As eBay implements changes across its American site, many disgruntled users are looking elsewhere for their auction services. eBay has dominated the market for many years and most people don’t realise that there are alternative websites providing the same service. A quick search for ‘online auctions’ brings up ebid – an alternative that may be worth trying.
This year big, bold and beautiful jewellery is all the rage, with statement rings to be seen on the fingers of glamorous celebrities like Kirsten Dunst. At Park Lane we have a fantastic array of gorgeous rings to whet your appetite, positively covered in diamante crystals in sparkling colours and designs! We absolutely love them and we’re sure you will too!
A poll by Halifax Home Insurance has discovered that altogether British people have jewellery worth around £52 billion in their homes. Many people however have never had their jewellery valued, so may not have the right insurance policy to cover everything should it get stolen.
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is this month a new jewellery gallery filled with thousands of precious gemstones. Pieces include rare Cartier items and jewellery commissioned by Catherine the Great, as well as some pieces that are 3000 years old.
A silver medieval pinhead was discovered in a Somerset field in late 2006, and is now waiting to be valued by the British Museum. The pinhead would have belonged to a woman of some wealth, and interestingly no similar objects have been unearthed in recent years.
In 1997 new treasure laws were established in the UK which state that all gold and silver found over 300 years old must be declared to the authorities. Because this is the first pinhead to have been declared, it is unclear what its value will be.
High-end jewellery retailer Tiffany are opening a new shop in Dublin later this year. The shop will be situated in the city centre and promises to prove a big hit with discerning locals.
May is being marketed as ‘gold month’ by many retailers hoping to cash in on the many special occasions at this time of year. American Mother’s Day and graduation events mean that gift sales are high, and gold is increasingly popular as a gift for loved ones.
Retailers hope to combat the rising price of gold with this campaign.
Many of the rubies sold on the American high street come from Burma (Myanmar), a little-known country ruled by a military junta. Human rights violations have long been an issue, but recently the American government have tried to ban all imported gemstones in an effort to punish Burma economically.
As usual, there are two sides to this argument. Human rights may be important, but some angry shopkeepers are wondering where their supply of rubies will come from now.
The robbery of a jewellery shop in Houston, Texas, has been caught on camera by CCTV surveillance. The robbers are believed to have been South American gang members, and local press have posted the video on the internet in a bid to catch the criminals.
The largest colourless diamond to be auctioned in nearly 20 years is due to go under the hammer in Hong Kong. At over 100 carats it’s expected to bring in over $6 million. Only 3 similar diamonds have ever been sold, all in Geneva, making this a first for Christie’s in Hong Kong.