Rosec Jewelry For Customized Handmade Fine Jewelry

Rosec Jewelry is an independent online fine jewelry retailer with headquarters (at 64 West 48th Street, Suite 1406) in the diamond district of Manhattan and stores in London and Jaipur. Its manufacturing facilities are located in India. America, Canada, and the United Kingdom make up its customer base. Rosec sells its jewelry on its own website and platforms like Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Walmart. This gives Savvy Shoppers a comparison of prices among platforms and awesome opportunities to catch sales and discounts when buying a piece of jewelry!

There are several reasons to consider Rosec Jewelry. The company specializes in homemade fine jewelry including certified diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and semi-precious gemstones at not cheap but affordable prices. Their skilled artisans have been jewelers for 15+ years and they only work with hallmarked gold, 925 sterling silver, and certified and ethically sourced gemstones.

Most of Rosec's jewelry can be customized to fit a customer's budget. Therefore a ring, earrings, bracelet, or necklace can be made with either natural or lab-grown gemstones and comes in a choice of precious metals: 18k gold, 14k gold, or 925 sterling silver. You select how your gemstone was grown, and in a precious metal with the design and craftsmanship staying the same. It gives everyone the chance to buy fine jewelry instead of settling for costume jewelry!

Rosec likes to describe its jewelry as: Luxury Meets Affordability. I like the jeweler's focus on design, craftsmanship, genuine silver and gold precious metals, certified gemstones, and fabulous customer service. Potential buyers can book a virtual meeting if they need guidance. Nice! The website is well-designed and easy to navigate to help consumers understand the inventory. To boot, 20% promotions are offered on holidays!! 

What great gifts for family and special friends! Rosec has a wide selection of everyday jewelry that is especially fitting as a young girl's first piece of fine jewelry for her special birthday, confirmation, or graduation.

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Splurge Like A Savvy Shopper

How does a Savvy Shopper make decisions about a splurge? I'll use 2 emerald rings that (as of now) are on the market for sale to illustrate the thinking involved in whether (and if, yes, which ring) to spend your money on. But feel free to fill in the blank with designer shoes, bags, clothes, or whatever your temptation tends to be.

Let's start with: Don't tell yourself an emerald ring is an investment. Jewelry isn't, a Chanel double flap bag isn't, and Manolo Blahnik pumps aren't investments ... or even needs. All these pricey items are splurges, not necessities. We buy them because we want them, not need them, and more often than not, if we were to sell them, we won't make a profit. So never confuse a splurge with a need or a true investment! No and no!

That said, if you can afford a splurge sometimes it makes a hard working person happy and is well worth the money.

To demonstrate, let's say we decide to splurge and spend our money on an emerald ring. It allows me to post some lovely images today.😛😁

The next question to ask is what's our budget?

This 1st emerald ring is a stunner. It's a 6.14 carat natural Columbian emerald in a 4-prong setting of 18 carat gold. The emerald is surrounded by round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds. For average wage earners, the pricetag is a stunner too! Cost: $32,000.

So Savvy Shoppers who earn regular salaries, do we forget about a splurge? Heck, no ... if you can afford to treat yourself, you should every once in awhile! However, as a Savvy Shopper you should search for a ring that has a similar effect within your personal budget. Use the out-of-your-budget temptation as inspiration! 

Be flexible and willing to compromise to find something similar that you can afford. Many people who don't wish to go into debt wouldn't pay $32,000 for a single piece of jewelry just because they have the money in the bank. Ask if this ring is worth 32,000 smackers leaving your bank account? Proof!

THE SAVVY SHOPPER way is to be a dreamer, then a realist! Obviously someone with deep pockets wouldn't have to deplete their savings to spend $32,000 on jewelry. But one day perhaps your $32,000 will have to cover unexpected expenses. Know and stick to your own budget. Spending like high rollers doesn't make us high rollers. No one should break the bank on a splurge. A splurge is meant to bring us happiness, not worry and insecurity. So let's take our dream ring and shop like a Savvy Shopper!

The 2nd emerald ring is what an ordinary wage earner might end up buying. It's a 2 1/5 carat natural (origin not stated) emerald in a 4-prong setting of 14k yellow or 14k white gold. It is surrounded by brilliant round diamonds with additional baguette cut diamonds to equal 1/2 carat of diamonds. Cost: Full retail - $5,000. Ebay price $2,900. Macy's sale prices - $1,499 and sometimes as low as $1,049.

The compromises are 2 1/5 carats vs 6.14 carats, 14k gold vs 18k gold. Both are natural emeralds but I would bet that the $32,000 emerald is a higher color grade. The emerald likely has a more desirable saturation of color. Both emeralds have inclusions, which are accepted in the gemstone.

