Monday 18 April 2011

What to know before you buy your diamoond

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modeling blog photo
The most important factor when buying diamond jewellery is to look at the way the diamond is cut, its proportion and symmetry, says Pierre Joubert of The Diamond Club these factors determine how a diamond handles light, if its cut badly it will not have the brilliance. It really is the human factor - the work that goes into the diamond - that makes all the difference. Never compromise on the quality and cut of the diamond.

Buy your diamond jewellery from a reliable source or an established retailer. It is common practice to ask that the diamond be certified by an independent international laboratory such as GIA, EGL, DCLA, HRD, IGI, AGS.

Be extremely cautious when buying coloured diamonds, as it is very difficult to tell if the gem is natural or treated. Coloured diamonds that have been are heated to enhance their hue and could be a budget substitute if the natural one falls outside your budget. They are used more as a fashion item, in this year and out the next. When buying coloured diamonds, as with any diamond, insist on a laboratory certificate.

According to Pierre platinum or white gold surrounding not only enhances the colour of the jewel, but also makes it appear bigger. Yellow or red gold makes the diamond look slightly smaller.

Whether or not to insure diamond jewellery is a personal choice, However if you opt for the former ensure your jewels are covered under all risks.

PRONG VS TUBE TESTING
When deciding between a prong or a tube setting, consider these pros and cons. The classical prong setting allows dirt to collect under the claws more easily, which dulls the diamond, while the tube setting tends to last longer and are less likely to collect dirt. In the end it depends on your personal preference.

THE 4C'S AND THE S
Diamonds are valued according to the 4C`s and the S

CUT: 
This is determined by the rough stone, the diamond in its natural form. The precision and symmetry of the cut gives a diamond its brilliance, releasing the sparkle within in it, if the cut is well proportioned, then a diamond reflects light internally from facet to facet and disperses it through the crow, or top, of the diamond. I f the stone has been cut too shallow or too deep light escapes from the side facets or the bottom dulling the brilliance.

COLOUR
Diamonds come in many shades, ranging from colourless, white, yellow and brown to more intense colours such as orange, pink, green and black. Of white diamonds the most valuable is the colourless gem, which is called a D colour. The total range is from D to Z which is yellow. In coloured diamonds the higher the intensity of colour and brilliance, the more valuable the stone. For budget purposes look for stones that are slightly tinted as this allows you to purchase a bigger size that creates more of an impact.

CARAT
This measures the weight of the diamond. One carat is equivalent to 0.2g and there are 100 points per carat. If budget conscious consider purchasing diamonds just under half a carat or just under a full carat because the price jumps drastically when it reaches a true half or full carat.

CLARITY
The number of flaws or inclusions within a stone and their position determine the diamonds clarity. These inclusions come from come in the form of carbon spots or fractures, some of which are not visible to the naked eye. Inclusions affect the brilliance of a diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the better the refraction of light through the diamond, and the higher the value. The clarity is also judged by the position of the inclusions, the less obvious an inclusion the higher the value

SHAPE
The more traditional diamond cuts include round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart and emerald. Two new diamond cuts have been introduced the Asher square cut diamond and the Royal Radiant Cut is emerald shaped from the top with the light bursts from inside the stone.

CARE AND HANDLING
Diamonds get dirty easily, but are simple to clean; diamonds attract grease, so use any degreasing agent, like dish washing liquid. A little warm water and a tooth brush to get the sparkle back, says Pierre Joubert. Air dry on a paper towel and then polish with a soft cloth.

If your diamond is grimy and the setting looks dark around the edges, take the piece to a jeweller for a professional cleaning.

Diamonds can get scratched, so don't put them down on tile or marble. Store them individually in soft, cloth bags

COLOUR GUIDE
WHITE: White diamonds are actually colourless and clear. By far the mot popular gemstones, they come from mines all over the world, in many different shapes, sizes and levels of quality.

BROWN: The least pricey, brown diamonds come in champagne cognac and cocoa. Bright yellow gold, blackened silver and black rhodium platinum are the most common settings for them.

BLACK: Jewellery designers started using black diamonds widely only a few years ago. For contrast, they are usually combined with other gems usually white diamonds and set in platinum or white gold.

YELLOW: Yellow or canary, these are the most popular and expensive coloured diamonds and range from pale to bright. They are often set in yellow gold to intensify their colour.

