided to ignore my advice and trusted "the messenger". They did see him again...and again...whenever he needed "just a little more money" to finish the job. He even came back in 1997 and hit me up for $5,000.00. By then the "blood diamond" stories had begun to circulate and I didn't want it to go any further. I wrote a letter detailing the story and sent the video to my Congressman, Roger Wicker. I have no way of knowing if my contribution to this scheme finally ended it, but death did. Two of the local investors died and I never heard from "the messenger" again.

And here we go again...ten years later! Greed gets 'em every time!