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| Friday, 12-Nov-2010 03:40 |
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Pearl Jewelry - The Story of Pearl Hunters
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As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms.
That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down.
Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer.
There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution.
It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.
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| Friday, 12-Nov-2010 03:37 |
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Buying Pearl Jewelry Without Being Ripped Off
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Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.
A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
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| Monday, 8-Nov-2010 07:45 |
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Pearl Jewelry - The Story of Pearl Hunters
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|
As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a
highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times
however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to
a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in
display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in
farms.
That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods
used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more
than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in
lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The
unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and
lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would
sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of
air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the
divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down.
Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or
the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents.
Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world.
The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times
the only pearls available to the consumer.
There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old
art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come
from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to
retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In
fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned
from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an
active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from
pollution.
It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers
around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's
been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.
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| Monday, 8-Nov-2010 07:17 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
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Buying Pearl Jewelry Without Being Ripped Off
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Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.
A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
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| Wednesday, 21-Oct-2009 02:46 |
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Atlético Madrid to give Chelsea a break from bombardment
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The Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, left, and Michael Ballack keep an eye on the time during preparations for the visit of Atlético Madrid. Photograph: Steven Paston/Action Images
Atlético Madrid were supposed to be the side to challenge Chelsea's supremacy in this Champions League qualification group, though it says much about these teams' recent toils that the Spaniards' visit to Stamford Bridge actually offers Carlo Ancelotti's side some relief. Defeat by Aston Villa at the weekend exposed familiar frailties at the heart of Chelsea's line-up and fatigue has already seeped into this team's preparations. "It's not easy," said the Italian. "But I think it's even more difficult for Atlético at the moment."
Any sense of trauma is relative. Chelsea, not for the >http://www.wholesale-pearls.com]akoya pearl first time this season, were muscled into defeat at set plays at Villa Park but remain within a point of the Premier League's summit and, having conducted their own inquest, will presumably be steeled for future encounters. In contrast Atlético, who were never likely to boast the same threat from set pieces as English opposition, arrive saddled by their worst start to a domestic season in 15 years and without a win, or even a goal, in Group D.
The air has been cleared on the training ground after Saturday's setback, unpalatable truths acknowledged by all concerned at the defensive lapses that cost Chelsea, with Ancelotti's only lingering frustration the reality that he would, more normally, have sought to rest players either against Villa or Atlético. "It's important that the players speak about these situations and talk together about things that might go wrong," he said. "By doing that we can improve. We did the same at Milan. I have always believed the players have to take responsibility and we have the same way here.
"But for the last game against Aston Villa I had to biwa pearl use eight players who had played 90 minutes for their countries in the midweek internationals. If there was the possibility to change some players, I would have liked to have done this. For the game against Madrid I would like to make some changes, to use some rotation. But the problem is, against Villa, there was no Michael Ballack or Mikel John Obi, so it was difficult to make changes. Mikel is not fit [to start], nor Yuri Zhirkov, Joe Cole, Alex or José Bosingwa, while Didier Drogba is suspended."
Those might be considered critical absentees were Atlético's recent form not so wretched. Ancelotti has spoken of the need to move eight points clear of the Spaniards, a concession that the visitors retain a potent threat with the likes of Diego Forlan and Sergio Agüero – a long-standing Chelsea target – in their ranks, but the efforts of that strikeforce have been undermined by vulnerability at the back. Abel Resino's side are slumped in 15th place in their league, a point clear of relegation, having shipped 17 goals in seven games.
"The danger is that everyone expects us to win this game because Atlético haven't started the season well," said Michael Ballack, who returns this evening as Bosingwa, his European suspension served, succumbs to a knee injury. Win tonight and progress can be secured at the Vicente Calderón stadium in a fortnight, and Chelsea will be relieved that Atlético's principal threat will be from slick inter-changes on the floor rather than an aerial bombardment at set pieces, tactics that have yielded rewards for Stoke, Wigan and Villa.
"Of course, that's how the weaker teams in the pearl jewelry Premier League try to score against us," added Ballack. "Most of the time we'll have more possession of the ball but on set pieces – even on a throw-in at Stoke – those are their strengths. We're not the only team who have conceded from a throw-in against Stoke, mind you. They have a lot of big guys and it's not always easy to defend, especially in England. But we are in a good position in this group – we are top and have won both our games, remember – and we have a home game now. We are an experienced team and everyone knows what he has to do against Atlético. We believe in ourselves."
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| Wednesday, 21-Oct-2009 02:41 |
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Chelsea players hold inquest in bid to eliminate set-piece error
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James Collins celebrates putting Aston Villa 2-1 up against Chelsea
James Collins scored the winner from a set-piece in Aston Villa's 2-1 victory – Chelsea's second successive away league defeat. Photograph: Lee Sanders/EPA
Carlo Ancelotti and his Chelsea players have held a frank training-ground inquest in an attempt to pinpoint the causes of their recent frailty defending set-pieces, exposed so ruthlessly by Aston Villa as the Londoners slipped to their second successive away league defeat on Saturday.