PINK: Before the 1984 discovery of an Australian source, pink diamonds were extremely rare now very popular, and still expensive, they range from pale seashell to raspberry and are usually set in pink gold.

GREEN: Gems for the collector, green diamonds are very rare and very expensive. The colours range from brass-green to green-yellow. Green diamonds are mounted in platinum, gold and blackened silver.

The Male Diamond Mindset

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The differences between men and women have been made famous by author, John Gray, in his book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. The differences between Martians and Venusians are clearly apparent when it comes to a diamond purchase.

Gals, listen closely and we will tell you some secrets that you need to know about Martians if you want to be thrilled with your diamond purchase. First of all, Martians have a completely different perspective on the purchase of a diamond than you. When it comes to the diamond, Martians are interested in three things:

1. They want to make you happy.
2. They want to make a good investment.
3. They fear disappointing you or worse yet, rejection!

On all three counts, Martians get into a panic mode when buying a diamond ring because they have never played this game before. You need to understand that the Martian is driven by fear of making a mistake. Their pride and desire to surprise you prohibits them from asking your advice on what type and size of diamond you would really like to wear on your finger, every day for the rest of your life. Instead they will take the typical Martian approach of applying logic to what is a very emotional decision.

Because they might not have a clue about what you would like, they will focus on what is a good investment. They look at some engagement rings in the display case that have more zeros in the price than in the price of their car and they panic. They forget their primary goal was to make you happy!

Okay gals, here’s where you can help yourself get the diamond of your dreams! If you understand what your Martian is going through, you realize he needs all the help he can get. If he is determined to make this a “total” surprise, you have to let him know what you would like in any subtle way you can think of! But first you need to know what shape and size diamond would thrill you. Go out and shop by yourself and decide on the following:

What shape and size diamond do I love?
What kind of mounting would excite me? A solitaire ring or ring with side stones?
What color metal in the ring? Yellow gold, white gold, or platinum?
What is your ring size?

Once you know what shape and size diamond you would love, carefully drop hints that give your Martian enough information to find the diamond of your dreams. A little surprise is fine, but don’t let him deviate from your dream diamond. Remember the exact diamond ring of your choice will be on your finger when you communicate your desire to him. The bottom line is your Martian is trying to do all the right things to make you happy. Unfortunately, he is a Martian and will most likely plod along in the traditional Martian way. Be patient and please appreciate all the agony he is going through to make you proud of him.

diamond insurance

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Insurance for your new diamond and any future piece of luxurious jewelry can prove to be very valuable.


Often times the price of the wedding ring can be similar to the value of the car you own. If you own car insurance, don’t you think it may be wise to do the same for your cherished diamond.

After all in this case it is not just about the financial value as much as the over-romantic value of the engagement ring that you purchased.


commerce with insurance companies can be quite a irritate. Many times if you would like to contain your jewelry into your homeowner’s insurance you will have to obtain a rider

When the rider on your homeowner’s insurance is purchased it should be instantly active. Ideally, this rider should be purchased at the time the diamond is also purchased or at least very soon thereafter. Insurance companies will most likely request additional documentation and appraisals as to the value of supplementary jewelery.

Tips on how to buy reasonably priced yellow diamonds

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Yellow diamonds have the ability to reflect the most delightful light and many claim that this light magnifies the aura of the wearer. Maybe this is one of the reasons why yellow diamonds are increasing in popularity.

Not so long ago the yellow diamond was considered less pure compared with white diamonds, however, the market has shifted and yellow diamonds are now highly sought after. It just takes a few celebrities to wear something and a new trend starts and prices begin to escalate.

However, some yellow diamonds are not so expensive as the price totally depends on the intensity of yellow plus the modifying color. If your budget is low then you could actually find a reasonably priced yellow diamond among the lighter colors. See the below chart to get a better understanding of the color grades.

Note that the lower the grade the lower the price tag and that 1 = low and 8 = high. 

1. Very Light (Y-Z)
2. Light
3. Fancy Light
4. Fancy
5. Fancy Dark
6. Fancy Deep
7. Fancy Intense
8. Fancy Vivid

You can save even further if you buy your fancy color diamond directly from the wholesaler instead of buying from a retail store. Obviously stores have their own massive overheads and they must add these expenses to the price of the jewelry they sell.

