Reflecting the rainbows of the ocean beds, iridescent Mother of Pearl is the Opal of the sea. Like amber, Mother of Pearl is organic, but unlike any other gemstone it forms locked away within its creator: the mollusk.

Mother of Pearl or Nacre forms in the shells of bi-valve mollusks found in salt and fresh water. These mollusks are found around the world from the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia to the Gulfs of Mexico, Panama and Venezuela.

Abalone Oysters (Haliotis)

Used in trade for thousands of years Abalone oysters are found in abundance around the world. As well as being produced for their meat, they are an excellent source of highly iridescent Mother of Pearl and Pearl, ranging in beautiful colors from turquoise, green, cream and rose.

Green Abalone (Haliotis Fulgens)

Green Abalone thrives in the cold and rocky waters in the Gulf of California. They are often encrusted with small clams that adhere to their surface whose presence gives rise to the creation of blister pearls within the Abalone. Blister pearls are formed when the clams bore into the shell from the outside, the Abalone responds in defense to the intrusion by secreting layers of nacre, which coat the foreign body on the inside of the shell eventually solidifying forming natural blister pearls.

Black-Lipped Oyster (Pinctada Margaritifera)

Harvested since millennia, the black-lipped oyster, covering the widest geographical area of any known species, was the preferred color of Mother of Pearl of Indian and Persian monarchs. However, despite this oysters name the nacre is rarely pure black, instead the colors range from gray to green with blue or rose overtones. Mother of Pearl produced by Pacific black-lipped oysters is the most sought after on the world’s market today.

Silver-Lipped Oyster (Pinctada Maxima)

Sometimes referred to as the gold-lipped oyster, these giants have been harvested for their Mother of Pearl for more than a hundred years in the South Pacific. They were first cultured for its pearls in the late 1800s but only became widely distributed in the late 19th Century. Today the silver or white Mother of Pearl or Nacre produced by this oyster is the mainstay of the Australian, Japanese and Philippine cultured pearl industries.

Ayoka Oyster (Pinctada Fucata)

Japan is famous for its Ayoka pearl producing oysters, but this has only been the case since the 1920s. Before this time Japanese divers placed little value on Ayoka pearls, discarding them and keeping the Mother of Pearl, which was used as decorative inlay in jewelry and household ornamentation. By the 1950s, with new culturing techniques, Akoya Mother of Pearl and pearl had won widespread popularity and is now exported worldwide.

Ceylon Oyster (Pinctada Radiata)

From the time of antiquity up to the 1920s the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf supplied the world's demand for Mother of Pearl and pearl. The source of the majority of Mother of Pearl came from the Ceylon oyster, known as bil-bil by the fishermen of the Red Sea. The large demand almost drove this particular species to extinction but remarkably this oyster has endured the ravages of time and new techniques in cultivation have seen numbers increase.

Atlantic Oyster (Pinctada Imbricata)

Before leaving, the Queen of Spain told Christopher Columbus that Mother of Pearl and Pearl along with gold and silver were the treasures that the Spanish monarchy desired the most. When Columbus landed on the Venezuelan coast in 1498, the royal request was answered on the islands of Margarita and Cubagua. For one hundred years, the fruits of millions of Atlantic oysters from the region were shipped to Europe to satisfy the European monarchy’s desire. The fragile Atlantic oyster came close to extinction; however, commercial farming ventures in the last century have seen an increase in numbers.

La Paz Oyster (Pinctada Mazatlanica)

Before the discovery of the Pacific’s black-lipped oyster the only other Mother of Pearl that came close to the beautiful colors of the oysters of Polynesia came from the La Paz oysters in the waters of Panama and California. At one time La Paz oysters, preferring open oceanic conditions, were near extinction but recent culturing ventures in the Gulf of California are replenishing numbers and seeing a return of black pearls and Mother of Pearl to the world market.

Mabé Oyster (Pteria Penguin and Pteria Sterna)

These two species of thin-shelled oysters are the most common sources of mabé blister pearls. Mabé pearls are artificially induced or cultured, they form when a mold made of plastic is inserted between the oyster's shell, this causes the oyster to produce layers of nacre or Mother of Pearl which eventually covers the mold, the mould is then cut from the shell. These oysters occur naturally in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and the tropical western Pacific.