The squad watched a re-run of the defeat at their Cobham training base on Monday with Ancelotti exposing lapses by a quartet of pearl jewelry senior players – Frank Lampard, Ricardo Carvalho, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech – at the two Villa goals. Michael Ballack, who has not featured in either of the team's recent Premier League losses, revealed the players had not shied away from criticising each other and had then "shaken hands" and returned to the training pitch, with special attention subsequently paid to defending set‑pieces.
"We watched the game again at Cobham, we saw who made the mistakes – everyone knows that – and we've spoken about the game," said Ballack, who will return to the side after an ankle injury for tonight's Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid. "We lost that game [at Villa] on set-pieces. Everyone has to improve his movement, his defensive organisation in the box, and it comes down to personal attitude: 'Don't concede a goal'. We can train and practise things but, if someone falls asleep at a set‑piece, we will still concede."
John Terry's furious reaction to the concession of biwa pearl Villa's winner, a free header converted by James Collins at a corner, was matched by Ancelotti's disappointment in the away dugout. "I felt the same way," said the Italian. "We were all disappointed, not only John Terry but also the other players. At set-pieces we have two players, one on each post. One player is in front of the near-post – Lampard – and five mark man for man. Everybody has his own responsibility: to mark, to stay in his zone or go for the ball. Everybody has a job. Every player must take responsibility for what happens in our box."
Stoke City and Wigan Athletic have also exploited Chelsea's weaknesses at set-plays this season, with Villa maintaining a trend that first flared during Luiz Felipe Scolari's brief reign last season. Lampard had inadvertently flicked on Ashley Young's corner for Richard Dunne, muscling himself free of Carvalho, to score Villa's opener before Collins escaped Drogba's attentions to plunder the winner, prompting Terry to scream his frustration at his team-mates. "His reaction showed he takes a big responsibility, not just for himself but for the team," added Ballack. "That's what you need, emotions like that, to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"We all speak with each other. We have no problem criticising each other in the dressing room. A good team with strong players has to do this. We've done that, then we shake hands and get back on to the >http://www.wholesale-pearls.com]akoya pearl training pitch and try to do better. I wasn't involved [on Saturday], but I know the problem. I was there afterwards and we spoke about it. Everybody has to make an impact on the situation, me too. I have a few years behind me and I'm experienced, so I have to speak to help the team. Everybody has to take responsibility, otherwise we will concede more goals."
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| Wednesday, 21-Oct-2009 02:40 |
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Jonny Evans ready for chance in Manchester United revolution
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United's Jonny Evans, who is putting pressure on Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, says there is a 'lot more to come from me'. Photograph: Jon Super/AP
CSKA Moscow's coach must hope Sir Alex Ferguson has recovered a degree of good humour when he presents his Manchester United counterpart with a signed copy of a business tome entitled Renewing Organisations tomorow night. At a time when the first-team order at Old Trafford appears to pearl jewelry be changing again, Ferguson, piqued last night by questions about his views on Alan Wiley's fitness and the Football Association charge, should nonetheless be intrigued by the conclusions reached by the book's author, Juande Ramos.
The Spaniard will spend this evening directing CSKA's latest Champions League game from the technical area adjacent to Ferguson's at the Luzhniki Stadium. Unlike many peers, Ramos's world is not entirely consumed by football, and the former Tottenham Hotspur manager has combined starting a new job in Russia with polishing off a non-fiction work aimed at business executives in all spheres.
As United continue to adapt to life after Cristiano Ronaldo, while seemingly preparing for a future that looks increasingly likely to feature Jonny Evans plus either the hitherto undroppable Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic at centre-half, Renewing Organisations may keep Ferguson surprisingly occupied during the four-hour flight home from Moscow. As David Beckham and Roy Keane, among others, will testify, United's manager does not do sentimentality and likes to keep Old Trafford in a state of almost permanent revolution.
Right now he seems fixated upon a potential central defensive rearrangement. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Evans could start Sunday's Premier League encounter at Liverpool. Not for nothing has the Manchester Evening News asked readers to vote on United's "best central defensive pairing".
Although the injury-prone Ferdinand and Vidic both flew to Russia, their 21-year-old Northern Ireland rival is expected to biwa pearl feature against CSKA tomorrow night after Ferguson admitted it was becoming "increasingly hard to justify leaving Jonny Evans out". During Evans's two separate loan spells with Sunderland, Roy Keane said the defender would establish himself as a United first-team regular "sooner rather than later". That time could be nigh.
