TheAnswerChicks asked:


I have a ring that not only turns me finger green but the intricate band is turning green as well.

I have tried silver cleaner, jewelry cleaner and clear nail polish but I can’t get the green out of the ring!! UGH!

Thanks for your help!

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Sarah asked:


My boyfriend and I just got engaged, i was looking through so dresses and found the perfect one. Its silver and Ivory but i dont know what my bridesmaids would were (color wise) or what my flowers should be. I know i want this dress and i will want to make it work=) thank people!

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Ray Subs asked:

Many people in the United States are worried about the state of the economy which seems to be growing weaker by the minute. The price of the dollar has dropped 40 percent and oil continues to rise. The housing market has pretty much collapsed all over the United States and foreclosures are at an all time high. The stock market is barely holding on and many investors are skittish, to say the least.

When troubled economic times abound, you should invest in certain commodities that hold their value no matter what the situation. The reason that these commodities remain valuable is that they are not dependent upon the state of the United States economy – they are of value worldwide.

Some of the most valuable assets or commodities to invest in during a bad economy include the following:

Gold

This is the best investment that you can make as gold is valued worldwide. It is a solid investment and one that most economists are predicting will continue to rise in years to come. This is some feat because gold prices have already risen nearly 200 percent in the last couple of years alone! The price of gold is expected to reach nearly $5,000 an ounce in years ahead, so the time to invest in this precious metal which has always been a constant in troubled economic times, is right now.

Precious Metals

Precious metals include silver, copper and other precious metals that keep their value. Years ago, tin foil was valued as currency because it contained tin. Precious metals are always a good way to diversify your investment portfolio and will come in handy when times are tough as their value increases in troubled economic times, like gold.

Many people in other countries invest in silver, which is the benchmark for the British pound. Silver has always been second to gold when it came to precious metal investments and there has never been a better time than right now to invest in this precious metal.

Coins

Most people realize that coin collections are valuable but few realize how valuable they can be in troubled economic times. Because coins are made out of precious metals, their value increases when times are bad. If you have a coin collection, it is worth more today than it was 2 years ago. It will most likely continue to gain in value. Coins are a good solid investment when the economy looks bleak, as it does right now.

So how do you make an investment in gold, precious metals or coins? How do you diversify your portfolio, including your 401K, so that you can include these valuable investments in them? Very simple – you go to a broker who deals with gold, coins and precious metals. They can help you invest in the vehicle that is right for you.

Look for a discount broker as the commissions charged by some commodities brokers are up to about 45 percent when it comes to buying precious metals. You can get the same service for very little commission from a good discount gold and coins broker.

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Abhishek Agarwal asked:

Have you always wanted to be a recognized coin collector? If you always wanted to be that, then, this is the right time to get started! Coin collecting is something that can be followed by people of all age groups. But, it is always important to research on this before you start off.

Most of the people want to know what is so special about collecting coins, and the research involved. Coin collecting is very easy to do, and it is something that all people can enjoy and do. Many people do not know the intricacies involved in the whole coin collecting hobby till the start off. It is very important to research the type of coin that you want to buy, before you set foot to buy it from the dealer. There is a lot of information available on the internet and in many books about the coins that are available in the market.

And, many people want to know ‘what to research?’ It is important for every coin collector to get thorough information about the various aspects of coin collecting, and a coin. This might seem to be a work that has a lot to do… but, it is really easy to do it, that too online. There are loads and loads of information available, and you can walk out to the market filled with information, and you will know what to do. The research work is what makes you different from the other collectors who don’t bother to do any sort of research work, and hence, don’t have a collection that they can be very proud about.

It is important for the beginners to start enjoying the coin collection, and make sure that they get familiarized with the basics of coin collection. The information available will also give you a brilliant idea about the ways of kick starting your collection. It is a mistake to be taking any coin that comes your way, and put it in your folder. This might actually be a bad coin that will make your otherwise good collection look goofy.

