Jewelry

March 7, 2010

The Anatomy Of Your Gem Stone Jewelry

From: emerald cut diamond ring. Diamond jewelry had always been regarded to be on top of the list as the world’s most-desired gem, although a few would like to dispute it. Nevertheless, the diamond mystique still works its charms on people for them to want to own a piece, or at least to know more about it. 

After centuries of fascinating stories and myths, here are the bare facts all about the world’s most wanted gem.

The bare essentials

Most people would certainly have heard about gem stones. They may have heard how precious they are as jewels. Some may have heard, too, random bits and pieces about the qualities that make them fascinating and attractive to people. 

Let us take you to a short guided tour and introduce you to the essential parts (and other aspects) of a diamond for your information. It is then up to you to discover what make them special as gems.

Table 

This is the first surface (surfaces in gems are called facets) that you will see. It is on top of the gem stone, and is the largest area in the whole stone’s body.

Crown

This is the upper part of the diamond just above the girdle that includes the table and the bezel facets around. (The girdle is the outer edge of the diamond forming the stone’s total width around it.) 

The crown slopes down to the girdle and this is called the crown angle. It passes and intersects the stone’s bezel facets. (The bezel is the metal holding the stone around the girdle.)

This crown angle helps in the dispersion of light, called fire, in a gem stone. It also helps to enhance the diamond’s brilliance. 

Girdle 

As pointed out, this is the narrow band encircling the widest part of the gem stone. This part of the stone is sometimes faceted (tiny polished surfaces) and some are not. Some jewelers have the diamond’s certificate number inscribed in laser on the girdle.

Pavilion

This is the bottom part of the diamond, essentially the facets just below the girdle, all leading to the culet. This is where lights come in and is reflected out of the stone’s table.

Culet

This is the pointed end at the bottom of the stone which may be faceted (a tiny polished surface at the endpoint) to protect from chipping. 

In the early days, large faceted culets were common in diamonds, especially the Old European or Old Mine cuts. Modern diamonds have very small culets or none at all.

Other essentials 

The above are only the basic physical parts of the diamond. But there are other considerations that make it the most-coveted stone today. This is where the other aspects of the stone would make it stand out and differ from the others.

Depth

This is the stone’s measurement from the culet to the table. The stone’s depth is responsible for the correct angling and height for light to enter and be reflected back to the viewer in a most fascinating manner.

These flashes of reflected light are commonly referred to as sparkle.  The intensity of this reflected bunch of light beams to the top of the diamond is called brilliance. When a diamond moves, there are flashes of color reflected from within, and it is called fire. 

Symmetry

This is another important gauge in a diamond’s desirability because this is an indicator of the stone’s quality. Misalignments (facet angles, polish, lengths, etc) can diminish some of the gem stone jewelry’s other near-perfect qualities.

For more see unique emerald cut engagement rings and vintage emerald cut diamond rings.

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If Cubic Zirconia Pendants Get Luxuriously Wrapped It Will Make All The Difference

Everyone likes to be presented with stunning jewellery at any time during the year, but the occasion is made so much more special when the gift is given with love and stunning wrapping paper. Since presentation is so important, it is well worth making sure that the item you buy comes gift boxed, and something as precious as cubic zirconia pendants should always be presented in a fine jewellery box. You can add your finishing touches later, but any reputable jewellery retailer will always ensure that their jewellery pieces are gift boxed for superior presentation.

Be Secretive

If you’re lucky enough to find a jeweller that also gift wraps your item then you wont have to worry about doing it yourself. This way, you can rest assured that the item will arrive perfectly presented and you can cross the hard part off the list. Once you have the perfect gift all sorted you then have to start thinking about ways to present the gift on the special day. If it a Christmas present then hiding it under the tree is a great way to surprise your loved one. Naturally, a birthday present will have to be hidden somewhere else, so why not try under the bed? Many women actively seek out their presents because they are naturally the inquisitive type, which means men will have to try a bit harder to hide the cubic zirconia pendant gift they have bought.

The Importance Of Presentation

A lady’s keen eye on presentation means you have to make a suitable effort when it comes to buying gifts. You wouldn’t put a brand new cubic zirconia pendant in an old box, simply because this would give the impression of a cheap and worthless gift that you were giving. In order to encourage your loved one to open the gift, the wrapping and jewellery box should be beautifully presented.

Another good tip is to choose wrapping paper that is super stylish and reflects what your lady is like. Any man that can’t wrap a gift should know that they are not alone, but that doesn’t mean gifts shouldn’t be wrapped well – just ask a family friend to help out if necessary.