With United – who should be inspired by memories of beating Chelsea in the 2008 final at the Luzhniki – boasting a 100% Champions League group stage record, Ferguson has decided this is a game he can take slightly less seriously than some others. Accordingly, he has left Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Park Ji-sung behind.
Even so, CSKA, aka "the Army Men", have won their last six European home games, and the way in which not just Evans but Michael Owen and, if fit, Dimitar Berbatov – who played for Ramos at Spurs but has failed to start United's past five Champions League fixtures – cope with them could inform Ferguson's selection at Anfield.
Evans, whose younger brother and co‑defender, Corry, may make the bench, knows better than to start treading water. "It's nice the manager is saying these things about me, but Nemanja and Rio are unbelievable players," he said. "I feel there's a lot more to come from me, though. Last season I felt I was playing within myself because I was concentrating on defending, I was playing safe and making sure I wasn't at fault for any goals. I'm not saying I'm going to start dribbling through teams but this year I need to get on the ball and express myself more."
Although Russians insist Moscow is a city where life should be lived "Bespredel" – without limits – Ferguson is becoming irked by the number of soft goals United are leaking and an excess of self-expression on Evans's part could prove risky on the Luzhniki's artificial surface.
Although United's manager argued that the ball's bounce is "true" on the plastic, it travels faster. Moreover, in Milos Krasic, a coveted young Serb – "a very good young player", said the Scot – CSKA boast a threatening striker. Ramos's teenage play‑maker Alan Dzagoev is also being monitored by Europe's leading lights.
Ferguson, though, is likely to >http://www.wholesale-pearls.com]akoya pearl concentrate closely on CSKA's goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev. In the light of Ben Foster's travails, the 23-year-old is tipped as a potential successor to Edwin van der Sar, and United's manager smiled broadly while bodyswerving a question about Akinfeev. "I can't deal in rumour," he said.
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| Wednesday, 21-Oct-2009 02:37 |
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Sir Alex Ferguson storms off as press quizzes him on FA miscondu
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The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson leaves a news conference at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium after refusing to >http://www.wholesale-pearls.com]akoya pearl answer questions about his FA misconduct charge. Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters
Sir Alex Ferguson tonight revealed the depth of his anger at being charged by the Football Association for comments about the referee Alan Wiley when he stomped out of a Uefa press conference in Moscow after the issue was raised.
The Manchester United manager was this week charged by the FA with improper conduct for questioning Wiley's fitness and took offence to a polite question on the subject ahead of tomorrow evening's Champions League game at CSKA Moscow.
Asked how he felt about having to explain himself to English football's governing body, Ferguson replied: "Silly question, gets no answer." When another reporter interjected with "It's not a silly question", the biwa pearl United manager bristled visibly. "I'm not answering that," he said, rising from his chair, turning on his heel and heading briskly for the exit, pausing only to issue a curt "Good night".
Although Ferguson had spent the previous 20 minutes fielding questions from English and Russian journalists, he had been terse throughout.
At one stage he said that even returning to the Luzhniki Stadium – scene of United's Champions League final triumph against Chelsea 17 months ago – did not particularly "excite" him. "It's in the past, you have to move on," said Ferguson, glaring at his questioner.
United's manager has just under two weeks to respond to the charge issued by the FA following his reflections on Wiley's physical condition after United's 2-2 draw against Sunderland. He claimed the official was "not fit".
Ferguson has made various apologies and there appears to be no precedent for a touchline ban, on the evidence of pearl jewelry similar cases which involved comments made to the media, but referees have been widely outraged by the affair and the ruling body is under pressure to be seen not letting United's manager off lightly. Last night's walkout may just serve to emboldenthem a little.
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| Wednesday, 21-Oct-2009 02:32 |
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Middlesbrough sack Gareth Southgate
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Gareth Southgate patrols the sidelines as Boro recorded a 2-0 victory against Derby County, his last game in charge of the club he captained between 2002-06. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images
Middlesbrough last night sacked Gareth Southgate in a shock move that the club chairman, Steve Gibson, admitted was "the hardest decision I've had to make in football". It came straight after Southgate oversaw Boro's 2-0 home victory against Derby County that left them fourth in the Coca-Cola Championship, a point behind the leaders.
The timing of Middlesbrough's move was especially curious given that Gibson had stood by Southgate as Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League last season. The club hit another low point in September when they lost 5-0 at home to West Bromwich Albion. But Gibson added: "The time is pearl jewelry right for change and that change has had to be made."
"Gareth has given Middlesbrough Football Club magnificent service as a skipper and, in very difficult circumstances, as manager," said Gibson. "I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him. He deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself."
The former Boro captain, who led the team to a Carling Cup victory in 2004, played his last game in the 2006 Uefa Cup final and was appointed manager shortly afterwards, replacing Steve McClaren.
