Gemstone Diamond Jewelry

Cut Your Own Faceted Gemstones

2009-03-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

First stage: the choice of the Rough

If you are interested in reducing the gems, the starting point for cutting a pearl is naturally hard. There are places in the U.S., where you can dig their own mines, and precious stones, but for most people, the acquisition of funds from crude oil. Rough stones small mines in the world, and the overwhelming majority of trade will be cut, but there are some dealers specialize in selling greggioEd can acerworbs raw gems and money. Sometimes it seems a glass of vinegar, and sometimes only as a piece of colored glass. For example, I have on my site, select a piece of amethyst in Brazil, I bought a few years ago. Gross amethyst mines amethyst crystals with hammers and then click on the defective part of the stone. The result is a piece of diamond, in the absence of Bruto edges, like the Mount photos on my website.

Step two: You prefor compressionmati

The jewel is the rough sawn with a diamond saw and ground in a similar way on the surface of stone. The shape is approximately preforms. A big key to this first step is to identify and eliminate the weaknesses and find ways in which the gross margin of the stone more than what it is.

The diamond is in Sierra preform and gravel on the ground wheels. A page Dellai stone cut with a flat surface - this was the Principal Aspect of the table or floor on the top of the histone. In a first phase, the most important aspect is too flat for the rest of the stone. At this stage the stone is a preform, and you can see what the final form to be preserved.

Phase Three: Dopping Stone

In my example, a pear-shaped preform is "locked" brass dop stick. The plan DOPS aguarda the flat on the table made of stone. The glue used is a special cwurde at high temperatureen.

In my example, preforms dopped floor was glued to the brass dop stick. The end of the rough stone cut the tip to form the basis of stone. Contrary to what many people think, NO is a multifaceted process of splitting or chipping with a hammer. Procces This is only for the diamonds, and then only in the place of sawdust for prepararetaglio. Faceting is a process the grinding and polishing - it is true, with the colored Diamantund Steine. One or two of sand flat rear wheels for grinding polished facets and the return is used to make a final touch to them. The diamonds are cut and polished into a round.

Fourth step: cutting machine pierreFacettage

Here, the preform is cut and polished in a tower in my computer facets. The lower part of the foundation eprimo cut. Everyone is in an apartment near vonFräsen, then turn around and all aspects dPolishing it is polished on a lathe. The position of each is supported by the Arts and the angle of the teeth and hand carriage. This is a polished turn the car on the picture. My machine is partly homemade. The tree etpart of the Master Co., while the rest of the machine is in the house. The tree was too old - from 1950. Nevertheless, it still works very well. VierundzwanzigFacetten of cullet individually cut and polished.

Schritt five: Cut and Polish Cullet Transfer

The bottom of the stone (also known as glass) was cut and polished - losing all the fundamental aspects are polished and complete. Now it's time to go back and cut the top of the stone, known as the Corona. To this end, the stone must be transferred to another dop. The new base will lap stone, so that the top is exposed for cutting and polishing. As the first camera has ae flat surface to the desktop appearance, the second is a double V-shaped notch on the "V" shape at the bottom of the stone.

Step six: ePolonais and cuadroCorona l

The stone was from the first double-blow to polish the top of the stone - the Corona. The first issue is cut and polished in the crown is the beginning of the series or vostrobile. This is eineoder special 45-degree dop holder is for us at the table. This photo shows the complete and polish Facetten, but not the rest of the page (or crown) cut aspects - be polished and comentale later.
After all aspects of stone cut and polished, from the Declaration of Principles and cleaning stick to all the remaining wax. The wax can be softened by a gentle heat and wax plupl'arte away. Ider rest of the wax used in this process of washing, when the stone is soaked in alcohol.

Step Seven: Nice stone jewelry

In my example, the last amethyst stone - lescomme with all aspects of the stone from the statement of principles, disease, clean package is used in fine jewelry. If you have a friend look you will find very beautiful, is not it?
Lapidary Equipment

Ten Jewels Every Woman Should Own

2008-08-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some tips on how to choose pieces which are both stunning and precious.

Earrings and More Earrings

Diamond Studs: Most jewelry buyers can afford diamond studs - especially since beautiful, quality stones are available in a range of prices and sizes, from discreet little pin dots to three-carat headlights. Diamond studs are classics which can go from casual to classy instantly.

Gold Hoops: Hoops are always attractive and appropriate. And, gold hoop choices are endless - from tiny, classic loops to three-inch hoops. This popular earring style also comes in everything from high polish to hammered satin, and a range of colors, including white, yellow or rose gold.

Pearls on a wire: Grace Kelly elegance meets the soft glow of a dangling pearl! Pearls on a wire transform the classic pearl into a slightly more contemporary look.

Long drops: Drop earrings are flirty and fluid - gliding with the wearer's every move. Choose drops that are not shorter than two inches from the lobe. Enjoy a variety of gem choices from white topaz briolettes to black onyx beads and a rainbow of gems in between!

Chandeliers: These earrings offer a dramatic entrance for those occasions when a lady wants all eyes on her. For a truly exotic look, consider tumbled and carved emeralds, rubies and mogul-cut diamonds intricately twined with burnished gold wires and dripping from concentric crescents.

Necklaces

Pendants: Pendants should serve as the foundation of the necklace collection. Whether a single stone on a delicate chain or a four-inch Gothic inspired cross set with agate and carnelian on a long rope, the pendant possibilities are endless. Pendants are ideal for expressing oneself with a lopsided heart or spiritual charm, or showcase a collection of vintage good luck talismans of precious stone.

Pearls: Think a corporate-climbing gal in a crisp black business suit or the unforgettable bride in her frothy wedding gown...pearls are an investment that will take a woman through countless moments in her life with elegance and ease. Add one at a time to commemorate special occasions or choose a luxurious rope for a real show stopper.

Bracelets

Bangles: Bangles have been around forever. Stacked or worn alone, skinny or wide, a woman cannot go wrong in bangles. For real glitz, think mircropave pink sapphires in pink gold or oxidized brown-gold tubes studded with cognac diamonds.

Charms: Nothing spells beauty and confidence - and a hint of the sentimental, like charms. Today's options are endless - from one remarkable medallion hanging from an open link, to a row of birthstones marking the significant people in one's life. Charm bracelets have been a favored jewelry item of women for centuries.

Signature Ring

This one might be best chosen personally by the wearer. Choose bold and make a statement. Consider a cushion-cut citrine or cabochon green tourmaline the size of a quail's egg. For a truly dramatic effect, wear the ring on the index finger.

About the Author
Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, contact Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit http://www.pandorabraceletsusa.com.

Buying Tips For Men's Designer Jewellery

2008-05-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

When thinking of buying men's designer jewellery, there are some considerations to make to ensure that the valuable piece you buy will continue to impress even as the years go by. Here are some buying tips for you to get the most out of your money.

First thing to consider when buying jewellery is your personal taste. Since there are many available designs to choose from, you must be able to choose something that truly expresses your personality, style and individuality. homme rock has a splendid collection and display of traditional and modern men's designer jewellery that will truly fit whatever type of personality you may have.

An important consideration when planning to buy jewellery is, of course, the budget that you have for one. Since fine jewellery will need you to spend a bit of cash, you have to control as to how much you are willing to spend. You have to keep in mind that various designs made out of the different materials will have varying prices attached to it. But you can always get great deals when buying jewellery at online stores like homme rock.

Other consideration to buying jewellery, especially ones with diamonds, is the diamond certification. To assure you get authentic and quality diamond jewellery, make sure your look for the AGS or GIA certification. Since jewellery is considered as an investment, you always have to make sure that you are getting the crème de la crème of jewellery. In relation to this, you also have to consider the diamond's quality as to the cut, color, clarity and karat. The best diamond jewellery has the highest rating as to these four properties but make sure the choice you make fits your budget. At homme rock, most popular pieces are their men's diamond earrings.

Also to consider is the quality of the material used. Commonly, gold is the metal of choice although there are several alternatives to gold that is now very much popular in the jewelry business. Pure gold is a very pliable material that it is usually mixed with another metal to increase its durability. Fine gold grades are those with a karat value of 18K and 24K, while the most common type of gold is at 14K. At homme rock, most of their jewelry is designed to incorporate gold into the other different materials such as titanium to create an even better and classy finish.

Buying men's designer jewellery should not be a challenge to face. Instead, it should be an enjoyable experience for the buyer. Sure, there are many designs to choose from that might get you confused as to which one to buy, but certainly knowing what you want and how much you are willing to spend on one will narrow down your choices to the best possible choice that your money can buy.

About the Author
© 2008 Jason Tye. Jason Tye is the webmaster and owner of the mens jewelry emporium - homme rock, specializing in quality, designer jewelry and rings, for men.

Uncut Diamonds: Potential Beauties

2008-02-14T22:38:00.000-08:00

Diamonds have been used as status symbols and heirlooms for thousands of years. Before modern equipment for mining diamonds were used, diamonds were said to be sighted on riverbeds. These stones have reached the surface of the Earth but have actually been formed billions of years ago.

From the Greek term "adamas" meaning unconquerable, the word diamond has always signified durability and superiority. Even before the science and art of cutting were developed, uncut diamonds have already been cherished by people from all walks of life.

Ancient royalty used uncut diamonds to reinforce their breastplates. As they still did not have the technology and the knowledge we now know, people of long ago wore them as is, without ever knowing the true beauty these diamonds possessed within.

Uncut diamonds can present challenges to gem artisans. The type of cut is only determined after a careful study of the uncut diamond's shape, plus its inclusions and where the flaws to be removed are located. They also need to determine which cut should preserve the uncut diamond's weight the most.

Another factor that gemologists need to consider is the popularity of a diamond's shape. There are certain diamond shapes that significantly raise or lower the value of a gem.

When the uncut diamond is in the shape of an octahedron, the preferred cut is a round brilliant. On the other hand, fancy cuts are used for uncut diamonds that are irregularly shaped. There is a significant loss of weight after an uncut diamond is shaped into a finished product. At times, the diamond's symmetry is sacrificed in order to eliminate inclusions found in the uncut diamond.

The largest uncut diamond ever discovered and authenticated is the Cullinan diamond, found by a Supt. Wells in the afternoon of January 26, 1905. He was making his regular inspection when he noticed something that reflected light in the shaft. He pried it out using a pocketknife and up until the time he had it analyzed, thought it was a practical joke played on him by the miners.

This uncut diamond had a weight of 1.5 pounds and was eventually split into 9 major pieces. Joseph Asscher was tasked to work on the uncut diamond and years later was honored with a diamond cut named after him â€" the "Asscher cut."

Recently, a massive 7,000-carat rock believed to be a diamond was discovered in South Africa. If authenticated, this faint green stone that's nearly the size of a coconut would become the largest uncut diamond ever to be discovered in all history.

About the Author
You can also find more info on diamonds stones and fancy colored diamonds.Topdiamondsguide.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about diamonds.

The Defining Characteristics Of A Diamond

2007-11-20T08:58:00.000-08:00

The diamond is a very precious and rare gemstone. It has certain defining qualities and characteristics, making it a unique and special stone. If you want to buy diamonds then you should have some basic knowledge about the characteristics so that you make a very well informed decision and get something that is worth your money. The overall quality and value of a diamond depends on four factors that are explained as under.

Color: It is very important to view a loose diamond that has not been mounted, under a source of neutral light, when you want to examine it carefully. This will help you get a clear view of its color. As far as the color is concerned, there is a scale on which the diamond's color is rated. It goes from D to Z (D is the rate given to the whitest diamond and Z is for diamonds that are light yellow in color and tinted). Color grade of G to J is considered to be the best for most jewelry items.

Today, you can find different colors in diamonds, but in case of a white diamond it is essential to know how the scale works and where the point on which your choice of diamond can be rated in the spectrum lies. The appearance of this gem can also get affected by its mounting. If you set a yellowish diamond in yellow gold, it will look white.

Cut: Cut is one factor that determines the beauty and brilliance of the diamond. If it is not cut in the right manner, it will lose its sparkle. Approximately 40% price of the diamond depends on how well it has been cut. A well-cut diamond reflects light and a dramatic sparkling effect is created which only a diamond can emit. The exact required precision can be provided only by skilled craftsmen, to make the stone dazzle and sparkle to its fullest.

Clarity: Clarity in diamond is all about the nature and number of blemishes or inclusions visible in it. These inclusions can be seen only when you view the gem under the microscope. According to many diamond professionals, clarity is quality or purity. A blemish on a diamond is any imperfection that is present on the surface. Inclusions are small spots that a diamond has. The clarity of this unique gem can be determined by five factors: position, the size, number, relief and nature of the inclusion.

Relief is the visibility level of imperfections. You can understand the diamond's clarity scale very easily. It is either flawless or internally flawless and goes to VS (very slightly included), VVS (very very slightly included), 'Imperfect or Included', and SI (slightly included). These are very easy to remember and understand.

There are varying levels of each of these and if you know them well you will be able to understand how important clarity is, for a diamond. A diamond that is rated 'Imperfect' has inclusions visible without the help of microscope. But inclusions in SI rated diamonds cannot be seen with naked eyes. Due to this reason diamonds with an SI rating are considered to be best value for money investment.

Carat: This is the most obvious factor that determines the diamond's price to a great extent. Carat is weight of the gem and to make an ounce, the count being 142.

About the Author
Victor Epand is an expert consultant about jewelry and diamonds. When looking for jewelry, we recommend you shop only at the best online jewelry stores for diamond gems, loose diamonds, diamond rings, fashion jewelry, fashion earrings, fashion pendants, engagement rings, wedding

Using A Loose Diamond To Create A Unique Piece Of Diamond Jewelry

2007-10-19T00:23:00.000-07:00

While jewelry stores are lined with cookie cutter engagement rings and necklaces that showcase no personal value, an increasing amount of people are discovering the world of loose diamond creations. When selecting the diamond of your choice, this extra freedom allows individuals to explore one-of-a-kind designs that are completely unique. Simply knowing that you are the only one in the world that holds the creativity and imagination of your personal piece elevates the value and worth of a gemstone ensemble.

Choosing and Evaluating a Loose Diamond

In order to select the diamond that will exemplify the high quality and value you seek, there are four major factors that come into play. Paying attention to what is referred to as the "Four C's" is highly recommended. The color, cut, clarity, and caret weight of a diamond become very important details. Once you become familiar with these essential characteristics of a loose diamond, choosing the gem that fits your personal tastes, as well as budget will become easier.

* Color: First, it is key to note that not all diamonds are completely colorless. The various shades of diamonds are given an overall grade, often compared to a colorless (or white) standard. When it comes to accurately judging a stone, it is the loose selections that produce the most precise grades as settings can affect the color of a gem. Diamonds show colorless or appear tinted with shades of yellow or yellowish brown. For instance, colorless diamonds are given a grade of D, E, or F, while lightly tinted or yellow selections may receive a grade of K, L, or M, as the tint is quite visible to the eye.