Filed under Womens World by ckahuna

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jewels – Blinging In Style

If diamonds are a lady’s best friend then jewellery is her soul sister! jewellery is like a powerful accessory that a great many want one fabulous piece and build an outfit around it. You’ll be able to ruin a superbly large outfit by wearing a different jewellery.

Before we get into what and how to where jewellery there are several no-nos that you ought to be aware of. Relax – these are too tough to follow!

Don’t overdo it with jewellery. Keep it easy. Wear no a couple of big piece such as earrings or necklace.

Don’t wear an ankle bracelet or toe ring using a dressy outfit. It may look trashy.

Limit the number of rings. Wear chunky rings alone.

For after hours events, replace your basic day jewelry with more festive pieces.

Now for the good stuff. Here’s what you’ll be able to do with jewellery.

It’s takes a confident person to wear bold jewelry. Going bold is great and screams “I’m okay with standing out in the crowd and I need everyone to know it!” What it shouldn’t do is over-accessorize the incorrect outfit. Don’t wear prints with big and bold jewellery. Sleek all black or all white are perfect with colorful jewelry.

Figure out how to mix metals. It’s not taboo to gold with gold and silver. Just keep in mind to maintain the style of jewelry the same. Stacking square or round bangles in different shades of gold and silver is fine. You can even layer gold and silver necklaces for a modern look.

Wear a good length necklace. Wearing the wrong necklace be able to during any outfit out of kilter. Here’s some easy suggestions for getting it right. V-neck, boat-neck and off the shoulder tops look great with collar necklaces. Chokers are perfect with strapless or plunging necklines. The most common length is between 17-19 inches. This be able to be worn with most necklines except high ones. Plunging necklines look great with a necklace length of 20-24 inches. Very high necklines are perfect for 28-34 inch necklace. This length can also be doubled for a multi-strand look.

Filed under Jewelry by artnet

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March 5, 2010

Diamond Band - Elegance of Diamond Band

Pure diamonds are always tempting. They are very expensive, but the price of these diamonds cannot deter the people from showing their love towards them. Both men and women are very fond of these precious stones and leave no good opportunity to own at least one. The love and desire of the purest and the best kind of these diamonds take these fond lovers to the jewelry shops where these gemstones are generally sold.

The elegant diamond bands give a stylish look to the personality of both men and women. These diamond bands adorn people of both sexes equally. These bands are made with different types of metals like platinum, gold, and titanium. Like the diamonds themselves, these metals are also very costly. However, the best bands are available in these combinations only. The bands of these metals adorned with precious diamonds make a unique combination that has all the ingredients to present you a splendid piece of ornament.

The latest designs of diamond bands are essential part of modern dressing. In spite of the fact that these diamond bands are made with different metals mentioned above, the most demanding combination makes use of gold with these precious diamonds. According to the jewelers, this combination provides the strong designs of elegant pieces of the product. The designs of these bands are also fantastic. You can buy a diamond band of your own choice from any reputed jewelry store for a good price. However, it is suggested that if you have decided to buy a band of your choice, then you should go for the best that comes with gold and diamond.

Diamond bands for all

However, this better quality of diamond bands are heavy and therefore, they weigh more. It is quite natural that these bands are high priced as well. These bands are in great demand these days as they make a very good and valuable presentation for all, irrespective of the sexes. At present, these golden bands are regarded as the best and the most preferred item of ornament for both the bride and the groom. Therefore, quite naturally, the families of both the bride and the groom spend a lot of time in choosing and purchasing the best kind of bands for them. Almost all the jewelry shops maintain a good variety of these stylish bands for their probable customers.

Due to their variety of designs and trendier looks, these bands are the most common presentation these days. As a common practice, the new couple exchanges these diamond engagement bands with each other on the occasion of their engagement. It makes a very good reputation among the guests as well. These diamond bands become the witness of their newly formed relationship. It makes the day memorable for both the alleys of marriage.

Rich Vial is a webmaster for Diamond Bands visit: ediamondlist.com

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March 4, 2010

Hand Your Girlfriend The Ideal Present With Cubic Zirconia

Surprising your girlfriend with a beautiful cubic zirconia pendant or ring is a moment both of you will cherish your entire life. Don’t rush the purchase of cubic zirconia so you can make sure it really does light up your girlfriend’s eyes for a special event. Every lady has her own preference of when to wear certain jewellery, but most will wear a ring every day and choose to reserve a cubic zirconia pendant for special occasions only. Don’t be cheap with the purchase of simulated gemstones, as the quality is important and cheap jewellery won’t create the right impression.

The market is flooded with numerous jewellers and shops claiming to sell the most beautiful cubic zirconia pieces there are. To make the right choice from the plethora of designs and variety can indeed be a confusing task. It would do you good to be aware of some basic tips on buying any type of jewellery before you buy one for your girlfriend. When buying cubic zirconia, the quality is the most important thing, whereas with a real diamond its all about the cut, clarity, colour and carat. The fundamental importance with cubic zirconia is that it looks as authentic as possible. The beauty of cubic zirconia is that it is a lot easier to work with than buying a real diamond. The shape and cut determines the shine of the gem, so if you’re looking at cubic zirconia pendants you want to make sure it sparkles round her neckline when worn.

If your girlfriend has a certain style, base your cubic zirconia purchasing decision on this. If she is dainty, buy a small elegant one; if tall go for a large square rock. For some ladies, its just about the cubic zirconia sparkle and nothing else. Since the cubic zirconia market is booming, men should not feel that they have to buy a cheap diamond replica in the hope that it will suffice – there are many good quality cubic zirconia items available at a great price.

Thanks to consumer demand, cubic zirconia is becoming the firm favourite in the current climate, as people try and save money. When you buy cubic zirconia you don’t need to worry about it looking fake, because the majority of people just won’t even know its not the real thing. And in closing, only buy from reputable sellers and not on places like eBay where you can never be sure of the true quality of the cubic zirconia piece.

Filed under Womens World by ckahuna

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March 3, 2010

Swot Up On Pearl FAQ Share The In-Depth Knowledge

If you’re thinking of buying some beautiful pearl jewellery, whether it’s a pearl necklace or you want to buy pearl earrings, chances are you’ll find it hard to know where to begin due to the vast pearl ranges out there. For those interested in buying pearls, or for gem enthusiasts who wish to learn more, here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about pearls.

Can You Buy Various Colours Of Tahitian Pearls?

Not only are Tahitian cultured pearls not exclusively black, they’re also not grown in Tahiti. Tahitian pearls are also bought in colours other than black, such as blue, green and grey. And they’re grown in the lagoons of small islands that are part of a group known as French Polynesia.

Tell Me The Difference In Cultured And Natural Pearl Earrings.

Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a parasite, makes its way into a pearl-producing animal such as an oyster or mollusc. To protect itself, the animal coats the irritant in nacre - a combination of organic substances that also makes up what we call mother of pearl. People are often surprised to learn that this process takes a very long time – sometimes years – and that’s why your natural pearl jewellery is so special.

When it comes to cultured pearls, they are formed in the same way, but with man’s input rather than nature’s. Man’s input is such that he will place something inside the oyster which speeds up the pearl-making process. Once this is completed, pearls will then get made into jewellery and people like you and I can buy pearl earrings.

Saltwater Pearls Vs Freshwater Pearls

It depends on who you ask, but many pearl experts today agree that freshwater cultured pearls can rival the beauty of their saltwater cousins. Due to improvements in culturing techniques, freshwater pearl farmers are producing beautiful, round, lustrous pearls that are a vast improvement over the wrinkled, rice-krispie-shaped gems that typified the freshwater pearl crop of the not-so-distant past.

With so many colours to choose from, freshwater cultured pearls are now the best option for people who like to express themselves through colourful jewellery. Lavender is an on-trend colour option for pearl fans at the moment. For others, it is the appeal of white pearls which makes them purchase. Black freshwater cultured pearls are treated with dye or heat to produce their inky colour.

You definitely get more value for money with freshwater pearls. You can buy pearl earrings in any colour you like, as long as you have the cash to splash.

Filed under Womens World by ckahuna

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Wear Pearls And Be Like A Celebrity

Pearls have always been popular with the ladies, and none more so than the modern day celebrity. Pearls make a statement, and this is one of the qualities that celebrities like so much. Young girls buy pearl earrings to be like their idols, with rising music stars opting for pearls to tie in with their preppy and stylish image.

Perfect Pearls For Every Day

What is it about pearl earrings the celebrities like? Is it the luminous quality; the sheer elegance or the shape that is so appealing to the famous lady? There are actually a variety of reasons why people love pearls and especially like to buy pearl earrings. They can be dressed up or dressed down and they look stunning all year round, and every season. Since pearls are synonymous with class and style, there is quite simply nothing that compares to them in terms of  fashion.

Making The Old Brand New

When you think of pearl earrings you might imagine the 1920s icons wearing pearls, and it is this timeless elegance which has transcended many different fashion cultures and ideals to become an essential jewellery accessory in today’s modern culture. Nowadays, jewellers have realised that stocking a wide range of pearls will ensure regular custom and you can find modern pearls with a hint of vintage at a number of respected jewellers. The varied choice of pearl earrings means no lady has to be without this essential fashion accessory.

It doesn’t stop at pearl earrings though – there are many other different jewellery styles which people wear. Proper jewellery fans know they can make a statement with the right jewellery. Many ladies like the idea of pearl earrings and a platinum bracelet on the wrist as it creates a rather interesting and feminine look. If you’re at all self-conscious about your body, like some celebrities are, large and bold pearl earrings will focus the attention on the face rather than the body. The best advice is to keep all other jewellery choices simple compared to the bold choice of pearl earrings, so your jewellery doesn’t overpower you. If you have any concerns about how to make pearl earrings work for you and look as good as the celebrities, just flick through some magazines to check out how the celebs work their pearls and other jewellery.

Filed under Fashion Trends by artnet

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February 28, 2010

The Shapes Of Your Gem Stone Jewelry

From: brilliant round diamond engagement rings. Diamonds in the rough are as ordinary as any regular stone, sometimes uglier. But once these are cut into shapes into the diamond jewelry that we are familiar with, the transformation is simply magical. 

Gem Stones are usually cut to accentuate their brilliance, fire and color.

Cuts 

diamonds are mostly cut into familiar round shapes (round brilliant cut). Those that are not are known as ‘fancy cuts’.

Fancy cuts are the baguette (like the French loaf of bread), the marquise, the princess (square), briolette (rose cut), and the pear cut.

Today, newer cuts are introduced into the industry, perhaps to liven it up. These include the ‘cushion’, the ‘radiant’ (like princess cuts, only with rounded edges), and the ‘Asscher’ cut (square emerald cut).

Fancy-colored gem stones are mostly cut in these new styles. However, these fancy cuts are not held to the strict standards of diamond cuts. 

These precise standards were set by mathematician and gem enthusiast Marcel Tolkowsky. He calculated the exact angles and dimensions of the diamond’s facets (surfaces) to reflect the most light and gives the gem stone its famed brilliance.   

Fashion 

Like any other man-made ornament, diamond cuts are also heavily influenced by the fashion of the day. In the Art Deco period, the baguette (it accentuates a gem stone’s luster but plays down the fire) was the favorite.

Today, the princess cut is gaining popularity, mostly among younger women. It is a favorite among diamond cutters because it uses most of the crystal in the original stone.

Since the past decades, there had been modifications of diamond cuts. These new cuts are seen to be more on trying to adapt a brand differentiation rather than actual improvements.

Shapes 

The round diamond is the most popular today. It has 57 facets (or 58 including the culet). By far, it displays the most fire and scintillation among all.

Cut into a square with 90 degrees angle on each corner, the princess cut brings out a tremendous amount of brilliance, second only to the round. 

Heart-shaped diamonds are the most sentimental of all. It is also the hardest to find.

Radiant diamonds are rectangles with rounded corners. What make it special are the patterns of the facets that makes it look like cracked ice.

Invented in the 60s, the oval diamond is similar to the round brilliant, except for the ovate shape. One can see a visible “bow-tie” on top.

Designed in 1902, the Asscher is often called the square emerald cut. It has cropped corners that give it a distinctive elegance.

The emerald cut, rectangular or square, has beveled corners. It has a window-like transparency giving it a classic beauty.

The marquise has 56 facets, elongated and has pointed ends. Reportedly, it had been inspired by the smile of the Marquise de Pompadour and created for Louis XIV.

The pear cut looks more like a teardrop. It shows off best as a pendant or on earrings.

The cushion cut or the candlelight has larger facets and rounded corners to increase their sparkle under candlelight.

The corners of a triangle diamond may be pointed or rounded. The body shape is defined by the cutter or the stone’s characteristics.

By far, one can see that the many shapes of diamond jewelry are all geared to accentuate the beauty of the stone, its own unique elegance. Which one would look best on you?

For more see radiant cut diamond solitaire rings and princess engagement rings.

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Online Shopping: What To Keep In Mind When Buying Gem Stone Jewelry

From: unique diamond solitaire rings. Diamond jewelries, although expensive, are becoming popular gifts not only for engagements, but also for anniversaries, birthday and other joyous occasions. diamond jewelry shopping could be a bit overwhelming, since there are national chains and local jewellers which could provide what you want.  Another place to search and purchase gem stone jewelries is on the internet.  

More people are choosing online shops rather than personally buying the jewelry from the shops.  Mainly, it is because the price tends to be more affordable when buying things online.  Aside from the difference in the cost, there are also more choices in online shops.  It would also give you enough time to make a guided decision and learn more about gem stones.   It would even make jewelry hunting easier, since you can do this while at home or in the office.  

