In 1952, Arthur Grimwade, the highly-respected doyen of English silver studies, stumbled upon a set of business ledgers recording the activities of an eighteenth-century London goldsmiths firm, George Wickes, which later became Parker and Wakelin. How and why this came about is now the stuff of legend in the silver world, but the reality is that, thanks to the far-sightedness of Grimwade and a handful of fellow silver specialists, including N.M. Penzer, John Hayward and Charles Oman, the ledgers eventually found a home in the Archive of Art and Design at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

These extraordinary survivals, still with us through a serendipitous combination of good luck and good judgement, are the foundation of this excellent book. In analysing the business accounts as presented in the firm's so-called 'Gentlemen's' and 'Workmen's' Ledgers, Helen Clifford opens up the fascinating world of the eighteenth-century London goldsmith, and indeed the city itself, revealing everything from clients and patrons, subcontractors and workmen, the financing of the business and networks of supply and demand to changing patterns of fashion and use. In doing so, this book becomes much more than a history of trade in a particular material. It gives an insight into what and who was driving an increasingly consumer society.

The author takes 1760 as her starting point--the year when John Parker and Edward Wakelin took over the firm--and in so doing, builds on Elaine Barr's pioneering account of the early years of the business, George Wickes 1698-1761: Royal Goldsmiths (1980). The book begins with an introduction to silver and its place in mid-eighteenth-century England, setting the ledgers in their context as business records, before embarking on an account of Parker and Wakelin's partnership. They were an ideal combination--Parker, at only twenty six, had been apprenticed to Wickes for the previous nine years, and Wakelin, a much more experienced forty two, had been Wickes's principal supplier for most of the previous two decades. They were also taking over a healthy business, whose 250 customers included the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Devonshire.

Interestingly, it is made clear through the partnership agreement of 1760 that the business was about retailing rather than manufacturing--a significant distinction, and one that clearly reflects the state of the trade and the wide network of subcontractors and subsidiary workshops that actually supplied the goods for sale. A major part of the book then goes on to explore these complex relationships in prodigious detail, looking at specialisation and manufacture, workshop structure and practice, labour and raw material costs, the craftsmen involved, their business and familial links, the last being characteristic of the trade, like others of the period. Aldridge and Woodnorth, for example, supplied Parker and Wakelin with over 3,000 troy ounce of silver from their George Street premises in 1766, for which there was a 1,950 [pounds sterling] labour charge. In the April of that year, they delivered a 'small knurled inkstand, a large dolphin trowel, a set of vases, a set of chased canisters, three escallop shells and three dish crosses'. The ledgers deliver thousands of examples of such minutiae, that, when distilled into the pages of this book, give an unparalleled vista of the goldsmiths' world.

From the goldsmiths, the spotlight moves to the patrons, where the ledgers reveal not simply a roll-call of the major aristocratic names of the day but also a more egalitarian mix of customers. Philippa Glanville and others have pointed out that silver ownership was widespread by this period, with silver spoons and similar small objects appearing in all but the poorest households.

However, the 'great customers' were most sought after, not surprisingly, since it was they who placed the orders for substantial quantities of plate. They also partly dictated design, a process that the book examines in some depth. Again, the documentary sources reveal the subtleties of peer pressure, the changing demands of fashion, and how the taste of the most sophisticated customers filtered down into the order books. Lord Harcourt, for example, while on ambassadorial duty in Paris in the 1760s, bought highly fashionable neo-classical silver from Robert-Joseph Auguste, the pre-eminent goldsmith of his day, then had it copied on his return by Parker and Wakelin. Thereafter, 'fine festoon candlesticks' make fairly regular appearances, supplied to other clients, so disseminating a refined French style through the repertoire.

Copying existing silver and extending services was a considerable part of the business, but so too were the more mundane activities of 'boyling and burnishing'--the ongoing repair, maintenance and updating that was a key element of the client relationship.

