Monday, May 11, 2009

Emerald: May’s Birthstone, Facts and Folklore




emerald is the birthstone of choice. As stunning as this popular, precious stone is, there is much to consider when purchasing it. You may be in the market for a loose emerald stone, emerald ring, emerald anniversary band, emerald diamond ring, three stone emerald ring, When purchasing jewelry as a gift, you may want to consider buying jewelry that includes a person's birthstone. For this month, the month of May,celet, emerald necklace, whatever your choice, there is much to look for and consider. Learn about emeralds and buy with confidence. The 4c's cut, clarity, color and carat., apply to emeralds as well as diamonds, and to all gemstones. There is also much folklore and history that surrounds the emerald stone. color.
Color is the most important factor when determining its' price. In fact, smaller emeralds with richer, better color, command a higher price than bigger stones with a weaker color. When it comes to cut, the precision and delicacy of the cut determines the price of the stone. emeralds can be cut in a variety of ways including the traditional "emerald cut" as well as rounds, ovals, squares and cabuchons. Heavily flawed stones are most frequently given cabuchon cuts. As far as clarity goes, (clearness of the stone) unlike diamonds, emeralds, almost always have inclusions and are rarely flawless. In fact, emerald connoisseurs will not purchase an emerald unless they can see the inclusions because they assume they are fake or laboratory created. emeralds are measured in carat. emeralds with the best color and few inclusions become very expensive, as they are so rare.

Emeralds have a fascinating history. Traditionally, emeralds are worn to promote healing and enhance love and contentment. emeralds are traditionally thought to enhance the clairvoyance of their wearers. Mummies were often buried with emeralds and the gems were popular in ancient Rome, but some think that many of the stones called emeralds in ancient times were actually peridot. They have graced Crown Jewels and embellished the thrones of some of the oldest dynasties in history. In ancient times emeralds held a real fascination for the people. emeralds were, in fact, considered to be a cure for many diseases. As a result of such claims, emeralds were greatly sought after and a profitable trade was established between Egypt and nations as far away as India.

The Egyptian monopoly on the world supply of emeralds lasted right up until the Sixteenth Century, C E. Cleopatra valued her lustrous emeralds so greatly that the ancient mines in Egypt are now called Cleopatra's Mines -- there they discovered emeralds of breathtaking size and beauty. From mines in the Egyptian desert, not far from the Nile River, emeralds made their way to all parts of the 'known world'... The finest emeralds are found in Colombia; other sources are Russia, Zimbabwe, and Australia. In ancient times emeralds were believed to improve low I Q and poor eyesight.emeralds have an interesting legacy of violence, romance, and controversy. Scholars wore emeralds to strengthen their memory and become more eloquent. Unlike diamonds and rubies, there is no abundance of emeralds, and that is probably the reason why these mystical pagan green gems are more expensive than any other jewel. And, carat for carat, they are the most expensive gems in the world. Why such a high price? A large part of the reason is that emeralds are rare gems. Buying emerald jewelry for the May birthday girl, makes it that much more personal and special. The emerald, so brilliant, beautiful and steeped in history and folklore, will make the perfect gift, as long as you know what your buying, so you get the best quality for your money.
http://www.jewelrynest.com/blog/?p=212

Monday, March 30, 2009

Designing Your Own Designer Diamond Rings Online


Shopping for the perfect designer ring for your engagement or wedding ring can be an exciting but overwhelming experience. Jewelry counters are filled with hundreds of diamond and gold rings, but sometimes none are 'just right'. Perhaps you see a beautiful ring in platinum, but you would prefer a diamond ring in yellow gold. Or, maybe you are looking for a unusual setting for a diamond ring to give your fiance a designer ring that reflects her unique personality. Designing your own ring online lets you create a beautiful ring that you won't find in any store.
Creating your own diamond designer ring online has many advantages. As the designer of the ring, you can make it to your exact preferences, choosing the setting for the engagement ring, the size and type of gemstone you want in the ring, and the color of the metal. Create a completely unique diamond ring in yellow gold, platinum or silver. Add other gemstones such as Tanzanite, emerald or rubies to your diamond designer ring. Using you and your fiance's birthstones, or the stone from the month that you met is an extremely romantic way to add extra special meaning to your engagement ring and is just one of the ways that you can create a one-of-kind designer ring that has personal meaning.
Browse through a selection of settings for engagement rings online to get an idea for what style you are looking for. Do you want something simple and classic, such as a plain band with a princess cut solitaire diamond? Or maybe you want to create an unusual setting for a diamond ring, with trillion cut gemstones and an asymmetrical design? When designing settings for an engagement ring, try to imagine what you (or your fiance) will wear. You want to design a beautiful ring that will be worn every day, and will match the wearer's sense of style. An unusual setting of diamond ring might not be appreciated by someone who has a more traditional style, while the simpler, popular settings for an engagement ring might seem boring to a woman to likes to look different.
One big advantage of designing rings online is that you are able to work to your budget. By changing the size, quality and type of gemstones in your designer ring, or the metal in the setting of an engagement ring, you can adjust the cost. For example by choosing a setting for your diamond ring in yellow gold you may be able to afford a larger gemstone than if you opted for one of the more expensive platinum settings for an engagement ring.
Another plus is that you can design in your own time, playing with an almost endless selection of settings for an engagement ring, swapping gemstone shapes and colors, and even letting friends and family preview the designs to get their opinion on your designer ring. You will save time by not trailing around the jewelry shops trying to find the perfect, beautiful ring and will have fun creating your own, unique diamond designer ring. 