The magnificent luster and delicate translucence of the layers of a pearl imparts an exquisite charm to it. It has therefore been valued as a precious gemstone since ages. The value of the pearl in jewelry is determined by a combination of all the attributes i.e. the luster, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry. Among those attributes, the most important factor of pearl quality according to jewelers is luster. If however for the pearls under consideration, all the factors are equal, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. The most precious pearls are the large, perfectly round pearls. They are rare and are therefore highly valued. Usually the shape of a pearl decides as to which jewellery item it is suited for. Teardrop-shaped pearls are used in pendants and earrings. Irregular shaped pearls are often used in necklaces. The variety of designs in pearl jewelry is innumerable.

Pearls are found in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and ringed. Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most expensive, and are generally used in necklaces, or strings of pearls. Semi-rounds are also used in necklaces or in pieces where the shape of the pearl can be disguised to look like it is a perfectly round pearl. Button pearls are like a slightly flattened round pearl and can also make a necklace, but are more often used in single pendants or earrings where the rear half of the pearl is covered, making it look like a larger, round pearl. Drop and pear shaped pearls are sometimes referred to as teardrop pearls and are most often used in earrings, pendants, or as a center pearl in a necklace. Baroque pearls have irregular shapes and this is what makes them unique and interesting. The appeal of baroque pearls lies in the fact that they do not have standard shapes. Generally they are used to make necklaces. Ringed pearls are characterized by concentric ridges, or rings, around the body of the pearl. All varieties of pearls have their own charm and can be put to several imaginative uses while making jewelry.

Generally speaking, natural pearls are much more valuable than cultured pearls because of their rarity. Imitation pearls are the least expensive. To check whether a pearl is natural or cultured we have to perform an X- ray on the pearl. Cultured pearls will show a perfectly rounded core whereas naturals will have an irregular core. This is because when a pearl is to be cultured the farmers insert the grit, (usually a polished piece of mussel shell); it is always perfectly round, so as to produce a more expensive, perfectly round pearl. If the centre is not perfectly round, the jeweler can recognize that it is genuine, and will rate it at a higher value. Jewelers can easily identify imitation pearls. Some imitation pearls are simply made of mother-of-pearl, coral or conch, while others are made from glass and are coated with a solution containing fish scales called essence d'Orient. Imitation pearls may look good initially but they do not have the same weight or smoothness as real pearls, and will lose their luster with the passage of time.

I never thought that I would find myself using the old Kiss cliché ("Keep it Short and Simple" or “Keep it Simple Stupid). I’ve always preferred Einstein’s approach, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."

Yet wealth creating is simple. Incredibly and utterly simple. When creating wealth becomes complicated it’s time to stop and take measure. It’s clearly time to get back on the track of simplicity before one gets derailed.

Wealth creating is not about “running a business” “making money” “investing” “earning an income” “having a great job” and the like. Far too complicated and time consuming for the serious wealth creator. There are, as you know, tens of thousands of books written on those subjects and guess what? The great majority of people still struggle financially through life. We all know of couples who have “great jobs” and are earning “high incomes” and making “heaps of money” yet still struggle to make ends meet at the end of each month. Commitments and expenses seem to sadistically expand to the level of the money available to meet them.

And of course we all know of people who were on very low incomes who end up fabulously wealthy.

So by all means keep at your job or business and retain the status quo – but quite separately, begin your new part time wealth creation program ASAP.

One of the biggest hurdles is that people at some level have the desire to be wealthy but do not know exactly what “wealth creation” is. Those whose real estate or investments rose in value, know that they are “wealthier” but see the obvious element of luck in the fact that prices rose opportunistically. Others coming into the same market, are “on a wing and a prayer” hoping that prices will continue to rise so they too can benefit.

Without knowing precisely what wealth creation is, it is impossible to become “wealth” conscious.

So let’s get Wealth Creation in focus and keep it simple.

Please consider:

A business has a gross annual income and from that total pays all overheads. From the net income or profit (if any) tax is payable. Now the amount that is left, can either be used to create wealth - or it can be spent on non-wealth creating products or services - for example, spending the surplus on a vacation etc.