* Clarity: When it comes to diamonds and colored gemstones, almost all selections come with various marks that include gas bubbles, minute fractures, surface imperfections, or the presence of trace minerals. A flawless gemstone is very rare and quite expensive. When a diamond is magnified ten times its original size, the quality of its appearance is given a grade. For example, flawless diamonds are considered FL, while a Si1, Si2, and Si3 distinction means that clouding and small imperfections are present yet not easily detected with the untrained eye.

* Cut: The cut of a diamond is often mistaken for its shape, as this type of gem is generally fashioned into oval, marquise, pear, heart, and round selections. The cut of a diamond refers to the geometric arrangement that produces the highest level of brilliance or shine. Diamond cuts are rated on a scale from excellent to very good to good to fair to poor. Ideal cuts will reflect almost all light that enters a gem.

* Caret Weight: One of the biggest factors that affect the cost of a diamond is the weight. The larger the diamond - the higher the price tag, as small diamonds are much easier to get a hold of than larger specimens. For example, a 1-carat diamond is more than two times as rare as a diamond weighing a half carat.

Unique Diamond Jewelry Possibilities

A loose diamond is often associated with creating a dazzling engagement ring filled with sentimental value, as some people pair birthstones with a shimmering gem full of brilliance. However, there is a never-ending supply of creative ideas on how to mold a diamond you have personally selected into the ideal gift or keepsake.

Loose diamonds make great family heirlooms, as seen in custom-made pendants and earrings. Tennis bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and fancy barrettes are other ways to create the jewelry of your dreams. Additionally, settings also help enhance the appearance of a diamond. For example, a loose gem that seems slightly yellow to the naked eye becomes more colorless when mounted or set in platinum or white gold.

About the Author
For more insights and additional information about Loose Diamonds please visit our web site at http://www.diamond-jewelry-ring.com

Diamond Jewelry Has Lasted For Ages

2007-09-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

Diamond jewelry is the ultimate fantasy for women and perhaps men too. Kings were known to adorn diamonds in their ornaments, equaling or more than their queens. Diamond jewelry is timeless and can never go out of style.

Diamond is probably one of the most precious stones today and the jewelry made out of this exotic stone is unparalleled. With innovative designs coming into the market, the choice of diamond jewelry is unlimited and caters to all needs. Earlier, it was so expensive that only the aristocrats or the very rich could afford it, but now as with everything else, it is more within reach for the common man too, although it is costlier compared to other gems.

Diamond jewelry comes in all shapes and sizes. There are engagement rings, wedding rings, ear rings, chains, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, diamonds set in various metals like gold, silver, white gold, and platinum, jewelry combined with other precious gems, and a host of other jewelry.

Diamonds are very valuable, especially the ones that are finely cut. Learning about them helps in giving one the ability to choose when it is time to buy this precious stone. Diamond jewelry is considered to be an investment of a lifetime. To help determine the quality of the diamond jewelry you are buying, you need to understand the four C's.

The four C's are the cut, clarity, carat weight, and color. These control a diamond's appearance. The cut of a diamond does not mean the shape. When you hear gemologists say 'cut', they are referring to the proportions of the gemstone, like the width, depth and uniformity. These are the characteristics of a diamond that affect the durability and brilliance of a diamond, and this is what people look for when buying diamond jewelry. The clarity of the diamond jewelry means the perfectly clear stones. This flawless stone is very rare to find and when found will be very expensive. But then, when you are buying diamond jewelry, these flaws are not seen with the naked eye unless you use a magnifying glass. Carat weight is the size of the diamond. The diamond jewelry or loose diamonds are priced based on the carat weight. Color of a diamonds are graded from D-Z. The ones from D-F are colorless and from G-J, they are almost colorless. The color is comprehensible to the naked eye only from I or J.

Buying diamond jewelry is one thing and wondering if you bought a good one is another. The above guidelines should help you in deciding whether what you are buying is worth the investment or not.

I know the general notion that diamonds are tough and you can handle your diamond jewelry the way you want. That is not true. You do need to take care of your diamond jewelry for it to last a lifetime. Although diamond is one of the strongest metal on earth, it can still chip with a hard hit. Clean your diamond jewelry with ammonia and water using a very soft brush. Make sure that you don't discolor the metal. Perspiration, lotions, and other cleaners can dull the stones. Store diamond jewelry in velvet pouches to avoid scratching.

Diamond jewelry is the ultimate in adornments and understanding a little about it makes it easier to buy and enjoy it. Jewelry made with this precious gemstone does not compare with anything else and stands out in a crowd. Show off your diamond jewelry and enjoy the feeling of elation.

About the Author
Herman Tumurcuoglu is an consultant of Diamond. You can find more information here about Diamond Jewelry.

Wedding Rings for the Jewelry Challenged

2007-09-08T22:58:00.000-07:00

Wedding rings are more than just a piece of jewelry. They are the ultimate symbol of marriage. Rings are purchased for both the bride and the groom, even if the groom insists he doesn't need to wear one to show his commitment!

Wedding rings are exchanged as part of the ceremony, normally as vows are said by both parties. They are often matched to the engagement ring, so you might want to choose simply for the engagement ring or choose a complete set. If you want to rehearse for the big day, wedding rings are always placed on the finger first, and the engagement ring is placed on top of it. If you have yet to purchase your ring set, keep the following guidelines in mind:

Going For The Gold

Gold is still the standard for wedding rings, and is instantly recognizable as a wedding band. However, white gold is an excellent alternative. White gold gets its color by blending with another white metal like silver or palladium. This blend is called an alloy. An advantage of white gold is that is typically retains the better qualities of yellow gold, like low risks of skin irritation, and is often mistaken for the more expensive platinum.

Platinum Pass

Platinum is the metal of choice for rings because it is more rare and durable than gold. Platinum is an elegant metal, which is very popular these days because of its white, shiny look and durability. Platinum is actually more precious than gold and can cost up to twice as much.

If you prefer a white metal and are willing to be non-traditional, there is one more alternative.

What About Titanium?

Titanium wedding bands are an ideal choice for the adventurous, outdoorsy couple because a titanium ring requires very little care and is almost impossible to damage. Titanium wedding bands are unique in that it is one of the strongest metals. Yet, they are very light in weight. Titanium is a non-allergenic material, with none of the skin rashes that can occur with some white metals like nickel or nickel alloys.

And Finally, Diamonds Are Forever

Diamond wedding rings are the most often bought type of wedding rings, and go well with gold, white gold, silver, and platinum bands. Diamond engagement rings can be dressed up with other stones like sapphires, rubies and emeralds, but the diamonds are still the most important. Diamonds were also considered to be gifts of the gods and as such must be cherished. Diamond engagement rings thus symbolize love and eternity, which explains their popularity with men and women alike.

Conclusion

Wedding rings, along with engagement rings, will likely be the most important jewelry decision you make. If you decide upon an alloy like white gold make sure it does not contain a metal that will irritate your skin. And whether you choose traditional yellow gold or prefer the white precious metal alternatives, know that it is a decision you can live with in peace, hopefully for a lifetime.

About the Author
Do you want to learn how to save over 50% on your wedding and how you can plan it in less time? Click below and learn where to buy rings, hats, flowers and more at a discount ... and spend the savings on that Caribbean honeymoon!

http://www.weddingshoppersstore.com

Victorian Jewelry

2007-08-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Many people find it hard to believe that the inception of jewelry occurred 100,000 years ago as evidenced by mollusk jewelry found in South Africa. Mollusks are small snails and clams, and their shells were used to fashion this jewelry, although it was no doubt for more functional purposes (such as holding a garment together) than it was for adorning people. In the earliest days, natural material was used, such as animal teeth, shells, bone, wood and stone.

The first period during which jewelry was used extensively to adorn people was the Georgian era beginning in the 1760's. Larger size jewelry from the past was replaced by delicate smaller forms. It is very difficult to locate jewelry from this period, but jewelry from the Victorian period beginning in the mid 1800's under the reign of Queen Victoria is a different story. The Victorian era ended in 1901 upon the death of the Queen.

The young Queen, who was crowned at eighteen, not only loved jewelry, but also designed it. In favor were cameos carved of conch shells by Italians. Women were known to travel to Italy to purchase necklaces, earrings, and brooches of cameo designs, and lava jewelry made from colored lava of Mt. Vesuvius. Soon the industrial revolution saw the manufacture of jewelry, and resulted in the end of the hand carving.

The Queen also got credit for the charm bracelet, and had a number of charms designed. She often gave jewelry as gifts to family and friends. Jewelry had been a status symbol of the wealthy, or to accompany fashionable outfits, but the emergence of the middle class created a demand for a larger quantities being produced. Queen Victoria continued to set the trend for other women, and her romantic nature as well as nature itself were reflected in jewelry designed with birds, hearts, butterflies, dragonflies, gemstone embellished flowers, ribbons, and bows. Jewelry containing the hair of both the living and dead was especially popular. Some of these pieces were very intricate in their design. Lockets were also used to hold the hair or pictures of the deceased.

Victoria also preferred serpent designs, a symbol of eternal love, and her engagement ring from Prince Albert in 1840 was a serpent designed with an emerald in its head. Terms of endearment such as "dearest" or "regard" often appeared on engagement rings. A brooch of sapphires and diamonds, a gift from her husband-to-be, adorned her wedding dress. The Queen also favored opals, but other affordable semi-precious stones appealed to the mass market such as amethyst, coral, pearls, turquoise and garnet. Ivory, seed pearls, bog oak, smoky quartz, jasper, agate, enamel, ,petrified wood, marble, as well as gold and silver found in Scottish jewelry were also popular with the public, as tartan plaids became fashionable after the Queen's children started wearing them.

New finds of gold resulted in creating different methods of gold processing, and gold jewelry became more affordable. Diamonds, because of South Africa diamond mines opening, were also becoming within the reach of the middle class. In 1861, Victoria's husband Prince Albert died, and so-called mourning jewelry made of black stones such as onyx, jet and black enamel were in vogue. They were commonly worn by relatives of the deceased. Jet was carved into necklaces, earrings, and pins. The suffragette movement was beginning and the black jewelry continued to be fashionable. Sets of jewelry were introduced during this period.

Today Victorian jewelry can be found in antique shops and at estate sales. Some reproductions of the jewelry are also sold as Victorian jewelry still has an allure for the public.

About the Author
Barbara A Adams owns and operates http://www.gemstonejamboree.com Gemstones

How To Buy Jewelry For Dummies

2007-08-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

With this simple guide, you can find the perfect gift for that someone without waiting till the last minute.

* Do you know their birth month? If so, you can't go wrong with birthstone jewelry. Not only she will be delighted with this beautiful gift but, you can also surprise her with the knowledge of its value.

January - Garnet (deep red) Garnet is a highly protective stone. It's also useful in enhancing bodily strength and endurance. It is given as a gem on the 2nd & 6th wedding anniversaries.

February - Amethyst (pale lilac to dark purple) Amethyst helps to calm fears, reduces stress, and dispels doubts and negativity. The gemstone symbolizes peace and tranquility. Some sources suggest it is used to stabilize mental disorders. Amethyst is suggested as a gem to give on the 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

March - Aquamarine (all shades of light blue) Aquamarines enhance the utilization of psychic powers and make the mind more alert. Excellent for cleansing and purifying. It is said to make one youthful. Aquamarine is suggested as a gem to give on the 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries.

April - Diamond (mostly colorless, but colored variations do exist) Perfection, innocence, courage and everlasting love - there is no better symbol for these qualities than a sparkling diamond.

May - Emerald (dark green) Emeralds give the wearer psychic powers. They are thought to improve both eyesight and fertility. They are also worn to enhance love and contentment. It is suggested as an anniversary gift for the 20th and 35th anniversaries and as an alternate stone for the 55th wedding anniversary.

June - pearl (mostly white, but colored variations exist) Pearls have symbolized modesty, chastity, power, and courage. It is believed to possess life-restoring powers.

July - Ruby (bright red) Rubies are believed to make the wearer wise, to help with love, and help protect against all sorts of misfortunes.

August - Peridot (lime green) Peridots Guard against illusions, enchantments, and nightmares. Peridot also calms nervousness and banishes negative emotions. Peridot may be given as a gem on the 16th wedding anniversary.

September - Sapphire (all colors, but most popular is cornflower blue) Sapphires help to predict the future. The gem is associated with peace and happiness. It has a power of spiritual enlightenment. Sapphire is given as a gem for the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversaries.

October - Opal (all colors, but most treasured is a black opal) Opal is a stone of hope, love & romance. The gem is a symbol of innocence and purity. Aids inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight and helps recall past lives. It is also the birth stone for the Zodiac sign of Libra.

November - Citrine (yellow to gold to orange brown shades) Citrines are emblems of truth, happiness, wisdom and friendship. These provide protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. It promotes creativity, helps personal clarity and eliminates self-destructive tendencies. It is the accepted gem for the 13th and 17th wedding anniversary.

December - Blue Topaz (pale blue) Blue topaz symbolizes strength, intelligence, fidelity, success and good future. It is the suggested anniversary gemstone for the 4th, 19th or 23rd year of marriage.

* If not, you can always follow the motto "sweet and simple."

Plain Gold Jewelry - No more worries about picking the right gemstones! All you have to know is her preference of gold color. They come in many fashionable designs and can be accessorized with any outfit. They make a perfect gift for any occasion.

Pearls Around the Neck - Behind diamonds, pearls are a woman's best friend. Any jewelry collection is incomplete without a pearl necklace. Pricy, yet elegant, a pearl necklace makes a great gift for those memorable moments in life. But have no fear, if you're concerned about staying within a budget or looking for a simple everyday gift, pearl pendants are an excellent choice.

Drops - The hottest trend in jewelry right now! From drop earrings to a simple drop pendant, it's a perfect combination of class and style. With an array of gemstones to choose from, you're sure to find the color that best suits that special someone.

* If all else fails, you can never go wrong with diamonds.

We'll spare you all the clichés, but a gift of diamond jewelry will forever remind her of your true feelings (or simply get you out of her doghouse). A girl will fancy any piece of diamond jewelry, but here are a few that will complete any jewelry collection: A pair of diamond stud earrings don't have to be given as tokens of romantic affection. It's perfectly appropriate to buy them for your mother on Mother's Day. You know how to bedazzle your woman at anytime? Present her a diamond solitaire pendant that your grandma liked too... they will always be in fashion. You want to convey your feelings in a more meaningful way? The sparkle of a diamond solitaire ring would speak of your love for her.

With different sizes, clarities & cuts, you're sure to find the gift that best fits her as well as your budget. You'll even have enough left to pamper her with a box of chocolates and some flowers.

