Stunned by Stone

Lunar new year coins 2012

2011-11-14T07:57:00.001+08:00

The lunar new year if the dragon is fast approaching with 23/01/12 being the first day of the lunar new year.

After looking at the advertisement by the Singapore Mint, feel so tempted to start buying.

The negative impacts of Integrated Resorts in Singapore.

2011-06-11T10:13:00.003+08:00

Was browsing thru Stomp earlier and came across this news article about how a Taka Jewellery employee actually took $1.1 million worth of shop's jewellery and cash to gamble.

Is it still too early to feel the negative impact from the Intergrated Resorts? Is the IR the better of the evil?

Kinda strikes a chord within me, especially since I know this Sales person when she served me.

Wong Siew Teng was working as a jewellery store supervisor when the urge to gamble took over her life for six months last year.

She made weekly trips to the casino at Resorts World Sentosa.

Sometimes, she would go twice a week. But she did not gamble with her own money.

She took diamonds and jewellery from her store, Taka Jewellery’s outlet in Kovan.

She ordered expensive jewellery from the chain’s other shops, lying to colleagues that she had interested buyers.

She took customers’ jewellery. She even took cash from the till.

She pawned the valuables and used the money to gamble.

When she won, she would redeem the pawned items and replace them in the shop.

However, her luck ran out, and her losses piled up. And when her employers discovered things amiss at the shop, the game was up.

Yesterday, the Malaysian was jailed for five years. In all, the petite 30-year-old pocketed jewellery and money worth $1.1 million.

She pleaded guilty last month to charges of criminal breach of trust and laundering criminal proceeds at the casino.

The items she took included loose diamonds, diamond rings, diamond ear studs and diamond bracelets – in fact, anything with diamonds.

She started taking the valuables in June last year. She pawned two diamond rings for $10,200 and headed for Sentosa.

She won at the casino, redeemed the items and replaced them in the shop. A week later, she took another diamond ring, and did the same.

However, her winning streak did not last, and she was soon over her head and unable to redeem the pawned jewellery.

The more she gambled, the greater were her losses. Then, last November, Taka went to the police over discrepancies in its Kovan sales records.

Investigations revealed how Wong trawled the chain’s database for jewellery with diamonds of at least one carat at the other branches.

She would ask for the items to be sent to Kovan, saying she had a potential customer, then pawned them.

When the branches needed their jewellery back, Wong took cash from the till to redeem them.

She also convinced customers to place cash deposits for pieces of jewellery, telling them these would be a good buy. In reality, the items had been pawned.

Between June and November last year, she took 109 items belonging to Taka or its clients and embezzled $64,000 in cash.

She pawned the jewellery at Big Max, Valuemax or Moneymax.

Police recovered about $774,000 worth of jewellery from the pawn shops and an inquiry will be held to find the rightful owners.

Defence counsel Sukdave Singh said Wong had acted out of character, saying she had been depressed after being jilted by her boyfriend.

New Year Shopping

2011-01-23T22:06:00.000+08:00

Was at Jurong Point today when I came across the Singapore Mint Roadshow whereby they display a whole range of products from Singapore Mint. The personal practice of buying a gold coin, or rather a small gold coin, every Lunar New Year has not waned for me.

However, I was a little disappointed when the 3 teenagers manning the little booth at Jurong Point were more interested in talking amongst themselves and fiddling with the apps on their iPhones then to bother to attend to customers.

Worst still... when I asked them about the product specifications, like how heavy the coin was, how much the pricing was, etc. They too were not familiar...

Nonetheless, after looking thru the catalogue which was provided there, I finally managed to get all the specifications and pricing right. Which makes me wonder, why even bother to set up a booth there, when they could have merely set up a vending machine?

Gold roses, anyone?

2010-12-23T10:08:00.001+08:00

The roses, which were made of Au99.99 gold foil were displayed in the shape of a heart at a jeweley store in Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu province on Dec 15.

They are worth 600,000 yuan (US$90,165) and were bought by a man, whose surname means 'gold' in Chinese, according to an online report.

UAE hotel erects 11-million-dollar Christmas tree

2010-12-18T09:15:00.003+08:00

ABU DHABI (AFP) - – Christmas came in extravagant fashion to the Muslim desert emirate of Abu Dhabi as a glitzy hotel unveiled a bejewelled Christmas tree valued at more than 11 million dollars on Wednesday.
It is the "most expensive Christmas tree ever," with a "value of over 11 million dollars," said Hans Olbertz, general manager of Emirates Palace hotel, at its inauguration.
The 13-metre (40-foot) faux evergreen, located in the gold leaf-bedecked rotunda of the hotel, is decorated with silver and gold bows, ball-shaped ornaments and small white lights.

But the necklaces, earrings and other jewellery draped around the tree's branches are what give it a record value.

It holds a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones, said Khalifa Khouri, owner of Style Gallery, which provided the jewellery.

"The tree itself is about 10,000 dollars," Olbertz said. "The jewellery has a value of over 11 million dollars -- I think 11.4, 11.5."

This will probably be an entry into the Guinness book of world records, Olbertz said, adding that Emirates Palace planned to contact the organisation about the tree which is to stay until the end of the year.

Asked if the tree might offend religious sensibilities in the United Arab Emirates, where the vast majority of the local population is Muslim, Olbertz said he did not think it would. "It's a very liberal country," he said.

The hotel has had a Christmas tree up in previous years, but this year "we said we have to do something different," and the hotel's marketing team hatched the plan, said Olbertz.

The tree is not the first extravagant offering from Emirates Palace -- a massive, dome-topped hotel sitting amid fountains and carefully manicured lawns.

The hotel, which bills itself as seven-star, in February introduced a package for a seven-day stay priced at one million dollars.

Takers of the package have a private butler and a chauffeur driven Maybach luxury car at their disposal during their stay, as well as a private jet available for trips to other countries in the region.

And in May, the hotel opened a gold vending machine, becoming the first place outside Germany to install "gold to go, the world's first gold vending machine," said Ex Oriente Lux AG, the German company behind the machine.

Diamond swapper nabbed

2010-12-11T11:07:00.001+08:00

A MAN has been arrested for swapping real diamonds with replica diamond crystals at goldsmith shops.

Police arrested the 38-year-old suspect on Thursday night.

The man entered busy goldsmith stores, pretending as if he wanted to purchase a one-carat diamond and asking to examine it.

He would wait for the shop attendant to look away or attend to other customers before swapping the genuine diamond for the fake. The man would then leave the store claiming he needed more time to consider.

The suspect was caught near Yio Chu Kang MRT station in an operation staged on Thursday.

He will be tried in court for cheating on Saturday under Section 420 Chapter 224. If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine.

Pink diamond sells for record $46M at auction

2010-11-19T10:08:00.002+08:00

GENEVA – A rare pink diamond smashed the world record for a jewel at auction Tuesday, selling for more than $46 million to a well-known gem dealer.
London jeweler Laurence Graff paid $46,158,674, for the 24.78-carat "fancy intense pink" diamond, which he immediately named "The Graff Pink."
"It is the most fabulous diamond I've seen in the history of my career and I'm delighted to have bought it," Graff said in a statement released by auction house Sotheby's, which offered the stone at its Geneva sale.
The sale price was almost double the $24.3 million achieved by the blue 35.56-carat Wittelsbach-Graff diamond in 2008. That was also bought by Graff.
"This is the highest price ever bid for a jewel at auction," said David Bennett, the head of Sotheby's jewelry division, as the auction room in Geneva's luxury Beau Rivage hotel erupted into applause.
"Everybody was surprised it went that high," Mart van Drunen, a jeweler from Amsterdam, commented after the sale. "He clearly wants to have all the rarest diamonds in the world."
Rich buyers from developing countries have been dipping their hand in the high end of the market in recent years, but experts say emerging middle classes particularly in India are doing as much if not more to lift prices. Ongoing doubts about the stock market have also helped drive up the value of gold and precious jewels, said van Drunen.
Four bidders competed for the pink diamond, which was last sold 60 years ago by New York jeweler Harry Winston. The seller chose to remain anonymous, said Sotheby's.
Graff had the blue diamond recut after purchase, to the displeasure of purists who considered it an act of vandalism against a unique object. It wasn't immediately known whether he planned to alter the pink diamond, which Sotheby's says has a flaw unnoticeable to the naked eye but may be graded as internally flawless after re-polishing.
Sotheby's said it sold jewels worth $105.1 million Tuesday, also a world record for a single sale. The auction included items once belonging to Christina Onassis, the daughter of the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, and Cristina Ford, the second wife of Henry Ford's grandson Henry Ford II."I think this tells you a bit about the health of the market," Bennett told reporters after the sale.

A Sotheby's employee displays a 24.78 carat fancy intense pink emerald-cut diamond ring during an auction …

Poison via email...

2010-11-13T09:08:00.000+08:00

Got this advert via email today...

Tempting...

Gold hits record on inflation worry, Europe debt

2010-11-10T09:58:00.001+08:00

By Rujun Shen

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold rose to a record for the fourth straight session on Tuesday as inflation worries and euro zone sovereign debt woes continue to lure investors to precious metals.

