* Why is it important to improve yourself? By Titus Maduwa

 Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.”  More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us.- when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than us.

You spot a totally eye-catching girl sitting by herself at a party, casually sipping on a glass of Asti Spumanti. You think to yourself, “she looks so perfectly calm and confident.” But if you could read thru her transparent mind, you would see a bunch of clouds of thoughts and you might just be amazed that she’s thinking “are people talking about why I am seated here alone?... Why don’t guys find me attractive? …I don’t like my ankles, they look too skinny… I wish I was as intelligent as my best friend.”

We look at a young business entrepreneur and say “Wooh… what else could he ask for?” He stares at himself at the mirror and murmur to himself, “I hate my big eyes… I wonder why my friends won’t talk to me… I hope mom and dad would still work things out.” 

Isn’t it funny? We look at other people, envy them for looking so outrageously perfect and wish we could trade places with them, while they look at us and thinks of the same thing. We are insecure of other people who themselves are insecure of us. We suffer from low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence and lose hope in self improvement because we are enveloped in quiet desperation.

Sometimes, you notice that you have an irritating habit like biting off your finger nails, having a foul mouth, and you – of all people, is the last to know.

I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. And in most conversations, she is the only one who seems to be interested in the things she has to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever she’s  around, and she doesn’t notices how badly she became socially handicapped – gradually affecting the people in her environment.

One key to self improvement is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone who you find comfort in opening up with even the most gentle topics you want to discuss. Ask questions like “do you think I am ill-mannered?”,  “Do I always sound so argumentative?”,  “Do I talk too loud?”,  “Does my breath smell?”,  “Do I ever bore you when were together?”.  In this way, the other person will obviously know that you are interested in the process of self improvement. Lend her your ears for comments and criticisms and don’t give her answers like “Don’t exaggerate! That’s just the way I am!”  Open up your mind and heart as well. And in return, you may want to help your friend with constructive criticism that will also help her improve her self.

One of Whitney Houston’s songs says “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” True enough. In order to love others, you must love yourself too. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have.

Before telling other people some ways on how to improve themselves, let them see that you yourself is a representation and a product of self improvement. Self improvement makes us better people, we then inspire other people, and then the rest of the world will follow.

Stop thinking of yourselves as second-rate beings. Forget the repetitive thought of “If only I was richer… if only I was thinner” and so on.  Accepting your true self is the first step to self improvement. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others only to find out at the end that we’ve got  10 more reasons to envy them.

We all have our insecurities. Nobody is perfect. We always wish we had better things, better features, better body parts, etc. But life need not to be perfect for people to be happy about themselves.Self improvement and loving yourself is not a matter of shouting to the whole world that you are perfect and you are the best. It’s the virtue of acceptance and contentment. When we begin to improve ourselves, we then begin to feel contented and happy.

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

* How to Sell A Diamond By Titus Maduwa

There are many reasons why you may want to sell a diamond that you own. Perhaps you’ve gotten divorced, or you are strapped for cash. The reasons why don’t really matter – getting the best possible price is what counts! The way to obtain the best price for the diamond is to not be in a rush. Slow down, and carefully consider all of your options – there are many.

First, have the diamond appraised. In fact, have it appraised by two or three jewelers to get an accurate idea of the value of the diamond. Tell the appraiser that you want the Rapaport Value. This is the wholesale value of the diamond, and it basically tells you the highest price that you can sell your diamond for. If your diamond has no certificate, you should consider getting a certificate from GIA. This may help you get a better price for the diamond as well.

First, try to sell the diamond yourself, to people you know. Friends and family members may be interested. If you don’t have any luck with friends or family members, you should turn to outside sources. Absolutely avoid pawn shops! A pawn shop will only offer you about 10% of what the diamond is worth! 
Also, avoid offers of selling the ring on consignment. There are many things that can go wrong, and there is no shortage of diamond scams – even in well-known jewelry stores.

If the diamond is important, you should strongly consider auctioning it off through one of the famous auction houses, such as Christie’s or Sotheby’s. If it isn’t what is considered an ‘important’ diamond or a high-end diamond, you should try to sell it to an individual using classified ads, or even eBay. However, selling to an individual that you do not know could put you in danger – especially if the diamond is worth a lot of money.

Your final option should be a jewelry store. It is vital that you not let your diamond out of your sight while in the jewelry store– you might find that the diamond you walked in with is not the same diamond that you walk out with! The jeweler will try to tell you that your diamond is of poor quality or low weight. Inevitably, there will be some problems with the diamond. This is where your appraisal and/or certificate will come in handy. 

