Friday, June 15, 2012

Buy Fine Jewelry Online With Swarovski Crystals

Fine jewelry has traditionally included any of the precious stones that are valuable and well regarded. Recently, many people have been buying fine jewelry online that uses Swarovski crystals instead of precious stones or even alongside them. Instead of diamonds that are so expensive that they are often small and not the focus of the fine jewelry piece, a Swarovski crystal is less expensive and can be far larger for the same price as a diamond.

This sizing detail makes fine jewelry that features Swarovski crystals sought after for its large gems that give plenty of sparkle to each piece. While Swarovski crystals may not be diamonds or other precious stones, they are increasingly used on fine pieces to create the heavily encrusted look that is trendy right now.

Watches and Bracelets

With so much interest in Swarovski crystals, it’s easy to buy fine jewelry online that uses them. Even high-end watch brands use Swarovski crystals to create a sparkling look that allows large gems to be used without costing a fortune. Watches often feature them around the bezel or even integrated into the band. Bracelets have long featured these crystals, and these items are only growing in popularity. It is now possible to find bracelets that are covered in these crystals, providing the kind of sparkle and shine that was impossible to get before the use of these crystals.

Fine Crystal Necklaces

A small diamond pendant is a classic look that has always been in style. Another option, for those who want lots of bling without paying a fortune is to have a larger crystal take the place of that small diamond. With a Swarovski crystal, there is no limit to the size, but the price is a fraction of a diamond. Many popular necklaces use a large crystal in the center and smaller precious gems around it to accentuate the sparkle and clarity of the crystal. And because the crystal isn’t as valuable as a diamond, many owners find that they wear it more often because they don’t have the same fear of a broken chain or theft of the pendant.

Swarovski Crystal Rings

A crystal ring may cost less than a diamond, but that doesn’t make it a lesser-quality ring. In fact, a Swarovski crystal may be placed in a setting made from a valuable metal that normally houses an expensive gem. And for those who see the ring, it is not immediately apparent what type of stone it is. Made from leaded glass, each crystal has sparkle and is clear like a high-end diamond. And with a larger gem, these fine rings often look better and more expensive than their diamond counterparts.

What to Look for When Reading Reviews about Fine Jewelry Online

So you have perused the local jewelry stores in the mall and in your quaint little town only to be disappointed with the selection and the price.  Are you feeling at the end of your gold chain rope?  Don’t worry; there are great places to look at and buy fine jewelry online that have the selection and the price you’re willing to pay.

Still a little nervous about paying a lot of money for a high ticket item?  No worries, all you have to do is read the customer reviews that each site has.  Here’s what you need to look for to ensure a positive purchasing experience.

Did the Customer Like the Service?

When a customer has great service with an online company, they are more than willing to tell future customers about their experience.  Whether the customer ordered a custom piece that went above and beyond their expectations or their order was wrong and the online jewelry retailer promptly fixed it, these are the reviews to really read closely to see exactly what made the customer happy.

Another part of ordering fine jewelry online that has many people worried is the actual shipping of the piece.  Find reviews that discuss the shipping times and how the piece was packed.  If you start seeing customers complain that the box or wrapping was damaged and that the jewelry inside was damaged as well, you may want to consider a different online jeweler to shop with.

Did the Customer Like the Selection and Price?

The price of jewelry can vary from jeweler to jeweler and site to site.  This is fairly common depending on where the store buys their jewelry from.  When the diamonds and gold come directly from the mines, you can save a ton of money because the jeweler doesn’t have to pay a middle man.

However, also check that the lower price doesn’t reflect the quality of the material used in the piece.  Customers are usually very adamant when it comes to the quality of their piece so read reviews that have detailed descriptions of the materials – was the gold tarnished?  Did the diamonds meet the carat, cut, clarity, and color stated on the site? 

Did the Customer Find Checkout Fast and Secure?

Security is of the utmost importance when it comes to buying fine jewelry online.  If you don’t see security tags anywhere on the page or some indication that their security has been updated in the last 24 hours, be cautious.  When the URL box at the top turns green and has a locked lock displayed, you are usually okay to continue with the purchase.  Any reviews that hint that they didn’t feel secure when purchasing their jewelry should be taken very seriously.

There is nothing worse than trying to check out online and being sent to 500 different screens to fill in the same information over and over and over again.  If you and others find that checkout is confusing, then maybe the site you’re shopping isn’t for you.  Again, read what others have experienced and see if you’re wasting your time and your money.

Buying fine jewelry online doesn’t have to be scary or difficult.  As long as you read customer reviews, your experience should be fast, fun, and rewarding.

Managing Your Personal Logistics Issues

If you are like most Americans today, then your personal logistics are hard to manage, seemingly impossible at times.  It seems that no matter what you do or try, keeping personal logistics manageable seems to be a full time job.  Having to be at three different places at once has kept our calendars full and our minds racing, leaving us hardly any time to relax.  Thankfully, there are some great resources that are available to you to help you take charge of your calendar instead of your calendar keeping charge of you.