Like it was told before, it is very important for the beginners to start seeing the finer aspects and stop taking any coin that comes their way! It might first be very interesting, but, if you splatter all your funds on crappy coins that might not be all that worthy to stay in your folder, then, you might lose the interest to collect more. Always make sure that you get coins that are worth the money you pay, and make sure that they belong to the rare breed, and they are unique. There are professionals who are ready to sell a couple of coins, research about the coin that they are selling, and if you think it is something that can add more spice to your collection, just go ahead, don’t hesitate to experiment. Apart from this, there will be coins sold online, and also in auctions. Make sure you get the best bet.

Some people even go to the extent of examining the history of the coin that they are eyeing, which is absolutely unnecessary. The history will only increase your idea about the coin, and that is not going to change the worth of the coin.

Buying coins by booking it on the internet is now a very normal practice and the fidelity of these transactions are pretty good. Like stated before, it is not the number of coins that matters in a collection, but it is the quality of coins that decide the true worth of the collection, and will favor the pride of the collector.

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Michael Hehn asked:


Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal is currently popular with Europeans, but as of yet, not so much with the British property buyers. This is because properties are relatively inexpensive and transport links to/from the UK are getting better and cheaper to the Silver Coast.

Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal offers superb beach holiday facilities with a great summer climate, great culture, architecture and history. Also, the Silver Coast is tipped to see significant capital property value rises in the coming years.

Portugal is an evergreen in the overseas property market. Build quality is high, property prices have grown a steady 10-15% per annum since the Millennium, and there is a broad choice of property across the price range and country. The price grow within the Silver Coast in the following years will reach possibly the 25 to 35%.

Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal offers good prospects for rental from both the local market and from holidaymakers, and with the potential of significant property price rises on the Silver Coast Portugal, this could be the ideal place to invest in a holiday home.

Portugal still has great appeal as it has a benign tax system which allows avoidance of the worst effects of capital gains and inheritance tax and can put you in a lower tax band.

Why buy in the the Silver Coast

Property experts have been advising clients to look beyond the Algarve, with its pockets of overgrowing, and invest instead in homes 45 minutes drive from Lisbon on Portugals Silver Coast.

According to international property specialists the Silver Coast is now the up-and-coming area in Portugal. Many Brits are selling up in the Algarve and moving up to the Oeste Region, which is located just north of Lisbon. This area is still very Portuguese, with farming the main source of income for the locals. It does not die in the winter because most of the locals are Portuguese. The cost of properties is so much cheaper than on the Algarve, so there is still room to make money in this area.

What of the place itself?

The Silver Coast stretches from Porto down to Portugals capital Lisbon and hugs the North Atlantic coastline; it is home to beautiful beaches, amazing cliffs, quaint fishing villages, lush rolling countryside and some of the most fascinating historic sites in Portugal. Here you can discover pretty villages and a real Portuguese way of life.

The Silver Coast is a particularly good bet for those with holiday lets in mind, thanks to the new A8 motorway which has cut journey times from Lisbon to the Silver Coast considerably, opening the atmospheric towns of Caldas da Rainha and Turcifal, and pretty villages, such as Peniche, up to tourists and investors.

There is a wide range of property available on the Silver Coast. You can find traditional farmhouses in need of renovation, but there has also been a fair amount of developments popping up and luxury villas with pools and apartments in complexes are easy to find.

All of this is now less than an hour drive from Lisbon International airport along the new A8 motorway, linking the vibrant capital of Portugal with historic Oporto in the North. This little known region is opening its doors to the outside world.

A region for life

Exploring the tranquil towns, villages and countryside of this beautiful region will confirm to you that here is a place that genuinely has the best of both worlds. Whilst offering a life of rural calm amidst the spectacular scenery, at the same time it is perfectly equipped with access to all the modern facilities of transport, healthcare, education and leisure that make life a pleasure for all generations.