Spot silver hit a new 30-year high of $28.16, and palladium extended gains to a new nine-year peak of $714.25. Spot gold rose to an all-time high of $1,414.60 an ounce, before easing to $1,413.50 by 0706 GMT.

"Liquidity is being thrown into the market place, the dollar is being debased as a way the U.S. government can get out of debt obligations, while Asian central banks keep buying dollars and keep their currencies cheap," said a Singapore-based trader.

"Hard assets are just going to continue to benefit. There is a good argument for these metals to go up. There is a lot of momentum to buy."

The target for this round of rally could be $1,475 or even $1,500, in the next three weeks, the trader added.

Vietnam's central bank said it would relax a gold import ban and allow in "reasonable volumes" to stabilise the domestic market, a move that is expected support sentiment.

Holdings in the world's largest gold-backed exchange traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, gained 2.43 tonnes to 1,294.196 tonnes, their highest so far this month.

Gold is expected to rise towards $1,430 per ounce, as the uptrend is steady and a wave "5" is advancing, said Wang Tao, a Reuters technical analyst.

Lunar New Year 2011 coins

2010-11-07T21:55:00.002+08:00

Christmas is not even over... and UOB has already started to send out its brochure for the Gold Coins to usher in the year of the rabbits!

Must say that the collection for the 2011 Lunar New Year of the Rabbit looks pretty nice.

Personally, I have not purchased any such coins from UOB, as I purchase mine from Singapore Mint on a yearly basis.

So perhaps, this year, I will have an option?

Beauty and you...

2010-10-09T12:13:00.000+08:00

Getting sick and tired of your job?

Been in your old career for too long a time and thinking of changing your career to find a new you?

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SpaBeautySchools.com presents unparalleled performance-based advertising, marketing, and recruitment solutions. For aspiring spa professionals, the site offers detailed information on their educational options within their zip codes, informational resources, and articles highlighting career paths, profiles, as well as strategies for success.

If you are already in business, you might like to check out the Hair and Beauty Salon Business Plan: it is a great software to use for your business. From calculating start up capital, to inventory control for products and services, management strategy and management summary, all these information will definitely be at the tips of your fingers with just a click!

So what don’t the recommendations sound great? Why not try it today!

'Desirable' 38M dlr pink diamond up for auction

2010-10-07T13:05:00.002+08:00

GENEVA (AFP) - – Auctioneers Sotheby's said Monday that a rare pink diamond valued at up to 38 million dollars (28 million euros) would go on sale in Geneva next month, dubbing it one of the "world's most desirable stones."
The 24.78 carat Fancy Intense Pink Diamond mounted on a ring comes from a private collection, the auction house said.

The gemstone, rated among a type that accounts for just two percent of diamonds, was last seen on the market about 60 years ago when it was sold by legendary US jeweller Harry Winston.

"During my 35-year career at Sothebys I have had the opportunity to examine many magnificent and rare gemstones and, put simply, this stone is one of the most desirable diamonds I have ever seen," said David Bennett, chairman for Europe and the Middle East at Sothebys international jewellery department.

"What makes it so immensely rare is the combination of its exceptional colour and purity with the classic emerald-cut -- a style of cutting normally associated with white diamonds," he added.

Sotheby's gave a pre-sale estimate of 27 to 38 million dollars for the fancy pink diamond, which will go under the hammer on November 16.

Blue, pink and green coloured diamonds are currently the most sought-after gemstones in auctions, according to the auction house.

Several elite auctioneers including rivals Christie's hold glittering jewellery sales every year in the western Swiss city's luxury hotels during one week in spring and autumn.

The 5Cs of your Business Insurance

2010-10-06T19:45:00.002+08:00

Just as how jewellery needs insurance against theft, we too need insurance for our health…

As much as you know how to choose a diamond based on the theoretical 5 Cs of diamonds, how does one choose a personal health insurance plan? Sounds like a tough nut to crack is it? So can you imagine how much more difficult is it to get a group health insurance quote? Just imagine how many more factors there would be to consider from: co-insurance, co-payments, deductibles, and the details of the coverage!

Providing group health insurance for employees is a priority for many businesses, be it large or small, but the rising costs of group health policies are making it harder to choose the right one for your employees and your budget. Choose the right health plan for your business by understanding what’s available and how much it costs.

Understanding health plans for your business insurance quotes is much like understanding the differences between individual insurance plans. To keep both yourself and your employees happy you need to understand how much the plan costs for you, how much your employees are responsible for paying, and what the plan covers.

So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a fuss free business insurance policy.

Singapore JewelFest 2010

2010-10-02T11:23:00.001+08:00

Another invite for the Singapore Jewelfest 2010!!!!

Can't wait to go!!!

How to invest in gold and key price drivers

2010-10-01T11:09:00.001+08:00

Reuters - Gold surges to a record above $1,313 an ounce on Wednesday after a spate of lacklustre U.S. data fuelled expectations the Fed may move towards further quantitative easing to help the economy, undermining the dollar.

Following are key facts about the market and different ways to invest in the precious metal.

HOW DO I INVEST?

SPOT MARKET

Large buyers and institutional investors generally buy the metal from big banks.

London is the hub of the global spot gold market, with more than $20 billion in trades passing through London's clearing system each day. To avoid cost and security risks, bullion is not usually physically moved and deals are cleared through paper transfers.

Other significant markets for physical gold are India, China, the Middle East, Singapore, Turkey, Italy and the United States.

FUTURES MARKETS

Investors can also enter the market via futures exchanges, where people trade in contracts to buy or sell a particular commodity at a fixed price on a certain future date.

The COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange is the world's largest gold futures market in terms of trading volume. The Tokyo Commodity exchange, popularly known as TOCOM, is the most important futures market in Asia.

China launched its first gold futures contract on Jan. 9, 2008. Several other countries, including India, Dubai and Turkey, have also launched futures exchanges.

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS

The wider media coverage of high gold prices has also attracted investments into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which issue securities backed by physical metal and allow people to gain exposure to the underlying gold prices without taking delivery of the metal itself.

Gold held in New York's SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed ETF, rose to a record high of 1,320.436 tonnes in June. The ETF's holdings are equivalent to more than half global annual mine supply, and are worth some $54.9 billion at today's prices.

Other gold ETFs include iShares COMEX Gold Trust , ETF Securities' Gold Bullion Securities and ETFS Physical Gold, and Zurich Cantonal Bank's Physical Gold.

BARS AND COINS

Retail investors can buy gold from metals traders selling bars and coins in specialist shops or on the Internet. They pay a small premium for investment products, of between 5-20 percent above spot price depending on the size of the product and the weight of demand.

KEY PRICE DRIVERS:

INVESTORS

Rising interest in commodities, including gold, from investment funds in recent years has been a major factor behind bullion's rally to historic highs. Gold's strong performance in recent years has attracted more players and increased inflows of money into the overall market.

U.S. DOLLAR

Despite the recent drop in the usual strong correlation between gold and the euro-dollar exchange rate, the currency market still plays a major long-term role in setting the direction of gold.

Gold is a usually popular hedge against currency weakness. A weak U.S. currency also makes dollar-priced gold cheaper for holders of other currencies and vice versa.

This link sometimes breaks down in times of widespread financial market stress, however, as both gold and the dollar benefit from risk aversion. Their ratio turned positive in late 2008 and early 2009 after the Lehman Brothers crisis.

OIL PRICES

Gold has historically had a correlation with crude oil prices, as the metal can be used as a hedge against oil-led inflation. Strength in crude prices can also boost interest in commodities as an asset class. More recently this correlation has weakened, with gold prices continuing to rise in the last two years as oil prices retreated from record peaks.

FISCAL AND POLITICAL TENSIONS

The precious metal is widely considered a "safe haven", bought in a flight to quality during uncertain times.

Financial market shocks, as seen in the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and more recently in the case of burgeoning euro zone debt problems, tend to boost inflows to gold.

Major geopolitical events including bomb blasts, terror attacks and assassinations can also induce price rises.

CENTRAL BANK GOLD RESERVES

Central banks hold gold as part of their reserves. Buying or selling of the metal by the banks can influence prices.

On Aug. 7, 2009, a group of 19 European central banks agreed to renew a pact to limit gold sales, originally signed in 1999 and renewed for a further five years in 2004.

Annual sales under the pact are limited to 400 tonnes, down from 500 tonnes in the second agreement, which expired in late September . Sales under the new pact have been low, however.

HEDGING

At the beginning of the 21st century, when gold prices were languishing around $300 an ounce, gold producers sold a part of their expected output with a promise to deliver the metal at a future date.

But when prices started rising, they suffered losses and there was a move to buy back their hedging positions to fully gain from higher market prices, a practice known as de-hedging.

Significant producer de-hedging can boost market sentiment and support gold prices. However, the rate of de-hedging has slowed markedly in recent years as the outstanding global hedge book shrank.

The world's biggest gold miner, Barrick Gold, cut its gold hedges by about 3 million ounces to eliminate its entire hedgebook in the fourth quarter of last year.