Similarly a working couple has a combined gross annual income and from that total pays all domestic overheads. Now the amount that is left, can either be used to create wealth - or it can be spent on non-wealth creating products or services - for example, spending the surplus on a vacation etc.

So you can readily observe from the above two examples that there is a difference between “business” and wealth creation and “income” and wealth creation.

Wealth, put simply, is the total realizable value of one’s total material assets. That is if you have antiques worth $10,000.00 or gold worth $10,000.00 or acme widgets worth $10,000.00, your wealth is $10,000.00. Obvious and simple, yes? It’s so simple it’s a no-brainer!

Wealth Creation is NOW whilst investing is about planning (and praying) for the future. A wealth creator wants to multiply the value of his or her realizable wealth total NOW!

That is, if those antiques or widgets are genuinely worth $10,000.00 the wealth creator will buy them at $5,000.00 or less. At the point of purchase, at least $5,000.00 is added to the wealth total. Unlike the speculator or the investor, a Wealth Creator does not buy on the hope or the gamble that the purchase will rise in value. “Yikes - no way! Keep it simple – the golden rainbow of tomorrow may not come. I want my added wealth now – the minute I pay I intend being wealthier. Let others get their crystal ball out and start praying.”

Note that:

A wealth creator spends money and becomes wealthier.

The average punter spends money and becomes poorer.

The speculator gambles.

The investor hopes and prays.

Who of the above has the most fun?

And having fun is part of wealth creation. For example, Bob and June, part time wealth creators in England, keep in touch with me regularly. After reading my book, they used the money they each spend on each other as Christmas and birthday gifts to begin their wealth program. Instead of buying each other a present for $100.00 and knowing that as soon as they leave the shop the value of that present is probably about $30.00 maximum and thereafter declines in value to become a worthless keepsake, they became wealth conscious. He loves early watercolors and she collects estate jewellery. So off to the auctions and sales they went. Once they became wealth conscious and in a wealth program, when they spend that $100.00 on an item, the item is usually worth $300.00. They’ve been at it now for four and a half years. The two birthday and two Christmas presents added up. They buy and sell when ever possible.

Today they have art and jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds and their wealth total is going up at an astronomical rate. Even more important they have immense fun in the process.

Business proprietors have every right to have all the hassles of working hard, paying the overheads and hopefully making a profit. The wealth creator takes a short cut through the whole tedious process and goes straight for the jugular – WEALTH CREATION.

To a wealth creator liquidating a part of one’s wealth gives the opportunity to increase the overall wealth total. In stark contrast, the business proprietor needs turnover to pay the overheads.

How ever much money you have available for your part time wealth program, two points are clearly obvious. (1) Your money is always limited - so you can afford to be extremely choosy. And (2) because you are always multiplying your wealth by at least 100%, it doesn’t matter how little you have to start with.

The concept of Engagement has evolved way back many centuries ago which indicates the longer period between a mutual promise of marriage till the actual marriage, where the partners exchange a diamond engagement ring and the same is worn by women on her left-hand ring finger, indicating her engagement to be married which signifies her acceptance of the marriage proposal and a commitment to a future together, hence the same moulds into a formal agreement between two partners.

However an engagement is incomplete without a beautiful diamond ring which bonds two people into a relation of trust, love, and a lifetime support. Hence a diamond engagement ring has to be unique and beautiful yet solid and durable to weather the wear and tears of life yet shinning against all odds. A diamond engagement ring is a charming product to be flaunted around which adds value to your relation, and we all should thanks to the diamond engagement ring for striking your heart with love as it is believed that a diamond ring worn on the third finger of your left hand is very much connected to a certain vein of love in that finger which directly flows to your heart and making a unique space within itself.

Design of a diamond engagement ring is continuously evolving with current times and its trends. It is typically a precious band, and mounts a diamond or other gem. Current fashions for engagement rings are for a gold, platinum, or silver band with a single diamond. A diamond engagement ring which stands out of all other rings which dazzles your eyes with its soft shine and the sharp cut of the diamond to tear your heart with tenderness and love is an appropriate diamond engagement ring for you and your beautiful relation.

There is nothing that can be replaced with an awesome diamond engagement ring to celebrate this delicate occasion to offer your would be ‘significant better half’ as a promise to be with her in good and bad times and support her with love, care and tenderness and have a flourished life together. Hence a diamond engagement ring is just not a lifeless product but it speaks a lot about your relation in silence words between two hearts.

