On a Pilgrimage to Know Devi

While I'm on a roll...

 

We've been seeking out temples that honor goddesses, and today we will go visit the Kali temple nearby.  Kali is a goddess of destruction, somehow related to the goddess Durga.  Just this morning I read the following story that feels powerful to me:

 

There was a powerful demon who won a huge war, and usurped the power of all the lesser gods.  These gods were upset at their loss of privilige and power, and went to the three main gods--Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva--to complain.  These three got incredibly angry at what the demon had done, so angry that their anger shone light a bright light.  Soon, this light took the form of the Goddess Durga; so impressive was she that all the main gods and the lesser gods bowed down to her and gave her gifts, which she held in her many hands.  With these gifts, Durga went on to engage in a great war against the demon, and of course, she won!  So Durga, who was birthed through the light of anger, is now worshipped by all the gods for saving them from the demon...and is seen with her blood red sari sitting atop the lion.

 

It is also common, I read, for goddesses to take on the name of the demon they kill.  There seems to be a deep wisdom, here...perhaps mythology is telling us that once we wrestle, and overcome, various darknesses inside and outside of ourselves, we are transformed in a way that INCORPORATES the darkness, rather than simply destroying it.  Oh wise readers, do any of you have another interpretation of what these goddess myths might mean?

Taxi Drivers and Their Gods

Gretchen AGAIN.  (I'm typing from the apartment of our hosts, and they have left home, so suddenly I have more private time than I bargained for).

Gods are everywhere here.  Shrines on street corners, in the subway, on the dashboards of cars.  So I've taken to asking the taxi drivers who their god is.  Last night the driver said that it was "LugnaBaba" which I think, loosely translated, means the God of Marriage.  This driver was definitely single, and expressed some bright-eyed interest in coming to America, perhaps with his "sister" Katherine.  Despite the language barrier, asking a person about their god seems the best way to create a sense of connection.  And after we've paid, and leave the taxi, Katherine and I will say goodbye BOTH to the driver, and then give a special "Namaste" to their god. 

Changes...

Gretchen again.  My mom asked me to reflect a little on all the changes I'm noticing since I was last in India 11 years ago.  The crowds are the immediate change!  Certain neighborhoods in the city of Pune are almost unrecognizable in the jumble of a booming population, high rise apartments popping up everywhere, and multitudes of store fronts.  The exhaust is UNBEARABLE, and women are seen with scarves wrapped entirely around their mouths and noses...even Katherine and I have started doing this.  (I know it's gross to admit, but perhaps you'll understand how bad it is with this image: even when I blow my nose, my snot is occasionally black...I'm more grateful than ever about the role the nose hairs play in sifting out good air from bad).  There are malls on many street corners now, whereas there were only a few ten years ago.  And the music in the malls is mostly Western.  Brands I recognize are all over the place, from Levi's to Domino's and Papa John's.  And coffee shops!!  Espresso has found it's home in India, and when Katherine and I want a familiar feel, we'll just duck into Barista.  The global culture, inspired by American corporations, is everywhere!  It's definitely unsettling.

Playing in Calcutta

Hello dear readers.  Gretchen here.  Katherine and I have decided to approach Calcutta as playfully as possible, an attitude which has transformed our relationships to everyone we meet!  Here is a montage of noticings:

• The city has a bad rep around the world--for being dirty, destitute, and dark--but we've found it one of our more pleasant India experiences.  The weather has been a constant 70 degrees, the underground metro makes travelling about a breeze (and inexpensive, too, for only Rs4 a ride), the traffic lights and crosswalks actually work and are used, and there are even policemen at intersections to make sure that rules are followed!
• I've been scared to buy from street vendors, because I've known that I need to bargain. But when I saw the sweetest little outfit for my nephew-to-be, I knew I was ready to practice.  The vendor charged me Rs 250, I countered with Rs 100, and we settled on Rs 125 after I threatened to leave.  Success!
• Also in the spirit of play, Katherine and I made the split second decision to go into an exhibition at the College of Design.  A delighted young man gave us a personal tour of all the artwork made by his fellow students.  He was eager to explain to us about how a true artist cannot be taught, that artistry is from within.  He loved showing off his friends work, remarking "Too Good!" or "Too Cute!"  His own paintings were quite striking, goddess imagery painted in traditional methods but with contemporary flair (one goddess was wearing high heels; evidently in most ancient indian art, you never see women with shoes on).
• Did you know that Calcutta is the FIRST city of the British Empire built anywhere in the world?!  Because this is where the British got to practice what it means to colonize, there are gigantic Victorian monuments everywhere, and even the layout of the city copies London in many ways.  K & I attempted to visit the Victoria Memorial (http://www.victoriamemorial-cal.org/).  The crowds were insane--throngs of families and school groups--and the queue was too long for our patience. Instead, we went to the huge green, and watched at least a hundred groups of boys playing cricket.  Whereas we thought these crowds were normal, the newspaper the next day revealed that there were record crowds who took to the streets to celebrate the final Sunday in 2007!

Sigh!  There's more to say, but I've already overstayed my welcome.  Trying to keep these short, but it's not working.  Love to you all...

10k Yellow Gold 3-Piece Briolette Gold Hoop Earrings

These versatile feature removable gold hoops briolette gemstone dangles, so you can choose colors that suit your mood or disguise. Radiant brown smoky topaz, blue topaz and gold-capped green peridot are golden yellow and threaded along the simple 10-carat yellow gold hoops. To select and combine several regards, or wear all the hoops on their own. They fasten with hinges down snap posts.

$250,000 in Free Jewelry Riding on New England's Perfect Season

With a little help from Nevada-based Odds On Promotions, Worcester, Mass. jewelry retailer will refund up to $250,000 based on the outcome of Saturday's football game between New England and the Giants.

Reno, NV (PRWEB) December 29, 2007 -- While football fans everywhere will be tuning in Saturday to see if New England can pull off the perfect season, in Worcester, Mass., Arpine Azizian, owner of Shavarsh Jewelry, will be watching to see if she'll be handing out $250,000 in free jewelry. This fall, Azizian ran a season-long sales promotion offering her customers a 100% rebate on their jewelry purchases if New England could finish the regular season undefeated, something that hasn't happened since the Dolphin's perfect season in 1972.

While most retailers would be concerned about the prospect of refunding $250,000, Azizian isn't the slightest bit concerned about the outcome of the game. In fact, she'll be cheering New England on to victory, thanks to an insurance policy underwritten by the Reno, Nevada-based insured-prize promotions company, Odds On Promotions.

According to Mark Gilmartin, President of Odds On Promotions, whose company will be picking up the tab for the free jewelry if the New England defeat the Giants, "Retailers utilize these kinds of promotions in order to attract more shoppers. In fact, conditional rebates are quite popular because they are fun for customers and are effective at helping retailers grab attention."

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/12/prweb594742.htm

$250,000 in Free Jewelry Riding on New England's Perfect Season

With a little help from Nevada-based Odds On Promotions, Worcester, Mass. jewelry retailer will refund up to $250,000 based on the outcome of Saturday's football game between New England and the Giants.

Reno, NV (PRWEB) December 29, 2007 -- While football fans everywhere will be tuning in Saturday to see if New England can pull off the perfect season, in Worcester, Mass., Arpine Azizian, owner of Shavarsh Jewelry, will be watching to see if she'll be handing out $250,000 in free jewelry. This fall, Azizian ran a season-long sales promotion offering her customers a 100% rebate on their jewelry purchases if New England could finish the regular season undefeated, something that hasn't happened since the Dolphin's perfect season in 1972.

While most retailers would be concerned about the prospect of refunding $250,000, Azizian isn't the slightest bit concerned about the outcome of the game. In fact, she'll be cheering New England on to victory, thanks to an insurance policy underwritten by the Reno, Nevada-based insured-prize promotions company, Odds On Promotions.

According to Mark Gilmartin, President of Odds On Promotions, whose company will be picking up the tab for the free jewelry if the New England defeat the Giants, "Retailers utilize these kinds of promotions in order to attract more shoppers. In fact, conditional rebates are quite popular because they are fun for customers and are effective at helping retailers grab attention."

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/12/prweb594742.htm

$250,000 in Free Jewelry Riding on New England's Perfect Season

With a little help from Nevada-based Odds On Promotions, Worcester, Mass. jewelry retailer will refund up to $250,000 based on the outcome of Saturday's football game between New England and the Giants.

Reno, NV (PRWEB) December 29, 2007 -- While football fans everywhere will be tuning in Saturday to see if New England can pull off the perfect season, in Worcester, Mass., Arpine Azizian, owner of Shavarsh Jewelry, will be watching to see if she'll be handing out $250,000 in free jewelry. This fall, Azizian ran a season-long sales promotion offering her customers a 100% rebate on their jewelry purchases if New England could finish the regular season undefeated, something that hasn't happened since the Dolphin's perfect season in 1972.

While most retailers would be concerned about the prospect of refunding $250,000, Azizian isn't the slightest bit concerned about the outcome of the game. In fact, she'll be cheering New England on to victory, thanks to an insurance policy underwritten by the Reno, Nevada-based insured-prize promotions company, Odds On Promotions.

