An Exceptional Shopping Indulgence

bYSI®
bYSI® believes that every woman should have the luxury to wear the latest and own a chic, relevant wardrobe that fits her lifestyle. This homegrown brand will start it's own online store this year-end holiday season, so keep a lookout for it!

Meanwhile from 1 September - 31 October 2008, spend S$60 on your Citibank credit card and receive a S$10 cash voucher.
*Not valid with the use of other discounts, offers, vouchers or privileges, unless stated otherwise. Other terms and conditions apply.


Fashion Fast Forward (F3) card privileges at Browhaus, Mask & Strip
Enjoy up to 20% off with your F3 card at Browhaus Raffles/Village, Mask Cathay/Wheelock & Strip co-ed Cathay/co-ed Shaw/Strip Village(ladies only). Valid till 15 Nov 07. T&Cs apply.

(Do note that this is a service to readers. Publisher is not paid by any company featured on this blog.)

Exciting Events and Promotions Coming Your Way!

ISETAN SCOTTS

From 17 - 22 Oct,
Ladies' Apparel & Accessories at Hugo Boss, Marella, iBLues

From 31 Oct - 5 Nov
Additional 10% off. Exclusively for Isetan Cardholders.

From 24 - 29 Oct
Men's & Ladies' Apparel

From 17 - 22 Oct
Ladies' Shoes, Handbags & Timepiece

ISETAN ORCHARD

From 24 Oct - 6 Nov
Best Buys $13.90 - $39.90

TANGS ORCHARD
Save the Environment
Save the environment with Kiehl's at Tangs. In fulfillment of Kiehl's commitment to the environment, Kiehl's has teamed up with 8 local celebrities to design a Kiehl's all natural cotton tote bag, making a statement o how they can help change the world.

The limited edition Keihl's tote bags are available at Tang's Beauty Hall at Tangs Orchard for sale at $18 each. 100% of the nett proceeds from the sale of these bags will benefit the Singapore Environment Council. While stocks last.

TANGS VIVOCITY
Origins Earth Buddy Programme
Receive $5 FarEastFlora.com voucher* and 1 Light Years Ahead Whitening Treatment Lotion with White Essence (50ml), when you purchase any Origins product and return 5 empty Origins full-sixed bottles/tubes/tubs.

Exclusively at Origins counter at Tangs Vivocity.
*Terms and conditions apply.

(Do note that this is a service to readers. Publisher is not paid by any company featured on this blog.)

Tips for Buying Jewelry Online

While jewelry sales at brick-and-mortar locations far outnumber online jewelry purchases, the trend for online jewelry shopping is quickly gaining popularity. Purchasing jewelry online offers may advantages, the biggest being saving a ton of money. While the reward increases, the risk increases as well. When purchasing diamond jewelry online you should feel safe and secure about the retailer you're purchasing with and the transaction security. There are simple precautions you can take to safeguard yourself against not-so-honest online retailers and ensure you get exactly what you paid for. Below are 5 simple methods to ensure a safe experience when buying diamond jewelry online:

1- Know the exact details of the item you are purchasing. Many online jewelry retailers do not provide all the necessary information about the product they are selling. Factors such as Total Carat Weight, Diamond Color and Clarity, the number of diamonds included in the item, the quality of gold or metal, etc. should all be clearly identified. If you are missing just one of these pieces of information, you may not end up with the item you believe you are purchasing.

2- Always check the return policy. Even if you have all the specifications of the item and are quite confident it is exactly what you want, you should always have the option to return it. Be sure to examine the Return Policy closely and ensure you can return the item even if you just don't like it. Some online retailers only allow returns if the item is damaged, some charge a restocking fee and many online retailers will only provide 5-7 days to return the ring. The optimal policy will allow you to return the item within 30 days with no questions asked.

3- Does the company offer any type of warranty? What happens if a diamond falls out 2 days after you receive the jewelry? It is then most likely a manufacturer's defect and you should not be held responsible to repair it. Make sure the company offers some sort of free protection plan or warranty to cover manufacturer's defects.

4- Is the online retailer a member of a business standards board? Don't just assume they are if they show a seal or logo! A 1 minute online inquiry with the relevant board will show if the company is an accredited member and if they've received any complaints within the last 12 months. Also look to see if the company belongs to any industry organizations. Any reputable jewelry retailer will have membership to jewelry organizations.

5- Is the site secure? Make sure the site uses SSL encryption software and has a privacy policy intact. They should state clearly that they do not share or sell your personal information with any outside sources. If they don't state the security features prominently, most likely it's because they don't have it!

Purchasing jewelry online can save you a lot of money and afford you a beautiful piece of jewelry. Be cautious and follow the above practices and you should have a safe online shopping experience!

by Claire Simon, Articlesbase

Warning - Don't Buy Silver Jewellery Before Reading This

There are many different names for silver jewellery on the market today. So, what are all these types of silver and what do they mean?

This article will educate you so you understand what the different terminologies are when you are buying silver jewellery or silver articles.