Returning to the color, it should be noted that Fancy Intense Diamonds and Fancy Vivid Yellow diamonds possess much more of the yellow color and therefore they become much more expensive. Some of you may have heard the term Canary Yellow Diamonds. Some of the Fancy Intense Yellow and Fancy Vivid Yellow are given this name due to their spectacular color. If you have the budget and you want the most spectacular yellow diamond then you would definitely want to look for a Canary Yellow Diamond.

If you are planning on having your yellow diamond set into a ring it is very important to remember that no matter which color metal you prefer, the border of metal surrounding your diamond should be in yellow gold. This will make you diamond appear bigger and more spectacular.

So in short, in order to buy a yellow diamond within your budget you should aim for a lighter shade of yellow and buy your diamond directly from the wholesaler. 

Investors keen to buy Rainbow Collection diamonds for royal couple

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As most of the world is now aware Britain's Prince William – first son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana – is set to wed his long time partner Kate Middleton in just a few months time. As part of a high profile royal wedding the couple will undoubtedly be receiving a myriad of gifts including diamonds, other precious gems, and priceless artifacts from a variety of world leaders and global royalty.

However, it seems that the couple may also be receiving a gift that was once destined for William's parents but never quite made it – the Rainbow Collection, which is a collection of 301 colored diamonds that are said to be the largest and finest in the world. According to reports Saudi Arabian billionaires are keen to get their hands on the rare collection of diamonds – so that they can give them to Wills and Kate as a wedding gift!

The Saudi Arabian Royal family is said to have tried to buy the diamonds from dealer Eddie Elzas thirty years ago for the wedding of William's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. However, Elzas turned down the offer. According to reports he is now keen to retire and wants to sell the collection. However, he has stipulated that they must be given to the royal couple.

One insider spoke about the competition amongst investors to buy the collection to give to the couple, who are due to marry on April 29th. He said: "Lots of Middle Eastern investors are keen to buy the collection and give them to William and Kate because it would be a huge badge of honor. A deal is now very close to being done and an announcement is set to be made soon." He added: "Mr. Elzas is due to retire soon so is looking to sell. But he will only sell if they go to William and Kate. He thinks it would be a fitting gift for the couple."

However, once again there could be a problem in store for the billionaires. It has been reported that the young couple, who have been together for eight years, are going to be asking for donations to chair favorite charities as wedding gifts rather than the more traditional diamonds, priceless jewels, and luxurious gifts, with some reports claiming that they may turn down gifts that are not donations!

Diamond fashion jewellery

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Diamond fashion jewellery



Diamond Fashion Jewelry is online Jewelry store where you will find inexpensive Diamond Fashion Jewelry such as fashion Rings, Fashion Bands,and Diamond Pendants etc. You will get best prices for Engagement Rings, Diamond Rings, wedding Rings and Solitaire RIngs



Diamond Fashion Jewelry is online Jewelry store where you will find inexpensive Diamond Fashion Jewelry such as fashion Rings, Fashion Bands,and Diamond Pendants etc. You will get best prices for Engagement Rings, Diamond Rings, wedding Rings and Solitaire RIngs

dubai

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Dubai is one of the seven emirates and the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.
cityinformation

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Tour Itinerary:

DAY 01 – ARRIVAL TO UAE

You will be met at the Airport where assistance is offered. You will then be driven to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 02 – DUBAI

Our journey starts with discovering the most and popular Emirate: DUBAI. Dubai is a shopper's paradise and during its March Shopping Festival, two million visitors arrive looking for discounts on gold, electronics, clothing, and Persian carpets.

Dubai city tour by coach along the lanes of Dubai city will give you a glimpse of its ancient Arabian culture and heritage mantled with the modern cosmopolitan lifestyle. We take you to Dubai Museum, Jumeirah Zoo, Jumeirah Beach and grand Jumeirah Mosque on route we pass the magnificent palace of the Sheikh along the beach road. You will experience an exiting ride on the Abra (Water Taxi) the popular local mode of transport which takes you across the creek to spice souq and the glittering gold souq that gives Dubai its name “City of Gold”.