According to Mark Gilmartin, President of Odds On Promotions, whose company will be picking up the tab for the free jewelry if the New England defeat the Giants, "Retailers utilize these kinds of promotions in order to attract more shoppers. In fact, conditional rebates are quite popular because they are fun for customers and are effective at helping retailers grab attention."

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/12/prweb594742.htm

$250,000 in Free Jewelry Riding on New England's Perfect Season

With a little help from Nevada-based Odds On Promotions, Worcester, Mass. jewelry retailer will refund up to $250,000 based on the outcome of Saturday's football game between New England and the Giants.

Reno, NV (PRWEB) December 29, 2007 -- While football fans everywhere will be tuning in Saturday to see if New England can pull off the perfect season, in Worcester, Mass., Arpine Azizian, owner of Shavarsh Jewelry, will be watching to see if she'll be handing out $250,000 in free jewelry. This fall, Azizian ran a season-long sales promotion offering her customers a 100% rebate on their jewelry purchases if New England could finish the regular season undefeated, something that hasn't happened since the Dolphin's perfect season in 1972.

While most retailers would be concerned about the prospect of refunding $250,000, Azizian isn't the slightest bit concerned about the outcome of the game. In fact, she'll be cheering New England on to victory, thanks to an insurance policy underwritten by the Reno, Nevada-based insured-prize promotions company, Odds On Promotions.

According to Mark Gilmartin, President of Odds On Promotions, whose company will be picking up the tab for the free jewelry if the New England defeat the Giants, "Retailers utilize these kinds of promotions in order to attract more shoppers. In fact, conditional rebates are quite popular because they are fun for customers and are effective at helping retailers grab attention."

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/12/prweb594742.htm

$250,000 in Free Jewelry Riding on New England's Perfect Season

With a little help from Nevada-based Odds On Promotions, Worcester, Mass. jewelry retailer will refund up to $250,000 based on the outcome of Saturday's football game between New England and the Giants.

Reno, NV (PRWEB) December 29, 2007 -- While football fans everywhere will be tuning in Saturday to see if New England can pull off the perfect season, in Worcester, Mass., Arpine Azizian, owner of Shavarsh Jewelry, will be watching to see if she'll be handing out $250,000 in free jewelry. This fall, Azizian ran a season-long sales promotion offering her customers a 100% rebate on their jewelry purchases if New England could finish the regular season undefeated, something that hasn't happened since the Dolphin's perfect season in 1972.

While most retailers would be concerned about the prospect of refunding $250,000, Azizian isn't the slightest bit concerned about the outcome of the game. In fact, she'll be cheering New England on to victory, thanks to an insurance policy underwritten by the Reno, Nevada-based insured-prize promotions company, Odds On Promotions.

According to Mark Gilmartin, President of Odds On Promotions, whose company will be picking up the tab for the free jewelry if the New England defeat the Giants, "Retailers utilize these kinds of promotions in order to attract more shoppers. In fact, conditional rebates are quite popular because they are fun for customers and are effective at helping retailers grab attention."

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/12/prweb594742.htm

Costume jewelry has more value if it's a signed piece

Bling is back -- and couldn't be more appropriate than during the holidays and on New Year's Eve, when a little sparkle adds to the festiveness of the season.

Today's fashionistas have even rediscovered the bling of the past, making yesterday's costume jewelry big business and a hot collectible, says Judith Miller, co-author of "Costume Jewelry (DK Collector's Guide)" (DK Publishing, $30).

"Costume jewelry is essentially a 20th-century term for jewelry made from non-precious metals, such as imitation gemstones and faux pearls set in silver or inexpensive base metals," she explains in Costume Jewelry. "Costume jewelry was often produced in large quantities, with pieces designed to go with each new season's outfits. Much of it was unsigned and was never intended to last for a long time. However, despite the inexpensive materials used, much costume jewelry is just as beautiful and as highly crafted as its precious counterpart and is now considered highly collectible. All that glitters may not be gold, but it certainly can be addictive."

Many of our mothers and grandmothers had jewelry boxes filled with the types of pieces that now bring top dollar at antique shows. Sharon Kennedy's mother was a fan of costume jewelry, she says, and she is lucky enough to still have many of her pieces.

"My mother was a big fan of jewelry and loved glitter," says Kennedy, of Detroit.

"When she passed away, I acquired numerous amounts of jewelry that she had collected over her years of living and traveling because of gospel singing in National Baptist conventions."

Kennedy brought a number of those pieces to Robert DuMouchelle for evaluation during a recent appraisal session.

DuMouchelle praised the jewelry's "sparkle factor," and its affordability and reinforced costume jewelry's growing popularity in the ever-changing world of antiques and collectibles.

"We definitely sell a lot of costume jewelry these days," he confirms. "While we often sell them in groupings, the individual pieces are collectible and bring varying amounts. The nice thing is that many people can afford to collect costume jewelry, and it's fun to wear."

DuMouchelle says that certain pieces bring a premium. "First, signed pieces are always worth more than non-signed," he says. "Big names such as Miriam Haskell, Chanel and Trifari bring more than later or lesser-known names. Unusual styles and rare pieces also command more."

Sharon brought in five or six pieces, saying she had even more at home. DuMouchelle thought that, although unsigned, her enameled parrot pin could bring $75-$125. The rest varied in value.

Kennedy has considered selling them, but can't seem to part with them.

"I have had some offers, but I haven't really decided what to do," she says. "I'm thinking of making a shadow box out of some of them and keeping one or two to wear. I wore one to an event the other day and got a lot of compliments.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/LIFESTYLE01/712290390/1038/LIFESTYLE01

Costume jewelry has more value if it's a signed piece

Bling is back -- and couldn't be more appropriate than during the holidays and on New Year's Eve, when a little sparkle adds to the festiveness of the season.

Today's fashionistas have even rediscovered the bling of the past, making yesterday's costume jewelry big business and a hot collectible, says Judith Miller, co-author of "Costume Jewelry (DK Collector's Guide)" (DK Publishing, $30).

"Costume jewelry is essentially a 20th-century term for jewelry made from non-precious metals, such as imitation gemstones and faux pearls set in silver or inexpensive base metals," she explains in Costume Jewelry. "Costume jewelry was often produced in large quantities, with pieces designed to go with each new season's outfits. Much of it was unsigned and was never intended to last for a long time. However, despite the inexpensive materials used, much costume jewelry is just as beautiful and as highly crafted as its precious counterpart and is now considered highly collectible. All that glitters may not be gold, but it certainly can be addictive."

Many of our mothers and grandmothers had jewelry boxes filled with the types of pieces that now bring top dollar at antique shows. Sharon Kennedy's mother was a fan of costume jewelry, she says, and she is lucky enough to still have many of her pieces.

"My mother was a big fan of jewelry and loved glitter," says Kennedy, of Detroit.

"When she passed away, I acquired numerous amounts of jewelry that she had collected over her years of living and traveling because of gospel singing in National Baptist conventions."

Kennedy brought a number of those pieces to Robert DuMouchelle for evaluation during a recent appraisal session.

DuMouchelle praised the jewelry's "sparkle factor," and its affordability and reinforced costume jewelry's growing popularity in the ever-changing world of antiques and collectibles.

"We definitely sell a lot of costume jewelry these days," he confirms. "While we often sell them in groupings, the individual pieces are collectible and bring varying amounts. The nice thing is that many people can afford to collect costume jewelry, and it's fun to wear."

DuMouchelle says that certain pieces bring a premium. "First, signed pieces are always worth more than non-signed," he says. "Big names such as Miriam Haskell, Chanel and Trifari bring more than later or lesser-known names. Unusual styles and rare pieces also command more."

Sharon brought in five or six pieces, saying she had even more at home. DuMouchelle thought that, although unsigned, her enameled parrot pin could bring $75-$125. The rest varied in value.

Kennedy has considered selling them, but can't seem to part with them.

"I have had some offers, but I haven't really decided what to do," she says. "I'm thinking of making a shadow box out of some of them and keeping one or two to wear. I wore one to an event the other day and got a lot of compliments.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/LIFESTYLE01/712290390/1038/LIFESTYLE01

Costume jewelry has more value if it's a signed piece

Bling is back -- and couldn't be more appropriate than during the holidays and on New Year's Eve, when a little sparkle adds to the festiveness of the season.

Today's fashionistas have even rediscovered the bling of the past, making yesterday's costume jewelry big business and a hot collectible, says Judith Miller, co-author of "Costume Jewelry (DK Collector's Guide)" (DK Publishing, $30).

"Costume jewelry is essentially a 20th-century term for jewelry made from non-precious metals, such as imitation gemstones and faux pearls set in silver or inexpensive base metals," she explains in Costume Jewelry. "Costume jewelry was often produced in large quantities, with pieces designed to go with each new season's outfits. Much of it was unsigned and was never intended to last for a long time. However, despite the inexpensive materials used, much costume jewelry is just as beautiful and as highly crafted as its precious counterpart and is now considered highly collectible. All that glitters may not be gold, but it certainly can be addictive."

Many of our mothers and grandmothers had jewelry boxes filled with the types of pieces that now bring top dollar at antique shows. Sharon Kennedy's mother was a fan of costume jewelry, she says, and she is lucky enough to still have many of her pieces.

"My mother was a big fan of jewelry and loved glitter," says Kennedy, of Detroit.