SUPPLY/DEMAND

Supply and demand fundamentals generally do not play as big a role in determining gold prices as those of other commodities because of huge above-ground stocks, now estimated at around 160,000 tonnes -- more than 60 times annual mine production.

Gold is not "consumed" like copper or oil.

Peak buying seasons in major consuming countries such as India and China exert some influence on the market, but others factors such as the dollar and financial risk carry more weight.

Get your cuppa of creativity at Cafepress!

2010-09-26T22:54:00.002+08:00

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Golden Mooncakes, anyone?

2010-09-23T13:16:00.001+08:00

A saleswoman presents four golden mooncakes in a jewery shop in Jinan' s Quancheng Road, east China's Shandong Province Sunday, September 17, 2006. The golden mooncakes, weighing between 10-30 grams, are designed with vivid resemblance to traditional ones. The mooncake is traditional food the Mid-autume Day, which falls on the 15th day of August in Chinese lunar calendar.

Gold hits new high on econ worries, weak dollar

2010-09-19T17:16:00.000+08:00

By Rujun Shen

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold surged to a new record and silver struck a new 2-½ year high on Friday on investor concerns over global economic prospects, while a weak dollar helped boost sentiment.

Spot gold hit a high of $1,280.1 an ounce, before easing to $1,279.2 by 0600 GMT, on course for a 2.9-percent rise from a week earlier, the sharpest in more than 3 months.

"Uncertain economic prospects, especially in the U.S., have helped gold continue to hit record highs," said Hou Xinqiang, an analyst at Jinrui Futures in China. "Even though prices have gone higher, bullish sentiment in the market is still intensifying."

Data out of the U.S. on Thursday showed an improved job market, while factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic continued to contract in September , albeit at a slower pace.

The euro rose to a one-month high against the dollar, with dealers citing buying from real money investors, or long-term investors such as pension funds and life insurers.

"Gold in recent times has been tracking the fortunes of the euro," said Darren Heathcote, head of trading at Investec Australia in Sydney. "Given that the euro has appreciated by a big figure against the U.S. dollar, it wasn't surprising to see gold not only test the $1,275 level but break through it."

"As we are trading gold around that number now, the momentum is very positive for potential testing of $1,300 in the next few days."

U.S. gold futures for December delivery rose 0.6 percent to $1,280.9 an ounce.

Technical analysis showed that spot gold could rise to $1,286 an ounce as per a flag and pennant pattern, according to Wang Tao, a Reuters market analyst.

Gold premium in Hong Kong was unchanged after it hit a record for a second time this week, at a premium of between 50 to 70 cents to spot London prices.

"There is not much scrap around these days. Selling is not too aggressive, unless the ETF turned around," said Ronald Leung, a physical dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong .

"Only if interest rates were raised, people's attitude towards gold would change from bullish to bearish. But for the near term, we don't see anything."

Spot silver vaulted to a 2-1/2-year high of $20.94 an ounce, and softened to 20.88, heading for a 5.7-percent weekly gain.

The gold/silver ratio, used to measure the ounces of silver needed to buy an ounce of gold, has been on a steady decline since late August. It stood at a nearly 8-month low of 61.27, way below the average of 64.38 over the past 28 years.

Spot platinum hit an intraday high of $1,617.5, within sight of a near 4-month peak of $1,618 hit in the previous session. Platinum is on course for a weekly gain of 5 percent, the sharpest in 8 months.

Palladium gained 1.4 percent to $552.5 an ounce, poised for a 7-percent gain from a week earlier, the biggest since late June.

Lockets?

2010-09-16T13:10:00.003+08:00

Fancy a locket?

No, lockets are no longer a thing of the past whereby they are just designed to be a pendant that opens to reveal a space used for storing a photograph or other small item such as a curl of hair or even photographs!

Check out some cool silver lockets from PicturesOnGold.com They make use of amazing laser technology to insert your photos directly into lockets. The best thing is: you can send your pictures online via their website for them to customize your locket!

Try it today!

Islamic gold dinar gains ground in Malaysia: official

2010-09-08T10:29:00.001+08:00

Imagine using gold to make your purchases in real life?

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4, 2010 (AFP) – Malaysians are embracing gold dinars which were introduced last month by the northern state of Kelantan to promote usage of Islamic currency as an alternative to paper money, an official said Saturday.

The gold coins and silver dirhams were introduced in early August by the Islamic opposition party PAS which rules Kelantan state to coincide with the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Umar Ibrahim Vadillo, chief executive officer with Kelantan Golden Trade, said the first batch of gold and silver coins worth two million ringgit (625,000 dollars) had been sold out in less than a month.

"There is enormous response in Malaysia. Their reaction is unbelievable," he told reporters.

"In Kelantan, businesses including garage owners and taxi drivers are using the gold and silver coins."

Civil servants in Kelantan are paid up to 25 percent of their salary in dinars and dirhams if they wish.

Umar said three more Malaysian states controlled by the opposition -- Selangor, Kedah and Penang -- had indicated interest in minting similar coins.

"By the end of the year, we anticipate sales of the dinars and dirhams to hit 60 to 70 million ringgit," he said.

According to Islamic law, the dinar coin is 4.25 grams of gold, while the dirham is 3.0 grams of pure silver.

A gold coin is equivalent to about 582 ringgit (183 dollars) while the silver coin is worth around 13 ringgit but their values fluctuate according to market prices.

The coins were intended to be used as an alternative to the Malaysian ringgit and sen but are not legal tender.

"Of course it is not legal tender," Umar said. "The gold dinar is a commodity. The use of it is on a voluntary basis."

"The government of Kelantan has not received any petition from the government of Malaysia (against the usage)."

"The people in Kelantan have spoken loud and clear that they like the gold and silver coins," Umar said.

Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose administration promoted a moderate form of Islam that emphasised economic and scientific development, shot down the proposal to use the traditional Islamic currencies.

But his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, was an advocate of the dinar system and urged Muslim countries to use it as a trade instrument.

Imperial White Jade Seal

2010-09-06T23:01:00.000+08:00

An Imperial white jade 'Xintian Zhuren' seal from Chinese Qing Dynasty, are displaying by Sotheby's in Hong Kong Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. The seal is expected to fetch HK$25-30 million (US$3.2-3.9 million) during the Sotheby's Hong Kong Qing Imperial Porcelain auction in Oct. 7, 2010.

(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Interesting course!

2010-09-05T22:54:00.003+08:00

Check out these exclusive Gem Seminars by Dr Henry Hanni, 3rd Oct - 5th Oct 2010 offered by Far East Gem Institute Singapore!!

Interested?

Contact them at

Far East Gemological Institute Pte Ltd
360 Orchard Rd
#09-04 International Building
Singapore 238869
Tel: (+65) 6735 8569.

Taking a pinch of salt!

2010-08-31T22:31:00.002+08:00

Now, its really time to take everything on the Internet with a pinch of salt..

I really went LOL when I saw all these:

A pendant with the Chinese characters 'Aunt' on it, becomes marketed as "Strength" and "Tranquillity"

A pendant with the Chinese characters 'Mother and Son' on it, becomes marketed as "Peace" and "Love"
A pendant with the Chinese characters 'Sisters' on it, becomes marketed as "Integrity" and "Determination"
A pendant with the Chinese characters 'Mother and Daughter' on it, becomes marketed as "Love" and "Tranquillity"

The wonders of Chinese characters!

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2010-08-21T10:03:00.001+08:00

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Chinese 'gold' brings Egyptians a taste of little luxury

2010-08-16T21:19:00.001+08:00

So all that glitters isn't gold after all!

CAIRO (AFP) - – A Cartier ring for just eight dollars? In Egypt, "Chinese gold"-- an affordable imitation of the precious metal-- has swamped the jewellery market, granting the poor a little taste of luxury.

Chinese 'gold' brings Egyptians a taste of little luxury

As in many other countries, the Egyptian market has been flooded with Chinese goods -- everything from electronics to plastic cigarette lighters have been shouldering locally made goods out of the way.

And in a country where 40 percent of the 80 million population lives on less than two dollars a day, the so-called Chinese gold has been widely welcomed, particularly by young couples who struggle to afford the traditional marriage dowry.

The current price of one gram of 24 carat gold in Egypt stands at 218 Egyptian pounds (38 dollars), while the Chinese version -- a mixture of aluminium, iron and other metals -- only costs around 20 to 30 Egyptian pounds (four to five dollars) per gram.

"Chinese accessories are cheap and elegant, the styles are varied and the best thing is that they look just like gold," said 31-year-old Amira showing off her Chinese trinket.

Ancient Egyptians considered gold the skin of gods, lending it spiritual as well social value.

A walk down Old Cairo -- lined with jewellery shops -- is a testament that the pharaohs' modern-day compatriots still hold high regard for the precious metal.

But as unemployment and rising inflation weighs down on a large part of the population, Egyptians are looking to alternatives for their coquetterie.

Just a short walk from the Khan al-Khalili tourist bazaar is Haret al-Yahud, the old Jewish quarter where gold workshops churned out designs from simple wedding bands to elaborate necklaces.

