There’s a reason why most of the buying and selling of loose diamonds is done by experts. Buying loose diamonds, for mounting into jewelry later, is a very different proposition to buying a finished piece. If you’re not fully prepared or haven’t sought out the right advice, it can be an expensive mistake. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. You just need to do it right.
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.
Continue readingSapphire is one of the 4 precious stones, along with diamond, ruby, and emerald. All other gemstones are semi-precious. This, alone, tells us that the sapphire is a very special stone indeed. In fact, although modern ways tell us that diamonds are the most precious and sought-after of all precious stones, it is actually sapphire which has long been the ultimate prize. Myths About Sapphire Like all gemstones, history and mythology go hand in hand…
Continue readingDiamonds, and the rings in which we see them set, come in all shapes and sizes. Often, it is a matter of personal taste as to whether the ring is discrete or a little bolder. In this article learn more about big diamond rings and what makes them so special. But are there advantages in looking for larger diamonds? After all, they cost more to buy, cost more to insure, and require more care to…
Continue readingProbably the two most well-known style periods still showing influences today are Art Nouveau and Art Deco. But there is also a widespread lack of understanding of the styles by many people. Many don’t realize the differences nor the overlaps between them.
Continue readingIt’s hardly a surprise if we say that the diamond is the hardest material we know. But we should probably also say that you can easily break a diamond with things you have lying around the house. But how can that be? It actually comes down to the definition of hardness. Hard Vs. Strong To say something is “hard” is not the same as saying it is “strong”. As an example, you can scratch steel…
Continue readingJanuary Birthstone: Garnet Garnet takes its name from the old English word “gernet”, meaning “dark red”. Therefore the expected color of a garnet is no surprise. The name “gernet” derives from the Latin word “granatus”. “Granatus” is also the root for the word “pomegranate”. Small red garnets resemble the small red seeds of the pomegranate fruit. However, the deep red gemstone we typically see is but one of a range of types of garnet. Myths…
Continue readingExactly what is a solitaire ring is actually an easy question to answer. In its simplest terms, a solitaire ring is any ring which has but a single stone in the setting. Although today we associate the name overwhelmingly with diamond rings, it can apply to any stone. A Brief History Of The Solitaire Ring Solitaire rings have been around for as long as rings have existed. In Ancient Rome, diamonds were popular when put…
Continue readingYour hand and fingers will alter the appearance of your engagement ring, just as the ring will alter the appearance of your hand. If you’ve ever bought a TV which looked just fine in the store, but then takes up an entire wall at home, think that but on a smaller scale! Assuming you have the budget, it’s great to look at rings with big, high-quality stones in the setting. The problem is that, on…
Continue readingThere are a few tidbits that we believe it critical to learn before a 5-carat diamond ring. Read below to discover everything that you need to know before making this big purchase. If you buy a small loaf of bread, and it comes ready sliced, it will have a set number of slices. Buy one twice as long, and it will probably have twice the slices. If you buy a 1 carat brilliant round cut…
Continue readingThere are more types of ring setting than probably most people realize. Prong, bezel and invisible are settings are common settings for rings, of course. One which is becoming more common, but which gets far less recognition, is the channel setting. What Is A Channel Setting A channel setting isn’t complicated, actually, and is exactly as the name suggests. The band contains a specially cut channel, into which is set small stones such as diamonds.…
Continue readingAs gemstones go, tourmaline is one of the most misunderstood. As a semi-precious stone, more well-known gemstones often take the focus of people’s attention. Tourmaline is available in many colors and, on occasion, having two colors in a single crystal. Crystals may be one color at one end and a different color at the other. Alternatively, they may have different colors inside and out. Because the most common combination in these stones is red or…
Continue readingIf you polled a 100 people and asked them to name a precious stone that is used in jewelry, the Birthstone of April would be the overwhelming winner. The beauty of a polished diamond is difficult to beat, whatever the setting. It is also the stone most associated with love and affairs of the heart. The enduring popularity of the diamond has a somewhat cynical chapter in its history. Although long coveted and used in…
Continue readingUnless you are a doctor or a nurse, you probably won’t spend much time thinking about this question. But, if you are in such a profession (or your s/o is), this question will be on your mind as you begin thinking about choosing an engagement ring?
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