My Kitchen Idle Tool List

If I knew before buying certain kitchen tools they'd sit idle in kitchen drawers, I'd pass on them. At some point, I'm sure I'll pack them up to take to Goodwill as these utensils take up valuable real estate, but I'm not quite ready to accept the reality I made a purchasing mistake and will never use them. I still fear if I lose them, a sudden need will arise that requires rebuying one of them most likely the day after it is gone. Moreover, they're small items, right? Soon enough though, I'll march them over to Goodwill. Perhaps I can save you the hesitancy, the rationalizing, the unnecessary cost:

5 kitchen tools I never touch:

1) Egg slicer - I mean, how often do you slice eggs? And if it's only one or 2 eggs, you use a sharp knife, no? Presto, a sharp knife can do the task in less than a minute.

2) Garlic press - Again, I use my trusty knife, which is probably already out slicing and dicing the vegetables and other ingredients for whatever dish I'm making. Nothing extra to wash or put away!

3) Potato peeler - This tool has never peeled a single potato ... not one! For the last decade, it's only been a drawer occupier. Some potatoes I cook unpeeled and with others, out comes the sharp knife again to do the job!

4) Pastry cutter - Buying one of these seems like a brilliant idea, yet again I simply use a knife to cut the butter into tiny cubes, then work the butter into the dough with my figures to ensure by feeling that the dough's texture is crumbly-right. I bought this thing despite already having 10 free human digits (which came with my hands, head, and trunk already assembled:). Go figure why I bought a thing unable to feel a dough's texture!

5) Melon baller - Did I have visions of hosting a garden party for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when I hauled this tool home!?! And, the fruit balls are never picture-perfect-round. Plus, it's tiring to flip your wrist unnaturally up to make those incomplete balls, so I no longer reach for it. Instead, I dice watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew into bite-sized cubes. Perfect-complete-cubes!! Faster and saves the wrist. Turns out I should give my multi-tasking knife a pay-raise!

Can you add anything sitting in your kitchen drawers to my idle tool list? If I look in my drawers, I bet I could find 5 more idle utensils!

What makes us buy these extra gadgets? I wish I had become a minimalist earlier!😊

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Benefits Of 10 Popular Diamond Cuts

Photo: do amour

In a diamond, a good cut is the most important characteristic as it more than any other "C'' (namely: cut, carat, color and clarity) determines the gemstone's value. Jewelers advise us to never compromise on a good cut. The better the cut, the more the diamond reflects light (i.e, sparkles), and it looks bigger because the carat weight is in the right place to enhance the stone.

In addition, there are a number of popular diamond shapes to buy. How clean a rough stone is determines how a jeweler will cut it. A jewelry cutter works around the stone's natural inclusions (or flaws) to both preserve as much of the stone as possible while minimizing its inclusions.

Do you ever wonder what the benefits are of each of the popular diamond shapes ... and perhaps which cuts give you the effect (or illusion) of a bigger diamond for the money? If so, let's continue, shall we??

10 Popular Diamond Shapes (also available in colored gemstones):

1. Round cut - Round diamonds require the most skill and time to cut into exactly 58 facets. In the process, more of the stone is sacrificed than with other shapes. What's more, rounds are the most in demand for engagement rings; therefore they are the most expensive cut. As much as I favor brilliant round cut gemstones, the stone tends to be smaller for the same money then if we choose oval or emerald cuts. In addition, ovals and emeralds often look bigger (give you a bigger effect) per carat than rounds. Round cuts have the most sparkle. 

Yet, don't let this stop you from considering the 9 other cuts. With an expert cut, other diamond shapes sparkle plenty ... enough to blind the eye as you will see from examples below!

2. Princess cut - The princess cut is the 2nd most in demand shape, and you can get a bigger stone for the same money you will pay for a smaller round diamond. The princess cut -- at 50 - 57 facets -- is not as exacting as a round cut so less of the rough diamond is cut away. When cut well, a princess cut shines just as brightly to the naked eye! 

