JANUARY 2009 NEWSLETTER

A note from Prospector....

Winter is upon us, but before you know it the Dogwood and Magnolia tress will be in bloom.

We anticipate Valentine's Day as a celebration that helps us get through the long winter. It reminds us to demonstrate our affections to the ones we love; a demonstration that is often put on a back burner.

We understand that everyone's economic situation is different and will help you select a unique gift that fits your personal circumstances.

Unlike other retailers, our staff will not try to "sell you". We are here to help. Come in and look around. We are always happy to see you!

Valentine's Day postcard, circa 1910

THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE'S DAY

The origins of Valentine's Day trace back to the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia. In addition to a bountiful feast, Lupercalia festivities are purported to have included the pairing of young women and men. Men would draw women's names from a box, and each couple would be paired until next year's celebration.

While this pairing of couples set the tone for today's holiday, it wasn't called "Valentine's Day" until a priest named Valentine came along. Valentine, a romantic at heart, disobeyed Emperor Claudius II's decree that soldiers remain bachelors. Claudius handed down this decree believing that soldiers would be distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting if they were married or engaged. Valentine defied the emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies.

As a result of his defiance, Valentine was put to death on February 14. After Valentine's death, he was named a saint.

We have an extensive collection of engagement rings and wedding sets. Is there any more appropriate time to propose than Valentine's Day?

Keeping it Clean! In each newsletter we hope to provide you with valuable information. In this edition we will address the cleaning of your jewelry.

There is no cleaning more thorough than the kind your jeweler can provide, but in between professional cleaning, there are some steps you can take to keep your jewelry sparkling. Your jewelry can become soiled from lotions, powders, soaps and even the natural oils from your skin can create a film on gemstones reducing their brilliance.

In a bowl of warm suds, using a mild household liquid detergent, brush the jewelry with a soft brush until you have created a lather around it. With the jewelry in a strainer, rinse it with warm water and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

While several variations of ultrasonic cleaners are available to the public, they are not safe for all jewelry, including emeralds. If you choose to use this method be sure to read the manufacturer's warnings and instructions.

None of these methods are safe for pearls, opals, lapis corals and many other gems. For these and other fragile gems, a quick dip in plain lukewarm water is recommended until they can be professionally cleaned.

And what does Cupid have to do with it?
According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus (also known as Aphrodite), the goddess of love and beauty. Cupid was known to cause people to fall in love by shooting them with his magical arrows. But Cupid didn't just cause others to fall in love - he himself fell deeply in love.

As legend has it, Cupid fell in love with a mortal maiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but Venus, jealous of Psyche's beauty, forbade her daughter-in-law to look at Cupid. Psyche, of course, couldn't resist temptation and sneaked a peek at her handsome husband. As punishment, Venus demanded that she perform three hard tasks, the last of which caused Psyche's death.

Cupid brought Psyche back to life and the gods, moved by their love, granted Pysche immortality. Cupid thus represents the heart and Psyche the (struggles of the) human soul.

We want to include information you find valuable and we welcome your input. If you have a specific request or wish to unsubscribe to our newsletter, please Email TimReffner@ProspectorJewelers.com .

Life's too short for ordinary jewelry

Happy Valentine's Day!

STORE HOURS
Mon-Fri 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 4:00pm.
1514 Cove Lane Road, Martinsburg, PA 16662