"When she passed away, I acquired numerous amounts of jewelry that she had collected over her years of living and traveling because of gospel singing in National Baptist conventions."

Kennedy brought a number of those pieces to Robert DuMouchelle for evaluation during a recent appraisal session.

DuMouchelle praised the jewelry's "sparkle factor," and its affordability and reinforced costume jewelry's growing popularity in the ever-changing world of antiques and collectibles.

"We definitely sell a lot of costume jewelry these days," he confirms. "While we often sell them in groupings, the individual pieces are collectible and bring varying amounts. The nice thing is that many people can afford to collect costume jewelry, and it's fun to wear."

DuMouchelle says that certain pieces bring a premium. "First, signed pieces are always worth more than non-signed," he says. "Big names such as Miriam Haskell, Chanel and Trifari bring more than later or lesser-known names. Unusual styles and rare pieces also command more."

Sharon brought in five or six pieces, saying she had even more at home. DuMouchelle thought that, although unsigned, her enameled parrot pin could bring $75-$125. The rest varied in value.

Kennedy has considered selling them, but can't seem to part with them.

"I have had some offers, but I haven't really decided what to do," she says. "I'm thinking of making a shadow box out of some of them and keeping one or two to wear. I wore one to an event the other day and got a lot of compliments.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/LIFESTYLE01/712290390/1038/LIFESTYLE01

Costume jewelry has more value if it's a signed piece

Bling is back -- and couldn't be more appropriate than during the holidays and on New Year's Eve, when a little sparkle adds to the festiveness of the season.

Today's fashionistas have even rediscovered the bling of the past, making yesterday's costume jewelry big business and a hot collectible, says Judith Miller, co-author of "Costume Jewelry (DK Collector's Guide)" (DK Publishing, $30).

"Costume jewelry is essentially a 20th-century term for jewelry made from non-precious metals, such as imitation gemstones and faux pearls set in silver or inexpensive base metals," she explains in Costume Jewelry. "Costume jewelry was often produced in large quantities, with pieces designed to go with each new season's outfits. Much of it was unsigned and was never intended to last for a long time. However, despite the inexpensive materials used, much costume jewelry is just as beautiful and as highly crafted as its precious counterpart and is now considered highly collectible. All that glitters may not be gold, but it certainly can be addictive."

Many of our mothers and grandmothers had jewelry boxes filled with the types of pieces that now bring top dollar at antique shows. Sharon Kennedy's mother was a fan of costume jewelry, she says, and she is lucky enough to still have many of her pieces.

"My mother was a big fan of jewelry and loved glitter," says Kennedy, of Detroit.

"When she passed away, I acquired numerous amounts of jewelry that she had collected over her years of living and traveling because of gospel singing in National Baptist conventions."

Kennedy brought a number of those pieces to Robert DuMouchelle for evaluation during a recent appraisal session.

DuMouchelle praised the jewelry's "sparkle factor," and its affordability and reinforced costume jewelry's growing popularity in the ever-changing world of antiques and collectibles.

"We definitely sell a lot of costume jewelry these days," he confirms. "While we often sell them in groupings, the individual pieces are collectible and bring varying amounts. The nice thing is that many people can afford to collect costume jewelry, and it's fun to wear."

DuMouchelle says that certain pieces bring a premium. "First, signed pieces are always worth more than non-signed," he says. "Big names such as Miriam Haskell, Chanel and Trifari bring more than later or lesser-known names. Unusual styles and rare pieces also command more."

Sharon brought in five or six pieces, saying she had even more at home. DuMouchelle thought that, although unsigned, her enameled parrot pin could bring $75-$125. The rest varied in value.

Kennedy has considered selling them, but can't seem to part with them.

"I have had some offers, but I haven't really decided what to do," she says. "I'm thinking of making a shadow box out of some of them and keeping one or two to wear. I wore one to an event the other day and got a lot of compliments.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/LIFESTYLE01/712290390/1038/LIFESTYLE01

Costume jewelry has more value if it's a signed piece

Bling is back -- and couldn't be more appropriate than during the holidays and on New Year's Eve, when a little sparkle adds to the festiveness of the season.

Today's fashionistas have even rediscovered the bling of the past, making yesterday's costume jewelry big business and a hot collectible, says Judith Miller, co-author of "Costume Jewelry (DK Collector's Guide)" (DK Publishing, $30).

"Costume jewelry is essentially a 20th-century term for jewelry made from non-precious metals, such as imitation gemstones and faux pearls set in silver or inexpensive base metals," she explains in Costume Jewelry. "Costume jewelry was often produced in large quantities, with pieces designed to go with each new season's outfits. Much of it was unsigned and was never intended to last for a long time. However, despite the inexpensive materials used, much costume jewelry is just as beautiful and as highly crafted as its precious counterpart and is now considered highly collectible. All that glitters may not be gold, but it certainly can be addictive."

Many of our mothers and grandmothers had jewelry boxes filled with the types of pieces that now bring top dollar at antique shows. Sharon Kennedy's mother was a fan of costume jewelry, she says, and she is lucky enough to still have many of her pieces.

"My mother was a big fan of jewelry and loved glitter," says Kennedy, of Detroit.

"When she passed away, I acquired numerous amounts of jewelry that she had collected over her years of living and traveling because of gospel singing in National Baptist conventions."

Kennedy brought a number of those pieces to Robert DuMouchelle for evaluation during a recent appraisal session.

DuMouchelle praised the jewelry's "sparkle factor," and its affordability and reinforced costume jewelry's growing popularity in the ever-changing world of antiques and collectibles.

"We definitely sell a lot of costume jewelry these days," he confirms. "While we often sell them in groupings, the individual pieces are collectible and bring varying amounts. The nice thing is that many people can afford to collect costume jewelry, and it's fun to wear."

DuMouchelle says that certain pieces bring a premium. "First, signed pieces are always worth more than non-signed," he says. "Big names such as Miriam Haskell, Chanel and Trifari bring more than later or lesser-known names. Unusual styles and rare pieces also command more."

Sharon brought in five or six pieces, saying she had even more at home. DuMouchelle thought that, although unsigned, her enameled parrot pin could bring $75-$125. The rest varied in value.

Kennedy has considered selling them, but can't seem to part with them.

"I have had some offers, but I haven't really decided what to do," she says. "I'm thinking of making a shadow box out of some of them and keeping one or two to wear. I wore one to an event the other day and got a lot of compliments.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/LIFESTYLE01/712290390/1038/LIFESTYLE01

See all our Pictures

See all of the photos Katherine took of the wedding and other events at:

India Part II: Hyderabad

When next we have internet (we are off to Calcutta now) we will try to post captions for the pictures so you will have an idea of what is going on in them.

Katherine's Reflections on the Wedding

From India Part II...

Katherine: The wedding was fun and so exhausting -- here is my attempt to describe bits of it. The first prayers of the parents with the priests in front of a private altar started at 7:30am and it finally ended around 12:30 in the afternoon. You would not believe the length of the rituals -- food and drinks are served throughout the event, people are talking on their cell phones or with other people (even the parents while doing one of the blessings of the newly married couple and even the priest at one point during the ceremony!), and kids are singing or playing games. Somehow, none of this feels inappropriate to the ritual -- there is great detail to follow but lots of space to relax and enjoy in the midst of it! The building of the fire about 4 hours into the ceremony was wild because I didn't think they could possibly add more ritual and then they built a fire and had to do innumerable prayers and walk around it many times, while their garments were tied together. I have fewer pictures of this because I was definitely worn out by this time. But the colors and decorations were exquisite and the garlands and flowers seemed never-ending. As well as the copious amounts of rice, coconuts, water, betel leaves, earth, and turmeric and vermilion powder, there was nearly constant chanting by one of the priests in Sanskrit (another reason why the background talking and socializing was not disturbing, there was already constant noise). At one point during the ceremony a paste of the spices was pressed into each of the bride's and groom's heads and left for the remaining time. Again, it feels like a lot to describe these 5 hours of sensory overload -- I think the photographs will paint a much more vivid picture. Note the photograph of Smriti's father's watch as he waits for the precise moment of 10:42am when the cloth between the bride and groom was removed for them to see each other (traditionally they would have been seeing each other, and even touching each other, for the first time...can you imagine the drama of this!?). Yesterday, an analog watch was used to monitor this precise moment. Also, the bride's outfits alone were amazing -- especially as she was carried in to the main ceremony area in a basket!

From India Part II...

Apparently, there is a good deal of choice when planning modern Indian weddings. Another wedding that occurred at the resort last night had a much more western feel -- it also started at 7pm and the reception was over around 11pm! There was alcohol at this event, too, whereas it was nonexistant at either the wedding or reception yesterday. (note: Gretchen and I will be missing an event tonight which is actually a martini party for the family's business associates, and some important people will be attending, evidently). We are grateful for Mark and Smriti's choice to have a very traditional wedding as it is an experience we will never forget.

We just said goodbye to Mark and Smriti; Mark's father and step-mother; Greg, Mark's friend, who stood as his best man in lieu of Mark's siblings being present; and Mary, Smriti's host mother from the States. Along with Gretchen and me, we comprised the American contingent of the wedding. It is funny how fast people can feel like family, especially when sharing a special occasion and being in a foreign land. We were sad to say good-bye but glad to have such great company as we attempted to digest all of the wonder of an Indian wedding.

