Review and Contest

Recently, I was contacted (via email) by a woman named Sarah who asked for a strange request from me. From the company, LuShae Jewelry, she asked if I would be willing to do a review of a piece of woman’s hardware. I could pick anything from the store, she would ship it out, and I could check out the wares and write an honest opinion - good, bad, or in-between.

So what was in it for her?

This would provide more exposure to her site, meaning more customers.

What was in it for me?

I get to keep the woman’s hardware... free.

What’s the catch?

Well, there is a catch but I’ll wait to mention it at the end of this post. From the picture above, you can tell what I picked. A pendant. Here is the brief blurb from the website:

White Gold Rhodium Bonded Amethyst Drop Pendant with Clear CZ Accents in Silvertone

Amethyst Wonder Pendant features a magnificent faceted Amethyst CZ and Clear CZ accents over faceted stone as well as on the bail. White Gold Rhodium Bond is achieved using an electroplating process that coats the item with heavy layers of rhodium, a close cousin of platinum that costs three times as much, which gives our jewelry a platinum luster.

The above part means not a darn thing to me. I couldn’t decipher it with a World Almanac. And really, is there any woman who cares about the specifics, like electroplating? The looks capture the eyes. I was delighted when it came in (shipping is 2 to 5 days - and arrived right on time despite the holiday on Monday). Packaged in the cutest snap box, I opened it up.

Not bad. Close to the actual website photo. The “bail” is the little star burst at top consisting of seven cubic zirconia stones. The amethyst drop has the wraparound with four more stones. I had thought it would strictly be the stone, but I now see it is inset into a large bond piece along the back, nearly invisible when looking at it straight out.

It comes with a long chain and a secure fishhook clasp (extra bonus points for that - there isn’t a woman around who doesn’t hate those flimsy hoop clasps that eventually break or open on their own). The cost for this pendant is $69, on sale from $129. I got it for free.

My grading for this experience:

Website shopping: B+ (I would have liked larger pictures, but navigation and checkout were simple. It took a bit of time for pages to load - yet this could have been from problems with my own browser or Internet connection. I’ve noticed it loading slow with other sites. So my grading could increase to an “A” in consideration for this.)

Shipping: A+

Pendant: B (I would have liked a side view of the bonding to the drop. Some people might not like that much metal on the back. Otherwise, the stone is beautiful. Again, with less bonding it could really sparkle and show off itself. But that’s my personal opinion. Other people might not care.)

My overall opinion for this pendant: Something special to get for a wife or significant other as a surprise when wanting her to cook your favorite dinner, or for control of the television remote because the big game is coming on at the same time as her favorite show.

The catch?

I’m giving it away to one of my lucky readers.

I can’t wear pendants, or jewelry for that matter. I have a skin allergy to metals - all metals. My skin turns all red and breaks out in blisters. So I’m having my first-ever blog contest. Yes, dear readers, you can have this Amethyst drop - $69 value - for free. I will ship it to you. All you have to do is play a little guessing game.

How many toothpicks are in this (used)container? The closest person wins! Leave your answers in the comment section (don’t email them). I will announce the winner on Monday (and after I count how many are in there).

Good Luck!