The Western Region enjoys entertainments and events throughout the year: concerts, art exhibitions, the Torres carnival – the most Portuguese event in Portugal, the Caldas da Rainha ceramics and fruit fairs, the Bombarral wine festival, Peniches Festas da Nuestra Senhora da Boa Viagem, the Montejunto popular festival (Cadaval), Alenquers Feira da Ascensao, festivals in Sobral, Monte Agraco and Arruda dos Vinhos, Feiras da Cebola e das Tasquinhas and hundreds more fairs, festivals and popular gatherings.

The region has many hotels with superb facilities and innumerable restaurants, bars and lively venues which ensure that one’s first visit to the Western region is never the last.

For golf enthusiasts the Western Region is the new destination in Portugal. Golf Courses at Praia del Rey (18 holes)and Rio Maior (18 holes) are complemented by 9-hole courses at Consolacao and Porto Novo. The Bom Sucesso and Perola da Lagoa 18-hole courses are actually already under construction and the brand new project of the 18-hole course of Foz do Arelho, which will be the hugest should begin within the year 2008.

The natural abundance of the area is enhanced by beautiful fine-sanded beaches, where the sands shimmer like silver, at Santa Cruz, Porto Novo, Areia Branca, Sao Bernardino, Consolacao, Peniche, Baleal, Foz do Arelho and Salir do Porto. Local crafts can be found in Peniche, which is notable for its lace, and in Caldas da Rainha, which is one of the most important centres for ceramics in Portugal.

The new Peniche recreation centre is a base for water sports, with a haven of fishing and scuba-diving in Berlenga. Santa Cruz and Peniche (Supertubos beach and Lagide beach) are the places for surf lovers. The Obidos lake has sailing, rowing and windsurfing. Montejunto, Serrado Socorro and Santa Rita beach are the main locations for paragliding and hang-gliding. The Santa Cruz aerodrome, with its flying school, offers flights in light aircraft and gliders.

There are equestrian centres in the Hotel Golf Mar, in Marquiteira (Lourinha), in Atouguia da Baleia – at the Quinta das Tripas and the Quintas de Bom Sucesso – Lourinha, S. Sebastido – Arruda dos Vinhos, Quinta da Ferraria and Cortisada – Rio Maior.

A region for health

Healthcare facilities are modern and efficient and offer a good range of public and private services for all your requirements. In addition the region offers several thermal baths: Vimeiro (digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system and skin), Cucos (metabolic and endocrine systems, rheumatics, muscular and skeletal systems) and Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha – the oldest in Europe (respiratory system, rheumatics, muscular and skeletal systems).

A region for Gourmets

Gastronomy in the region is rich and varied: there are many delicious pork dishes, oven baked kid, stewed rabbit with rice, celebrated fish stews, baked or boiled sea bream and rock bass from Peniche, eels and cockles from the Obidos lake and shellfish from the beds at Porto de Barcas (lagosta suada – sweating lobster – is a delicacy which can only be found in the Western Region).

The gastronomical influence of history is evident in trouxas de ovos, lampreias de ovos (sweet dishes made with eggs) and cavacas (light crisp cakes) from Caldas da Rainha, bean pies from Torres Vedras and paes de lo (sponge cakes) from Landal, Painho and Rio Maior. All are complemented by the taste and aroma of apples and pears.

The Western region is also one of the largest wine growing areas in Portugal and indeed the world. The area boasts full-bodied, aromatic red wines with excellent alcoholic content: the wines of the south (castas Camarate, Periquita and Tinto Miudo) are lively when young, intense yet well balanced and with an exquisite bouquet when aged.

The white wines of the north are deliciously fruity (castas Arinto, Fernao Pires, Vital). Out of this diversity, the wine-growing areas of Obidos and Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos and Torres Vedras were born in 1989. The region is also known for its light wines with lower alcohol content, and for the only DOC (controlled standard of origin) classified brandy in Portugal – Aguardente Vinica from Lourinha.

Hope to meet you soon in the Silver Coast of Portugal.



invest in silver

KDL Jewelry asked:

Silver has always taken second place to Gold, its been Gold’s poor little brother, but its all about to change, the price of silver is ready to boom and percentage wise will out do gold 5 to 1.Beware with this boom will come the silver charlatans, trying to cash in on the Sterling silver925 and fine silver 985 jewelry product lines.