Hot Oil Treatment

Gretchen and Katherine:  After we survived a 5-hour wedding (that didn't include the reception which happened later that evening), it was high time for an ayurvedic massage treatment!  There are many to choose to from, though the descriptions left us wondering exactly what we would experience.  We decided to each try something called Sirodhara, which was described in the brochure as:

 

Begins with an anti-stress massage and liberal application of medicated oils on the head and body as you lie on a special wooden plank.  Then the specified medicine is made to drop gently and continuously on the forhead for an hour.  Clients will notice remarkable results making this a prefered treatment for headaches, hysteria, anxiety and stress disorders, cervical spondylosis and sleep disorders."

 

This  is the first time, we've read the description since receiving the treatment, and we realize how accurate it is.  The application of oil was so "liberal" that we practically slid off the plank at the end, and the woman wrung out liters of oil from our hair.  Gretchen was perfectly comfortable on the special wooden plank, but Katherine found it painful after about 45 minutes.  The "anti-stress" massage they gave at the beginning was much more percussive than we're used to in the States, and it took some mental adjustments to learn to enjoy the thwacking to the head.  The oil treatment to the forehead was fascinating.  A clay bowl hung over our temples, and it swung gently with a steady stream of warm oil pouring down onto us.  If it weren't such a new sensation, perhaps we would have found it more relaxing.  And it is true that we had no hysteria, anxiety, or cervical spondylosis by the end...and Katherine (famous for her difficulty sleeping) was only awakened by Gretchen's snoring.  (Please note: the unusual case of snoring was due to a head cold, which was not cured by the oil treatment).
 

A Few Off-the-Cuff Impressions of the Wedding

Gretchen here: I've grown, over the last few days, to adore the informality of Indian ritual. People come and go, watch some ceremonies but not others, go get food when they are hungry. Because the rituals are thousands of years old, few people know how to do them, so the priest has to give instructions as he goes. Sometimes mistakes are made and people laugh! Everyone is relaxed and patient, lounging on mats or sitting on chairs. Often, the "uncles" would call encouragement to Mark, telling him to throw more rice or commenting on what the wedding was like for them many years ago.

It seems the major gift to give at Indian weddings is clothes. And the bride's family gives most of the presents!! Many of the clothes are given to the elders; others are given to Mark and Smriti. They are going to have a suitcase full of shirts to take back to America!!

Also, the bride and groom changes clothes over and over again. I think Mark got three outfits, and so did Smriti. And tonight is a reception, with yet another outfit to wear.

Another beautiful moment for me was watching the parents do their special pooja at the beginning of the day. During my favorite part, they had 5 bowls that represented earth, north, south, east, and west. The bowls were then filled with dirt, followed by nine seeds, and then watered with milk. Finally, they were covered with flowers and spices. Talk about fertility! This tradition goes back to the earliest Aryans who whose livelihood depended on farming...and it makes sense that a newly married couple would want to invoke abundant harvests.

OK, I think I'd better go now. After five hours of ritual, a hefty lunch, and an oil massage, I'm ready to put my feet up for a bit. More later when the pictures are posted.

4.5 Carat Sterling Silver CZ Tennis Bracelet

The look of white gold at a silver price! This sterling silver bracelet perfectly mimics white gold and diamonds with its rhodium finish and cubic-zirconia stones. Rhodium is a metal that is part of the platinum family. High-end silver and gold are rhodium treated to prevent oxidation and to have the white shiny look associated with platinum and white gold. This bracelet's rhodium finish will prevent it from tarnishing. more details

NEW: EXQUISITE PORTRAIT MINIATURES

Be sure to visit my newest website:

www.exquisiteminiatures.com

I will be offering for purchase only the finest portrait and mourning miniatures, hairwork jewelry, silhouettes, and cameos.

NEW: EXQUISITE PORTRAIT MINIATURES

Be sure to visit my newest website:

www.exquisiteminiatures.com

I will be offering for purchase only the finest portrait and mourning miniatures, hairwork jewelry, silhouettes, and cameos.

Once you send your wedding invitation letters, you might find many people are asking how did you meet each other, when did you meet, where did you meet, and other intriguing questions. At the beginning, telling all those flash back are fun. But when you are repeating them for more that 5 times, it becomes time consuming already.That is why nowadays, many couple put their "journey to the wedding

Diamond Rings - 3 Quick Tips to Avoid Paying Too Much

Most of us are true novices when it comes to shopping for diamond rings and other jewelry. There’s a lot that goes into the process of evaluating the relative worth of diamonds, primarily centered around what are called the ‘4 C’s’ (clarity, cut, color, carat-weight). Unless you’ve bought a number of diamonds, chances are you’re more or less clueless. That’s certainly a common occurrence, so don’t feel bad!

Here are three easily remembered tips for the next time diamond ring shopping confronts you. Print this out or jot them down and keep in your wallet or purse. Assuming you remember you did so when the moment arrives, you’ll be armed with the basic knowledge necessary to avoid being taken to the cleaners by a clever jewelry shop salesperson.

Tip #1 – Always Get a Guarantee

This is a must. Never ever, under any circumstances, take the word of a diamond jewelry “expert” in a store on the value of a diamond (loose or in a setting). The shifty ones prey on excited customers who are novices and, thus, prone to making impulse purchases. Even if the seller offers official-looking paperwork as proof of the diamond’s quality, demand an ironclad written guarantee. If they balk, leave and shop elsewhere.

Tip #2 – Don’t Let Size Decide

If there’s one enduring myth about buying diamond rings and other jewelry, it’s that big diamonds are always worth more. In fact, the exact opposite is often true! Remember the ‘4 C’s’ mentioned earlier. Carat-weight is just one of four. A simple example will suffice to illustrate this point. If you have the choice between a large diamond that rates lower on clarity and color than one with the same cut that’s smaller but has a higher rating on clarity and color, choose the smaller option. The overall quality of the smaller diamond almost always makes it worth more as a long-term investment than the lesser quality big one. The bottom line: only let carat-weight decide if the clarity and color of two diamonds are identical (or at least very close).

Tip #3 – Ignore the Ring

This one trips up a lot of impulse buyers who fall in love with the ring setting, to the point of virtually ignoring the diamond it holds. If you remember one simple fact, you might be able to keep a rein on your emotions: diamonds are forever; settings can be changed easily. Don’t let the ring itself distract you from the primary concern, which is the quality and long-term value of the diamond that the ring merely holds in place.

Of course, at the end of the day, you have to really love what you’re buying. If you see a diamond ring you just have to have, you can ignore all of this and go for it. If you have the monetary means, why not, right? But, for the vast majority of us, following the simple tips outlined above will prevent a disaster in the making. Good luck!

© John Schwartz (all rights reserved)

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and website publisher. For more information and tips on diamond rings and other jewelry, visit his site at http://www.diamond-rings-1.com today.

Diamond Rings - 3 Quick Tips to Avoid Paying Too Much

Most of us are true novices when it comes to shopping for diamond rings and other jewelry. There’s a lot that goes into the process of evaluating the relative worth of diamonds, primarily centered around what are called the ‘4 C’s’ (clarity, cut, color, carat-weight). Unless you’ve bought a number of diamonds, chances are you’re more or less clueless. That’s certainly a common occurrence, so don’t feel bad!

Here are three easily remembered tips for the next time diamond ring shopping confronts you. Print this out or jot them down and keep in your wallet or purse. Assuming you remember you did so when the moment arrives, you’ll be armed with the basic knowledge necessary to avoid being taken to the cleaners by a clever jewelry shop salesperson.

Tip #1 – Always Get a Guarantee

This is a must. Never ever, under any circumstances, take the word of a diamond jewelry “expert” in a store on the value of a diamond (loose or in a setting). The shifty ones prey on excited customers who are novices and, thus, prone to making impulse purchases. Even if the seller offers official-looking paperwork as proof of the diamond’s quality, demand an ironclad written guarantee. If they balk, leave and shop elsewhere.

Tip #2 – Don’t Let Size Decide

If there’s one enduring myth about buying diamond rings and other jewelry, it’s that big diamonds are always worth more. In fact, the exact opposite is often true! Remember the ‘4 C’s’ mentioned earlier. Carat-weight is just one of four. A simple example will suffice to illustrate this point. If you have the choice between a large diamond that rates lower on clarity and color than one with the same cut that’s smaller but has a higher rating on clarity and color, choose the smaller option. The overall quality of the smaller diamond almost always makes it worth more as a long-term investment than the lesser quality big one. The bottom line: only let carat-weight decide if the clarity and color of two diamonds are identical (or at least very close).

Tip #3 – Ignore the Ring

This one trips up a lot of impulse buyers who fall in love with the ring setting, to the point of virtually ignoring the diamond it holds. If you remember one simple fact, you might be able to keep a rein on your emotions: diamonds are forever; settings can be changed easily. Don’t let the ring itself distract you from the primary concern, which is the quality and long-term value of the diamond that the ring merely holds in place.

Of course, at the end of the day, you have to really love what you’re buying. If you see a diamond ring you just have to have, you can ignore all of this and go for it. If you have the monetary means, why not, right? But, for the vast majority of us, following the simple tips outlined above will prevent a disaster in the making. Good luck!