The Haus der Kunst in Munich is the unlikely setting this winter for a celebration of German princely patronage, the first of its kind and consciously modelled on the famous Washington 'Treasure Houses of Britain' exhibition of 1985. More than thirty noble families, or their foundations, have lent some 350 objects, from St Elizabeth's arm-bone in a gem-set silver-gilt reliquary, from Schloss Sayn, to paintings by Blinky Palermo from the Wittelsbach collection.

A joyous diversity in guest curator Wilfried Rogasch's selection, and the generous collaboration of the owners, has brought together personal, domestic, sacred and ceremonial treasures from two and a half millennia. Romantic, waterbound castles and palaces across former West Germany have yielded little-known furniture by Roentgen; Sevres and Berlin porcelain; black-figure and red-figure vases; Italian drawings; portraits ranging from Cranach's Prince and Princess of Anhalt to Laszlo's Philip of Hesse; and Old Master paintings, such as Rembrandt's Diana and Actaeon, lent by the Prince Salm-Salm. Striking goldsmiths' work, mostly from German workshops, is memorable for its scale and complexity of design. Schloss Glucksberg, north of Kiel, has lent a group of portraits of 1829, while Schloss Wolfegg, far to the south in Baden-Wurttemberg, has lent drawings by the Holbeins, father and son.

The choices were driven not merely by connoisseurship but were intended to express the character and strongly German quality of five centuries of patronage. Renaissance works of art, religious objects and images and family portraits give a distinctive flavour. Apart from a mid-eighteenth-century state bed and a tapestry, there are virtually no textiles, and little jewellery apart from Le beau Sancy, a dazzling and large diamond, cut around 1600 and lent by the Hohenzollerns.

Although the exhibition has little supporting material of the kind familiar in British art shows--no family trees, for example, and no maps--a large screen shows views of architecture and interiors. These enticing images are repeated in the richly illustrated book, also by Wilfried Rogasch, which includes a ninety-page gazetteer of the lenders' houses, with brief histories, and web sites for would-be visitors. The objects are listed briefly in an appendix, with measurements. There is no bibliography; this is truly a celebration, rather than a scholarly show freighted with references.

Familiar names--Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Gloria Princess of Thurn and Taxis, and Moritz, Prince of Hesse, for example--are present. Their collections, such as the ceramics and antiquities from Schloss Fasanerie and the Thurn and Taxis contemporary commissions, have been published and shown from time to time. But most princely collections have remained private, partly because of the distinctive social character of Germany since the end of World War I, when the monarchy was abolished. A city-based culture has in effect turned its back on the former ruling families, many of whom are still land owners on a large scale; now, with rising taxes and falling income from agriculture, their collections are coming under pressure from the auction houses.

Sales from Schloss St Emmeram, Regensberg; from the Prince of Hanover's collection; from the Wettin family treasures; and from the Prussian royal family, to mention only the high-profile disposals, have marked the past twenty years. The German state has little statutory protection in place, and Bavaria in particular has mounted some heroic open-market rescue operations. Splendid boxes, silver and porcelain sold from Schloss St Emmeram in 1993 have been acquired and put on show in a branch of the Bavarian National Museum at the Schloss itself, although this is currently closed because of funding problems.

The strong aesthetic of the monumental 1937 Haus der Kunst, with its red marble floors and towering halls, as well as budgetary constraints, has precluded any elaborate display techniques, so that the objects are allowed generous space, with adequate labelling and simple lighting. Most objects are grouped by theme and material, so that an early room shows heraldic manuscripts and insignia, another stained glass, reliquaries, vestments and even an intricately carved set of choir stalls of the 1580s from the minster at Schloss Salem. A ravishing selection of early drawings, most not reproduced in the accompanying book, from the collection at Schloss Wolfegg include a design for a nautilus cup by Holbein the Younger, a landscape study by Perino del Vaga and engravings by Pollaiuolo, Schongauer, Durer and Cranach.

The visual contrast is most striking in the central hall, where Adriaen de Vries's bronze Watchmen of around 1620 are uneasily juxtaposed with C-prints by Thomas Ruff, Candida Hofer and Rineka Dijkstra, recent Thurn and Taxis commissions. Removed for the first time from the Schaumburg-Lippe mausoleum in the Martinskirche, Stadthagen, Lower Saxony, De Vries's figures cluster below a towering Christ on a two-part painted wood base that recalls, rather than replicates, the monument's original stone and bronze structure.

Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.

Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.

Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.

Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich.

Women love to wear jewels that satisfy them and assure them of their eternal power and beauty that they possess. Apart from diamond, silver, gold and platinum, gemstones jewelries are also getting popularity among women because of their myriad color and radiance which equally bring out the best in its wearer.

It is also a strong believe that gemstones jewelries greatly affect us if worn according to the astrological believes and thoughts. Some people are also of the opinion that gemstones available in different colors and patterns can lay their positive effect on us that may results into the change in the thinking pattern and behavior of its wearer. So, the positive effect of these stones also attracts people to wear them according to their birth number or month or their zodiac sign. You can actually see a whole lot of ornaments available in gemstones in the market today. There are a whole lot of variations available in gemstone jewelries. Choose as per the size of your pocket and preference. For example, amethyst, a purplish color gem that is the birthstone for all February babies come in different shades and sizes. You can stud your gem in a glittering diamond or in a shining platinum base. Further, you can also use any other metal that suits you the best and bring out the hidden meaning to enhance your look. Thus, it�s not that purple means a strict purple, you can choose which shade of purple is the one for you.

But, these gemstones jewels have a limitation too. It is really not suitable for funky, trendy and stylist people who like to do alteration in their dressing and outlook. Like, Pearl is recommended for people born in June that makes it unsuitable for people born in other months of the year. It is also said that unsuitable gems may carry a negative effect on its wearer thus if a June baby wants to decorate herself with rubies, she may have to fear its negative impacts too. Due to this, these gemstones are not gained that height of success that they deserve. As a solution for this problem, manufacturer has come out with a concept of mix jewelry that combines more than one stone of similar effect to retain its astrological sense giving it a really trendy and mesmerizing look. So, if you are a lover of these stones and quite experimenting on your looks, go for mixed colored stones for their best results.

Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.

. The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.

Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.

Famous ladies and their engagement rings

Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:

Royalty:
* Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.
* Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
* Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.

Actresses:
* Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
* Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
* Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3.5 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
* Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at slmost $2 million.
* Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.

Pop stars:
* Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
* In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
* Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
* Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
* Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
* Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.

A lot of jewellers think that it is impossible to repair or resize items of jewellery made from metals such as stainless steel or titanium. Well, it is difficult to find someone to repair them but with a laser welder the job is easy.

The problems that jewellers have in resizing rings with soft stones such as coral, pearl, opal and many others is that they will be instantly destroyed by heat from a jeweller’s torch. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires can have a jeweller’s torch actually touch them and they will not break. Of course this is always avoided if possible. But many other stones, even emeralds, will have to be removed from the ring in order that the heat from the torch can be used to solder two parts together.

That presents a further problem when the stones have been bezel set. Bezel setting involves the metal being forced over the stones and pushed and rubbed over. This is a one way action and you cannot prize the metal back, take out the stone, and later after the soldering has been done, replace the stone and push the bezel metal over it again. This metal is now ruined.

So what if you could leave the stone in place and cut the ring and then remove a piece making the ring a smaller size and then solder it back together again? Well, that would be just perfect and you can almost do that with laser technology.

With a laser welding machine which currently costs between $30,000 and $50,000 you can leave the stone in place and make the resize and then weld or fuse the two pieces together. The reason that this can be done successfully is because the laser only makes a tiny bit of heat. You can hold the ring in your hand and laser weld it together.

Lasers can be used on all types of metals titanium, stainless steel, platinum, silver and gold. The laser weld is actually a fusion of the two metal parts so no solder or messy flux is used. The weld is three times stronger than the best soldered joints.

Tiny pieces can be welded together as small as 0.2 of a millimeter and that’s small. Most white gold is rhodium plated to give it that shiny white look but when it is repaired it has to be rhodium plated once again but not with laser technology as the weld is a very localized one.