If you have chosen to purchase online, there are guidelines that should be considered to make sure that you will be getting your money’s worth.  

- When buying jewelries online, always look for shops that would display their business registration number.  They would also be displaying company contact information.  You could start by checking if these online shops are credible enough by calling the company offices.   You could also check online stores by sending them e-mails.  Immediate reply to your call or e-mail would show how much the company value its customers. 

- Always check the money-back guarantee. There are online stores that would offer diamond and other kinds of jewelries in low prices, only to find out that they have no-return policies in the fine print.  

- Once the online purchase is finished, it is available to take the jewelry to a trustworthy jeweller for inspection.  If your jeweller decides to use a loupe or a scope to examine it, make sure that your jeweller would be done with the inspection before the return-policy expires.  This would help you get an idea if your purchase would be worth its price,  if not, then you could return it. 

- Don’t immediately buy the diamond jewelry that would catch your eye.  Continue with searching for similar diamond jewelry that could cost you lower. 

- When purchasing the diamond, always ask for the diamond certification or grading report.  This would ensure that your jewelry was properly inspected and documented.  

- When buying diamond jewelry online, using your credit card for purchase would be a good idea.  There are some credit card companies who would prevent or intervene if the product purchased or site is fraudulent.  Check with your bank if they would be able to do this for you in case you would run into a problem.

Online shops and stores could be convenient but safety and precaution should be followed when purchasing on the internet.  Regardless of any kind of product you will be buying, research is very crucial. 

There are also organizations which you could approach to learn more about a particular business or assistance regarding a problem with a purchase.  There are also local programs which could help in resolving disputes about jewelry, even gem stone jewelry disputes.

For more see marquise diamond solitaire engagement rings and radiant cut diamond solitaire rings.

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The Making Of Gem Stone Jewelry

From: affordable engagement rings in emerald cut. In diamond jewelry, the cut is one characteristic considered to be the most important. With a good cut, the quality of the final gem can offset a lower color quality or a generally poorer clarity. 

On the other hand, a D-color (a very high rating), Internally Flawless stone will not live up to its high promise if the cut is poor. The inferior quality of the cut would reduce all of the diamond’s brilliance, sparkle and scintillation.  

History 

Ever since the beginning of gem stone cutting in the mid-1300s, the techniques had evolved slowly through the years to what it is now today, which includes the use of lasers. It was in the 1600s when they found out that more facets meant more brilliance. 

It was with the Single cut that the modern and popular Brilliant cut of today was founded. The modern round brilliant cut diamond had evolved into a round outline, symmetrical triangular and kite-shaped facets, a table and a small culet, which was optional.

Cutting 

gem stone cutting, though done in around 5 basic steps, is actually a very long and intense process. For the layman, knowing the lengthy procedures would afford one to appreciate the work done. 

Stone shapes 

The natural shape of the original rough stone is the arbiter of the final shape of the finished diamond jewelry. Naturally oblong-shaped stones become marquises, ovals or pear shapes.

There might be near-perfect crystal shapes and they will more likely to become princess cuts or some other square cuts. Some large stones sometimes take a longer time to plan because of the fear of crystal wastage. They sometimes produce two gems out of one rough stone.

Planning

The first crucial step in making gem stone jewelry is planning when the rough stones are being subjected to lengthy scrutiny. The planner (his only work) decides where to mark the stone to fashion out a profitable polished gem or gems.

Mistakes like incorrect markings and others can cost as high as thousands of dollars. The planner decides the size, clarity, and the direction of the crystal when marking. Cleaving in a wrong position can shatter a gem stone stone and make it worthless.  

Cleaving or sawing

After the planner’s markings, the stone is either manually cleaved or sawed. The saw is a diamond-coated rotary one, or a laser.

Bruting.

Bruting is the process where the worked-on diamond is being spun on a rotating lathe and another diamond is forced against it to gradually form a rounded outline at first.

Polishing

This is the final stage of the cutting process where the diamond is given its finished proportions. 

The first polishing stage is blocking. This establishes the diamond’s basic symmetry. It is here where the first 17 or 18 facets are made, creating a single cut. For very small diamonds, the process for them ends here.

‘Brillianteering’ 

The brillianteering stage is next for the larger diamonds where their final facets are polished. This will determine their brilliance and their fire, whether they will be dazzling beauties or dull stones.

For the cutter, the driving force is always to create a diamond jewelry masterpiece.

For more see antique emerald engagement ring in emerald cut and cheap cushion cut engagement rings.

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