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Shining up that knee for Valentine's Day? This is some practical advice on getting the right ring from Voltaire Diamonds

Are you planning to get down on one knee for someone special this Valentine’s Day? If so, you better check out this helpful ring advice from the lads at Voltaire Diamonds before it’s too late… For any of you romantics who are considering a traditional proposal with the “Real Deal” (and not some cheap stand-in ring you made from tinfoil), here are Voltaire Diamonds top tips to ensure you purchase your loved one the engagement ring of her goals, and not something that will give her next thoughts. Top Tips: 1) Hear carefully to any hints she may go your way! Does she comment on any of her friend’s rings? Does she go any comments at jewellery shop windows? If so, take note. You’re better off getting something you know she already likes rather than taking a shot in the dim. 2) Observe the style of jewellery she currently wears. Is it vintage or contemporary? Is it chunky or more fragile? This will slender your search for the perfect ring. 3) What colour of metallic does she tend to wear? Is it more white gold/silver or does she like yellow gold? Check the metallic on her watch, if she wears one that is… 4) Take pictures of her present rings and bring them into your consultation with lads from Voltaire Diamonds. They are the experts after all and they’ll be able to guide you towards ‘the one ring’. 5) To get her finger size, draw an outline of the interior band of a ring she currently wears on a piece of paper. Try and do this with a ring that has a similar width to an engagement ring (i.e. 2-3mm wide). Make sure she wears the ring on the ring finger of her right or remaining hand and not the middle or index fingers. If you cannot get size, don’t worry, the lads at Voltaire Diamonds will make an educated guess and they can resize it the next day. Voltaire Diamonds specialise in engagement and wedding rings and they meet all clients privately in their places of work on Harcourt Avenue in Dublin. They always offer a relaxed ambiance and you can choose from over 300 styles. By eliminating the overheads of a jewellery shop their prices will not be overwhelmed. If, for any reason, your partner does not like the style you select, Voltaire Diamonds offer a full refund, or she can choose from their entire range of styles. So it’s a win win (and if she says yes it’s a triple win) situation. Don’t forget to check out the Voltaire Diamonds website at www.voltairediamonds.ie for the full range of rocks available this Valentine’s Day… Good luck!

Top steps to consist of in team creating for employee inspiration

Even although people have a inclination to prosper a lot much better when in groups, your team may require inducing into some a lot much more inspiration at events. It is pretty obvious when you are not completely geared up in cooperation, think in, security and even in rivals. There are specific team creating steps that make your team a lot much more proactive at perform. So, it signifies that you will see a lot much more effective results coming at the location of function. Some of the most nicely-favored steps that are built-in in this type of team creating components are enlisted beneath: Rock Climbing: It is one of the most nicely-favored and effective motion aimed at abating components that scare you from pursuing your goals. You certainly do not require turning out to be sporty or even great complement to attain the benefit of this type of steps. Rock climbing is one this type of action motion that can be carried out every indoors and out of doors. Nonetheless, it is extremely very best to have the steps in the open up up region precisely exactly where members can value new breath of air making the situation a lot much more fascinating. For a quantity of people, the component of getting frightened or be concerned is the most noteworthy that assists stop members from using enjoyment in the steps that they most most most likely want to do. If you are not certified adequate then it may be challenging for you to experience the targets a lot much more aggressively. So, an individual can deal with fears that they have of their individual and bargain with situations that are pretty common for everyone. The essential component of getting frightened is the be concerned of heights. This is an motion that helps you to obtain think in on the other members of the team with the task of scaling the greater partitions with just a rope and the assist of a companion for help. Paint ball obstacle: Even although the activity can seem to be developed for avid gamers who are into a lot much more motion, you are heading to truly be shocked at how the activity tends to make the team cohesive. You can simply divide teams in accordance to their division for some rivals. Make particular that you gown them up with suitable guarding gears as properly as paintball guns for that one messy out of doorways pleasant. Teams will require contemplating on the numerous techniques by which they will be in a place to outwit one an extra from the activity. Interaction is also important as it assures that team members get to interact with each and every other. It is an attribute which is perhaps the most essential one of all. Right interaction assures that employees get to think in each and every other as properly understand what other individuals want to communicate. Character hunt: Character looking is a intense team creating activity that can truly be played out out by groups of 10 members. Make particular you give every and each and every group with a checklist of 10 products that they require finding inside of a limited time physique. The team that is the preliminary to be in a place to discover all the goods and provide them once more is the winner of obstacle. The common obstacle is to make the team get by making you change through challenging situations. Simply think about a crack and technique for this type of steps that allow you to indulge into many video clip video games like these. Have pleasant shelling out time by inducing into this type of steps outdoor the place of work and even commit time with these team creating provisions.

What is a Diamond Certificate and what does in consist of?

