Thursday, September 9, 2010

A Simple Guide On Where To Buy Your Diamond Jewelry

When buying fine diamond jewelry, other than the four C's, you also have to assess the place where you intend to buy such item. It is a general knowledge that diamonds, regardless if loose or incorporated on any jewelry, could cost an arm and a leg. Hence, purchasing diamonds can be one of the most important decisions that you could make in your lifetime. By taking these things into account, it would be wise to become cautious about the store or stores where you would embark your purchase so that you would not bemoan your decision in the future.

There are various ways in order for you to acquire diamonds. The first thing that you could do is to go online and search for online jewelry shops that offer fine diamond jewelry. Purchasing online is one of the most practical means in order to carry out the task of buying diamonds because online jewelry stores are your key to finding high quality and competitively priced diamonds without breaking any sweat. Online jewelry shops usually offer a whole range of diamond jewelry designs from across the globe, which means you have many options to choose from.

One of the major benefits that could be derived from buying jewelry online is that you could save more time and energy--with just a click, these online stores would return thousands of jewelry selections that you could easily look at, and you could also engage in online jewelry auctions even without your physical presence. Likewise, online jewelry shops offer more competitively priced diamonds, regardless if they are round brilliant or oval in cut, since they don't incur additional costs on their products, except for taxes and shipping fees, in order to cover their overhead expenses as they do not have physical stores to run that usually require electricity bills and employee salaries. The main disadvantage with online shopping however could be associated to the abundance of jewelry choices which often weaken the ability of consumers to rationally assess the quality and price the jewelry pieces. Likewise, as the internet equates to anonymity, jewelry scammers are just around the corner to take advantage of naive online jewelry buyers.

If you wish to safeguard the integrity of your purchase, the best option you have is to personally visit the local jewelry stores in your area. The primary advantage of this option is that you have the power to personally check the quality and value of the round brilliant diamonds that you are interested to buy. Professional jewelers could also answer all your queries which would help you establish the right purchasing decisions. The major issues surrounding such option however could be found on product pricing; most of the time physical jewelry stores place markups on their products to cover the overhead expenses they use to run their business, and you have limited selections unlike those with online jewelry stores.

Meanwhile, if your are searching for inexpensive pieces, rare jewelry like oval diamonds from specific periods, or used diamonds, you may try your hands on specialty stores, thrift shops as well as pawnshops. If this option is something that you would consider, it is essential that you have the right knowledge about diamond jewelry and how to appraise it so that you won't make wrong purchases. You would also need a lot of patience and perseverance as most of the time these shops do not hold highly valuable items that you are looking for. However, if luck is on your side, you might find yourself owning rare diamond jewelry, though this case rarely happens.

When you're in the market for a piece of fine diamond jewelry, it pays to shop around and make comparisons to be able to make the right purchase. If you intend to buy online, always do your homework before you purchase to make sure that the store where you would buy is indeed legitimate; check the complaints directory to know the reputation of your prospective online jewelry store and also take the time to study their refund and return policies. In terms of local jewelry stores, do not attempt to purchase immediately from the first shop you have visited, rather take the time to go around several stores and make comparisons about their prices, services and product quality. If you have idea about the jewelry stores within your area, you could take some recommendations from your friends or family so that you can be assured that the jewelry you will purchase will definitely give you a run for your money.

There are two basic options when it comes to purchasing fine diamond jewelry, whether they are round brilliant or oval diamonds. First is to go online and search for online jewelry stores that offer such products, and second is to personally drop by at the jewelry shops around your area. The first option gives prospective buyers the opportunity to save time, money and energy, while the latter option is a good means to check on the quality of jewelry.

-Lorraine Jacobs

The Reasons Why Women Love Fine Jewelry

Fine jewelry has been an important staple throughout history. From the ancient times, humans have been wearing jewelry pieces to accentuate their bodies. Starting from the old stone age approximately 25,000 years ago, both men and women collected different kinds of items, drilled holes in them and wore them for varying reasons. However, compared to men, women are perhaps more inclined to use jewelry pieces in order to befit differing purposes.

In a recent study facilitated by a lifestyle magazine, it was found out that 95 out of 100 surveyed female responds are more disposed to shop for fine jewelry pieces than any other items of accessory. This profoundly shows how adept women are when it comes to jewelry. Probably by now you are asking: "what is it with jewelry that women really love?- Accordingly, there's a whole range of reasons why women love jewelry.