© John Schwartz (all rights reserved)

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and website publisher. For more information and tips on diamond rings and other jewelry, visit his site at http://www.diamond-rings-1.com today.

Diamond Rings - 3 Quick Tips to Avoid Paying Too Much

Most of us are true novices when it comes to shopping for diamond rings and other jewelry. There’s a lot that goes into the process of evaluating the relative worth of diamonds, primarily centered around what are called the ‘4 C’s’ (clarity, cut, color, carat-weight). Unless you’ve bought a number of diamonds, chances are you’re more or less clueless. That’s certainly a common occurrence, so don’t feel bad!

Here are three easily remembered tips for the next time diamond ring shopping confronts you. Print this out or jot them down and keep in your wallet or purse. Assuming you remember you did so when the moment arrives, you’ll be armed with the basic knowledge necessary to avoid being taken to the cleaners by a clever jewelry shop salesperson.

Tip #1 – Always Get a Guarantee

This is a must. Never ever, under any circumstances, take the word of a diamond jewelry “expert” in a store on the value of a diamond (loose or in a setting). The shifty ones prey on excited customers who are novices and, thus, prone to making impulse purchases. Even if the seller offers official-looking paperwork as proof of the diamond’s quality, demand an ironclad written guarantee. If they balk, leave and shop elsewhere.

Tip #2 – Don’t Let Size Decide

If there’s one enduring myth about buying diamond rings and other jewelry, it’s that big diamonds are always worth more. In fact, the exact opposite is often true! Remember the ‘4 C’s’ mentioned earlier. Carat-weight is just one of four. A simple example will suffice to illustrate this point. If you have the choice between a large diamond that rates lower on clarity and color than one with the same cut that’s smaller but has a higher rating on clarity and color, choose the smaller option. The overall quality of the smaller diamond almost always makes it worth more as a long-term investment than the lesser quality big one. The bottom line: only let carat-weight decide if the clarity and color of two diamonds are identical (or at least very close).

Tip #3 – Ignore the Ring

This one trips up a lot of impulse buyers who fall in love with the ring setting, to the point of virtually ignoring the diamond it holds. If you remember one simple fact, you might be able to keep a rein on your emotions: diamonds are forever; settings can be changed easily. Don’t let the ring itself distract you from the primary concern, which is the quality and long-term value of the diamond that the ring merely holds in place.

Of course, at the end of the day, you have to really love what you’re buying. If you see a diamond ring you just have to have, you can ignore all of this and go for it. If you have the monetary means, why not, right? But, for the vast majority of us, following the simple tips outlined above will prevent a disaster in the making. Good luck!

© John Schwartz (all rights reserved)

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and website publisher. For more information and tips on diamond rings and other jewelry, visit his site at http://www.diamond-rings-1.com today.

Diamond Rings - 3 Quick Tips to Avoid Paying Too Much

Most of us are true novices when it comes to shopping for diamond rings and other jewelry. There’s a lot that goes into the process of evaluating the relative worth of diamonds, primarily centered around what are called the ‘4 C’s’ (clarity, cut, color, carat-weight). Unless you’ve bought a number of diamonds, chances are you’re more or less clueless. That’s certainly a common occurrence, so don’t feel bad!

Here are three easily remembered tips for the next time diamond ring shopping confronts you. Print this out or jot them down and keep in your wallet or purse. Assuming you remember you did so when the moment arrives, you’ll be armed with the basic knowledge necessary to avoid being taken to the cleaners by a clever jewelry shop salesperson.

Tip #1 – Always Get a Guarantee

This is a must. Never ever, under any circumstances, take the word of a diamond jewelry “expert” in a store on the value of a diamond (loose or in a setting). The shifty ones prey on excited customers who are novices and, thus, prone to making impulse purchases. Even if the seller offers official-looking paperwork as proof of the diamond’s quality, demand an ironclad written guarantee. If they balk, leave and shop elsewhere.

Tip #2 – Don’t Let Size Decide

If there’s one enduring myth about buying diamond rings and other jewelry, it’s that big diamonds are always worth more. In fact, the exact opposite is often true! Remember the ‘4 C’s’ mentioned earlier. Carat-weight is just one of four. A simple example will suffice to illustrate this point. If you have the choice between a large diamond that rates lower on clarity and color than one with the same cut that’s smaller but has a higher rating on clarity and color, choose the smaller option. The overall quality of the smaller diamond almost always makes it worth more as a long-term investment than the lesser quality big one. The bottom line: only let carat-weight decide if the clarity and color of two diamonds are identical (or at least very close).

Tip #3 – Ignore the Ring

This one trips up a lot of impulse buyers who fall in love with the ring setting, to the point of virtually ignoring the diamond it holds. If you remember one simple fact, you might be able to keep a rein on your emotions: diamonds are forever; settings can be changed easily. Don’t let the ring itself distract you from the primary concern, which is the quality and long-term value of the diamond that the ring merely holds in place.

Of course, at the end of the day, you have to really love what you’re buying. If you see a diamond ring you just have to have, you can ignore all of this and go for it. If you have the monetary means, why not, right? But, for the vast majority of us, following the simple tips outlined above will prevent a disaster in the making. Good luck!

© John Schwartz (all rights reserved)

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and website publisher. For more information and tips on diamond rings and other jewelry, visit his site at http://www.diamond-rings-1.com today.

Diamond Rings - 3 Quick Tips to Avoid Paying Too Much

Most of us are true novices when it comes to shopping for diamond rings and other jewelry. There’s a lot that goes into the process of evaluating the relative worth of diamonds, primarily centered around what are called the ‘4 C’s’ (clarity, cut, color, carat-weight). Unless you’ve bought a number of diamonds, chances are you’re more or less clueless. That’s certainly a common occurrence, so don’t feel bad!

Here are three easily remembered tips for the next time diamond ring shopping confronts you. Print this out or jot them down and keep in your wallet or purse. Assuming you remember you did so when the moment arrives, you’ll be armed with the basic knowledge necessary to avoid being taken to the cleaners by a clever jewelry shop salesperson.

Tip #1 – Always Get a Guarantee

This is a must. Never ever, under any circumstances, take the word of a diamond jewelry “expert” in a store on the value of a diamond (loose or in a setting). The shifty ones prey on excited customers who are novices and, thus, prone to making impulse purchases. Even if the seller offers official-looking paperwork as proof of the diamond’s quality, demand an ironclad written guarantee. If they balk, leave and shop elsewhere.

Tip #2 – Don’t Let Size Decide

If there’s one enduring myth about buying diamond rings and other jewelry, it’s that big diamonds are always worth more. In fact, the exact opposite is often true! Remember the ‘4 C’s’ mentioned earlier. Carat-weight is just one of four. A simple example will suffice to illustrate this point. If you have the choice between a large diamond that rates lower on clarity and color than one with the same cut that’s smaller but has a higher rating on clarity and color, choose the smaller option. The overall quality of the smaller diamond almost always makes it worth more as a long-term investment than the lesser quality big one. The bottom line: only let carat-weight decide if the clarity and color of two diamonds are identical (or at least very close).

Tip #3 – Ignore the Ring

This one trips up a lot of impulse buyers who fall in love with the ring setting, to the point of virtually ignoring the diamond it holds. If you remember one simple fact, you might be able to keep a rein on your emotions: diamonds are forever; settings can be changed easily. Don’t let the ring itself distract you from the primary concern, which is the quality and long-term value of the diamond that the ring merely holds in place.

Of course, at the end of the day, you have to really love what you’re buying. If you see a diamond ring you just have to have, you can ignore all of this and go for it. If you have the monetary means, why not, right? But, for the vast majority of us, following the simple tips outlined above will prevent a disaster in the making. Good luck!

© John Schwartz (all rights reserved)

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and website publisher. For more information and tips on diamond rings and other jewelry, visit his site at http://www.diamond-rings-1.com today.

Digging for Diamonds

Jewelry has become a major online category, in a counter-intuitive development within the e-commerce business.

Online jewelry sales are expected to reach $3.2 billion this year, compared with $2.5 billion last year. Overall, 8% of all jewelry sales in 2005 are expected to come from the Internet, up from 6% in 2004 and 3% in 2002. BlueNile forecasts 2005 sales of $205 million to $215 million, up from $169 million in 2004.

Ann Poletti at eBay said, they do $1.6-$1.7 Billion in jewelry and watches, and she gave me these two statistics:

50% ($0.8M) is in diamonds and watches.
50% ($0.8M) is in rings and watches.
These are very compelling numbers, indicating a very compelling opportunity.

An easy way to get into this business for an investor could be by buying Odimo (Nasdaq: ODMO) that owns the portal diamond.com, as well as other internet brands such as Ashford. The company did $52 Million in 2004 sales, but is currently valued at a mere $13 Million. Of course, they are losing beaucoup money. However, some of the P&L problems seem to be artifically created by their majority shareholder, The Steinmetz Group, who remains the sole supplier of diamonds to the company, but at questionable terms. Gross margin numbers seem suspicious.

Bottomline, jewelry online is an opportunity worth pursuing, and TAM is expected to continue to rise as more of the web savvy generations enhance their buying power.