3) Emerald cut - An emerald cut is said to be a modern and sophisticated style. The elongated, rectangular shape can make fingers look longer. An emerald cut requires a clean rough diamond as jewelers can't hide inclusions despite its 57 facets, but unlike with clarity, you can compromise on color. With its smooth surface, an emerald cut gleams like a mirror with dramatic flashes of light bouncing off it. It's gorgeous too!

4. Pear cut - When pointed outward to the fingernail, this is another cut to make fingers look long and slender. The pear cut has 56 - 58 facets and is cut shallower than other shapes which means the diamond will often look bigger than a similar-sized (in carat weight) round or princess cut. The latter two have more of the stone forming their pavilions (a/k/a bottoms).

5. Radiant cut - A radiant cut is a rectangle diamond with 70 bright, shiny facets. The corners are clipped like emerald and cushion cuts (not pointy like the princess cut). Celebrities 1st rocked the radiate cut. Later on, it become available to the general public. Radiant cut diamonds continue to cost more and sparkle more than a princess cut, yet their edgy appeal isn't for everyone.

6. Marquise cut - We have King Louis XIV to thank for commissioning this cut to resemble the smile of his mistress.👑 Another shape to slim and make fingers look longer, a marquise cut has 57 facets to sparkle. Its length and points create a bigger stone effect over ovals and rounds. Pretty and unique, it's less popular than other shapes for engagement rings, which means you can get a bigger diamond for less money! Less in demand cuts tend to be a better value!

7. Cushion cut - The cushion cut is square. usually with 57 facets and what is sometimes called a crushed ice effect, which sparkles and dances. Like the round, a cushion cut is traditional in engagement rings, yet costs less. The feature to avoid in a cushion cut diamond is a deep set stone since you will pay for weight that cannot be seen ... and thus, it can look like a smaller diamond. If you desire a bigger effect diamond, you will have less selection in a cushion cut, as this shape tends to be cut deep. 

Looking at the 3 cushion cut diamonds (to the right) shows you how to get a bigger diamond effect without paying for a bigger central diamond, namely select a setting with accent or pavé diamonds. The extra, attendant stones and sparkle give the illusion of a bigger center diamond without paying for extra carat weight. A ''trick'' which applies to all the shapes.

8. Heart cut - To create a heart is one of the most difficult shapes to cut. It has 56 - 58 facets and is unique, feminine, and romantic. With a cleft, lobe, belly, wing, and point, a bad cut might shatter the stone. Softer gemstones tend not to be cut into hearts.

9. Oval cut - I love this shape in earrings and rings for the reasons cited above. As much as I love a round cut, similar sized ovals often look bigger. Also as earrings, ovals are easy to wear because they tend to stay put. Emerald, radiant, pear or heart cut earrings (shapes with edges or points) can shift out of place throughout the day. What you want to look for in an oval cut diamond is a subtle as opposed to a prominent bow tie (how light hits the stone) effect.

It's a wonder to me that oval cuts don't follow rounds in popularity for engagement rings. With 57 facets in the oval cut, you get a gorgeous effect and sparkle. Who needs a wedding? Give me that ring! (See above, right.)

10. Asscher cut - Developed by Joseph Asscher in 1902 during the Art Deco period. Typically with 57 facets, the asscher cut has less sparkle than other shapes (round, oval, marquise, pear, princess, heart, radiant, cushion, or emerald). Ha, that's quibbling! What it offers instead is a shimmering hall of mirrors effect. Because Asscher cuts require clean, colorless diamonds and tend to be rare, they cost more than other shapes; and there are few budget-friendly offerings to find. Oh, that explains why I love what I see, but don't own it.🙂

Photo: GIA Education

In life, we should only buy what we love ... but perhaps we could love more than a single cut to have a bigger diamond or a bigger effect. What shape do you absolutely love ... and what cuts could you love to get the biggest diamond (or effect) for the money?? The longer I look ... ohh I love them all!😍

For you readers, I dragged myself back to Tiffany & Co. to do the research for this blog. What I do for my readers ... work, work, work!🙂 The showcase lights hide the sparkle of the big and clean diamonds. Enlarge if you wish.

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The Pink Stuff

The Pink Stuff by manufacturer Stardrops, is all over TikTok as a ''miracle'' cleaning paste. Mildly abrasive, it contains baking soda, sodium silicate, quartz and soap -- all said to be safe and natural cleaning elements.

