Happy Stories From our customers

Today, we are going to wax poetic about jewelry. Of course, jewels and gems have been mentioned in literature and poetry since time immemorium. Why? Because jewels have a magical, mythical quality that pairs perfectly with the beauty of words. Take this lovely, lilting piece by poet Sarah Teasdale:

If I should see your eyes again,
 I know how far their look would go --
Back to a morning in the park
 With sapphire shadows on the snow.

Or back to oak trees in the spring
 When you unloosed my hair and kissed
The head that lay against your knees
 In the leaf shadow's amethyst.

And still another shining place
 We would remember -- how the dun
Wild mountain held us on its crest
 One diamond morning white with sun.

But I will turn my eyes from you
 As women turn to put away
The jewels they have worn at night
 And cannot wear in sober day.

Picking out an engagement ring can seem like a costly gamble. Will she love the proposal but secretly dislike the ring? How will you know? Forewarned is forearmed. This great piece relays the important cues you need to look for, whether you choose a moissanite dazzler or a traditional diamond engagement ring:

Number 1: Pay Attention!

Paying attention to her jewelry likes and dislikes is the first big step towards finding her the perfect engagement ring:

What metal color does she wear now? Most women have a definite preference. If she loves white gold or platinum, don’t even look at a diamond or other stone mounted in a yellow gold ring setting.

What style of jewelry does she wear now? Is it contemporary-looking, with bold styling? Does she prefer vintage looking rings? Or would you say that the jewelry she wears is classic, resembling those timeless pieces that never go out of style?

The best indication of her tastes is the jewelry she wears all the time, not items she only wears occasionally, because it’s the full-timers that she’s most comfortable with.

Number 2: Has She Hinted at her Likes and Dislikes?

Has she ever mentioned her favorite jewelry styles or pointed out engagement rings when you’re shopping together? If not, take her shopping. It isn’t difficult to steer yourselves towards the jewelry stores. If you want to be subtle, say you’re looking for a new watch, but be sure to pause at the engagement ring counters.Maybe she has a friend who recently became engaged. Does she like her friend’s engagement ring? Why or why not?

Does she like diamonds? Some women don’t. Sapphires and rubies are both durable gemstones that are often set into engagement rings for women who don’t like to wear diamonds.

Number 3: What Looks Best on Her Hands?

An elongated diamond, such as a marquise or oval, can make short fingers look more sleek–but be careful not to overdo the look or it could have the opposite effect.Wide bands usually make fingers appear even shorter than they are, so think proportional:

Women with long fingers can easily wear bold ring styles.

A setting that’s extremely delicate could get lost on large hands, over-emphasizing their size and making the ring look smaller.

Number 4: Choose the Right Shape & Setting

Round diamonds are the number one shape chosen by brides, but maybe not your bride. She might prefer an elongated marquise, oval or pear-shaped stone, or an square or emerald cut diamond. Fancier shapes, such as hearts, are another option.Do you think she’d like a solitaire diamond, set alone in a band, or would she prefer a cluster of stones? Her current jewelry can give you clues about her preferences.

Number 5: Consider her Lifestyle

How will the ring fit in with her lifestyle? Does she work in a profession where fussy jewelry would look out of place? Even if she doesn’t, remember that a pointed gem with high prongs could snag clothing (and people) and is harder to keep clean. Save that type of ring for gifts that will be worn on special occasions, not every day.

Number 6: What’s her Ring Size?

Does she have rings that she wears on her engagement finger? Maybe a friend or family member could get hold of one of them long enough for you to have it sized. Of course, you’ll have to swear the messenger to secrecy.

Number 7: Consider a Loose Diamond

If you think you know which shape she loves, buy a loose diamond to show her when you ask the big question. The two of you can shop together later for the perfect engagement ring setting.Now that you have a better feel for the style of ring she might prefer, it’s time to consider the diamonds that will go into it. Start with the Four C’s, then take some time to browse other topics in Diamond Basics and Engagement Ring Resources. If she’s not into diamonds, start with the articles in Colored Gemstones.

Number 8: Consider Your Budget

Your engagement ring budget is a top consideration. Don’t stress if your budget is tight, because you can buy an affordable engagement ring. There are lots of excellent options, from solitaires to rings with multiple diamonds or other gems.

Source: About.com

Style 9577

Knife Edge Solitaire Engagement Ring

Knife edge solitaire engagement ring (setting only, does not include center stone)
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Jackie O was a fashion plate for her generation. So obviously any jewelry she chose weighs heavily at auctions – even if it’s not the real deal!

A three-strand pearl necklace belonging to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis will be auctioned off as part of Bonham’s “Pioneers of Popular Culture” Sale on August 15th.

According to British auction house, Bonhams, the necklace Jackie wore in the 60s is made from champagne-colored pearls with an emerald and diamond sterling silver clasp, with an estimated price of $39,300 to $47,200.

Yet, insider sources are buzzing that Mrs. Kennedy’s neck candy is only worth about a few hundred bucks. The First Lady often chose to wear simulated pearls since she was prone to misplacing them, so it’s the Jackie O legacy that’s driving the price skyward.

Source: Jewelry.com

If 30 or 40 grand is out of your price range, consider our phenomenal freshwater price at a very un-auction price:

Single Strand Freshwater Cultured Pearls

Single strand freshwater cultured pearls, 17″ with 14kt yellow gold clasp.