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant Sramana Mitra writes about Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Emerging Technology, Market Moves, and sundry other topics in her Blog "Sramana Mitra on Strategy". Read more of her writings at http://www.sramanamitra.com

Digging for Diamonds

Jewelry has become a major online category, in a counter-intuitive development within the e-commerce business.

Online jewelry sales are expected to reach $3.2 billion this year, compared with $2.5 billion last year. Overall, 8% of all jewelry sales in 2005 are expected to come from the Internet, up from 6% in 2004 and 3% in 2002. BlueNile forecasts 2005 sales of $205 million to $215 million, up from $169 million in 2004.

Ann Poletti at eBay said, they do $1.6-$1.7 Billion in jewelry and watches, and she gave me these two statistics:

50% ($0.8M) is in diamonds and watches.
50% ($0.8M) is in rings and watches.
These are very compelling numbers, indicating a very compelling opportunity.

An easy way to get into this business for an investor could be by buying Odimo (Nasdaq: ODMO) that owns the portal diamond.com, as well as other internet brands such as Ashford. The company did $52 Million in 2004 sales, but is currently valued at a mere $13 Million. Of course, they are losing beaucoup money. However, some of the P&L problems seem to be artifically created by their majority shareholder, The Steinmetz Group, who remains the sole supplier of diamonds to the company, but at questionable terms. Gross margin numbers seem suspicious.

Bottomline, jewelry online is an opportunity worth pursuing, and TAM is expected to continue to rise as more of the web savvy generations enhance their buying power.

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant Sramana Mitra writes about Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Emerging Technology, Market Moves, and sundry other topics in her Blog "Sramana Mitra on Strategy". Read more of her writings at http://www.sramanamitra.com

Digging for Diamonds

Jewelry has become a major online category, in a counter-intuitive development within the e-commerce business.

Online jewelry sales are expected to reach $3.2 billion this year, compared with $2.5 billion last year. Overall, 8% of all jewelry sales in 2005 are expected to come from the Internet, up from 6% in 2004 and 3% in 2002. BlueNile forecasts 2005 sales of $205 million to $215 million, up from $169 million in 2004.

Ann Poletti at eBay said, they do $1.6-$1.7 Billion in jewelry and watches, and she gave me these two statistics:

50% ($0.8M) is in diamonds and watches.
50% ($0.8M) is in rings and watches.
These are very compelling numbers, indicating a very compelling opportunity.

An easy way to get into this business for an investor could be by buying Odimo (Nasdaq: ODMO) that owns the portal diamond.com, as well as other internet brands such as Ashford. The company did $52 Million in 2004 sales, but is currently valued at a mere $13 Million. Of course, they are losing beaucoup money. However, some of the P&L problems seem to be artifically created by their majority shareholder, The Steinmetz Group, who remains the sole supplier of diamonds to the company, but at questionable terms. Gross margin numbers seem suspicious.

Bottomline, jewelry online is an opportunity worth pursuing, and TAM is expected to continue to rise as more of the web savvy generations enhance their buying power.

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant Sramana Mitra writes about Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Emerging Technology, Market Moves, and sundry other topics in her Blog "Sramana Mitra on Strategy". Read more of her writings at http://www.sramanamitra.com

Digging for Diamonds

Jewelry has become a major online category, in a counter-intuitive development within the e-commerce business.

Online jewelry sales are expected to reach $3.2 billion this year, compared with $2.5 billion last year. Overall, 8% of all jewelry sales in 2005 are expected to come from the Internet, up from 6% in 2004 and 3% in 2002. BlueNile forecasts 2005 sales of $205 million to $215 million, up from $169 million in 2004.

Ann Poletti at eBay said, they do $1.6-$1.7 Billion in jewelry and watches, and she gave me these two statistics:

50% ($0.8M) is in diamonds and watches.
50% ($0.8M) is in rings and watches.
These are very compelling numbers, indicating a very compelling opportunity.

An easy way to get into this business for an investor could be by buying Odimo (Nasdaq: ODMO) that owns the portal diamond.com, as well as other internet brands such as Ashford. The company did $52 Million in 2004 sales, but is currently valued at a mere $13 Million. Of course, they are losing beaucoup money. However, some of the P&L problems seem to be artifically created by their majority shareholder, The Steinmetz Group, who remains the sole supplier of diamonds to the company, but at questionable terms. Gross margin numbers seem suspicious.

Bottomline, jewelry online is an opportunity worth pursuing, and TAM is expected to continue to rise as more of the web savvy generations enhance their buying power.

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant Sramana Mitra writes about Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Emerging Technology, Market Moves, and sundry other topics in her Blog "Sramana Mitra on Strategy". Read more of her writings at http://www.sramanamitra.com

Digging for Diamonds

Jewelry has become a major online category, in a counter-intuitive development within the e-commerce business.

Online jewelry sales are expected to reach $3.2 billion this year, compared with $2.5 billion last year. Overall, 8% of all jewelry sales in 2005 are expected to come from the Internet, up from 6% in 2004 and 3% in 2002. BlueNile forecasts 2005 sales of $205 million to $215 million, up from $169 million in 2004.

Ann Poletti at eBay said, they do $1.6-$1.7 Billion in jewelry and watches, and she gave me these two statistics:

50% ($0.8M) is in diamonds and watches.
50% ($0.8M) is in rings and watches.
These are very compelling numbers, indicating a very compelling opportunity.

An easy way to get into this business for an investor could be by buying Odimo (Nasdaq: ODMO) that owns the portal diamond.com, as well as other internet brands such as Ashford. The company did $52 Million in 2004 sales, but is currently valued at a mere $13 Million. Of course, they are losing beaucoup money. However, some of the P&L problems seem to be artifically created by their majority shareholder, The Steinmetz Group, who remains the sole supplier of diamonds to the company, but at questionable terms. Gross margin numbers seem suspicious.

Bottomline, jewelry online is an opportunity worth pursuing, and TAM is expected to continue to rise as more of the web savvy generations enhance their buying power.

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant Sramana Mitra writes about Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Emerging Technology, Market Moves, and sundry other topics in her Blog "Sramana Mitra on Strategy". Read more of her writings at http://www.sramanamitra.com

SWAROVSKI Sapphire DOUBLE GEM Belly Button Ring

316L Surgical Grade Stainless Steel - 14 gauge, 7/16" (11mm) Dazzling Swarovski Belly Ring. This Classic design belly ring is a must have and a great gift idea. Genuine Swarovski Crystals are set to sparkle in both the top 5mm and 8mm bottom ball.

Clearly Charming Live Love Laugh Laser Etched Italian Charm

Authentic Clearly Charming Italian Laser Charms are premium quality stainless steel Italian charm links with official corporate stamp on reverse. They are all laser engraved in the United States for superior quality. It will make a great addition to your Italian charm bracelet or a perfect personalized gift. Add Clearly Charming premium quality modular Italian Charm links to your bracelet to create a lasting memory of special occasions, unique moments, and loved ones or simply show off your personality with a few of your favorite things. Fits all major brands of Italian Charms.

As much as most couples want to budget their wedding, some couples can not avoid the fact that they should held additional wedding ceremony with traditional theme based on the traditional customs on where the couples from.If you held additional traditional customs wedding, it is recommended to have them on the same day with your receptions. This will reduce the cost because you can negotiate

4 Carat Diamond Earring Studs

This is a pair of 2ct diamonds, 4.05 carat total weight, set in 14K White Gold Earrings. I ordered in 3 other pair of diamonds before this set, and the customer wanted larger. ;)

I'm more than happy to help them get what they want.
Chad Warren

WARREN'S Custom Jewelry

Sterling Silver 6mm Round Amethyst Stud Earring and Pendant Set, 18"

This matching amethyst stud earring and pendant set makes a terrific gift for someone with a February birthday, or for anyone who loves the rich purple color of this popular gemstone. Both the earrings and the pendant showcase 6mm rounds of amethyst, held in four-prong settings of sterling silver. The earrings are set on posts with traditional friction backs, and the pendant is displayed on an 18-inch cable chain.

Nowadays with the introduction of pearl cultivation, people don't depend on hunting natural pearls any more, but raise our own pearls! The pearls cultivated by humans are called cultured pearls. During the development of this technology, people have concluded that water quality and temperature, season, oyster and seeding are the important factors to produce high quality pearls. Pearls have become not only valuable but also affordable.

A good pearl designer always looks for people's interests. When they notice that more and more people start paying much attention to pearls, their inspiration can lead to varied creations. If you open a fashion magazine, you can easily find pearls on sexy models and fake or real pearls as small decorations on clothes, handbags, scarf or belts. Pearls have become a new fashion in modern times again.

The incredible variety of pearl colors, shapes, sizes, and types offer people to choose unique pearl jewelry. Currently there’s especially great interest in baroque pearls and the “new” pearl shapes such as petals, coins, and squares.

Pearl jewelry is a hot commodity in Hollywood these days.

Due to the high value of pearls, designers still use them mostly in jewelry, but the design has been changed so much from old days. Everyone knows a modern fashionable word "globalization". fashion is going global. Now pearls are also going “global”. Pearls are not by themselves any more, they are getting mixed with all other kinds of gemstones, metals, and any possible jewelry. The idea of this trend is not only for them to suit formal occasions, but also suit all kinds of circumstances, all ages, status, and classes. The prices of pearl jewelry also vary widely from a few dollars to more than thousands dollars according to the quality and design.

