Site of the Month for August 2011 is about Jewelry Resources. Shopping for fine jewelry is simple and easy with Jeweler Gate Way. Look through our growing directory to find the perfect jewelry item for your needs. Browse by material, style, or gemstone, including body jewelry, antique jewelry, art jewelry.

** What’s the best way to clean and care for a diamond?

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and they’re no stranger to men either. Because they are so expensive, knowing how to care for them properly is an important part of owning them.

To clean your diamond, prepare a bowl of warm water and add a gentle dish soap. Stir the water and soap until it becomes sudsy. Soak the piece of diamond jewelry for about five minutes. After the jewelry has soaked, brush it with a soft bristled toothbrush to get the dirt off. After you have scrubbed the piece, rinse it with clean water and let it dry on a paper towel or in a colander.

In order to avoid damage to your diamond and to prevent your diamond from becoming excessively dirty, avoid wearing your diamond when cooking, doing yard work and performing other harsh activities. With proper care and maintenance, your diamond should last you forever.

Another option is to buy a Sonic Jewelry cleaner, it’s a small machine that you fill with water along with a soap solution, the machine vibrates at high speeds and vibrates any grime/dirt off of your jewelry- Remember, NO pearls in the Sonic Cleaner!

The processes suggested are good ones but I personally feel if you want to keep the diamond sparkle and glow. You need to clean the diamond on regular basis and only with wet cloth. Regular cleaning will never allow dust particle or chemicals to settle on the surface and hence there will not be any need to go for such expensive techniques.

** What are the six factors that are taken into consideration when determining the value of a pearl?

First thing is size and shape, the larger and more creamy the color the better, Second is the weight of the pearl itself third is area it is from since some areas are very rare to find Pearls they are of course more costly to locate. There is a grading scale, but I shall see if I can find that again. this is based on depth of color and luminescence. This is all based on it being a salt water raw pearl of course and not a cultured pearl which is seeded in a farmed bed.

The six factors tells the value of a pearl as follow:

* pearl luster
* pearl nackre thickness
* pearl surface
* pearl color
* pearl size
* pearl shape

Usually, it takes more than 2 years for oysters to cover the irritant with layer upon layer of nacre i.e. to form a pearl. A quality pearl requires certain thickness of nacre. Pearls are valued as gemstones and are cultivated or harvested for jewelry.

** What is the meaning of wearing rings on different fingers?

Well i think the greek meaning goes according to their g-ds. so the g-d of war is the little finger and that represents the aggressive side of the personality.
- The ring on the thumb represents individualism
- The ring on the finger next to the pinky is g-d of love. representing your passion. as far as the other fingers go am looking for the answer myself
- Thumb ring is poseidon (individuality, independence)
- Index finger ring is zeus (dominance, power, energy)
- Middle finger ring is dionysus (irreverence, rebellion, decadence)
- Ring finger is aphrodite (love, romance, connection)
- Pinky ring is ares (conflict, assertiveness, cometitiveness)
- No rings is hermes (friendliness, helpfulness, adventure)

There may be a practical reason: having lost weight, my wedding ring fits only on my middle finger and will slip off the original ring finger. Left-right hand usually indicates a Protestant as opposed to a Catholic background.