Sure, your bridal gown carries a lot of weight fashion-wise, but let’s not discount the importance of the necklace you pair with it. Consider your jewelry the “cherry on top” bringing your whole finished look together and sends a powerful message since its so enhanced by the beauty of the gown.
Here are some smart necklace pairing tips for your bridal jewelry. (Remember: many of the same pairing tips apply with any outfit.)
Some of us assume that those of the royal ilk are almost obligated to constantly wear something new every time they appear in public. But just like us, they have their favorite pieces. Princess Kate particularly loves her pearl drop earrings…and the designer is all too happy about her smart choice.
“Kate looked radiant, elegant and eternally stylish,” jeweler Annoushka Ducas tells PEOPLE, adding: “the pearls are very easy to wear and they look great on her.”
Kate has been photographed in the 18ct yellow, gold and white pearl drops [£295] so many times, Ducas has lost count and all of the pieces Kate owns (three in total – another pair of pearl drop hoops and a diamond eternity ring) are believed to have been purchased as gifts for herself.
“She pops in unannounced and very quietly looks at what she’s after and then goes away again. It’s all very low-key,” reveals Ducas, who also sends her royal client look books and lets her try on pieces at home before making a purchase.
Source: People.com
A common problem with jewelry is overdoing it. Often simplicity highlights the true beauty of a delicate piece of jewelry. In addition, length often comes into play. A beautiful necklace can become hopelessly lost in your dress if its not the right length. The great part? A few quick tips are all you need to make smart and fashionable choices. Check out the video below.
Since we’ve seen so many brides come and go over the years, we wanted to throw out a few tips about choosing earrings for the “big day.”
1. Don’t wait until the last minute. We’ve seen this kind of procrastination time and time again. Brides are concerned with their rings but often don’t give too much thought to their earrings beforehand. But earrings play an important role in your overall look. Countless photos of your face will be taken, with your earrings doing the “framing” work. Take some time beforehand, after you’ve purchased your gown and decided on your hair style. When brides wait until the last minute, they’re often stressed and choose something on the conservative side, which may or may not be a smart choice.
2. Think Big. We’re never one to push for an “over the top” look (unless that’s what you typically wear) but with earrings for your wedding, there’s a lot to compete with, including a gown and often, a complicated hairdo. The earrings shouldn’t get swallowed in the look, but integrate and enhance.
3. But Don’t Over-accessorize. A little contradictory to the previous point, but if you are going to choose bold, dangling earrings, you don’t want to choose a big, chunky necklace, for instance. This holds true whether it’s a wedding or not; let one piece do the talking.
Below is an example of a stylish, classic pair of earrings that enhance and support most bridal gowns and hairdos.
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Style 10370MS
Pear Moissanite And Natural Diamond Drop EarringsAntique design drop earrings featuring two 6x4mm (.48ct dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created pear shape moissanites and approximately 1/6ct t.w. natural diamonds. Available in 14kt white gold only. |
MSRP: $1,299.00
Our Price: $995.00
During a slowly recovering economy, we offer our customers as many affordable and beautiful options as possible. One the smartest choices for the budget conscious are our clarity enhanced diamonds, though they’re often overlooked because many just don’t understand what they are.
Clarity enhanced diamonds are diamonds with minor inclusions that undergo a special “touch up” procedure that allows more light to enter the diamond and consequently results in an even more brilliant sparkle. These diamonds are typically purchased for ⅓ less than the carat price of comparable, non enhanced diamond. When you buy clarity enhanced diamond rings you can get more for your money with a brilliant sparkle that continues to gives diamonds their everlasting mass appeal…a definite win/win!