To begin with, all kinds of jewelry pieces are additives that reinforce the real context of dressing as well as artistic display. They are considered as vital components of fashion and style as they have the power to improve the visual appeal of the clothes women wear. Hair dresses such as hairpins and clips that are embellished with loose diamonds and other precious stones could enhance the appeal of a female's hair; brooches and pins on the other hand have the power to make boring looking uniforms into trendier pieces of outfits. Bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry pieces worn on different body parts could create a visual focal point that could hide certain aesthetic flaws.

Other than accessorizing, articles of jewelry are also utilized to define the social status of women in the society. From the ancient times, various cultures have used jewelry pieces to identify the position of women in their tribes and communities--slaves were often seen wearing beaded articles of jewelry, while upper class women often wore metallic jewelry items that are adorned with precious gems such as crystals and loose diamonds. Even though this purpose of diamonds is still evident today, with rich and famous people using jewelry to define their social positions, it is not as extensive as that from the past.

Items of fine jewelry are also revered by women for their rich symbolism as well as spiritual and health value. Women from India uses the so-called "tika- which appears like a chandelier earring though it is hooked at the end of the hair with the pendant dangling at the exact center of the forehead to symbolize spiritual preservation. Nose rings are commonly used to enhance sexual reflexes, while necklaces are said to help emotions, attract or strengthen love as they often sit close to the heart. Charm bracelets are often worn for their ability to hold luck, while bangles symbolize creativity and the sun's energy that could be transferred to their wearers. All kinds of gemstones are also appreciated for their health benefits like diamonds that are said to induce clarity and jade to promote relaxation among others.

Of course, jewelry pieces tell volumes of stories that is why women love them so much. They communicate tales of love, friendship, celebration, welcoming and personal epiphany. They speak of relationships with spouses as seen from the popularity of wedding and engagement rings adorned with round brilliant cut gemstones, friendship in the form of friendship bands, and family which could be seen from the bequeathal of heirloom from one family member to another. All in all, jewelry speaks volumes about the characters of women that not even written or spoken words could express.

Fine jewelry serves several purposes for women, which is why they are actually loved and appreciated. Bracelets, necklaces and earrings adorned with gemstones like loose diamonds are now regarded as important components of style and fashion. Jewelry indicates social status and is also considered item of healing in many cultures. For the most part, jewelry help people celebrate all kinds of special occasions like wedding and engagements as seen from the use of rings adorned with round brilliant cut diamonds.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Maximizing Fire And Brilliance""Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds

Since the ancient times, diamonds have captivated the interest of humans. They are probably the most revered articles of accents provided by nature; deeply symbolizing beauty and forever. Among all the stones that our world holds, diamonds are the most preeminent and sought after. Whether they are loose diamonds or blood diamonds, one definite thing remains about these gems, they will be valued by people of all generations.

Because of our deep appreciation for diamonds, they emerged as permanent trinkets of jewelry during special occasions such as betrothals and weddings. Fine diamond rings and almost all diamond jewelry pieces have become valuable possessions that are in the same valued positions as that of real estate and artworks. Due to these, purchasing diamond pieces has turned into an endeavor that requires thorough understanding of the stones characteristics in order to make wise choices. While much has been said about the clarity, color, and carat of diamonds, not all of us are very familiar about the facet of diamond cutting.

Cut, when it comes to diamonds, pertains to the style or design guide used for shaping a diamond that is subject for polishing. This does not pertain to the shape of the diamond, rather the symmetry, proportioning and polish, which directly affects the stone's brilliance and fire. Practical history of diamond cutting dates back to the middle ages and is continuously innovated to date. Although many cutting styles have emerged and fall off along the way, the round brilliant cut remains as one of the most revered by jewelers and jewelry aficionados alike.

Round brilliant cut was originally developed by a Belgian diamond cutter named Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. Considering that Tolkowsky was an engineer by profession, his development of the pertained cut was strongly based on precise mathematical and empirical analysis, with consideration on the importance of brilliance and fire of diamonds. As an end result, a diamond cut this way contains 58 facets""33 on the top or crown, 25 at the bottom including the culet or the bottom point of the stone. Similarly, since a single cut produces two diamonds, one is larger than the other, very few diamond pieces are wasted.