Like other pastes, you apply it to the surface of the thing you want to clean with a cloth or sponge, gently rub it in, let it sit for a minute and rinse with a wet cloth or sponge. Follow with clean water to remove any residue.

The ''miracle'' is The Pink Stuff makes formally impossible cleaning jobs easy. Difficult stains and gritty grimes are lifted off without a ton of scrubbing. It is especially effective on grease and burnt-on stains, so you can make old pots and tea kettles look new again. 

Other things and surfaces it works well on include stovetops (or hobs), sinks, floors, grout between tiles, glass, barbecue grills, outdoor furniture, rust, radiators, shoes (the sides above the soles), doors, and walls (after a test patch for the paint).

Testers on the Today Show and elsewhere say although The Pink Stuff isn't quite the ''miracle'' the manufacturer claims, it comes pretty darn close as a magic cleaning paste! Really tough stains still require some elbow grease and perhaps not everything can be restored to appear new again, yet in their tests, the paste is, indeed, super effective. Good to know!

I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a new cleaning paste, but if I had something stained and nothing else cheaper (like white vinegar, baking soda, salt, soap, lemon juice, ammonia, bleach, Ajax, or Bartender's Friend) worked, I'd try The Pink Stuff. I stock ammonia, Ajax, Bartender's Friend and pure bleach, but only turn to them for the heaviest, dirtiest, or germ-prone jobs. Mostly they're standbys. The Pink Stuff is affordable, yet pricer than common household cleaners. Its selling point is the lack of scrubbing needed to get out rust, or heavy-duty stains! The tougher than ordinary grudge!

Head's Up For Thursday's blog:  I'll tell you which cut gives you the biggest diamond?

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Opal, A Favorite Of Queen Victoria

The Virgin Rainbow is the world's most expensive opal.

Frankly I'm an opal come lately. This year while out researching jewelry, finally I see how beautiful opals are. Speaking practically, I can't buy every gemstone so maybe that's why I overlooked this fascinating gem for so long. The semi-precious stone is known to exist on Mars, and is reported to have been a favorite of Great Britain's Queen Victoria (who wore it and gave opal as gifts to her 5 daughters). Did the jewel's striking stream of iridescence catch Her Majesty's eye, then claim her heart? It seems so!

The necklace and ring courtesy of Angara.com

Opal is a ''hydrated amorphous'' form of the compound silicon dioxide (a/k/a silica - SiO₂·nH₂O). The gemstone has a high water content and is therefore classed as a mineraloid, as opposed to, the crystallite gems like diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds or garnets, which are examples of minerals.

Opal forms when a mixture of water and silica travels over the earth and through rocks, including limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl and basalt, as well as, across decomposing fossils, depositing itself into the earth's natural cracks, and faults. It's a process that gets repeated again and again over time until opal forms. In fact, it takes 5 - 6 million years for 1 cm of opal to mature!

The white and crystal opal may be my favorites. I'd love to see all 5 colors LIVE on display.

There are 2 broad classes of opal: precious and common, and it's a mind-twister explaining the differences of opal within these two broad classes. Suffice it to say, precious opal has a play of color (iridescence), while common opal does not. Generally the play (or flashes) of color makes precious opal gemstone quality; yet common opal (including milk opal) can sometimes display color and be gemstone quality too. What is so phenomenal about opal is the variety of color and patterns of the different stones in both the precious and common classes -- it's vast and complex when studied by jewelers. Each stone is unique. Iridescent black opal tends to be rare and more expensive. Here's a link to explain in detail the secret of opal's colors.

Photo: Opal Auctions

Australia supplies the world with about 95% of its opal, most notably the black opal. Ethiopia is a fine source of jelly opal (it has a translucent background), although they tend to be hydrophanours, i.e., they are the most porous and therefore absorb liquids (like water, oils, creams, perfumes or sweat) easily, so you must be especially careful with them. What's more, some mining of opal occurs in the USA (in Nevada, Oregon and Idaho), central Mexico, the Czech Republic, Canada, Slovakia, Hungry, Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil to name several areas of the world where it is found. The US tends to have white opal, and Mexico the red, translucent fire opal.

