Ms. Marple. All that Glitters is not gold

No, this is not the Eldorado dreamland, and not Tsar Solomon's mines, and not Ali-Baba's cave. This is a shop in the trade complex in the capital of Saudi Arabia. And what do we have in Tashkent? The Christmas holidays are approaching and I want to look my best. (Of course not as good as Madonna at her age but something close!) I was advised to visit the shops of the business complex at the Alay market and the TSUM (Rus. abbr. Central Department Store) near the A.Navoi Theater.

One can find the jewelry department on the first and second floor of the TSUM. As always, there are many wedding rings here. By local traditions they are smooth. Carved wedding rings have less demand - the superstitious bride and groom believe that this ring will make their life as rough as the item itself is. If the ring is smooth then life will also be smooth. Young people choose rings for the forefinger or little finger. Nowadays large golden rings - "kongo" - are very popular. These rings are called so by the salesmen in the shops. It is not known if they are really called "kongo". I would like to mention that sometimes the salesmen invent the names for the items by themselves. In one shop at the Alay market I saw "cafi" - items resembling openwork not completely knitted gloves or a bracelet joined by various braids to three or five rings worn on the finger. What do you think is their name in the shops of Tashkent? JADEE! I hardly suppressed my laughter. Now half the country is watching just another Brazilian soap opera "The Clone" where the main heroine, whose name is Jadee does not want to resign to the fate of a Muslim wife and, covered in her husband's gold, always runs away to her Brazilian lover. I am so envious of her! You should see how much gold she wears!

Let's return to our shops. I did not like anything - everything is plain and totally not exclusive. However I liked the "Rubin" (rus. ruby) shop. If I am not mistaken, this is the only shop where a customer is seated at a comfortable armchair and the whole wealth of the shop is spread out on the table in front of him. You can quite calmly and comfortable try on and be consulted. Salesmen say that yellow gold of 750 alloy is considered to be the most fashionable and affordable. From all the precious stones items from black pearls and aquamarine and, of course, diamonds enjoy widest popularity. Talking about alloys, here is some information about the composition of gold. So, the 585 alloy. Gold composes 58.5%, the rest 41.5% are divided among the composing parts of the base metal: silver, copper, zinc, nickel and palladium. Thus, for example, the addition of silver and copper in various proportions gives a wide palette of tints from red or pink to yellow. It is interesting that the red color is the cheapest because of the addition of copper and the there is only 8% of silver in this type of gold.

White color is obtained with the help of copper, zinc and nickel. Nickel is prohibited in Europe as it causes allergy. This is why in civilized countries nickel is not used in making of jewelry which pierces the skin and is scantily used on surfaces of single details contacting with the human's skin. (God, I grew wiser, shopping for jewelry!). New shops selling instruments and gems opened at the center of the Alay market business complex. Here one can find placers of multicolored gemstones in little boxes. Pearls cost from 500 to 2500 soums a piece. You want a string of pearls 40 cm in length? You will require 34 pearls for this. Multiplying by 2500 soums we get 85000 soums only for the pearls. Then the jeweler charges money for his work and in a few days you are the owner of an exclusive jewelry item.

Here one can also find "taspeekh" (Muslim beads) made from various jobbing and semiprecious stones (costing from US$90 and above). Tired and having extended my knowledge (but no my purchases), I returned home and started watching in depression the illustrations from Renee Newman's book "Gemstone Buying Guide".

Golden jewelry is not practically made from only pure gold. The noble metal is mixed with silver and other components. They give the alloy a certain colored tint, but are themselves prone to corrosion. This is why the golden jewelry darkens with time and has to be cleaned periodically. A well-tried method of cleaning gold: an old toothbrush is dipped in the mixture of toothpowder and the jewelry is cleaned until it restores its shine. Be careful not to damage the jewelry.

Silver is prone to corrosion to a greater extent and it must be cleaned mote often. Besides toothpaste and powder one can use the solution of aqueous ammonia. The darkened jewelry is put for 2 hours in a cup of vinegar and baking soda (2 tablespoons of soda for half a cup of vinegar). Then it is removed and dried with a towel. The jewelry will shine like new. Remember that silver is a delicate metal. One must not leave the silver jewelry close to perfume, powder, toilet soap and soap with a mixture of sulphur. It is desirable to avoid the exposure of silver to sweat, any acids and salts.

If metallic bijouterie started to grow dim, put it into a small metal vessel with a detergent diluted in warm water and in 10-15 minutes the jewelry will restore its shine. Then the jewelry has to be dried with a soft flannel cloth. The jewelry with imitation diamonds is treated in the same way. In order to make your genuine brilliants glitter again put them for half an hour into a cup of hot suds with a few drops if aqueous ammonia.

Pearls demand a delicate treatment. Try to wear them as often as possible - this way they will not lose their luster. Wipe them with a soft moist cloth from time to time. Do not keep them in a drawer or a box that does not have the access of air. Take the pearls off (even the imitation ones) when you are using hairspray and other perfumed aerosols. In order to clean the pearls rub them slightly with olive oil. By the way, amber is cleaned in the same way. When you are going to the hairdresser leave the jewelry and expensive bijouterie at home. Being exposed to the various hair remedies and dyes they might irremediably lose their beauty.