Talking about right hand ring which is a new concept that has evolved and booming in the diamond industry, however to broaden the definition of “Right hand Ring” it is a fashion statement for today’s career and independent women who have a flair for fashion diamond ring, which flaunts their purchasing power with a carefree attitude and a creative mind accompanied with a sense of style. In other words it’s an expression of ones unique personality who prefers to be a “face in a crowd”.

A Right hand diamond ring stands for a woman’s success, freedom, confidence, vibrant, stylish and want to be a part of the glamorous world. The idea of wearing a right hand diamond ring is for fun and celebrate liberation in men oriented world, however women prefer a unique Right hand diamond ring in order to co-ordinate with their wedding and engagement rings; or some women prefer a ‘one of a kind’ diamond right ring for themselves. The selection of a right had diamond ring can vary in terms of different material, gemstone, style, color but all that matters is the gleaming diamond sitting on your right hand and dazzling everyone’s eyes with its beauty and uniqueness.

So if you want to be the talk of the town, choose from the newest right hand rings that are classical and elegantly designs in platinum or white gold set with diamonds. We also encourage men to buy a right hand diamond ring as an ideal gift for their beloved or an appreciation of their personality and qualities. It is an ideal gift to surprise women out of the blue and make them cry with happiness and get a chance to be embraced; however it also an apt purchase for men in love in order to express their love by bending down on your knees to make that ‘Proposal of Love’ with a diamond right hand ring a remembrance for her lifetime.

Right hand rings are designed more like cocktail rings, featuring clusters of smaller diamonds. Right hand rings are intended to showcase the individuality of a woman, worn on the fourth finger and sometimes the little finger. Hence we conclude by saying that irrespective of the season, occasion, time, place right hand diamond ring appeals women’s sight and serves as an ideal ‘patch up’ gift to raise her brows in shock with happiness in order to for give you for making her sad, after all a ‘Right Hand Diamond Ring’ is a woman’s best friends.

You can improve the quality of your sauna experience by following some simple rules and ideas. Sauna is great for your skin, for your mind and general well-being. Below are some rules for making the sauna visit even more fun.

1. If you or a friend owns the sauna you are using, then consider using some kind of fragrance in the sauna. Using aromatherapy oil such as eucalyptus, alpine, citrus, lavender or peppermint, can create a wonderful feeling and experience in the sauna. The benefits of using these oils vary, with oil such as eucalyptus able to give the sauna a clean and very fresh aroma, whilst lavender oil is very good for people looking to unwind and lose the tension they have.

2. Shed the swimming costume. It is peculiar that people in some countries wear swimming costumes into a sauna. It is unhygienic and also less beneficial comfortable wearing clothes in the sauna. For any sauna connoisseurs who have visited saunas in Germany, Holland, Sweden or Finland for example, you will appreciate that costumes are strictly forbidden. If the sauna you use is clothing only then you probably should wear something to avoid getting in trouble: If you are using a home sauna then no problem.

3. If you can, roll around in the snow in between sauna sessions - if your sauna is near snow. The sensation of cold after the heat of a sauna, is very refreshing. Alternatively, you can use a dip-pool with nice ice-cold water.

4. Make it a social event. Having lived in Finland for 6 months, I learned to appreciate sauna as a great social lifestyle. Finns join friends in the sauna and sometimes also organise trips to the countryside near lakes, to have sauna weekends. The Finnish saunas do tend to be male only or female only, although friends or families tend to go to the sauna together.

5. If you have any health condition including heart problems make sure you consult a doctor first. Your sauna experience will not be much fun if you have a heart condition.

6. Do not drink alcohol in the sauna. You may laugh but people do it sometimes and then they end up very de-hydrated. Becoming dehydrated can be detrimental to your health and thus not a good idea. You can always have a few beers afterwards.

7. Do not eat any heavy food before going into the sauna. If you have to then eat something light.

8. Ensure that you shower properly after the sauna. This will ensure that the pores of your skin are cleansed properly, and this in effect leaves you with much healthier skin.

9. Keep hydrated. Apart from not drinking beer in the sauna, as already discussed, try to drink plenty of water before and after the sauna.

10. Leave the metal jewellery in the locker rooms. You do not want the heat to damage your jewellery and thus ruin your overall enjoyment and you also do not want to be burnt by heated metal. It happens. Don't let it happen to you and enjoy your sauna experience.

Markets are an important part of everyday life in London, where produce is sold, goods are bartered and bargains are made. There are several scattered all over the city, all specialising in different wares. Here’s a guide to the main markets and what they have to offer.

Antiques

Bermondsey
Address: Bermondsey Square on Tower Bridge Road
Trading: 04.00 to 12.00 daily
Description: One of London’s oldest markets, Bermondsey is famous as a haunt of thieves, due to an ancient ruling (which, incredibly was only recently abolished) stating that the origin of goods sold before sunrise could not be brought under suspicion, therefore allowing stolen goods to be traded freely and without question. For this reason, the market has traditionally started very early in the morning. Get there early to find the best antiques.

Portobello Road
Address: Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Trading: Saturdays, 06.00 to 16.00
Description: This area was a popular hippy hang-out in the 1960s and still has a bohemian feel today. The Saturday market stretches the whole length of the road and sells antiques and bric-a-brac as well as fruit and vegetables. The road itself is lined with antique shops, so it’s worth a visit any day of the week.
Bric-a-Brac

Brick Lane
Address: Brick Lane, Whitechapel, East End
Trading: 07.00 to 14.00 on Sundays
Description: In the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community, this market is surrounded by Indian restaurants and sells all sorts of junk and jumble from tables and chairs to kitchen sinks.
Fashion and Music

Camden
Address: Camden Lock, Camden Stables, Buck Street and Inverness Street in Camden Town
Trading: Sundays, 10.00 to 18.00, although many stalls are now open throughout the week
Description: This is a lively and colourful part of the city with some weird and wonderful market stalls selling unique clothing and jewellery and alternative music.

Petticoat Lane
Address: Middlesex Street, Wentworth Street and around, Whitechapel, East End
Trading: weekdays and Sundays from 09.00 to 14.00
Description: Started over 400 years ago by French petticoat sellers, this market is still going strong today. The Lane was renamed by the prudish Victorians to Middlesex Street in order not to offend any delicate sensibilities, but the market retains its historic name. You won’t find many women’s undergarments any more, but most of the stalls still specialise in clothing.
Food

Borough
Address: Southwark Street, just south of the River
Trading: fruit and vegetable wholesale Monday to Friday 04.00 to 08.00; farmers’ market and fine food market Fridays 12.00 to 18.00 and Saturdays 09.00 to 16.00
Description: Traditionally a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, this market has been extended in recent years to include an excellent fine food market and a farmers’ market. It’s housed in a marvellous Victorian hall.

Leadenhall
Address: Gracechurch Street, next to Lloyd’s of London and near Bank of England
Trading: weekdays, 08.00 to 15.00
Description: Another great food market in an old Victorian building. It’s in the heart of the City, London’s financial district, and is busy with office crowds at lunchtime.

Billingsgate
Address: Trafalgar Way, Docklands, East End
Trading: Tuesday to Saturday 05.00 to 08.30, Sunday 06.00 to 08.00
Description: This is the UK’s largest fish market, where fish from UK seas and beyond are sold and transported to restaurants and shops all over the country. All sorts of fish and seafood are on offer, and stocks vary depending on daily catches.
Gifts and Other Goods

Covent Garden
Address: Covent Garden, opposite the Royal Opera House
Trading: daily, 09.00 to 18.00
Description: This gentrified old fruit and vegetable market is now a classy European-style square with designer shops and stalls surrounded by trendy bars, cafes and restaurants. It’s now more popular with tourists rather than locals.

Gabriel’s Wharf
Address: Upper Ground and Riverside Walk, beside the OXO Tower on the South Bank
Trading: 10.00 to 18.00 Tuesday to Sunday
Description: Surrounded by old warehouses with a bandstand at its centre where live jazz is often played in the summer, this pleasant market sells individually designed ceramics, sculpture, paintings and other arts and crafts as well as clothing, jewellery and accessories.