Photo: FWC Jewelers of a Mexican Fire opal, which despite being translucent in appearance like crystallites is a soft stone like all opals.

Opal rates a 5.5 - 6.5 on Moh's Scale of Hardness, making it a soft gemstone that will scratch or break if abused. It's one reason I don't own it, but when you consider that pearls are softer, registering a 4.5 in hardness, and I take care of those, it's a poor reason not to buy it! Often cut as cabochons, with proper care, opals are tough enough to wear as jewelry.

Photo: Courtesy of Your Average Jeweler of uncut white opal. See the sidebar for a link to Andrew's YouTube videos. 

Opal is less expensive than emeralds, rubies, sapphires or diamonds, but likely about as old and certainly unique, eye-catching and gorgeous. The fact that it is found on Mars tells us there is water on the red planet and hints that perhaps there was/is some form of life also. For sure, the delicate gemstone is another marvel of Mother Nature enhanced by the artistry of man so we can wear it!

Photo: Etsy of Ethiopian opal

Extra tips on whether you should buy an opal: On a limited budget, only buy what you love. So if you love opal, yes, as it's less expensive than some other stones. But, jewelry is nothing more than a luxury, so always buy the gemstones you love even if you must wait to save up for them. If you have no fine jewelry, I'd start with pearls (earrings and a necklace) as they're lovely, a great value, classic and versatile. Later you can add your favorite gemstone.😊

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Target Your Skincare: Naturium

Photo: Yahoo

Although I try to give equal coverage to all the categories featured on the blog, I'm finding great affordable skincare lately and so won't hold back: A 3rd beauty blog (plus my thoughts) in a row.🙂 💋

Target Express stores are opening all over Manhattan. As concerned as I am for Mom and Pop shops (which I also support), I can't deny liking the decent selection, convenience and savings on every day staples at the big box retailer. In the Target aisles, there are some top-notch skincare, including cleansers, serums and moisturizers costing $25 or less. The next time you go, take a look at Naturium. Online ... 31 products are listed. At the brick and mortar stores, what's available on any given day can be hit or miss, therefore if I see a frequently used item in stock on the shelf, I buy two.

Naturium is a skincare brand launched by Ben Bennett and Susan Yara in 2020. (In fact, Ms. Yara who is also a YouTube influencer, got in trouble with her fans by promoting the brand on her channel without telling them she is a co-owner!) The products are formulated to be natural, clean, non-toxic and green. They are vegan, except for the Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream which uses ethically sourced honey. Everything made is cruelty free, paragon free, skin-compatible, artificial fragrance-free, and dermatology tested. Naturium proudly follows science to continue to learn and improve its skincare. Sounds good, no?

Photo: hip2save

The most popular Naturium items include: Vitamin C Complex Serum, Retinol Complex Cream, Vitamin C Super Serum Plus, Niacinamide Gel Cream 5% and Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc. 

The cost of buying 5 products, even reasonably priced, adds up; so I recommend starting with the Vitamin C Complex for daytime use and Retinol Complex Cream for nighttime use. The pair is likely all you'll need. Consider the Vitamin Super C Serum Plus (it is a mixture of vitamin C and Retinol, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide) if you can only afford to buy a single face serum. Ideally, you want to use these ingredients separately, yet a better one (as a combo) than none! The other serums address individual skincare concerns that you may or may not have, so save your money when possible.

How impressive that a new beauty brand like Naturium started by a YouTube influencer, got Target to sell its products in such a short span of time! We all have brilliant ideas and dreams (just ask me!), but it takes luck, hard work, perseverance, connections and money to get them to market!💋👏

A head's up: The next blog will introduce you to another gemstone. Watch this space on Thursday!

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RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Daily Serum

RoC Retinol Correction Line Smoothing Daily Serum is another effective retinol available at your local drugstore. In addition to drugstores, Walmart, Target, Amazon and Ulta also carry it, so it's easy to find and perhaps even catch a sale! I often say, choice is THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S  best friend. 

Now let's review what retinol is and what it does for aging skin: Retinol is the non-prescription derivative of prescription strength Retin-A, the gold standard in anti-aging skincare. With regular use, both retinol and Retin-A help speed up skin cell turnover, collagen production, plus lighten uneven skin tone and age spots. 