Another attractions worth to see Wild Wadi Theme Park, Great Desert Safari, Burj Al Arab, Burj Dubai, The World Island, The Palm Island

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DAY- 03/ 04ABU DHABI/ AL AIN CITY TOUR

The Abu Dhabi City Tour takes you around the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is located on an island connected to the mainland by two bridges. Our tour begins with an early-morning trip to Shiekh zayed mosque which is the third largest mosque in the world, and then we move to fishing harbour and dhow yard. Moving on to the renovated Al Husn Fort and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, we next visit the markets in and around PortZayed. Driving along the spectacular Riviera-style Corniche, we arrive at the Heritage Village, which provides an insight into the life of the Arab community before the discovery of oil. We finish the tour with a trip to the tip of the breakwater for a superb view of the city's dramatic skyline.

Al Ain is known as the "Garden City" Al Ain is approx. 1.5 hours drive from Dubai. The city is a large Oasis in the desert and its name in Arabic means source. An Attractive feature of Al Ain is Jebel Hafeet, which, at 1,340 metres, is the tallest mountain in UAE.The tour will visit some of the ancient falaj irrigation systems at the beautiful Buraimi Oasis and then onto the Buraimi souk, the Al Ain Museum, camel souk as well as some of the spectacular palaces. The tour will also visit the Hili Gardens which is a garden laid around a reconstructed tomb dating back to 2500 BC. After that to the modern shopping malls of Al Ain and the Zoo. Major attractions in Al Ain – Ain Al Faydah, Desert trips, Hot springs, Hili Fun city, National Museum, Camel Racing

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DAY 05
SHARJAH/AJMAN/FUJAIRAH CITY TOUR 


The emirate of Sharjah is only 20 minutes from Dubai. We start our journey at the cultural centre of the Middle East (centre for museums and artists). The tour commences at the Cultural Roundabout, on to the Natural History Museum, and the return to the Cornice, the Al Majara Souk and the Al Naboodah House and the Al Arsa Souk. The tour ends at the fabulous Central Souk, with its typical Arabic architecture and hundreds of shops. Sharjah tours are one of the most requested from tourists who love to see the old history of the emirates in its various museums that reflect the past of the city and works of art that Sharjah city is best at.

We then enroute to Ajman’s enchanting museum housed in an ancient fort and giving intriguing insights into lifestyles before changes brought by oil. The emirate of Ajman is only 30 minutes from Dubai. Ajman is rapidly growing in the tourism and attracting visitors to its developing free zones and entertainment complexes. The tour commences new Ajman beach, on to the Ajman Museum, and the return to the Cornice, the gold Souk and the new shopping malls. The tour ends at the fabulous Central Souk, with its typical Arabic architecture and hundreds of shops. Ajman tours are for those who want to relax on the conriche or the beach.

Fujairah is one of the most attractive tourist and travel destinations in the region, and has a lot of attractions and activities to offer. A paradise for water-sports enthusiasts of all kinds, the warm crystal waters harbour a marine life rich in variety making it particularly good for diving and fishing. For the more adventurous, off road driving through desert and boulder strewn wadis provides vistas unrivaled in the country as startling emerald green date groves nestle between the towering Hajar peaks containing some of the oldest rocks in Arabia. We drive through endless dryland with a mix of desert. Stop at a local market (Friday Market), passing small villages on our way- Dhaid and Masafi. Moving into Fujairah & Khorfakahan famous for endless beaches which give an opportunity to swim or just relax on the beach before we end the tour.

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DAY 06
DUBAI SHOPPING


Dubai is also known for some great shopping malls. These malls are spread everywhere in Dubai. We will take you to popular and Biggest Malls ie, Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates and other shopping malls are Burjuman Center, Deira City Center, Emirates Towers Shopping Boulevard, Mercato mall and Wafi City Mall. Best Buys during Dubai shopping tour are at Debra City Center. It is known for offering great souvenir and handicraft items. For those who are looking for quality products may go for Burjman Center. Karama Shopping Center is immensely popular for offering low cost products.

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DAY 07
UMM AL QUWAIN / RAS AL KHAIMAH


Umm Al Quwain travel is mostly short and sweet as the area is only five kilometers long by one kilometer wide. Umm Al Quwain UAE is bestowed with abundant natural beauty. Umm Al Quwain is also the emirate’s capital and brims with many private companies, abundant markets, several banks and the typical Ruler’s office. The main attractions include Al Dur Island; Falaj Al Mualla is a curious oasis village with a thriving agricultural scene connected to Umm Al Quwain by a brialliantly scenic byway running beside Wadi Al Batha, Umm Al Quwain Fort. The Flamingo Beach Resort and Aqua Park are other favorite among visitors. Umm Al Quwain resorts each offer many exciting activities including afternoon cruises, fishing trips, diving, snorkeling and much more.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourists and travelers from all over the world come to Ras al-Khaimah in UAE to get a glimpse of its unique natural beauty and sightseeing places. Tourist Attractions in Ras al-Khaimah include Hajjar Mountains, Saqr Park, Khatt spring oasis and resort, National Museum and Dhayah Fort.

