Perhaps you’ve heard of the “Four C’s” of diamond quality. Each and every unique diamond in the world has its own defining characteristics, and understanding each of them will help you make an informed decision when you come into a Spence Diamonds showroom.

Cut

Nothing is more important to the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond than its cut, as it is responsible for around 40% of a diamond’s price. A well cut diamond will reflect light from one facet to another and back through the top, creating a dramatic sparkling effect that only a diamond can emit. Only the most skilled diamond cutters can shape a diamond with exacting precision, to release its full brilliance, taking into account such factors as proportions, finish, and of course symmetry.

Colour

When examining a diamond, be sure to view it “loose” (unmounted) under a neutral light source, to get the best view of its colour. In the “normal colour” range, the colour of a diamond is rated on a scale that goes from D to Z, with D being the whitest diamond available, and Z being a tinted, light yellow colour. For most jewelry, a colour grade from G to J is usually best.

Why “D to Z?” Before this rating system was invented, diamond professionals used many other symbols (including liberal uses of “A” and “AA”) to rate colour, so the creators of the new system started at D, to avoid any confusion with the outdated ratings systems.

There are also various coloured diamond choices available today, but when you are looking specifically at a white diamond, you should understand how this scale works, and where your diamond of choice is rated on the spectrum. Also, the mounting of a diamond can impact its appearance. A more yellowish diamond will appear whiter next to a gold setting, whereas a white gold setting will make the diamond look less pure if you compare the two side-by-side.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond refers to the number and nature of inclusions or blemishes that are visible when you view it under a microscope. Some diamond professionals refer to clarity as “purity” or “quality,” but neither of those start with “C,” so we’ll stick with clarity.

A blemish is an imperfection on the surface of a diamond, and an inclusion is a small spot contained within it. Diamonds with little or no imperfections such as these are rarer, and much more valuable. Five factors determine a diamond’s clarity: the size, number, position, nature and “relief” of the inclusions. Relief describes the level of visibility of these imperfections. The clarity scale of a diamond is the easiest to understand: It varies from Flawless, to Internally Flawless, and from there goes to VVS, VS, SI and I. These are easy to understand and remember, because they stand for: Very Very Slightly included, Very Slightly included, Slightly Included, and Included. Each of these designations has varying levels as well, but getting a handle on these will help you understand the importance of clarity in a diamond’s grading.

An “I” rated diamond will have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, whereas even a skilled diamond expert would need a microscope to see the inclusions in an “SI” diamond. Because of this, diamonds rated “SI” usually represent the best value for your investment.

Important Note: Skilled jewelry makers often mount a diamond so as to mask an inclusion from sight, helping it appear more flawless. Before buying a diamond, be sure to examine it loose under a microscope to get a better idea of its clarity.

Carat

The last and most obvious characteristic that a diamond is measured by is its Carat (abbreviated “ct.”). A carat is a measure of weight, and it takes 142 of them to make an ounce.

Interesting bits of trivia:

You can mail 142 one-carat diamonds with just a single postage stamp (Not that you would want to)!

The majority of diamonds used in jewelry weigh less than one carat.

Obviously, a diamond’s carat weight can have a big effect on its value. When written, carat weights are expressed as decimal numbers: 1.00 ct., 0.48 ct., 1.57 cts., and so on. In a piece which has more than one diamond, often times you will see the total carat weight of the diamonds shown.

At Spence Diamonds, each and every diamond comes with an official Diamond Certificate, which will give you a detailed blueprint of your diamond. Now that you understand the “Four C’s” of diamond grading, you’ll have a better understanding of these certificates, which give you detailed info on all of the factors discussed above, including a “plotting” that shows the exact location of inclusions and blemishes.

If you have a family room and you are thinking about getting leather sofas then don’t hesitate at all. Leather is a great choice of material for furniture. It has grown very popular over the years and still growing. This is one thing that you know will be great and only improve over time. Leather comes in a few grades which are all great except for the bonded leather. This is the cheapest and poorest of quality, you should avoid this type even though they really don’t use this type of leather to make furniture. Leather sofas are durable, they look wonderful and they clean easily. It is a great choice if you have kids or even pets.