About the Author
Sudha Agarwal is a product consultant for FineJewelryVault.com. For these gift ideas and more, visit FineJewelryVault.com for the finest collection of Fine Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry, Gold Jewelry, Pearls & Birthstones at great prices.

Precious Metals in Jewelry

2007-07-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Precious metals are ideal for creating beautiful jewelry due in part to their resistance to corrosion. Since precious metals have an unreactive and oxidation-resistant nature, they fall into the category of noble metals. Such precious metals with which you may be familiar include gold, silver, and platinum, but palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium are other precious metals commonly incorporated into jewelry such as diamond rings, eternity rings, promise rings and right hand rings. The system of measurement for the weight of precious metals is troy weight, in which one troy ounce equates to approximately 1.1 standard ounces and twelve ounces make up one troy pound. Precious metals can be combined to form what are known as alloys, often for the purpose of reducing cost or producing a metal sturdier than any one element alone. Here we examine the major precious metals used in the crafting of fine jewelry:

-Gold: The most malleable and ductile of the precious metals, gold can be readily flattened into thin sheets and stretched into thin wire, which makes it a versatile and popular choice for jewelry creation. Gold is often alloyed with other metals for cost reduction and to increase the strength of the final product. In pure form, gold is measured in troy weight, but as an alloy with other metals its weight is measured in karats. For gold, the karat weight specifies the amount of pure gold present, with 24 karat being pure gold and smaller karat weights designating lower percentages of gold and higher proportions of other metals.

-Silver: Second to gold in malleability and ductility, silver is anther precious metal popular for use in jewelry. Silver is also commonly alloyed with other metals to create jewelry, with the popular sterling silver consisting of a combination of 92.5 percent silver with a relatively small 7.5 percent of another metal, typically copper. Being a superior conductor of heat and electricity, silver has numerous applications beyond jewelry making, such as coins, dentistry tools, silverware, film and electronics.

Platinum: Rarer than silver and gold, platinum is a durable precious metal common for eternity rings, engagement rings and wedding bands due to its resilience even with constant use. Iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium are other precious metals in the Platinum Group of Metals, which occur together naturally. Palladium is the metal often mixed with yellow gold to make white gold, and rodium is used extensively to plate white gold to give it that extra white brightness. The metals in the Platinum Group of Metals are resilient, tarnish resistant and stable, making them popular for use not only in jewelry but also in numerous industrial processes such as crude oil refining and automobile manufacturing.

The end price of jewelry that can be attributed to precious metals depends not just on the pureness and rarity of the metal, but also the craftsperson's skill level, the intricacy of the piece and labor.

About the Author
About the Author: Ian Maher is the CEO of Maliere, a leading provider of eternity rings, diamond rings, platinum rings and gold rings. For more information, please visit www.Maliere.com.

The Ethics Of A Diamond Engagement Ring

2007-06-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

The diamond engagement ring is perhaps the most widely used symbol in the world for love and commitment. The engagement ring suggests an upcoming marriage and the diamond evokes thoughts of true love and even complete adoration.

Mary of Burgundy is the first woman we know of to have received a diamond engagement ring. This took place in 1477 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria asked for her hand. This practice did not immediately become common however. Giving presents with precious gems on gold or silver remained largely an activity among the aristocracy. It was only in the twentieth century that the idea began to spread among common people. This might be largely due to a very successful marketing campaign for diamonds by DeBeers. Their advertising campaign coined the term "A Diamond is Forever." Other expressions have followed such as "a diamond is a girl's best friend." The DeBeers marketing campaign was so successful that in western society it is now an extremely common practice to offer a diamond ring with a proposal of marriage.

In the last ten years, more and more information has surfaced about the harsh realities of the diamond trade. Conflict diamonds and blood diamonds are terms used to describe diamonds which may have been mined by poorly paid miners and even slaves in some cases and to describe diamonds from regions in which the diamond trade is used to fund weapons for war. This knowledge removes the romance associated with diamonds.

However what this information has also done is bring to light the fact that some diamonds are mined in ethical ways. These are now called ethical diamonds. A wonderful example is the diamond trade in the Canadian Northwest Territories. The diamond miners and other workers are mainly Inuit. They have been professionally trained and earn fair salaries with excellent company benefits. The diamond trade has drastically changed the Inuit way of life as the salaries earned have had a ricochet effect which has impacted the entire region for the better.

People all over the world are now asking about provenance which means where the diamond has been mined. Requests for Canadian diamonds have reached an all time high. Buying an engagement ring with a Canadian diamond is one way to bring romance back to the symbol of romance which had been losing its appeal due to the very real stories about the diamond trade. As well as mining, the Inuit people have been trained in diamond cutting by the people of Georgia who are claimed to be the best in the world.

There is no doubt that receiving a diamond engagement ring that has a diamond which has been ethically mined is more romantic than receiving a conflict diamond. Knowing that there is an association of people suffering and dying with the diamond you are wearing is probably as unromantic as you can get. On the other hand, knowing that the purchase of your diamond has helped an entire group of people who had many injustices done to them in the past is romantic. Knowing that as a result of this diamond trade they are now part of a lively and growing prosperous community is actually ultra romantic.

A diamond engagement ring which can be accepted lovingly and totally free of guilt remains a beautiful way to show commitment.

About the Author
Johnny Moon is a contributer to The Wedding Engagement Ring

Circle Cubic Zirconia Pendant

2007-06-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

As you might expect, the circle cubic zirconia pendant is still around as one of the most important jewelry items. With many retailers expanding their selections to include matching earrings, rings and bracelets, the innovative variations of the circle theme continue to dazzle the fashion world...Why is that?

There is no better way to give a gift that expresses your love or gratitude to another person than to present them with a dazzling circle cubic zirconia pendant.

Instead of paying hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for a diamond pendant, many shoppers are turning toward cubic zirconia and sterling silver with rhodium plating (which all together, replaces the look of diamond in platinum metal setting).

With this said, the circle cubic zirconia pendant has been a very popular design for shoppers because it possesses a deeper meaning than meets the eye.

You see, a complete circle often symbolizes love or eternity; there is no beginning and no end. The same is said about real love; it is complete, has no definite beginning and no end.

A circle cubic zirconia pendant can have many meanings to different people. Perhaps a circle inspires a feeling that life has come full circle, or that everything is connected in some way or another.

Whatever your reason for wearing it, the many sizes of the circle cubic zirconia pendant remain popular and versatile. This means you can wear it with most outfits (whatever the style or color), and for most occasions--out with friends, at parties, or even at the office.

Even though it is a very fashionable trend, this simple design works for everyone--teens, young adults and women of all ages. Much like the design itself, there seems to be no visible end to the popularity of the circle cubic zirconia pendant.

This is one of the most dazzling and timeless looks you will want to own for a lifetime. Its graceful design will do nothing less than to scintillate loveliness while hanging from your neck, showing off its dramatic and dazzling diamond brilliance.

Although current trends seem to center around the elegance and femininity of the circle cubic zirconia pendant, the symbolic meaning of the circle combined with its simple, sleek appeal will no doubt make this jewelry item a timeless treasure you can wear your whole lifetime.

About the Author
Penny Best Jewelry provides you with fine cubic zirconia jewelry and timeless designs, at an affordable price. The online store at http://www.pennybest.com offers you top quality cz jewelry including beautiful rings, earrings, stunning necklaces, dazzling bracelets, bridal sets, free shipping, free jewelry box and a 30-day money back guarantee.

How To Clean Your Diamond Engagement Ring

2007-05-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

Being given a diamond engagement ring is probably one of the most memorable moments in some ones life. A diamond engagement ring is a symbol of love and devotion and a promise of a marriage and happiness.

When you receive your diamond engagement ring the sparkle of the diamond will take your breath away and you will be amazed at its beauty. An engagement ring is something that will be worn for many many years and possible handed down to the next generation.

Because your engagement ring will be worn everyday products such as hair styling sprays, hand lotions and other house hold products can cause the sparkle to fade and the ring its self look dull. Over time you may find that gunk and grime will build up behind the diamond making it look dirty and unattractive.

To keep your diamond engagement ring shining and looking striking it is important to clean your ring properly so avoid this unsightly build up. Although diamonds are one of the hardest substances known to man they are often coated in a special substance to protect them and keep their shine, Using abrasive substances and by brushing the diamond with something coarse could potentially remove this protective coating making the ring more susceptible to dirt and grime.

You may find there are many products you can buy to clean your diamond engagement ring however this is not always needed. Why not save your self some money and try cleaning the ring yourself.

Once you have removed the ring from your finger find a small bowl ad fill it warm water and some mild dishwashing liquid, place your diamond ring in the solution and leave to soak.

Remove the ring from the water solution and use a very soft brush to gently remove and dirt that is visible. Never use something that hard bristles as this can damage and scratch the ring setting, I find babies toothbrush works fine as the bristles are soft and the head is small enough to get into tight cracks.

Once you have removed any debris and dirt place the ring back in the water to give it a final clean. Remove the ring and rinse it well with warm water then dry the ring with a lint free cloth.

Remember to protect where you are cleaning your diamond ring, if you are by the sink make sure that the drain is covered to avoid dropping and losing it. If you find the ring still has some dirt or grim on it try using a wooden tooth pick to gently easy it away then rinse again and pat dry with a lint free cloth.

The best way to keep you rings and jewelry clean and looking good is to remove them or wear protective gloves when you are using products that can damage them.

If you do decide to use a chemical solution to clean your ring and your ring contains more than one type of gem stone, always use the solution that is designed for the less durable stone.

About the Author
Allen Jesson writes for several sites that specialize in Antique Engagement Rings, Vintage Engagement Rings and A Gift Of Poetry

Celebrity Inspired Jewelry

2007-05-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

When they walk the red carpet, celebrities make a statement. After each awards gala, popular magazines showcase the best- and worst-dressed stars, and ready-to-wear clothing designers quickly copy the best of the couture gowns and styles so the rest of us can feel like princesses. It's no surprise, then, that the latest trend in accessories is celebrity inspired jewelry.

The Most Sought After Celebrity Inspired Jewelry

When it comes to celebrity inspired jewelry, replicas of Jessica Simpson's engagement ring and wedding band are extremely popular. Regardless of the status of her marriage to Nick Lachey, the popular engagement ring replicas are gold or rhodium plated on sterling silver with a cubic zirconia pear shaped center stone and two cubic zirconia side stones. The stones come in a variety of colors, including white or clear, light blue, tanzanite, pink, yellow, and red. The replica wedding bands are available in rhodium plated, yellow gold plated, or rose gold plated, encircled with over 20 cubic zirconia stones.

When she became engaged to Kevin Federline, Britney Spears chose a five-carat ring. The celebrity inspired jewelry replica may be made from 18k gold filled or sterling sliver with a cubic zirconia center stone available in clear, pink, amethyst, and blue topaz.

There's no doubt that Jennifer Lopez has exquisite taste, so replicas inspired by the engagement ring she received when she was engaged to Ben Affleck are extremely popular. In addition to the engagement ring with a square center stone, matching pendants and earrings are also the rage.

Other Jewelry Trends

In addition to celebrity inspired jewelry, three other jewelry trends stand out this season: interchangeables, pearls, and turquoise. Interchangeable jewelry is popular because of its versatility. If, for example, you have a pendant, you can switch out one gemstone for another so that the pendant complements every outfit. You might, for example, interchange black onyx for tiger-eye, mother of pearl for rose quartz, and so forth. Interchangeables not only make a fashion statement, but because of their versatility, they are an exceptionally good value.

Pearls, of course, are a staple for every season. These classic beauties are a must-have. Freshwater pearls are both affordable and a wonderful heirloom to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Pearl bracelets, pearl earrings, and pearl necklaces are timeless, and should be a part of every woman's jewelry collection.

Turquoise goes in and out of fashion, but this season, it's definitely in. Turquoise comes in such a variety of shades and shapes that you're bound to find a necklace or earrings that complement the shape of your face and your skin tone. Jewelry designers are also mixing it up this season, pairing turquoise with another gemstone (or several gemstones) to provide you with the style statement you're looking for.

So, if you've seen photos of a celebrity's knockout ring, don't hesitate to explore celebrity inspired jewelry. It's definitely in fashion this season, and is very affordable. While you're at it though, don't pass up the opportunity to pick up interchangeables, pearls, and turquoise. You can't go wrong with these gems!

About the Author
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: celebrity inspired jewelry
Visit Majon's Jewelry directory.

Why Is the Cut of a Diamond So Important?

2007-05-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Choosing the perfect diamond for one's needs is a task which takes time, consideration and a bit of knowledge on the subject of this beautiful gemstone. Whether one is looking for that special diamond engagement ring for a loved one or another piece of diamond jewelry, there are various things one should look for when selecting a stone of this nature. There are many key components of a diamond which enable the consumer to know exactly how good of a diamond they are purchasing. The 4 C's known as cut, clarity, color and carat are characteristics which describe the stone in great detail. One of the 4 C's, cut, relates to the overall quality of a diamond as detected through the use of a number of varying measurements. The cut of a diamond will determine the sheer brilliance which one is treated to when viewing a diamond.

Proportions of the Diamond Will Speak Volumes

One of the determining factors relating to diamond cut grade is the proportions of the diamond being evaluated. Certain proportions are necessary in order for the diamond to exhibit a particular cut grade. The proper proportions will determine how much a diamond sparkles and shines in a piece of jewelry. Each laboratory which reviews one's diamond and issues a grading report on it should establish the proportions of the diamond in order to determine cut grade.

Polish of the Diamond Helps Determine Cut Grade

Another factor in determining the cut grade of a diamond is the polish of a particular stone. The polish relates to how easily light can enter and exit the diamond, the result of which will reflect either a brilliant or a not so brilliant stone. Polish usually always comes into play when a diamond is being evaluated for its cut grade level.

Symmetry of the Diamond

Lastly, symmetry of the gemstone has an important role to play when evaluating diamond cut grade. A diamond has to have symmetrical facets in order for its cut grade to be the best that it can possibly be. This too must be taken into consideration in order for the cut grade to be perfect and determine whether the end result will be an exquisite diamond or one which is lackluster in nature.

Reasons to Consider Diamond Cut Grade When Selecting a Stone

Some may consider factors such as size and style to be most important to them when shopping for a diamond. However, it is the diamond cut grade which will really make a world of a difference between having a diamond that stops passersby in their tracks or does not make a real impression one way or the other. First, diamond cut grade determines the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. Secondly, it will ultimately determine the true value of a gemstone of this type and relay its worth in these terms. If one wishes to have a diamond which captures the light beautifully and can be seen by all as an absolute treasure to wear, then taking the diamond cut grade into consideration when purchasing this type of stone is a wise thing to do.