Between the 2 rings, the 6.14 carat emerald is deeper and the 2 1/5 carat emerald is shallower, but much of the bigger stone in this design cannot be seen. The 6.14 carat emerald has a higher setting. You'd have to try on both rings to know if you'd get more finger coverage and if bigger or smaller looks better on your hand. A higher ring setting is not de facto more desirable.

Finally, there's the cost of insurance. Whether to insure a ring you pay slightly more than $1,000 for is debatable because you likely could afford to replace it. However, more risk and pain would follow not insuring a $32,000 ring that was lost or stolen, which a Savvy Shopper takes into account before making the purchase. How pricey should your splurge be? Sales taxes and insurance add up. Total expenses can slap you in the face!

In summary: Splurges should make us happy, not penniless! If a material thing would burst your budget, figure out what you love about the article but compromise to bring the cost down. Find something affordable that gives you the similar effect as your temptation. First a dreamer, then a realist is THE SAVVY SHOPPER way to buy all things -- needs and splurges.♥

Extra Tip: If you wait for Macy's promotions, you can get a ring, earrings, and a necklace for less than the price of the 1st ring, but will you wear them all? It's a beautiful collection. Still buy only the pieces you know you'll wear often. Never buy jewelry that stays in a box.🛍

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The Best Kabuki Brushes

In life, we spend on some things and save on others. When quality and performance matter, we spend even if we have to save up to buy an item. At other times when good enough works, we can save.

Discontinued 😞

Good makeup brushes make a huge difference in applying makeup evenly so usually, we spend on quality brushes, moving up from the good enough ones we settled for when we were younger.

I did so one makeup brush at a time, but before I could buy my last planned brush, in the It Velvet Luxe Collection For Ulta, the line was discontinued! So my coveted Kabuki brush (at $54 without a deal) got away! I looked a long time for it on eBay to no avail and so I had to move on. 

Today I'm featuring 3 Kabuki brushes that are top-notch in the qualities I love in makeup brushes: They're (1) plush/dense, (2) soft, and (3) do not shed for a smooth application of liquid or powdered makeup. I use a Kabuki brush to apply face powder as a final step to blend and set the makeup on my face. (Some people use it for liquid foundation, which I skip.)

I've uploaded the 3 brushes in today's blog in the order of most to least expense. They are: 

1) Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki (See the top image.👆) 

2) Isle of Paradise Foundation Brush (See the purple case.👆)

3) Petal-Shaped Kabuki Brush - This option is sold all over the internet. I bought one from Walmart. It also sells on Chinese retailer websites like Temu and Shein. Surprisingly, it is a great quality brush at a low cost! The brush has tons of 5-star reviews from happy customers!

Although I found a good Kabuki brush for less, I still regret losing out on the pricey Kabuki brush that got away! All I can do now is show and write about it.😢

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Where Do Canadians Buy Clothes?

On my bucket list is visiting Canada, starting with Montreal or Quebec (so two trips) to familiarize myself with retailers where Canadians like to shop for clothes. I'm open to both luxury and affordable markets. It's fun to explore shopping districts away from home, and you never know where you'll find inspiration or a steal.

Below is a roundup of where a few Canadian women say they buy their clothes. Some explained why they favor them. The recommendations are 100% theirs. Perhaps one day I'll step foot in the following --

25 Popular Canadian Apparel Shops: 

Aritzia - Expensive but I have to say that they really hit the sweet spot of the modern trendy look. I would say Wilfred and Babaton are the house brands that make more sense for a 30-something - Talulah and TNA are more sporty, and casual, which reads younger. Also, check out the Sunday Best line.

Frank and Oak For basics - Women's clothes are online only but pretty well made. I avoid most of their poly stuff, but anything cotton, silk, merino, etc. is very nice and they have decent sales every other month or so.

Oak and Fort - For more unique and architectural looks. Their fabrics aren't great and are very rarely natural but they do some really neat outside-of-the-box clothes.

Simons - I mostly shop here for the access to other brands and their frequent sales. I'm not a huge fan of their house lines (Twik, Iconé, and Contemporaine). Pretty good loyalty program and easy shipping.

Gap - I buy here for the neverending sales on basics and the occasional really great deal. Also in the USA.

eBay - Especially doing searches and limiting it to Canada to avoid high shipping fees and duties. I like searching for pre-owned Aritzia brands, Theory, Eileen Fisher, Joie, Isabel Marant, Dusen Dusen, Nic and Zoe, and vintage.

Silver and Gold

Silver and Gold Boutique - Trendy and casual style.

Street and Saddle - Quality and fitted garments.

Seek Shelter - Clothes made to improve with wear.

Jeska Grue - Silk and linen fabrics.

Beaton Linen - Linen dresses, jumpers, and fabrics too.

Korinne Vader - Linen dresses, bottoms.

Nordstrom Rack - Also in the USA.

Winners - In the USA known as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods.

