All posts by blogger

Tourists Can Experience Traditional Pearl Diving At Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai

By blogger on

The Jumeirah Group is offering a fantastic experience for tourists staying at the Dubai Beach Hotel this spring with the launche of pearl scuba diving excursions off the coast of Jebel Ali.

Some of the worlds best pearls have been found in the waters of the Arabian Gulf over past centuries and from 2nd March, 2012, guests enjoying scuba diving holidays in Dubai at the Jumeirah property will be able to learn about the ancient tradition of pearling.

Holidaymakers will meet at Jumeirah Beach Hotel and they will be transported by bus to Palm Jebel Ali. They will then dress into traditional clothing and board traditional dhow boats where they will be taken to the shallow waters of the Gulf to collect oysters using traditional pearl diving methods.

There will be plenty of activities aboard the boat such as story-telling and singing, and passengers will be served a fish and rice dish for lunch. The experience enables the visitors to dive three to five metres beneath the surface of the ocean and if they find any pearls, they can keep them as a souvenir from their scuba diving holidays in Dubai.

The pearl diving excursions are being operated in partnership with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) every week from Tuesday to Saturday and they enable foreign tourists to understand more about the traditional pearl diving industry during Dubai holidays.

The Jumeirah Beach hotel is one of the Jumeirah Groups most luxurious Dubai hotels with 598 elegant rooms and suites and 19 beachfront villas.

Guests can take advantage of facilities and activities including 20 gourmet restaurants and stylish bars that offer a wide selection of international cuisine and premium drinks; sailing trips and snorkelling and scuba diving adventures at the Pavilion Marina & Sports Club; complimentary access to the Wild Wadi Water Park; and the activities at Sinbads Kids Club will help make Dubai holidays even more fun for children of all ages.

Shaped like a breaking wave with its arc of shimmering glass, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is located in the citys renowned Jumeirah beach area, just 15 kilometres from the city centre.

The hotel is set upon 36,300 square-metre of pristine private beach and there is a purpose-built coral reef located two kilometre off-shore where scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts can explore the waters of the Arabia Gulf throughout their holiday time ath the hotel.

The Jumeirah Group provides luxury holidays for tourists and scuba diving gurus with its collection of hotels and resorts across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the Maldives, Frankfurt, London, Mallorca, New York, Rome, and Shanghai.

How Is A Freshwater Pearl Made

By blogger on

Pearls are something every women loves. It makes them look very classy and elegant. It is important that every woman has one. It is also important that we also know interesting and important facts about a freshwater pearl.

The formation of a freshwater pearl is by accident. It happened when some alien matter ended by in the tissue of a mollusk. The mollusk defended itself by the secretion of nacre inside its body. The mollusk attacks the external object by coating with this nacre. This coating keeps going on and on till the shell is opened. The nacre is actually calcium carbonate. It creates a very shinning build. The cores of these pearls are made by humans as the process of secretion of nacre is unending.

Natural freshwater pearls are never perfectly round in shape. The color and shape of the pearls varies from mollusk to mollusk. In ancient times, pearls were symbols of royalty and exclusiveness. They were discovered by explorers. They were found in abundance in streams, ponds, lakes, rivers etc. but as time passed by, the freshwater pearls started to dry up. But there demand never decreased. It is when people came up with artificial ways of making pearls.

It was japan who initially started to cultivate pearls artificially. As we know that mollusks grow pearls, so they started using these mollusks only for makingartificialpearls also. But it is a known fact that not all the mollusks have the mother of pearl mantles in them. So what people started to do was to take some nacre from a mollusk known as the donor mollusk and twisted it into a tissue. This way many and many chips of nacre were implanted in another mollusk know as the parent mollusk. It takes about 4 to 6 years for the pearls to get ready inside the parent mollusk. Later these pearls are removed and the mollusks are used for making other pearls again.

It is seen that an artificial pearl is much harder and durable than an original freshwaterpearl. It is only because the nacre that is used here is used seeds here. It way the core is also made up and hence it becomes hard.

Another latest development in artificial pearl harvesting is to use beads to reduce the growth time which results in a perfectly shaped round pearl. Even these pearls are found in a number of different colors which is not possible in the natural pearls as only a few colors are found there.

Pearls Of Frankincense An Ancient Healing Wonder

By blogger on

Deeply revered for many thousands of years, the Frankincense tree has perhaps the greatest association with spiritual practice of any plant on earth. In many great ancient cultures, including the Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Hebrew, Greek and Roman civilizations, it has played a role in religious and domestic life. Frankincense resin has been sought after by kings, valued as highly as gold, and offered as a gift at the birth of one of history’s most revered prophets. More recently, the essential oil is gaining popularity with spiritual seekers and natural healers alike – what’s so unique about the rich smelling resin and it’s essential oil, and how might we use it for our own benefit?