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Top Five Frequently Asked Questions to ask Your Mortgage Professional

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Top Five Frequently Asked Questions to ask Your Mortgage Professional

The process of acquiring a mortgage loan is perhaps one of the most critical financial undertakings and decisions you could ever make in your whole life. As is with other major financial undertakings and decisions, it makes perfect sense to consult a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced and who has your best interests at heart. Here are top five frequently asked questions to ask a mortgage loan advisor to help you determine whether the advisor is competent enough to help you seal this important life decision.

1.    How long have you been in the mortgage industry? Be advised that financing a home is one of the trickiest businesses in the world today. Be advised also that mortgage underwriting guidelines vary significantly from one product to another. Loan officers are at advantaged positions to place their mortgage loans through several investors thus making the process of choosing the right mortgage lender all the more important. Needless to mention, knowing how and where to place a loan can make all the difference in the world between a smooth and disastrous transaction. A mortgage advisor with over 2 years experience has most likely mastered the art through trial and error. Ensure you delve deeper into their experience and history and their existing volume of business in order to strike an optimal balance.
2.    What exactly are you, the lender, the bank, or the broker? The reason why this is important is because there are pros and cons to each form of the mentioned institutions but by the end of the day, you should aim at striking a good balance of value and service
3.    How much do you wish to make on this deal? Understanding how much the mortgage professional is getting paid isn’t an easy thing to make out but it will help you a great deal in knowing whether the advisor is genuine or not or whether they are after making a good kill
4.     Do you have any affiliations with the real estate company? We all know that real agents today have a way of referring their clients to mortgage advisors who they know are competent enough to get a loan closed on time and hassle-free? While most of these agents refer their best clients so they can get their commissions, the motives are always not the most transparent as such agents refer clients to companies and mortgage professionals whom they have agreements with. Thus, keep in mind that by the end of it all, you will be the one making the payments 15, 20, 25, 30 years down the line, follow your intuition and if a deal is too good, it probably is.
5.    Are there references? Even though mortgage advisors shouldn’t be used to hand out references, it doesn’t close out the option of asking for references. Just get the info available, call the reference in question and ascertain that the client was fully satisfied with the services offered and that the mortgage loan closed on time. You might also want to check out with the Better Business Bureau and licensing authorities to ascertain that the advisor has a proven and commendable track record

