The Adriano 1 carat Asscher solitaire is simply stunning. With a mix between the emerald and princess cuts, this unique cut is also known as a square emerald. This elegant stone had its beginnings in the early 1900′s by a diamond company in Holland. The cut became so well loved in Europe that Queen Juliana of Holland deemed it fit for royalty and named it the “Royal Asscher” diamond. Over a century later, it is still a choice of the royals and celebrities. It gained fame on the HBO series, “Sex in the City”, it has been a favorite of the bride-to-be who wants unique and fashionable style.
The Asscher cut stone is a rarity in the diamond world and must be cut to perfection in order to have the flawless sparkle every woman wants. Most mined diamonds have inclusions (flaws) or yellow hues that take away from its gorgeous look–with most couples being unable to afford a flawless 1 carat Asscher solitaire. In fact, many celebrities and royalty opt for this type of ring and it often a status symbol because of the cost and exclusivity. Fortunately, man made Eco Diamonds stones are flawless and provide every bride the opportunity to own one. This beautiful ring is $675 in 14k yellow or white gold, or palladium–an unbeatable option for the price and quality.
The side profile helps this ring to stand out from the typical solitaire. With cathedral arching shoulders and two round bezel accent stones mirrored on both sides, the Adriano has flair for design and style without being too trendy.
The band is considered to be of medium-thickness, weighing 3.50 grams in 14K white or yellow gold and palladium, and heavier in the platinum metals at 5.60 grams. The most popular matching band with the Adriano tends to be one with square princess cut stones in either a half or full-eternity band.
The Adele engagement ring comes from Eco Diamonds Spring 2012 Collection. It is a stunner! There are a few unique things about this engagement ring. First, it boasts a 1.50 carat cushion-cut center stone. If you’ve never heard of the cushion cut, you’re not alone. Not many people are familiar with it because of its vintage beginnings from the 19th century, yet it is making a strong comeback in the 2012 trends. The best way to describe it might be in comparing it to the shape of a pillow cushion … not square, not round but something in between. It is a hip and gorgeous alternative to the traditional square or round stone. At $615, the price is unbeatable.
The Adele is its interesting and beautiful side profile. The basket holding the center stone is surrounded by rows of round pinpoint stones, making it a step above the rest of other solitaires. Note the space in between the rows of stones and the way in which light can enter and then be reflected back to the eye.
The Adele engagement ring weighs 2.63 grams, making it a feminine, lightweight band without the thickness and bulk to take away from highlighting its unique features. It also has a simple matching band that enhances, but does not take away from the focus of the main ring. It perfectly curves around the cushion center stone and boasts simplicity and elegance.
This ring comes in a variety of metal options, from 14K white or yellow gold to platinum, palladium and even 14K rose gold for those wanting something slightly more vintage and unique.
Shared collective goals, personal style and consciously planned consumerism are at the heart and soul of Eco Fashion World, an online Eco-fashion guide that supports environmentally and socially responsible actions. Eco Fashion World started with four people spanning three continents who all wished to “be the change you wish to see.”
The minds at Eco Fashion World are dedicated to understanding the global repercussions of careless consumerism and are actively support ethical consumerism as part of an effort to reduce poverty, prevent environmental damage and support the rights of workers worldwide. Every action has an impact and Eco Fashion World is working hard to take positive actions that energize collective transformation.
The world of Eco-fashion is gaining a steady, unstoppable momentum. New developments in sustainable fabrics occur daily and innovators are constantly giving birth to super-glam, socially conscious new collections. Celebrities are helping Eco-friendly garments gain public appeal and boutiques are working hard to give everyday people access to stylish yet sustainable looks.
Eco Fashion World has remained dedicated to staying current with the tides of change and to providing a dependable global guide for new ideas, ideals and information. The idea is to give the entire world a green guide to help consumers locate sustainable designer boutiques in destinations around the world, as well as via online shopping opportunities.