Silver jewelry Manufactures can buy the raw silver to make jewelry in two grades 99.95% and 92.5 %,both grades are acceptable for silver jewelry with the 99.95 being the no one grade for reputable silver manufactures and silver jewelry wholesalers to sell.

Silver 925 is 92.5 parts silver and 7.5 parts alloy combined into the silver; this is the excepted grade for sterling silver as a finished jewelry item, but if the manufacturer starts to make his jewelry with the 92.5% raw grade silver by the time the jewelry item has been soldered together and depending on the amount of detail the solder will bring that item well below the Sterling Grade 925.

Many silver manufactures add to this problem by adding another 7.5 parts alloy to the original raw silver so now you have 15 parts alloy plus the solder impurities’ so where is the sterling silver?.Now we have 85 parts silver and 15 parts alloy plus an estimated .5 to1part alloy from the solder so the jewelry is now 84 parts silver and 16 parts alloy. This jewelry item will tarnish and spoil quickly; it will not pass an assays test,it is not sterling silver925.

Lets take the reputable silver jewelry manufacturer that starts the jewelry making process with pure silver,999.5 he then adds 1part alloy plus .5 to 1 gram solder we now have silver jewelry that is a minimum standard of 98parts silver and 2 parts alloy ,its very plain to see which is the better investment, this is fine silver 98% pure.

Silver jewelry is soldered together with silver alloy mixes ,this is done so that the silver solder will melt and join the silver jewelry setting together before the setting melts ,in general there are three grades of solder used to accomplish this and each manufacturer may alter the ratio slightly, but as a rule the solder mixes are as follows ,

Solder no1 is 6 parts silver to 1 part alloy, this is the first grade solder used in making a jewelry setting it is the hardest solder and requires the most heat to melt and join the silver setting together in its initial stages. The next grade is Solder no 2 a medium grade solder that has a lower melting temperature then grade 1 and consists of 5 parts silver to 1 part alloy ,this will melt before solder no 1 so the silver setting will not start to fall apart while the silversmith is working. Finally the silver jewelry setting is finished with Solder no 3 which has the lowest melting point and is the finishing solder for the final work on the silver setting.

By now I hope its becoming clear that there is a huge difference in silver quality ,with the no 1 grade being fine silver 98% pure silver. Over the years people have said that pure silver is too soft for jewelry making, well I can assure you that 98% fine silver is more then strong enough for jewelry making and with its superior finish and purity it will return a much better profit on your silver jewelry investment in the long run. If you’re serious about buying excellent quality silver then you have to buy from reputable silver manufactures and wholesalers.

Here are some helpful tips for buying silver jewelry.Firstly your supplier should be able to produce a copy of the silver purity certificate for the quality of the raw silver they are buying and if its 999.5 and he is a reputable dealer then your jewelry should be of a high standard and stamped 925 or 985, it will be good quality and a valuable investment.Secondly do your homework first if you intend to buy retail or wholesale silver jewelry, ask your intended manufactures about quality control, what grade raw silver they buy and if you’re doing your own buying from overseas, don’t buy from street stalls and roadside vendors, even if the quality appears good, later you will regret the discounted purchase.

People will generally source a silver district to go and buy silver from, don’t rely on a reputation of a silver district or town known for selling silver, they are not all reputable dealers, again do your research before you leave home. Check your daily silver prices it will help if you intend buying in Asian countries. You will have to barter and knowing silver prices can help evaluate if the dealer is honest or not. My final advice is remember if your buying silver in Asia you will have to barter over price and Asian people learn to barter from the time they are born, so if you walk away thinking you have bought your silver below market silver costs, then believe me you have not bought good quality silver.