A Diamond Certificate is a “blueprint” of “fingerprint” of a diamond, it gives all specifics about the diamond you are acquiring. No two diamonds have the identical qualities. This certificate is an independent evaluation by a third get together. A Diamond Certificate includes the adhering to details about the Diamond: 1) Certification Entire body 2) Shape of Diamond 3) Date of Concern 4) Dimensions of the Stone in mm 5) Carat Fat 6) Colour Grade 7) Clarity В Grade 8) Cut Grade 9) Fluorescence 10) Polish &amp Symmetry Grades There are numerous Certification Bodies, GIA, HRD, IGI, EGL, AGS, DGL, and so forth. All bodies have distinct grading specifications and rates can fluctuate dependent on who certifies. Bear in brain that an appraisal is totally distinct from a certificate. If there is a monetary benefit on the report, this is an appraisal and not a certificate. An appraisal is not independent except if it is carried out by an independent valuation organization.

Séamus Fahy: "The recession suits me perfectly"

[caption id=”attachment_379” align=”alignright” width=”300”] Séamus Fahy: “The recession suits me perfectly; more and more people are looking for value for money now.”[/caption]

Séamus Fahy - founder of Voltaire Diamonds

What is the most unique thing about your business?

Voltaire Diamonds is all done by appointment. I don’t have a jewellery shop, therefore I don’t have the overheads of a jewellery shop. It’s a nice environment, you’re getting top quality product at very competitive prices.

A lot of my clients say they’re intimidated by jewellery shops. But you come in here and it’s relaxed, there’s no pressure on people and there’s no pushy sales techniques. We design the rings, but you can add your personal stamp if you want.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in business?

On day one, I should have set up with a website so it was geared up with search engine optimisation. I didn’t do that. So for the first two years I would have been on the third page of search results when you Googled engagement rings. Nobody goes to page three; very few people go beyond the first three or four on page one.

About a year and half ago, I redesigned the website and made it SEO optimised. Now I’m at the top of page one. All of a sudden my business jumped. But if I had been at the top of page one from the beginning, I might have struggled to deal with all the business.

What has been your major success to date?

 Still being in business four years later. Since I set up the business a lot of jewellery shops have closed.

I opened a London office four or five months ago. I was finding through Google Analytics that my business was getting a lot of hits in London. A lot of people are leaving Ireland now – people in the engagement ring phase of their life tend to be moving to London. The younger ones are off to Canada and Australia. Sales in London are starting to grow.

The recession suits me perfectly; more and more people are looking for value for money now. I set up in late 2007. All my friends thought I was nuts, but at the time I didn’t know the recession was about to come.

Right at the very start I managed to get great write-ups on the likes of Boards.ie and Weddings Online. The online forums are huge for me business, as is Facebook. My competitors haven’t copped on to that. Half of them don’t have a Facebook page, or if they do I haven’t seen it. There are around 18,000 fans of Voltaire on Facebook.

With a jewellery shop, they rely on people walking past and calling in. I don’t have that. Reputation is everything.

You still get people saying they’re off to Antwerp or New York to buy engagement rings, but I guarantee to beat those prices. You are sitting in New York and Antwerp here. The international price of diamonds is the price – there is no difference. We’re all buying at very similar prices.

People think they can get better deals abroad, but they can’t.

Who would you admire most in business and why?

It’s probably Michael O’Leary for his no-nonsense approach.

What piece of advice would you give to the Government to stimulate the economy?

Try to reduce VAT rates for labour intensive businesses. I know they’ve done it for the tourism industry, but maybe there are other industries out there they could do it for.

What would you say has been your biggest challenge?

Initially when I set up the business, it was getting suppliers to actually take me seriously. I visited wholesale suppliers in Antwerp and London. Without a website, without the qualification from the GIA , no one took me seriously. I studied gemology with the GIA in London to get that level of credibility.

The diamond business is all about trust. At the start everything was prepaid, now it’s all about credit. If I let down one supplier, it’s a very close-knit community – they all know each other.

How do you see the short-term future of your business?

I plan on expanding here in Ireland. I’ll get bigger, permanent offices, and two or three salespeople. The business has grown significantly, and I’m in discussions with a leading Irish designer to design a range of rings. I want to bring it to the next level, make it a global brand. I asked for feedback on the Facebook site what designer people would like to see us work with and got about 150 replies… (Read whole article here)