8.5mm-9.5mm: Now $299
9.5mm-10.5mm: Now $399
10.5mm-11.5mm: Now $499

We’ve talked about the importance of being an educated jewelery buyer many times on my blog. I figure it this way: when you know as much about the jewelry you’re buying as I do, you feel more confident in your purchase. And rightfully so: buying jewelry is a commitment. When a customer is well-informed, he or she tends to make smarter decisions that last a lifetime.

Here’s a little lesson on the gold test:

After choosing perfect style on your particular occasion from your favorite jewelry store, the first thing you can do is to look for karat mark, which can be found mostly on end caps (where holding lock) for necklace, bracelet and anklet.

You will find 10kt or 417, 14kt or 585 and 18kt or 750 marking on it as well as, but not necessarily, trademark or company code and its country of origin.

For the rings, look inside the band, you will find quality markings. These markings are mandatory and if you don’t see it, something is seriously wrong.

Although due to some special custom made work or resizing a ring will damage marking permanently. This is where reliable jewelry store you can trust comes in. because good jewelry store will not damage or destroy these markings when necessary work or resizing.

And secondly, if you have any doubt, let the jewelry store manager test your item right in front of you. Most jewelry store will do this for you free of charge. There’s testing kit that contains 3 small bottles of 10kt, 14kt and 18kt testing liquid (acid), in most cases, with flat stone like rectangle panel.

They will scratch item of your choice on rectangle panel and apply appropriate liquid on it. Now observe it. What you want to see here is that scratch will remain nice and bright if item is right karat. If it is not right karat, in other words low quality, scratch will fade away and will even darken.

And finally, a rule of thumb that you always do, let them write down what you need on the receipt such as karatage or proper return policy. This is good way to protect your hard working money as a proof of quality promise from that store.

Partial source: Squidoo Article

Here’s a short video on the gold testing process:

(above) 14kt yellow gold wedding band, high polished with scalloped sides and milgraining

When it comes to karats, we have a rough idea of the definition. But really, when you’re investing in the perfect moissanite engagement ring, shouldn’t you know a little better?

More on the Karat

It is a common misconception that a karat is a unit of weight but it is actually a unit of measurement for the amount of gold contained within an item.

“Karat” is also different from “carat,” which is a metric unit of weight for gemstones.

Karat (or kt) indicates how many percentage of pure gold is alloyed with other metals like silver, copper, zinc and so on.

Pure gold (99.99%) is generally considered to be too soft and pricey for daily enjoyment.

For this reason, it has to be mixed with other alloys to maximize its strength and at the same time, price can be lowered down as it contains inexpensive materials to target larger consumptions.

Only 24 karat is known as 99.99% pure gold.

18kt gold has approximately 75% of pure gold and stamped either “18kt” or “750” for European marking standard.

Likewise, 14kt gold has approx. 58.5% of pure gold and stamped “14kt” or “585” for European marking standard.14kt gold is most commonly used in US.

Finally, 10kt gold has approx. 41.7% of pure gold and stamped “10KT” or “417” for European marking standard.

(above) Gent's 14kt White Gold Diamond Wedding Band, diagonal design with .20ct t.w. channel set diamonds, high polished and matte finish

Partial Source: Squidoo Article

Fancy Colored Diamonds

You may or may not know that diamonds come in all of the colors of the rainbow, from reds and pinks to blues, greens and yellows. However, not all fancy colored diamonds get their color naturally. Below is an article explaining the color enhancement processes of natural diamonds.

COLOR ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL DIAMONDS
TREATMENT OF DIAMONDS TO CHANGE THEIR COLOR HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1940’S. INITIALLY IT WAS DONE BY EXPOSING THEM TO RADIATION FOLLOWED BY HEAT TREATMENT (ANNEALING). THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO SANITIZING FOOD PRODUCTS. THE RESULTING DIAMONDS ARE FREE OF RADIATION AND SAFE TO USE. THIS TREATMENT PRODUCES COLORS OF BLUE, YELLOW, GREEN, AND VERY RARELY PINKS AND REDS. WHILE THESE COLORS ARE PERMANENT, INDUSTRY TEST SUGGEST CAUTION BE USED FOR EXPOSURE TO TEMPERATURE ABOVE 300-400 C.
Since the 1990’s, the color of diamonds has also been altered by HPHT process (High Pressure High Temperature). Polished or rough diamonds (natural and synthetic) are processed in the lab under very high pressures and temperatures, mimicking conditions deep in the earth where diamonds are formed. Depending on the composition of the diamond the results could be colorless as well as yellow, green, orange, and very rarely pink and blue. Colors produced by HPHT are permanent and they have the same features as a regular natural diamond.
There are other methods of diamond treatment such as PVD (pressurized vapor deposit), a color coating scheme, and clarity enhancements such as lasering, [fracture filling] treating, or filling. Color treatment can be done on any synthetic or [natural/minded] diamond. In the US these processes are done under strict and safe conditions.    Article written by Cendico Diamond

I found this article to contain some easy tips on purchasing costume jewelry (it’s not all created equal!) and jewelry/fashion matching.

Joe

Just wanted to let you know that as I am typing this I am wearing the ring of my dreams. It came in today and all the girls at work oooed and ahhhed over it. It is amazing. One of a kind and absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for being so professional, knowledgeable and courteous. I will definitely be in contact with you soon to get Ryan’s wedding band.

Thanks again you and your company are an absolute pleasure!

Dagni