 

 

 

 

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Amar Mahallati asked:

Silver is a commodity that is attractive to many investors because of its unique qualities. It is much like gold and some other commodities because private investors can actually take delivery. However, it is unlike gold in two respects. One, the price of silver is feasible and within reach. Two, physical storage can be obtained without much of a problem and security can be simplified. Often a bank safe deposit box is sufficient.

The ability to take delivery of a commodity increases the choices in trading strategies. There is room for hedging by using a combination of spot and futures contract trades. Pure spot trading with local merchants is also more of a possibility. Spot trading is a term that means the buying and selling of the actual commodity. This is different from the trading of futures contracts because the delivery of the commodity is generally rare.

Silver also has the advantage of bearing a relatively low price per ounce. For many years, silver has traded for anywhere from $5 to $15. These lower prices make silver easier to acquire and more accessible to the average investor. Investors can obtain quantities that are large enough to show desirable returns due to this low amount.

For someone who is accustomed to trading stocks on a regular basis and who may have reached the occasional astronomically high returns, this may not sound like such a great deal. However, when inflation is factored in, even the high return stock prices may not look so appealing. Silver is much like gold in that is provides an accurate measure of real market prices.

The Commodity Exchange of New York (COMEX), a division of the New York Mercantile Exchange and in other exchanges, the standard contract size for futures in silver is 5,000 troy ounces. To put this in perspective, a troy ounce is 1.1 times the common avoirdupois ounce that is commonly used in standard measurements like cooking and packaging.

The minimum price fluctuation, known as a tick, is $0.005 per troy ounce. One tick that is the minimum of 5,000 troy ounces, is worth $25. When compared to mainstream stock prices that range from $0.10 to $0.20 per share, it presents a drastically different landscape. However when those same shares are multiplied one hundred fold to represent 100 shares, it brings the investment into a more “typical” range. While some are larger and some are smaller, this does, indeed, represent a normal amount in commodities trading.

A standard price quote may appear as:

Contract Date Last Change Open High

Jun ‘06 (SIM06) 1014.8 -3.7 1013.8 1014.8

Low Date/Time

1012.8 12:29

To break down the price quote, the contract date indicates the contract’s month and year. The precise date is set by the exchange. The characters that are in parentheses represent a standard abbreviation for a futures contract. The abbreviation “SI” is silver, “M” represents the month of June and 06 indicates the year of 2006. The other figures show familiar price quote columns.

The prices of the silver are broken down to cents per troy ounce. This means that 1014.8 is the equivalent of $10.148 per ounce. This means that one contract that is $10 per ounce for 5,000 ounces bears an investment value of $50,000. This may be a little steep for the casual or average investor. This is one of the primary reasons that futures and options that allow investments of approximately 5% of that amount are so popular.

One drawback to silver investments is that the prices, like nearly any other commodity, are volatile. May 2006 saw some rather significant fluctuations, peaking at more than $15 per ounce, the dropping back to $10 per ounce. Bottom line, though, with any type of trading, the absolute price is not what is important. In fact, it is not even the trend alone that has magnitude in the market. The profits on investments are measured by the difference between the buying price and the selling price. This is what makes timing so crucial.

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Robert Frechette asked:

Did you know that silver is one of the precious metals? A precious metal is by definition rare and has high worth economically. It is scarce but it is the most available of all the precious metals and it is also the most affordable. To me, that makes silver one of the best investments a person could make. Whether it is in the actual investing of the stock market or in pieces of jewelry, it is a smart and solid choice to go with.

Silver can signify a status or wealth. It is simply elegant by itself or enhances its worth when combined with other gemstones. It goes with the flow of the fashion trends and the constant changing of styles. There is rich history not only the value of silver monetarily but to what it represents and means in so many cultures. The word sterling has taken on the meaning of quality and excellence as it refers to silver. In Chinese culture, they hang a necklace with a locket around the neck of a child because they value it so much, they believe that it will keep evil spirits away. In Peru , the Incas valued it strange gleam and associated it with the moon because of its reflective quality.