If you have children, clean up time will be much easier. You can simply wipe off any dirt or liquids stains without a problem. If you have the finished type leather there shouldn’t be a problem with cleaning it up. I wouldn’t recommend unfinished or suede looking sofas for children. This type of leather is more delicate and much harder to clean. Leather with finishing is ideal for kids and pets because they don’t require extra care.

You don’t have to worry paying so much money because if you take your time and shop on a budget you should be able to find something on sale that is affordable for you. Yes, you will run into very expensive ones but don’t let that intimidate you because you will find something you love at a fair price. Sometimes leather sofas are highly priced because it might be high grade quality or even the styles of the sofas are either new or very fancy.

The most basic sofas will still make a room luxurious as long as you know how to pick the right colors and set a nice theme. The most popular leather sofas that we see in average people’s homes are the genuine leather black or brown sectional sofas. This is America’s favorite. They provide comfort and make your home look very modern and stylish.

Leather sofas are dust proof and should last you at least until your kids have grown up. This is a great choice for any room in any home. You will be a leather fan and once you go leather you wouldn’t look back. If many people are getting them these days you know they must be great.

Trendy footwear are the passion of most young woman. They are an important fashion accessories that can help to change your look. Whether it is flats or heels, you can choose to wear anything you like. For parties and formal occasions, it would be better if you go for ladies high heel shoes.

Women are addicted towards the heel footwear as they are one of the most fashionable accessories for them. This form of shoes are the latest fashion wear in the footwear industry. Ladies high heel shoes come in a wide variety of colours, sizes, patterns and styles. This kind of high heel shoes are mostly preferred by women ranging from young girls to elderly women. Women whoever love wearing this form of footwear, makes it a point to team up with some of the gorgeous looking dress that complements their personality. During the summer season, you will find them wearing heeled sandals whereas the winter season calls for some fashionable heeled boots.

Sometimes you will find that quiet a few women have a short height and they feel a bit low with their height especially when they are standing in a group. To boost up the height and bring the charm back, all they can do is, go for a lovely pair of heel footwear. No wonder a woman looks great when she wears a pair of high-heeled shoes. Whenever a woman wear this kind of shoe, she feels confident and looks very beautiful. In fact when a lady is appareled in such shoes, her legs appear to be slim thereby increasing the charm. It works as a sword to women who are short at height. Heels are definitely a great option to short ladies who wants to look taller. It is truly amazing to find a woman walking in heel footwear.

It is always recommended that every women should wear high heel shoes but should follow the certain basic guidelines so that they look elegant. Do not make it a habit to wear ladies shoes on a regular basis, because it may cause backaches and foot aches. Choose the right size high heel shoes for yourself and walk in a right way to avoid unnecessary foot or hip problems. Experts always say that pay more attention on your health than fashion. If you go completely crazy over these shoes, you must always look for the right high heeled shoes that makes you look both stylish and comfortable.

There are a variety of ladies high heel shoes that includes:

* Spool heel
* Kitten heel
* Stacked heel
* Court shoes
* Stiletto heels
* Wedge heel

We all know that shoes are always alluring to women, especially to young ladies. Stilettos, one of the most fashionable shoes are mostly preferred by the young generation. However just to make your legs and feet look fashionable, do not be desperate to wear a pair of stilettos, because they might create damage if not used properly.

Which types of cats are right for you and your family? There is a large number of different cat breeds that one can choose from. Many of these breeds can easily adapt to home living, and make excellent pets for you and your children. So how do I find the best breed that is appropriate for me? Here is an excellent list of tips that you can use before making your final decision.

Quiet Or Noisy Cats

Some cat breeds can be very loud and noisy. You will want to consider this when choosing your pet cat. You and your family will need to determine if you can handle a vocal type of cat within your home, or would a quiet cat be more enjoyable. A number of cat owners don’t usually have any issues with a more vocal cat, although if you live in an apartment, then you might have to reconsider choosing a loud cat. Some of the more loud or vocal types of cats include: the Korat, Siamese Cats, or the Burmese. If you are in the market for a quiet cat, then the following breeds may be more to your liking: Scottish Fold, Somali, or the American Curl.

