Blogs
How to Hire the Right Person for the Job
Thomas Edison had an unusual way of hiring his engineers. He’d hold up a lightbulb and ask the candidate how much water it would hold. Some candidates used gauges, measurements, and scientific calculations to determine the answer. Others filled the bulb with water and poured the contents into a measuring cup. Which candidates got […]
A Guide to Top HR Legal Issues
There are a number of reasons that the legal landscape within HR departments has changed over the years. Overall, though, the needs of the employees are being considered more than ever before. As such, it is important for HR departments to be aware of the legal issues that they are most likely to contend with. […]
Origins of Jewelry
Jewelry, objects of personal adornment prized for the craftsmanship going into their creation and generally for the value of their components as well. Throughout the centuries and from culture to culture, the materials considered rare and beautiful have ranged from shells, bones, pebbles, tusks, claws, and wood to so-called precious metals, precious and semiprecious stones, pearls, corals, enamels, vitreous pastes, and ceramics. In […]
Moissanite vs Diamond: Beauty, Durability, and Price
What is Moissanite? Although moissanites do occur naturally (and very rarely) in very tiny crystals, when consumers compare moissanites and diamonds they’re most likely considering synthetic moissanites. This is a form of crystalline silicon carbide created in laboratories and widely used as a diamond simulant. Unless you’re shopping for rare mineral samples, when you encounter moissanites and moissanite rings […]
Gemology Cheat Sheets
Use these gemology cheat sheets to review color and clarity grading, as well as special information on diamond and opal. You can also review basic gem identification testing procedures for the refractometer, polariscope, and specific gravity. Evaluating Colored Gemstone Clarity Clarity grading involves examining a gem’s transparency, inclusions, and blemishes. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has devised a clarity grading […]
A Brief History of Earrings
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. ~Proverbs 25:12 The history of earrings is an interesting one because they have been worn by both genders for millennia. The discovery of a 5,000-year old body in the Italian Alps has shown us that men […]
Zodiac
Zodiac, in astronomy and astrology, a belt around the heavens extending 9° on either side of the ecliptic, the plane of Earth’s orbit and of the Sun’s apparent annual path. The orbits of the Moon and of the principal planets also lie entirely within the zodiac. The 12 astrological signs of the zodiac are each considered to occupy 1/12 (or 30°) of its great circle. These signs no longer […]
The Ring
Ring: circular band of gold, silver, or some other precious or decorative material that is worn on the finger. Rings are worn not only on the fingers but also on toes, the ears and through the nose. Besides serving to adorn the body, rings have functioned as symbols of authority, fidelity, or social status. Basically, a ring consists of three parts: the […]
Staying Motivated
Article provided for The Plumb Club by Kate Peterson, PC Performance Concepts To succeed as a jewelry professional, you’ve got to stay motivated and energized. Things like closing a sale, earning a raise, or receiving a compliment from a customer or colleague can help with this. But in the long run, there’s more to it […]
Setting Professional Goals
Article provided for The Plumb Club by Kate Peterson, PC Performance Concepts Retail selling is one of the most rewarding of all the activities in today’s jewelry industry. It provides opportunities and incentives for growing in a multitude of ways. In fact, you could spend an entire career in sales and never run out of […]