But many of the jewellers there have switched to selling Chinese gold to improve business.

Amira, an accountant, says she goes to the area especially to buy herself the Chinese goods.

"They look like gold, and most importantly, they are affordable," she said.

"Few have the means to buy real gold these days, which is why the Chinese gold is so in demand," said a woman selling the faux-bijoux in the quarter, who gave her name only as Nora.

"We have very nice rings, imitation Chanel and Cartier for less than 50 Egyptian pounds (around eight dollars)," said Azza Riad, who, making the most of the high demand, has just opened a store in the popular Ain Shams district in northwest Cairo.

"A woman can now by herself an imitation Bulgari set which includes a bracelet, a necklace and earrings for around 150 Egyptian pounds (26 dollars)," she said.

Moreover, "these accessories have the great advantage of keeping their colour for around two years," said Riad, who also owns a shop in Khan al-Khalili.

For young couples struggling to start a new life together, the arrival of Chinese gold has removed at least one obstacle to the costly traditions that surround marriage, including the dowry or "shabka".

A groom is required to offer his bride a shabka of gold -- or diamond for those who can afford it -- in order to seal the marriage deal. This is in addition to him providing housing and furnishing a new apartment ahead of the wedding.

"More and more young couples buy just the wedding bands in real gold and then they buy the rest of the accessories in Chinese gold to complete the shabka," said Riad.

Even many of Cairo's more well-off residents have enjoyed the Asian import.

"I bought Chinese accessories, I wear them often. They allow you to follow fashion trends without ruining your budget," said Faten Faltas, a stay-at-home mother from the affluent neighbourhood of Heliopolis.

"When I wear them, people think it is gold, so why not?", she said.

But Mohamed al-Felawi, who runs a well-known jewellery shop, snubs the Chinese import, saying that to sell it diminishes a jeweller's prestige.

"I would never sell this so-called Chinese gold in my shops. As a jeweller, it would be a scam for me to sell Chinese gold," he said.

Some clients say they can do both, buy Chinese gold for fun and leave real gold to more serious matters, like the shabka.

"I bought earrings for 30 Egyptian pounds (five dollars), it's almost nothing and no one can tell that it's not real gold," said Sylvia Tamer, 43.

But, she concedes, she would never allow her daughter to marry without having received a diamond shabka.

Wasfi Wassef, who owns a jewelry shop in Khan al-Khalili selling real gold, said his business has been hurt by the new accessories on the scene, adding that the imports could be a health hazard.

"It's not real gold. It's a mixture ... metals which go through a chemical treatment to get their golden colour, and this treatment can cause several allergic reactions," he said.

But doctors say Chinese gold is no more dangerous than other fake jewelry.

"Nickel can cause certain allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. But nickel is found in many accessories, including the Chinese gold," said Ramzi Onsi, the head of the department of dermatology in the Ahmed Maher University Hospital.

NMEDA

2010-08-10T22:32:00.000+08:00

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Field Report:Singapore International Jewellery Show 2010 by Lee Hwa

2010-08-04T21:36:00.009+08:00

Guess its better to let the pictures do the talking!

Here are pictures of the event that took place last Friday at the Singapore Jewellery International Show at Marina Bay Sands!

Other then the initial problem of having guests from the lucky draw to leave the place for invited guests, the show was brilliant!

Gem Quiz Results

2010-08-04T09:19:00.003+08:00

At the Singapore International Jewellery Show, I took a gem quiz at Far East Gem Lab.

And they emailed me the answer:

My Results:

No. 1 correct! Black tourmaline aka schorl!

No. 2 wrong!!!! My guess was lemon quartz.. but its a beryl!!

No. 3 correct! Kunzite!

No. 4 correct! Opal!

No. 5 correct! Malachite

No. 6 wrong!!!! I thought it was green tourmaline... but it turned out to be green glass!

No. 7 correct! Tiger's Eye!

No. 8 wrong... was stucked on this one.. turned out to be turquoise.

No. 9 partial wrong... my guess was sodalite.. but its lapiz.. anyway.. itsnt lapiz a rock consisting of sodalite, pyrite and calcite?]

No. 10 right! Jade!

No. 11 rough diamond! Right!

No. 12 Aquamarine beryl! Right

No. 13 Wrong!!! My guess was quartz.

No. 14 Partial Wrong.. my guess was ruby.. but this one's dyed!

No. 15 Right! Amethyst!

No. 16 Right! Ametrine!

No. 17 Wrong! My guess was emerald.. but is dyed quartzine!

No. 18 Right. Sapphire

No. 19 Right! Agate!

No. 20 Right! Amber!

Design

2010-08-03T09:39:00.001+08:00

By placing some simple shapes and colours together...

Came up with this design:

Hope to see it materialized soon.

2 men arrested for stealing diamonds at S’pore Int’l Jewellery Show

2010-08-01T00:16:00.000+08:00

SINGAPORE: Police arrested two men suspected of stealing two diamonds at the Singapore International Jewellery Show 2010 at Marina Bay Sands Singapore.

They were arrested at about 2.10pm on Thursday.

Police said officers from Central Police Division were conducting anti—crime rounds at the show and spotted the two men behaving suspiciously at one of the booths.

One of them was seen talking to an exhibitor while the other appeared to be taking something from the booth.

Both men left hurriedly after that.

The officers immediately gave chase and detained them outside the exhibition hall.

Two diamonds with a total value of about S$10,000 belonging to the exhibitor were found on one of the suspects.

The two men, aged 39 and 42 years, will be charged in court on Saturday.

In a separate case earlier at the show, a 43—year—old Filipina was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft.

Police said she was seen following visitors of the show closely and was believed to have attempted to steal from their bags.

She will also be charged in court on Saturday. — CNA/vm

SIJS stash!

2010-07-31T09:17:00.001+08:00

Pretty glad with my buys!!!

Going to update with pictures soon!

SIJS 2010

2010-07-29T21:40:00.000+08:00

Attended the first day of the jewelery show today...

And I must say that while the location of the place was pretty much bigger compared to previous years..

The numbers of overseas exhibitors seemed to have dropped drastically!

SIJS here I come...

2010-07-29T08:46:00.000+08:00

Pretty excited to attend the show later...

Will update with pictures when avail!

Stay tuned!

Jade cabochon

2010-07-26T22:00:00.000+08:00

Grass green.....

These jade cabochon really turn me green with envy with their greasy oily lustre and nice translucency.

Ps, the ring is not gold though, its meant as an visual aid to display the stone in a setting.

Contemplating to buy them and set them into a trendy look!

New pens!

2010-07-25T21:53:00.003+08:00

It has really been a long time since I last spent on pens...

Bought these two Platinum brand pens today. I guess this is my first venture into maki e pens.
For the uninitiated, maki e referes to is Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder as a decoration using a makizutsu or a kebo brush.

Closer pictures: this one shows Japanese cranes, in a typical Japanese style

Whereas the other shows a painting of a dragon...

Final Countdown to Singapore International Jewellery Show 2010

2010-07-24T07:37:00.002+08:00

I just wish I had a CIMB credit card!

Jade carved ring

2010-07-23T09:54:00.000+08:00

Saw a ring carved out entirely from icy jade that day...

Looked pretty nice... now I am feeling tempted to purchase it....

Got a reply from the local jeweller

2010-07-22T09:13:00.002+08:00

I finally got a reply from my local jeweler about the discrepancies in pricing for their products.

Read the story here.

Anyway... the reply goes that there was some miscommunication within the various departments within their company and what was meant as an offer for the Great Singapore Sale was not updated to their sales department.

To cut the whole story short, they apologized for overlooking on their part.

Another E-invite from SIJS

2010-07-15T09:45:00.001+08:00

Got this in my email..

Guess the publicity for Singapore International Jewellery Show 2010 is really heating up!

Tips on identifying real cameos

2010-07-12T13:45:00.000+08:00

Came across this tips on identifying real cameos:

Real shell cameos have a matte look to them, not a shiny look that a lot of vintage plastic cameos have.
Always look at the cameo you are going to purchase under a jeweler’s 10X loupe, regardless of the material. Real shell cameos have tool carving marks.
Shell cameos have a wonderful translucent quality, like porcelain, when held up in a strong light or sunlight. However, some plastic cameos may be thin enough to see through like this, so don’t rely on this as your only test.
Turn the cameo over and inspect the back. Real shell cameos have concave (curved) backs. Think of the shape of a conch shell from which they are generally carved from the outside to the inside. Those shells are all concave (curved).
Some say that if they touch a cameo with their wrist, chin, or tooth (not recommended) it will be cold if it is shell or stone, and warm if it is plastic.
Fake cameos that have been glued together layer by layer may contain real and fake materials combined, making them difficult to distinguish them from real cameos. Consider having a reputable jeweler in your area examine the piece for authenticity if the cameo you are considering is suspect, and/or the asking price is very high.

Great stuff there.. read the whole article on Rubylane.com

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2010-07-09T09:22:00.001+08:00

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Bling in rain!