As it turns out, stronger (i.e., prescription strength Retin-A) isn't always better. What matters most is consistent use. The strength of Retin-A is something the skin tolerates only after a long period of use. Virgin skin can't tolerate it, and sensitive skin may never tolerate it. But non-prescription strength Retinol, used regularly, offers similar anti-aging properties with less of harsher Retin-A's unpleasant side effects. 

Not only does RoC's powerful Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Daily Serum deliver anti-aging benefits, it provides serious hydration; and the retinol in this formula is time-released which preserves the effectiveness of the vitamin A derivative by keeping it stable so it can work over a 12-hour period. As a time-released formula, it is less likely to cause irritation. So if another retinol leaves your skin, dry, red and raw, this one should be more comfortable yet still work. What's more, while the retinol is working to smooth your lines and winkles, two moisturizing ingredients, ashwagandha and squalane deliver 12 hours of time-released hydration.

Many women like to apply a rich moisturizing night cream before bed, so a thicker cream formula is also available.

Anti-aging skincare can be super expensive, so put THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S recommended retinol brands on your radar. They start at good price points before promotions. Be sure to catch the sales to look your unlined best while staying in the green!

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Juno Antioxidant Superfood Face Oil

Customers are raving about Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant Superfood Face  Oil on Amazon. With 82% of 5 star reviews, it's hard to ignore! The face oil contains cold pressed berry seed oils, namely: red raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, black cumin and wild carrot. When added to moisturizers after washing your face, the face oil seals in the moisture to protect and brighten the skin. Many of its reviewers say using Juno makes their skin glow.

I don't go out of my way to buy face oil, yet have picked up 4 oz bottles of Rose Hip Oil, as well as, Rose Oil at excellent prices from T.J. Maxx, so I understand why customers would add a face oil (really it's a universal skin oil) to their skin care routines. I add my rose mix oil (a link to the 2nd one I have) to creams and lotions to winterize my skin for extra protection during the driest months of the year.

With its powerhouse of anti-oxidants, Juno is another contender. Its berry seed ingredients have the power to brighten the skin producing the glow customers are loving. Hydrated skin would appear to glow, or look its best, also.

The reason I'd give Juno a try is precisely because of its pure and clean berry seed ingredients and stellar customer reviews. Since so many people have used the oil on their faces without breakouts, I'd tend to trust it if I needed an extra face ointment to beat back Old Man Winter. Cold pressed plant ingredients in skin care is a plus!

So we have another brand to know about and perhaps ... just perhaps Juno will find its way to T.J. Maxx to be snatched up by me! So many great items end up there. Often I think T.J. Maxx is a fabulous marketing tool for merchants to get consumers to discover their products! Once you try and like it, you'll pay the full retail price if you must. Without bargain finds, cold pressed essential and berry oils are pricey!

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Exquisite Cotton Oxford or T-Shirts

LL Bean oxford shirts

For sure, cotton is a favorite fabric for a shirt. It's soft, fluffy, comfortable, durable and easy to machine wash and dry. Wear solo in summer, layered in winter, and you can't go wrong!

Good news: The cotton plant is plentiful worldwide. It grows in the Americas, Africa, Egypt, India and Australia, where it is picked and spun into yarn. India is the largest producer of cotton today, and the USA has been the largest exporter over the years.

Whether you need a dressy oxford shirt or a casual everyday t-shirt, now is a perfect time to add them to your wardrobe as the summer sales have begun.

Two competitors with equally stellar quality in apparel have fabulous offerings on both shirt styles. Personally, I turn to both merchants year after year:

1. For oxford shirts I'd go with L.L. Bean for a wider selection and a better sale price at this time. The retailer's dressy, classic oxford shirts are of 100% organic cotton that are soft and breathable.

2. Presently Lands' End has a greater selection of colors, plus is running an attractive sale on t-shirts. They are made of supima cotton (meaning extra long fibers) that feel smoother and take dye better than lesser quality cottons. The one thing about LE I dislike is, not all the colors have the same on-sale price. Perhaps I'm quibbling as there are 31 colors to match your wardrobe. I prefer the slightly-fitted, short sleeve, crewneck style, but customers have other choices and choice is always good! Different strokes for different folks.