Eco Fashion World has all of the latest Eco-fashion news, reviews, designer Q&As, launch updates, store profiles and personal interviews with choice ethical divas. Here you can expect to learn more about organizations that support the Eco-fashion movement. As one of the most visible and seductive forms of artistic mediums throughout history, fashion is no longer just about “what you are wearing,” it is about everything that went into what you are wearing. Fashion writers from around the world also add their voices to Eco Fashion World, making it a truly global online resource and guide for the latest Eco-friendly fashion finds.
Alright readers. Are you ready for an inspirational DIY adventure? It all starts in this humble little 700 sf cabin you see above in the sleepy little town of Midway Utah. Inspired, or just crazy, Calder and Starr were able to turn a lot of hard work into a fantastic modern meets rustic home. But that was just the beginning. Keep reading after the jump. I promise this is one story you are not going to want to miss.
Downstairs is a simple, but modern kitchen/living room with a nice island. I really like the contrast of the clean modern lines of the kitchen with the log walls. You can see from this picture too that the space is not huge. I’m pretty sure this is entire width of the house we are looking at.
Upstairs is the bedroom and bathroom. Again, I love the contrast of the white walls and wood. I also love how minimal and clutter free the room is. It looks like there is good storage built in on the sides too.
Calder didn’t mention much about the work that went into the cabin, but from the next part of the story, I think it’s safe to assume it was a lot of DIY labor.
So, what do you do when you have a 700 square foot home, and you are looking to expand your little family of two? Get an architect.
This is basically what they had to start with. You can see the cabin in the foreground, and in the back is a barn. It should be noted that the barn wasn’t originally on the property. The entire thing was disassembled, moved to the property, and reassembled. Yeah, that’s right. This family moves barns for fun in their spare time. Hardcore.
The new modern structure actually connects with the original cabin, keeping a nice separate but together juxtaposition.
Once construction began I have a good feeling that a family that can move barns is willing to pitch in and do a lot of the construction themselves. This DIY spirit and some resourcefulness I think is one of the keys to keeping construction costs down on modern projects. I love the fact that Calder seems like the kind of guy that doesn’t know what the word impossible means. Want an example? A two story home needs stairs right? Stairs need stair treads right? So what’s the obvious thing to use for stair treads if you are a guy that moves barns. Why reclaimed wood from a bowling alley of course.
Another example you say? Sure. Here is my favorite. What do you clad a beautiful modern home like this with? Some nice stonework would be a great choice, but that would be crazy expensive right? Not if you collect all the stone from a old city building that was torn down and cut it down to the right dimensions yourself. Yeah, that’s right. I said splitting your own stone. I didn’t even know that was possible.
After what must have been an incredible amount of stacking, moving, splitting, the stone was ready for the house. For all the details, and some fantastic pictures of the process, check out this post on their calderandstarr.blogspot.com
“>blog.
The end result?
Impressed doesn’t seem to do justice to the way we feel.
2011 has not only brought a new year, but a new decade. And, for anyone who loves cars and considers themselves environmentally conscious, it’s never been a better time to consider getting an electric car.
This is the year of electric cars, says John Voelcker, editor of GreenCarReports.com. For the first time since the automobile industry’s infancy, he says, “you have plug-in vehicles in the showrooms of major automakers in the U.S.”
Meanwhile, manufacturers have debuted more hybrid models while traditional combustion-engine cars become more fuel-efficient. Here are a few green trends car buyers can expect to see this year.
Utility EV programs
Plugging in an electric car overnight means a bump in your household electricity bill. Utilities are happy to supply that extra power, says Voelcker, because it’s a rare opportunity to increase demand for their product. However, utilities prefer that you charge up overnight or during off-peak hours. Look for more utilities offering special programs and rates for electric-car owners.
More electric cars
The two electric cars available for 2011, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, have long waiting lists for the small amount available to purchase this year. But the high demand means other manufacturers will sit up and take notice.