For me to solder two rings together side by side to make a double band it would take about twenty minutes to do the soldering by the time I made some preparations. Then I would need to leave it in an acid bath and then a de-acid bath and all sorts of other procedures to clean it up, so a lot of time is taken. To laser weld the two pieces together it might take three or four minutes and there is no follow on treatment.

Silver is a soft metal compared to gold alloys. The downside of being soft is that your silver ring will get pushed out of shape whereas this rarely will happen with a gold ring. It also scratches very, very easily.

The other disadvantage of silver is that it tarnishes easily. Let’s look at these two problems one at a time.

Scratches.

1. Take care of your silver jewellery by taking it off when you are going to do anything where it is going to rub against virtually anything. So take it off when you do the gardening, washing the dishes etc.

2. Don’t wear it alongside another ring as it will rub and scratch.

3. Store your silver jewellery items individually in small boxes with soft material around them.

4. If your item gets light scratches you can polish the item as best you can but you are not likely to remove these but a good polish will disguise them. Heavy scratches will require a jeweller to sand them out and repolish your item. He won’t charge the earth for that so get it done.

Tarnish.

Tarnish is produced by so many sources that you would have to avoid nearly everything in life to prevent it totally. Certain foods, salts such as body salts, oils, materials such as rubber, wool and felt will tarnish silver but so will the air we live in.

So what do we do about it? Just be sensible and avoid allowing hairsprays, foods and chemicals from coming in contact with it. The best prevention is early cleaning and proper storage. I have found that storage in a plastic airtight bad will keep silver very well and tarnish free.

Wash your silver jewellery with a very mild detergent and rub in smooth up and down lines after drying it with a soft cloth. Buy a silver polishing cloth from a jewellery shop. For a few dollars you will have the polishing cloth that is used by the experts. Forget about toothbrushes and all the rest of it if you wash it occasionally and polish with the proper cloth. If you have let it go and not cleaned it for a good while then you might need to use a soft brush and a stronger detergent and warm water, but remember these are clearing away the grime but they are abrasive too.

You can buy tarnish absorbing strips and cloths to place in the jewellery box and these work quite well.

Today a lot of jewellery is being made with a tarnish- resistant silver and this will overcome the tarnish problem almost entirely. Some jewellery is rhodium plated and this is also tarnish resistant. The less you pay the less chance that the item will be tarnish resistant.

You can use electrochemical methods which you will see in flea markets, and you can use pastes and solutions which you can buy from a hardware store and other silver polishes but just remember that there is a small downside to all of these. Over time pitting might develop, scratches might occur from polishing and pastes might build up in hard to get to places. So use all of these sparingly.

Appreciate that your silver jewellery is soft and will, without doubt, scratch and become a little dull. Care for it by proper washing, sensible wearing and proper storage. Take it to your jeweller for a buffing and polish occasionally to keep it at its peak. Jewellery is for wearing so enjoy it by wearing it.

The effervescent mood of Christmas gets an added zest this year with the launch of a highly admirable range of fashion jewellery by Estelle. To celebrate the festive season and to make every moment memorable, Estelle designer fashion jewellery for the stylish and elegant woman announced the launch of their 'Christmas Collection'.

Keeping in mind the evolving fashion jewellery trends, Estelle is offering its customers international contemporary designs, which will appeal to the aesthetic sense of the young.

The ‘Christmas Collection’ from Estelle presents a range of dazzling creations with timeless beauty. From stars to bells to ice cream cones to a snowman, all inspired by Christmas motifs that infuse joy and happiness.

Airy, lightweight forms, inspired by the latest trends in contemporary design, featuring pure form and stones in the trendiest of colours, enhanced by high quality plating thus instilling a new energy into fashion jewellery. The new range of colourful pendants with stunning looks creates a perfect match.

Cubic Zirconia stones of different cuts have been aesthetically mixed with white alloy and exquisite plating making the ultimate style statement. Twisting lines and rich fashionable looks comprise Estelle’s latest bracelet line. Proposed in the form of simple yet perfect designs that are rigorous, stylish and highly personal.