The name is derived from the medieval French ‘franc’, meaning ‘pure’ or ‘free’, and from the Latin ‘incensium’, meaning ‘to smoke’. The Frankincense tree itself bears the appearance of a rugged survivor, with many knurled branches topped with abundant slim leaves. It is native to the deserts of North Africa, growing in some of the world’s harshest environments. It is not the tree itself, however, but rather its sap that is so greatly sought after. Similar to many evergreen trees, when pierced, the tree ‘bleeds’ a milky sap. The resin forms droplets known as pearls, which are dried in the sun to form hardened incense gum known itself as Frankincense.

For many millennia years, the hardened resin has been burned in temples throughout Asia, and the Catholic church continues to use it ceremonially. The smoke of burning Frankincense resin, as with other ritual incense, is thought to carry prayers to heaven. It is also said to deepen the breath and still the mind, making it useful for meditation and yogic practice. Some components of Frankincense stimulate the pineal gland, or ‘third-eye’, so this concept makes sense under modern scientific investigation. The incense may have health benefits as well, producing a highly antiseptic smoke, keeping churches and churchgoers free from disease.

Frankincense resin has been considered throughout the ages to have a wealth of health supporting properties. In Ayurveda, it has been used to treat many ills, and is well-known for it’s use in treating arthritic conditions. Modern investigation has found the components called Boswellic Acids can have significant support both to relieve joint pain and to further prevent cartilage loss.

Today’s naturopathic practitioners continue to use Frankincense, though the essential oil is now commonly employed because of it’s simplicity of use. It may be applied topically or taken orally with proper instruction from a qualified practitioner. There are many indications for the use of Frankincense oil, including asthma, depression, stress-related conditions and a weakened immune system. Further, Frankincense oil is now under investigation in university studies for it’s anti-tumor effects, particularly for skin and breast malignancies.

It is important to note that the CO2 distillation (a cold-process method of pure essential oil extraction employing harmless carbon dioxide instead of steam) is more likely to contain the same healthful compounds as the resin, as the steam distilled variety may not be able to extract these ‘polar’ compounds. Kurt Schnaubelt, America’s leading medical aromatherapist notes, regarding the production of essential oil from the resin, “It could be that the (health-related) substances in question are too polar and too large a molecular size to appear in steam distillates – their presence would be more likely in CO2 extracts.”

The most immediate and pronounced effect of the oil for many people is it’s ability to calm and elevate the mind. It’s wonderful woody-citrus aroma is pleasantly grounding and elevating at the same time. Components within the oil cross the blood-brain barrier, affecting the emotional centers of the brain directly.

Direct application to the temples and third eye will quiet the mind, deepen the breath, and promote meditative states. It is often combined with one or more of these essential oils with similar woody aromas and calming properties: Sandalwood, Myrrh and Cedarwood. Because these oils combine so nicely, it is easy to find a ratio of each oil in a blend to suit your taste

For use as a simple incense, the resin itself is inexpensive and widely available. The small ‘pearls’ may bit lit, and will release their pleasant smoke as any other incense. The experience of pure Frankincense is unique, and is worth trying for yourself.

For aromatic use of the essential oil, a diffuser or warming lamp can be used to disperse the aroma throughout a space. The oil is also found in aromatherapy candles, where it is released from the heated oil beneath the burning wick. Frankincense oil can be applied directly to the forehead where you can both capture the aroma and absorb the oil directly.

Frankincense, the treat from the tough desert tree, is now available to us all. Treat yourself to a little of this natural wonder, and see what sort of magic it can bring to your life!

How To Examine Pearl Quality By Yourself

By blogger on

Pearls are timeless and very trendy and age does definitely does not matter when you wear them. For any occasion, wear them to enhance that woman in you!

On the other hand, these wonderful features will highly rely upon certain factors. Examining pearl quality is not difficult at all! All you need is a critical mind and eye.

In order to competently examine pearl quality check these factors.

1.Nacre Thickness
Nacre is the substance that provides the luminous property of pearls. This deposit is formed when the natural protective instinct of a mollusk covers a certain substance that enters it. The thicker the nacre goes the more dazzling a pearl becomes. A measure of 0.25mm is thin for nacre. Meanwhile, 0.35 to 0.5mm is medium thickness and. Generally, 0.5mm is already regarded as very thick.

2.Luster
Luster is the remarkable gleam seen on real pearls. If a pearl stays longer inside the mollusk, it will possess a higher luster. High quality pearls have an equal reflection all throughout the surface and appears very shiny. Meanwhile if its luster appears to be subdued, then you have the fake one.

3.Shape and Texture
Additional aspects to determine pearl quality are shape and texture. The most valued among pearls are the ones that are perfectly round and flawless. If a pearl happens to have several exterior flaws, then you are looking at a poor quality pearl.

4.Color and Overtone
The reflection that materializes on the surface of the pearl creates its color, while the overtone is the interior pearl color where the deeper light is reflected. Standard light colored pearls are shades of white, cream and gold. If a pearl has green and blue shades, expect that it would come cheaper. If you really want the best quality pearls, look for a white pearl with pink overtone or a black pearl with green or blue overtones.