2010-07-08T09:39:00.000+08:00

So you’re dressed with all your bling, shining from head to toe!

But have you ever wondered how a thunderstorm can ruin it all? Just imagine being late for an event just because of poor visibility due to the lack of a wind deflector. Yes.. a simple wind visor can change your journey a whole lot more in the event of bad weather!

How so?

Side Window Deflectors allow you to travel with a newfound sense of security in all types of weather conditions; this works by insulating the vehicle during swirling winds and cutting down on the excessive noise.

Last but not least, they also provide an awning that shields your windows from being overcome with raindrops, so that gives you the chance to show off your bling thru your window even in bad weather!

Pretty upset with local jeweller

2010-07-05T12:49:00.001+08:00

As per my post on A genuine case of mistake. To cut the story short, here goes:

I bought a set of bracelet ($198)and earrings ($108) that cost me $306 for a gift from this jeweller chain that has a store at IMM outlet (see scanned copy of receipt).

However, as per their brochure, both hard copy and soft copy downloaded , the price of the ear rings shown on the brochure shows that the pair of earrings is going at price of $98. Refer to picture:

I understand for items that contain diamonds, this slight price variance can be due to the diamond size being different, or the quality of the diamond differing.

But for this case, both items do not have any diamonds set into the pieces.

Even though, it is only a slight difference, I find that it is misleading to the public. Who knows what other prices could be different from what they advertised!

What's worst is that I have not even heard from them since June 26th, the date which I have sent the email to them! I am deeply dismayed they are a member of The Singapore Service Star , which is an accreditation scheme that seeks to recognise and promote businesses that deliver good service and exhibit sound business practices!

Got my invites!

2010-07-04T20:46:00.001+08:00

Got the invites to the Singapore International Jewellery Show!!!
I guess after going for so 2 years in a row.. they have some how gotten my particulars, and have made in a point to remind me about the upcoming show!!!

Can't wait to get there!

Anyone interested to go?

2010-06-27T18:53:00.002+08:00

It's an exclusive invitation to Singapore's first Museum-in-a-Mall exhibition by Lee Hwa Jewellery!!!!

Seems like there are artefacts form the Museum of East Asian Art in UK and Bait Al Zubair Museum in Oman!

A genuine case of mistake?

2010-06-26T09:16:00.002+08:00

Well, the title for this post is because, recently, I was buying some gifts for my colleagues farewell party. Stepped into this shop belonging to a local jewellery retail chain, looked at some options they had, and made the purchase.

However, when I went back home, I realized that there was a difference in pricing - between what I was charged and what was advertised in their promotional material!

Sent an email out..

Awaiting their reply...

Shall see if their service levels are as good as what they claim and even endorsed by the Singapore Service Star!

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2010-06-25T09:23:00.001+08:00

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Event not to be missed!

2010-06-22T23:27:00.000+08:00

The Singapore International Jewellery Show 2010!

Be effortlessly chic as the sixth edition of the Singapore International Jewellery Show (SIJS) heralds in the celebratory return of Glam – more sophisticated, luxurious and timeless!

The Singapore International Jewellery Show, more popularly known as the SIJS is the exhibition which all trade professionals in the Jewellery and Gem sector shouldn’t miss! It is also a jewellery show above the rest because it is open to both trade and consumers. With its proven track record and success from past editions, the sixth successful edition of SIJS 2010 returns with a bigger and grander venue – Marina Bay Sands!

Spanning across a period of four days from 29 July to 01 August 2010, SIJS will be the one-stop venue for top industry players to come under one roof and showcase their prized collection of jewellery ranging from the dazzling timepieces to the finely detailed and elegant designs.

Expected number of exhibitors: 180 from 30 countries
Expected number of visitors: 15,000 both trade & public
Larger Exhibition Halls: 7,000 sq metres
Luxurious VIP room featuring the most prestigious line-up of furniture, artwork and collectibles
Expansion to European market, both trade guests and visitors
Extensive Marketing Communication Campaign in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Europe
Daily Jewellery and Fashion catwalk shows
Showcase of the 2010 collection of masterpieces by Thomas Diego Armonia

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2010-06-22T12:29:00.001+08:00

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Gold prices hit record highs

2010-06-20T15:34:00.001+08:00

Time to buy gold? or sell them?

CHARLOTTE -- Coleman Perry sifts through a small pile of gold items at his Charlotte jewelry store. With the price of gold soaring, the phone is ringing a lot these days.

"With money being tight, things that used to have value to them, as far as enjoying wearing, now they can turn it into value that they can buy groceries at the store with now," said Perry.

Jewelry stores across the state are trying to capitalize on the gold rush, advertising they're buying the precious metal. At Perry’s jewelry store, the selling price is on its sign out front—$1,258 an ounce Friday. That's a record high.

"Sometimes during the day we'll get 10 to 15 people a day with 15 of them wanting to sell," said Perry.

Gold prices have risen 12 percent since January and some experts think it'll eventually top $1,300.

Many investors concerned about the uncertain global market are pulling their money out of risky investments and taking refuge in gold.

"Gold is something that doesn't disappear," said Perry.

But Tom Bartholomy with the Better Business Bureau says sellers need to make sure they're getting what they deserve. He says internet sites that promise money for gold are easy, but definitely not the best.

"You will get a check back, but you will probably be disappointed at what that check is," said Bartholomy.

Gold prices are helping other precious metals too. Silver, platinum and palladium are also all seeing consistent rises.

Bezozar Pearls

2010-06-18T11:20:00.003+08:00

Recently have been doing some reading on Bezozar Pearls...

Check out the information on Wikipedia.

Pretty impressive stuff if you ask me..

Items like bamboo pearls, cloud pearls, snake pearls..

But I really wonder about the authenticity of such items

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2010-06-17T09:53:00.001+08:00

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US discovers stunning mineral wealth in Afghanistan: report

2010-06-15T09:54:00.001+08:00

US geologists have discovered nearly one trillion dollars' worth of untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, including vast reserves of copper and lithium, the New York Times reported Monday.

The deposits, which also include huge veins of iron, gold, niobium and cobalt, are enough to turn the battle-scarred country into one of the world's leading mining exporters, senior US government officials told the Times.

Afghanistan's potential lithium deposits as large of those of Bolivia, which currently has the world's largest known lithium reserves, the Times said.

Lithium is a key mineral used in rechargeable batteries, as well as everything from cell phones and laptops to electric cars.

Afghanistan has so much of it that it could become the "Saudi Arabia of lithium," according to an internal Pentagon memo quoted by the newspaper.

The iron and copper deposits are large enough to make Afghanistan one of the world's top producers, US officials said.

"There is stunning potential here," General David Petraeus, head of the US Central Command, told the newspaper. "There are a lot of ifs, of course, but I think potentially it is hugely significant."

"This will become the backbone of the Afghan economy," Jalil Jumriany, an adviser to the Afghan minister of mines, told the Times.

A small team of US geologists and Pentagon officials uncovered the mineral wealth with help from charts and data collected by Soviet mining experts during the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Afghan geologists took the charts home to protect them during the chaos that followed the Soviet withdrawal, and produced them again in 2001 with the fall of the Taliban, the Times said.

"There were maps, but the development did not take place, because you had 30 to 35 years of war," Ahmad Hujabre, an Afghan engineer who worked for the Ministry of Mines in the 1970s, told the Times.

President Hamid Karzai was recently briefed on the finding, US officials told the newspaper.

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2010-06-13T10:37:00.001+08:00

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India demands Koh-i-Noor diamond

2010-06-11T14:21:00.000+08:00

The Indian government has demanded Britain to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond which was wringed from the Indian hands by British forces in the 19th century.

The East India Company forces in India made the Maharaja of Punjab give the diamond away as a tribute to Queen Victoria in 1849 following the Treaty of Lahore.

India says the British seized the diamond -- owned by Nader Shah (King of Iran, 1688-1747) and his descendents before finding its way into India -- illegally and wants it back along with other treasures looted during colonial rule.

India's efforts are in line with an international campaign backed by the United Nations for the return of historic treasures to several countries, including Mexico, Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

That said, the British High Commission in New Delhi has called the removal of the gemstone legitimate and its ownership "non-negotiable."

Dr Gautam Sengupta, head of the Architectural Survey of India, who is in charge of protecting the country's antiquities, said if the country required the European museums to return its looted treasures, many of the museums would have to pull down their shutters."

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2010-06-11T08:49:00.001+08:00

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Life-size diamond ball adds sparkle to FIFA World Cup in South Africa

2010-06-08T12:45:00.000+08:00

A South African jeweler has unveiled a 20 million rand (267,000 U.S. dollar) life-sized sized World Cup football to commemorate the FIFA World Cup which kicks off in Johannesburg on Friday.

The ball is made up of 6,620 white and 2,640 black round brilliant cut South African diamonds giving a total weight of 3,500 carats.

Jeweller Yair Shimansky told Business Day newspaper in Johannesburg ball "was not designed for any goal kicking practice."

The diamond encrusted ball weighs about 2.2 kg.