About the Author
James Greene is a Graduate Gemologist and Master Gemologist Appraiser. He has been in the diamond, jewelry, and appraising business for over 25 years and specializes in Insurance and estate appraisals. http://www.diamondmarketwatch.com

How Do I Care for My Jewelry?

2007-04-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

Speaking of jewelries, any woman will find them simply irresistable. Whether jewelry is made of diamond, gold, silver, platinum, pearls, gemstones, crystals or beads, special care must be taken to ensure your jewelry is always well kept and maintained.

Over the years, I have learned several simple yet effective ways to keep my jewelries looking great all the time. Here are the great tips for you to apply when it comes to protecting, storing, caring and cleansing your jewelries.

How do I protect my jewelry?
Jewelry is wonderful but easily damaged. Try to protect any jewelry from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures and sunlight.

When doing household tasks such as gardening and cleaning, be certain to remove your jewelry.

Take off jewelry before swimming in a swimming pool. The chlorine can cause damage to various gemstones and gold.

Before doing high impact sports, take off your jewelry as you may scratch it.

How do I store my jewelry?
Avoid storing your jewelry next to a heating vent, window sill or on a car dashboard.

Store jewelry away from sunlight as the sun may fade the jewelry.

Store chains separately and save yourself the headache of untangling them.

If you have bead necklaces such as a beautiful strand of lapis or pearls, store them flat as silk stretches over time. Stretched bead necklaces easily come apart.

Always store your jewelry in cloth pouches, paper, or jewelry boxes that have separate sections. It will prevent pieces from scratching each other.

Store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box.

Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place: a fabric-lined jewelry case or box with compartments and dividers is ideal. If you prefer to use an ordinary box, wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper.

If you want your jewelry to be ready to wear at a moments notice, you should store your jewelry pieces the zip lock bags, or in a jewelry box or jewelry case with the lid closed.

How do I care for my jewelry?
Before you put a piece of jewelry on, test it for loosened stones and check the clasp. There's nothing worse than losing a beloved piece of jewelry because the clasp fails.

Put your jewelry on after you apply your makeup, perfume, and hairspray. The chemicals contained in these products will ruin the surface appearance.

Keep your jewelry clean and away from lotions, powders, soaps, and natural skin oils as they can build up on jewelry.

After you are done wearing your jewelry for the night, take it off but don't pull by the stone! You might loosen its setting.

Always avoid contact with chemicals, such as pool and sea water, hair spray and perfume, household cleansers, even tap and well water. Water leaves nasty mineral deposits behind.

Don't wear your jewelry to bed or to the gym. Exercising, swimming or doing household chores while wearing your jewelry will cover them with cooking grease, smoke, sweat and perspiration, and will eventually leave a film behind, dulling the color and shine.

How do I clean my jewelry?
Gently wipe jewelry with a soft cloth to remove excess dirt and oil. If allowed to build up on the surface of gems, these will dull the brilliance of faceted stones and can cut the luster of pearls.

Many precious gemstones have their own special needs and requirements that you should be aware of to ensure their longevity. Popular methods of cleaning, such as ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning, are not appropriate for all gems.

Amethyst, Citrine, and other members of the quartz family shouldn't be steam cleaned because intense heat (as well as prolonged light) can permanently alter their color. Opals should always be treated with some care. Avoid impacts, chemicals, heat and extremely dry conditions - all promote cracking. As for your emerald jewelry, avoid heat cleaning and chemicals that can remove the jeweler's oil. Topaz sometimes cracks when subjected to sudden temperature changes as it would in steam cleaning. Porous gems like turquoise and amber are popular in silver jewelry, but they will become discolored by silver cleaners.

Aside from these cautions, you can clean your own jewelry at home without much fuss. For most types of mounted gemstone pieces, occasional, gentle brushing with a baby toothbrush in warm, mildly soapy water and drying with a soft cloth is all you need to keep your jewelry looking its finest every day. But, do use a bowl to clean your jewelry; don't do it over the sink.

About the Author
Jessica Sinclair is a jewelry retailer who is passionate about making gorgeous looking jewelries that are suitable for all occasions. She promotes her jewelries through her online store: www.devoguecollections.com. Her jewelries are sold at great prices. You can also enjoy great savings through online coupons, monthly promotions and much more. Visit her store to find out more.

Loose Diamonds Wholesale

2007-03-15T23:32:00.000-07:00

You should consider getting an engagement ring that is especially designed for your fiance if you want to make a huge impact on her. You can communicate that your relationship is precious and that she is one of a kind through this gesture. Finding loose diamonds wholesale dealers who can offer you the perfect stone is the initial step in this process.

You can choose from a wide variety of gems on the market. Make sure that the loose diamonds wholesale supply you choose is filled with a nice choice of quality gemstones. The clarity and cut of the stones are the important attributes that you should look for. Find a diamond that is clear and sparkling with hints of reflective color. The cut of the stone has to be clean and precise.

Loose diamonds wholesale suppliers usually carry a vast variety of common cuts. Let me give you a description of a few very popular cuts that are sure to please your fiance. You are well on your way to creating the original engagement ring that is as unique as your lady once you have selected the perfect stone.

You can choose the round gemstone if you are creating a classic design for a traditional girl. The round cut is one of the most popular, classic cuts that are being sold by loose diamonds wholesale suppliers. There is a romantic connection to the round shape that is repeated in the metal body of the ring. This traditional romantic element makes it one of the most sought after cut among the various stones that loose diamonds wholesale distributors offer.

The marquis is another classic cut that might be suitable for your ring. People associate this design to elegance and royalty. This cut will provide interest and depth in the shape of any gemstone. It also gives the diamond a reflective quality unlike any other. The marquis is a wise choice if you want to add a touch of rich sophistication to a ring.

If you want something that is fresh, young and unique, then you should get a diamond with a pear shape cut. This design is quickly gaining popularity nowadays. The pear cut gemstone is worth every cent even if is a little more pricy than most of the loose diamonds wholesale selections.

About the Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Loose Diamonds Wholesale. Visit our site for more helpful information about Loose Diamonds Wholesale and other similar topics.

Diamond Rings Through The Years

2006-12-11T21:52:00.000-08:00

Diamond Rings Through The Years by Low Jeremy

Despite antique designs of diamond rings in the market that copy those that were created in the regency and Victorian period, the diamond ring did not really boom until a decade before the start of the 20th century. This is perhaps because only a few can actually afford to buy diamond rings for themselves. This rare gemstone is only reserved to the affluent especially to the members of the royal class.

But because of modern technology and the boom of diamond mining in India and in several parts of the world, supplies of diamond surged upwards, making this gem affordable to the middle class. Because of this, diamonds became very popular especially to women who still see it as a sign of wealth and class.

Discoveries of new mining fields in South America and South Africa, have also increased the world supply making it more accessible to the public. With such steady supply, jewelry makers are now able to make more designs that the masses can afford.

Although diamonds are placed in virtually every kind of jewelry, from necklaces to bracelets to earrings, it is the diamond ring that captures the imagination of most people. In fact, it has become through the years the symbol of eternal love between two people and has become one of the essentials in engagements and weddings.

Diamond rings are preferred during wedding ceremonies. People get excited more when seeing a diamond engagement ring compared to rings that use other gemstones. In fact, diamonds are even the favorites even after the wedding, bought as gifts for anniversaries and other special occasions.

Diamond rings can be made in different settings, gold, platinum, silver and titanium. Unlike other gemstones, whose color may clash for instance with some shades of gold, the diamond with its pure white color will look good with any setting. Perhaps one of the most engaging properties of the diamond is the fact that it symbolizes this innate purity in its color and brilliance.

Diamonds come in all sort of shapes and cuts. This is often one of the properties that people look for in their diamond rings. Diamonds are naturally found in oval or round shapes. Jewelers however cut them in different shapes and depending on the designs. Among the varieties of cuts that people have enjoyed through the years are the pear, the heart, the marquise, the emerald and the princess cut.

About the Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Diamond Rings & other useful information, please visit http://diamond-ring.articlekeep.com

Diamond Promise Rings

2006-11-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

Tips for Buying Diamond Promise Rings by Liz Harrison

Throughout the years, promise rings have been given as a symbol of one's intent to someday marry, of one's commitment and faithfulness, or as a sign to keep a promise of sorts or hold a secret. A gemstone, usually small in weight and diameter, is typically placed within some type of heart-shaped setting. Sometimes several gemstone chips are placed in a heart outline, or a cluster of tiny gems create the illusion of one larger, heart-shaped stone. Still other promise rings have no heart-shaped design, but are instead a single, small diamond placed within a sometimes intricately designed, yellow or white gold setting.

While you're shopping for such a time-honored symbol of love and compassion, there are a few things that you my want to take into consideration before spending your hard-earned cash:

First, true promise rings are crafted of gold, either yellow or white. Sterling Silver is not the precious metal of choice for such an important symbol. If your recipient of choice isn't fond of yellow gold, keep in mind that a white gold promise ring has the look of sterling silver, but is significantly higher in quality. Gemstones glimmer and shine just as they should in a white gold promise ring.

Next, promise rings are not engagement rings, no matter what your intentions of the gift may be. Therefore, two-months salary isn't a guide to price. You can find a beautiful, well-crafted 14K yellow or white gold promise ring for under $300, with many stunning designs available for as low at $150. When (and if) the time comes, you can scrounge up the necessary cash for a diamond engagement ring. But until that time, don't feel the need to spend an exorbitant amount of money.

Purchasing a promise ring should come from the heart, so you'll want to buy from a jeweler that understands what you're doing and where you're coming from, and has a heart of its own. The seller should have a good return policy (in case you change your mind) and quick service when you want it- but also patience when you need it.

Finally, don't limit yourself to local and mall jewelry stores that have a huge rent to pay, with a staff full of employees who work on commission. The Internet has brought shopping into your home, so it's time you started utilizing it for what it's worth. You can shop 10 different jewelry stores in 10 minutes on the World Wide Web, accessing every possible detail about any promise ring that you'd like to see, one that's certain to fit perfectly on the finger of your promised.

About the Author
Liz Harrison recommends Heavenly Treasures if you're shopping for Diamond Promise Rings.

The Truth about Diamond Simulants

2006-10-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

There is a large amount of talk about diamond simulants, with all of the discussion you will also find much misinformation, misleading information, and unfortunately a large amount of dishonesty. Smart jewelry shoppers today should make sure and know the difference and not be fooled by those who "claim" to sell "man made diamonds", "synthetic diamonds", "lab created diamonds" when they are actually selling Cubic Zirconia. I was astonished, amazed, but most of all appalled at how many companies say there are selling man made diamonds, lab created diamonds, synthetic diamonds are actually selling cubic zirconia. While I am new the internet business Signature Diamond & Gems, I am not at all new to the jewelry industry and for the live of me I cannot figure out what all the deceit is for, smart jewelry shopping deserve the truth about the product they are purchasing but most of all deserve a quality product for money well spent.

The perplexity of all of these variances can leave even the smart seasoned jewelry shopper a little dazed and confused. You the smart shopper who is interested the huge savings, stunning beauty, and quality product should consider investing in a simulated diamond gemstone also known as a cubic zirconia set in a "quality" setting that enhances the beauty of the stone.

What about a new couple just starting out? What about single parent family? What about middle class family with the everyday task of making ends meet with kids, school, groceries, insurance just to name a few. Shouldn't everyone be able to allow themselves of the luxury of purchasing a quality piece of jewelry while saving thousands at the same time. Are you one of these people or do you know anyone who falls into one of these categories? Well you are actually hearing from one now, for 14 years I worked for one of the largest jewelry manufacturers in the United States and it was then I realize that I could own beautiful pieces of quality jewelry set with diamond simulant gemstones and no one person every knew the difference unless I decided to share my best kept secret. I also realized that I wanted to share my knowledge and story with others and offer a quality product and everyone can afford and enjoy which is why I created my website http://www.signaturediamondgems.com/

I recently married and I currently and very proudly wear a exquisite custom made 14KW antique style wedding ring which has a 2 1/2 carat princess cut center stone and .85 carat pear shape stones on each side which my husband; a certified master jeweler has designed for me. Weather I am shopping, running errands, eating out , or sitting with a client there not a day that goes by that someone is totally star struck by my ring and yet not one person has ever asked it if a cubic!

The information below is geared to assist you in being a smart jewelry shopper and help in making a good decisions when making your next investment.

A synthetic stone is considered to be real in the properties of the stone it is in likeness too, but the stone was not created in nature. A simulant can be naturally or synthetically created, but its properties are not similar to the stone it is imitating.

A stone with the appearance of diamond is called a diamond simulant. Naturally or synthetically created white sapphire, glass, colorless quartz (rock crystal), rutile - natural and synthetic -, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), strontium titanite, cubic zirconia, and moissanite are all diamond simulants.

Cubic zirconia is the most abundant diamond simulant. Its likeness to diamond cannot be detected without proper instruments.

As a lab-created stone, cubic zirconia has come far in its development. Although naturally transparent, elements can be added during the manufacturing process to change its color within a wide range. Of all stones, only diamond, ruby, sapphire, and chrysoberyl are more hard than cubic zirconia, which rates at 8.5 on the mohs scale.

-A great many, popularly known cubic zirconia productions are done in Russia.

-Of all diamond replica stones, cubic zirconia is the most successful in likeness to diamond.

-Only diamond, ruby, sapphire, and chrysoberyl are harder than cubic zirconia on the mohs scale - cubic zirconia rates at 8.5.

-Cubic zirconia has a reflective index of 2.15 while diamond is 2.41.

-Trace elements can be added to cubic zirconia to produce a range of colors in its naturally transparent state.

About the Author
Chandra Melvin expert jewelry consultant and founder and President of http://www.signaturediamondgems.com/

The Crucial Factor in Purchasing a Diamond

2006-09-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

Diamond Clarity: The Crucial Factor in Purchasing a Diamond by Remy Jirek

Diamond clarity is the most important thing to consider if you're thinking about purchasing a diamond. However, it can be challenging to get high quality diamonds, especially if you don't know much about them. Before you go out and purchase a diamond, you should read this guide to make sure you don't get stuck with an over-priced, low quality rock.

What to look for
When shopping for jewelry, whether it is gold or silver, keep in mind that price is always of primary concern. As a general rule, the price of a particular piece defines how good it is. You should always be wary of cheap jewelry when shopping for someone close to you, as they make it cheap for a reason.

Additionally, you should be cautious of buying jewelry that is on sale. Sometimes jewelers put certain pieces on sale because they simply want to get rid of old stock. At other times, however, they put pieces on sale because they are of low quality.

Finally, pay close attention to how well the diamond is cut. The more the diamond has been cut and formed, the better it is.

Where to shop
It is of the utmost importance to shop for diamonds from a reputable dealer. This point cannot be stressed enough. When you are planning to spend a significant amount of money on jewelry, you want to make sure that you are getting something that is worth the asking price.

A good way to gauge whether or not you can trust a jeweler is to look around their shop. If they have a high-quality, professional establishment then chances are you will be fine. However, if they are running a kiosk, booth, or are just selling their wares on the streets, then you should avoid these types of dealers.

Additionally, you should trust your instincts. If you have a bad feeling about the person you are doing business with, then don't do business with them.

Finally, you should try to shop from the largest store in your community. The reason is that large-scale buyers get the best deals which allow them to pass the savings on to you, the consumer.

Other Tips
Whether you're looking for a simple pendant or an engagement ring, you should buy designer diamond jewelry. These will generally look the best and will allow you to make your gift extra special. Another thing to consider when looking at jewelry designs is that women wear diamonds to be fashionable. You're going to want to buy something that is both beautiful on its own and complimentary to her fashion style.

Finally, get a gift that symbolizes your love for the person you are shopping for. If you are spending a massive amount of money on a present, you want that gift to be as special as possible. By following the advice listed here, it is certain that you will find the diamond jewelry you have been looking for.

Should you buy designer diamond jewelry? The answer may surprise you! While other types of jewelry are usually cheaper, designer jewelry makes a far superior investment of your hard earned money. Find out why: http://www.buydesignerdiamondjewelry.com

Tips For Choosing Diamonds

2006-08-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

Tips For Choosing Diamonds by Ken Snodin

Facts on Diamonds
It was more than 2800 years ago that the first diamonds were mined in India. In actuality, diamonds are much older than one would think. Most diamonds we find today are at least 900 million years old. Experts believe that the oldest known diamond is around 3.2 billion years old. Each mined diamond is completely unique. To the trained eye, one can find that there are no two diamonds that are precisely the same.

When learning how to purchase a diamond, there are many things to consider. Until you know more and have done your research, you should never rush into buying a diamond. It's especially important to learn how diamonds are priced.

The "4 C's"
You will have many factors to consider when buying a diamond. Throughout the world, there is an established method that jewelers use as a way of describing the value of a diamond. The method is known as the "4 C's". If you are interested in understanding how to buy a diamond, it would help to know exactly what the 4 C's are and how each aspect of the diamond contributes to its value.

The 4 C's represent Cut, Clarity, Carats and Color
Buying a Diamond based on Cut: The cut of a diamond is a description of how the diamond maker angles the gemstone in such a way as to best reflect light through the diamond, resulting in the diamond's sparkle. A high quality cut enhances the innate beauty of a diamond and increases its value. A poorly cut diamond isn't as brilliant or shiny and, therefore, will be less valuable.

How to Buy a Diamond based on Clarity: The clarity of a diamond involves looking at how clear the diamond is when you look through it. Most diamonds have inclusions and flaws and it is rare to find a perfect diamond. Flaws, however, cannot usually be seen without magnification. When purchasing a diamond for clarity, look for the presence of dark spots inside the diamond.

How to Buy a Diamond based on Carats: Carat defines the size of the diamond. Larger diamonds (those of a higher carat) will cost more than a cluster of smaller diamonds, even if the total carats of the diamond cluster are the same. This means that a single one-carat diamond will cost you more than three diamonds set in a ring that add up to one carat. The reason behind this is that larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds. Unfortunately, this is impacted by the fact that, when diamonds are cut, they lose about half their size.

How to Buy a Diamond based on Color: The color of diamond you choose is entirely based upon your personal preference. Diamonds that are colorless, however, are the rarest and therefore cost more than other diamonds. Colorless diamonds are known as white diamonds. Diamonds also come in a variety of different hues, including yellow, green, blue and pink. There are even diamonds known as "black diamonds".

Certificates and Appraisals
While understanding the 4 C's in determining how to buy a diamond, you should also learn how to read diamond certificates. These certificates describe in detail the facts about the diamond in its unmounted state. Perhaps you have a specific diamond you want to have professionally appraised by an independent organization. This is probably not best done by the jeweler you are buying the diamond from because they are often biased and may appraise the diamond at a slightly higher value than what it's actually worth in order to receive more income from the sale of the diamond.

About the Author
Discover a collection of articles and resources offering tips and advice on buying or making gifts for any occasion by visiting http://www.gifts-tips.com

Jewelry from 3000 BC Egypt to the 21st Century

2006-08-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Jewelry from 3000 BC Egypt to the 21st Century by Sher Matsen

Egypt The use of gold jewelry can be dated back to Egypt 3000 BC. Gold was the preferred metal for jewelry making during ancient times.

It was rare, it was easy to work with, and it never tarnished. Magnificent bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings, armlets, earrings, collars, and head ornaments were all produced in ancient Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs.

In 1922 Howard Carter's excavations led to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and many gold artifacts, all showing the art work of ancient Egypt.

Greece In ancient Greece, gold beads in the shape of shells, flowers and beetles were very common. In Northern Greece beautiful necklaces and earrings have been excavated from burial.

By 300 BC the Greeks were using gems such as emeralds, garnets, amethysts and pearls. They also created colored glass stones and enamel stones. Carved agate cameos and gold filigree work were widely made.

Italy The Italian Etruscans produced granulated textured gold work. They made very large, necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

They were also known for producing hollow gold pendants that were filled with perfume. Even today the Italians are still known for the quality gold jewelry.

Rome The Romans used 18 and 24 carat gold for their coins. Coinage gold was readily available so it was popular with craftsmen for decorative jewelry.

Over 2000 years ago the Romans were using sapphires, emeralds, garnets, and amber in their jewelry.

Europe During the 13th century the Medieval Sumptuary Laws were enacted which put a cap on luxurious jewelry and clothing.

The town folk of France, banned from wearing girdles made from pearls or any other gemstone. They were also banged from wearing gold or silver. Similar laws existed in England banning artisans from wearing gold and silver.

These laws show how fine jewelry had spread beyond nobility to the town folk.

Real and Fake Gems and Pearls For as long as mankind has existed gems and jewels have been used as token of ones love for another.

While many pieces of jewelry existed adorned with fine gems and made from precious metals, there was also some very good fake jewelry. True gemstones and pearls originated in the east and they were bought mainly by the Italians.

The Italian merchants then sold the jewelry to the Europeans. High quality glass imitations were often used and sold with the intent to deceive.

These high quality glass stones were often used in the Royal funeral robes and in children's jewelry.

Valued more than gemstones, were the flawless, round, natural white pearls. South India provided some of the finest pearls.

The Italians were able to make quality imitation glass gems and pearls that could only be identified by a gemologist. There is historical proof that recipes for false pearls existed as far back as 1300.

White powdered glass was mixed with albumen and snail slime to produce imitation pearls.

Earrings and Dress Jewelry During the 17th century woman always wore earrings, whether they were dressed or undressed. It was very acceptable to wear faux pearls and paste gem earrings during the day saving fine diamond jewelry and gem jewelry for evening attire.

Dress ornamentation decreased in size. Sleeves or skirts were often decorated with matching brooches. During the 16th it was very fashionable to wear large quantities of pearls. Both jewelry to clothing accessories were adorned with pearls.

During the 17th century Jaquin of Paris patented a method of making fake pearls. Hollow blown glass balls were coated with varnish mixed with iridescent ground fish scales. The hollow balls were then filled with wax to strengthen them.

This discovery made Paris the main producer of faux pearls for well over 200 years.

Paste is a compound of glass containing white lead oxide and potash. Paste jewelry was very common in the later part of the 17th century.

The highest quality and most long lasting paste jewelry was produced after 1734 by Georges Strass. Paris lead the production of faux gems [paste] and faux pearls. Just about any kind of fake gem could be made, including fake opals.

After 1760 the production of fake jewelery spread to London and to Birmingham. During the industrial revolution steel was produced in large quantities so it was easily available.

It was ues for setting marcasite and jasper ware cameos. Glass and Wedgwood porcelain paste cameos were made in English factories and were also very popular.

The fashion from this era also included ornate shoe buckles of paste, steel and tin, elaborate paste jewel buttons, as well as semi precious for day wear.

Empire Jewelry In 1804 Napoleon emerged as Emperor of France, resulting in a revival of jewelry and fashion as a new court of pomp.

'Joailliers' worked fine jewelry and 'bijoutiers' used less precious materials.

The members of the new French imperial family had the former French royal family gems re-set into the latest neo-classical style. The new trends soon found their way to Europe, particularly England. The main influence for design was the Greek and Roman.

Parures and Cameos Parures were a matching suite of coordinating precious gems which could include a necklace, a comb, a tiara, a diadem, a bandeau, a pair of bracelets, pins, rings, drop earrings or and cluster stud earrings and possibly a belt clasp.

A full parure consisted of a minimum of four pieces. A demi parure consisted of three or less pieces. Both Josephine and Napoleon's second wife had magnificent parures.

Once Napoleon's cameo decorated coronation crown was seen, cameos became the rage. Cameos were carved from hard stone, conch shells and even from Wedgwood porcelain.

Victorian Jewelry In 1837 when Queen Victoria came to the throne jewelry was romantic and nationalistic. It focused on European folk art, which later influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Until mid century most western jewelry came from Europe, with some jewelry being produced in North America and Australia.

Mass production of mid Victorian jewelry in Birmingham, Germany and Providence, Rhode Island resulted in lower jewelry standards. Victorian women rebelled when they saw some the poor quality of much of this machine made jewelry.

Woman rebelled by wearing no jewelry at all, or buying from the emerging artist craftsman. Some jewelers like Tiffany recognized a niche market and began to make fine jewelry of a very high standard, opening shops in main European cities.

Mourning Jewelry During the Victorian era mourning jewelry was very fashionable. The initial months of mourning were unadorned by jewelry of any kind. As the mourning rituals increased, mourning jewelry developed as a fashion item.

Queen Victorian wore a great deal of jet mourning jewelry after Prince Albert's death.

Jet from Whitby, North of England was set into mourning pieces. All types of material that were black were used and almost all included a lock of the dead loved one's hair. Hair was also plaited, braided or twisted very tightly until it became hard and thread like.

Arts and Crafts Jewelry During the 1870s the Arts and Crafts movement evolved as a reaction to mass produced shoddy goods and inferior machine made products which were a result of the industrial revolution. William Morris and John Ruskin were both leaders of the arts and crafts movement in England.

They promoted simple Arts and Crafts of designs based on floral, primitive or Celtic forms worked as wallpapers, furniture and jewelry. The polished stones used in Arts and Crafts jewelry gave a medieval, simpler, gentler, tooled hand made look and feel to items.

Art Nouveau The Art Nouveau followed the arts and crafts movement resulting in a new jewelry look. The movement began in Paris and its influence went throughout the Western world. Art nouveau jewelry had curves, sinuous organic lines of romantic and imaginary dreaminess.

It was very ethereal turning into winged bird and flower forms. French, René Lalique was the master goldsmith of the era of Art Nouveau producing exquisite one off pieces. Today, the Art Nouveau style is still admired, sought after, and copied.

Pearls Various combinations of pearl necklaces come in and out of fashion with regularity so pearls too are a must. Today pearls are still a wardrobe essential.

Both faux pearls and cultured pearls are very affordable today. Since the opening of trade with China in the 1990s, many pearls are imported from China dropping the price to about 1/3 of what it was prior to China entering the market.

The Japanese have suffered disease in their pearl beds as well as facing competition and are finding it hard to compete with China's prices.

Pearl necklaces and pearl earrings can lift a complexion and bring light and radiance to the face taking years off a woman whatever her age. They have been a wardrobe staple for centuries, and a wedding attire tradition.

Cultured pearls have become very affordable, and faux pearls are very cheap and the quality can be excellent. Currently Pearls are a very "hot" fashion statement and with the modern twist of being interspaced on gold wire or floating on special synthetic cord they are essential to the millennium look.

Cocktail Jewelry During the 1920s Lalique mass produced and designed high quality glass jewelry. Fake, or costume jewellery was sometimes then called cocktail jewelry. Costume or Cocktail jewelry was greatly influenced by designers such as Coco Chanel, and Elsa Shiparelli as well as a host of other designers.

These two designers were particularly known for encouraging clients to mix their fine jewelry and costume jewelry. Both designers offered imagination and fun and both often sported fabulous fakes.

In the late 1930s Napier of the USA was at the forefront of manufacturing fake cocktail jewelry offer glamour and escapism. Today, Napier still produces excellent contemporary costume pieces.

Hollywood Influence By the 1940s and 1950s American culture was very dominant in Europe. The influence of movie films and the prominence of film stars set the fashion stage for womens make-up, hair and wardrobe.

People wanted copies of outfits and jewelry worn by the actresses. Women believed that the glamour of Hollywood would rub off on them if they dressed and looked like the glamorous Hollywood actresses.

During the Second World War metals were rationed, halting the production of fine jewelry. Quality costume jewelry picked up the now defunct fine jewelry market. Costume jewelry flourished becoming an acceptable alternative to fine jewelry.

1980's Television Influences Jewelry During the 1980s with the evolution of glitzy television soaps such as Dynasty and Dallas, costume jewelry once again became a "hot" fashion statement. With over 250 million viewers, it didn't take long for costume jewelry to be reborn.

Glitz and sparkle by day was not only acceptable, it became the norm. Earrings grew to an unbelievable size, as did other pieces of jewelry. By the 1990s this sparkly dazzling jewelry phenomena was dead, replace with tiny real diamond studs or a fine stud pearls.

21st Century Jewelry For the 21st century women believe a mix is good. Fine jewelry combined with costume jewelry are wardrobe essentials. The sophisticated women of this century know what they want from their jewelry and how to wear it to make their fashion statement.

They recognize that costume jewelry can liven up their wardrobe. The types and quality of costume jewelry has grown enormously. Today one can purchase what is classified as fine costume jewelry which is usually plated at least seven times with 10 22 ct gold.

Swarovski crystal set in gold are common accessories, and cubic zirconium, man's imitation diamond, can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of real diamonds allowing every women to add diamond styled jewelry to their wardrobe.

Ciro, Adrian Buckley, Butler and Wilson, Swarovski Crystal Jewelry Napier, Joan Rivers, Joan Collins, Christian Dior, California Crystal, Property of A Lady and of course Kenneth J Lane to name just a few continue to produce high quality fashion jewelry for today's women.

Costume jewelry can take you from the board room to a night out of dining and dancing to your most intimate evening. It can make you look your best for your wedding, or a day at the beach. You can make Your Fashion Statement! With costume jewelry

About the Author
© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved. About the author: Sher from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Synthetic Diamonds

2006-08-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

Chagrinned When Jewelers Scoff At Fabulous Fake Diamonds

New synthetic diamonds are so closely resemble mined diamonds that the naked eye cannot tell the difference, often saving consumers enough money to make a down-payment on a new home or buy a car. Unfounded diamond jeweler arrogance, pretentiousness, and snootiness has gone too far!

My girlfriend has been parading around town with a magnificent 4-carat Round Brilliant cut synthetic diamond set in a stunning 14K solid gold filigree solitaire ring setting for a year now. She has been to restaurants, work, shopping, night clubs, museums, and parties. Family and friends have scrutinized her ring. She has been stopped repeatedly by others who were dumbfounded by her ring. Hundreds of people have seen her ring, astonished by its majesty, gushing about it. And despite its ostentatious size, no one has asked if it is a fake diamond!

How could this be? The latest breakthrough science in lab-created diamonds has brought them in line with mined diamonds. Long gone is the aurora borealis or "disco ball" effect that was seen in synthetic diamonds of the past decades. New millennium synthetic diamonds—with similar hardness, clarity, fire, and brilliance—are indistinguishable with the naked eye and simply don't look fake. High quality synthetic diamonds even have the coveted hearts-and-arrows effect.

This begs the question: If one were to saunter into a jewelry store with a synthetic diamond, can a jeweler tell the difference? Since all mined diamonds have color disparities (flaws), birthmarks (flaws), and inclusions (flaws), and lab-created diamonds have none of the above, a trained eye can tell the difference. A sneering glance under a loupe or even under discriminating examination with a magnifying glass, a jeweler will often proudly declare a synthetic diamond as a fake. Modern synthetic diamonds are too perfect in the world of jeweler snobbery when pushing over-priced high profit diamonds is the agenda at hand.

With the use of scientific testing equipment, mined diamonds will conduct electricity and synthetic diamonds will not. That is because mined diamonds are a carbon gem material and synthetic diamonds are polycrystalline. A thermal probe will produce different readings, differentiating the two. But does this really matter to a jewelry lover who is interested in aesthetic beauty and saving thousands of dollars? In the year my girlfriend has been showcasing her synthetic diamond on her finger no one has walked up to her with scientific equipment asking to test her gemstone.

Why do virtually all brick-and-mortar jewelers carry only mined diamonds? Why do jewelers scoff at synthetic diamonds? You need to look no further than your wallet. A 1-carat high quality mined diamond is about $3000, a 2-carat about $18,000, a 3-carat about $40,000, and a 4-carat goes for about $90,000. Respectively, synthetic diamonds run about $79, $158, $237, and $326. It's about the money. Don't kid yourself.

It's also about indoctrination. For over a century, the diamond cartel has spent billions of dollars convincing the public that jewel quality mined diamonds have intrinsic value like gold. Not true. Why? During this time DeBeers has limited production, bought up supplies from others, stockpiled inventory, and imposed its monopoly position on jewelry manufacturers in the successful effort to keep prices inflated. And to make matters worse, the diamond industry as a whole has a checkered past with conflict stones, debt-slave child labor in India used in cutting operations, and shady techniques used to enhance perceived quality to further squeeze out ridiculous prices from beleaguered jewelry lovers.

Smart jewelry shoppers today are considering synthetic diamonds as an alternative to mined diamonds for some very savvy reasons:
(1) They can acquire fine jewelry pieces set in solid 14K gold.
(2) They will save literally thousands of dollars.
(3) There is no need to buy insurance.
(4) When wearing their synthetic diamond jewelry nobody will know that they are not mined diamonds unless they tell them!

About Author
Robert Joseph is an expert jeweler and founding partner ofhttp://diamondnexuslabs.com/
To receive a FREE comparison chart on how Diamond Nexus Labs lab-created diamonds stack up against mined diamonds and register for a FREE no-obligation $50 Gift Certificate giveaway send E-mail to: freechart@diamondnexuslabs.com

About Clarity and Weights of Diamonds

2006-08-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

What You Should Know About Clarity and Weights of Diamonds?

Clarity is an important feature of a diamond, and it is noteworthy to know how to grade the clarity of a diamond prior to purchasing one. It is really quite simple to learn how to grade the clarity of a diamond. There are fundamentally two things that you must understand. Diamonds with visual inclusions and flaws, and those that are eye clean implying that there are no inclusions or flaws that can be seen with the naked eye. And then the clarity of a diamond is further analyzed into subclasses.

Some people erroneously believe that diamond clarity pertains to how clear it is. This is not so. Clarity really pertains to the internal and external defects of the diamond. The best diamonds, as might be expected, get a grade of FL or IF, Flawless or Internally Flawless, this means that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 signifies that the diamond is imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the most defective.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means that the diamond is very, very slightly defective. VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and SI-2, which means that the diamond is slightly imperfect.

About Diamond Weights
Diamonds are graded in Carat Weight. One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a diamond is mentioned to as four grains, this in addition means that it is a one carat diamond. The word carob is the basis for the word Carat. A carob that grows on a tree in the Mediterranean is a bean . Years ago, if a diamond weighed as much as a carob bean, it was one carob, or one carat.

Yet, in the far east, where Carob trees don't grow, rice was utilized to measure the weight of a diamond. If a diamond weighed the same as four grains of rice, it was four grains or one carat as we recognize it to be today. The bulk of diamond buys are for diamonds that are one third of a carat.

Be alert when browsing for diamonds that have been set or mounted. If many diamonds are used in the piece, the label on the jewelry will give the CTW or Carat Total Weight. It doesn't tell you the carat weight of each stone in the piece. You need to ask the jeweler for the whole carat weight of the biggest diamond in the piece to really understand what you are purchasing.

About the Author
Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of diamonds by visiting: Diamonds

How to Buy Diamond Engagement Rings

2006-08-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

How to Buy Diamond Engagement Rings by Mindy Landa

There is much to consider when purchasing a diamond - especially diamond engagement rings! The tradition of presenting a woman with a diamond engagement ring when proposing began in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy - and in most cases, the woman you plan to propose to will expect a ring to accompany that proposal!

First,do a little detective work to find out what your fiance would like to have. After all, she will be wearing it for a very long time. So you can subtly get her opinion on the subject by suggesting that a friend is seeking your help in picking out a ring for his fiance and ask your fiance's opinion. She will most likely describe to you exactly what she would like. You could also enlist her friend, sister, mother, etc, to go shopping with her and see what she tries on at the jewelry store. Or the friend could start up a conversation about engagement rings and what's popular and what you fiance's opinion is on the subject.

Next, determine how much ring you can afford. Most people use the two or three months salary rule. This means that the ring should cost the equivalent of two months of your current salary. Because you have other bills to pay, saving up this amount of money may take quite a bit of time. You should consider financing. Simply go to the jeweler of your choice and tell them that you plan to buy an engagement ring, and that financing will be necessary. Go ahead and get the credit check out of the way, find out what your payments will be, and how much of a down payment is required. Make sure that the jewelry store you buy the ring from will allow you to return the ring, if that is required, or allow your girlfriend to exchange it for another if she isn't happy with it!

You will want to take into consideration how your fiance feels about jewelry. If she's really into jewelry, you will want to get her as much ring as you possible can.Say she's not into wearing jewelry so much.You could get her a less expensive ring with a lower profile (not so raised off the finger and not so flashy) and she will be very pleased. Just take notice on how much and what type jewelry she wears and what her opinions are on the subject and use your best judgement.

Quality is very important. There is a great range of color, clarity, carat weights and cuts. All these aspects of diamond engagement ring buying can be very confusing and intimidating if you don't know much about it. Perfect diamonds are very, very rare, extemely expensive and difficult to find. Poor quality diamonds are a lot cheaper and more common but the sparkle and beauty of them is obviously diminished. Color ranges from D-Z and then the fancy colors such as blue, pink, yellow, etc. D color will be the highest quality, the clearest,and highest priced Quality decreases as you move down this alphabet scale until you get to the fancy colors in which the price rises again.The color of the diamond changes from colorless to yellow to brownish as you get to Z. You generally want to get a color somewhere between F and I or colorless to near colorless to stay in a better price and quality range.Fancy colors are not traditional for engagement rings but again it's a matter of preference.

Clarity ranges from Perfect to imperfect. Perfect diamond have no flaws and are the most expensive and least available. Imperfect diamonds have eye visable flaws such as black carbon spots, cloudiness, and crystal like imperfections. The in-betweens are VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2,and SI3. You will most practically and affordably want to stay in-between in the SI range. The diamonds in this range are eye clean and attractive.

Carat weight and cut are a matter of personal preference. The higher the carat weight, the bigger the diamond. And as far as cut,which is the shape of the diamond, there is a variety of shapes available which can be viewed on the education page of this website. Princess cut or square cut is the most popular diamond shape these days.

The different metals you have to choose from for the setting and the band of the ring are white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Platinum is the rarest and most expensive of the precious metals. Some ladies prefer white gold, some prefer platinum and so on. White gold is in highest demand over yellow gold as of recent. Platinum is, of course, the most sought after due to it's rarity but it is not the most affordable due to recent price rises in the platinum market.

There is also the matter of which style...solitaire, solitaire with side diamonds, cluster, 3 stone rings and so on. 3 Stone Diamond Engagement Rings are extremely popular. There is a variety of this type ring in various carat weights, yellow or white gold, platinum and different cuts (shapes) available to choose from here at Ashley Henning Fine Jewelry. Feel free to browse around.

If you have any questions or you are looking for something we don't have listed, please contact us and we will find it for you. We will be happy to help you with such an important purchase.

About Autthor
Mindy Landa Ashley Henning Fine Jewelry 114 Raintree Circle Jacksonville, NC 28540 Mindy@AshleyHenningFineJewelry.com (910)795-4177

Laser Inscription - Authenticating Diamonds

2006-07-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Laser Inscription - Authenticating Diamonds by Wayne Keyser - Gemex Pty Ltd

So you now know that you should only purchase your diamond with a recognised grading certificate. The question that gets asked next is "How do I know that the diamond I am looking at is the same one referred to in the certificate?"

I have seen many answer to this question online, most of them satisfactory, but very few of them complete.

The majority of responses recommend getting multiple independent certificates and appraisals. Either two grading certificates, a grading certificate and a valuation certificate, two grading certificates AND a valuation certificate. The combinations go on.

If a retailer is offering you multiple independent certificates and / or valuations, accept them but always ensure that you know where they come from and that they are independent.

Now, you have multiple documents stating the characteristics of the diamond. But the question still stands! "How do I know that the diamond I am looking at is the same one revered to in the certificates?"

There are really only two ways to confirm that the diamond matches the certificate.

The first method is to compare the diamond (under magnification) to the plotting on the grading certificate. All internationally recognized grading certificates should have a plotting of the stone. The plotting shows the diamonds internal flaws and external blemishes.

This method though, can be difficult to the untrained eye, depending on the clarity of the diamond.

The second method is to ensure that the diamonds you are looking at are laser inscribed.

"Laser inscription is the use of a very fine, precise laser beam to write a grading report number or customised personal message on the girdle (outside perimeter) of a diamond. The laser inscription is totally invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen with a magnifying loupe. If done with a cold laser, it does not change the colour or clarity grade of a diamond and is considered permanent as it can only be removed by a professional diamond cutter." DCLA Laser inscription service description

The permanent laser inscription enables you to check the authenticity of a diamond at any time. The inscription is usually easily visible under a 10x jewellers loupe.

The process for having a diamond laser inscribed further ensures this safeguard. Laboratories working to international standards will not simply inscribe any certificate number onto a diamond. The diamond must first pass a verification test to ensure that the grading certificate is authentic and the diamond matches the certificate. Only then will that certificate number be laser inscribed onto the diamond.

It is also important to note the difference between hot and cold lasers. Cold laser technology allows excellent control during inscription without damaging the diamond. Cold lasers are used by the GIA, HRD, AGS, DCLA. i.e. all the major international laboratories. Hot lasers are generally used during manufacturing. Low end hot lasers are sometimes used by retailers for branding purposes. These lasers can alter the quality or damage the stone.

Make sure that your stone has been cold lasered. This will assure that the stone has not been damaged since certification.

About the Author
Gemex Pty Ltd endevours to support the consumer by offering services to ensure that you are confident in your jewellery purchase.

Insuring your jewellery

2006-07-25T00:41:00.000-07:00

Insuring your jewellery by Wayne Keyser - Gemex Pty Ltd

Here are some tips and guidelines for ensuring that you get the 'most appropriate' insurance premium that will ensure you are put back into the same position in the event of loss or theft of your jewellery.
The very first step you should take with regards your jewellery is to ensure that it is 'fully' described.

What does this mean?
Ensure you have a set of photographs that show enough detail of the articles. If your camera allows, set it to print the date on the photos. Ensure your gemstone are certified. You should have a diamond grading certificate for your diamonds and similar certificates for any other valuable gemstone. Make sure you have an up-to-date valuation or appraisal certificate for your jewellery.

This documentation will assist you in ensuring your jewellery gets replaced with items as close as possible to your existing pieces.

The next step is to ensure that your jewellery is valued 'correctly.' This means that the appraisal or valuation certificate should reflect a value that will ensure the full replacement of the articles as described by the documentation in step 1. Remember that with diamond jewellery, most of the value is in the diamond itself. Then comes the workmanship and value in the supplying retailer or jeweller and then the metals and other components.

When obtaining your valuation, decide whether you would like the item to be replaced by the jeweller at which you originally purchased the item, or from any jeweller. Make sure your valuer takes this into consideration when producing your valuation.

The simplest way to confirm if the valuation is adequate, is to call a few jewellery stores, describe the diamond and article of jewellery and ask for a quote to purchase such a piece. After all, that is what you would do if you were looking to replace a lost or stolen item.

A good rule of thumb is the best value for insurance replacement is your invoice value! Consider this, if you purchase a diamond ring for $10,000 what is it likely to cost you to replace if you lose it within the next year? The simple answer is $10,000. Therefore your valuation should be only slightly higher than the $10,000 paid, allowing for fluctuations in diamond and metal prices as well as inflation.

Many people love to see 'high' valuations for newly purchased diamond jewellery. It makes you feel like you have really got a bargain. Take the example above, assuming you purchased the diamond ring for $10,000 at a '50% off' sale. The ring comes with a $20,000 valuation certificate! How does this affect your insurance? What should you think about the valuation?

Well, firstly, you may think you got a great deal! I would suggest you do your own research to confirm this. Call a couple of competitive jewellery stores and ask them what you could expect to pay for the ring? Would you pay $20,000 elsewhere or are other stores also charging around $10,000. Do you still think you got a bargain? Note that when making such comparisons, always ensure the diamonds are certified by a recognised diamond grading laboratory!

Ok, so you have established that this diamond ring would likely not cost you $20,000 to replace, but rather $10,000. What should you insure the ring for? Remember that in the event of a loss, the insurance company will only have to fork out $10,000 or less (this will be explained later) to replace the item. Also your premium is based on the value insured, so would you like to pay double the premium for half the insurance? I know I would not.

You are now in a position to shop around for insurance. You should first check you home contents insurance policy. Speak to your current insurer to determine if your jewellery is covered under this policy. Check the insured limits for jewellery under this policy. If this policy provides you with adequate cover, simply keep your documentation in a safe place in case you need it.

If you are not covered under you household policy, you should now shop around. Firstly get quotations from your current insurer and broker. Also find out which other insurers provide specified item jewellery insurance. Get quotes from them too. When comparing these quotes, do not only look at the premiums charged. Also consider the features and restrictions on each of the policies. Check whether you would be insured outside of the home, interstate or overseas. Check whether you are insured for loss, damage and theft. Check whether you simply get paid out or if the insurer sources and provides the replacement jewellery.

Many insurers will not pay you out. They will endeavor to replace the jewellery themselves. The reason they do this, is they have working relationships with many retail and wholesale sources and are able to replace the goods at a price far cheaper than the retail price you paid. This is another reason why paying premiums on a valuation of $20,000 when you paid $10,000 is not a clever move. The insurance company is likely to replace the goods for something closer to $8,000!

Once you have picked your insurer and policy make absolutely certain that you submit the insurer copies of the following documents: - The original purchase invoice - The valuation certificate - The grading certificate - Photographs of the item
Visit us at www.gemex.com.au for more diamond jewellery advice.

Christian Jewelry

2006-07-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Christian Jewelry: Ancient Symbols Of Faith Are Hot New Styles
By Casey Buell

Some styles may come and go, but faith is always in fashion. Crosses, crucifixes, saint medals, and more, these are the jewelry pieces that we will cherish forever. But the hottest new styles in Christian jewelry are the ancient symbols of faith, which predate even the cross.

These symbols, such as the Ichthys, anchor, and dove, are the oldest symbols used in Christian jewelry. Each has a very special and very specific meaning. Because of these special qualities the ancient symbols of faith are making a huge resurgence in Christian jewelry and fashion.

The symbolism of ancient Christian jewelry:

The cross did not become openly used in Christian jewelry until around the 3rd century A.D., when the emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome. Since then the cross has become the most significant of Christian symbols, and has been widely used in art and Christian jewelry.

Christian jewelry played a large part in the protection and promotion of early Christianity. Since early Christians were often persecuted for their faith, it was not safe to openly display the cross. Early Christians instead wore other forms of Christian jewelry, such as:

The Ichthys: The Ichthys consists of two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, and in modern Christian jewelry usually has the name “Jesus” written in the center. The Ichthys is symbolic of Christ as “the fisher of men”. The clean, simple lines of the Ichthys form an elegantly understated piece of Christian jewelry, for the person who revels in the richness of simplicity.

The anchor: The anchor obviously has special significance to mariners, and is in fact commonly known as the mariners cross. But it was originally used not only by the seagoing, but also by Christians from all walks of life. The anchor is used in Christian jewelry as a symbol of Jesus as the anchor of Christian life, as well as hope based in the faith in Christ. The anchor is the perfect piece of Christian jewelry for those who spend a lot of time at sea, as well as those who need steadfastness in their lives.

The dove: The dove is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The story goes that when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of the dove. The dove is also a universal symbol of peace and purity. The dove is the perfect baptismal gift.

The Lamb of God: The Lamb of God, or Angus Dei, is the oldest depiction of Jesus. Jesus was named the Angus Dei when John the Baptist, upon seeing him, proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. In Christian jewelry he Lamb has become the symbol of innocence and triumph over sin.

These are just a few of the ancient symbols found in Christian jewelry. With so many different symbols with so many different stories it is easy to find the perfect piece to celebrate the individual, while still celebrating faith.

The Cross:

When the Emperor Constantine converted all of Rome to Christianity the cross became far more widely used in Christian jewelry. Soon many different variants of the cross would emerge. These ancient forms of the cross have withstood the test of time, and are still as popular today as they were fifteen hundred years ago. Some examples of ancient cross forms in Christian jewelry are:

The Latin cross: The Latin cross is the most commonly used form of the cross. The Latin cross is a cross with a long vertical bar intersected slightly above center by a shorter horizontal bar. The Latin cross with the body of Christ, better known as a crucifix, is used by the Catholic and Orthodox churches as a representation of Christ’s sacrifice, while the Latin cross left blank is used by the Protestants as a representation of Christ’s resurrection. The Latin cross is perfect for the quiet, devout person, as it showcases the strength of simplicity.

The Greek cross: The Greek cross, a cross with equilateral arms, is the most ancient form of the Christian cross. It is used most often by the Greek Orthodox Church, and represents the union of the divine and the human worlds. The Greek cross is a stunning piece of Christian jewelry, for those of the Eastern Church, as well as those who wish to be slightly different in their jewelry.

The St. Anthony cross: The St. Anthony cross, or Tau cross, is a cross in the shape of the letter T. Some believe that this is the actual shape of the crosses the Romans used for crucifixions. The St. Anthony cross is a perfect piece of Christian jewelry for those who seek discipline in their lives.

The Celtic cross: One of the most popular pieces of Christian jewelry, the Celtic cross is a cross with a circle around the cross bar. The circle is believed to originally have represented the sun, or possibly the moon, both of which were worshiped by the Irish prior to their conversion to Christianity. Nowadays the circle has come to represent to many the endless love of God as shown through Christ’s sacrifice. The Celtic cross is a one of the most visually stunning pieces of Christian jewelry, and you don’t have to be Irish to wear one.

The cross is definitely the most popular form of Christian jewelry, and with so many styles to choose from, it is easy to find one that is perfectly suited to the individual. Here is a good page to see a wide selection of Christian jewelry.

Where is the best place to purchase Christian jewelry:

To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in Christian jewelry it is more convenient to view them online before shopping around at local jewelry stores.

Retail jewelers will sometimes carry a small selection of Christian jewelry, but you are more apt to find a greater selection online. Just type "Christian jewelry" into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you will find several reliable websites that specialize in Christian jewelry.

The cost of Christian jewelry is dependant upon many variables. In solid 14K yellow or white gold, crosses and other ancient symbols should cost about $50 to $300 depending on size.

The true heart of Christianity:

The true heart of Christianity lives within us all. With Christian jewelry we are able to elegantly express the faith of our hearts. The ancient symbols and crosses of Christianity are the perfect way for us all to show our faith in an elegant and personal fashion. Perhaps this is why the ancient symbols of faith are the hottest new styles.
Casey Buell is an expert in the field of religious jewelry, and a contributor to the award winning religious jewelry website located at http://religiousjewelryshop.com

Cleaning, and Storing Your Precious Jewelry

2006-07-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

Jewelry Care: Caring for, Cleaning, and Storing Your Precious Jewelry
By Casey Buell
Your jewelry is precious. Whether it holds monetary or sentimental value, or both, your jewelry is special. So how do you keep your jewelry looking it’s best? Most people believe that a certain amount of wear and tear is to be expected. Not so. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that your precious jewelry is in as perfect condition as the day you bought it.
When not to wear your jewelry:
One of the best ways to keep your jewelry looking good is knowing when not to wear it. Many people never take their jewelry off, for sentimental reasons. But the fact is that there are many routine activities that may damage, or even destroy, your precious jewelry. Examples of these activities include:
Gardening: Aside from getting your jewelry dirty, gardening is one of the easiest ways to chip or lose precious stones, as well as scratch gold or platinum jewelry. Remember that gold is an extremely soft metal, and platinum, while about twice as strong as gold, is still easily scratched.
Household cleaning: You should never wear your jewelry while doing household cleaning! Many common cleaning solutions contain chemicals that may damage or discolor precious gems or metals. Also, while doing housework, you are bound to rub your jewelry against abrasive materials. When it comes to gold even dust can be abrasive enough to do damage.
Swimming: The chlorine in swimming pools can do extensive damage to your jewelry. Chlorine can pit and discolor gold, as well as take the polish off of precious gems. Chlorine will also do damage to settings, causing gems to come loose, and greatly increasing the risk of losing them.
Sleeping: Yes sleeping! While sleeping you will unconsciously brush your jewelry against the sheets. The dust on your sheets, or the sheets themselves, acts as a fine abrasive, which, over time, will wear down the settings of your rings. If you must wear you ring to bed, you should turn the ring so that the gem is facing the palm of your hand. This way it is less likely to come in contact with abrasive materials.
You should also avoid extreme temperature changes. For example: If you are wearing a diamond ring in a hot tub (which you should not do in the first place) and you then decide to jump into a cold pool, your diamond may very well crack, or even shatter!
When deciding whether or not to wear your jewelry you should just use common sense. If you think that you might be doing something rough, or if you think you might come into contact with chemicals or abrasives, it’s best to simply not wear your jewelry. Better safe than sorry.
Cleaning your jewelry:
Cleaning your jewelry is really pretty simple. The best way to clean your jewelry is by soaking it in warm water with a mild liquid detergent or soap. After letting your jewelry soak for three or four minutes rinse it off under running water (make sure the drain is closed), and then pat it dry with a soft lint free cloth or paper towel. You should clean your jewelry often to avoid having to take it to a jeweler for costly and harmful cleaning methods.
There are many home remedies and old wives tales dealing with how to clean jewelry. Most of these not only do not work, but also can be extremely harmful to your jewelry. Some examples of these include:
Toothpaste: One of the most common home remedies for cleaning jewelry is using toothpaste. You should absolutely never use toothpaste to clean your jewelry! Toothpaste is abrasive. While this is a good thing for cleaning plaque off your teeth, it will scratch gold and softer gems.
Boiling water: Many people believe that boiling jewelry in water is a good way to clean it. In fact boiling is one of the easiest ways to destroy fine jewelry. Boiling your jewelry can crack or discolor gemstones, even diamonds.
Ammonia: Ammonia is okay to use on diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, but will damage other gemstones. Ammonia should only be used on unfilled diamonds. Fracture filled diamonds should never be cleaned in acidic solutions or ammonia.
Professional polishing solutions: Professional polishing solutions have a mild abrasive in them. This abrasive will make your gold jewelry shine, but it will also scratch the gold.
Cleaning your jewelry often will make it sparkle and shine. Diamonds especially should be cleaned regularly, as they naturally attract grease. A clean flawed diamond can look ten times better than a dirty flawless one.
Storing your jewelry:
Proper storage is the most important factor in keeping your jewelry in good condition. Remember that gold and platinum are soft materials, and that diamonds are one of the hardest substances known to man. If you store your jewelry together your diamonds, rubies, and sapphires will scratch your precious metals, as well as chip other, softer gems, such as emeralds. You should always store your jewelry pieces separately. Many people like to store their jewelry in lock boxes, or at home, in the freezer. These are both poor choices for jewelry storage. The dry atmosphere of a lock box can damage your jewelry, while the extreme cold of a freezer can crack or shatter precious gemstones. The best place to store your precious jewelry is in a jewelry box with many separate compartments. Most jewelry boxes are lined with soft, un-abrasive materials, which will not scratch your jewelry. A good jewelry box will come with many compartments, which not only showcase your jewelry beautifully, but also protect your jewelry from scratching and chipping. Jewelry boxes are also beautiful in and of themselves. A quality jewelry box is usually handmade of beautiful hard wood, and cunningly contrived to showcase your jewelry in a stunning fashion. When storing your jewelry there is no substitute for a quality jewelry box. Here is a go page to view different styles available in a jewelry box.
Where is the best place to purchase a jewelry box:
To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in a jewelry box it is more convenient to view them online before shopping around at local retail stores.
Retail stores and jewelers will sometimes carry a small selection of jewelry boxes, but you are more apt to find a greater selection online. Just type "jewelry box" into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you will find several reliable websites that specialize in jewelry boxes.
The cost of a jewelry box is dependant upon many variables. In solid hardwood, a jewelry box should cost about $100 to $300 depending on size, but fancy jewelry boxes can cost much more.
Let your jewelry shine:
Would you like your jewelry to look more stunning than ever? Would you like your jewelry to gain compliments every time you wear it? Caring for your jewelry is well worth your time. Not only will proper care and storage extend the life of your jewelry, it will also make your jewelry sparkle and shine like never before.
Casey Buell is an expert in the field of gemstones and diamonds, and a contributor to the award winning jewelry box website located at http://jewelryboxmaster.com.

How To Keep Your Jewelry Looking Its Best

2006-07-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

How To Keep Your Jewelry Looking Its Best by Susan Stafford

Keep your jewelry looking as good as the day you bought or inherited it, and pass it on to your kids. Just because you might begin to look a bit frazzled around the edges over the years doesn't mean your jewelry has to.

Clear gem care (precious stones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds): You may Clean these in an ultrasonic cleaner if you wish. However, if there is any other type of stone in the setting than you should NOT use the ultrasonic. You can also clean clear gems with a mild liquid detergent and a soft brush. Dry with a non abrasive lint free cloth.

Opaque gem care (semi precious stones like jade, turquoise and opals): Do not put these stones in an ultrasonic cleaner. This will damage the gems. Opaque gems are porous and will absorb cleansers and soap, which will build up inside the stones and discolor them over time. Clean by wiping with a soft damp cloth.

Organic gem care: (pearls, amber, corals, shell jewelry): Wipe with a soft damp cloth. Do not use chemicals. You can use ivory flakes to clean these gems. Opals are also susceptible to extreme temperatures. Too much heat and they will dry out. If you go outside into freezing weather with an opal the opal may crack. In both cases your opal is history, so be careful.

When dressing, always put on your makeup, perfume and hairspray first. Leave your jewelry for last. All of these substances can build up on your jewelry which would than require more frequent cleaning and also dullthe appearance of the gems. These substances can also out and out damage some gems, especially pearls.

Never wear jewelry of any type when cleaning around the house. The chemicals in household cleansers can damage the metal in your jewelry and will destroy some types of gemstones. Yes, you want to remove your rings before you wash your hands, as soap can damage porous stones, and hand or body lotion can also be harmful.

Silver care: silver tends to tarnish due to the metals it is alloyed with (usually its copper). Do not use toothpaste as a cleanser as it's to abrasive and will dull the finish over time with tiny scratches. You can clean with silver polish, with a no phosphate type of detergent, or by simply storing in anti tarnish bags or anti tarnish jewelry boxes. Do NOT store pearls in this type of bag or box, however, as you will damage the pearl. You can also buy a more expensive alloy of silver and platinum which will not tarnish. Don't swim with jewelry on as the chlorine will pit the metal, and harm some types of stones.

Gold and Platinum care: Both metals can be cleaned in warm sudsy water, or take the jewelry to a jeweler for a steam cleaning. Buff the jewelry with a chamois or a soft cloth. Gold is weakened and becomes brittle with exposure to chlorine, but platinum can stand up to most chemicals. Your best bet with jewelry is to look for a cleaner that is safe for both the metal and the gemstone-ask your jeweler.

Lastly, store your pieces separately to avoid the pieces scratching one another. There are many jewelry boxes that are set up to keep jewelry separate, but you can also place some pieces in individual soft bags. Doesn't cost a lot, either.

About the Author
Susan Stafford owns a few online webstores. She is also the happy owner of a lot of jewelry. Come browse for some jewelry at http://www.diamondjewelrysite.com

Diamond Jewelry Care

2006-07-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

Diamond Jewelry Care
Copyright 2005 Keith Thompson
You just dropped several large bills to get your beloved
(or maybe yourself!) a diamond or diamonds that take your breath away. That kind of investment deserves some careful attention, and that's the subject of discussion. To make your diamonds last a lifetime, there are several areas, some obvious, some not; that you need to keep in mind.While diamonds may be the hardest compound on earth, they still need some loving care.
There are cleaning, checking your settings, security and
traveling.
CLEANING YOUR DIAMONDS Your diamonds can get pretty
grotesque with day to day wear. Lotions, harsh soaps, food and even the oils from your skin can contribute to a less than lustrous diamond. Here are the four most popular ways to clean your diamonds at home. 1-Give them a mild detergent bath, gently using a small soft brush to wash away loose impediments. Be careful to do this in a small bowl away from the sink as the only thing worse than a filthy diamond is a lost one! 2-Soak them in solution of half ammonia and half cold water for about 30 minutes. Be sure to only use a soft bristled brush as it's possible to scratch your diamonds.
3-use one of the Quick Dip solutions sold in stores. Follow
the directions and be sure not to handle the clean diamonds
with your fingers, ruining all your hard work. Pick your
diamond jewelry up by it's edges.
4-Ultrasonic cleaning. There's lot's of these small
machines that will clean your diamond jewelry in a snap.
Just be sure and follow directions, as each machine is
different.
CHECKING YOUR DIAMOND SETTINGS At least once a year have
your diamond jewelry settings checked by a reputable
jeweler. Have them check for a secure placement,
particularly if your diamond is set in soft metals such as 24k gold.
DIAMOND SECURITY Some thoughts on securing your diamonds.
Keep your diamond jewelry in soft fabric covered jewelry
boxes, preferably with individual compartments. One of the only things that can cut a diamond is another diamond, so keep them away from each other. don't wear it when doing hard heavy work. It's possible to chip your diamond with a hard glancing blow. Keep your treasures away from small, playful fingers. If you have a large amount, consider videotaping or digitally storing photos of your gems for insurance purposes. And be smart: don't wear your 15 carat diamond necklace to a Raider game and expect to make anything but a lot of new friends!
TRAVELING WITH DIAMONDS When traveling, store your diamonds in soft jewelry bags, individually, and use a specially
designed jewelry travel case if you can get one. They are made for this purpose, and are handy indeed.
A piece of diamond jewelry means many things to many
people. Diamonds are a symbol of great affection. Please
honor those who gave this gift to you by giving your
diamonds careful and regular care and attention and you'll be rewarded with a lifetime with a lifetime of sparkle!
Keith Thompson is a writer captivated by bling! For more
information on diamonds visit his site
http://www.engagement-ring-deals.info

Amethyst

2006-07-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

Amethyst: The Stone Of The Royals by Richard Aubin

History

Amethyst gets its name from the Greek word amethustos, meaning "not drunken". The origin of amethyst name and its healing properties come from a Greek legend telling the story of how Dionysus, god of wine and intoxication was angry from one mortal that he swore revenge on all mortals who did not get drunk and celebrate.

A young maiden called Amethyst was on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana, when she was captured by the furious Dionysus. Being so innocent she was not familiar with drinking and intoxication. Dionysus brought two tigers to eat her and sat back with his wine to watch.

Amethyst called upon Diana for help, who turned Amethyst into a crystalline quartz statue to protect her. Seeing Amethyst like that, Dionysus wept tears of wine, which stained the quartz purple creating the gemstone amethyst. Owing to its name and mythological origin, it was believed that the wearer of amethyst jewelry is immune to becoming intoxicated. Moreover, amethyst used to be carved into cups with the belief that drinking from it helps to cure and avoid positioning.

Purple color has long been associated with royalty. Because of its purple color and beauty, amethyst was favored by the royals for centuries. Amethyst necklaces and jewelry were found buried in the tombs of Ancient Egyptians, and was a personal favorite of Queen Catherine the Great.

It is still being used today, with the rare ones decorating the British Crown Jewels. Amethyst is mentioned in the Old Testament and the Bible, and is thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize holiness. Cardinals and Bishops in the Catholic Church wear rings with a large amethyst as a part of their office. In Tibet, amethyst is a sacred gem to Buddha.

Geological Information

Amethyst is a high-quality form of quartz crystal, naturally found as clusters in a nodular stone. They are found sometimes in volcanic vugs or small cavities in rocks. The chemical name for Amethyst is Silicon Dioxide. Amethyst obtains its color through a combination of manganese impurities and iron.

The purple color comes from the presence of manganese, while the existence of iron in certain quantities controls the intensity of the color. Artificial heating treatments have been used on Amethyst to produce popular gems known as Citrine and Ametrine (400 and 500 degrees Celsius). Amethyst measures 7 on Mohs' hardness scale.

One of the largest cut amethysts in the world is 343 carats and is being displayed at the National History Museum in London. Very dark stones are sometimes heated to enhance color.

Geographical Information

Amethyst is found globally, at very affordable prices, in countries like Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, United States, Zambia, Namibia and other African countries. Amethyst has been named the state gemstone of South Carolina.

Amethyst deposits can also be found in other countries such as: Germany, Italy, Bolivia, Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka. However, the quality of amethyst differs by region and source. Amethyst coming from South America is likely larger than the African amethyst. However, Amethyst from Africa is known for better and deeper color. Dark amethyst in small sizes is also found in Australia.

Physical and Optical Properties

Amethyst is available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Large stones could be sold in free sizes but usually amethyst is cut in certain dimensions.

This semi-precious stone is unique in color. With colors range from pale lilac to deep purple, including a reddish shades sometimes, amethyst is the most valuable form of quartz. In jewelry, the deepest shades of Amethyst, which maintain their transparency, are considered the most precious.

A unique Brazilian amethyst in pastel shade of lilac with pinkish tones is known as Rose de France Amethyst. It is a very clean gemstone and was very popular during the Victorian age. Though it is frequently found in antique jewelry, Rose de France Amethyst is becoming popular again nowadays.

Amethyst in Jewelry

Amethyst is the traditional gem for the 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries. It is used as faceted stones and is carved in various shapes. Amethyst gemstones are used in necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, and pendants. This highly praised stone is also shaped and used other items such as hair accessories, key rings and watches.

Metaphysical and Healing Properties

New Age supporters believe that crystal and gem healing is an art. Objects such as gems and crystals have absorbed and inherited the vital healing powers of Mother Earth. They believe that crystals and gems have physical and spiritual powers that can be used as a therapy for pain, stress and depression.

Amethyst has come to be known to possess prolific purifying healing powers. It acts as a healer at all levels of mind, body and soul, and is commonly associated with peace. It has a tremendous ability of reducing negativity and anxiety.

Placing it under the pillow is said to calm the mid, encourage sleep and dispel nightmares. Amethyst is also known to enhance mental strength and stability. It is considered an ideal stone for those who are struggling with addiction or recovering from alcoholism.

Beside its mental therapeutic benefits, amethyst is used as a remedy for many physical afflictions. When used as a medical solution, amethyst is used to treat toothaches, skeletal discomforts, and other bone and joint-related sicknesses. Amethyst also cures stomach problems, blood disease as well as heart and hearing disorders. Amethyst as crystal is used to heal nervous system problems such as neuralgia.

About the Author

Richard Aubin makes it easy for you to find amethyst rings quickly and easily. Visit the amethyst earring section on his website to view a vast array of amethyst earrings, amethyst pendants and amethyst bracelets.

Cleaning Gold Jewelry

2006-06-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

How To Clean Gold Jewelry
Ben Sather
Gold jewelry to a woman is priceless. Although gold jewelry comes in many different styles and colors, the care and cleaning procedure for all golden treasures remain the same. Good common sense is your best guide, and these important tips on how to clean gold jewelry will help you keep your exquisite pieces lustrous and shining.
Gold is tarnish-resistant, but it can get dirty or smudged.
Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils that we use
regularly can cover your jewelry and cut down their brilliance.Jewelry cleaning removes any such build-up or residue and
restores the original sparkle and shine to make your precious
jewelries last a lifetime.
Although numerous commercial products are available to clean gold jewelry, most often water and a mild detergent is sufficient to restore the radiance, and a soft brush helps to gently clean intricate filigree designs and stones. Sometimes it can be helpful to soak the gold jewelry in a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water for up to sixty seconds. It is imperative to dry and polish your gold jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning.
Jewelry polishing cloths are an effective and inexpensive way of keeping your bits of gold glittering and radiant. These essential cotton cloths help to remove tarnish and to buff jewelry to look as good as new. Avoid wearing jewelry while in contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach as this can discolor or damage your gold jewelry mountings.
Proper storage of jewelry when not in use is essential to keep your golden treasures clean and new. When storing your jewelry,be careful that pieces do not tumble against each other to avoid scratching and loss of radiance. Ideally, store your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers or store each piece in individual soft cloth pouches.
It is important to check the stone settings of your jewelry
periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels.
Immersing the jewelry in rubbing alcohol for a few seconds will restore the gorgeous sparkle to cloudy stones. It is very
important to dry the jewelry thoroughly after cleaning before
wearing or storing. Remember that Pave set (glued in stones)
jewelry should never be immersed in water while cleaning gold jewelry.
Ben Sather is the publisher of http://www.a2-gold-jewelry.com/ A gold jewelry information resource. You can publish this article if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

Gemstone beads

2006-06-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

Gemstone beads by Jason Glukman
A gemstone is a precious or semi- precious stone used for jewelry. Scientifically, it is a mineral, rock or petrified material. Some beautiful gemstones are too soft or too fragile to be used in jewelry, for example, single- crystal rhodochrosite, but are exhibited in museums and are sought by collectors of mineral or crystal specimens.

There are natural and manmade gemstones. Natural gemstones are one of the nature's finest creations. A genuine real gemstone is available in one piece only, meaning no two gemstones are alike. Sometimes these gemstones are further finished, dyed and stained.

History tells us that semi-precious beads have been used as both ornament and as currency. Coral, lapis and amber were used in the past, but today we there are many more options.

One can find many semi-precious and precious beads. These gemstones are available in different shapes, like round, oval, rondelle, tubes and stars. Some of the most popular are oval- and bean- shaped gemstone, cube- and brick- shaped gemstone, nugget shaped, faceted cuts and button and roundel- shaped gemstones. Genuine gemstone beads include amazonite, amber, aquamarine and topaz, and are available at different prices. The prices of these beads vary in terms of the color, weight and clarity.

Gemstones have been used to make beads for ages, and every culture uses them not only as adornment but to express social circumstances, political occurrences, and religious beliefs. There are gemstones which represent planets and are believed to carry spiritual importance. They are often used to cure the alleged effects of planetary movements. One can choose a gemstone of their ruling planet, or their birthstone. These gemstones can be combined with metal and worn as a piece of jewelry as well.

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Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips

2006-06-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips Submitted by: Sam Serio
Morning Light Jewelry

Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.

Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem.
Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box. Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won't hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.

Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.

Wholesale Jewelers

2006-05-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

The jewelry industry has become more and more popular over time. The passion of both men and women with regard to the acquisition of various kinds and forms of jewelry increase sales throughout the year. When investment becomes one of the concerns that surfaces, the purchasing and owning of jewelry becomes very tempting.

Jewelry stores are located all over the country. As a matter of fact, in every state and city there are branches of the most famous jewelry shops from different countries such as France and Paris.

Facts about Wholesale Jewelers

Wholesale jewelers handle the purchase of jewelry supplies in large amounts. These pieces of jewelry come in various forms such as wedding rings, necklaces, bangles, bracelets, earrings, and watches. Wholesale jewelers then sell their acquired pieces of jewelry to retail jewelers who resell their goods to the buying public.

There is no scarcity of wholesale jewelers; they hail from almost all cities of the United States. Their goods are, of course, guaranteed to be of the finest quality. They simply have a keen eye for what is valuable and what is not, what is pricey compared to what is less expensive, and what is an imitation and what is genuine. Moreover, the wholesale jewelers are connoisseurs in discriminating amongst the qualities and grades of the most precious stones such as diamonds, gold, and rubies.

Some pieces of jewelry are indeed seasonal. Therefore, these wholesale jewelers are able to forewarn their patrons regarding what will go on sale, what will increase in price, and what will be the most sought-after jewelry for the season.

Purchasing jewelry in large volumes is easier said than done. In the first place, wholesale jewelers need to be liquid to secure their supply. They cannot buy any piece of jewelry if they have no means. Once you understand the business of wholesale jewelers, you will realize why the jewelry of your choice can either be too expensive or readily affordable.

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How to Care for Your Diamond Ring

2006-05-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

Congratulations! You’re getting married and now have a lot of planning ahead of you. However don’t forget to take care of the one thing that started all of this. Not your fiancée, your diamond ring! Your diamond ring is a timeless piece of beauty that needs special care.

It is important to always remember that everything you touch during the day can affect your diamond. Hand soap, hair gel, dishwashing liquid and lotions are among the worst offenders. They leave a film on your ring that can build up over time if not properly cleaned. Always make sure your ring sparkles as bright as you do by following these four rules:

1. Soak your diamond ring in a solution of warm water and a mild liquid detergent.

2. Use a soft brush, after the ring has soaked, to remove dirt. Be very careful in your choice of a brush, as anything with stiff brushes can scratch the metal setting. It is better to scrub your diamond in the solution than to lift it up and scrub it out of water.

3. Rinse the ring thoroughly in warm water. If necessary, to dry, place in a small strainer or sieve.

4. Dry the ring with a lint free cloth.

While these are necessary steps to ensuring long lasting luster in your ring, there are other important rules to remember. Always remove your ring when doing housework, yard work, or in any other situations where you will be in contact with cleansers and chemicals. Never wear your ring during contact sports, or any other vigorous activity. Remember, it may look great on your hand at the gym, but even free weights held gently can scratch the metal.

Also remember to have your ring appraised and insured because of its value! With this as your guide, you can ensure a brilliant future for your ring.

Afshin Yaghtin graduated as an English major at UCLA and furthered his education at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth with a M.A. in postmodern American literature before starting his own business at Wedding-Band-Ring.Com. He lives in California with his wife and 3 adorable, rambunctious kids