Marshalls - Also in the USA. The sister company of T.J. Maxx or T.K. Maxx in UK countries. Canadians named it separately. Don't count the retailers and tell me there are 26 because I didn't count Marshalls twice. It's counted under the Winners corporation. :)

Holt Renfrew - Known for its exclusive designer collaborations and high-end fashion brands.

RW & Co - Classical Canadian clothing.

Reitmans - Good for work clothes.

Ricki's - Trendy and casual clothes

Cleo - Linen pants, blazers, and dresses.

Uniqlo - Also in the USA. Good quality basics and layering pieces that look expensive. 

Dynamite - A mix of dresses, tops, and jeans.

Laura's - Slightly pricy, but for clothes that will last for years. Classic Canadian clothing.

Mark's - Great bargains.

Hudson Bay

Hudson's Bay - Tons of options on their website. My note: The Bay and Hudson's Bay operate under the HBC portfolio. HBC is North America's oldest company, founded in 1670. HBC also acquired Saks Fifth Avenue in 2013. The Bay is like Macy's or Saks in the USA.

Blondie Boutique - Online shopping only except in Calgary, Canada.

Wow, most of these merchants have no stores in the US, so are new to me. How about you?

Click the links of the Canadian retailers to check them out!🇨🇦

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8 Skincare Products I Use Daily And Highly Recommend

Photo: Adobe

Through experience, you inevitably learn about skin care products like which ingredients really work, and which knockoffs, identical to their more costly name-brand counterparts, to buy.

Here's what I now use every day in my skincare routine, as well as, for my senior mother whose skin still feels baby soft. I like to pamper her with mild, good clean ingredients to keep her skin healthy and moisturized. I've reviewed the following beauty items in prior blogs, so if you wish to know why they're good for your skin click on their links for a description and list of ingredients. Today's blog will try to save you a few bucks when purchasing them:

8 Skincare Products I Use Daily And Highly Recommend:

 

1) SheaMoisture Soap(s) - to wash with during a shower. T.J. Maxx often carries the bars at $3.99/bar.

2) Noxema Cleansing Cream - to wash my face before bed. I also use it to soothe my mom's dry skin where she needs it, such as her arms. Alternatively, I love the face washes from CeraVe and Cetaphil, as well as, their Walmart Equate knockoffs. Walmart also has a Noxema dupe only for in-store pickup. However, Noxema, the name brand, usually selling at under $5, is cheap enough.

3) Coconut Oil - I buy food-grade coconut oil often from Puritan's Pride, to use as after-bath oil to lock in moisture. The reason for the food-grade coconut oil is to simplify my life and not have to buy 2 different coconut oils. {The same applies to white vinegar for cleaning my home. I buy food-grade, not cleaning-grade white vinegar which lies in the cleaning products aisle of supermarkets. When cheap enough, reduce to one multi-tasking product you have to stock. Saves time! Looks like Puritan's Pride no longer sells what I use, so here's another good online retailer. Costs: $6 - $10 for 16 oz.

If I need extra moisturizers in the fall and winter to slatter on dry skin, I add the following to my skincare routine --

4) Equate Moisturizing Cream (a dupe for CeraVe) - Cost: $10

5) Equate Beauty Gentle Skin Cream with Long-Lasting Moisture (the dupe for Cetaphil). - Cost: $6.40. Cetaphil is a tad thicker than CeraVe. Both knockoffs are excellent, plus they work wonders in moisturizing your face, so mild, light, and absorbent that you can skip buying a separate face moisturizer.

6) Target's Up and Up or Walmart's Equate Baby Powder - We use it after bathing and I often apply a sprinkle with a makeup brush to my face to prevent a shiny complexion. Real face powder has a finer texture, than the cornstarch ingredient in baby powder, but baby powder with cornstarch is still a super substitute. Talic (a finer grain) in body power has been removed in the USA. Price: $2.99 for 22 ounces.

7) Daytime: I use Equate Beauty All Day Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion for Skin, Broad Spectrum SPF 15. (the dupe for Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin, SPF 15). I'll use whatever I can get, for normal or sensitive skin. You'll pay about $4

8) Nighttime: I apply Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair - I use the cream formula but have also tried the serum. If only buying one of these, get the cream. Cost: $16 at T.J. Maxx or $13 - $16 on eBay. $25 regular retail price.

By learning what's in skincare products, and focusing on key effective ingredients supported by science, you can find knockoffs for less. Look in health food stores, small batch-start-up companies, and drugstores that offer both name brands that go on sale, as well as, drugstore dupes to lower the costs of your everyday skincare. Toss in Equate (from Walmart) and Up and Up (Target's store brand).

We're talking about effective, clean, high-caliber skincare for less. Skincare without compromise you can afford to use 365 days of the year without going broke! You are welcome.

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Is Your Prime Membership A Waste Of Money?

