by | Oct 7, 2019 | Accessories, Fashion |
Vintage jewellery is highly collectible and has been popular for quite some time, and you may also have a few family heirlooms that you have accumulated over the years. The value of your collection will depend on the quality of the jewellery that you have, and not what you paid for it!
Here are some tips on how you can work out the value of your vintage jewellery which is especially handy if you need to insure it.
Where Did You Get The Item?
Although it is not strictly a rule, if you were to find some jewellery at a market or boot sale, it would most likely be vintage rather than antique, and as antiques are worth more than vintage, this can help to determine the value of what you have. If you purchased it from a reputable jewellery seller or antique dealer such as https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/, then you may already have an accurate idea of the value of the item. If you have a piece of jewellery that has been handed down through multiple generations of your family, this could be an antique and so could be worth more.
Examine Your Jewellery
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You will want to examine your jewellery and look at what it is made from. You will also want to look for a hallmark, which can give you a lot of information about the item. You will be able to get the metal that it is made from including the purity, you will also be able to find out where and when it was made. The condition of the jewellery will play a vital factor in the value of your jewellery, and if it is not very good, you may wish to consider selling it off for the scrap value of the materials from which it is made.
Look At The Gemstones
You will also want to look at the gems that are in your jewellery and try to certify whether they are genuine or whether they are paste or glass copies. You will want to look at the quality of the stones and researching the 4 C’s can be done with ease on the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) website. You will want to look for any flaws, cracks, or other factors that can determine the value of a gemstone and make a note of the overall condition of the piece. Working out the prices for precious metals and gemstones using the current market prices, you can then get a rough estimate as to the value of your vintage jewellery. If you are still in doubt, you may wish to contact a reputable jewellery dealer and have them appraise your collection.
An Expert Valuation Is Best
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To get the most accurate value of your vintage jewellery collection, you are better off leaving this to the professionals and use a reputable dealer close to you to value your collection. Using their service, you will be able to know how much your jewellery is worth as well as the documentation as to its worth if you need to insure it should it ever gets stolen.
However much your jewellery is worth financially, you can never quantify the sentimental value that a piece can have, so to you, they can be priceless.
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by | Oct 7, 2019 | Pets |
Before you buy a dog, there are a few decisions that you can ponder over for a while. When you get a pet, you are looking to improve your life and provide them with a great one. There are a few things that you can do to ensure that both you and your new buddy have a great time.
Breed
It is really important that you choose a dog that fits your lifestyle and home. If you are desiring after a giant mastiff but only have the room for a Jack Russell, you are doing both you and your dog a disservice if you still go for the bigger breed. Different breeds are also known for different traits and personalities. Choose a pooch that meets your life in the right way.
Long Walks
While you need to walk your dog every day, maybe even twice a day if the dog is an active breed. But a couple of times a week you should go for a longer walk, and somewhere that your dog can run freely or with an extendable lead. Unless your dog is a real lazybones, you need to let them work off their energy. Not only is excellent for the but it is great for you too.
Understand
No one is expecting you to be a puppy mind reader, but you should learn to be more understanding of your dog’s behaviour. While a person can tell you what is wrong, your dog can’t. They have to learn about you, your home and your routine. As well as work out where they fit in, in the world. Pick up some dog books and study them, you might be surprised by what you learn.
Care
You need to choose the best pet doctor you can. Almost all the vets are great. But some are just beyond what you expect. They have a way with animals that is special, and your dog will thank you for having someone who is kind, caring and has an affinity with animals.
Time
Much like humans, one of the most important things you can do is just spend time with your dog. They don’t care too much about what you are doing. Watching movies, studying or even just sitting quietly. They will happily sit silently by your side for hours. So make sure that you spend those all-important hours with them.
Space
Although your dog is probably going to want to be as close to you as possible at all times, they will still need an area that is just for them. Giving them somewhere that they can retreat to is something you will want to do. Knowing they have space just for them is a life-affirming thing. Plus, it’s nice for them to have a bed to nap in when you are out.
Responsible dog ownership is not just about picking up the poop after a walk, it is about doing what is best for your dog at all times.
by | Oct 6, 2019 | Around the Home |
Hello, Elegant Lovelies!
Do you prefer a good hot bath or a shower?
Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash
I was raised on taking good hot baths and rinsing myself off afterward. For me, it is very relaxing and soothing after a day at work, after a full weekend, or simply for no reason at all. Baths are not work for me and I enjoy taking one. I notice there is a trend to not install bathtubs in new or remodeled homes because many people do not use them anymore. I disagree! I think there are people out there that take baths and want to have a bathtub in my house.
Here are a few reasons that I have heard from people for not taking a bath
*Too much work
*You still have dirt on you
*It takes too long to temper the water
*I have to think and the water takes too long to fill the bathtub
*A bathtub takes up too much space in my bathroom
Believe it or not, but showers are work for me. I will only take a shower when I am washing my hair. I am conditioning and detangling my hair. That is something that I cannot do when I take a bath. After I finish my hair, I let the hot water massage my back. It feels good and is relaxing, but it is not the same as soaking in a bath.