Of the fabrics available in clothing, natural textiles like cotton, silk and linen last a long time, which make them excellent basics, as well as, investment pieces. Order the sales now and watch for the colors you desire, not yet on sale, lower in price later.

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Dr. Scholl's Ultra Hydrating Foot Mask

At first I thought a foot mask was silly and a waste of money, but my local CVS Pharmacy gave away a sample pack, so I took one. The pack contains one pair of slip-on-booties. So after you figure out how to get the plastic bootie open by pulling hard on the top seam to force it to part and split, producing an opening for you to slide your foot inside, you can decide for yourself. Inside the plastic bootie is a wet mixture of urea, hyaluronic acid, essential oils and a blend of moisturizing (shea butter, macadamia, coconut, olive) oils. Thankfully, there is no perfume, only a slight clean scent. Instructions say to wear the hydrating foot mask for 30 minutes.

Sure, you could blend your own foot mask with essential oils and creams, then slip your feet inside 2 generic plastic bags with the homemade potion -- but isn't it great when you decide not to make something yourself? Once in a while this blend is a lovely treat and not too expensive to soften and repair dry, rough abused feet. It achieves its claims of conditioning and smoothing skin that gets shoved into socks and shoes and sometimes takes a beating. Your toenails and foot cuticles benefit by absorbing some of the soothing formula also.

How are you spending your Friday?

What's more, you can reuse the plastic booties a 2nd time by storing them inside the generic plastic bag you now won't have to use on your foot because you let Dr. Scholl make the foot mask and booties for you. Dr. Scholl's Ultra Hydrating Foot Mask is worth the splurge! I'm not the spa pampering type. Still this very nice!

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Fashion Jewelry I Like

Photo: Maevery

Let's begin this subject with the truth. Nowadays I don't buy fashion jewelry, yet bought it in my 20s. In my 20s I just needed something to wear daily for work and a few social events. Fashion jewelry was what I could afford. I also thought I had to change my jewelry often ... I don't feel that way today.

Photo: Spiritual Gloss

As I got older I decided to curate what I own: Possess fewer yet better pieces of jewelry that I love. So nowadays I don't do quantity. I decide what it is I love and buy only it. So I save up my money for a few more expensive pieces of fine (real gold with real gems) jewelry. In other words, I curate; get it; then stop buying. I still look, but am slow to pull the trigger! 

However, not all my readers are at this point in their lives. Moreover, fine jewelry doesn't make everyone's heart flutter.

Like designer handbags and shoes, jewelry is never an investment. All 3 examples are luxury buys. We never need luxury, we buy luxury because we like material things. Not everybody wishes to spend their money on fine jewelry just like not everybody wants to spend their money on a Hermès handbag. 

Photo: Maevery

So for those readers, I can recommend 3 fashion jewelry retailers I truly like and would wear if I still bought fashion jewelry. For your money, you get substantial gold plated pieces with small, real diamonds and precious stones that are sturdy and pretty. Often I see the brands promoted on YouTube channels by vloggers who are gifted them by the companies, which is a common, acceptable practice on YouTube. None of the 3 merchants sought me out, so my spotlight on their goods is independent and unbiased. Despite my overall bias against fashion jewelry, I love the creations of the following 3 companies: 

1) Ana Luisa - The company is carbon neutral, meaning they give back everything they take from nature to make their stylish, smart, modern and durable jewelry. 

2) Spiritual Gloss - They offer fair pricing for dainty 14k gold and diamond fine jewelry by cutting out the middle man. The heavier cuban chain (above right👆) is 14k gold plated brass. All 14k or 18k gold cuban chains are pricer, costing thousands of dollars. Think: Budget-friendly for an expensive look that won't tarnish!

3) Maevery - Contemporary, chic, classic and wearable designs, the metals are 14k and 18k gold plated. Another place to get rich looks for less. 

Perhaps you travel, ruin things, or don't wear expensive jewelry to certain places. When going the fashion jewelry route in life, what lovely, affordable and solid pieces that won't fall apart anytime soon!

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