It is amazing to see the actual value of silver per ounce change so drastically even over the last 5 years. The price has been as low as $4.50 per ounce and has been as high as $20.79 per ounce. In the past 30 days it has been averaging around $17. If you are in the jewelry industry or even investments, silver is the way to go. Here at Gilbert and Frech, we strive to make quality pieces and they have only grown in value. We choose to design our pendants, rings, earrings and necklaces with sterling silver instead of nickel silver or german silver which in reality does not contain any silver at all. We stand behind our quality and we keep our prices affordable for those making personal purchases. We also offer discounts for volume orders so you are able to make the best profit for those in the jewelry business. Over the next couple of days, I will present some of the sterling silver pieces we sell at Gilbert and Frech.

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Christian Okoye asked:

Coin collecting is different from money hoarding. Collecting coins as an art form can be traced back to the 14th century. Today, people all over the world are collecting coins. Some collect it for their value, some just like the sheer fun that they get from getting their hands on different coins.

Coin collecting is said to be the “Hobby of the Kings.”

If one is interested in making coin collecting a hobby, he can very well do so. It is a hobby which does not require a certain skill and it can be done by almost everyone.

There are many different kinds of coin collectors.among which are:

Those that do Informal coin collecting

Most coin collectors, especially the children, start out as informal coin collectors. They are laid-back collectors which do not have a specific goal in collecting coins. They might collect coins from different countries or from different time periods without any intention of being serious about it.

Inquisitive coin collecting

Once the informal coin collector starts noticing the details of the coins, he becomes an inquisitive coin collector. This kind of coin collector won’t bother much into spending money to get coins. He merely wants to appreciate the coins. Soon, he will start to put them in containers or albums.

Advanced coin collecting

An advanced coin collector will collect coins with a specific target in mind. He may want to collect coins from a certain nation, or a certain time period.

There are many tracks which coin collectors pursue when engaging in their hobby. Here are some of the ways one can use in collecting coins:

Coin collection according to nation

Many coin collectors would want to collect coins from a certain nation during a certain period of time. This kind of coin collection lets the collector travel the globe through the coins. People may want to collect coins from countries they had visited.

Historical coin collection

Another way of collecting coins is by taking in mind history. Many coin collectors engage in collecting coins during a certain period in history like wars or declarations of independence.

Error coins

There are people who find collecting coins with errors exciting because these kinds of coins are rare nowadays.

There are many ways to collect coins and each way is as fun as the other. One must feel the hobby first before he decides whether to stick with it or not. Coin collecting can require certain amounts of money and the collector must be wise in engaging in such a hobby.At lest to ensure you know what your doing.

coin collecting

Fred Ackourey asked:

 

 

Beautiful Investment – .925 Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry

Published September 10th, 2008 by Fred Ackourey

 

Silver is replacing gold as the metal of choice in this season’s fashions. .925 Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry contains 92.5% pure silver and is mixed with other alloys to strengthen it and reduce tarnishing making it a practical metal for jewelry design.

The rise in metal prices, especially gold, have begun to change jewelry styles. Designers are using sterling silver more today because of its edgy appeal and affordability. Designers like David Yurman and those from Tiffany’s have shifted their focus and are creating A-list pieces from .925 Fine Sterling Silver

Although Silver is affordable its price has quietly risen 300% in the last 5 years and is up over 50% this year alone. Many investment advisers* recommend a portion of your wealth be in silver and gold.

Trend setters who were the first to begin wearing the metal to match tatto chic and other current styles also benefit by having jewelry worth more than they paid for it.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of Telegaleria’s new .925 Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry Collection, it is both beautiful and an investment. Whether is it fine jewelry designs inspired by David Yurman, Tiffany, Cartier or Gucci you are sure to find a fashionable value that will make you feel good. Every piece is guaranteed and comes with our famous customer service. We know now is a great time for silver, visit Telegaleria.com and you will know too.

*Telegaleria does not give investment advice. The statements of in this article are taken from research. See your own investment adviser for what might be a good investment for you. Telegaleria does sell fine products at affordable prices. We can advise you to visit our website to find great values.

 

 

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