Shimansky said he is in talks with a European soccer club about selling the World Cup ball to them as a 2010 commemorative display piece for their club.

His seven national stores will each exhibit an exact crystal replica of the ball in their windows for the duration of the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 11. After the World Club is concluded each replica will be auctioned with the proceeds being given to each regional store's chosen charity.

Event I am looking forward to go!

2010-06-06T11:07:00.002+08:00

Was told about this event happening at the Asian Civilisations Museum

Treasury of the World: Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals
12 Feb 2010 - 27 Jun 2010
@ Special Exhibitions Gallery, ACM Empress Place

Immerse yourself in the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire(1526 – 1858), one of the wealthiest, most powerful dynasties the world has ever known. Treasury of the World features a dazzling array of 402 exquisite jewelled works of art from Mughal India, from The al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait.
The rulers of the Mughal empire were so renowned for their lavish lifestyle, love of beauty and vast collection of precious objects, that the Mughal emperor Jahangir was once described in a letter by the English Ambassador Thomas Roe as ‘the treasury of the world’. Visit this exhibition to learn more about the diverse techniques in the jewelled arts used by the artisans and craftsmen during the Mughal period.

This travelling exhibition began its journey at The British Museum in London and has since been shown in world-renowned venues such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre Museum in Paris. The exhibition will make its Asian debut at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore.
This exhibition is organised by The al-Sabah Collection, National Council for Culture, Arts & Letters, Kuwait, in collaboration with the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Admission charges: $8 (adult) / $4 (concession) / $20 (family package) Includes admission to ACM permanent galleries.

Anyone interested in joining me?

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2010-05-25T11:35:00.001+08:00

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2010-05-23T23:10:00.001+08:00

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Fisher Space Pen

2010-05-12T22:08:00.001+08:00

Whoppe...

Got a phone call from Fook Hing Trading to inform me that they would a 1 to 1 exchange for my faulty Fisher Space Pen.

I am indeed very touched and pleased by their gesture. This is indeed a far difference from the 1 over month I had to wait for when my Montblanc Marlene Dietrich pen was sent for repair after the sapphire dropped off!

Sometimes, as consumers, we can't use the price of a pen to gauge the level of service we ought to receive.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Fook Hing Trading and Fisher Space Pens!

For others who would like to try The Fisher Space Pens, visit their site.

You can get them at Fook Hing Trading which is located at Blk 231 Bain Street, #01 – 23 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231!

Fisher Space Pen Cracked - II

2010-05-08T09:10:00.003+08:00

Alright, managed to get a reply from our local pen distributor!

And they have informed me to send in the pen back while they contact the manufacturer.

Really wonder what is going to happen next.

Fisher Space Pen Cracked

2010-05-07T10:29:00.001+08:00

Gosh..

Just realised a crack on my fisher space pen?

Wasn't it supposed to be made of brass and coated with chromium?

Wonder if this is the quality of pen the company is making.

I contacted the manufacturer and they told me to contact our local distributor, Fook Hing, which is in Bras Brasah.

So let's see what solution they will offer to me.

Ear Rings get a new life...

2010-05-04T09:18:00.002+08:00

Believe it or not, this pair of cufflinks used to be a pair of ear rings I bought from Metropolitan Museum of Art. Look at what it used to be here..

Good bye, diamonds?

2010-05-02T13:43:00.000+08:00

Diamonds, the women's best friend seem to be fast depleting. World's biggest miners of gems, De Beers, report that the diamond supply in the world is coming to an end.

De Beers, reveal that the diamond mines are on the verge of extinction and soon will be history. To extend the life of the mines, the gem supplier has decided to reduce its production.

The depleting diamond mines will have a direct impact on the prices. Des Kilalea, a diamond analyst, said that owing to the moderated output, diamond prices could rise by at least 5 per cent a year for the next five years.

De Beers will had a record of producing 48m carats, will reduce their Diamond production to 40m in 2011. De Beers, accounts for 40 per cent of global diamond sale. But with the diamond mines at stake, this figure will also drop down.

In the last two decades the industry has found no new diamond deposit, neither to match the two biggest mines in Africa, owned by De Beers nor the best Russian mines of Alrosa, the other big diamond producer.

Diamond analysts say that due to less supply of Diamond, the market has been flourished with false and inferior quality of the gem.

"US Richest" Women sues Singapore Hotel for lost of US$ 330,000 ring!

2010-04-18T22:07:00.001+08:00

Source: The Straits Times

A WEALTHY American socialite says a diamond ring worth more than $300,000 (right) went missing while she was staying at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore last year.

Now, multi-millionaire Anne Hendricks Bass, 68, has gone to court to force the hotel to make good her loss.

A longtime arts patron with a passion for dance, she was described by The New York Times last month as one of the richest women in the United States after her 1988 divorce from Texas billionaire Sid Bass.

Ms Bass claims that her Paris-made gold ring, which had a 6.41 carat diamond valued at US$220,000 (S$307,000) on it, went missing on Feb 6 last year, two days after she checked into the Shangri-La.

According to court documents, she said she placed the ring on a table in the bedroom of her two-room suite at about 6.30pm that day, shortly before getting a massage.

She said two hotel employees were with her for about an hour in the room, while another entered at about 9.15pm to deliver a meal she ordered.

Ms Bass claimed she realised the ring was missing only at 10pm, when she was about to check out.

She alerted hotel staff to help her look for it, but the search proved fruitless.

She then made a police report on the advice of hotel staff, and postponed her departure by a day to continue the search, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

After checking out on Feb 7 last year, she offered a US$50,000 reward for any information leading to the recovery of the ring. But that also proved futile.

Now, she wants the hotel to pay her damages.

Ms Bass, who is based in New York, is represented by lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam of Stamford Law Corporation. She is alleging that the hotel failed to provide adequate security to safeguard her personal property against theft.

She says that either the hotel was negligent or its employees might have stolen the ring.

But the hotel, represented by Mr K. Anparasan of KhattarWong, is denying the claims. According to the defence statement which has been filed, it is arguing that the loss was caused, or contributed to, by the woman’s own negligence.

It says she had not shown evidence that the ring was in her possession at all times during her stay at the hotel. Neither has she proven that she even brought the ring with her when she arrived in Singapore last year.

The hotel’s position is that its three employees never entered the bedroom of Ms Bass’ suite.

She had her massage in the living room, not the bedroom, as she had claimed. And the butler who delivered her meal left the food in the dining area of the living room.

The hotel acknowledges that it is liable to pay only up to $500, the maximum provided for under the Innkeepers Act for a loss where there is no theft or neglect.

A High Court pre-trial conference is due later this month.

Poh Heng Disney Tigger Medallion

2010-02-15T20:51:00.000+08:00

Apologies for the lack of posts recently...

Had been really busy for the Lunar Chinese New Year!

Anyway.. just to share my latest purchase for the year of the Tiger...

It's the Poh Heng Disney Tigger Coin medallion!

It comes in a very bright and attractive packaging!

The coin:

Close up view:

Got my parcel from CatherinetteRings's Shop!!!

2010-01-23T21:51:00.004+08:00

Received my parcel from Catherinette Ring's!!!

Opened the envelope and inside was a nice cardboard box with an irdisicent shine!

When I opened the box, I got a shock!!!

A pleasant one to be exact!

I was given an additional ring free of charge!

Thank you, Daniel!

Will post pictures of the individual items soon!

Tips on buying Gold in Singapore

2010-01-22T14:56:00.000+08:00

Some Golden rules

Compare prices and shop around before buying, as some retailers may offer discounts.
Buy jewellery certified by the Singapore Assay Office.
Ensure that the jewellery is weighed in your presence, and that jewellers charge based on the net weight.
Insist on a detailed breakdown in the receipt of the gold price (per gram), labour cost and weight, and keep all proofs of purchase.
Consumers can report to Nets or credit-card companies jewellers who attempt to pass on credit-card or Nets processing fees – which sellers claim to be 3 to 5 per cent of the goods’ price – to buyers.
Retailers are supposed to absorb the charges, according to contractual agreements between Nets and retailers.
Check with retailers on the terms and conditions of purchase, and if they have an exchange or refund policy before buying.

Four jewellers fail gold purity test

2010-01-22T01:55:00.000+08:00

by Cheryl Lim, my paper|21 January 2010

Four jewellers have been found to be selling gold jewellery that contained less than the minimum amount of gold required, in a test by mystery shoppers from the consumer watchdog here.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) conducted the test on 33 jewellery retailers from November last year to this month.

Overall, the quality of gold jewellery sold here has improved over the past year, said Case president Yeo Guat Kwang.

Case had previously conducted two similar rounds of tests.

n the first round carried out in September and October 2008, Case checked 30 retailers, of which five failed the test for gold purity.

In the second round done in December 2008, one of 12 retailers tested failed the test.

Mr Yeo said: “We do this survey to find out if retailers are still selling gold jewellery that does not meet the claimed fineness, or charging consumers for manufacturing loss.”

It is especially important to conduct such tests on gold, because consumers cannot verify and assess the precious metal “with their naked eye”, he said.