What makes this a watershed year for electric cars? These vehicles can run for up to 40 miles in ideal conditions without a charge or, in the case of the Volt, switching to gasoline. By some studies, 78 percent of Americans drive fewer than 40 miles a day, meaning electric-car owners could conceivably never have to visit a gas station.
Smaller cars go upscale
Certain drivers will always have a need for larger vehicles, so SUVs, vans and trucks aren’t going away. But drivers are becoming more comfortable with smaller cars — and their smaller fuel costs.
“For a long time in the American market, small cars were considered entry-level,” says Voelcker. “They were what you bought your kid before they could get something nice.”
In 2011, manufacturers will continue offering high-end features like leather seats, upscale stereos and all the latest gadgetry in both smaller and larger cars.
40 mpg is the new 30
Aging starlets have spouted this mantra for years, but in 2011 it applies to fuel efficiency in non-hybrid cars. With new federal standards, “40 miles per gallon is the new benchmark,” says Voelcker.
Just a few years ago, 30 miles per gallon was the higher end of fuel economy. But these days, plenty of cars –– not just subcompacts –– are in that 40-mpg range for highway driving. These include the Chevy Cruze Eco, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Fiesta and Chevy Sonic. The new standard is achieved via a combination of lightweight materials and engines that are much smaller.
Start-stop systems
In 2012, Buick will debut a “start-stop system” on its LaCrosse full-size sedan, a feature that will eventually spread to other GM models. The system, a sort of “hybrid lite,” is already common in Europe, says Voelcker; it essentially switches to electric power when a car is slowing to a stop and switches back when the driver speeds up again. Buick says this feature, called eAssist, increases fuel economy by 25 percent.
Nearly every magazine and runway has featured Josie Maran, and she’s just one of those women who can get the finest modeling spots in the world. She’s the envy of many and knows how to work the fashion industry to fit in with her eco-savvy, chicological style. In previous interviews she has come across as a glamorous beauty fashionista but her past revels a more free spirited California eco girl who loved to go makeup-less. We adore her eco style and her ability to make being green hip and chic.
Check out her best beauty picks by clicking on her picture below:
In an effort to draw more attention to their cause, Harrison Ford and Conservation International are turning to the online gaming world of Facebook.
Called “Ecotopia,” the game will place players in the middle of a city overwhelmed with pollution and urban decay. Their goal is to introduce sustainable initiatives that will reverse the environmental damage and benefit your citizens. Along the way, participants will also have the opportunity to earn extra points for performing real-world green actions – as well as get other Facebook users involved in the action.
“As a passionate supporter of Conservation International’s work, I am excited that Talkie and CI are collaborating on Ecotopia,” said Ford, vice chairman of the organization’s board of directors. “This game represents a refreshing new way to engage millions of people in addressing critical environmental issues and finding solutions that work for the well-being of humanity.”
Each month, Conservation International will also introduce some “environmental villains” for players to combat as part of an expanding storyline. (May I suggest an angry 100-foot tall Sen. James Inhofe?)
With more than 300 million daily users, it makes sense that Conservation International would want to tap into the growing online gaming world of Facebook. Of course, one big question remains: Will people want to play a game with a message? That’s something that will be a challenge for developer Talkie.
“Talkie’s new game will empower users to get excited about protecting nature and making environmentally smart decisions in their everyday life,” said Peter Seligmann, chairman, CEO and founder of Conservation International.
Being involved in the eco-friendly world keeps us in tune with nature and the environment, and of course, high fashion. Have you ever noticed that nature is full of ironies and stark contrasts? For instance, inexpensive coal is closely related chemically to diamonds and yet they are in a completely different spectrum. The irony is that diamonds cause more bloodshed and environmental problems than coal mining. Diamonds are also used in industrial machinery because they are hard and are not corrosive. But why are diamonds valuable when they are not expensive naturally and are used in machinery? The answer is in marketing and fashion. If you’re just going for the look of diamonds, you need to understand that there are more options than meet the eye.