What is silver?
Silver is a metal which has been used for hundreds of years. Silver is mined from many countries but the biggest producers are Mexico, Peru and Australia. Silver in its pure form, is normally considered too soft for everyday use. Therefore, other metals are added to the pure silver such as cooper.

The different types of “Silver”
Sterling silver is the main type of silver used in jewellery, ornaments & dinnerware today. This is solid silver. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloy.

Sterling silver is hallmarked as “925”
Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and is normally considered too soft to use for most items. It is also solid silver.

Silver plating is common and sometimes dishonest sellers try to pass this off as sterling silver. It’s also call electroplated silver or silver coated as well. Silver plated items are made using a base metal, normally brass or nickel, which is then put through an electroplating process. Electroplating is a process which adheres a very very thin layer of pure silver onto the base metal.

The result is a sterling silver looking item at a much reduced price. It may look like sterling silver but the silver plating tends to wear off quite quickly exposing the less than beautiful base metal.

Alpaca Silver or German Silver is not actually silver at all. It is a greyish looking alloy which resembles silver. It is sometimes referred to as nickel silver, paktong, and new silver. It is also used as a base for silver plated items because of its appearance. If you want real silver, stay away from this. Also, beware of sellers selling this as “fine jewellery” to consumers that don’t know the difference between sterling silver and alpaca silver.

Mexican Silver is silver is used to describe silver made in Mexico. It must have more than 90% pure silver content to be Mexican silver. Most silver jewellery from Mexico today is actually sterling silver.

Britannia Silver has a pure silver content of 95.85% and no more than 4.16% copper. This silver is marked in the U.K. and Ireland as "958 silver." It is an even more pure form of silver than sterling silver. Hence it’s higher valuer.

Antiquing of Sterling Silver Jewellery
Antiquing is very common in the silver industry today and is the practice of applying a finishing process to sterling silver to give the item an appearance of age. As well as giving the item an appearance of age, it also helps to produce a contrast which makes the details of intricate designs stand out better.

Other guides
There are many other guides at our online jewellery store Australia. www.2mydoor.com.au


by Adrian Harrison, www.2mydoor.com.au

Trends in Jewelry for 2008 and 2009

Stacked bracelets and necklaces continue to be a popular jewelry trend. Mix up metals and other materials -- groups are more interesting if they don't match. Wide cuff bracelets are an option if you don't like to wear multiples on your wrist.

Expect to see lots of jewelry made from yellow gold mixed with deeply colored gemstones like black onyx and lapis lazuli (often combined with vibrantly colored gems). The ethnic/tribal look remains popular, and so does the trend towards large necklaces (big chains and pendants).

Watch for gems that have interesting inclusions (like rutilated quartz) or banding (like agate).

Lapiz Lazuli
Deep blue lapis lazuli is a perfect match for the earthy, ethnic look that's so popular right now. It looks good set with gold (those little gold flecks in some lapis are its pyrite content). Lapis is often combined with other gemstones -- black onyx makes a rich backdrop for lapis, but brightly colored gems work equally well with the blue gem.

Black Onyx
Onyx exists in many colors, but it's the deep black onyx that so many designers are incorporating into their jewelry, either alone or combined with other gemstones. Onyx is readily available and onyx is affordable, making it a popular choice for fashion jewelry. That doesn't mean you won't find high-end onyx jewelry -- you most certainly will see it in all price ranges.

Big-Link Necklaces
Chunky chains and necklaces made from large, open links remain popular for 2008 and 2009. More necklaces are layered, with links bound together into stacks that surround your neck. Some are long enough to wear as a single chain or to wrap a couple of times for more depth.

Look for more textured links, alone or combined with polished links. And don't hesitate to clip a charm to some of the links in your necklace -- that's a trendy look for 2008 and beyond.

Turquoise Bracelets
You'll find a huge variety of turquoise bracelets when you shop for jewelry, both traditional styles and more contemporary looks. Most turquoise in today's jewelry has been treated in some way, either stabilized to make it more durable or treated to enhance its color. You'll find reconstituted turquoise -- stones made by mixing turquoise chips and powders with resins and then forming nuggets and other shapes from the mix. Using treated stones allows jewelry makers to offer turquoise at affordable prices, but treatments should always be disclosed.

Layered & Multi-Chain Necklaces
Multiple chain necklaces are often strung with charms and beads, and they're usually made with components of varying shapes, sizes and colors. The necklaces in this collection are ready-made for layering, but don't hesitate to mix and match your own jewelry. Raid your jewelry box and wrap on a few necklaces.

Earrings
Anything goes when it comes to earrings. Some components are easier to find because they flow along with the trends of other jewelry, but most earrings will work for you now or next year or ten years from now. And if they don't work as well this year, hang on to them for a little while and they'll be trendy again. Isn't that the way it is for all jewelry and fashions?

Animal Print Bangles
Animal prints are popular this year and you'll find bracelets and bangles that mimic a range of looks (on a variety of materials). Painted and embossed wood are usually very affordable, and resin-based bracelets are lightweight and inexpensive. Enamel animal print bracelets, often combined with gold, are higher-end examples.


By Carly Wickell, About.com