mathematics-

One of the nicest things I have ever read about pearls is a comparison of a pearl to a woman. 'Pearls are like a woman. Once you discover her, you will never stop loving her.'

From the east to the west, royalty and famous people adore natural pearls. And here's some news you will not find anywhere in the English press. I've had it translated from the Arabic newspaper, Dar Alalhayat by an Arabic linguist:

At a recent auction arranged by Christie's auction house in Dubai, Um-Khalthoum (b. 1904-1975), known as "the star of the east" the most famous female singer in the Arabic world, her Pearl necklace sold on the 29th April 2008, for $1.4 million USD, ten times its' original value! It was a gift from Sheik Zaid ben Sultan, founder of the United Arab Emirates.

Some people are born with an eye for a pearl. Even experience in the trade is not enough though. Some people have what others cannot learn - the gift of "knowing".

They are born with it as some people are born with a gift for music or art or touching the heart of a man or woman. "A novice has much to learn but that he cannot learn".

The skin of of these cool flames glows rather than gleams and its' qualities are far more subtle than the cold surface of faceted gemstones.

The famous painter, John Singer Sargent (b.1856) who painted wealthy belle poque beauties, certainly had an eye for Natural Pearls. He used seven brush strokes, each stroke using pigment of a different color to create a realistic painting of a single round white jewel.

An earlier artist with an eye for them, was the seventeenth-century Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer whose absolute masterwork, captures the precise realism of the gem.

The actual body color or hue is no part of the connoisseurship equation, according to Richard W. Wise, world authority on precious gemstones. No particular hue or color is more beautiful than another. What Richard terms Simpatico or compatibility with the skin of the wearer is what's important.

You Judge A Pearl As You Judge A Beautiful Woman. You look for shape, symmetry, skin, complexion. Complexion is the lustre. And then you must look for lasting quality.

Some Pearls have a short life, others last forever. But first and last you look for beauty.

Nobody can tell you what beauty is.

A woman can be flawless, immaculate and have no soul. Such a woman is not beautiful. So it is with a pearl. It is in its' soul wherein its' value lies.

The surface is not perfectly smooth. Under magnification, you will see it is delicately rippled. The light, striking on these infinitesimal ripples refracts into a play of colors.

The oyster secretes the nacre which makes up the Pearl in layers, like the inside of an onion and the reflection from the buried surfaces through the outer transparent layers adds to the beauty of the stone.

The quality of the nacre depends on the position inside the shell. The choicest gems are mostly found in the soft parts of the oyster.

It has no intrinsic color in itself. The iridescence comes from the light striking up at different angles from the rippled layers.

Perfectly Matched?

When people say that a string is perfectly matched they think they are matched for size and shape.

Any jeweler's boy can match for size and shape! This is mathematics. Pearl devotees will do well to note that matching pearls is not a science, it is an art.

Every pearl has a lifetime. Some lose their lustre in ten years, some in fifty years.
The pearl of soul, of beauty, that Pearl lives for ever...

by Evie Hammouda-Eyre

http://www.antique-jewelry-investor.com

"Feelings are our most effective signposts to improvement.

VM

Every year we all start off with big plans to make this year the best ever. We have good intentions about exercising, eating healthy, saving money, balancing work and family time, following our passion, growing spiritually, etc. Do you know that there is one simple thing you could do that would have a dramatic impact on your life and all the goals you've set for this year? One thing that would change your life for the better forever?

I'll tell you what it is, but first some background. Several years ago I read that we have over 60,000 thoughts per day. I was reminded of this fact while listening to The Secret audio CD last week. The reason I bring this up is because it's our thoughts that create our future (just like the past was created). The bottom line is this: positive thoughts attract positive results and negative thoughts attract negative results.

Now you may be thinking - "How can I possibly monitor 60,000 thoughts per day?" You can't. The good news is you don't have to. All you have to do is pay attention to your feelings. If you are feeling good, that means your thoughts are positive. If you're feeling bad (angry, disappointed, sad, discouraged, upset, tired, sick), then it means that your thoughts are negative. If you understand the source of feelings, you'll realize that when you have a bad feeling, it doesn't mean that life is bad, it means your thoughts are misdirected.

Think about changing the channels on your TV or radio. When you don't like what you are watching or hearing, it's easy to press a button and switch to something more appealing. That's what you can do when your feelings tell you that you are on the wrong channel. Mentally "click" a button and switch to thoughts that bring up positive feelings. Just as you have your favorite TV shows or radio stations, have a reserve of favorite thoughts that you can "switch" to immediately. Maybe it's a happy memory from the past, a moment with a loved one, a funny story, a special song, or a beautiful image. Create your personal inventory of favorite thoughts and bring these to mind anytime your feelings let you know it's time to change channels.

When you make this one change of checking your feelings periodically, you'll realize a bad feeling means it's time to change your thinking. Stop thinking about what you don't have, or how hard life is, or what an impossible a situation you're in. Change channels by drawing from your inventory of favorite thoughts and then add thoughts about what you do want, and feel how good it will be to have it. The positive feelings that result will attract ideas, inspired actions, supportive people and events to help you along the way.

May your motto for the year be, in the words of the late James Brown, "I feel good!"

Vicki Miller / Copyright January 2007

As a Life Transition Coach I teach clients the five steps to a prosperous life now! I help my clients identify and remove obstacles in the way and bring clarity and focus to their dreams. Are you undergoing a major transition and not clear where to turn? What's the most important thing you would ask a coach if given the opportunity? Call (972-306-4489) or email me, (coach.v.miller@verizon.net), to set up a complimentary, no obligation 30 minute telephone coaching session. Download my FREE e-Book, 12 Fun Ways to Change Your Life, or sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter at http://www.thrivingthroughchange.com or http://www.directsellingleadershipcenter.com