Old antique engagement rings are those classic style rings that bring back the charm and history of an era gone by. Many couples enjoy the nostalgic feel of something their grandparents may have worn. Others simply like the idea of old-fashioned quality workmanship and styling. Whatever your reason for choosing vintage diamond engagement rings, finding the best rings at the best price is a concern.

Finding Antique Style Engagement Rings

Online auctions and the Internet in general have brought the world home. You can shop the tiniest Italian countryside village or Antwerp’s mega diamond dealers – all from your home computer.
If you like to shop closer to home where you can touch and feel the rings and try them on for size and style, then there are other great sources for vintage engagement rings. Flea markets or estate sales are two of the top sources for authentic vintage jewellery including diamond or sapphire jewelry in gold or silver.

Authenticating a Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring

Finding a vintage engagement ring is one thing, but making sure it is truly and antique is another. A reputable jewellery appraiser can help. There are telltale signs and markings on jewellery that will tell the trained appraiser when and where and by whom a specific piece of old jewellery was made. Each silversmith or artisan has a symbol that they will engrave in their work to mark it as one of their own. Counterfeiters will try to replicate the marks, but other design features will let the appraiser know if this is the case in a particular antique. The appraiser can then give you a guarantee or certificate of authenticity to go with your vintage diamond engagement ring.

The setting and the diamonds will need to be examined separately. You may find a vintage setting with newer diamonds. This won’t necessarily impact the value to you, but it would perhaps indicate that there were either several owners or that the person selling the rings as an antique may have changed stones. The number one consideration in choosing antique jewellery is to make sure you really love it. There are usually no exchanges for vintage diamond engagement rings.

The emphasis on Valentine’s Day remains, in the majority, with a man’s token of love to a woman. The red roses that so symbolize the modern Valentine’s Day are a male love token, a gesture of the man’s heart, a product of romance….. and some quite heavy marketing. The annual love peak is reached on February 14 each year, and marriage proposals hit the news as the more imaginative men think of unique ways to pop the question, while others bring out their engagement rings with confidence on a scale from total, arrogant confidence, down to sheer desperation and extreme wishful thinking.

Love and romance are, of course, a two way combo; at least, we all hope it is two way. While the red roses, and to a lesser extent the heart shaped chocolates, are the domain of the man to woman love token, millions of women still feel the desire to buy a Valentine’s Day gift for him each February. The problem then is, what to buy, and how to make Valentine’s Day as romantic for the husband or boyfriend as a recipient as it can be as a giver?

With Valentine’s Day coming so soon after Christmas, many girls and women will recently have been through the gift searching process for their husband or boyfriend. Maybe, then, there is little more thinking to do about a Valentine’s Day gift for a husband or boyfriend. Or is there?

Any gift should come from the heart, so in that sense Valentine’s Day and Christmas should be no different. However, February 14 is different. It is not just for any gift, but one that somehow encapsulates your love for him and the romance of Valentine’s Day. Plus, it can be how you present the gift that will touch his heart and bring that spark of romance to what might otherwise be an unromantic gift.

When it comes to choosing the actual gift for your Valentine, then there are some possibilities with just that extra touch of romance being applied to the quite normal. The following are just a few ideas.

Men’s Perfumes and Colognes

When it comes to marketing perfumes, romance and attraction are often integral to the image created. Given that perfumes, or men’s colognes, are designed to provoke senses, that is not surprising. Sensuality and romance, sensuality and love, and sensuality and fragrance, are all combinations of the sensual.

Due to the often romantic connotations, men’s cologne can be a good choice as a Valentine gift for him. You will find there are men’s perfume ranges with a heart, love or romance theme that will make appropriate gifts for February 14. Some of the top designer names have their romantic perfumes, such as Romance by Ralph Lauren, Eternal Love by Eternal Love, and Touch of Love by Fred Hayman.

Men’s Jewellery

While many men will not appreciate a piece of jewellery for themselves with a heart shape or rose feature, that does not mean you cannot make a jewellery gift a little bit romantic.

Most pieces of jewellery can be engraved, and that is where your gift can be romanticized. Your love message engraved on a men’s bracelet, chain or even watch can become a lasting memory of your love for him.

