We’ve all seen the videos on YouTube of a spectacular and meticulously planned proposal. But what if that’s not your style, or it’s not what your partner would appreciate? What if a flash mob would just prove embarrassing? Or if dropping to one knee in a restaurant would cause more concern than joy?
Continue readingPeridot, the August Birthstone, is about as close to a “homegrown” gemstone as we have in the US. Unusual in that it only really occurs in a single color, peridot is quite different from most gemstones.
Continue readingI color diamonds are on the cusp of the Purist Vs Realist debate. They’re not absolutely colorless but, then again, whatever color is there is usually extremely difficult to detect. This means the decision on whether an I color diamond is suitable for you comes entirely down to personal preference. What Is an I Color Diamond? On the official color scale of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), I color diamonds come under the heading…
Continue readingWhat is “Clarity”? Every diamond has a grading or classification for the relative clarity of the stone. Within the crystal structure of a rough diamond will be imperfections which have appeared during the ages that it took for the diamond to form. These imperfections, or inclusions, occur in almost all diamonds. Depending on how many inclusions there are, and how visible they may be, each diamond will have a classification when it goes on sale.…
Continue readingNot satisfied with just one, or even two birthstones, June has claimed three for itself. There were only two – pearl and moonstone – until 2016 when alexandrite became the third June birthstone. Pearl has long been popular as a gemstone, despite being fundamentally different to most other crystal-based precious and semi-precious stones. Moonstone has been a part of gemstone usage for millennia, with the Romans believing it was formed from solidified rays of the…
Continue readingThe ruby is one of only 4 precious stones, along with diamond, sapphire, and emerald. All others are semi-precious and carry neither the same affection nor (usually) the same value. As befits probably the most beautiful gemstone we know today, it is the sole birthstone of July and the height of summer. In true Henry Ford fashion, you can have any color ruby you want, as long as it’s red. Myths About Ruby Despite now…
Continue readingAh, New York, New York. The city so good they named it twice. NYC has so many iconic buildings and other locations, that the city is instantly recognizable to people who have never set foot there. As a result, marriage proposals in New York occur on a daily basis. Discover how to propose in New York in style. But which are the best places to propose in this great city? Here are our Top 19…
Continue readingWedding bands for men, generally, have changed significantly in recent times. They have gone from simple gold rings to now being available in a whole range of metals and designs.
Continue readingSo what makes an emerald precious? Its rarity is a bit part of why, as its beauty. Emeralds have long been both decorative and superstitious stones, despite high-quality examples being very difficult to come by. The emeralds (May Birthstones) that are exceptional are incredibly rare and fetch a price often equal to or in excess of a diamond of the same size and quality. You will hear the term “precious stone” used all the time…
Continue readingWedding rings (aka Wedding Bands) have come a long way. Although a plain, yellow gold band is still the most popular choice, it isn’t the only one. More and more, we are seeing wedding rings that go much further, with style and bags of creativity.
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