Ideas for Jewellery Valuations

If you have jewellery of price you really should a lot more than probably have it insured. With the latest rise in residence burglaries and crime, possessing your jewellery insured has in no way been a lot more crucial. Just before you can insure your jewellery with an insurance policy organization, you will want to get the things valued and a report on each and every merchandise well prepared. The insurance policy organization will then supply you with a premium based mostly on the price of the things insured. Costs fluctuate substantially for valuing jewellery, historically jewellers charged a fastened payment for each merchandise as well as a percentage of the price up to 1.5%, this is nevertheless the scenario now with a lot of retail jewellers. This pricing mechanism is now outdated. Irish Jewellery Valuations now charge a fastened payment for each merchandise, this final results in valuation costs getting significantly reduced. When acquiring jewellery valued carry as significantly of the unique paperwork as achievable, the receipt from the unique seller if you have it, any earlier valuations and certificates for any diamonds in the jewellery. This paperwork will aid the valuer in offering an precise insurance policy valuation. A extensive valuation really should contain precise description of the jewellery, the sort of steel or metals that comprise the piece and a photo of the merchandise. An precise valuation will make it significantly less difficult for the insurance policy organization to substitute the jewellery if a claim is created for misplaced or stolen jewellery or even jewellery that has been ruined. Due to the value movements in metals and diamond rates in latest a long time, my suggestions is to get your jewellery valued each and every 18 - 24 months. This will safeguard you towards beneath insuring your jewellery. If your jewellery is misplaced or stolen, my suggestions is notify your neighborhood Garda Station right away and supply them with the valuations so that they have photos of the things. You will be necessary to fill out a misplaced/stolen kind at the station that you will also want to supply to your insurance policy organization. The previously mentioned suggestions is offered by Irish Jewellery Valuations, 93 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2

Custom Wind Chimes - THe Chimes of Your Life

Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, Father’s Day, or Valentines Day, a chime is a great way to give the gift of art and music all in one. Every time a melody is made, thoughts of you are likely to enter into the minds of the people who have received this gift you’ve given. There are tiny chimes that can be hung from the rear-view mirror in one’s car. There are also medium-sized ones that can be placed inside the home to add some feeling to a certain room, and there are large ones that can be placed outside to make beautiful music on windy days. It’s possible to create a whole tiny orchestra outside by putting several different types together. The ringing of metal, combined with the thumping of wood and chattering shells can provide endless hours of entertainment (providing the wind cooperates). These little pieces of art make excellent gifts for anyone. No matter what the occasion, you can find a chime that will suit just about everyone’s taste. To make it even more special, having it engraved with the name of the person you’re giving it to (or adding a few meaningful words) can turn a simple gift into something that will be deeply cherished for a lifetime.

Diamond Designs

Nowadays I am likely to go over the most well-known Diamond designs and the aspects that make each and every a single special. Asscher Lower Diamonds The asscher lower diamond was produced in 1902 by Joseph Asscher who set up the Royal Asscher Organization in Amsterdam. The 1st cuts are really unusual and each and every a single was special, they can be located at auction from time to time. The asscher lower diamond has 72 aspects/sides and he a square physical appearance. The corners are clipped which helps make the diamond search like an octagon. Julia Roberts wore a 10 carat Asscher lower ring to the academy awards not too long ago and Rees Witherspoon has a 4 carat Asscher Lower engagement ring . There are really handful of diamonds as spectacular as a properly lower Asscher.
Cushion Lower Diamonds The cushion lower diamond is a blend of a round and square diamond with a softened outer shape related to a pillow. These designs are typically squarish or oblong. These diamonds emit fantastic mild and as a end result the sparkle and hearth is wonderful. All cushion lower diamonds are distinct as there is no agreed regular for what the proportions must be. As a end result, the top quality of lower us really crucial. Each and every stone wants to be observed to choose it really is correct attractiveness. Halo design engagement rings are really well-known selections for with cushion lower diamonds. Cushion lower solitaires are also really well-known engagement rings.
Radiant Lower Diamonds As the title states, these diamonds are genuinely “radiant”. This diamond shape is a blend of emerald lower and round amazing. This lower was produced by Henry Grossbard and was his patented in 1977. Grossbard desired the stone to have the shape of an Emerald with the brilliance of a round stone. As most girls adore sparkle,В this stone is a really well-known selection for engagement rings.
Princess Lower Diamonds This lower is almost certainly the second most well-known diamond lower. The authentic square lower diamond was referred to as a Barion lower, nonetheless the Princess lower advanced by including added aspects to give the diamond a lot more brilliance. This lower is a blend of two slicing types, the best fifty percent of the diamond referred to as the crown is a phase lower and the bottom fifty percent referred to as the pavilion has a amazing lower with several a lot more aspects or sides. Since of its pointed square corners, severe care need to be taken in placing this stone and ideally the claws must be safeguarding these corners.
Emerald Lower Diamonds For individuals who like clear lines and flashes of brilliance, this stone is a need to. The stone is typically rectangular but can also be squarish. The corners are typically flattened to safeguard the stone as sharp corners act as a level of weakness if the stone obtained a knock and chipped. This stone is also referred to as a phase lower and the aspects are typically parallel. This lower due to its shape does not have as significantly hearth or brilliance as a modern day round amazing but it does present the lustre, whiteness and clarity of the diamond.
Soul Shaped Diamonds This diamond is lower in the shape of a soul and is genuinely passionate. These are really well-known close to Valentines Day.

RockMelt Engineering Blog: Modeling Time Series Data on top of Cassandra

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At RockMelt we collect data from various sources: server logs, web site logs, browser metrics, etc. Data from these sources gets processed via Hadoop, Splunk or Hive and permanently stored in HDFS or as compressed files in Amazon EBS storage. As it turns out, almost all of…

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