Other Gifts for Him On Valentine’s Day

The options for a man’s Valentine’s gift are probably as endless as those for Christmas. Any gift can be romanticized by a little bit of imagination. So, if you know him well, you will know not only what he will appreciate as a gift but also how to present it to him in a romantic way, wrapped with your love and appreciation. It does not have to be a romantic gift in itself, so long as the message from your heart to his comes across.

However, it would be nice to include a little something that has an obvious romantic link, even it is just a heart shaped box of chocolates wrapped up with the beer making kit, box of golf balls, or video on how to catch carp.

No, maybe not. I am sure your imagination can do much better than that. Select your gift or gifts, then make Valentine’s Day 2006 a day to remember for the man you love whatever it is you decide on. The true romance of the day will come not from any gift, but how you both interact at an emotional and sensual level; and that includes how you react to the Valentine’s gifts he has bought for you, and the date you will (hopefully) go on to compete the day.

Gifts show how much you care and feel for a person. See the face of your loved ones shining on getting the gift of their choice; the joy is absolutely priceless. It is important to choose the gift carefully since most people feel sentimental about them.

Women are easy to shop for when you are careful enough to give them a gift they like. Buy jewelry for your girlfriend and see her swoon over you. Do not get too daunted by hearing the word “jewellery”, as there are several options available. You can present her a pendant or earrings. Flowers are absolute winners with most women, as they simply adore flowers. Give your girlfriend a huge teddy bear, which would act as a reminder as it is always going to be there by her bedside. You can also gift her exquisite lingerie or a beautiful dress you would like to see her in. Chocolates and cosmetics are other good options.

If you can get your man to swear that he is going to give you undivided attention, then presenting him gadgets would be a good idea. Men will always be men and their love for gadgets is understandable. If you think he should do away with his old mobile, get him the latest model. He would be more than happy to flaunt his new mobile. You can also present a DVD Player, MP3 Player or an iPod. A classy leather wallet, bag or shaving accessories are the other options you can choose from. You can also gift your beloved a musical instrument like a guitar or violin.

The other options include gift packages such as holidays or vouchers from stores wherein, later you can purchase stuff of your choice. Gift your loved ones concert or movie tickets so that they have a nice time out there.

The gift ideas for the little ones include toys, dolls being the favorite for girls and cars for boys. You can also give them educational toys, craft kits where they can put their energies and creativity to good use. Gift these tots their latest icons and see their wide smiles upon seeing Spiderman, Pokemons and their ilk. You can also gift them books on Harry Potter, which they will be more than happy to see because most of them are eager to know what is Harry upto.

The British shopper is a strange beast. It seems that our love affair with high street shopping may have peaked this year yet our trends to shopping on the web look to be increasing even further. Recent statistics released suggest we are far more likely to buy on the internet than our European or even American cousins. The irony though is that although the UK is benefiting from an internet sales boom our UK manufacturers continue to struggle.

Many industries in the UK have suffered as a result of cheap imported foreign goods and as a result of the strength of the pound against other currencies.

Whilst there are undoubtedly some excellent quality imported goods there are equally as many poor quality, poor value goods. A good example in this area is in the manufacture of jewellery and our UK market has been flooded with cheap foreign rubbish, much of which comes from the far east and is probably produced in less than desirable working conditions. The jewellery is usually of the costume variety, the quality is not great so it won’t last and the materials used are cheap and can produce allergic reactions.

Why not support some of our local home grown talent? Here in the UK we have many talented, skilled independent jewellery designers who struggle to make a living. These people handcraft all types of jewellery from all types of materials including precious metals and gemstones and many pieces will be unique. Most designers are happy to produce one off commissions at very reasonable prices enabling you to own a beautiful piece of UK made designer jewellery.

For your handcrafted jewellery made here in the UK, why not consider using the internet to make your purchase from a secure e commerce shop.

It is predicted that this year there will be bumper on line sales in the UK of over £4 billion pounds which is in stark contrast to high street retail sales which have a taken a bit of a knock. On line shopping is growing some 26 times faster than the High Street with half the UK, some 21 million people choosing to shop for Xmas presents on the internet with an average spend of £220.

By shopping on the internet customers avoid the hassle of busy shops, parking problems, out of stock situations and trawling from shop to shop trying to find what they are looking for.

You can browse the internet from the comfort of your home, compare prices you have more choices and all at the click of a mouse but try to remember to support the British manufacturing industry.