Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Getting your hands on the perfect engagement rings at affordable prices
Shopping for an engagement ring for their loved ones is a major expense which most people are more than happy to bear. However, an engagement involves various other expenses as well and buying an engagement ring encrusted with diamonds can be an expensive proposition for many. It is, however, possible to find an impressive engagement ring if you’re armed with a few basic facts about diamond engagement rings.
Everyone has heard about the 4Cs of diamonds: the holy grail of the diamond world. For the uninitiated, the 4 Cs refer to color, carat, clarity and cut. These factors can be quite perplexing for most people but a brief understanding of them is necessary to make an informed purchase. The following sections will explain these terms in layman’s terms to give you a general idea about them and help you find the perfect engagement rings.
· Color: Loose Diamonds are normally available in a host of colors ranging around pale yellow. This range of colors is referred to as the normal color range of diamonds. Diamonds are also available in other colors such as brown or dark yellow, but diamonds with these colors are very rare and hence extremely expensive. There are also diamonds that appear to be completely devoid of any colors and appear as bright white in color to an observer. Such diamonds are of the highest purity. The complete range of colors found in diamonds is specified on a scale of D to Z with D being colorless and Z referring to diamonds with pale yellow color. Diamonds in the color range of F to I are most common while there are a few diamonds that are rated above Z in the color range. Such diamonds are very rare and expensive and are called fancy colored diamonds.
· Carat: The carat rating of a diamond refers to its weight with one carat being equal to 200 milligrams. This method of representing the weight of a diamond is quite old and originally was intended to measure the weight of a diamond vis a vis that of the seed of a carob.
· Clarity: Loose Diamonds occur naturally in nature and therefore are not always free of deformities or flaws. In fact it is very rare to come across a diamond that is completely free of any flaws. The clarity rating of a diamond is used to rate the stone on the basis of its inherent flaws. The scale used for such a rating starts with FL, which refers to a completely flawless stone, and terminates in I3 which means that the diamond is seriously flawed. The commonly found diamonds that are easily available in the market are likely to have a clarity rating of SI1 or SI2, which means slightly included. There are diamonds available which have such clarity ratings such as IF, which means internally flawless, but these stones are unlikely to fit into the budget of the average buyer
· Cut: An uncut and unpolished diamond is quite ordinary in its appearance. That is why the cut of a diamond is of such importance since it essentially brings out the brilliance of an otherwise ordinary looking stone.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Everything you ever needed to know about diamond engagement rings
You can actually buy diamonds without paying through your nose. It makes no sense at all to go in debt just for buying your engagement ring. A common trend among people is to buy a diamond ring that costs you as much as your two months’ salary, but where did this trend originate from, one might ask? This is nothing but propaganda spread by the various diamond companies who’re only interested in their profits and the health of their balance sheets.
People often make hasty decisions while buying Engagement rings because of the emotional value attached to them and feel guilty about buying a not so expensive ring. It has sort of become a fashion among young couples to make a statement with their rings where the size of the diamond reflects the amount of love between the couple. Bigger the diamond, greater the love and attachment between the two.
Are diamonds a good investment option?
This is a common misconception among most first time diamond buyers who think that diamonds are good investment option. This myth is further promoted by diamond companies and jewelers who’re always trying to push you into a diamond worth more than you can really afford. The value of Loose diamonds does not appreciate significantly over time like other jewelry items and stones. Also, it is always advisable to avoid combining investment decisions with emotional decisions. You’d never be able to convince yourself or your partner to sell off your engagement rings to pay off a bad debt or loan.
Figuring the right amount to spend on your diamond engagement rings
Before you venture out shopping to select a Loose diamond ring for your engagement, it is advisable that you first come up with an approximate figure for your budget and the maximum amount you’d be willing to spend. This decision should only be based on your financial health and various other factors such as emotional value, fear or a temptation to make good impression on your partner or your in-laws should be kept aside. The salesman at the diamond ring store will also try his best to sell you a ring worth much more than your real budget so you should steer clear of his pressure tactics.
Decide on whether to choose the ring with your partner or all by yourself
This is a tricky decision to make for all men. You can choose the ring yourself and then later surprise your partner. This way you get to see her reaction on seeing her Engagement ring for the first time. But there’s always the risk that she may not like your choice or has a preference for other stones. It’s a catch 22 situation and it can be very tricky getting out of it.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Multi – Tone Engagement Rings
Today’s would be brides are literally spoilt for choices as far as choosing the metal for their engagement rings is concerned, although yellow gold still retains its number one spot. One interesting trend that has Diamonds and is fast gaining popularity is to use a number of metals for the same ring to create a multi – tone effect. However, before opting for these multi – tone rings, there are a few things that all couples should keep in mind to help them make an informed decision.
Metals used for creating multi tone engagement rings
What metals you use for your Engagement ring more or less depends on your own preference. Different metals have different properties such as color, malleability etc. The most commonly used metals for engagement rings are:
· Yellow Gold: Traditionally the metal of choice and still widely used. Can be bought based on its carat value.
· White Gold: Used as an alternative to the traditional yellow gold and also available in different karat values similar to yellow gold. They get their unique white glitter from a coating of rhodium which tends to wear off after certain time. Hence these rings require higher degree of care and maintenance.
· Silver: Silver is mostly used by people who prefer a white colored ring but cannot afford white gold or platinum. Silver usually develops a thin coating on its surface after its use over a certain period. This coating gives the ring an antique look which is preferred by many, although some like to keep their silver rings shining like new and hence have to visit the jeweler periodically for getting them polished.
· Platinum: One of the strongest and sturdiest, platinum also happens to be one of the most expensive metals used for making Engagement rings. Platinum usually requires a lot less maintenance as compared to silver and its shine and glimmer remains intact for a number of years. In fact, owing to its sturdiness, some quantity of platinum is used in all rings to fasten the stone securely in its place.
· Titanium: Titanium is usually preferred for men’s rings and has gained popularity in recent years only. It is quite durable and also requires less maintenance.
· Sterling Silver: Sterling Silver is quite similar to normal silver in its appearance but it is useful for people with sensitive skins or with any type of metal allergies.
The Cost factor of a multi tone engagement ring
The cost of a multi tone Engagement ring that uses several metals usually depends on the kind of metals used, the stones and gems they are paired with and the overall intricacy of the design.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Heart shaped loose diamond engagement rings
An elegant option for anyone looking to buy an engagement ring is one encrusted with a diamond in the shape of a heart. These look classy and also symbolize the love and passion between the couple and signify a promise of undying love. A heart shaped diamond is a great way to express your feelings of love towards your better half.
Rings with a Loose diamond shaped heart are not very common and you are rarely likely to come across any. This is what makes these rings even more special as it gives a feeling of uniqueness and pride to the ladies. They are able to associate the love of their partners and their special memories with these rings. The shape of the diamond resembling a heart makes these rings all the more valuable since love and affection are feelings associated with the heart. So these rings are a great way to convey your feelings of love towards your partner.
Some things to watch out for
In order to shape the diamond to resemble a heart, the stone is given various cuts. While shopping for a heart shaped loose diamond, it’s important that you carefully examine the diamond for the cuts and how closely it resembles a heart. The whole beauty of the stone lies in how skillfully and expertly it has been cut. A close inspection of the stone is all it takes to determine its value and other features. An important thing to look out for is the symmetry of the lobes. The lobes have to be balanced in a symmetric manner otherwise the ring would have an untidy look.
Heart shaped loose diamond rings cost approximately the same as other diamond encrusted rings and are available in a wide variety based on their quality and hence price and can be selected by people based on their budget. The most famous in the category of heart shaped diamond rings are those with pink diamonds.
Heart shaped diamonds for lockets
Another favored option these days are lockets with heart shaped diamonds. These are not just given by lovers to express their feelings to their partners but are also gifted by people to their parents and grandparents with their pictures inside them. These lockets make for very thoughtful presents to your friends and family members as these not just look good and adorn the beauty of the recipient, but also act as a treasure trove of sweet memories.
Whether you go for a heart shaped loose diamond or a normal diamond is up to your own personal preference but do make sure to ascertain the quality of the stone while out shopping. Make sure you buy your diamonds from a reputed jeweler you can trust and if cost is not your primary concern, its best to opt for colorless diamonds.
Baguette Diamonds for those looking for something different
Owing to their resemblance to French bread stick or baguette, this particular diamond cut was named Baguette after the French word. Baguette diamonds are usually rectangular in shape and people often make the mistake of confusing them with the emerald cut. The baguette cut is usually elongated and can be viewed as a modification of the step cut which used to be the standard for all stones of rectangular shape. The reason why step cut was so popular is that it was simple to implement and a step cut diamond retained most of its carat weight. The continuing developments in technology brought more and more refinement to the whole process of diamond cutting and soon the emphasis was on cutting the diamonds in such a way so as to obtain the highest degree of sparkle from them. The baguette cut diamonds were expected to fizzle out of the fashion scene within a few years, just like any other trend, but surprisingly, not only have these diamonds survived, their popularity has been seeing a surge in the recent years.