Simulated and synthetic diamonds help narrow the deficit between demand and supply. The understanding of the geological processes that forms diamonds have enabled scientists to develop techniques to manufacture man made diamonds. Synthetic diamonds produced by current technologies have properties very similar or often times superior to natural diamonds. They find use in jewelry and are much cheaper than natural diamonds but just as beautiful.
The need for diamond based cutting tools led to the development of technology for manufacturing man made diamonds. It is now possible to produce flawless man made diamonds due to refinement and new advances in technology. Unlike synthetic diamonds, natural diamonds are very expensive and often have a trail of blood and crime.
Gemstone grade man made diamonds are mostly produced by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Temperature High Pressure (HTHP) processes. Diamonds are produced by the HPHT process by treating carbon or graphite under high temperature and pressure. CVD involves chemical reactions between precursor gases to deposit diamond crystals over a seed.
CVD polycrystalline, CVD single large crystal, HPHT grit and HPHT single large crystal are the four main types of artificial or man made diamonds. For industrial purposes HPHT grit and CVD polycrystalline diamonds are used. They are used as abrasives and in cutting and drilling tools. Single large crystals produced by HPHT and CVD processes are mostly used as gemstones. Synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants are used in engagement rings and other diamond jewelry and are available at most jewelry stores.
It’s amazing how much attention celebrities give their causes and with Actor and Activist Ben Affleck and the diamond issues in Africa, it’s no different. Affleck testified before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee March 8, 2011. He has enough power and persuasion to make a difference, but will others follow suit on the blood diamond issue? We are, as always, committed to supporting causes which bring to light the human rights abuses and will be joining Ben Affleck’s cause.
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Actor Ben Affleck and other activists are urging the United States to appoint a special envoy for the Democratic Republic of Congo and to help ensure elections scheduled there in November are free and fair. Affleck, founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative, testified this week before the U.S. Congress.
“The next step is for Congress to push the U.S. government to create a certification program like we did with the ‘blood diamonds’ when we said it’s not acceptable to buy diamonds and have the terrible atrocities occur in West Africa.”
One of the things most people hear when they go to buy an engagement or wedding ring is the stores boasting of their compliance with the Kimberly Process and that their diamonds are “conflict-free.”
Unfortunately for nearly all the stores which sell mined diamonds (aside from Canadian diamonds), is that the consumer is being fed a false PR statement.
The system of monitoring and enforcing compliance with Kimberley Process minimum standards is based on a peer-review mechanism and therefore weak. No third-party monitoring is foreseen.
Internal control mechanisms are weak in several important countries such as Angola and the DRC due to capacity, technical shortcomings and corruption. This equally applies to the voluntary system of warranties of the diamond industry represented by the World Diamond Council.
Another critique from civil society organizations is that when confronted with clear examples of non-compliance of participant countries (e.g. Brazil, Zimbabwe, Guyana, Ghana and Venezuela) the Kimberley Process reacts only slowly and often ineffectively. Ian Smillie, former PAC Research Coordinator and important founder of the KP, who disengaged from the Kimberley Process in 2009, has said: “we have seen more and more examples of how criminals and diamond dealers and smugglers and even governments have been able to bypass, subvert and ignore the KPCS with almost complete impunity.”
So what can we do? Get educated. Don’t buy into the marketing ploys. Think outside the box when buying an engagement ring.
The Adriano 1 carat Asscher solitaire is simply stunning. With a mix between the emerald and princess cuts, this unique cut is also known as a square emerald. This elegant stone had its beginnings in the early 1900′s by a diamond company in Holland. The cut became so well loved in Europe that Queen Juliana of Holland deemed it fit for royalty and named it the “Royal Asscher” diamond. Over a century later, it is still a choice of the royals and celebrities. It gained fame on the HBO series, “Sex in the City”, it has been a favorite of the bride-to-be who wants unique and fashionable style.