A round brilliant cut diamond that is cut properly creates a shape that permits more light to reflect on the diamond in differing angles, enhancing its brilliance and fire. Relative to its safe shape, diamonds cut in a round brilliant pattern are considered as best preferences in the aspects of "saleability," visual optics and insurability. Other than these qualities, diamonds that are round brilliant in cut are also revered for their versatility to befit any type of jewelry setting. As such, it is not a surprise to know that approximately 75 percent of diamond jewelry sales are credited to this kind of cut.

When scouting for loose diamonds to be used for customized jewelry pieces, it is advised to opt for pieces that are round brilliant in cut. With the outlined characteristics of such cut, you could definitely maximize not only the extrinsic features of your diamonds but also its saleability and insurability. Nevertheless, with its flexible character it won't be difficult for you to find the setting that would complete your jewelry. In a nutshell, diamonds that are round brilliant in cut are definitely worthy of your expenses.

If you are looking for diamonds, you may want to consider loose diamonds, which would give you the option to choose your desired setting for your fine diamond rings. However, to further maximize the value of these loose sparklers, pick the ones that have round brilliant cut. This cut is noted for its ability to exemplify the greatest brilliance and fire in diamonds.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Friday, September 3, 2010

Ideal Settings For Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds

Diamond jewelry gifts are among the best presents that a person could give and receive. Even though the aesthetic appearance of gifts is not the determining factor to know their real intrinsic value, there are some instances wherein we also look at the extrinsic features of tokens. With these considerations at hand, diamond gifts are the ones that could suffice to the emotional and aesthetic needs that we are yearning for. Nonetheless, they are valuable pieces that would never fade and would last for the years to come.

If you have the intention to buy diamond gifts, it would be advisable to opt for loose diamonds since they are not yet affixed to any articles of jewelry. Meaning to say, you have the opportunity to have them customized based from your preferred setting. Besides, you won't have a hard time appraising the gems as you could actually go over their overall features. One of the most essential features that you would have to closely consider with loose sparklers is the cut.

It is imperative to exactly identify what cut is in reference to diamonds and how it is different from shape. Shape is associated to the outline of the gem's perimeter, while the cut or also referred to as make is what affects the appearance of the stone as it is associated to the proportioning and overall finish of the diamond, which are the two factors that helps the stone to produce fire or the rainbow we perceive inside diamonds and brilliance which refers to the liveliness or sparkle of the stone. Simply, a diamond with an excellent make is more expensive and valuable than a diamond with a poor cut. There are various ways in which diamonds can be cut; however, the so-called round brilliant cut is considered as the most popular among jewelers and jewelry buyers.

Round brilliant cut is the standard cutting method for diamonds and is identified as the best at creating prismatic effect, which means the shape formed through this cut presents the most sparkle as it enables light to pass through the diamond and reflect back on the top of the gem. Diamonds that are cut this way shows greater brilliance than other diamonds because there are no corners where light could hide. As such, the brilliance and fire of the diamond is visibly maximized to its full extent. Even though emerging shapes and cut are also gaining a lot of attention, round cut diamonds are still regarded as the best among the rest.

Round brilliant cut diamonds are very flexible and could suit all types of jewelry settings. If you will be proposing using a round brilliant diamond ring, it pays to know what options you have when it comes to ring settings. The prong setting is probably the most traditional band setting wherein the diamond is held sturdily by four or six prongs of equal height in order to make the gem stick up away from the finger. Pave setting is designed with closely set diamonds with trinkets of gems in between, while a bezel setting is acknowledged for its rim or collar that surrounds the entire side or a portion of the diamond, and extends just a bit above the stone.

Aside from the aforementioned settings, other noteworthy settings used for round brilliant loose diamonds include the channel setting, where diamonds of similar sizes are placed in a metal channel forming a row, and bar setting where diamonds are incorporated in grooves with metals to separate them from each other. All in all, it cannot be denied that diamond jewelry pieces are indeed the perfect gifts because of their beauty and intrinsic value. As such, if you wish to give something that is truly special to the person you love, diamond jewelry is the one that you should go after since it could best encompass your real emotions.

The beauty and rarity of loose diamonds are what make them the perfect diamond jewelry gifts. If you are thinking of giving a diamond ring to your loved one, it would be more preferable to choose loose sparklers that have round brilliant cut as they exude more brilliance and fire than any other diamond shapes. Likewise they are very versatile and could complement a whole range of settings.

-Lorraine Jacobs