Happy Stories From our customers

In the last few weeks, we’ve highlighted the economic trends in relation to purchasing engagement rings. Now we have some more specifics. Overall, you’ll see couples moving toward more affordable engagement rings with smaller carat sizes and alternative gems, such as moissanite.

The average American engagement ring costs $5,200. That’s just one of the results of the just-released 2011 Engagement & Jewelry Survey from XO Group Inc., formerly The Knot Inc., and owners of TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. The survey polled more than 10,000 U.S. brides and 1,000 U.S. grooms who were either engaged or married in the past year.

Below are highlights of survey data, featuring average prices, carat weights, and more:

1.		Engagement ring cost: $5,200
2.		Carat size: 1 ct. for center stone; 1.4 cts. t.w.
3.		Most popular diamond shapes: round (53%) and princess (30%)
4.		Most popular engagement ring metal: white gold (73%)
5.		Time it takes for groom to find engagement ring: 3 months
6.		Wedding band cost: $1,126 for brides; $491 for grooms
7.		Most popular wedding band metal: white gold (70% for brides, 34% for grooms)
8.		Luxury ring segment: About 12% of couples spend more than $8,000 on the engagement ring
9.		Luxury engagement ring cost: $13,500
10.		Luxury engagement ring carat size: 1.5 cts. for center stone; more than 2 cts. t.w.
11.		Luxury wedding band cost: $1,560 for brides; $731 for grooms

Other data reveals that just 14 percent of grooms claimed to have scaled down the size and cost of engagement rings purchased due to the economy, while 1 in 4 grooms spent more than he originally budgeted. Buyers are, however, still spending less than they did a few years ago; today, couples are spending just under $5,200 on the ring, compared with $5,800 for engaged couples in 2008.

Read more at JCK.

Style 10214-6.5mm Twisted Shank Engagement Ring With Side Stones Twisted shank engagement ring with just under 2/5ct t.w. pave’ side stones. Fits a 6.5mm (1ct) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

This story is getting quite a lot of online airplay recently, but we’re not surprised here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. We see it firsthand: men want to still “wow” their spouse-to-be but how can budget not be an issue in this economy. Of course, our resounding answer is moissanite, where you get more bang for your buck as well choosing something ecologically sound.

Men planning their weddings are cutting back on what they spend on an engagement ring – and their fiancees are not happy. Traditionally, a ring has tended to cost around up to three months’ salary – but now many grooms-to-be are devoting only three weeks’ income to the crucial purchase. Research by home insurance firm LV found that nearly two-thirds of grooms are paying less than a month’s salary.  John O’Roarke, LV’s managing director, said: ‘It’s not surprising to see men tightening their belts in these tough economic times.

Regardless of how much a ring is worth, it is still a treasured possession.’ More than half of the women surveyed said they did not how much their engagement ring was worth. But most said they expected their man to spend at least one month’s salary on the ring. Nearly four in ten grooms refused to reveal what they paid, and three per cent admitted that they exaggerated the cost.

Source: GalTime

Cathedral engagement ring with two bezel set round brilliant diamonds. Fits a 6.5mm (1ct) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

Contemporary Solitaire Engagement Ring Contemporary solitaire engagement ring. Fits a 6.5mm round stone. (setting only, does not included center stone)

We’re often asked what is the best way to clean jewelry. Unfortunately, there’s no one answer. It depends on the metal and the stone, the piece of jewelry as a whole, and the setting. But here are some basic pointers to abide by to add some shine to your pieces, thanks to Home Made Simple.

What to Use: For cleaning most jewelry, a soft bristled toothbrush and warm water is the perfect pair. Toothbrushes help you gently clean the surface of your jewelry, while also getting into nooks and crannies of a setting. Warm water helps break down the dirt faster. Jewelry Cleaning Tips:

• Gold: Soak gold for about 15 minutes in a simple solution of warm water and two drops of mild dish liquid. Gently clean using the toothbrush, rinse with warm water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• Silver: Rinse silver with warm water and clean with a soft cloth. If the silver is tarnished use silver polishing cloths or bottled silver cleaning fluid.
• Diamonds: Soak diamond jewelry in a solution of one-cup warm water and 1/4 cup ammonia for 20 minutes or use the same solution you would for gold. Gently clean with a toothbrush, rinse with warm water and pat with a lint-free cloth.
• Gem Stones: You can use the same solution used for diamonds for most precious gems except for soft, specially treated stones like emeralds or opals. For these stones, use a small amount of warm water and a soft, clean tissue or piece of silk to clean.
• Pearls: Rub pearls individually with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and a few drops of mild dish liquid.
• Costume Jewelry: Simply wipe costume jewelry down gently with soft, damp cotton cloth as needed. Don’t over clean, as you may damage the finish.

Tip: To keep inexpensive costume jewelry from tarnishing and rubbing off on your skin, brush clear nail polish on the backs of each piece and let dry before wearing.