Zuehlke

We should be familiar with the BASIC hallmarks mentioned on the website. It might pay you to read them again, just to bring you up to speed and ensure you have grasped the principles. If you have not yet had the chance to read them please go to the website listed below.

Let's quickly remind ourselves where we should be regarding Hallmarks.

The first three marks mentioned before were:

1: The Makers mark

2: The Assay Office mark

3: The Quality mark

And that brings us to the last mark...

4: The Date stamp.

Please note that more mistakes are made with this mark than any other.

This is caused by two reasons.

The first: because 26 letters can only be used for 26 years (a different one for each year, although they did use italics or capitals for a change). So in order to extend their use, they changed the shape of the stamp mark itself.

One series of 26 years may use a Shield shape, while the next 26 years may use a square shape with the corners trimmed off. Go figure?

And second: because humans being humans, (and contrary to common belief, Jewelers are Human), a manufacturer who lived in Birmingham had to use one shape of stamp, while jewelers in London had to use another shape.

All very good, you say, until a jeweler who USED to live in London went to Birmingham to work and took all his old tools and stamps with him, and couldn't be bothered (they cost money) to buy a new set. So he used his old set....

Ahhh... Life is never simple.

However; and in general terms, if all else fails use common sense.

As London was the Largest and most common stamp, you may find a Birmingham mark with a slightly wrong date stamp, although the date YEAR mark should be the same.

By using all of the marks together and taking into account the wear and look of the item - plus what it is, you should get fairly close to accurate.

If your still not sure, get a written valuation done with your local professional Jewelry Appraiser, and use that piece of paper as fact.

Even though YOU know, they are going through the same process of 'Dating' it's still a little confusing. Plus it's not the only form of Dating I get confused with...? And my plastic eyeglass doesn't help at all....

Look out for these tips next time you're spying with your eyeglass.

HALLMARKING TIPS #1:

In Circa 1821 the Leopard's Head Hallmark became 'Uncrowned' In Circa 1891 Queen Victoria's head was no longer used in Hallmarking. The major point is to use ALL of the Hallmarks, not just the date letter. Also check the style of an item, as this could give a clue to the period.

HALLMARKING TIPS #2:

As a general rule, Hallmarks should be assessed by going from the 'Big Picture' to the 'Small Picture' or the particular date in question.

For example: Date the article within a 25 year time span first, as this can be calculated from the overall 'SHAPE' or style of the stamp mark (Shield or Oval etc). Then go to the actual 'Year' stamp mark.

Remember, these can sometimes be wrong, but if we are in the ballpark, so to speak, we won't be too far out.

It is interesting to note that the expression 'Circa' or 'c' actually means 'around'...

Silver imported into England carried the 'F' mark (for Foreign) between 1883 - 1904.

HALLMARKING TIPS #3:

It is helpful if we can remember some of the more important changes to Hallmarking and just how that effected Quality.

For example: The quality of Hallmarked Gold can give us a clue regarding its age. Items of 22ct stamped with the 'Lion passant' were made up to 1844. After that date items were stamped 22ct with a 'Crown' hallmark.

HALLMARKING TIPS #4:

UKHM stands for the United Kingdom Hall Marks and has been in existence since 1300. Yes... 1300!

The basic marks are:

The Assay Mark which indicated the 'Guarantee of Quality'.

The Origin Mark which shows WHERE it was Assayed.

The Duty Mark to confirm 'Tax' had been paid.

The Maker's Mark to indicate the company or individual who made the item.

The Date Mark based on the letters of the Alphabet, changing each year.

The Assay year was NOT a Calendar year as it began (as for London) in May. That means it covered TWO Calendar years.

There are several other SPECIAL REPORTS available through our eMail-on-Demand subscription box at the website, so please take some time to visit.

There is a timely warning on Security issues. It's good advice, plus there is some great tips on Investing in Jewelry, Insurance guidelines and other notes on selling, Hallmarking tips etc, and they are being added to all the time.

And the best bit is they are FREE....

Thank you for taking the time to read this special report. If you thought it interesting, useful or found it helped you in any way I would appreciate your comments via email at the address shown below.

This is my personal email address and I read every comment - good or bad.

Alternatively: why not pass it on to a friend. I'm sure you can think of someone who might benefit from this useful information. Treat it as doing me a big favor. I will certainly appreciate it.

Thank you... As usual take care and watch the road... Kind regards...

P.S. There are many other complimentary Reports available to you at our website, or if you haven't yet done so, you may like to subscribe to our email-on-demand Newsletters - the Antique Jewelry Guide - full of Hints - Tips - Secrets and Articles in every issue.

P.P.S. If you administer a website or publish an ezine, please feel free to use this article as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed below. Although it's NOT compulsory I would personally appreciate it if you could send me an email at: gemmo1@online-jewelry-appraisals.com to let me know if and where you used it. If you need other great content - complimentary of course - then drop me a line at the email address given - 'cause I've got Quality Content and Gallons of the stuff....

(c)David Foard - All Rights reserved

Shopping is attractive activity especially for woman and girl in every side of world. When you shop in tourism activity, you will very enjoy in your shopping activities. Because of that, many peoples conduct shopping tourism around the world. Many people are involved in this business and much money to pay shopping goods around the world. But, some peoples cannot conduct shopping trip in shopping tourism because their business and activities cannot give enough time to do that.

Internet can give solution for shopping maniac especially credit card holder. It is very easy to them because only see, select, buy and pay. If you buy digital product, you will get download address to get your product. And, for other product like book, fashion product, furniture, etc, you must wait your order that will send to you by shipping company.

Nowadays, payment mechanism already prepared by payment vendor like paypal, clickbank, 2checkout, ccbill, authorize, e-gold, etc. All payment vendors have cooperation with banks and credit card Company to support you shopping and other payment activities. Nevertheless, like conventional shopping, you need shop wisely because what you see is not always, what you need.

For shopping maniac, some consideration when you shopping online like:

1]. Buy product what you need to life and do not buy a product what you see but not what you need. This is one-way control your-self in shopping activities.

2]. Review shopping website like description of product, how product deliver to you, how after sales service to you, payment method with security system, etc.

3]. Ask to your friend about shopping website about their credibility. You can read on shopping gazette if available to complete your shopping reference.

4]. Better if your friend already buy product will you buy on website. This is can guarantee shopping security to you.

5]. All company support to shopping website must have good credibility like bank support, credit card support, payment support, security support, shipping support and customer support.

6]. After you make sure all above considerations, you can start your shopping and enjoy your day.

Keep save your money for positive and productive activity. Do not forget in your money has portion for poverty and parentless children around the world. Dont pay anything to buy not what you need. Happy shopping! Visit http://www.digitallylearning.com for alternative shopping to complete your life needs.

Susmanto Hadi is independent author from Indonesia. He has been writing some books in Bahasa Indonesia. He also compile computer security glossary in an e-book to help everybody to understand computer security sciences. He is a ghostwriter to some local writer in Indonesia. He also conducts Internet marketing activities with his web. See his web for more information, click here: http://www.digitallylearning.com/; http://www.ebookworldgateway.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susmanto_Hadi

It depends what you are looking to get out of it and what you are willing to put into it. A marriage counseling program can be as basic and broad, or as in depth and complex as you need it to be. First, you need to figure out where the problem areas lie in your marriage. Some of the basic marriage related issues that have benefited from marriage counseling include:

Communication problems. If there is a breakdown in communication in your marriage, this can have a snowball effect. Once you lose the ability to communicate effectively with your spouse, it is difficult to regain it. If you often feel misunderstood, or feel like your spouse is deliberately saying hurtful things. Or if you are constantly saying things to test your partner or try to get a reaction, you are probably getting frustrated with your failing efforts. Like it or not, we are not mind readers, and none of us are ever going to always say what our spouse would like to hear. A pattern of poor communication is hard to break. So, marriage counseling in Houston or any other state could help you break these bad habits.

Financial issues. Money can be the cause of many marital fights and disagreements. This is a complicated subject, and depending on how you handle your income and financial plans, it can be the cause of bitterness and resentment over the years. Often one partner earns more than the other, or one spouse wants to follow an expensive hobby. Perhaps there is disagreement about the kids' education funding. Or even about whether you should consult with an online marriage counseling service.

Sexual problems. A delicate subject but one often brought to the table within a successful therapy program. There is a great likelihood that sexual incompatibilities will arise in your marriage.

Adultery. Adultery is a hurtful and difficult conflict that most couples are unable to work through on their own. But it doesn't have to spell the end of your marriage.

Marriage counseling can help you identify the root of your marital problems and provide guidance on how to better communicate and work out your marriage issues together. If you've been trying to resolve conflict on your own, and you feel like your marriage just keeps getting worse, then you know that breaking the pattern of hurtful behavior and ineffective verbal communication will be difficult without intervention. Attending marriage counseling session would not necessarily save your relationship. If one or both of you is set on leaving, then the chances of resolution are slim. But if you want to work at the relationship, and you have mutual consent, marriage counseling can simplify the process and get the energy moving in the right direction.

Marriage counseling is not for everyone, because you cannot get someone to agree with you if they do not want to. Each partner must feel safe and confident during the sessions. While the counselor will play a neutral role, your need to allow your partner to express their feelings without your feeling hurt or rejected. This is not easy for most people to do, but you need to make the effort to get to this point before you hire a marriage counselor.

Imprinted basketballs are a great idea for promos, fund raising, and corporate events. They are popular as souvenirs and mementos, and even customized gifts.

Imprinted basketballs are retailed by many websites. Imprinted basketballs are almost always available in bulk, since corporate and promotional companies order them for distribution at various events. Extra-Mile.com, for example, retails imprinted synthetic leather and rubber basketballs, which can be purchased wholesale. In fact, purchasing wholesale custom imprinted basketballs is very cost effective. For example, at ArmuProducts.com, you can purchase a single ball for $9, but on purchasing minimum 50 mini basketballs, the price for each ball comes down to $2 each. The imprinting charges are extra, and vary depending on the logo or design imprinted, and the number of colors used in imprinting. At ArmuProducts, imprinting costs $40 per color (for a set of balls). The colors are orange, red, blue, white, green and yellow. Of these, only two colors may be selected. Ink color matching costs more. Also, back and white, or color artwork imprinting service is available, and charges vary depending on the complexity of the design.

ArmuProducts.com is one of the best firms retailing imprinted basketballs, since it deals almost exclusively in imprinting and customizing sports goods. You can choose from materials like rubber and foam, which are inexpensive at $5 each for 100 balls, or leather basketballs at $15 each for 50 balls. Mini basketballs which glow in the dark are available for $8.50 each.

Another website retailing unconventional basketball souvenirs is AceNovelty.com. At AceNovelty.com, a 14 inch inflatable basketball is imprinted at a cost of $3 each for 50 basketballs.

Imprinting basketballs adds a special touch to the ball, and they make great gifts for basketball fans. They are distributed to participants at events and gatherings as mementos, and they boost the sales of a product when handed out at promotional events. And the cost effectiveness of imprinting makes customized basketballs a very viable option for these purposes.

I am a genetically mapped New York Giant football fan which pretty much makes me just like millions of other DNA doomed dummies who for some unexplainable reason innately pledge their allegiance to a set of colors, numbers and helmet symbols for eternity. Like Canadian geese, we partner with a team for life, through thick and thin, good times and bad, seasons ending in playoffs and seasons ending with top five choices. It is the football gene and if you have it, you understand. Alas, if only marriage could work the same.

The fact is it isnt like marriage. It is not that we are in love with our teams and our teams in love with us. If that were true, it would be like a relationship, requiring everyones needs to be met, resulting in fans dropping the souring attraction of one team for the empty promises of another. Nope, love is not involved. Its a pathetic, sad, lonely one way street that is determined at birth. You are what you are: a Steeler, a Charger, a Seahawk, a Bengal, a Buccaneer. Some of us taste sweet victories frequently, while others wallow in self pity perpetually. It is no different from some people being tall and some people being short. It is my hope that someday stem cell research will produce a treatment to help some of my suffering brothers; for example, change a Cardinal fan into a Cowboy fan, giving them some hope of enjoying a winning season before they die.