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Style DB1067-
Round Clarity Enhanced Diamond Ring Surrounded By Pave White DiamondsThis perfect ring features a clarity enhanced 1.0ct diamond surrounded by fully faceted pave set white diamonds in 14kt white gold. Metal: 14kt White Gold |
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Style 133CE Classic Round Brilliant Clarity Enhanced Diamond Stud EarringsA basic for every woman! Classic round brilliant cut stud earrings with clarity enhanced diamonds. Clarity Enhanced Diamonds, the real thing for 1/3 less. (Other qualities and sizes available, call for info.) Available Metal: 14kt White Gold, 14kt Yellow Gold, and platinum |
Style DB1074
Simply elegant in its framing of .65ct t.w. of white fully faceted diamond pave, this rare fancy yellow clarity enhanced square radiant cut diamond of 1.50 carats is the perfect gift she will forever treasure!
Metal: 14kt White Gold
Stone Size: 1.50ct
Ring Size: 5 – 8
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.
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)
We recently received a question about the difference between white gold and titanium. Since we’re here to educate you so you make the smarteset online jewelry decisions possible, here you go:
White Gold
White gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as silver and palladium. White gold can be 18kt, 14kt, 9kt or any karat.
Traditionally nickel was used in white gold, however, nickel is no longer used in most white gold made today as nickel can cause reactions with some people. We do not use nickel in our white gold
When white gold rings are new they are coated with another white metal called Rhodium. Rhodium is a metal very similar to platinum and Rhodium shares many of the properties of platinum including its white color.
The rhodium plating is used to make the white gold look more white. The natural color of white gold is actually a light grey color. The Rhodium is very white and very hard, but it does wear away eventually. To keep a white gold ring looking its best it should be re-rhodium plated approximately each 12 to 18 months. Most local jewelers are able to rhodium plate jewelry for a cost effective price.
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Titanium
Titanium is a white metal, but unlike gold it is used in jewelry in almost its pure form (approximately 99% pure). Titanium is extremely long wearing. Its natural color is a gray color.
Titanium is very lightweight, so a titanium ring will feel much lighter than an 18kt gold ring and much lighter than a platinum ring.
Titanium is also 100% hypoallergenic.
Titanium also has a unique property which allows the titanium to be colored to bright colors such as blue, purple and black.
Unlike other metals (such as gold, platinum and silver) titanium is a difficult metal to work with from a jewelry perspective. Titanium is a very hard metal which wears down jewelry making tools very quickly. Titanium also cannot be soldered (joined by heat).
Soldering is used in the manufacture of the majority of traditional jewelry items. Because titanium cannot be soldered, the method of making some jewelry items is restricted when using titanium.For example titanium cannot be used to make a prong setting for an engagement ring. That is why you will see that many titanium rings have parallel bands rather than tapering bands and why you will not see titanium rings with prong settings.
(To cater for our customers wanting a titanium engagement ring, we can add a gold bezel setting to a titanium band.)
For the metal itself titanium is generally less expensive than 9kt white gold. However, because titanium is difficult to make jewelry with the labor costs of titanium can make the price of a titanium jewelry a little higher. Though white gold will still normally command a higher price than titanium.
Source: Gilletts Jewelry
Nowadays, choosing a diamond simulant is a smart, viable choice for many. But still, people want to know how you tell the difference between a fake and real diamond. This article covers the basics, for the skeptical and curious:
To understand how to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond, it is important to have a better understanding of what this particular stone is and why it looks so much like an expensive diamond. Cubic zirconia is a synthetic material made from zirconium dioxide. The material is extremely hard, strong, virtually flawless from a visual perspective, and colorless, although cubic zirconia can be produced in numerous colors.
One of the primary benefits of cubic zirconia is affordability. Obviously, diamonds are expensive, one of the most expensive of all precious stones. For this reason, if people can purchase a material that looks like a real diamond, has strong and durable qualities, and costs a fraction of what a diamond costs, it is easy to see why a cubic zirconia is so popular. However, with all the benefits, nothing can take the place of a diamond. Now understanding what cubic zirconia is, individuals need to know how to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond.
Again, the main reason for learning how to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond is to avoid being scammed. If a person were to sell existing jewelry, he or she needs to know without doubt pieces being sold are actually diamonds. Then, for buying, unfortunately it would be easy for someone to become caught up in fraud, spending hard-earned money on a fake stone. While this might sound farfetched, the truth is this happens often.