Mr Yeo stressed that, in the latest round of tests, only two of the four errant retailers – Lim’s Jewellery and Giftwell Gold – “clearly breached” the minimum required amount of gold content, which stands at 91.6 per cent.

A pair of earrings from Lim’s Jewellery contained only 80.76 per cent of gold, while a brooch from Giftwell Gold contained 91.36 per cent.

The other two retailers – Satya Jewellery and Poh Fok Jewellery – were “borderline cases”, which might have failed because of technicalities during testing, Mr Yeo said.

A gold ring from Satya was found to contain 91.49 per cent of gold, while earrings from Poh Fok contained 91.51 per cent.

Six retailers who had breached the previous rounds of tests were included in this round.

All except one, which was closed at the time the mystery shoppers dropped by, passed the test this time, Mr Yeo said.

The improved test results are partly due to a general improvement in quality standards in the jewellery trade here, said Ms Ng Siew Hua, chief assayer of the Singapore Assay Office (SAO), an independent body that tests and certifies precious metal.

“More retailers now opt to send their jewellery for testing at the SAO,” she said.

The SAO’s membership, which currently stands at 50 retailer- members, has increased by 40 per cent in the past year.

Customers who buy from jewellers who are members of the SAO or the Singapore Jewellers Association are entitled to a refund or an exchange if they find that the items they bought contained less gold than claimed.

The latest round of tests by Case also highlighted a problem with the SAO’s testing system.

One of the pieces failed the test this time even though it had been certified pure by the SAO.

The SAO explained that this might have happened because it tests only a few samples from each batch of jewellery.

The samples are destroyed during the testing process.

To prevent substandard pieces from slipping through again, the SAO has started carrying out X-ray tests since Jan 6 on all gold pieces from each batch of jewellery, on top of the standard test on a few samples from the batch.

Dragon and Phoenix Cufflinks

2010-01-18T18:55:00.000+08:00

Finally collected my pair of dragon and phoenix cufflinks from my jeweller!

The centre stone on each piece is a Mali garnet.

They are extremely beautiful in real life... and have loads of details on them! Brighten up a shirt instantly:

Steampunk Tie Tack

2010-01-11T21:32:00.000+08:00

Just sharing some pictures of the tie tack..

Awaiting my overseas package...

2010-01-08T07:28:00.002+08:00

I am so excited thinking of the steampunk inspired jewellery that I will be receiving soon from
CatherinetteRings's Shop!!!

Decision Made

2010-01-07T06:21:00.001+08:00

I was told by my jeweler that the GIA certified loose diamond I was contemplating to buy is not a good deal.

This is because, it is not a true fancy diamond, despite what the shop tried to promote it as.

I am pretty disappointed that such 'marketing' of inferior diamonds as fancy diamonds exist!

Contemplation

2010-01-04T15:31:00.000+08:00

I am contemplating whether to buy this GIA certified diamond I saw!!!

It is a Round Brilliant with the following specs:
Measurements: 5.42 - 5.49 x 3.43 mm

Carat Weight: 0.62 carat
Color Grade: M, Faint Brown
Clarity Grade: VVS1
Cut Grade: Very Good

Proportions:
Depth: 62.9%
Table: 58%
Crown Angle: 35.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.6°
Pavilion Depth: 44.5%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick (3.5%)
Culet: None

Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None

Clarity Characteristics:
Pinpoint, Surface Graining, Internal Graining

Anyone can advise?

Wire Wrapped Lapis Ring

2010-01-02T21:29:00.003+08:00

Got this very beautiful ring as a gift recently...

It is a ring hand crafted from 925 silver wire with an amazing lapis lazuli stone as a centre piece...

Amazing wire work!

The Aurora Pyramid of Hope

2009-12-28T21:47:00.002+08:00

Was browsing thru wikipedia when I chanced across this very interesting diamond exhibit known as the The Aurora Pyramid of Hope which is the most comprehensive natural color diamond collection in the world!

Pictures from Wikipedia
All the colors of the spectrum that diamonds exist in are represented in various shapes, saturations and modifiers including blue diamonds, pink diamonds, red diamonds, green diamonds, orange diamonds, purple diamonds, violet diamonds, yellow diamonds, olive diamonds and brown diamonds. Also represented are color changing chameleon diamonds. Aurora Pyramid of Hope was put together by Alan Bronstein and Harry Rodman over 25 years.

What a beauty...

Definitely a must see for all diamond lovers!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T10:15:00.002+08:00

Here's wishing all blog readers

A Merry Merry Christmas!

Thanks for the continuous support over the past year!

How to buy Christmas jewellery for your girlfriend

2009-12-23T05:29:00.001+08:00

An interesting video..

Something in line with the festive season!

How to buy Christmas jewellery for your girlfriend- Great tips! enjoy!

Feature Friday: Lee Hwa Jewellery Facebook page

2009-12-18T20:16:00.004+08:00

This week's Feature Friday is not really on jewellery design, but rather on how a Singaporean jeweller, Lee Hwa Jewellery has moved onto using the popular social neworking site, Facebook, to keep its customers and fans updated!

Be intrigued by the numerous photos from events like Lee Hwa Diamond Odyssey - Municipal of Haute Luxe, Terrain of Glamazons, etc...

Check out the page on Facebook!

Vintage jewellery

2009-12-12T20:46:00.003+08:00

With the Christmas around the corner, are you thinking of what accessories to match your outfit for your party?

If you are thinking of vintage as a theme, don't forget to jazz up your outfit with vintage style rings or even vintage pendants! Vintage jewellery definitely has more character and emotions attached to them compared to commercially mass produced modern pieces, which can be molded by the thousands.

Navigating the vintage jewelry market, be it at the auction house or the retail malls, can be of a challenge to both the novice to the expert!

When shopping for vintage jewelry, you should look for a period piece that speaks to you and fits your personality and dressing style. If you plan on wearing the item every day to work and play, make sure it is versatile in a way that it will be able to match with both business and weekend wear.

Another tip in buying vintage jewellery is to choose a piece that you will wear and future generations will want to keep, such an item should also have a strong resale value. Try to stay away from trendy items and stick to the evergreen classics designs that will still be in style years from now.

Some interesting vintage rings I have come across recently include:

Silver & Gold Vintage Ring studded with a Zircon Gemstone.

It is an extremely interesting design that comes in two colour tones ( gold and silver) which are shaped into swirling patterns that join to create a cage-like, concave shape. Additional gold embellishment atop the silver base creates an abstract, flower-like pattern.

Another eye catching piece would be this:
14K Gold Vintage Style rind wide band

This is a very simple wide-banded 14k gold ring that is also elegant at the same time. Small, raised divots throughout the gold band give the simple ring some texture. Looks indeed a evergreen piece destined to withstand the waves of time!

Feature Friday: Montblanc Ingrid Bergman La Donna Fountain Pen

2009-12-11T22:30:00.003+08:00

In their continuing celebration of famous screen actresses, Montblanc have released this special edition pen in honour of the work of Ingrid Bergman. The famous Swedish actress won three Oscars and was celebrated for her roles as film star and mother of four children. The pen is inspired by the sleek. cosmopolitan elegance of the 1940s.

Cartridge Fountain Pen, 18 K gold nib with heart-shaped hole. Metal cap engraved with a pattern and coated with a mother-of-pearl style lacquer, decorated with Ingrid Bergman´s signature. Red-gold-plated clip set with a royal-purple amethyst (approx. 0.25 ct). Barrel is made of black precious resin.

Friday Feature - CatherinetteRings

2009-12-04T21:53:00.003+08:00

Welcome to my very first Friday Feature, where I feature some interesting and new designs.

Today's spotlight in on Catherinette Rings, which specialises in Steampunk Jewellery. What is steampunk anyway? According to Wikipedia,teampunk is a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date.

Alright, enough with the long and lengthy introduction.

Here's some of the interesting rings featured for sale by Catherinette Rings on Etsy:

(All images from Catherinette Rings)

Robot Ring:

A ring made with clock gears and Sapphire jewel vintage watch crown:

My personal favourite, Ring with Boulder Opal, which I have of course, reserved!
So, if you are into quirk and interesting sculpture rings, check out Catherinette Rings on Etsy!

"Vivid pink" diamond sells for record $10.8 million

2009-12-02T22:07:00.000+08:00

HONG KONG (Reuters Life!) – A rare, 5-carat pink diamond was auctioned off for a record $10.8 million in Hong Kong on Tuesday, putting some shine back into the world's rare and large stones market which was badly hit by the financial crisis.

The stone, of a "vivid pink" hue and considered near perfect, but not quite flawless, triggered brisk bidding in Christie's autumn sales of Asian and Chinese art in Hong Kong.

The price smashed the previous record, set 15 years ago in Geneva for a 19.66-carat stone that sold for $7.4 million. The pink gem's per-carat price of $2.2 million was also the highest ever paid for any diamond at auction, Christie's said.

"No stone has ever been sold for $2 million a carat, we were used to ... a million dollars a carat for colored diamonds but never 2 million," said Francois Curiel, Christie's Europe chairman. "This is an absolute record that is not going to be broken for a while I believe."