Cuddly Or Playful

The next decision that you will want to make is to determine whether you want a cat that is more of an aloof breed or one that is more affectionate and cuddly. Some of the considerations to keep in mind are the amount of free time that you can spare. If you have a lot of available time then a cuddly cat who craves attention may be a great choice. Affectionate cuddly cats are also a great choice for those with children.

Friendliest Cat Breeds:

Maine Coon

Snowshoe

Abyssinian

Ragdoll

Tonkinese

Himalayan Persian

Less Sociable Breeds

Nebelung

Russian Shorthair

Norwegian Forest

If you are looking for a cat breed that will not get into constant mischief, and ones that can amuse themselves, then the following breeds may be a bad choice:

Siamese

Rex

Sphynx

Balinese

British Angora

These cats have a lot of energy and can be very inquisitive. These breeds are an excellent choice for someone who has a lot of free time and is home-bound. They can be a great source of entertainment; in fact the Rex can be enjoyable and silly to watch as he attempts to amuse those around him.

Other Important Features

There are also other important features that you want to look at in addition to the right temperament of the cat. An important feature to consider when choosing the right cat is whether you want a long haired or short haired breed. This is especially important to those owners who do not have a great deal of time to devote to a pet. These owners may want to opt for a short haired breed. The attraction of a fuzzy ball of fluff may look great, but grooming adult long haired cats can be very time consuming. A cat’s coat of hair can tangle and matt up right down to its skin at an alarming rate if you do not provide proper grooming. If this should happen, your only choice is to have him completely shaved, which can be very traumatic. Your cat would need to be sedated, and this could pose some potential health risks.

Making The Final Choice

Having looked at the many different cat breeds and their unique features, you are now able to begin selecting your new cat. You should first ask yourself a few questions such as: should I get a baby kitten, or start with a feline that is somewhat older or even one that has been abandoned.

There are many new kittens available at various cat shows, and you might want to check out your local listings. There will more than likely be a number of cat exhibitors who are looking at selling some of their kitten litter. A great place to find an older feline would be at the humane society, or possibly the animal shelter in your town.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both independent and in-house sales consultants. There can be pros and cons for both the individual working as the consultant as well as the company hiring. Both sides should carefully weigh the benefits and risks before deciding whether to hire (or be) an independent or on-staff consultant.

Benefits of Being an Independent Consultant for Individuals

An individual can have some flexibility to build their schedule around other family responsibilities and other areas of their lives if they work as an independent. This is true as long as they provide their consulting services during times that are also convenient for the companies for which they provide services

The independent sales consultant will also have the ability to decide what types of businesses they wish to work for and on which types of projects. They will have the ability to use their creativity to create their own successful business.

Disadvantages for Independent Sales Consultants

When someone works as an independent consultant, they are responsible for finding their own clients. It takes time and money to find enough work to create a successful business. Finding and retaining clients is an ongoing process for independent consultants.

Individuals do not receive benefits when working on their own and they will need to find other ways to obtain health insurance. These individuals do not have sick days or vacation time to use when they are off. When they cannot work, they will lose out on income that is often much needed.

Advantages of Independent Consultants for Businesses

Independents can be a good fit for businesses if they do not need people on staff full-time. A business can save money if it only needs to hire a consultant at certain times each year. When a business hires an independent sales consultant, they can easily select someone else if they are not satisfied with the person’s work.

Disadvantages of Independent Sales Consultants for Businesses

Some companies have a large quantity of products and services to sell. These companies might not be able to get the job done as effectively if they do not have someone on staff full-time. They will need to go through the process of selecting an independent sales consultant or scheduling an appointment with their current sales consultant each time they need help with a sales project.

Advantages of an In-House Consultant

Businesses will benefit from in-house sale consultants if they have a great deal of inventory to sell or if they provide a large number of services. They will be better able to manage and increase sales when working with sales consultants on-staff. They can contact their sales consultants with ease when they are ready to start a new project related to sales or when they need help with a current sales plan.

Disadvantages of In-House Consultants

Hiring in-house consultants can become expensive. A company will need to pay someone a regular salary. They will often need to provide additional benefits to their employees as well. A business must also go through the hiring process to find quality consultants for their business. This can take time and money whenever a company finds that they need to hire a new consultant for their company.