Photo: Getty Images

Amazon rocks. I love it! Frequently the prices of goods are the same or better than at brick-and-mortar stores. At times stores lacking an item will direct me to Amazon, which ends up having it. Convenience is a given with purchases arriving at my door. Also, packages stuffed in the mailbox or left at the door can feel like gifts. Shopping on Amazon is addicting! And yet, after a couple of trials, I decided not to buy the $139 Prime Membership.

I think a Prime Membership is worth the cost if you: (1) order a lot of stuff; (2) live in a building where packages left in a common area get stolen; (3) need fast delivery, including same-day (with a $35 order), and 1 or 2-day delivery; or (4) use the other perks of the membership: Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Photos, Prime Gaming and/or buy things marked down on Amazon Prime Day, Prime Early Access Sales or the Lightening Deals. Clearly, Prime Membership adds value non-members don't have.

Photo: Business Insider

But I found I didn't use any of these benefits with a 30-day trial, In fact, the items I ordered during my 30-day trial were excluded from the 1 or 2-day delivery and it still took a week or over for them to arrive. But it was ok with me. Almost always, I can handle the wait. I tend to be a planner, as opposed to, a last-minute shopper, and I also worry about Amazon workers who might have to kill themselves to rush items to customers because it's the business model. Let's remember human beings work in fulfillment centers (warehouses) to get our packages to us!

What's more, all orders $25 or more give you free shipping, and usually it's not a hardship for me to wait a beat until I bundle articles to reach $25. If your circumstances require you to order a ton of under $25 items monthly, then you'll save on shipping by paying for an Amazon Prime Membership at $139 per year (or $14.99 per month), and as a bonus, you'll enjoy all the Amazon Prime Member benefits. A bargain if you often order to run a business. You would spend more than $11.58 each month ($11.58 x 12 = $139) on shipping without a membership.

I adored binge-watching a season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with my free trial membership, but frankly, there's not enough original content to make a Prime Membership worthwhile for Prime Video alone. Amazon offers Prime Video solo for $8.99 monthly or $107.88 a year, but IMHO you'll likely save by streaming your shows of interest.

Nonetheless, I need to jump back to emphasize how much I love Amazon! 

Photo: Business Insider

I advise anyone to check Amazon first before ordering a wheelchair, a senior shower bench, a safety bed rail, or anything you'd buy from a medical supply store as they're always far less on Amazon. Anything and everything is less on Amazon if you need it when a seller is listing it at a great price. Always worth a look!

Despite not having a Prime Membership, an Amazon customer rep called me a good customer since I buy a fair amount. Still, I never feel pressure or am tempted to order unnecessary things to justify annually spending $139 on a Prime Membership or because Lightening Deals are too good to pass up.

For some buyers, additional free shipping can lead to additional impulse buys. Make sure you don't overconsume to validate a membership for Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus, Costco Executive/Gold Star, or Sam's Club as it's not saving you money but costing you more than you'd normally spend. It's easy to do if we're not mindful. 

Finally, cancel any unused subscriptions and services that are costing you and not saving you money.

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IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush

Back in August 2019, I learned It Cosmetics had discontinued its amazing Velvet Luxe line of makeup brushes after visiting Ulta intent on buying a 2nd brush. This was a crazy business move as my review of the superior line of brushes describes:

This and all of the following photos relate to the last paragraph of the blog. :) Wow, I especially love the oval ring, post earrings, and matching necklace.

Here's a snippet of my review: "'Last year I bought a quality makeup brush from the IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe line. The brushes in this particular line, are plush, soft, firm, precise in the application; and never, ever shed. In other words, everything we want: It is hands down the best makeup brush I've ever used!'"

Fortunately, I found 4 of the coveted sizes of the brushes on eBay, paying bargain prices for them as it turns out! Unfortunately, the one that got away I still pine for, namely the Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush. I can make do with the brushes I now own, but every now and then I still go online to see if somebody, somewhere, anywhere is selling my longed-for kabuki brush. Makeup brushes must be sold new-and-never-used for me to buy them, and as we get further and further away from 2019, there's little chance the kabuki brush will be listed on eBay or elsewhere. A makeup maven who buys closeouts would have to discover it stashed in her basement for us to see it listed for sale again, but if I ever find it, my set will be complete.😍

By becoming a more mindful shopper and an under buyer, I make fewer mistakes, avoid buyer's remorse and save a few bucks along the way. But the other side of the coin is, I also must accept losing out on a few desired articles. However, on balance, I think I come out ahead. 

Material things will come and go. Something new always replaces an old wish that vanishes.

No engagement is needed, I just love this ring.😀

All the lovely things posted today on this blog are on my Fairy Godmother Wish List but wisely I decided not to buy them. However, the kabuki brush I'll snatch up for a good price if ever, ever I see it again!

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you might find

You get what you need.🎶  Mick Jagger

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