5.Size
Pearls are measured in millimeters. The highest quality pearls are the largest ones. Pearl size is determined by the size of the implant that was introduced during its cultivation process. If you want the traditional size, look for one that measures 7mm.

6.Surface Quality
Also determine pearl quality by checking the surface for any blemishes such as uneven color, marks or indentations. If you see very few or absence of these, then you are most probably holding a genuine high quality pearl.

7.Matching
Last but absolutely not the least; examine pearl quality by observing its matching in terms of shape, size and color. This is very essential when you want to know the quality of a pearl. If the pearls happen to be perfectly matched, then thats a sign of its high quality.
When you buy, you should never miss out quality for price. Those with high quality are the smart buys because you can be sure that you will be able to use it for a longer period. But wait, what you just learned are just the basics.

How Do Your Pearls Rate

By blogger on

Purchasing pearls does not have to be difficult if you know what you are looking for. Some people have even passed up very good deals on pearls because they do not know how to tell if they are top quality or imitation.

Pearls have two different grading systems: the AAA-A system and the A-D system.

The AAA-A system is most common with freshwater pearls, but is used in other instances as well.

* AAA is the designation for essentially flawless pearls, with a great deal of luster and almost no apparent defects. Any defects present must cover less than 5% of the pearl’s surface.

* AA means that the pearls have high luster and the surfaces are at least 75% blemish free.

* The rating of “A” is given to a low jewelry grade pearl that displays a small amount of surface luster along with 25% or more surface blemishing.

The A-D Pearl Grading System is used for pearls from Tahiti or the South Seas. Though it is close to the AAA-A rating system be certain which system your pearls are being rated on when purchasing “A” grade pearls.

* The highest grade “A” in the A-D system is used for pearls with a great deal of luster and less than 10% of the surface having defects.

* The rating “B” denotes pearls with high to medium luster and up to 30% surface imperfections.

* Grade “C” pearls have medium luster (and rarely high) with 60% of the surface covered in defects.

* Grade “D” pearls have more than 60% of their surface with imperfections. Even if these pearls have a great deal of luster, the large amount of imperfections makes the pearls substandard in quality, but they are still accepted for use in jewelry. Pearls graded below this level are not approved for use in jewelry.

Here are some top tips that can help you make the best selection to add to your own private jewelry collection.

Pearls are graded in a similar manner to diamonds, and the following 5 categories are involved:

* Luster, shape, color, surface and size of all of these, size is least important when it comes to value.

1. Decide if you want to purchase natural pearls, cultured pearls, freshwater pearls, or a synthetic variety. The natural pearls and some of the cultured specimens will be the most expensive.

2. The luster of pearls is one of the main factors that make them desirable and valuable. Luster is measured in terms of how light reflective the entire pearl surface is. You should choose your pearls based on the degree of luster as opposed to size. Because pearls are naturally formed blemishes often occur, and a small imperfection does not always detract from the appearance. While these minute flaws result in a lower cost to consumers, the amount of luster may be enough to make these pearls an excellent buy.

3. Always remember that larger pearls can be less valuable than the smaller ones because they often have flaws and blemishes. It is extremely rare to find a perfectly round large pearl with high luster and few blemishes.

4. Pearls that are perfectly round are the most desirable, followed by those with a teardrop shape. This should be kept in mind as you make your selections. Large pearls are likelier to be asymmetric, which can appeal to some collectors, especially if it’s worked cleverly into jewelry, but usually they’re less valuable.

5. When you are searching for a quality pearl necklace it is important to look for pearls that are well matched in size, symmetry, and luster.

6. When strung on silk cord, pearls need knots tied between each of the pearls. These knots help protect the surfaces of each pearl and keep them from chipping or bumping against each other.

7. You should always make sure that the pearls you select are from a reputable dealer whom you can trust.

There are different styles of pearl necklaces that you might consider and here are the most common classifications.

* Collar necklaces are those that are made from 3 strands of pearls. These necklaces can accent many of your outfits and are more formal than some of the other necklace options.

* Pearl chokers are roughly 14 to 16 inches in length. Most of them are designed so the pearls rest on the collarbone, accenting the lines of the throat. This is a very classic style that has a timeless elegance.

* Princess necklaces are single pearl strands ranging from 16 to 20 inches in length. They resemble a longer princess necklace and can be worn with casual or formal clothing choices.

* The matinee pearl necklaces are 20-25 inches long and the strand is often doubled so that it resembles a “choker necklace”. These are worn occasionally with casual clothing, but are a fashionable selection for more formal evening attire.

* A pearl rope necklace is quite dramatic with a length of 40-72 inches. The length of this jewelry selection gives it an amazing amount of versatility. The necklace can be tripled up as a high choker, worn around the waist, or threaded through coiffure settings. They can even be used to drape down the back for a low back evening dress.