A meaningful gift for mom does not have to be expensive or time-consuming to create. Mothers

appreciate the little things their kids do for them. We have come up with a list of 10 best ideas to help

you get started with creating that special gift that will last a lifetime.

1. Have you ever thought about all the reasons why you love your mom? Make a “Reasons

Why I Love You” book for her and flip through the memories of you two together.

2. What are the things your mom can’t leave the house without? Make the ultimate

mommy survival kit filled with all her favorite things. Add lipgloss, nail polish, chocolate,

hair ties, nail filer, etc. to a mini cosmetic case she can carry in her purse.

3. When was the last time you and your mom took a professional picture together? Plan a

girl’s day, get your hair and makeup done and take photos. This “mommy and me photo

shoot” experience will create a memory in and of itself, and the prints will last forever.

4. Moms love quotes as much as we do! Find a way to get your mother’s favorite message

printed or embroidered on a pillow. This can be a DIY craft for those who are up for the

challenge, but for those who need some help visit this website to get started.

5. Does your mom love to cook? Even if she’s a pro already, you can create a recipe book

of new recipes with her favorite ingredients. Return the favor and prepare meals for her

like she has always done for you.

6. Give your mom a gift that truly comes from the heart; a hand written poem or letter.

This is a unique, thoughtful way to express how much she means to you.

7. Remember how your mom used to follow you around everywhere with the video

camera? Now it’s your turn! Put together video montages of your mom to capture her

life now just like she used to capture yours.

8. Create some personalized coupons to treat her to “free” moments of love and affection.

They can read “Free for a shoulder rub” or “Available for a movie together.” You’ll have

fun coming up with special ways to spoil her.

9. There is nothing mom loves more than watching her family grow. Create a thumbprint

family tree of all her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephew’s thumbprints. She will

love seeing the thumbprint tree grow after every new generation.

10. Remind your mom of all the moments you shared together in a jar full of memories.

Write down your favorite memories – funny, happy, and embarrassing – and add them

to a jar so when mama needs a walk down memory lane she can pull out a memory and

smile.

Creating a personal gift for Mother’s day will give her something to cherish for a lifetime. We

would love to hear from you, share with us ways you tell your mom she’s loved.

The 4Cs are just the starting point to getting to know a diamond

Have you ever wondered why two diamonds with exactly the same 4Cs (Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat) have extremely different prices? Well, there is a critical characteristic that neither most jewelers nor your diamond certificate is telling you about diamonds, and it has an enormous impact on the brilliance, sparkle and the price of your diamond!

The secret factor that nobody is talking about

The parameter that is so imperative to the brilliance of a diamond, and is often unknown to the consumer, is called pellucidity or diaphaneity. Pellucidity refers to the degree of light that can pass through a material. 

Dictionary Meaning: Early 17th century: from Latin pellucidus, from perlucere 'shine through'.

The lesser the light that passes through a diamond, the lower its transparency and in turn lower the brilliance! Thus even though a diamond has been cut and polished to ideal proportions, it will not sparkle to the fullest because the light reflection will be impeded because of lower pellucidity. In some cases a diamond could be hazy or even be semi-transparent! This is why I do not recommend buying a diamond online because no grading report mentions pellucidity.

What impacts pellucidity?

To understand pellucidity, we need to understand diamond formation. You know that all diamonds are made up of carbon. But did you know that there is a significant difference in the “quality of crystal” of two diamonds - even if the 4Cs are the same? 

This difference is based on how the original diamond rough was formed. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth’s surface in alluvial deposits and form alongside other minerals such as quartz, corundum etc. Sometimes a diamond may start growing around a mineral or sometimes minerals grow around Diamonds, which affect the pellucidity of a diamond. Therefore, the amount of light that can transmit through a diamond is different because of the differences in the formation of the original diamond crystal. And if a diamond is not transparent enough, it cannot transmit enough light, affecting the brilliance and fire of a diamond.

Here is an example

Compare a 2 carat diamond with another 2 Ct diamond of exactly the same size, color, and clarity. Furthermore, both diamonds have “Triple Excellent” “Cut”, “Proportions” and “Symmetry”, and no “Fluorescence”. Despite all these similarities, there could still be a distinct difference in the transparency and fire of the two diamonds!  The primary reason for that difference is because the “quality of the original diamond crystal” was different for both the diamonds.  Also be aware that in many cases, the worse stone may be priced at par with the better one (to take advantage of the lack of awareness). In such a case, a buyer could either (1) negotiate a lower price for the less brilliant diamond, or (2) walk away from the diamond with lower quality material.

Isn’t it a result of Clarity and Fluorescence?

I want to point out two important caveats. 1) This haziness or cloudiness is not the same as the haziness that may come from fluorescence. The diamond may not be fluorescent and still be hazy. 2) Secondly, this haziness is also not because of the inclusions (internal features) and blemishes (external irregularities) which technically define the clarity of the diamond.

What should you do if you already have the diamond?

Clean the diamond every couple of weeks to keep oils, grime and dirt from depositing on the diamond. If the diamond is clean, it will shine to its maximum. Now that you already have the diamond, the most important thing is to enjoy the diamond as it probably has a very special meaning in your life.  And if you ever are buying a new diamond, please keep the following tips in mind.

What should you do if you are buying a new diamond?

Understanding the quality of rough and transparency will come with practice once you have looked at enough number of diamonds. It is a matter of training your eye to look for the quality of the diamond crystal along with the 4 Cs and the Cut, Proportions and Symmetry.You have to look out for such haziness not only in solitaires but also in smaller diamonds which are already set in jewelry. This is what I recommend you do when evaluating a diamond for the quality of the material when you are buying it.

1) First make sure the diamond is clean of any grime, finger prints, dirt etc. (See details at the end for cleaning with Selvyt*).

2) Make sure the stone does not have fluorescence.

3) Look with a 10x loop to ensure there is no cloudiness because of inclusions, blemishes or fractures.

4) Next compare your stone to multiple diamonds of the same color and clarity. Put them right next to each other to make sure the diamond you buy is transparent, brilliant, and not hazy.

As you are getting used to understanding the pellucidity of the diamond, make sure that you are working with a highly trusted jeweler who can guide you in the right direction: someone who extremely knowledgeable, well respected, truthful and honest.

For questions about this topic or anything else about diamonds or jewelry, please feel free to contact us by clicking here.

* You or the jeweler can clean the diamond with a lint-free cloth used to clean diamonds. The name for this cloth is Selvyt. It’s actually the name of a brand but most jewelers call the cleaning cloth Selvyt. It’s kind of like Kleenex a name interchangeably used for tissues!

How JYOTI Jewelry Collections connect you to what's really meaningful in your life!

When I launched JYOTI Couture Jewelry building upon 7 generations of my family’s heritage, I had 2 goals for the jewelry:

(1) To complement the internal and external beauty of the woman

(2) And more importantly, to connect her to the real person she is!

Fine Jewelry is a very special purchase, and I didn’t want it to be about the flowers, nature and travels that a designer is normally inspired by. I wanted it to be more empowering for her! I wanted something that narrated her story, and celebrated her every single day! She is a busy woman who is running on all cylinders! She wears many different hats personally, professionally and philanthropically. In the process, she may lose touch with her inner self. I know I did! So I put myself in her shoes and designed each collection inspired by her life, learnings, yearnings and experiences…with the goal to capture her soul, her essence, and her energy. And so was born JYOTI Jewelry Collections: Couture jewelry which creates a framework, a memoir, a soulful work of art. The purpose for this framework is to connect her to the most momentous experiences, her dearest loved ones, her passions, her inspirations and her most cherished dreams. I invite you to visit us at www.JyotiNewYork.com

I look forward to showing you in person how our jewelry helps you connect today and celebrates you for generations!  Click here to email or call us to make an appointment.

The Coeur Collection (Our very first signature collection)

http://www.jyotinewyork.com/the-coeur-versatile-earrings/

"Coeur" is the root of the word Core – which means “heart” and “center”. Inspired by you, the collection connects YOU (the diamond in the center represents you) - to the 6 things that are closest to your heart (the 6 petals):

Dreams that keep you going
Passions that energize you
Memories you cherish
Things you hold close
Places you have been
People you love

Layered Moments Collection

http://www.jyotinewyork.com/layered-moments-ring/

Life is infused with layers of experiences and memories. Although randomly scattered, beautiful moments abound and make us laugh, cry, smile, and make us the person we are. This remarkable ring represents those enriching experiences with gracefully fluid layers of paisleys. Uncut diamonds set in strategic randomness celebrate the memorable moments in our lives.

Balance, Strength & Wisdom Collection

http://www.jyotinewyork.com/strength-balance-wisdom-necklace/

3 connected circles augur irreplaceable Balance, strength and wisdom in our everyday lives. We look up to the Indian Goddesses Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati as we pursue these traits in our life. The “Balance” circle in the center represents the well accomplished fulfilling life balanced with time for self, loved ones and the pursuit of passions. The strength circle on the left, above the heart embodies the courage to face challenges and to come out victorious. The “Wisdom” circle on the right represents intellect, experience and intuition which render prudence every step of the way.

Bubbles Collection

http://www.jyotinewyork.com/bubbles-collection/

This fun and playful collection represents the “celebration of champagne bubbles”, the “relaxation of bath bubbles” and the “laughter of poppin’ bubbles”. So relax, celebrate and laugh – you deserve all the very best!

Eternally Beautiful Collection

The Eternally Beautiful Collection reminds you that You are always beautiful inside and out, casual or dressed up, playful or focused. The "Eternally Beautiful" collection complements you in all your moments of beauty.

Congratulations recent graduate (or soon to be a graduate)! It is truly a time to celebrate all your hard work, your dedication and your achievements! It is also the time uncover, discover, explore, learn and experience - so you are well on your way to head start a successful career! Here are 5 critical steps to be followed for a truly rewarding career and to stay connected to what is truly important to you.

1) Determine what you enjoy

You will often hear “follow your passion”. Passion is a very strong word, some of us are fortunate to know what we are passionate about, but for most of us it is difficult to figure out what our passion is. So what I would say is discover what you truly enjoy! Take a step back, look inwards and be mindful of your daily experiences to determine what tasks, processes, roles, activities you enjoy. Think about the industry you would like working in, and build from there (banking, consulting, technology, medicine, fashion, real estate, public policy, pharmaceuticals etc.). Once you know the industry, figure out the roles you would like. For instance: do you like marketing, analyzing data, developing product, forming relationships, sales, human resources etc. If it is the role that drives you then reverse your soul search and figure out what industries would you be the happiest in.

2) Understand & cultivate your strengths

It is commonly said “follow your heart”, but it is also very important to know and follow your personal inherent strengths. What are you naturally good at? What type of tasks and activities you do very well? What can you get better at? For instance: if you are very creative, then be in a creative role where your work is appreciated. Or if you are a relationship builder, you might want to be in sales or business development where it comes naturally to you and you can do it with finesse and you can do it much better than others. Working in an area where you play up your strengths sets you up for success!

3) Discover your weaknesses

As much as it is important to know your strengths it is even more important to know your weaknesses: (1) It will help you develop them further. (2) Secondly, so you don’t get stuck in a job where your weakness is the main requirement for the job. Because if you end up in a job which does not suit your natural tendencies and your inherent skills, it will be an uphill battle. For instance if you find a job in marketing and you are great at coming up with new ideas, but if you are not detail oriented, you will have a tough time executing your ideas successfully. There will be delays, balls will be dropped, and things will fall through the cracks.

If you are competitive and want to excel in your job then you will always be frustrated as the results will not be the same as what is expected or it will cause too much effort and heart-ache to get the same results that someone else who is more organized and is more detail oriented can get. Getting a little better is possible but changing your inner wiring completely, is easier said than done. Not impossible – but pretty difficult!

4) Learn, Explore & Experience

To determine what industry and functions you would enjoy and to discover your strengths & weaknesses, always be open to exploring, discovering and learning. Be a sponge, read, listen, and observe, experience. Speak to professionals around you: your employers, professors, your friends, your parents, their friends’, the parents of your friends, your relatives and neighbors etc. and ask them what they do. Ask them if they could connect you to someone else in a particular industry or function you are interested in. Ask people what are their responsibilities at work, what their day looks like, do they travel, whom they manage, what do they create or develop, what are the challenges and opportunities in their job/industry?

But don’t be afraid to ask the difficult questions: what they don’t like, what keeps them up at night, what is the potential pay range? Knowing about the compensation is very important; For instance, many people find fashion to be very glamorous but get the shock of their lives when they realize how little the industry pays and how cut throat it is. If you had known about the pitfalls and challenges of an industry, you might have made a different decision for yourself despite loving one particular aspect of an industry. Learn about different industries and roles so you start developing a concrete idea of what you want to do.

Once you short list a few industries/jobs, then get a deeper understanding of the industry by doing internships and projects in the industry. If you can’t do an internship or a project, explore shadowing a professional for a few days. Be open to unpaid and volunteer opportunities too because many times that is an excellent way to determine what might be a great job for you or even better yet, what might be a great job but really not for you! And that insight is worth a million bucks! Furthermore, the skills and exposure you will develop will be invaluable in your next job and will be a great addition on your resume.

5) Develop that Relationship

Everyone needs mentors and you will too. It is important to reach out and connect, but even more important to nurture that relationship that you already sowed the seeds for. Some of these people could become your core group of mentors. When you seek advice from someone, follow up with a nice thank you note. Email works fine, but as I learned in business school, the best thank you notes are the hand-written ones. Furthermore, follow up twice a year with an in person meeting, email or a hand-written note, checking in on how they are doing and sharing information about what developments you have made. So that it does not seem like you connect only when you need something. Always ask how you can be of assistance to the person who advised you and also to the person who originally made the introduction. It is a circle of help that keeps us propelling forward – always be willing to help, connect, and advise as you progress in your career.