Happy New Year !
The news media is buzzing with the strong finish retailers had in 2003. Gauging from our mid-December orders, things shaped up nicely for our customers as consumers felt reassured by stronger economic predictions and the capture of Saddam Hussein.

We would like to wish you a happy and prosperous new year. To celebrate, we're offering 20% off every order over $150. This offer is not valid with any other discounts. Take 20% off everything on our site, including sale and close out items. Note: we are not offering this discount on our lowest price for pendants and rings by the gram (these remain at 49¢/gram in quantities above 10 pcs.), nor does the discount apply to our box of 100 cords, sorry.

Article: Garnet
Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January & anniversary gemstone for the second year of marriage. Garnet derives its name from the Latin word granatus, meaning like a grain. This is a reference to the way garnets appear as grains or seeds embedded in the matrix.

The garnet is actually a family of gems rather than a single gemstone. They are found in large quantity and in fine qualities, so a wide selection is available at affordable prices. Garnet is found in every color of the spectrum except blue. Colors range from deep ruby red to emerald green.

This family of stones has been dubbed the gem of faith, constancy and truth. Asian tribes carved garnets into bullets in the belief that their fiery color would inflict more deadly wounds. They were ground into powder for the treatment of fever or jaundice.

The best known members of this family are the deep red almandine and pyrope garnets. The almandine is what most people think of when garnet is mentioned, and is the type we use in our jewelry at Whirled Planet. It is a dark red with a slightly brownish or violet tinge. The pyrope tends to have less brown in it.

Another variety, rhodolite, was widely used in Greece during the period between the reign of Alexander the Great and the conquest of Rome. Alexander popularized the cutting of cameos from precious stones, and rhodolite was ideal for this purpose. Engravers created a button shape (flat bottom with rounded top) in which to carve their artwork. This was the forerunner of the ever popular cabochon shape seen in jewelry to this day.

Spessartite trends into oranges in a variety of shades from tangerine to cinnamon. In the late 1960's a new species of garnet was discovered. Tsavorite, named after the Tsavo region of Africa, resembles a fine green emerald. This type of garnet is increasingly rare and therefore costly. The very rare demantoid variety of andradite is an emerald green with a diamond-like fire. Uvarovite garnet may also be emerald green, but it is found only in tiny sizes. Grossularite, another variety of garnet, resembles fine jade.

Fashions come and go but garnet is always popular. Beyond its designation as a birthstone and anniversary stone, it is a versatile gem. Whether with denim, lace or black velvet, garnet is often the perfect match. You can find garnet in almost every design of jewelry on our site.

To get an idea of the designs we offer in this popular stone, click here.

Tucson Gem & Jewelry Show:
This is the largest gem and jewelry show in the country, and possibly in the world. The whole town of Tucson becomes one big jewelry show with wholesale exhibitors from all over the world displaying their wares at very competitive prices. At the show, which is held at more than 30 venues around town, you can find everything from crystals and fossils to beads to finished jewelry. For more info, visit http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/

We will be exhibiting in the Gem Mall, booth #301. We are bringing in over 300 lbs. of silver jewelry specially made for this show. Many of the items displayed will be one-of-a-kind pieces. Special care has been taken to produce the highest quality goods, most of which will be sold by weight. Please call 888-408-0072, or email us if you need info.

Article: What's up for Spring?
Hard to imagine that Spring is just around the corner. Many parts of the country are hunkering down for the worst of Winter weather, so how can we think about Spring?

The world of fashion looks ever forward. It seems like it's always about next season. One thing we've discovered over the years from our valuable pool of wholesale customers is that while fashions come and go, nothing beats clean, contemporary styling. When we make selections, it is usually based more on how it looks and feels than on what's hot now or what's hot next.

Taking that with a grain of salt, we have some forecasts to help you make your selections for fairer weather.

Hobo, clutch, satchel, short shoulder: all are strong for the upcoming seasons. What matters most going forward is the color: brights continue to be strong. Handbags in lime, pink and bright blue will be the rage. What's interesting about this trend though, is that it started to take hold in fall. A number of designers took a bold step toward brights at a time when we usually see browns, burgundies and blacks dominate. Pink has been so strong since fall, in fact, that some are calling it the "new black." Go figure.

Simple, clean silhouettes will dominate, thankfully. Look for clutches to continue in popularity, as well as elongated shapes that are both functional and appealing to the eye. Graffiti styles continue to be popular, featuring popular icons, advertisements, etc.

We have added some cute silk purses from Vietnam as the first installment of a whole new series bags and purses with vivid colors as the theme. These new purses are available in lime, pink, blue, purple, burgundy, antique white, antique green, and saffron orange. Click here to see them now, then check back in February when we add more to the line.

Spring Bling: Jewelry forecasts call for big bold designs like cocktail rings and large, single stone rings. Chandelier earrings are looking to be strong for the foreseeable future. The stones to look for are citrine, peridot and anything with a bit of flash like rainbow moonstone or labradorite.

Hope to see you in Tucson in February. Be sure to take advantage of our 20% off sale this month... This is our best deal of the year!

Aloha,

Mike McGinnis
Whirled Planet
888-408-0072
http://indiasilver.com/store.asp