For the Love of Money

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here's an old saying that goes, "Money makes the world go around." If you think about it, this statement is � well � on the money.
Pretty much everything you do every day costs money. It might not seem like it -- because you probably aren't physically handing out cash every second of the day. Nevertheless, someone at some time has dispensed the dollars. Take an average school day. You wake up and get ready for school. The uniform or clothes you put on cost money. The breakfast you eat and the lunch you pack cost money. The gas for the car (or school bus) that takes you to school costs money. The school you attend costs money. If it's a private school, someone is paying tuition for you to go there. If it's a public school, people pay taxes that keep it running. Your books cost money. And the list goes on. So you know money is crucial, but have you ever wondered where it comes from? How is it made? And why is some of it paper?
Currency (money) is a medium of exchange, a substitute for goods or services. It doesn't have to be the coins or bills in your pocket. In fact, through the ages, everything from large stone wheels to knives to slabs of salt has been used as money. Anything that people agree represents value is currency. Today, we use coins, paper money and electronic currency like credit cards and bank cards. (Economists estimate that only 8 percent of the world's currency exists as physical cash. The rest exists only on a computer hard drive, in electronic bank accounts around the world.) The United States Mint produces coins worth 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents, as well as the Sacagawea Golden Dollar Coin, which replaced the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin in 2000. The U.S. Mint produces nearly 30 billion coins for general circulation each year.
woman with money
Image � John Lund/CORBIS
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The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing currently produces $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills. Not all of these bills are on a regular printing schedule - $2 bills are printed whenever necessary, and were last printed in 2003. While $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills do exist and are still in circulation, they are very rare. These notes were printed prior to World War II. In the 1930s, a series of $100,000 bills were printed -- the largest denomination in U.S. history. These bills were used only for transactions between Federal Reserve banks; they were never circulated publicly.
Did you know? According to the U.S. Mint, it only takes a few cents to mint a quarter, but the quarter is instantly worth 25 cents. The difference between the coin's value and its production cost pays to keep the mint running.
In 2007, the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced more than 35 million notes a day with a face value of approximately $696 million. Money is printed using the intaglio printing method. A master engraver creates an original steel plate by hand. This tedious process can often take more than a year to complete. The finished plates are installed in huge printing presses. Ink is squirted onto the plates and any excess ink is wiped off. This ensures that the ink is only in the grooves of the plate. Then the plate is pressed onto large sheets of special paper. The paper is a cotton/linen blend (75 percent cotton, 25 percent linen) with tiny blue and red fibers in it. It takes about 10,000 PSI to stamp each bill. The process leaves a raised ink texture � a feature that helps deter counterfeiting. It costs approximately 6 cents to create a $1 bill. Printing a $20 bill costs more. If you look at the bottom right corner on the face of a $20 bill, you'll see why. The number "20" you see is made of color-shifting ink. A slight backward and forward shift of the bill changes the number "20" from copper to green. This special ink is pricey, but worth it, as it serves as a deterrent to would-be counterfeiters.
Lincoln Gets a Facelift A new and improved $5 bill hits the streets on March 13, 2008 complete with several security features. Among them are two new watermarks and an improved -and repositioned- security thread. One new watermark is a large number "5," which sits to the right of Abraham Lincoln's portrait. Joining it is the new security thread, which was previously located on the left side. The second watermark is a column of three small number "5" digits, which sit to the left of Lincoln. Besides the new security features, the $5 bill is also getting a little color. Small yellow number "5" digits are clustered on the left side on the face of the bill and on the right side on the back of the bill. On the face of the bill are several purple items, including an arc of purple stars. Purple is also prominent on the back side of the bill - an extra large, purple number "5" should prove helpful to people with visual impairments.
Circulating Currency
If you were to follow a batch of newly printed notes, here's the path they would take. After being printed, they're shipped to one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. From there, the money is moved to credit unions, commercial banking institutions, savings and loans and other financial institutions. People go to the financial institutions and withdraw money from their accounts. From there, the cash circulates throughout a series of commercial businesses as people exchange cash for services or products. Those businesses, in turn, deposit the cash they earn into their accounts at a financial institution and the money continues to circulate.
Did you know? The Chinese were the first to use paper money. They used stag skins, bark, or parchment marked with the imperial seal as "bills of payment."
Eventually, bills become warn out or even damaged. Come on, you've probably seen at least a few $1 bills sporting a piece of tape. In fact, of the millions of notes that are printed daily, roughly 95 percent of those are made just to replace old notes. Reportedly, the average lifespan of a $1 bill and a $10 bill is about 18 months and most $5 bills last about 15 months. Twenties last longer, about two years, while $50 bills and $100 bills last more than four years.
So, what happens when a bill is past its physical prime? Financial institutions collect worn or damaged bills and send them to a Federal Reserve Bank. In turn, the Federal Reserve Bank sends new bills to replace the old ones. Then, the Federal Reserve Bank processes the worn cash to figure out if it's truly ready for retirement or if it can go back into circulation for a little while longer. The money that is still fit for circulation goes back into the big pool of useable money. The money that's not OK to go back out is destroyed. Back before the mid 1990s, the Federal Reserve would shred and then bury the retired bills. But as landfills started to pose a national concern, the Federal Reserve started to think about creative ways to reuse their refuse. Today, the government recycles the shredded cash. Most often, it is combined with other materials to create something like roofing, packing material and insulation. But sometimes it is used in unique gift items like pens and key rings.

Try this:
euro bills
Image � iStockphoto.com/Perrush
http://www.istockphoto.com
So far, we've just been talking about U.S. currency. Now, let's talk about the euro, which became a single currency for several member states of the European Union on January 1, 2002 -- making it the second largest currency in the world (the U.S. dollar being the largest). Visit this Web site http://www.ecb.int/bc/euro/html/index.en.html to find out which 15 member states now use the euro. Next, look for the foreign exchange rates to see how various international currencies compare to the euro. Finally, find out what the security features are. How do they compare to the security features of U.S. currency?
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