Perfect Diamond For the Perfect Love


Diamonds are associated with the finest things in life, and a diamond engagement ring is possibly the most significant diamond purchase that you will make during your lifetime. Browsing jewelry stores and catalogs can be overwhelming, with each one guaranteeing that they offer the best quality selection. So how can you be sure that you are getting a great diamond in that designer ring?
Finding the perfect beautiful ring for the woman that you love can be a difficult job if you don’t know what you are looking for. When you propose you want her to know that only the finest, superior quality diamond ring is good enough for her, and you should also take care to find a designer ring that suits her style and taste to make the ring more personal.
When it comes to diamonds size matters, but is only a part of what you should look for in an engagement ring. The physical size, or weight, of a diamond is measure in carats, but just because a diamond is large does not  mean that it is high quality, or even attractive. In fact, many of the largest stones that you see on display in jewelry counters may not even be real, or natural diamonds. To truly appreciate a diamond you need to take into consideration the other 4 ‘c’s of diamonds, namely cut, clarity and color.
The finest diamond designer rings will display exquisite cuts, a high level of clarity, and a pure color. However, if you are looking for a cheap engagement ring you can opt to choose a higher grade of one element over another to keep the price of your designer ring within your budget. For example, if you are happy with a diamond that has flaws ‘only visible under close inspection’ then you will be able to afford a larger carat. A diamond with a cut that is not quite perfect might be technically less valuable but could create an unusual fire and sparkle to enhance the clarity of the gem.
Each piece of diamond jewelry that you purchase should come with a certificate to show you exactly what the rating is for each ‘c’. The beauty of buying a diamond designer ring online is that a good site will often display that useful information right alongside each beautiful ring. Some may even let you search by settings for your engagement ring, by diamond type or by price range letting you find a precious engagement ring within your budget.
Modern designer rings now also offer choices in other gemstones for engagement rings in tantalizing color combinations such as diamond and tanzanite rings or pink saphire and diamond rings. Settings for engagement rings can also vary, ranging from modern designer styles to classic and traditional settings.
The important this is to choose a diamond ring not based on size or price alone, but to choose a designer ring that you feel she will love and treasure forever, because that is was an engagement ring symbolizes.
http://www.jewelrynest.com/blog/?p=70