If the jeweler is fair, they will offer you between 60% and 80% of the value of the Rapaport Value. Do not accept anything less than this. Again, do not let the diamond out of your sight until you have been paid for it. 

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

* How to Clean your Diamonds By Titus Maduwa

Through our day to day movements, our diamonds get smudged and soiled.  Even when we are not wearing them, they collect dust.  Lotions, soaps, our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and inhibit their brilliance.  

Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine?   
Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum 
amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance.  
Remember that all it takes is a few minutes 
and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery 
as the day you first saw it.

You can use a small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lipstick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry.  Simply make a 
bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture.  Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds.  You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them.  You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water.  Use a lint-free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.

If your diamonds are in need of a stronger 
cleansing, you may want to soak them for 30 
minutes in a solution of half and half water and 
ammonia.  Once they have soaked for 30 
minutes, remove them and gently brush the 
mountings with a small brush.  Then replace 
the pieces to the solution and swish them 
around in the mixture before removing them 
to rinse and pat dry.   

If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonia, many department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners.  Most are kits, with everything you need to be included.  You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions. 

And if you find yourself more the “high-tech type”, even in your diamond cleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market.  These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion.  
All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using it.

Only you can choose the cleaning method right for you.   But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling.  Between cleaning, try not to touch
your clean diamonds with your fingers or handle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods. 

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

* How to Spot A Fake Diamond By Titus Maduwa

In this world of advanced technology, it is almost impossible to simply look at a 
diamond and determine whether it is real or not – especially if you don’t know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond, however.

First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists, walk away. 

Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low-quality metals. Take a close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable – 
natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on the planet. Look for scratches or nicks. 

After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a 
fake diamond, you may be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate for the diamond. No two stones are alike. 

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

*How to Care for Your Diamond By Titus Maduwa

Caring for a diamond takes more than occasional cleanings. Diamonds are forever, 
but they can be damaged if you are not careful. By learning how to properly care for your diamond, you will ensure that your diamond is indeed forever.

First, you should take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler once a year. Have him check the mountings and prongs that hold your diamond in place. Have him make any needed repairs. This will prevent your diamond from falling out of its setting and becoming lost.

Diamond jewelry that is not being worn, or 
diamonds that are loose should be stored in 
a fabric-lined jewel case, or in a jewelry box 
where it can be kept separate from other 
jewelry. Each piece should have its own 
compartment. This will keep diamonds from 
becoming scratched, and it will also keep 
your diamond from scratching other jewelry 
as well.

Remove your diamond jewelry when doing 
physical work. Diamonds can be chipped 
and scratched easily. Also, avoid allowing 
your diamond to come into contact with 
bleach or other household cleansers – this 
can damage or change the color of the 
settings and mountings and it may even 
irreversibly change the color of the 
diamond!

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

* About Diamond Weights By Titus Maduwa

Diamonds are measured in Carat Weight.
One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a
diamond is referred to as four grains, this
also means that it is a one-carat diamond.
The word Carat comes from the word carob.
Carob is a bean that grows on a tree in the
The Mediterranean. In times past, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was one carob or one carat.

However, in the far east, where Carob trees do not grow, rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond. If a diamond weighed as much as four grains of rice, it was four grains – or one carat as we know it to be now. The majority of diamond purchases are for diamonds that are 1/3 of a carat.

Beware when shopping for diamonds that
are already set or mounted. If more than one
diamond is used in the piece, the tag on the
jewelry will give the CTW or Carat Total
Weight – it does not tell you the carat weight
of each stone in the piece. You need to ask
the jeweler for the total carat weight of the
the largest diamond in the piece to truly
understand what you are buying.

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

*Diamond Brands and What They Mean By Titus Maduwa

Diamonds are one of the few products that simply cannot be ‘branded.’ Even though there are different cuts, different grades, and different values placed on each and every diamond in existence, no diamond is any specific brand – just as gold is not a specific brand. 

Branding is actually based on who owns the diamond. For instance, if DeBeers owns the diamond, it is a DeBeers Diamond – but it is still just a diamond. If the diamond was cut by a specific well-known cutter, then it might be branded in that way as well – but it usually isn’t. It is still branded based on who owns it at the time. So basically, when it comes down to it – diamond brands mean absolutely nothing at all. 

Do not allow a jeweler to try to talk you into paying an exorbitant price on a diamond because it is a specific brand. This is a bit of trickery used by unscrupulous jewelers when they know that they are dealing with people who don’t know much about diamonds. Remember that diamonds are not actually branded – unless mother nature has her own brand!

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# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa