Learn Digital Marketing

How to Learn Digital Marketing

What is the best way to learn digital marketing for free and in the comfort of your own home? Fortunately, several free and paid online resources can help you build the skills needed to become a modern digital marketing professional.

In this guide, you will find the best resources to teach yourself digital marketing in the fastest possible way.

What is Digital Marketing.

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Digital marketing is the process of promoting and selling products or services on the Internet using one or more marketing channels like search engines, social media platforms, and PPC advertising.

With digital marketing, you can find audiences interested in your brand, interact with them, and nurture them until they become customers.

The most important digital marketing types are search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, PPC advertising, social media marketing, affiliate marketing, video marketing, website marketing, and email marketing.

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How to Learn Digital Marketing For Free

To become a successful digital marketing consultant, you must develop the skills to work with all online marketing technologies. In addition, you need to acquire the necessary knowledge so that you can combine them together to achieve the best possible outcome.

It's hard work that requires a lot of patience and perseverance, but the good news is that you don't have to attend college or a classroom course to become a digital marketing expert.

You don't even have to spend your time searching Google for learning resources.

We did our research and created a list of the best resources (almost all free) you can follow and build your skills from the comfort of your home.

To learn digital marketing, you need to become an expert in the following areas:

1. Search Engine Marketing
2. Content Marketing
3. Inbound Marketing
4. Social Media Marketing
5. Email Marketing
6. Affiliate Marketing
6. Video Marketing
7. Digital Marketing Tools

1. Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing is a major component of digital marketing.

SEM has to do with marketing on the various search engines using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Paid Search Advertising (Google Ads or Bing Ads).

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it ranks higher in the search engine's organic results. SEO is important in online marketing because it can drive highly targeted traffic to your website. It’s a slower process compared to Paid Ads, but it can generate better results in the long term.

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If you are a beginner in digital marketing, it’s necessary to understand that SEO is not a static discipline but changes constantly. Google is reportedly making more than 255 changes to its ranking algorithm yearly.

This means that if you want to pursue an SEO Career, you need to monitor the SEO industry for changes and adjust your digital marketing campaigns accordingly.

SEO is not hard to learn but requires a structured learning approach. To make things easier, the SEO process can be broken down into three main areas:

Technical SEO - these are rules related to the technical side of SEO. It deals with crawling and indexing issues, page speed, the use of structured data, XML sitemaps, and other settings that don't have to do with a website's content but with the overall site infrastructure.

On-Page SEO - involves techniques you can apply to your content to make it friendlier to users and search engine crawlers. It has to do with using keywords within your content, page headings and formatting, using the proper ALT text for images, and other on-site factors.

Off-Page SEO - these are techniques you can use to improve the credibility of your website. The most popular is getting links from other websites to increase your domain authority and rank higher in the Google SERPS.

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For beginners, it may sound like a lot to consume, but don't worry, the following guides will help you get started with SEO and teach you everything you need to know to succeed in this space.

PPC Marketing

Pay-per-click marketing or paid search advertising (PSA) is the other component of search engine marketing.

With Pay-Per-Click ads, you can reach your target customers faster than SEO, but you pay every time someone clicks on your ads.

Currently, the biggest PPC network is Google Ads, which allows you to show your ads in Google Search Results, on Google properties (like Google Discover, Gmail, and YouTube), and on websites participating in Google AdSense.

Learning PPC is not difficult. You can go through the various online courses (see below) and become a PPC Certified expert in a few months. Getting a certification alone does not make you a good digital marketing specialist. You must work with PPC campaign management and gain practical experience.

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Things you need to master as a PPC specialist include:Setting up paid campaigns on Google and Bing Identifying your target audience
Creating engaging ads Monitoring and optimizing campaigns Performing competitor analysis At the end of the day, your role as a digital marketing professional is to combine the results of PPC with other channels (like SEO or Social Media Marketing) and deliver the best possible outcome for your clients.

The following resources will teach you everything you need to know about PPC:

2. Content Marketing

Every digital marketing campaign is based on content. Whether it’s SEO, social media marketing, or email marketing, you need content to reach and engage your target audience through different channels.

Content marketing is the process of identifying, creating, and promoting the right type of content to the right audience.

To become a good content marketer, you must have excellent writing, SEO copywriting, and analytical skills.

You need to learn:How to create user personas and define your target audience
The different content types and how to use them.

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How to identify keywords for your content marketing campaigns.

How to create content to satisfy the searcher's intent.

How to create people-first content.

How to perform content audits.

How to perform competitor analysis to spot opportunities.

How to promote your content.

How to measure the performance of your content campaigns.

Learning content marketing is an ongoing process and requires a lot of practice. Creating content, whether it's text or video, is an art that can be mastered with practice and trial and error.

Like other disciplines, you cannot become a content marketer overnight. You need to build your skills gradually, and the resources below are a great starting point.

3. Inbound Marketing

t the beginning of this post, I mentioned that a good digital marketer should be able to use different online marketing techniques together for the best possible outcome.

That’s exactly what inbound marketing is all about. The role of Inbound marketing is to coordinate the activities of all other digital marketing campaigns to provide a remarkable user experience.

The overall goal is to have a solid process for attracting new customers, engaging with them, gaining their trust, and earning their satisfaction.

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Inbound marketing has four steps:Attract - using different mediums like blog posts, social media postings, and influencer marketing, your goal is to get the attention of users.

Convert - once you get visits, the next step is to get them to execute a desired action, i.e., convert. Engage - use email marketing and other techniques to engage with them and keep them aware of your brand,
Delight - offer them great products and excellent customer service to delight them in becoming loyal customers and brand ambassadors.

Companies that can do this successfully are more likely to grow their customer base faster than companies that run isolated campaigns.

Your job as a digital marketing manager is to ensure that all digital marketing campaigns share the same goals and work towards the same targets.

To learn more about inbound marketing, visit the resources below:

4. Social Media Marketing

Everybody agrees that imagining a world without Facebook or Twitter is hard nowadays. Social media networks have dominated our lives and our approach to digital marketing.

Since the goal of digital marketing is to connect with your potential customers in their favorite channels, a new form of marketing was born, and this is social media marketing.

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Social media marketing is what the name implies, i.e., marketing on various social networks to find and engage with your customers.

Facebook is the most widely used network, with over 3 billion active monthly users, followed by Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

A great place to start learning social media marketing is to learn how Facebook Ads work. Facebook Ads Courses will teach you everything you need about Facebook Paid Campaigns.

Once you feel comfortable running social media campaigns on Facebook, you can enhance your skills by learning more about Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter marketing.

Besides the paid advertising aspect of social media marketing, as an aspiring social media marketer, you also need to master the following skills:Create engaging content for social media networks
Setting social media goals and creating strategies.

Performing market research and analysis of your competitor's social media campaigns
Reporting on the results of your social media campaigns.

Learn how to use social media listening and management tools
How to find and work with influencers

Use the following resources to get started with social media marketing:

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing is not dead. Despite what you might think, email is still one of the most effective ways to turn visitors into customers and existing customers into repeat customers.

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To run successful email marketing campaigns, you must know your audience first. Otherwise, your emails will end up in the spam folder of your users. You can think of email marketing as the last piece of the digital marketing puzzle. While all other marketing techniques concentrate on finding new customers, email marketing is about closing the deal.

To get started with email marketing, you should build the following skills:Learn how email marketing automation works
Understand how digital sales funnel work
Get practical experience with email marketing tools.

Learn how to build an email list
Understand the factors affecting email delivered.

There are many learning options to learn the ins and outs of email marketing. I recommend starting with the following resources:

6. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is one of the oldest forms of marketing, where you make a commission by selling other company's products. It's a popular method marketers use to make money online and can be used in two ways.

The first way is to promote other products on your website and social channels and earn a commission for each sale. That's what the diagram above describes in detail.

The second way is to set up your own affiliate program and pay other creators commissions for promoting and selling your products or services.

To learn affiliate marketing, you have to go through a number of steps. The most important are:

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Understand how affiliate marketing works.
Join affiliate marketing networks.

Find products to promote.

Learn what type of content works for affiliate marketing.

Learn how to write great product reviews.

Understand Google rules regarding affiliate links.

When you start with affiliate marketing, you'll soon realize that success depends on how well other marketing channels (SEO, content marketing, social media marketing) perform. So, learning digital marketing will help you also excel as an affiliate marketer.

Use the following guides to start your affiliate marketing journey.

7. Video Marketing

Although video content can be used as part of content marketing and social media marketing campaigns, it's also a digital marketing process of its own.

Video marketing is the term used to describe the process of using video content to reach and engage with online users. The most popular video platforms are YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

What you need to learn about video marketing are the following:How to use different tools to create video content.
How to run paid ads to promote your videos.
What type of videos your audience likes to consume.

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How to use YouTube SEO to gain organic exposure for your videos.

The most widely used medium for video content is YouTube, and mastering organic and paid YouTube methods will help you build skills to work with other platforms too. So, as a beginner, you should focus on becoming an expert in YouTube marketing.

You can get started by visiting the following resources.

8. Digital Marketing Tools

One of the skills every digital marketing professional should develop is using different digital marketing tools for research, analysis, and reporting.

Remember that the role of a digital marketing manager is not to learn how to run SEO or social media campaigns (that’s the job of the SEO Expert or Social Media Manager) but to know how to orchestrate all processes so that they work toward the same goals.

To be able to do that, you need to learn how to use various data analysis tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Data reporting tools like Google Looker Studio and digital marketing tools like Semrush and Ahrefs.

When learning a tool, concentrate on the functions that will help you do your job better and faster. Try to automate tasks whenever possible, but don't rely on tools to tell you what to do. Use tools to get insights and data and your expertise to make marketing decisions.

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If you're starting now, the two tools you need to master are Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

Online Marketing Learning Tips

I’m sure you’ve realized by now that learning digital marketing is not easy.

It requires a lot of reading and hours of practice to learn how each technique works individually and how you can combine them for maximum results. On average, it takes 3-5 months to learn digital marketing for complete beginners.

The good news is that you can use the resources above to learn digital marketing at home and for Free. All you need is a willingness to learn and a lot of patience.

To make the process easier for you, follow the tips below:Start with SEO. Many of the concepts used by PPC, content marketing, and social media marketing are based on SEO principles. Building your SEO skills first will make it easier to learn the rest.

Practice, Practice, Practice. Internet marketing is not a theoretical concept, but it’s mainly practical. Once you understand the theory behind a strategy, try to execute it in practice. Monitor the results, optimize your campaigns, and learn from your mistakes.

Get Certified. As you progress through your learning, try to get certified. It’s a great way to showcase your expertise. Work with experienced Digital Marketers. Aim to work under the supervision of experienced digital marketers. They can make the transition from theory to practice easier, and you can learn a few tips and tricks not written in any books or courses.

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Start your own digital marketing blog. Having your own marketing blog will help you practice what you have learned and prove your expertise. Also, when you start writing about digital marketing, you can assess how well you know a topic or not.
Never stop learning. Digital marketing is an industry that constantly changes, and learning never stops. As a digital marketing professional, it's your job to stay in sync with the latest developments and keep your clients informed.

What are your favorite websites for learning Digital Marketing for free? Let me know in the comments if I missed any useful resources.

How Diamonds Jewelry is Made

Making of Jewelry

Jewelry making is a fine craft that demands skill and expertise. Several phases are involved in making diamond rings, from design and casting to polishing and quality control. This article will go over the steps involved in creating a diamond ring production process and how we go about it. 

Creating the perfect diamond ring from scratch takes dedication, craftsmanship, and patience. The consumer must first choose a metal for the band, then a stone, and finally a setting for the diamond. This is where it ends for the consumer, but for the jeweler, it begins a series of steps to create the ring.

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Diamond rings are made in two ways:

casting and handcrafted. We will compare and contrast both manufacturing processes. Today, I will take you behind the scenes of a jeweler's workshop to show you how diamond jewelry is produced.

Casting –How to Made Diamond Jewelry.

A thorough mold of the ring setting's shape and design is prepared first. It is popular because the same mold may be used for multiple castings to manufacture identical rings. Using computer-aided design models allows for easy customization of current diamond ring designs and reduces metal waste compared to handcrafted rings. Some jewelers may supply 3D CAD models and waxes to help you visualize the final piece. 

Visit our website for an insight into the diamond production process.

· Make a Ring Model in Wax

Either a trained craftsman carves a design out of wax, or 3D printing with computer-aided design programs creates a wax model of the ring.

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· You'll need to make a mold to cast the ring.

A specific plaster is placed over the wax ring and then covered with the wax model. When wax models are being produced in vast quantities, they may be arranged into a tree-like structure.

Once the plaster is set, it is baked at a high temperature to remove the wax, leaving a hole imprint in the mold.

· Making a Ring Model in the Desired Metal

After that, molten metal is poured into the mold and cooled before being removed to yield a raw casting. This procedure is usually carried out in a vacuum chamber to get rid of air spaces and pitting. The mold can also be used to make multiple duplicates of the same product design.

· Polishing and Finishing the Rough Cast Parts

Before being assembled, the raw casted metal components are removed and polished separately.

· Diamond Placing

Before the diamond is fixed, the jeweler measures the stone's size and adjustments to the setting's head to ensure that the center stone is securely fastened.

· Final Buffing, Polishing, and Rhodium Plating.

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The ring setting is buffed to give it a shiny luster after several polishing steps are completed to provide a clean finish. If the setting is white gold, the rhodium is applied by dipping it in an electroplating solution.

The Production of a Handmade Diamond jewelry.

Metal wire (usually platinum or gold) is molded into the desired design by hand fabrication, a traditional jewelry manufacturing method. The final piece of diamond jewelry is meticulously crafted by a sequence of cutting, hammering, annealing, and polishing procedures.

On the other hand, hand forging a ring will increase your production costs and result in minor differences in your ring design as a result of the human factor involved in creating the jewelry. I'll use a halo setting as an example of the handcrafted diamond production process and describe the general steps involved in designing a diamond ring. 

Jewelry design can vary slightly based on the metal type, the stone used, how it will be put and set up, and the skill and workmanship of the artist.

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· Forming a Band

To begin, cut a metal bar into the shape of a band (e.g., platinum or white gold). For the metal bar to be circular, the wearer's finger size determines bending it using a bending machine.

· Soldering

Soldering will be used to complete the project's closure. For soldering, a filler made of the same material as the metal bar is used to ensure consistency throughout the ring. This solder fills in the void left by the intersection of the two bars' ends, completing the circular shape. To keep the bar from oxidizing, flux paste is also applied to it.

Using a weak acidic solution after soldering the band will help remove any excess flux. This is also the point where the band is complete. The ring is then sized to ensure it is the correct size, and, if necessary, adjustments are made to get it to that size.

After polishing, the band is smooth and ready to be used as a simple wedding band.

· Creating Halo's Surroundings

To a lesser or greater extent, this step will depend on the type of set design. If you're making this kind of band, an arc-shaped leftover piece of the bar will be flush-fitted with the band's circumference.

By hammering on a mandrel, the arc's ends are thinned out. Flux paste is applied to the original band and arc before they are soldered together.

· Creating the Stone Setting

A curved setting punch is used to set a scrap of metal into a loop. The metal will be punched and then shaped into a conical shape to hold the diamond. To complete the ring, the gold cup must be attached to the band with a small screwdriver.

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A jeweler's saw is used to cut a wedge in the ring so that the cup can be attached. The ring and cup are then positioned and soldered together with gold filling specks. To remove any remaining burrs, the inside curve is smoothed out with a file after soldering.

· Putting the Stone on the Top

Before setting the diamond, the ring is first wrapped in thermoset plastic and clamped down with a ball clamp for further strength. An opening for the stone is then carved into the bottom of the cup. Following that, the prongs are forced down onto the diamond to secure it in place using a particular instrument.

· Cleaning and Polishing the diamond ring

After extracting the thermoplastic material, the ring is put in hot water and thoroughly cleaned to remove any remaining residue. The final step is to make any necessary corrections and polish the ring to give it a lustrous sheen. Another step of rhodium plating is performed on white gold rings to provide the jewelry with an attractive metallic luster and a lovely gloss.

Lastly, before being shipped, each jewelry item is subjected to a stringent quality control process that includes a predefined inspection schedule to ensure that it meets our quality standards.

Final Note

I hope you found this article on the process of producing diamond jewelry to be informative. If you are looking for a diamond ring, selecting a reputable seller at custom ring.net who keeps to high craftsmanship standards may assist you to feel more at ease during the purchasing process. 

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All of our jewelry is custom-made to your specifications. For a one-of-of-a-kind diamond ring, check out the selection we have available online or contact us to learn more about our customized diamond jewelry production. On our website, you may see samples of diamond rings in various settings.

Types of Gemstones

Gemstones for Jewelry - Types, Cuts, and Quality

Choose high-quality Gemstones for jewelry making to create stunning, long-lasting pieces. Our online store offers the best pricing on a wide range of high-quality products. Shop now.

Types of Gemstones for Jewelry

There are many types of gemstones for jewelry making. Here are the top three types of gemstones; browse our extensive selection:

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1. Precious Gemstones Diamond: Known for its exceptional brilliance and hardness, diamonds are the most sought-after gemstones for jewelry.

Ruby: With its rich red color, ruby is a precious gemstone often associated with passion and love.

Sapphire: Typically known for its deep blue hue, sapphires come in various colors and are highly prized for their beauty and durability.

Emerald: Recognized for its vibrant green color, emeralds are highly valued gemstones with a long history of jewelry use.

2. Semi-Precious Gemstones Amethyst: A purple variety of quartz, amethyst is a popular semi-precious gemstone known for its soothing properties.

Citrine: This yellow-to-orange gemstone is a form of quartz and is often associated with warmth, happiness, and abundance.

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Aquamarine: A blue-green variety of beryl, aquamarine is valued for its tranquil appearance, resembling the colors of the sea.
Peridot: With its distinctive olive-green color, peridot is a semi-precious gemstone often associated with growth, prosperity, and healing.

3. Organic GemstonesAmber: Formed from fossilized tree resin, amber is known for its warm, golden hues and is often used in jewelry and decorative pieces.

Pearl: Produced within the shells of oysters and other mollusks, pearls are organic gemstones valued for their lustrous appearance and timeless elegance.

Coral: Derived from the exoskeletons of marine polyps, coral is used in jewelry for its varied colors and unique texture.

Popular Cuts and Shapes of Gemstones

Gemstones are available in various cuts and shapes, each with unique characteristics and appeal. Here are some popular gems cutting and shapes:

1. Round Brilliant Cut

One of the most popular and timeless cuts for gemstones, especially diamonds. It is designed to maximize brilliance and sparkle by optimizing the reflection and refraction of light within the gemstone. The cut features a round shape with multiple facets, including triangular and kite-shaped elements, meticulously arranged to enhance the stone's brilliance. 

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The round shape and the symmetrical facets of the Round Brilliant cut result in a stunning display of light and create a classic, elegant appearance. This versatile cut can be used for various gemstones, not just diamonds.

2. Princess Cut

The Princess cut is square or rectangular with sharp, uncut corners. It is a relatively modern cut and is highly popular for engagement rings and other jewelry pieces. The cut features a brilliant-style facet arrangement, similar to the Round Brilliant cut, allowing exceptional brilliance and fire. The Princess cut is known for its clean, contemporary look, and the square shape makes it a great alternative to traditional round cuts. It offers a modern style and remarkable sparkle, making it a sought-after choice for those seeking a unique and glamorous gemstone.

3. Emerald Cut

The emerald cut is a step-cut design known for its rectangular shape with cut corners. It is most commonly associated with emerald gemstones but is also used for other precious stones, such as diamonds. The Emerald cut is characterized by long, parallel facets that resemble stairs, creating a unique optical appearance. This cut showcases the gemstone's clarity and color rather than its brilliance, emphasizing a more understated elegance. The rectangular shape and step-like facets of the Emerald cut to create a hall-of-mirrors effect, producing a mesmerizing play of light and captivating allure. Its timeless appeal and sophisticated look make it a popular choice for vintage and contemporary jewelry designs.

Importance of Quality in Gemstones
· Clarity and Transparency

Clarity and transparency refer to the visual characteristics of gemstones that determine how clear and free from imperfections they are and how well they transmit light.

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 Gemstones with high clarity have few or no visible inclusions (internal flaws) or blemishes (external flaws), allowing light to pass through them quickly. Transparency refers to the gemstone's ability to transmit light without significant obstruction or cloudiness. The higher the clarity and transparency of a gemstone, the more valuable it generally is, as these qualities enhance its beauty and overall appearance.

· Color Saturation and Hue

Color saturation and hue are important factors determining the intensity and purity of color in gemstones. Saturation refers to the intensity or richness of the color, while hue refers to the specific shade or tone of color exhibited by the gemstone. High color saturation means the gemstone is vibrant and intense, making it more visually appealing and valuable. The hue of a gemstone can vary within a particular color family, such as blue sapphires ranging from light blue to deep royal blue. Gems with desirable and well-saturated colors are highly sought after by collectors and consumers.

· Cut Precision and Sparkle

Cut precision and sparkle are related to the gemstone's faceting and how well it interacts with light. The cut of a gemstone refers to its shape and the arrangement of its facets, which are flat, polished surfaces. A well-cut gemstone maximizes its brilliance and sparkle by reflecting and refracting light to enhance its beauty. Precision in cutting ensures that the facets are symmetrical and properly aligned, allowing optimal light performance.

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The interaction of light with the facets creates a play of light and sparkle, known as scintillation. A high-quality cut enhances a gemstone's overall appearance and value, showcasing its brilliance and fire.
Why Choose Alex Machine Gemstones for Jewelry Making.

Alex Machine Gemstones is a renowned name in the industry, known for its exceptional quality gemstones favored by jewelry makers worldwide. Here are some reasons why you might choose Alex Machine Gemstones for jewelry making:

· High-Quality and Ethically Sourced Gemstones

Alex Machine Gemstones are carefully sourced and undergo rigorous quality checks to ensure authenticity and beauty. Each gemstone is handpicked and meticulously graded to meet the highest standards. This commitment to quality ensures that you receive gemstones of exceptional brilliance and clarity for your jewelry pieces.

· Wide Range of Gemstone Options

Alex Machine Gemstones has many gemstones, including popular choices such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and many others. Whether you're looking for conventional gemstones or rare and one-of-a-kind finds, you'll find a wide range of options to fit your tastes and design needs. They provide customization options such as various cuts, forms, sizes, and colors, allowing you to pick the perfect gemstone to bring your ideas to reality.

· Expert Craftsmanship

The gemstones from Alex Machine are carefully cut and faceted by skilled craftsmen, who bring out each stone's inherent beauty and brilliance.

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Their expertise and attention to detail result in gemstones that are cut to perfection, allowing you to create stunning jewelry pieces with exceptional visual appeal. In summary, Alex Machine Gemstones stands out for its superior quality gemstones, a wide variety of options, ethical sourcing practices, expert craftsmanship, customization options, and excellent customer service. Choosing their gemstones for jewelry making can help you create exquisite, visually stunning, and ethically conscious pieces.

FAQ

1. Which gemstones are used to make jewelry?

Many outstanding jewelry items use gemstones as the major stars: sapphire, emerald, topaz, lapis lazuli, amethyst, quartz, or peridot are just a few examples, but not all of them are precious stones.
2. What are the 7 gem names?

1. Garnet.
2. Agate.
3. Amethyst.
4. Aquamarine.
5. Diamond.
6. Emerald.
7. Alexandrite.

Diamond fake or Real

How to Tell if a Diamond is Real or Fake

If you’re not familiar with a diamond’s structure and components, you may be led to think that a gemstone is a diamond when it’s an entirely different stone—like cubic zirconia or moissanite. For this reason it’s essential to know how to spot a fake diamond.

One of the easiest tests to perform is “The Dot Test”. Place a white piece of paper on a flat surface and draw a small dot with a pen. Lay the stone onto the dot with the flat side down. Through the pointed end of the diamond, look down onto the paper. If you see a circular reflection inside the gemstone, the stone is fake. If you cannot see the dot or a reflection in the stone, then the diamond is real.

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Because a true diamond has powerful refractive qualities, light will bounce in different directions instead of a straight line. This is why you won’t be able to see letters or dots through a natural, real diamond.

This guide is useful and practical yet no single at-home test should be regarded as conclusive. A diamond expert has the proper experience and equipment to confirm if a diamond is real or fake.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

How can I tell if a diamond is real at home?
Expert ways to test if a diamond is real or fake
How to test if a diamond is synthetic?
Best practices to ensure you buy a real diamond.

Here is How to Tell if a Diamond is Real or Fake

1) Water Test

Here’s a straightforward method you can use at home to test a diamond. First, using a standard drinking glass fill it to about three-quarters full with water. Next, gently place the loose diamond into the glass of water. Watch closely: a genuine diamond, due to its high density, will sink to the bottom, a fake stone will float underneath the surface or at the very top.

2) Fog Test

For the fog test, hold the diamond or ring between two fingers and breath on it with a puff of air. A light fog will form on the diamond because of the moisture and heat in your breath. If the fog dissipates right away, the diamond is real. If it takes several seconds for the fog to disperse, it is likely a fake diamond. Diamonds effectively conduct heat and therefore disperse heat quickly.

3) Check Setting & Mount.

If a diamond is already placed in a ring, look at the type of setting and mount that’s used.

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Because of a diamond’s large price tag, a real one will only be set in high-quality jewelry. For example, a real diamond will be set in materials such as white gold, platinum, yellow gold, pave or side-stone setting and halo setting rings.

To see if the setting is truly as described, look inside the ring’s center for markings. As an example, the notes 10K, 14K, and 18K indicate the type of gold used. The markings PT and Plat refer to platinum. If you see a number such as 585, 770, 900, and 950, those are markings indicate platinum or gold as well.

If you see a “C.Z.” stamp or engraving, the gemstone is a cubic zirconia, and not a real diamond.

4) Heat the Stone and See if it Shatters

Diamonds are made of incredibly strong material and will be unresponsive to high heat.

To test if a diamond is real using heat, grab a drinking glass and fill it with cold water. Use a set of plyers or fireproof gloves to hold the stone. Heat the stone with a lighter for approximately 40 seconds, then drop the stone directly into the cold water. If the stone shatters, it is made of weaker components and is not a real diamond. A true diamond will show no reaction.

The heat test tests the quality and strength of the stone. Because of the quick expansion and contraction of heat, weak materials like glass or cubic zirconium will crack and break. Think of a glass or Pyrex dish you use for cooking. If you pull the dish out of a hot oven and try to wash it immediately, the shock in temperature change may shatter the dish.

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Because diamonds are one of the strongest materials on the planet, it will be resistant to such heat tests. Heat will disperse quickly and the diamond won’t be affected by the change in temperature.

5) UV Light Test

To test if a diamond is real in a different way, place it under a UV light and watch the reaction. Most diamonds will emit a blue colored glow, but not all of them. Some diamonds do not glow under UV light. For this reason, if the stone does not glow, the results don’t necessarily indicate that it’s a fake diamond.

Because this test is not definitive, it’s best to have a diamond expert or jeweler use their advanced equipment to test the stone.
Test a Diamond At-Home Using Refractivity

When you see a diamond sparkle, you’re experiencing its ability to bend and refract light. When light strikes the pavilions (the angled surfaces on the lower half of the diamond), it is bounced and refracted up through the diamond’s table (the top, flat surface) to the naked eye. When a diamond does this well and sparkles radiantly, it is called brilliance.

Stones that are not diamonds, such as Cubic Zirconia, will not refract light as well. They will have less brilliance, if any at all.

To test a diamond’s refractivity, use the following tests.

6) Newspaper/‘Read-Through’ Effect

To test the diamond’s refractivity, gently place the stone flat side down onto a page of newspaper in an area with lots of lettering. Ensure the lighting is bright and that no objects or people are casting a shadow on the diamond.

If you’re able to read the letters of the newspaper—even if the letters are a bit blurry—the diamond is fake. If the diamond is real, its facets will refract the light in different directions, rather than in a straight line. Because of this refraction of light, you won’t be able to see clearly through the diamond and make out the letters on the paper.

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The newspaper test is most effectively used on loose diamonds. If the diamond is in its setting already, consider using the fog test or having it reviewed by a diamond expert.

7) The Dot Test

If you don’t have newspaper to use, the dot test is an excellent alternative.

Place a white piece of paper on a flat surface and draw a small dot with a pen. Lay the stone onto the dot with the flat side down. Through the pointed end of the diamond, look down onto the paper. If you see a circular reflection inside the gemstone, the stone is fake. If you cannot see the dot or a reflection in the stone, then the diamond is real.

Because a true diamond has powerful refractive qualities, light will bounce in different directions instead of a straight line. This is why you won’t be able to see letters or dots through a natural, real diamond.
Test a Diamond At-Home Using Reflectivity

In addition to refractivity, you can test a stone based on its reflectivity. While refractivity pertains to the directions the light bounces, reflectivity refers to the amount and quality of the light that is reflected off of the stone.

Reflectivity encompasses both the brilliance (white light sparkle) and fire (colored light) that shines off of a diamond’s table.
8) Sparkle Test

The sparkle test doesn’t require any equipment—except for your eyes. Hold the diamond in question under a normal lamp. Watch how light reflects off of the stone. Do you see bright shimmers of white light bouncing off the diamond? Do you see colorful light reflections as well.

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A real diamond reflects white light extremely well, providing exceptional sparkle. Diamonds also reflect colored light, or fire, in magnificent fashion.

If you compare a real diamond to a fake diamond like Cubic Zirconia, you are able to notice a drastic difference in the white and colored light sparkle that the real diamond gives off.

Expert Techniques To Ensure a Diamond is Real.

While various tests can be used to tell if a diamond is real, it’s advised to have a professional diamond expert assist you in determining if a diamond is genuine. A professional gemologist who has a Graduate Gemologist (GG) degree will be able to tell you definitively if a diamond is real or not.

Bringing your stone to a diamond professional will give you peace of mind, because several proven methods and tools are used to determine if a diamond is real.

9) Inspecting a Diamond with a Loupe

A diamond professional will have access to a loupe—a special magnifying glass used for diamonds, gemstones and jewelry. When using a loupe, a professional will look for blemishes and imperfections within the diamond. While a fake diamond can be perfectly constructed, a diamond will have small imperfections called inclusions.

10) Using A Thermal Conductivity Probe (aka “The Diamond Tester”)

In addition to a loupe, gemologists usually have a thermal conductivity probe or meter. They’ll use this tool to determine the thermal conductivity of a gemstone. Because diamonds are effective heat conductors, the diamond will disperse heat rapidly after being warmed.

If the gemstone disperses heat at a slower rate, the diamond is not real. It’s worth noting that synthetic moissanite stones often have similar or equal heat dispersement as real diamonds—making this test inconclusive with moissanites. 

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There are many diamond testers available out there, so you can choose whichever one you like the most. Check out an example from Amazon on the right.

11) Testing a Real Diamond with High Profile Weighing

Jewelers and gemologists usually have a very fine tuned scale for measuring small differences in weight. The weight of a real diamond will be lower than fake stones like the Cubic Zirconia—but only special scales for weighing carats will be able to detect these minute differences.

To perform the test, choose a fake diamond that is approximately equal in shape and size. Use this stone as a comparison for the diamond you are considering.

12) Spot a Fake Diamond Using Electricity Conductivity.

Detecting a fake diamond can also be achieved through an electricity conductivity test performed by a jeweler or gemologist. Diamonds conduct electricity better than other stones, including the difficult synthetic moissanite.

An electricity tester will provide a clear sign as to whether or not the stone is real or created by a lab. A diamond will show conductivity while other stones like moissanite and cubic zirconia will not.
Testing A Real Diamond Vs. Moissanite

Because of the increasing presence of synthetic moissanite on the market, it’s important to use the tools of a jeweler to test for genuinity. These tools can determine almost immediately if a diamond is real or fake.

13) Examining Using a Microscope

With a 1200x magnification on a power microscope, a jeweler or gemologist is able to scrutinize the stone in detail. At this level of magnification, they’ll be able to see inclusions and small differences in real diamonds compared to moissanite.

14) Get an x-ray examination

To have the internal, molecular qualities of a stone reviewed, send it to a professional diamond lab for testing. Their x-ray machines will be able to tell if the stone has a radiolucent molecular structure or a radiopaque molecular structure. Diamonds are radiolucent while fakes like cubic zirconium and crystals have more radiopaque features.

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Is the Scratch Test Reliable To Ensure a Diamond is Real.

The scratch test was a once widely used technique that aimed to determine the hardness of a gemstone’s mineral. The test involved scraping the loose gemstone along a mirror to see if it would scratch the mirror or the stone.

While a diamond is formed with very strong materials, fakes like cubic zirconia and moissanite are quite durable and scratch-resistant as well. For these reasons, the scratch test is not accurate. You are better served to use other tests such as a thermal conductivity test or having the diamond inspected with a professional loupe tool.

How To Spot Other Stones That Aren’t Real Diamonds

With the rising popularity in other gemstones, here are some steps to spotting a stone that to the naked eye may appear similar to a real diamond.

15) How to Recognize Synthetic Diamonds

According to Hobart M. King, a certified GIA gemologist who has a doctorate in geology and runs geology.com, the bulk of natural diamonds come from the Earth’s mantle. While diamonds were mainly formed by a natural process millions of years ago, there is an increasing prevalence of synthetic diamonds. It’s important to know how to tell the difference between lab-created diamonds and natural diamonds. 

Synthetic diamonds have similar chemical and molecular components to real, natural diamonds.

Because of their intricate internal qualities, we recommend having the diamond reviewed by an expert. They can run the conductivity test and look at the stone under high magnification. Even when it’s unclear to the naked eye how a synthetic diamond differs from a natural diamond, it is crucial for resale and insurance values.

16) How to Recognize Cubic Zirconia

A cubic zirconia is one of the easier fake diamonds to test for authenticity. By using the sparkle test, for example, it’s relatively easily gauge the amount of sparkle and fire a stone is giving off.

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In addition, cubic zirconias reflect orange tinted light. They also weigh more than a real diamond and generally don’t have imperfections or inclusions. Real diamonds will have inclusions that can be seen by the naked eye or under a diamond expert’s microscope.

17) How to Recognize White Sapphire

Sapphires are commonly available in blue and a wide range of colors including white, which looks clear to the naked eye. White sapphires are often posed as diamonds but don’t offer the diamond’s signature sparkle and contrast of dark and light areas.

If the stone seems more blurred in coloring—meaning it doesn’t have distinct light and dark parts—it is likely to be a white sapphire.

18) How to Recognize Moissanite

Perhaps the best actor in the fake diamond world is the synthetic moissanite. Distinction between the two is usually difficult for the naked eye and requires the expertise of a diamond professional.

An electricity conductivity test will indicate if the gemstone is a moissanite or a true diamond. Note that the thermal conductivity test is not a valid technique for recognizing moissanite because they have nearly identical thermal conductivity as diamonds.

19) How to Recognize White Topaz

While a white topaz may look like a diamond at first glance, several characteristics separate it from a real diamond.

The exterior is softer than a diamond and is easily scratched by other materials. You can also look closely at a white topaz using magnification to see if there are any scratches on the surface. Diamonds will not have scratches because of their durable composition.

Conclusion

Many of the tests in this guide, like the fog test and the thermal conductivity test, can help determine if a diamond is real.

But due to the number and complexity of synthetic gemstone materials, we recommend consulting a diamond expert or jeweler to review the pieces you already have in your home. These experts are trained in knowing how to spot a fake diamond.

If you’re using our diamond education or diamond experts for purchasing a diamond, you’ll never have a problem knowing if it’s real or not. Any diamond you purchase will come with a legitimate GIA or AGS certificate and all you need to do is ensure the diamond matches the certificate.

What is eczema

What is eczema?


Dermatitis is a skin inflammation. Eczema is the most common type of dermatitis.

Eczema first appears as an episode of itching and redness of the skin. You also may have tiny bumps or blisters.

When eczema develops into a long-term condition, it is called chronic eczema. This leads to:thickening of the skin
scaling
flaking
dryness
color changes.eczema
There are many types of eczema. The type depends on the cause, shape and location of the rash.

Some eczemas are related to allergies or to contact with irritating substances. Some are associated with fluid retention in the legs.

Following are types of eczema:

Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) — This type of eczema comes and goes repeatedly. It usually occurs in people with an inherited tendency to allergies. These allergies may include allergic asthma, hay fever or food allergies.Atopic eczema usually appears early in life, usually by 18 months. 

In babies, atopic eczema primarily affects the:

faceneck
ears
torso
tops of feet or outside of elbows (less commonly)

Atopic eczema can also develop in adults. In older children, teenagers, and adults it usually involves the:

skin inside the creases of the elbow knee ankle or wrist joints
hands upper eyelids appears on the calves, ankles, and feet. It occurs in people who have swelling due to poorly functioning veins in the lower legs. The veins cause fluid to collect in the legs (stasis). This leads to leg swelling, which leads to the signs of stasis dermatitis:

itching
fine red bumps
skin redness or darkening
weeping sores

Lichen simplex chronicus — This eczema is a reaction to repeated scratching or rubbing of the skin. A nervous scratching habit can lead to thickened, discolored skin. Skin picking can lead to smaller bumps of the same type of rash.

Seborrheic dermatitis — This type creates a greasier rash than usual for eczema. This scaly dermatitis commonly appears on the scalp of infants (as cradle cap). In adults, it appears as dandruff. It commonly affects the face or neck around the nose and at the scalp line.

Symptoms of eczema

Short-term symptoms of eczema include itchy skin, redness and tiny bumps or blisters.

If these symptoms remain untreated, the skin can become thick, scaly and dry. There can be areas of hair loss and color changes. Skin affected by long-term eczema is more vulnerable to secondary infections.

Each type of eczema has specific characteristics and patterns of symptoms:

Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) — Atopic dermatitis appears as irritated, red, dry, crusted patches on the skin. If the skin becomes infected, it may develop a wet (weeping) look. Scratching the itchy patches causes more irritation, and increases the risk of infection.

Contact dermatitis — When an irritant causes contact dermatitis, symptoms can range from a mild redness to severe skin blistering or ulceration.

When triggered by an allergic reaction, it usually causes skin redness, fine red bumps or blisters and severe itching.

A reaction caused by plant allergies (like poison ivy or poison oak) is usually intense. It appears as bumps and blisters in lines or streaks where the plant brushed against the skin.Hand eczema — Hand eczema usually appears during the winter as patches of dry, cracked skin. There may or may not be redness. Hand eczema may also cause itching, red bumps or blisters and scaling. Irritation often occurs under rings from soap trapped under the rings.

Nummular eczema — Nummular eczema begins as small areas of irritation. They turn into round red, crusted or scaly patches.
Asteatotic eczema — This type usually occurs on the lower legs. It causes itching or stinging pain in areas of dry, cracked, reddened skin. There may or may not be tiny bumps.

Stasis dermatitis — Stasis dermatitis occurs in legs that are already puffy or swollen. It usually begins with mild redness and itching of the lower legs.

Lichen simplex chronicus — This rash creates thickened, leathery skin with darkening of skin color. It is very itchy. Scratching makes the problem worse.
Seborrheic dermatitis— Seborrheic dermatitis causes red, scaly patches with yellow, greasy crusts. These patches can be itchy or can cause burning.


Patches appear most commonly on the scalp as dandruff. But they also can occur elsewhere on the body. They may appear on the eyebrows, eyelids, ears and skin creases near the mouth and nose.

Scalp lesions in infants (cradle cap) can appear yellowish and greasy. They usually cause no discomfort.
Diagnosing eczema

Depending on your pattern of skin symptoms, your doctor will ask about your:personal and family allergy history
history of exposure to irritating chemicals
contact with potential allergy triggers, such as poison ivy.


In many cases, your doctor can diagnose eczema by examining the skin.

If your doctor suspects that allergies are involved, patch testing with various allergy-causing chemicals may be necessary.
Expected duration of eczema

Duration depends on the type of eczema. Symptoms may go away after a week or two. Or they may persist for years.

Preventing eczema

There are many things you can do to prevent or reduce eczema flare-ups.Avoid exposure to:extreme temperatures
dry air
harsh soaps
perfumed products
bubble baths

Use blankets and clothing made of cotton. Avoid more irritating fabrics, such as wool. Avoid stiff synthetics, such as polyester.
After showering or bathing, pat dry (rather than rub). That way, you leave a little moisture on your skin. Then apply a moisturizing cream or lotion to trap moisture in the skin.

Use a humidifier to add moisture to indoor air during the winter heating season.


To help to prevent contact dermatitis, avoid skin contact with:dish detergent, cleaning solutions, and other irritating chemicals
plants jewelry substances that trigger skin allergies:

If you have leg swelling, you can help prevent stasis dermatitis by:wearing compression stockings
elevating your legs to the level of your hips if you sit for long periods.

Treating eczema

Your doctor should review your skin care routine. Your doctor can ensure you are doing everything possible to prevent symptoms.

But sometimes eczema remains bothersome despite these measures.

Your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid ointment or cream. In atopic dermatitis, mild or medium strength topical steroids generally are used. These are applied to the affected areas of the skin.

When topical corticosteroids are not sufficient or needed for long periods of time to control atopic dermatitis, your doctor may prescribe a topical calcineurin inhibitor. Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus topical agents are approved for use in children older than 2 years of age.

Strong steroids and oral antihistamines may be needed to treat allergic contact dermatitis.

If there are signs of bacterial skin infection, oral antibiotics usually are needed.

Sometimes, in very severe cases of eczema, your doctor will prescribe a short course of oral steroids or stronger immunosuppressants. However, these medications can have serious side effects. They must be used cautiously.

In some people, treatment with ultraviolet (UV) light is another option.
Seborrhea in adults is best treated with dandruff shampoo. Occasionally prescription antifungal facial creams or rinses may be needed.


Cradle cap in infants eventually clears up without treatment. However, it can last several months. The crust usually can be loosened. To do so, apply baby oil to the scalp 30 to 60 minutes before brushing with a soft brush. Then wash with baby shampoo.
When treating a contact allergy in a child, avoid topical treatments containing antihistamines. Skin reactions can occur.
When to call a professional

Call your doctor if you have an area of skin that is red and very itchy. Also call if your skin is cracked, blistered or painfully dry.

Ask your doctor for an urgent evaluation if you have signs of infection. These include an area of skin that:

is painful
is swollen
has yellow drainage
has streaking or spreading redness.

Prognosis

The prognosis varies from person to person. It depends on the type of eczema and its response to treatment.

Most contact dermatitis heals within two to three weeks. Most stasis dermatitis lasts for years.

About half of children with atopic eczema still have the problem as adults.