It is our game. We dont particularly delight in watching our teams flounder amidst a room full of fence sitters, people without the gene. Youre either with us or against us. And when it is late October and all we can think about is replacing coaches, players and team ownership, our shoulders slump as we prepare to endure the inescapable long November and December weekends in silent lonesome agony.

It is a terrible, terrible existence; worse than that experienced by other sport fans because there is so much time for so few games. This imbalance gives the true football fan plenty of time to trick ones mind to think with a few breaks here and a few calls there that a 1-7 start can miraculously turn into a 9-7 wild card berth, only to be soundly crushed eventually by the shear weight of the challenge.

But no matter how bad the season, we can all unite for that final game, the Super Bowl. We can all find a reason to like one team over another. Usually it is the result of some convoluted thinking that somehow our team is vindicated if the right team wins. For example, I was really pulling for the Seattle Seahawks in this last Super Bowl. Why? Because the NY Giants should have beaten the Seahawks. Everyone knows that. So if the Seahawks beat the Steelers, I could rest easier knowing we could have been there too. We could have been somebody.

Unfortunately, the Super Bowl has become tedious to watch for the genetically mapped fan. It seems as if the game is diced up and wedged into a five hour colossal commercial to the world of American self indulgence. The game is sixty minutes of play that normally takes two and a half to three hours to get through. The Super Bowl somehow shoehorns in two more hours from start to finish, thirty minutes right off the bat for scatting through what I think is the National Anthem, and then an additional ten minutes to flip the coin.

Every year it gets a bit more dramatic, a bit more long, a bit more embarrassing and a bit more intolerable. Just play the game! The players have worked so hard for this single game and the NFL pulls it out from under them with all the self serving promotion. For instance, this year they introduced a series of ten second clips throughout the game of despicable Super Bowl Trophy fondling, where key players from each team pose individually with the trophycaressing it, kissing it, and worse. You cant do that! Why its its its the epitome of putting on the whammy. They might just as well get the evil eye. Some of those guys are going to lose and when they do, they will have to live with the idea that they cursed the team with their ill-advised trophy antics. Theyd have to hold a gun to my head for me to do that. If the Giants ever get to Super Sunday again, to a player they better never ever touch that trophy, let alone even set eyes on it, before it is duly earned. The whole thing made me sick! I couldnt even eat another wing dripping in blue cheese sauce.

And what is going on with the half time extravaganza? Can we calm that thing down? Can we see more xs and os and less screaming clueless teenagers making a grown man cry. The game has become the opening act for a concert, rather than the other way around. There seems to be more concern about costume malfunctions than referee malfunctions, which there were plenty of. I suppose I could put the extra time to good use, like paint the house, but I dont want to. I want to stay involved in the moment of the battle. But these Vegas shows are killing my patience. And as bad as it is for the fan, it must be brutal keeping players focused in the locker rooms.

Having said all that, we know that most of the added time is due to the commercials. Ah, the commercials. It is all about the commercials. How can they extend the game to make a few more bucks on commercials? Why dont they give each coach ten time outs? Why dont they have two minute warnings every minute? Pretty soon, theyll have to start the game noon Saturday and have it end midnight Sunday. And the commercials arent even that entertaining anymore. Its killing me. The madness has to stop.

So here are some ideas to get the game that the real fans support so tirelessly back on track. First, eliminate the extra week prior to the game and shift the season so that the Super Bowl is played on Presidents Day weekend. Second, fix the refereeing by employing full time referee teams. Third, use the half time to honor the latest Hall of Fame inductees, or our troops, or Super Bowl MVPs of years pastmake it about the game or something noble, not about pop icons. If you want to have concerts, have them before the game starts. Finally, rein in the commercials.

What the NFL executives have allowed the Super Bowl to become is what is so unappealing about America to people who have no other lens. Everything is bigger than life. Everything is glitzy. Everything is so self important. Its a bad, media contrived face to the world. Please bring our simple, humble game back. Please let the players play the game they earned to play. Please stop the insanity.

Im beggin ya please!