Pearl Jewelry has changed from a rare unaffordable treasure to a mainstream in fashion.

Source : http://www.shecypearljewelry.com/pearl-articles/pearl-jewelry-from-unreachable-treasure-to-mainstream-in-fashion.html

Nowadays with the introduction of pearl cultivation, people don't depend on hunting natural pearls any more, but raise our own pearls! The pearls cultivated by humans are called cultured pearls. During the development of this technology, people have concluded that water quality and temperature, season, oyster and seeding are the important factors to produce high quality pearls. Pearls have become not only valuable but also affordable.

A good pearl designer always looks for people's interests. When they notice that more and more people start paying much attention to pearls, their inspiration can lead to varied creations. If you open a fashion magazine, you can easily find pearls on sexy models and fake or real pearls as small decorations on clothes, handbags, scarf or belts. Pearls have become a new fashion in modern times again.

The incredible variety of pearl colors, shapes, sizes, and types offer people to choose unique pearl jewelry. Currently there’s especially great interest in baroque pearls and the “new” pearl shapes such as petals, coins, and squares.

Pearl jewelry is a hot commodity in Hollywood these days.

Due to the high value of pearls, designers still use them mostly in jewelry, but the design has been changed so much from old days. Everyone knows a modern fashionable word "globalization". fashion is going global. Now pearls are also going “global”. Pearls are not by themselves any more, they are getting mixed with all other kinds of gemstones, metals, and any possible jewelry. The idea of this trend is not only for them to suit formal occasions, but also suit all kinds of circumstances, all ages, status, and classes. The prices of pearl jewelry also vary widely from a few dollars to more than thousands dollars according to the quality and design.

Pearl Jewelry has changed from a rare unaffordable treasure to a mainstream in fashion.

Source : http://www.shecypearljewelry.com/pearl-articles/pearl-jewelry-from-unreachable-treasure-to-mainstream-in-fashion.html

14k White Gold, Round, Diamond Stud Earrings

No jewelry wardrobe is complete without a classic pair of diamond stud earrings, and this pair is a beautiful choice as well as an excellent value. Crafted from gleaming 14 karat white gold, they feature single round-cut diamonds, with a total weight of 1/3 carat. The diamonds are held securely in four-prong settings and featured on posts with friction back closures. Pair these versatile earrings with just about anything in your wardrobe. With their simple, sophisticated styling and subtle flash of sparkle, they transition easily from daytime to evening wear.

Wedding invitation sounds simple and cheap. However, if you want a nice design and multiple by the number of guests that you would invite, the cost can be skyrocketed. below are some tips to cut your budget of your wedding invitation without sacrificing the design that you wanted. 1. Group your guests. You could group your guest especially your friends to have 1 wedding invitations for some of

Hot Tips on Choosing the Right Jewelry

Here are jewelry ideas to help you look your best.

Why wear jewelry? In ancient times jewelry were used as good luck charm and protect the wearer from evil spirits. Nowadays, wearing the right jewelry gives you a touch of class and sensuality. Jewelry can transform you into a princess. A pair of long earrings underscores your lovely neck. A shining gem pendant seems to make your eyes sparkle .Best of all, you only need one or two pieces of jewelry to create the effect.

You can use the design and position of jewelry to enhance your appearance or to draw attention away. Have you got some skin peeling off your forearm from sun tanning ? Avoid wearing bangles or bracelets and pick a stunning ring instead. A choker will also serve to focus attention towards your face. If you got ample bosom that men admire , why not wear a pendant that goes down all the way to your cleavage?

You can try different ideas such as wearing layers of necklaces of different lengths. You can wear multiple bracelets too. Or go for chunky jewelry. You can wear an oversized cocktail ring to attract attention.

There's no need to buy expensive branded jewelry from Tiffany unless you are making an investment. Consider affordable jewelry like costume jewelry. Nowadays there are all kinds of materials used in jewelry from wood , plastic to natural stuff like bamboo and sea shells.

The rage these days is antique jewelry. Now here are some tips concerning wearing these jewelry. Wearing them with T-shirts and any other casual outfit won't match. Then another thing to note is don't match antique jewelry with costume jewelry.

What you wear also reflect your personality. Are you casual and hip or do you prefer a more sophisticated style? What you wear also depends on the occasion. Is it for work or is it for sports or dinner party?

Next, you need to consider the color of your jewelry. Now that depends whether you are a warm or cool person. Generally people are in the cool category because they have black hair and brown eyes. The jewelry in the cool group would be platinum, white gold , silver or other white metals. Warm jewelry includes brass, copper or yellow gold. One way to find out whether you are a warm or cool type is by taking a photo of yourself in warm and cool jewelry . The jewelry that glows and looks brighter on you will be the right one.

In the end , all this are just pointers, most importantly you must like what you are wearing. It's all for the fun and there's no need to wreck your brain.

You can find all these in the jewelry wardrobe put together for you at the jewelry portal http://www.alljewelry.info

Birthstone Jewelry Makes a Great Gift

What is birthstone jewelry? Each month of the year has a specific gemstone associated with it that is considered the "birthstone" for that month. Your birthstone is the gemstone that the month you are born is assigned to.

Since the custom of wearing birthstone jewelry began, it has been thought to provide the wearer with luck and other virtues specific to their month of birth. It also was rumored to provide the wearer with protection from evil forces. In modern times,birthstone jewelry makes a perfect gift for any occasion - Holidays, Birthdays, Anniversaries and any other time you need a thoughtful, yet cost effective gift.

Birthstone jewelry is not hard to find at any department store, or online. Due to its popularity, merchants usually have a decent selection of birthstone rings, pedants, earrings and other birthstone jewelry. You can often find coupons and discounts on birthstone jewelry, especially around the Holidays, Valentines Day, and Mothers Day when it is a popular gift item.

Here is a handy list of months and their birthstones:

January - Garnet

February - Amethyst

March - Aquamarine, Bloodstone

April - White Topaz

May - Emerald

June - Pearl, Moonstone

July - Ruby

August - Peridot

September - Sapphire

October - Opal, Tourmaline

November - Yellow Topaz, Citrine

December - Turquoise, Blue Topaz

Birthstone jewelry makes a great gift for young girls. There is inexpensive quality costume birthstone jewelry that is made specifically for 5 - 12 yr old girls. Kids will find it neat that they are wearing "their" birthstone, not to mention that they will enjoy dressing up in their jewelry just like mom.

Speaking of Mom, birthstone jewelry makes an excellent gift for women as well. There are many varieties of gold, silver and platinum birthstone jewelry. Some of them can be pricey, but are often coupled with diamonds and/or other precious stones. Your recipient will be touched at the personal thought that went into their gift. Or, as a twist, you can even find custom jewelry that has several birthstones, one for each child or grandchild.

For a gift giving guide to birthstone jewelry, or to shop for elegant, yet affordable pieces, visit: The Birthstone Jewelry Gifts Guide at http://www.iWebShopping.org

Finding the Perfect Engagement Ring for the Bride-to-be

Do you know how the tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger of the left hand started? The ancient Egyptians started this tradition symbolizing undying love as they believe the love vein Vena Amoris ran directly from this finger to the heart. Later in AD 860 the Pope Nicolas I made this practice of wearing gold engagement ring official.

Here are some engagement ring ideas.

You want to be unique. Consider getting a colored diamond. They are rarer than white diamonds. In fact, only one in 10,000 diamonds is a colored one. The colors range from yellow, pink and blue. Remember Jennifer Lopez's infamous pink diamond engagement ring ? A pink diamond ring is extremely rare and very expensive with prices starting from more than a hundred thousand. Yellow diamond is more common than the other colors and is definitely more attainable for a well to do couple. Generally, colored diamonds cost 25 to 50% more than white diamonds. In either case, choose a quality diamond by looking at the 4Cs.

Couples are also opting for bigger diamonds. The traditional one carat engagement ring has been superseded by 3 to 5 carat diamonds.

There are many new ideas for engagement rings. You can choose new diamond settings too. I understand round diamond is the most popular followed by the princess cut. The bezel setting is now very popular . Instead of the diamond being elevated, it is surrounded by metal. How about a tension set diamond engagement ring? The diamond seems to float and is actually held on its edges. It looks very cool.

Three stone rings are also hot now, the bigger center diamond is accented on both sides by smaller stones of the same shape. Guy Ritchie and Madonna,Phil Bronstein and Sharon Stone are two of the hottest Hollywood couples currently sporting them.

If you really want to be unique, consider antique diamond or heirloom diamond jewelry where the cutting was actually done manually by craftsman. You can then take out the old setting and place the diamond in a new modern setting. Alternatively, you can also consider getting a new diamond to be placed in your old setting thus making it unique.

The choice of metal is also important. Platinum is sought after for its hypoallergenic properties. It is stronger and heavier than gold and will remain tarnish free forever compared to gold. Other innovative use of metal include two toned rings and even rings that combine three metals.

If you want different gemstone, consider alternative gemstones like Sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

If money is an issue, consider getting a gemstone that looks like the real thing such as Cubic zirconia or moissanite. Moissanite rates an impressive 9.25 on the Mohs scale ( a diamond is a perfect 10) which is harder than emeralds and rubies.A one-carat moissanite cost about $500 while a diamond of the same size may set you back by $6,000. You can always upgrade to a diamond ring on your next wedding anniversary.