The main feature is a subtly twisting plated white alloy bracelet consisting of streaks of epoxy highlighted with touches of gold and coloured cabochons. Earrings as light as a feather with the utmost attention to detail and crafted with sheer perfection will appeal to the young minds. Estelle is also launching their latest range of brooch pins.

Stylishly wrapped in sleek boxes, the collection fits into your handbag making it easier to carry and use everyday. Priced between Rs 45 and Rs 1,300, the Christmas collection will be available across all Estelle exclusive showrooms, Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle stores and other leading up market outlets in India.

Silver Topaz is a perfect substitute for the costly diamond. It is inexpensive, yet natural. The big stones in particular are stunning.

Affordable and quite versatile, Silver Topaz is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. It is the birthstone for the month of November. It may be used as a substitute for Diamond as the April birthstone. It can also take the place of the expensive white sapphire.

Gemology

Silver Topaz is an eye-clean, colourless, and brilliantly sparkling stone.

In ancient times just about any stone was likely to be called a Topaz. It is thought that the word Topaz is either derived from the Sanskrit word "tapas" meaning fire or "topazioz", a Greek word meaning "to guess".

Lore

Silver Topaz opens the mind and allows you to maintain a clear, intellectual focus. Tradition has it that Topaz helps foretell the future, enhance sexual energy, and promote harmony. It aids in bringing forth your leadership qualities and enables you to grasp control of any situation you confront in life. Topaz makes you feel more in control of yourself or the situations you encounter. It helps you take the lead and handle things competently.

This stone is credited with great healing powers, especially the power to control angry passions and to balance diseases of emotional origin. It is believed to prevent colds and tuberculosis because of its ability to give additional strength to the breathing mechanics of the body.

SHREE-Temple of Gold has unveiled its 'SHREE Stree Collection'. An exclusive collection of rare beauty and workmanship was showcased by South India's leading models, who sashayed down the catwalk. From very traditional heavy jewellery to exquisite filigree work to Kantha designs to amazing polki sets to special bridal sets to ultra hip designer wear. The collection is on display and sale from February 4 to 14.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Kumar Jain, Managing Director, SHREE - Temple of Gold said, "The fashion show though prima-facie showcase our superior designs and diverse product range, for me it is an opportunity to describe the way we maintain our finesse and quality to international standards, demonstrate our international competitiveness and our endeavour to enhance customer satisfaction".

Almost 90 per cent of the gold consumed in India is in the form of jewellery. Till recently, there was no sure way of judging the gold jewellery's purity. But hallmarking has changed all that. It accurately determines and records the proportionate content of various precious metal in gold ware. Internationally, finesse and purity are the two parameters used to judge the worth of gold and gold jewellery.

The principle objectives of the Hallmarking Scheme are to protect the public against the fraud of adulteration and to oblige manufacturers to maintain legal standards of finesse. Hallmarking guarantee the validity of gold caratage and provides host of benefits to its customers including, a third party assurance and satisfaction that they have got the right purity of gold for the given price and protection against victimization due to irregular gold quality and purity.

Hallmarked jewellery carries five marks - the BIS log, the fineness number, mark of the hallmarking center, year of marking and the jewellers mark.

SHREE benchmarks itself as South India's first fully BIS Hallmarked Jewellery store. All jewellery from SHREE is hallmarked. Being a fully BIS hallmarked jewellery store, SHREE guarantee you of purity or fineness of gold jewellery.

Estelle, jewellery for the elegant and fashionable woman has launched the Valentine Collection to add enthusiasm to the celebration of Valentines’ Day with a new and splendid range of fashion jewellery. The collection brings together some unique and intelligent designs perfected for the occasion. On offer are international contemporary designs, which will appeal to the aesthetic sense of the young and designs that leave a lasting impression.

The range comprises trendy and youthful designer range of necklaces, pendants, bracelets, finger rings and earrings. The core design of the jewellery range is the heart motif personifying love and affection. The main attraction is a pair of Zodiac sign pendant that is linked with the heart as the centerpiece. Embedded with white and coloured stones, and complimented with a finish in simple Gold and Silver, the Zodiac pendants look truly exquisite.