The former Crystal Palace manager Alan Smith, described as a "football consultant" and who had only been hired in July, has also been sacked.
There had been speculation that Southgate's time at the Riverside could be up after the drubbing by West Brom was followed by home defeats to Leicester and Watford.
Boro ended that sequence last night when Adam Johnson's double secured a 2-0 victory over Derby County which had appeared to biwa pearl have given the manager breathing space.
Asked after the game about the consequences of another home defeat, Southgate said: "There would obviously been more speculation and we would have been probably four or five places lower, which would have made life very difficult, I am sure, for all of us.
"I have had lots of games like that since I have been manager here where you wonder about the consequences of defeat, but we were very positive in the way we approached everything.
"We thought about how we could win the game. We didn't really consider the possibility of defeat, but you know all the while a fourth home defeat on the bounce would have been very difficult for people to accept.
"None of us wanted to go through that and we didn't want to put our supporters through that more than anything. We want them to see us winning at home and as the season goes on, we have got to make sure we do it regularly if we want to go up."
The victory was played out in front of just 17,459 spectators, less than half of the Riverside's official capacity and reportedly the lowest-ever attendance for a league game at the stadium.
Gibson sprang a major surprise when he appointed his then club captain as manager in the wake of McClaren's departure for the England job during the summer of 2006.
Having fought for special dispensation from the Premier League to give Southgate the job without him holding the required Uefa Pro Licence, the chairman handed him a five-year contract and charged him with the >http://www.wholesale-pearls.com]akoya pearl task of revitalising the squad in challenging financial conditions on Teesside.
The new manager guided his side to a 12th-place finish in his first season at the helm and 13th a year later. But last season proved far more challenging and ultimately unsuccessful as Boro slipped out of the top flight having won just seven of their 38 league games and scored just 28 goals.
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| Wednesday, 21-Oct-2009 02:28 |
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Rangers suffer own-goal nightmare as Romanians run riot at Ibrox
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The most comprehensive thesaurus in the world would barely contain the words to describe this Rangers performance. The latest evidence that Scottish football may be in terminal decline rather than just suffering a rough spell arrived on another harrowing night in Glasgow.
Rangers had the luxury of a one-goal lead against Unirea Urziceni and passed up a penalty at 1-1 before collapsing to arguably the akoya pearl most eye-catching effect in their 53-year European history.
"It is a big low point for me and that is before I have even sat down and had a think about it," said Walter Smith after his 72nd match as a manager in Europe. "We lost 4-0 here to Juventus [in 1995] but they went on to become the European champions. I don't think the penalty was the turning point of the game. You shouldn't defend as we did at any level of football."
Smith, amid a trophy-laden career, cannot have suffered a more wounding night. No wonder his demeanour was one of shell-shock in the post-match media conference. As Pablo Brandan's deflected shot secured the visitors' fourth goal, 25 minutes from time, blue and white scarves rained on to the Ibrox track. Those supporters who remained until full-time, albeit they admirably applauded the victors from the pitch, did so to make their anger perfectly clear. Unirea, in truth, could well have scored more.
"If we qualify for the last 16, this will be an historic victory," said Dan Petrescu, the Unirea manager. "If we do not, this will just be another memory. I expected more pressure from Rangers in the biwa pearl second half, after we scored our second goal."
And yet, it had all started so brightly for Rangers. Pedro Mendes watched his 18-yard shot loop off Ricardo Gomes Vilana and into the Unirea net within 90 seconds. Rangers displayed little early evidence that they regarded this as anything like an onerous task, Kenny Miller coming within inches of condemning Unirea to a miserable night nine minutes later with a header, while Steven Naismith missed an even more clear-cut chance.
Petrescu, renowned as a calm full-back during his time at Chelsea, cut an agitated touchline figure but was soon placated as Marius Bilasco slotted home an equaliser.
Steve Davis promptly wasted the opportunity to reinforce Rangers' superiority as Bruno Fernandes handled a David Weir header. From the penalty spot, however, Davis allowed Daniel Tudor far too simple a save.
Unirea set the tone for what was to come, three minutes after the re-start. Fernandes, earlier a sinner, had the audacity to offer a back-heel which took a deflection off Kyle Lafferty on its way into the Rangers net. The home support, not fooled about the quality of this opposition, could not hide their disgust.
As Lee McCulloch followed by heading Tiberiu Balan's free-kick into his own net, Ibrox descended into further uproar. Brandan then scored the fourth, his 30- yard shot flying past Allan McGregor after clipping Naismith.
And so the debate returned to just how far pearl jewelry and fast the mighty in at least one half of Glasgow have fallen. Unless there is a turnaround of quite epic proportions, the most immediate drop will be, at the very best, into the Europa League after Christmas.
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