The good news is that there are a number of easy tests that will help to determine whether a stone is cubic zirconia or diamond. For starters, there is the old method of scratching glass. If a piece of jewelry made with a cubic zirconia were to be run across a piece of glass, nothing would happen to the glass but the faux stone might scratch. However, if a real diamond were run across a piece of glass, the diamond would likely be undamaged and the glass scratched. The only downside to this particular test on how to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond is that some of the higher quality faux stones are now made so well they can produce a small scratch on the glass.
Another method to tell cubic zirconia from diamond has to do with the stone’s transparency. Real diamonds are cut, producing facets on the inside. Because of the many lines, seeing through a real diamond is near impossible. For this technique, simply place a piece of newspaper behind the stone. If the print is readable the stone is a cubic zirconia but if not, the stone is a diamond.
The fog technique is an accurate and easy test to perform. To check the stone, simply breathe on it. The reason this is so reliable is that a real diamond is not capable of holding heat. Therefore, after breathing on the stone if it becomes fogged over, it is a cubic zirconia whereas if the warm breath clears up immediately, the stone is an actual diamond.
Now, people can go a little more high tech by using ultraviolet lighting. Officially known as an AUV test, the outcome would be based on the amount of fluorescent color produced. For instance, if the stone were a real diamond, it would show up as florescent color under the ultraviolet lighting. However, cubic zirconia stones would have no fluorescent color.
Another test that works amazingly well has to do with weight. The fact is that a real diamond weighs as much as 50% less than a cubic zirconia stone would weigh. Using a gram scale, the stone could be weighed against a confirmed diamond and the weight would show the stone to be real or fake. Obviously, the two stones should be the same carat to get the best results.
One last test that could be tried uses a loupe. Typically, this type of test is performed by a professional gemologist but anyone who knows how to look at stones through a loupe could do this. The purpose of this test is to look closely at the stone’s characteristic makeup, which includes the inside facets and girdle. A cubic zirconia stone will usually have a waxy appearance whereas a real diamond would be clear. Finally, some cubic zirconia stones will actually have the initials CZ stamped on the inside of the jewelry piece and a loupe would help reveal this.
Source: Abazias Diamonds
Style 10310-
Save 40% Custom Created Moissanite Engagement Ring Wtih Pave CZ Side Stones
Custom created engagement ring with a 1.50ct (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created round brilliant moissanite center and nearly 200 round cubic zirconia pave’ side stones in 14kt white gold, one piece only in ring size 7.
Save 40%! Use the coupon code below for discount at the end of the checkout process.
Our Price: $3,295.00
Sale Price: $1,977.00
Coupon Code For Checkout Discount40
A client came to us with a question:
“My girlfriend works for an ecological organization. During our last few years together, I’ve learned about the hazards of diamond mining. I want to propose to her on the holiday but I need some suggestions as to a diamond alternative.” – Freddie G., Phoenix
Freddie, you asked the right company. Joseph Schubach Jewelers prides itself in it’s eco-friendly options. Top of the list would be moissanite. According to Charles & Colvard:
Moissanite, also known by its chemical name, silicon carbide (SiC), is a naturally occurring mineral found in very limited quantities or as minute particles in the earth. The rarity of natural moissanite crystals large enough for jewelry prohibits their use.
For years, scientists tried to re-create this extraordinarily brilliant material. Only recently, through the power of advanced technology, Charles & Colvard developed a way to produce in a laboratory, large gem-quality crystals which can be faceted into near-colorless jewels with incomparable fire and brilliance.
So these lab-produced gems have the same physical, chemical and optical characteristics as their natural counterparts. Often trained gemologists can’t tell the difference. These “synthetics” are distinguished from “simulants,” like glass or cubic zirconium.
As you can see, an option like moissanite is a smart choice for ecologically minded people. It is in fact a diamond, it’s simply produced in a lab.
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:
