Posts Tagged ‘fine jewelry’

Antique Diamond Engagement Ring

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Diamonds remain to be one of the most sought-after possessions for they represent perfection, beauty, power, and wealth. Among all gemstones, a diamond is considered the most suitable particularly in engagements.

An engagement ring is a piece of jewelry worn with much value. Engagement rings oftentimes lead to a wonderful union between two lives. History affirms that engagement rings came about in 1215 when Pope Innocent III declared an interlude for marriages. In those times, as promise from the man that he would not abandon his woman during the waiting period, a simple metal band was given to the woman.

These bands were later enhanced and accentuated with gemstones and eventually came to be known as engagement rings.

Today, modern technology provides for wide varieties of diamond engagement rings, perfectly cut and ornamented. Yet despite the boom of contemporary designs made of famous brands, many couples still prefer heirloom or antique engagement ring.

An antique diamond engagement ring has its unique charm that cannot be found in mass marketed jewelries. Passed from generation to generation, antique diamond engagement rings bear witness to unconditional, endless loves. It brings ardent hope of lasting bond for the would-be couple.

Any ring over 50 years of existence is an antique. Antique diamond engagement rings are often lavishly designed. They have distinctly varied designs, including Victorian, Edwardian, and Art-Deco, to name a few. It could even be said that no two antique rings are ever the same, as none of them could ever have identical cuts.

Antique rings unlike the new fashioned rings, made out of state of the art technology, are not perfectly cut but this very imperfection adds even more to the ingenuity and uniqueness of each piece.

Though rare, you can still get hold of antique diamond engagement rings if you are clever and patient enough to search for it. Here are some suggestions:

You can first rummage your mothers jewelry box, who knows what prized possession you might find in there. You can go to a certified and trusted jeweler who may guide you in your quest. You can go to a pawnshop or visit an antique/vintage store. You can attend estate sales where you can find estate rings; these are newer rings, not yet antique, but are on their way to becoming so.

And of course, use the internet to get quick access about these timeless masterpieces.

When looking for jewelry and watch, make sure you visit the website that specializes in diamond engagement rings and Seiko watches.

The Bezel Set Diamond Engagement Ring

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Getting married is a major decision; you have to be ready financially and emotionally prepared before you tie the knot. Of course every woman dreams to have the perfect engagement ring, a bezel set diamond engagement ring would be one precious gift a man can give to his loved one.

A diamond has a true beauty of its own but it is enhanced when it is a bezel set diamond engagement ring. These kinds of engagement rings have a particular attraction because it enhances the diamond’s brilliance especially if it is set in silver or platinum bezel setting.

The bezel set diamond engagement ring would particularly work for woman who prefers a retro style or have a vintage effect on their engagement ring. These kinds of rings are also best for those who prefer an active lifestyle because these kinds of rings protect the diamond itself since it surrounds the diamond.

When a diamond ring is also set in bezel, it would actually hide chips or imperfections on the side the diamond.

Prices of diamonds vary depending on the size, design and how it is set, in this particular case for a bezel set diamond engagement ring. Here are some of the points to consider:

If the diamond has a perfect cut and it does not really require to be set in bezel for the purpose of hiding its imperfections; the price depends on the size of the diamond, this price would be higher if the bezel set diamond engagement ring has intricate design that helped enhance the diamond’s brilliance.

The bezel set diamond engagement ring is readily available in local or major jewelry stores anywhere, even online.

In case you plan to give your bride-to-be a truly special engagement ring, you could have it custom made, again this may cause you additional, but it’s really worth it when you see the happiness it brings to your loved one.

When looking for jewelry and watch, make sure you visit the website that specializes in diamond engagement rings and Rolex watches.

Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Cushion cut diamond engagement ring in the older days was named pillow cut. For this type as its name suggest, resembles that of a plump cushion or pillow. Cushion shape comes in varieties of proportions. They could either be oval, square or rectangular with rounded corners.

Cushion cuts gained popularity in the latter part of the’00s until the early’00s.Before the dawn of electric bulbs, cushion cut diamond ring was also referred to as candlelight diamond because it was said to be most brilliant in candlelight.

In the modern day setting, cushion cut diamond engagement rings are more symmetrical than its older contemporaries, mainly due to the advent of modern refinements and upgraded lapidary skills. Though this may be the case, couples prefer older versions of cushion cuts and still searches for this kind in the antique or vintage market.

Cushion cut diamond engagement rings work best as alternative for couples who prefer traditional, subtle designs. Cushion cut diamond engagement rings are still rare in modern rings.

Cushion cuts are best in solitaires, the kind that draw the attention to the gemstone located at the center of the ring. Many women however, prefer small accent stones incorporated in the ring.

A cushion cut diamond ring has about 60 facets; this is 20 or more facets less than the modern rings. Facet refers to the smooth, polished planes that make up a stones surface. With lesser number of facets as compared to fancy shapes and signature cuts, it exhibits lesser brilliance.

But this characteristic, precisely adds to its unique appeal that sets the cushion cut diamond ring apart from its modern contemporaries for it provides a certain depth to the diamonds, allowing a person to see through it ” revealing its unpretentious beauty.

The next time you invite your partner for a romantic candlelight dinner; consider a cushion cut diamond engagement ring to go with it?

When looking for jewelry and watch, make sure you visit the website that specializes in diamond engagement rings and Seiko watches.

The 123's of Gold

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Gold was a form of currency before the American Dollar, the Indian Rupee, or the British Pound was even thought of. In fact, gold has been valued as a form of currency almost since it was found. In some parts of the world today it is still used to denote wealth. Rare and very heavy, it has been used throughout the ages as a status symbol for the rich, kings, and merchants alike. Welcome to our little tour into the world of gold. We hope you enjoy it.

As one of the world’s most precious and valuable metals, gold sets itself apart from all the rest. It is so soft and malleable that a mere ounce of this metal can be stretched into a long wire that stretches 5 miles in length. If you like, you can pound this same ounce so thin that it will produce a sheet that can cover over 100 square feet. It will not corrode or rust, so it can last indefinitely.

It can be found almost everywhere. It is in our rivers and seas, in the crust of the earth, and in our plants as well. Unfortunately, it is expensive and difficult to extract…which is why it is so pricey. It takes about 2.5 to 3 tons of gold ore to produce one single ounce of pure gold.

Gold is the most popular metal in today’s jewelry. This is pretty much a given. It is used in fine jewelry, heart jewelry, good jewelry, cool jewelry, you name it. Most of the gold goes into one “shape” though. Do you happen to know what it is? It’s the simple wedding band. Since gold is so soft and malleable, it is not used by itself though. It is often combined with other metals to give it strength and durability. When two or more metals are combined they form what is known as an alloy. Most of the gold that we use in our jewelry production today is in the form of an alloy.

What are these various types of jewelry you ask? How about: (1) Gold jewelry, (2) Wholesale gold jewelry, (3) White gold jewelry, (4) Gold plated jewelry, (5) Gold body jewelry, (6) Gold charm jewelry, (7) Rose gold jewelry, (8) 24k gold jewelry, (9) 14k gold jewelry, (10) 22k gold jewelry, (11) 18k gold jewelry, (12) Indian gold jewelry, (13) Gold horse jewelry, (14) Plus other fabulous gold jewelry items.

You have probably heard of the word karat before, but do you know what it means? The word itself is derived from the word for the fruit of the carob tree. For example, the Arabic word girat, the Italian word carato, and the Greek word keration. The seeds of the carob tree were used in the measurement of the size of precious gems in the ancient world. There was a pure gold Byzantine coin called the solidus. It weighed in at 24 karats, so the 24 karat mark (i.e.: 24K or 24KT) became the mark used to indicate that the item being looked at was make of pure gold.

Did you enjoy this little journey into the world of gold? We hope so. If you would like to learn more we would love to have you visit our blog. We will go into more details on this subject, heart jewelry, and just jewelry in general. Welcome…

Want to find out more about gold jewelry, then visit Betsy Johnson’s site on how to choose the best gold heart jewelry for your needs.

Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Did you know that the marquise design of diamond rings is believed to originate in France as far back as the’th century?

King Louis XIV asked jewelers to design a unique shape of a diamond that is similar to the sultry way his then mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour smiles. This shape of diamond is slender and elongated with ends that are pointed much like the lips.

More and more couples today prefer the marquise diamond engagement ring because of its practicality, it is more affordable than the round or oval cut diamond. If you want to have a less conventional cut diamond, this is the right choice.

The shape of the marquise diamond engagement ring may be deceiving, since it is elongated; it seems larger and heavier than its actual carat size.

Just like the radiant cut diamond engagement ring, the marquise diamond engagement ring is cut in a multifaceted way and appears to have a bow-tie effect when light reflects on it. It produces an effect of dancing lights and radiates in the sun. And this characteristic adds for its popularity for engagement rings.

The proportion of the marquise diamond engagement ring varies, but the gem experts and jewelers say that the perfect proportion for this type of ring is that width should be the same length as its height that achieves a more prominent and radiant bow-tie effect.

For practical and aesthetic reasons, instead of having the marquise diamond engagement ring to be a solitaire diamond, you can add other precious gems or stones or have it in bridal set engagement ring. This way you can have the manifestation of having a larger diamond stone intricately designed that looks expensive.

The marquise diamond engagement ring is perfect for any woman, it actually flatters the fingers because of its cut, making the fingers seem elongated and elegant.

When looking for jewelry and watch, make sure you visit the website that specializes in marquise diamond engagement ring and diamond engagement rings.