Buying a diamond? Check out the diamond prices at http://www.alljewelry.info/diamond-prices.php to ensure you are getting a fair deal. Here is where you can get Three stone diamond rings

Hot Tips on Choosing the Right Jewelry

Here are jewelry ideas to help you look your best.

Why wear jewelry? In ancient times jewelry were used as good luck charm and protect the wearer from evil spirits. Nowadays, wearing the right jewelry gives you a touch of class and sensuality. Jewelry can transform you into a princess. A pair of long earrings underscores your lovely neck. A shining gem pendant seems to make your eyes sparkle .Best of all, you only need one or two pieces of jewelry to create the effect.

You can use the design and position of jewelry to enhance your appearance or to draw attention away. Have you got some skin peeling off your forearm from sun tanning ? Avoid wearing bangles or bracelets and pick a stunning ring instead. A choker will also serve to focus attention towards your face. If you got ample bosom that men admire , why not wear a pendant that goes down all the way to your cleavage?

You can try different ideas such as wearing layers of necklaces of different lengths. You can wear multiple bracelets too. Or go for chunky jewelry. You can wear an oversized cocktail ring to attract attention.

There's no need to buy expensive branded jewelry from Tiffany unless you are making an investment. Consider affordable jewelry like costume jewelry. Nowadays there are all kinds of materials used in jewelry from wood , plastic to natural stuff like bamboo and sea shells.

The rage these days is antique jewelry. Now here are some tips concerning wearing these jewelry. Wearing them with T-shirts and any other casual outfit won't match. Then another thing to note is don't match antique jewelry with costume jewelry.

What you wear also reflect your personality. Are you casual and hip or do you prefer a more sophisticated style? What you wear also depends on the occasion. Is it for work or is it for sports or dinner party?

Next, you need to consider the color of your jewelry. Now that depends whether you are a warm or cool person. Generally people are in the cool category because they have black hair and brown eyes. The jewelry in the cool group would be platinum, white gold , silver or other white metals. Warm jewelry includes brass, copper or yellow gold. One way to find out whether you are a warm or cool type is by taking a photo of yourself in warm and cool jewelry . The jewelry that glows and looks brighter on you will be the right one.

In the end , all this are just pointers, most importantly you must like what you are wearing. It's all for the fun and there's no need to wreck your brain.

You can find all these in the jewelry wardrobe put together for you at the jewelry portal http://www.alljewelry.info

Birthstone Jewelry Makes a Great Gift

What is birthstone jewelry? Each month of the year has a specific gemstone associated with it that is considered the "birthstone" for that month. Your birthstone is the gemstone that the month you are born is assigned to.

Since the custom of wearing birthstone jewelry began, it has been thought to provide the wearer with luck and other virtues specific to their month of birth. It also was rumored to provide the wearer with protection from evil forces. In modern times,birthstone jewelry makes a perfect gift for any occasion - Holidays, Birthdays, Anniversaries and any other time you need a thoughtful, yet cost effective gift.

Birthstone jewelry is not hard to find at any department store, or online. Due to its popularity, merchants usually have a decent selection of birthstone rings, pedants, earrings and other birthstone jewelry. You can often find coupons and discounts on birthstone jewelry, especially around the Holidays, Valentines Day, and Mothers Day when it is a popular gift item.

Here is a handy list of months and their birthstones:

January - Garnet

February - Amethyst

March - Aquamarine, Bloodstone

April - White Topaz

May - Emerald

June - Pearl, Moonstone

July - Ruby

August - Peridot

September - Sapphire

October - Opal, Tourmaline

November - Yellow Topaz, Citrine

December - Turquoise, Blue Topaz

Birthstone jewelry makes a great gift for young girls. There is inexpensive quality costume birthstone jewelry that is made specifically for 5 - 12 yr old girls. Kids will find it neat that they are wearing "their" birthstone, not to mention that they will enjoy dressing up in their jewelry just like mom.

Speaking of Mom, birthstone jewelry makes an excellent gift for women as well. There are many varieties of gold, silver and platinum birthstone jewelry. Some of them can be pricey, but are often coupled with diamonds and/or other precious stones. Your recipient will be touched at the personal thought that went into their gift. Or, as a twist, you can even find custom jewelry that has several birthstones, one for each child or grandchild.

For a gift giving guide to birthstone jewelry, or to shop for elegant, yet affordable pieces, visit: The Birthstone Jewelry Gifts Guide at http://www.iWebShopping.org

Finding the Perfect Engagement Ring for the Bride-to-be

Do you know how the tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger of the left hand started? The ancient Egyptians started this tradition symbolizing undying love as they believe the love vein Vena Amoris ran directly from this finger to the heart. Later in AD 860 the Pope Nicolas I made this practice of wearing gold engagement ring official.

Here are some engagement ring ideas.

You want to be unique. Consider getting a colored diamond. They are rarer than white diamonds. In fact, only one in 10,000 diamonds is a colored one. The colors range from yellow, pink and blue. Remember Jennifer Lopez's infamous pink diamond engagement ring ? A pink diamond ring is extremely rare and very expensive with prices starting from more than a hundred thousand. Yellow diamond is more common than the other colors and is definitely more attainable for a well to do couple. Generally, colored diamonds cost 25 to 50% more than white diamonds. In either case, choose a quality diamond by looking at the 4Cs.

Couples are also opting for bigger diamonds. The traditional one carat engagement ring has been superseded by 3 to 5 carat diamonds.

There are many new ideas for engagement rings. You can choose new diamond settings too. I understand round diamond is the most popular followed by the princess cut. The bezel setting is now very popular . Instead of the diamond being elevated, it is surrounded by metal. How about a tension set diamond engagement ring? The diamond seems to float and is actually held on its edges. It looks very cool.

Three stone rings are also hot now, the bigger center diamond is accented on both sides by smaller stones of the same shape. Guy Ritchie and Madonna,Phil Bronstein and Sharon Stone are two of the hottest Hollywood couples currently sporting them.

If you really want to be unique, consider antique diamond or heirloom diamond jewelry where the cutting was actually done manually by craftsman. You can then take out the old setting and place the diamond in a new modern setting. Alternatively, you can also consider getting a new diamond to be placed in your old setting thus making it unique.

The choice of metal is also important. Platinum is sought after for its hypoallergenic properties. It is stronger and heavier than gold and will remain tarnish free forever compared to gold. Other innovative use of metal include two toned rings and even rings that combine three metals.

If you want different gemstone, consider alternative gemstones like Sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

If money is an issue, consider getting a gemstone that looks like the real thing such as Cubic zirconia or moissanite. Moissanite rates an impressive 9.25 on the Mohs scale ( a diamond is a perfect 10) which is harder than emeralds and rubies.A one-carat moissanite cost about $500 while a diamond of the same size may set you back by $6,000. You can always upgrade to a diamond ring on your next wedding anniversary.

Buying a diamond? Check out the diamond prices at http://www.alljewelry.info/diamond-prices.php to ensure you are getting a fair deal. Here is where you can get Three stone diamond rings

Hot Tips on Choosing the Right Jewelry

Here are jewelry ideas to help you look your best.

Why wear jewelry? In ancient times jewelry were used as good luck charm and protect the wearer from evil spirits. Nowadays, wearing the right jewelry gives you a touch of class and sensuality. Jewelry can transform you into a princess. A pair of long earrings underscores your lovely neck. A shining gem pendant seems to make your eyes sparkle .Best of all, you only need one or two pieces of jewelry to create the effect.

You can use the design and position of jewelry to enhance your appearance or to draw attention away. Have you got some skin peeling off your forearm from sun tanning ? Avoid wearing bangles or bracelets and pick a stunning ring instead. A choker will also serve to focus attention towards your face. If you got ample bosom that men admire , why not wear a pendant that goes down all the way to your cleavage?

You can try different ideas such as wearing layers of necklaces of different lengths. You can wear multiple bracelets too. Or go for chunky jewelry. You can wear an oversized cocktail ring to attract attention.

There's no need to buy expensive branded jewelry from Tiffany unless you are making an investment. Consider affordable jewelry like costume jewelry. Nowadays there are all kinds of materials used in jewelry from wood , plastic to natural stuff like bamboo and sea shells.

The rage these days is antique jewelry. Now here are some tips concerning wearing these jewelry. Wearing them with T-shirts and any other casual outfit won't match. Then another thing to note is don't match antique jewelry with costume jewelry.

What you wear also reflect your personality. Are you casual and hip or do you prefer a more sophisticated style? What you wear also depends on the occasion. Is it for work or is it for sports or dinner party?

Next, you need to consider the color of your jewelry. Now that depends whether you are a warm or cool person. Generally people are in the cool category because they have black hair and brown eyes. The jewelry in the cool group would be platinum, white gold , silver or other white metals. Warm jewelry includes brass, copper or yellow gold. One way to find out whether you are a warm or cool type is by taking a photo of yourself in warm and cool jewelry . The jewelry that glows and looks brighter on you will be the right one.

In the end , all this are just pointers, most importantly you must like what you are wearing. It's all for the fun and there's no need to wreck your brain.

You can find all these in the jewelry wardrobe put together for you at the jewelry portal http://www.alljewelry.info