The tiny Zodiac signs can be matched and easily appended to the centerpiece according to the Zodiac signs of the consumers. The bracelets with etched effect sports a matt and classy look. The earrings are carefully crafted in contemporary designs and come in pastel hues that look gorgeous. Uniquely designed finger rings with dazzling polish have heart motifs engraved to match the spirit of the season.

It is not just what you buy, but what you do on Akshaya Triti that comes back to you multi-fold. Akshaya Triti, the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh, is considered one of the four most sacred days of the year. Of the four eras, the Satya Yuga is the first and the most significant one. This era began on a Sunday - Vaishakh Shukla Triti - which is also known as Akshaya Triti. While this day is considered auspicious for starting new ventures and making new purchases, it is also believed that by doing a good deed on Akshaya Triti one can earn punya or merit for life.
In the same vein, Shree - Temple of Gold, one of South India's leading jewellery stores, is celebrating Akshaya Triti this year, but with a difference. Shree - Temple of Gold will celebrate the festival not only on Akshaya Triti which falls on May 4th, but also on May 2nd and 3rd, 2003. On these days, if you buy gold, silver or diamonds at Shree, a part of the revenue collected on the 3 days will be contributed to Bala Vihar.

Bala Vihar is a very special organisation that educates economically challenged children from all walks of life and instills ethics and character in them through bhakthi. It was founded by Muthukrishnan, fondly called Hare Ram Kaka. What had started out in 1955 as an act of offering food to six people, has now grown into a big event every year. This is the 48th year in succession. Bala Vihar supports children by providing free education and poor feeding.

In other words, customers are being given an opportunity to join Shree in performing deeds that are propounded by Lord Brahma for this auspicious day. On this day, Shree also reiterates its commitment towards engaging in the trade of jewellery justly and honestly. All jewellery you buy at Shree is hallmarked - purity available without paying a premium.
According to Mr. Ashok Jain, Managing Director, Shree - Temple of Gold, "Akshaya means that which never diminishes. Anything started on this day, especially for weddings are considered blessed with good fortune. We have unveiled an auspicious collection of thaalis and mangalsutras blessed by Kanchi Kamakoti Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swamigal as a part of our Eternity Wedding Collection which is on display and sale till the end of the wedding season."

In a constant endeavour to introduce new and innovative designs and ranges in the rapid changing fashion jewellery space Estelle, designer fashion jewellery for the stylish and elegant woman announced the launch of a new range of jewellery ‘Luminescence’ under the ‘CZ Collection 2003’. This range appeals to the woman who is bold, willing to experiment and who celebrates her femininity.
The ‘Luminescence’ collection is made of rare, exquisitely coloured stones encased in metal finished in silver. The colour of crystals seems transformed as if by magic with the harsh highlights appearing soft and gentle achieved by the satin finish of the metal. All the colours blend perfectly with the base metal and transform the simplest of shapes into a trendy fashion statement. This collection comprises a range of elegantly crafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings that emphasize the glow of stones to perfection.
Estelle has achieved in keeping the lines of this range using predominantly light coloured stones and white metal finishes. These designs are for the confidant woman of today who believes in herself, wants the best in life and who has the time to flaunt it. Available across all Estelle exclusive showrooms, Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle stores and other leading up market outlets in India, Luminescence range is priced between Rs 50 and Rs 2,800.

Estelle is designer fashion jewellery for the stylish and elegant woman with a wide range of designs that are international in style and are priced right. Estelle embodies a spirit of aspiration and confidence and offers the latest in fashion jewellery to women with attitude that enhances their natural beauty and grace.
Estelle is manufactured by Normak Fashions Private Limited 50:50 joint venture with M/s Normak Fashions Inc., Canada. The company is major exporter of fashion jewellery to North America and Europe and has the unique distinction of being the preferred vendor for leading fashion brands in the west including Givenchy, Nine West, 1928, Jones New York, Napier and others. It currently operates two factories in India and employs in excess of 600 workers.