The stone, set in a so-called "cushion-cut" ring by famed jewelers Graff Diamonds, was just a quarter the size of the Geneva stone and not quite flawless but the stone's "vivid pink" is considered near perfect. Curiel described it as a "fabulous pink diamond, probably one of the rarest stones I've ever seen."

While the South African-mined diamond isn't quite rated flawless given minor blemishes, Christie's said that these could be removed by minor repolishing.

Christie's has a track-record of putting rare polished stones up for sale in Asia, given its confidence in the depth of the Asian market for the world's top gemstones and artwork.

Last May, before the financial crisis began to hurt the global auction market, Christie's sold a squash-ball-sized, 101.27-carat diamond in Hong Kong for $6.2 million.

Despite this, some major gems have disappointed in Asia, including a 72.22-carat "D" flawless white diamond that failed to hit its reserve price in a Sotheby's Hong Kong sale last April, falling short of its $10-12 million pre-sale estimate.

While the world's most expensive jewel ever sold at auction is the "Wittelsbach" blue diamond, a 17th-century deep grayish-blue stone that fetched $24 million last year, top red and pink gemstones are also known for stratospheric valuations.

Wedding Jewellery Shopping

2009-11-30T22:03:00.000+08:00

Went on a spree with my colleague who was looking for a pair of wedding bands.

Eventually, they settled on a pair of Destinee bands at Lee Hwa Jewellery! It even came with a free wedding pillow as well as a jewellery box!

Impressive!

Start of Feature Friday

2009-11-27T15:07:00.000+08:00

I am thinking of starting a Friday special called Feature Friday whereby I will feature a design / designer's work. It could either be a handmade jewellery designer or some haute couture brand.

Anyone with any comments or recommendations to make?

Gold price breaks $1,195 an ounce

2009-11-25T21:05:00.000+08:00

LONDON (AFP) - – The price of gold soared above 1,195 dollars an ounce for first time in history here on Thursday, following a purchase of IMF gold by Sri Lanka's central bank.

Gold hit 1,195.13 dollars per ounce at around 0400 GMT on the London Bullion Market, extending its record-breaking run.

The precious metal has won support in recent weeks from inflationary fears, the weak US currency and increasing moves by central banks to diversify assets into gold.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced Wednesday it had sold 10 tonnes of gold to Sri Lanka's central bank for 375 million dollars as part of a restructuring of its financial resources.

It was the third IMF sale of gold in a month as the Washington-based institution seeks to reduce its dependence on lending revenue and bolster its finances amid the global economic crisis.

The sale brought the total IMF gold sold to central banks to 212 tonnes. India bought 200 tonnes between October 19 and 30 for 6.7 billion dollars and Mauritius bought two tonnes on November 11 for 71.7 million dollars.

Prices had smashed their way to record levels on Wednesday amid a newspaper report that India was mulling the purchase of more IMF gold reserves.

A weaker greenback makes gold cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies, which tends to boost demand and prices.

At the same time, fears over higher inflation have also lifter the market because gold is widely regarded as a "safe-haven" investment in times of economic uncertainty.

Thanks to Entrecard Droppers

2009-11-24T21:24:00.001+08:00

Many thanks to all Entrecard Droppers who have been dropping by recently.

This humble blog of mine has once again been gaining popularity on Entrecard!

Cazenovia Jewelers Commercial

2009-11-22T12:11:00.000+08:00

What an ingenuous way to get a dog for a proposal stint!

3 new ancient crocodile species fossils found

2009-11-21T09:14:00.000+08:00

WASHINGTON – A 20-foot-long crocodile with three sets of fangs _ like wild boar tusks _ roamed parts of northern Africa millions of years ago, researchers reported Thursday. While this fearsome creature hunted meat, not far away another newly found type of croc with a wide, flat snout like a pancake was fishing for food.

And a smaller, 3-foot-long relative with buckteeth was chomping plants and grubs in the same region.

The three new species, along with new examples of two previously known ancient crocodiles, were detailed Thursday by researchers Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago and Hans Larsson of McGill University in Montreal. They spoke at a news conference organized by the National Geographic Society, which sponsored the research.

"These species open a window on a croc world completely foreign to what was living on northern continents," Sereno said of the unusual animals that lived 100 million years ago on the southern continent known as Gondwana.

Hans Dieter Sues of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History said the discovery revises the ideas of what crocodile-type reptiles were like.

"It's a joy for anyone who is interested in ancient life to see," said Sues, an editor at ZooKeys, which published the findings.

The researchers suggest that these crocs could gallop across the landscape chasing prey and yet dive into water and swim.

"My African crocs appeared to have had both upright, agile legs for bounding overland and a versatile tail for paddling in water," Sereno wrote in an article for National Geographic magazine. "Their amphibious talents in the past may be the key to understanding how they flourished in, and ultimately survived, the dinosaur era."

They weren't racehorses, Sereno said, but they could move quickly. Freshwater crocs in Australia manage to eat a few people every year and these would have been able to do as well, he said. However, there were no people around at the time.

The newly discovered species are:

_ Kaprosuchus saharicus, nicknamed "BoarCroc," found in Niger. BoarCroc was a 20-foot-long meat-eater with an armored snout for ramming and three sets of dagger-shaped fangs for slicing. The tusks stuck out above and below the jaw like a modern warthog, said Larsson. "This has never been seen before on any crocodile."

_ Araripesuchus rattoides, which the researchers call "RatCroc," found in Morocco. This 3-foot-long croc was a plant- and grub-eater with a pair of buckteeth in the lower jaw it used to dig for food.

_ Laganosuchus thaumastos, or "PancakeCroc," found in Niger and Morocco. Also 20 feet long, it was a squat fish-eater with a 3-foot pancake-flat head and spike-shaped teeth on slender jaws. Sereno said it probably remained motionless for hours, its jaws open and waiting for prey.

In addition the researchers found new fossils of two previously named species:

_ Anatosuchus minor, "DuckCroc," found in Niger, a 3-foot-long fish-, frog- and grub-eater with a broad snout and Pinocchio-like nose. Special sensory areas on the snout end allowed it to root around on the shore and in shallow water for prey. Its closest relative is in Madagascar.

_ Araripesuchus wegeneri, or "DogCroc," found in Niger, a 3-foot-long plant- and grub-eater with a soft, doglike nose pointing forward.

Sereno has focused since 2000 on fossils in the Sahara Desert, his first find being Sarcosuchus imperator, a 40-foot-long creature that would have weighed 8 tons and which he called "SuperCroc."

The new findings are detailed in the journal ZooKeys as well as National Geographic magazine and a documentary scheduled for Saturday on the National Geographic Channel.

Should I change my Template?

2009-11-15T21:06:00.004+08:00

This humble site of mine has already been running for more then a year now, and I am currently contemplating whether I should have a new template for it.

Came across this site that has free website templates and even Joomla templates...

I must say that I am very tempted:

Free templates without any subscription fee or download fees and the best thing is that, the templates are all unique!

Perfectionism in a diamond..

2009-11-14T10:26:00.002+08:00

A clear, flawless diamond is sometimes deemed to be an epitome of a perfect, happy marriage.

Indeed, clarity is one of the factors that influence the price of a diamond.

But have you ever thought that it a diamond with some flaws in it would better represent a true relationship? Just like the saying that 'no one is perfect', we should not only live with the flaws but also learn to appreciate the flaws.

So the next time you look at a flaw in a diamond... think are you perfect?

Dragon Phoenix Cufflinks...

2009-11-06T21:02:00.001+08:00

Received notification that my dragon phoenix cufflinks is ready for collection!

Christmas is here...

2009-11-05T12:12:00.002+08:00

You just know Christmas is round the corner when you get plenty of Christmas related jewellery sales in your mail box!

Dragon Ring...

2009-11-04T11:42:00.000+08:00

A 24k pure gold ring.. gets a makeover...

A rhodium (white gold) plating!

Making it look less gawdy!

Dropped Ring

2009-10-31T10:03:00.004+08:00

Recently, I nearly lost a ring that slipped off my fingers while I was clearing my rubbish.

Thank god, I discovered it in time!

Stash from Jewelfest 2009

2009-10-28T15:39:00.000+08:00

This is my stash from Jewelfest 2009:
Silver enameled cufflinks... with a distinct vintage Indian feel...

I like the intricate features on it... looks almost like a peacock!

Lee Hwa JewelFest Event - The Love Affair

2009-10-15T23:02:00.000+08:00

Headed to Ngee Ann City for the private event - The Love Affair by Lee Hwa Jewellery.

Models strutting their ware:

Beautiful and trendy designs:

A gorgeous piece...

Lee Hwa Jewellery Private Event - The Love Affair

2009-10-14T22:56:00.000+08:00

I am looking forward to attending this event by Lee Hwa Jewellery tomorrow at the Jewelfest 2009!

Hope to update with pictures and more!

A Trip to Jewelfest 2009

2009-10-11T22:00:00.000+08:00

Went to Jewelfest 2009 today...

It was indeed better then previous years!

Illustrations coming!