Benefits of a bath
* You can relax with Lavendar Eucalyptus Epsom salt for a great muscle soak
* You can sit down while I am exfoliating your face or body
* It is soothing and great for relaxing the muscles. How many times can I say it’s relaxing.
* You can meditate and clear your mind to focus on important tasks in your life.
If you don’t take baths or haven’t taken one in years, maybe it is time to reintroduce yourself to one again. If the water takes too long to get hot, run the water ahead of time so all you have to do is get in. You may see that it’s pretty relaxing and enjoyable. And help wash away the dirt and stress in your life.
by | Sep 23, 2019 | Fitness |
When it comes to our lives, we tend to focus on things like how much money we’re earning, or how many friends we have, and so on — but while these things can be important, there’s one area that should be given precedence over everything else: our health. Judging by the way plenty of people live, health is not the number one priority in their lives. In fact, it hardly seems to be important at all! But there are plenty of advantages to looking after your health, including improved happiness and more energy. So how can you live your healthiest life? We take a look at a few options below.
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Staying Active
Do you ever notice how the youth seems to be prime health? Sure, they’ve got age on their side, but there’s another reason too — they never stop moving. Now take a look at how some adults live; they never move. It’s into the car, to the office, and then home to the couch. It can’t be a shock if we’re not as healthy as we could be if that’s how we live. So make sure that you’re staying active. Find an activity that you love, and stick with it, even when some of that love fades. You’ll be grateful you did later in life.
Get Informed
Knowledge is power, is what they say. The more we know, the better we’re able to manage our health. Knowledge surrounding health falls into two categories: our personal health, and general knowledge. For your personal health, that’s all about knowing your body, how it works, paying attention to what it needs, and so on. General knowledge involves reading up on the things that contribute to good and poor health (good: yoga. Bad: drinking too much alcohol). If you’re concerned about your health, taking out health insurance is always a good thing to do.
Common Problems
There are certain problems that commonly affect people as they get older. While the bad news is that they’re more likely to be acquired (since they’re so common), the good news is that we understand a lot about them. Take body stiffness for example, which is something that a lot of people over the age of 25 suffer from — that can be remedied by intense stretching. Tinnitus is another issue that’s increasingly common in young adults (due to concerts and personal music devices): if you think you suffer from the condition, then click here, and get the full picture. If you suspect you’re suffering from any regular health problems, then at least know there’s usually something you can do about them.
Regular Check-Ups
Some health matters are obvious — you just know that something is wrong. But other matters can’t be felt. They’re happening deep inside the body, under the radar, so to speak. As such, it’s recommended that you attend regular check-ups to ensure that everything is in order. The best treatment for a disease is to catch it early — you can usually prevent it from becoming a big matter if you’re on top of the issue as soon as possible. No-one regrets having a regular check-up!
by | Sep 19, 2019 | Music |
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Music is such a major part of faith, and whether you just enjoy it as a pastime, or you want to turn it into a career, there are so many different things that you could do to get the benefits of music in your life. Running your own music events may seem a little bit on the adventurous side for you but if you really want to make a living in music somehow, it’s quite a diverse thing you can get into. Let’s provide you with some methods.
Selling your own music
If you want to make your own songs, the act of music promotion is such a diverse thing; what you can do is promote things through websites like SoundCloud, and, at the very least have people subscribe to your music on youtube. Granted, a lot of people don’t want to pay for music these days, but in terms of your faith, and if you want to communicate your love of Jesus, then doing it through music events at the church, can be a way for you to connect with your fans.
Other ways of being involved in music
It’s not just about the act of performing. But if you want to make a living performing, it can be quite a long road to making money purely from this. As such, many people diversify their practices. You could start reviewing albums and work with other websites. Others tend to find other ways to diversify their income through merchandising and promotional practices. But what you can do, if you have specific expertise, is to help others to make their own music. If you have various skills associated with music, then it’s important to do as many different things as possible.
Teaching music
It’s one of the main ways musicians make a living. We have to remember that if we want to be a musician and make a full-time income from it on now we’ve got to try numerous approaches. It’s not just about one method anymore. It all depends on how you structure your time, but you could teach musical instruments to others, and if you have a background in music theory that you can help others start towards their own careers. Either do it from the school, or you can be a tutor that goes to other people’s homes. On the other hand, you could create YouTube lessons, and after a while, this can be a perfect way to supplement your income.
Be a wedding player
Many musicians have to supplement their income by going to public events and playing cover versions. One of the great things about playing weddings is that you can earn a substantial income. If you are performing original compositions, you could earn royalties from performing these, and this can be a great way to get a regular following for your own songs. But it’s about being competitive, especially when playing faith oriented music.
For all of the above career options, one thing is certain: you need to ensure that you have the very best quality equipment, from instruments to the best looper pedal. These can make the difference between sounding like an amateur and sounding like the real deal.
Is it possible to make a living as a musician? Yes, but it is most definitely about expanding your horizons. There is no one way to earn a substantial income anymore, especially through music.
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