A major reason for the huge success of the baguette diamonds is that the cut allows the diamond to retain most of its carat weight, making them a much better buy for any customer. Baguette diamonds are also available in the market at considerably lesser prices as compared to other diamonds. This may be attributed to their relatively poor appearance. A stone of the same quality exhibits a difference of about 25% in its brilliance when it is cut according to the baguette cut and when it is cut brilliantly. The baguette is favored by jewelers and diamond cutters because of its simplicity which consumes less time and is hence cost efficient. Jewelers usually prefer to use a number of smaller baguettes around a single larger stone used as a centerpiece. The overall effect works to augment the brilliance and beauty of the centerpiece. Baguette diamonds are also used by jewelers for creating ballerina rings. These diamonds leave very little, if any, space between them when they’re set side by side and are therefore great for channel settings. Sometimes jewelers like to taper the square end of the baguette diamonds if the stone is of very high quality. Such baguettes with tapered ends are referred to as taps or tapers and can be used along with regular baguette diamonds.
Summing it up
All said and done, it is amply clear that baguette diamonds are usually preferred by those who’re looking for something different. Their high sales indicate that there is no dearth of such people who are drawn by its sophistication and understated elegance.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Baguette Diamonds
The very word baguette has a very long and interesting history behind it. It’s actually a French word which means ‘long rod’. However the French word is itself derived from a Latin word baculum which means ‘a stick’. So the baguette can mean a cut resembling a long rod or a stick. Take your pick! The baguette cut grabbed the attention of many during the 20s when people were under the influence of the Bauhaus movement and preferred geometric designs in fashion and architecture. The baguette cut is similar to other cuts such as the emerald cut with its clean rectangular shape and square corners and step cut. The baguette diamonds are primarily used as side diamonds.
Historically speaking
The baguette diamonds owe their huge popularity to the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements of the early 20s. This cut was accepted widely during this period because of its simple rectangular shape that gelled well with the prevailing taste and trend. Owing to their rectangular shape and clean cuts, jewelers and designers were inspired to use these stones as side stones or accent stones and designed pieces that used a large number of baguette stones around a single centerpiece.
Some useful facts
The baguette diamonds are usually sold in smaller sizes and are hence measured not in terms of their carat weight but their dimension in millimeters and are usually characterized by length to width ration of around 1.5. The baguette cut also has less number of faces which at around 14 is considerably less than other cuts such as the emerald cut. The stone used for baguette cut should be of impeccable quality since the clean geometric cuts of baguette can expose even the tiniest flaws of the diamond.
As mentioned earlier, baguette diamonds are more often than not used as side stones or accent stones to accent the beauty of a single larger stone used as the centerpiece. The baguette diamonds serve the purpose of hiding the shoulders and joints of the centerpiece. Since the baguette cut diamonds are of uniform shape and size, these can be easily set in a piece either side by side or end to end without leaving any gap. This makes the setting of the whole piece a lot easier and also allows the jeweler to experiment more easily with the designs. A large number of baguette diamonds in a single piece create a magical effect of light and colors and really augment the beauty of the centerpiece.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Diamonds Encrusted Rings and Their Maintenance
Being amongst the most expensive stones known to man, diamonds are cherished by many across the world. Although available in a large variety of colors, it is white that is the most desired and hence the most expensive. These are also preferred for their long life and durability. People generally go for diamonds while shopping for engagement or wedding rings. However, very few people, if any, really know how to take care of their diamond rings. A wrong cleansing method can adversely affect the shine and quality of a diamond ring. These require special care and only the right techniques should be used to clean them.
Proper handling is a must
No matter how durable a diamond may be, it still requires special care. A diamond with a higher carat rating is harder and hence lasts longer without losing its shine. One major rule is to never let a diamond ring drop down on the floor. It can easily get damaged on striking a hard surface such as concrete or the diamond may get detached from the rest of the ring. Moreover, being small in size, it can easily go down the drain and may be very hard to find. If you somehow do drop it somewhere, make sure to handle the damaged ring with extreme care. A good jeweler experienced at handling diamond articles should be able to fix the problem without much trouble.
Another point of caution is to never let one diamond scrape against another diamond. Being the hardest substance known to man, these can easily scratch the surface of other diamonds. People who wear multiple rings in the same hand should ensure that the diamonds in the rings do not come in contact with any of the other rings or stones.
Safe storage
When not in use, diamond rings should be safely stored in an appropriate place. It is common for people to keep them in the same box that houses their other jewelery items. This is one of the major reasons for causing scratches and dents. Instead, a separate box should be used. Wearing diamond rings while doing household chores is a strict no. A careless chafe or rub is sure to ruin the shine forever.
Proper caution should be exercised while cleaning diamond rings. Over time dust accumulates around and under the tentacles that hold the diamond in place. The oil secreted from the skin comes in contact with the ring and attracts dust present in the air. This gradually leads to unfastening of the diamond from the ring. The jewelers usually clean the engagement rings bought from them for free but it is still advisable to acquaint yourself with a few basic cleansing tips. The metallic parts of a ring are usually delicate than the stone itself and thus cleaned without much pressure. Also, cleansing solutions that contain chlorine and other strong detergents should always be avoided.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)