When a little African boy finds a raw diamond, it sets a series of events showing the human spirit in each individual person it touches. The surprise here is not the diamond, which is a phenomenon in itself, but the dramatic reaction of each, bringing some to the end of their destruction and others to pick themselves up from the dark abyss that life can become.
He was her first true love... And the worst mistake she ever made. There's always been a spark between Jude Grayson and Roni "Wild Card" Webber. Unfortunately, whenever it ignites... it explodes. And they both get burned. As head of security for Dirty--his best friend's rock band--and a member of the West Coast Kings motorcycle club, Jude had a choice to make, long ago. Loyalty or love. Brotherhood or her. But now the woman he left behind is suddenly everywhere he turns. Problem is, Roni's still got a wild side--and another biker for a boyfriend. ... And Jude's got a fire for her that just won't die. Roni and Jude are about to play a dangerous game. A game they've never known how to win... and their hearts can't afford to lose. Dirty Like Jude is the fifth full-length novel in the Dirty series--a rockstar romance series about the members of the rock band Dirty and the women and men who love them. Novels in the Dirty series are interconnected standalones, each with an HEA; other books (novella/story collection) are not HEA, but are essential pieces of the overall story arcs. (There are ongoing storylines that develop throughout the series; reading them in order is not crucial but is HIGHLY recommended.) Reading order: Dirty Like Me (Dirty #1) Dirty Like Us (Dirty #0.5) (novella) Dirty Like Brody (Dirty #2) A Dirty Wedding Night (Dirty #2.5)(story collection) Dirty Like Seth (Dirty #3) Dirty Like Dylan (Dirty #4) Dirty Like Jude (Dirty #5) Dirty Like Zane (Dirty #6)
"Finally, one of the top diamond experts breaks the silence and demystifies the world of diamonds for regular folks like you and me."—Gregory J.P. Godek, author of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic Get Your Money's Worth on a Great Diamond! Buying a diamond can be one of the most important and intimidating purchases you ever make. Whether you're getting engaged or married, or are buying for an anniversary, investment, or just because, How to Buy a Diamond will take the pressure and uncertainty out of your purchase, and will show you how to get the best diamond for your money. Newly revised and completely updated, How to Buy a Diamond is the only book on the market to include wholesalers' secret pricing charts athat you, the public, never get to see. The charts are broken down by carat, clarity, and color—including the various types of color within each color grade. Important sections include: • Matching your funds with the perfect diamond • The four C's explained: clarity, color, cut and carat size • Ring styles and settings • Insuring and caring for your diamond • Picking the right jeweler • Grade bumping: what it is and how to spot it • Surprising new changes to guild stores • Jewelers' tricks of the trade • Wholesalers' secret pricing charts!
The king of stones, valued since antiquity for their unrivalled hardness, diamonds today are both desired and deplored. Once faceted and polished they glitter on the fingers of brides-to-be and in the ornaments of the super-rich, but their extraction from some of the world’s poorest countries remains contentious. Immensely valuable for their size, diamonds can be easily hidden and transported, making them perfect contraband. Diamonds have been widely used in industry since the nineteenth century and have long been valued for their pharmaceutical and prophylactic properties. This entertaining and richly illustrated book examines the history of the diamond trade through the centuries from India and Brazil to South Africa and Europe and investigates what happens to diamonds once they reach the cutters and polishers. Marcia Pointon takes the reader on a unique tour of the ways in which the quadrahedron diamond shape has inspired design, architecture, and painting, from the symbolism of medieval manuscripts to modern-day graffiti. She questions the etiquette of engagement rings, and she reminds us why and how lost, stolen, or cursed diamonds create suspense in so many classic novels and films. This compelling and fascinating account of the history of sparklers around the world will appeal to all who covet, as well as all who despise, the unparalleled brilliance and glitter of the diamond.
What Is Synthetic Diamond Lab-grown diamond is diamond that is produced by a manufacturing process, as contrasted with natural diamond created by geological processes and extracted by mining. How You Will Benefit (I) Insights, and validations about the following topics: Chapter 1: Synthetic diamond Chapter 2: Detonation nanodiamond Chapter 3: Crystallographic defects in diamond Chapter 4: Diamond (gemstone) Chapter 5: Diamond Chapter 6: Gemstone Chapter 7: Materials science (II) Answering the public top questions about synthetic diamond. (III) Real world examples for the usage of synthetic diamond in many fields. (IV) 17 appendices to explain, briefly, 266 emerging technologies in each industry to have 360-degree full understanding of synthetic diamond' technologies. Who This Book Is For Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of synthetic diamond.
“Unforgettable. . . . An outstanding adventure in its lyrical, utterly compelling, and heartbreaking investigations of the world of diamond smuggling.” —Aimee Nezhukumatathil For nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed “overmined” and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air. Entering Die Sperrgebiet (“The Forbidden Zone”) is like entering an eerie ghost town, but Frank is surprised by the number of people willing—even eager—to talk with him. Soon he meets Msizi, a young diamond digger, and his pigeon, Bartholomew, who helps him steal diamonds. It’s a deadly game: pigeons are shot on sight by mine security, and Msizi knows of smugglers who have disappeared because of their crimes. For this, Msizi blames “Mr. Lester,” an evil tall-tale figure of mythic proportions. From the mining towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, through the “halfway” desert, to Kleinzee’s shores littered with shipwrecks, Frank investigates a long overlooked story. Weaving interviews with local diamond miners who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, Frank reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town. Interwoven throughout this obsessive quest are epic legends in which pigeons and diamonds intersect, such as that of Krishna’s famed diamond Koh-i-Noor, the Mountain of Light, and that of the Cherokee serpent Uktena. In these strange connections, where truth forever tangles with the lore of centuries past, Frank is able to contextualize the personal grief that sent him, with his wife Louisa in the passenger seat, on this enlightening journey across parched lands. Blending elements of reportage, memoir, and incantation, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers is a rare and remarkable portrait of exploitation and greed in one of the most dangerous areas of coastal South Africa. With his sovereign prose and insatiable curiosity, Matthew Gavin Frank “reminds us that the world is a place of wonder if only we look” (Toby Muse).
The explosive story of the illegal gold trade from South America, and the three Miami businessmen who got rich on it—until it all came crashing down. In March of 2017, a team of federal agents arrested Juan Pablo Granda, Samer Barrage, and Renato Rodriguez, or as they came to be known, "the three amigos." The trio—first identified publicly by the authors of this book—had built a $3.6 billion dollar business in metals trading, mostly illegal Peruvian gold mined in the rain forest. Their arrest and subsequent prosecution laid bare more than a scheme between a few corrupt traders. Dirty Gold lifts the veil on a massive and very illegal international business that is more lucrative than trafficking cocaine, and often just as dangerous. As this award-winning team of current and former Miami Herald reporters shows, illegal gold mines have become a haven for Latin American drug money. The gold is sold to metals traders, and ultimately to scores of unwitting Americans in their jewelry and phones. By following the trail of these three traders, Dirty Gold leads us into a sprawling criminal underworld that has never before been in full view.
Butterflies are symbols of transformation. The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is one of the most profound wonders of nature. Butterflies are deep and powerful representations of life, and many cultures associate the butterfly with the soul. The Christian religion sees the butterfly as a symbol of resurrection. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope, and life. It is my heartfelt prayer this book will transcend religions and languages. It was written for "the called" of God (Psalm 4:3) and the "call waiting" of God (1 Kings 19:18). This book hopes to speak to the faithful remnant who have been set apart to do God's bidding and who have been set aside for God's kingdom assignment on earth. I believe God held these people close to Himself in reserve for the end-time glory that will hit the earth. When we who were once caterpillars are changed into a butterfly, purpose, destiny, and the manifestation of the prophetic word of God over our lives make up the beauty of our wings. As is the case with each butterfly, the pattern, size, and diverse colors of our wings are unique to our own individual calling and assignment. Our metamorphosis changes us from the inside out, and it empowers us to go out into the world and become disciples of men. There are many different species of butterflies, and no two are alike. In the same way, we are all different, but our individual divine assignments are all interconnected and work cohesively to see "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven."
Over 400,000 Copies in Print Know What You Want, Know What You’re Buying, Learn the Secrets to Get the Most for Your Money Easy to Read Easy to Understand Practical Complete Instant Answers ... to All Your Questions Completely Updated & Expanded 7th Edition! Purchasing gems and jewelry can be a magical experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly. To help you avoid the pitfalls and keep the magic, two internationally respected experts on buying gems and jewelry put their inside knowledge to work for you in this easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide. It is filled with practical advice and is designed to make it easy for you to have all the information you need to buy gems and jewelry with confidence. Recommended by consumer and jewelry trade reviewers around the world, it is already in use in over 100 countries and has been translated into Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Hungarian, Russian and Japanese. Over 400,000 copies are now in print and this revised, updated, expanded edition covers even more: buying and selling on the internet, dazzling new diamond cuts, recently discovered gems ... and new treatments and trickery to look out for. There are fascinating mythical and magical tidbits, and practical tips that could only come from an insider. In simple, straightforward terms you’ll learn about the four Cs and how to juggle them to get what you want, at the price you want to pay; what to look for, and look out for; all about gold and platinum, jewelry design, and some of the country’s leading designers. You’ll learn what questions to ask and what to get in writing, and even how to select the jeweler, appraiser, and insurer. The authors leave no stone unturned to give you everything you need to know—whether you are a novice or a connoisseur. With Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide, you’ll find the experience can be a joy, and the gems and jewelry you select a source of lasting pleasure!