Use Syncing to Your Advantage

Do you have a smart phone or even just a normal cell phone?  If so, then you have an extremely powerful tool that can help you to organize your hectic life.  These devices are chock full of features that are meant to make your life easier.  They have calendars that can sync, or connect with not only your email calendar, but also those of people who also need the information, such as a spouse, parent or child.  The phones can be set to issue reminders for birthdays, doctor appointments, anything that you don’t want to forget.  These two features alone will help you to remember important dates and appointments.  A quick look around the app market that is on your phone will likely reveal many more useful tools for you to use.

Go Old Fashioned

If going high tech with your personal logistics needs isn’t for you, or seems a bit too complicated or overwhelming right now, you may be more interested in a good old fashioned planner system.  Planners have been a staple in purses and briefcases for years.  That is because they work, they offer a way to manually organize all of your needed information in one place.  While the planner doesn’t sync with your electronics, it can be a valuable tool for those who are not ready to take the leap into technology.   Planners come in various sizes and materials to suit any type of personal style.

Lists, Lists, Lists

If the previous two options don’t sound like what you are looking for, you may be the type of person who would be best using lists to keep your personal logistics organized.  Lists can be used a couple of different ways.  They are great as a plan for the day, by sitting down in the morning and writing out your to do list for the day, crossing things off as you get them done.  They can also be used as a running list of things to do, writing tasks down as you think of them and crossing them off as they are completed.

5 Advantages of the Online Shopping Mall

If you are the kind of person who hates going to the local mall to do your shopping then the online shopping mall is for you.  If you haven’t found an online shopping mall yet, you are in for a pleasant surprise.  An online mall offers you a central location where you can connect to many different stores, some of which you may never have heard of. This saves you the hassle of going from site to site and lets you make use of some of the new check-out technology.

Think Green

Driving around to different stores, even if they are all in your town, takes a lot of energy.  Keeping those stores open, especially in a large mall, takes a lot of energy.  The “carbon footprint” of traveling to several stores is quite large.  By shopping online you save energy and reduce emissions. 

Even More Green

One of the biggest advantages of shopping online is promotional codes.  Every store that has a website wants your money, and they are willing to cut their profit margins to the bone to get it.  That means that if you are willing to do a quick search you will find online coupons for many large chains.  Furthermore, if you provide your email to some of your favorite stores, they will email you coupons and let you know about sales in advance.  No reason to pay more than necessary, don’t you agree?

Selection

Unless you actually enjoy strolling up and down the corridors of a shopping center, looking for exactly what you want, you will appreciate the selection you can find in one place when you use an Internet mall.  Open several windows, search for your target and compare without leaving the comfort of your home.  Looking for jeans?  No problem, pull up half a dozen styles in your size and color and make your choice.  Want a new credit card offer?  Compare them side by side so you know which is best for you.  You get the idea.

Home Delivery

Sure, if you buy something while out shopping you will deliver it to your own home, if it is light enough, but what if you buy something large and heavy?  When you shop online it is a given that you will need to ship your items.  That is why so many online malls offer free or discounted shipping if you combine orders.  Make your purchase and choose your delivery option; standard, expedited, express, whatever you want.  You can even track your package as it makes its way to you.

Easy Check-Out

Many online shopping malls even allow you to combine all your orders in one cart so you only have to check out once.  If you use the same mall frequently, they may keep your information on file so you don’t have to enter it every time you buy.  You can enter multiple addresses and do all your holiday shopping and have each item delivered to the right home.  Talk about easy!

Before you step out your door and waste time, energy and money trudging around, hop online and find out how much the Internet shopping mall can do for you.

Choosing Area Rugs for Your Home

Many homes that have hardwood or tile floors have area rugs, and some people who have wall to wall carpet also use them in an effort to protect specific areas of the floor from furniture, heavy traffic, or other things. No matter why you choose to use these kinds of rugs, you can definitely get all different sizes, styles, and colors to complement the décor you already have or to make a bold change if you want to do something different in your home. There are so many options to pick from that you'll be able to find just what you need if you're willing to look around and do some research.

Quality Matters

The quality of the rug you're buying should definitely be something you'll consider. You don't have to buy the most expensive, top of the line thing you can find, but you shouldn't buy the cheapest, either. If you don't buy something that's going to last, you may find that you're buying new rugs pretty often. That will cost you a lot of money in the long run, and you'll spend more over time than you would have if you had decided to buy something of a very high quality. Overall, it's important that you focus on quality more than anything else if you want the rug to last.

Stick to Your Budget

When you're buying area rugs, you should have a budget planned out. How much can you spend on your new rugs? What would you prefer to spend, and for what size rug or rugs? Consider carefully, because going to the store or surfing the online stores without a budget can be a serious problem. You'll end up spending a lot more than you planned to if you don't create a realistic budget and agree to stick to it before you start shopping. With a little research, you can determine what's reasonable for a budget.

Buying Online or Locally

There are plenty of places to get your area rugs. You can buy them locally, or you can also get them online. The downside to buying them online is that you won't be able to touch them and examine them before you make a purchase. The good thing is that you can sometimes find something less expensive, and you can often get it shipped right to your door. That's worth taking into account, especially if you're on a tight budget. Just buy from a store you can trust, and know what their policy is on damaged or returned goods.