How to Securely Buy Jewelry Online

Buying jewelry online has become so much more secure than it was years ago, when e-businesses first opened up online. There are courses offered in colleges to teach programmers how to come up with new security programs. I buy jewelry online at many different places. There are ways to protect yourself, and things you can look for from a merchant to keep yourself safe. I always look for certificates of trust and security like the one put on a website by VeriSign.
The online retailers are doing a great job with keeping their websites secure. I have not had any problem with my private information getting out. I like to purchase things online, because I can stay at home and do it in my pajamas if I want to. I can also look around and do a little research about my purchases to see who offers the best prices and information about the seller. I am not one that likes the malls, they are way too crowded. I prefer to stay at home and shop and have the item shipped to me.
I save money by purchasing jewelry online due to the lower overhead of the online storefront. The brick and mortar jewelry stores have utility costs, building rental cost, and have more employees to pay. The savings of the online retailer is passed on to me as a buyer. I also communicate with the seller by e-mail to ask specific questions about the jewelry that I want to buy. There are those out there that will try to take advantage of people who are not knowledgeable about online business practices. That is why you should know what you are doing and what to look for when buying online.
I made sure to look into online buying when I first started. I did not know the first thing about it, and was reluctant to give my credit card number to a business. Once I knew how to look for secure sites, I have been buying online ever since. I find that most jewelry sites seem to have good security. I think it is because of the nature of their business.
VeriSign, and other security certificates are shown on safe websites, and you will know when you are entering a secure site. You can feel comfortable that the diamond bracelet that you ordered will get to you safely, and that your payment will be secure. If you do not see any type of security certificate on a website you want to purchase from, I would not give them any information just to be on the safe side.
I use PayPal and it has allowed me to purchase online from many jewelry retailers. Some are not set up to accept secure payments through their own business for their merchandise, so they
use PayPal. I trust PayPal and they offer buyer protection for some purchases. E-bay users have used PayPal for years, and now retailers are also starting to use them more often. PayPal is a secure site for your information to be stored for purchases.
If there is a PayPal sign on a website you can feel secure in paying them. If they have their own payment system there will be certificates like VeriSign and other trusted certificates. Jewelry is often a major purchase, and you want to be sure that you receive the product that you expected. Most jewelers will offer a money back guarantee; it is usually good for 30 days. This allows you to get the product at home and make sure it is what you expected. This is something that you should look for on a jeweler web site before you make a purchase. I always make sure that they have a return policy though I have seldom had to use it. Most people are honest with you, because they want your repeat business.
Honest jewelers will offer to take back or exchange something that is not the correct size in a ring or color you expected in a stone. Whether it be a diamond, tanzanite, amethyst, or a garnet you want to be assured that it is as described. Often you can get appraisal certificates of major jewelry purchases that are made for your specific item. This is given out most often by a GIA certified appraiser. This is your defense against a crooked seller. I ask for these on larger purchases of rare stones or large karat weights of stones. It is a smart practice.
There are many good jewelry stores online. Type in the name of a stone or a piece of jewelry that you want into a search engine and you will find many places to check out. I shop on E-bay, Bidz .com, and I have a retailer that I like to purchase from called the Jewelry Nest. I collect Invicta watches and rare stones and all types of jewelry. I have found that they are very fair in pricing at the Jewelry Nest, and I have never had to return anything. I feel very secure in dealing with them. With E-bay I have had to make a few returns. Bidz.com gets you on their high shipping costs, but if you are looking for a few pieces of jewelry at a fairly low price they are a good place to look, the quality at Bidz.com is sometimes not as expected. I look for testimonials on the retailer sites from their customers. This can be helpful to you in deciding whether to trust where you are buying from.
There are a few bad apples that can give all of the good sellers a bad name. Once you have bought from a jeweler, your trust will grow, I know mine did with the Jewelry Nest and E-bay.
Transparency is a key element to look for when purchasing jewelry online. The jewelry merchant needs to ensure the quality of their items just like you need to ensure your payment. Check for any business complaints by doing a web search about that business. Look for the trusted signs on the website. You need to be proactive as well when purchasing online. I took this approach, and I have done pretty well so far.http://www.jewelrynest.com/blog/?p=72

The Advantage of Buying Brand Name Watches


So, you’ve decided you definitely want to look at the mark and you’ve done the research, you know the difference between a watch brand and a replica, but you still do not understand what brand you want to buy. With a little looking brand, you figured it out in no time all.
Where to start your brand name watch search
The best place to start is the consumer reports. Read what others think of the brand and model of the watch brand you’re interested in. Learn what each brand offers. How the quality of different brands against each other. It’s like looking for the make and model of a new company car.
Each has their interpretation of the sedan, but the infinite and jackfruit are much nicer than saying the research, the Camry, but what about quality? Which is better? It’s something you need to research when you are “brand watch.” It is also vital to look at what the rest of society did, and how long the company has been around.
Sometimes new societies evolve, and put a great product for a minimal cost, simply because they are trying to enter the market. Do not look too guys! Read reviews, more opinions, ask around! You may find that you get twice the quality for half the cost.
But buyer attention, unfortunately sometimes you get what you pay, do not make a hasty decision with fingers crossed and wait out on top. Look for something reliable. A watch brand is a control investment
Also a guarantee in case something goes wrong. This is another great thing to look at in your “brand name to watch.” Some companies offer a better security system than others. And with an investment like this, you want to be protected.
These are some ways to get your feet on the ground and make a thorough study to learn and watch different name brands.
There website that offers some Help Free online comparison when buying a watch. A wide range of online resources including. Brietling, Omega, Cartier, Movado, Rado and many more
http://www.jewelrynest.com/blog/?p=84

Don’t be Fooled by Enhanced Diamonds

The phrase ‘too good to be true' can be applied to everything in life, including diamond jewelry. If you find a engagement ring or bridal ring, or see signs for wholesale diamond rings, be sure that the seller isn't cutting their price by cutting quality. While there are excusive retailers who can offer you genuine designer diamond rings and other natural diamond jewelry at a great price, many offer low prices because they are using enhanced diamonds.
Unlike high quality natural diamonds, enhanced diamonds are inferior stones that have been artificially treated to hide cracks, repair ugly inclusions and improve their color. These treatments are unnerving by any standard and include laser drilling and boiling in sulfuric acid to remove black or dirty inclusions, exposure to radiation to enhance or change the stone's color, placing the diamond in extreme heat and pressure to improve clarity, using a sealant to hid cracks and pits in the diamond, and being coated with a substance to add a reflective effect.
While all of these treatments can result in a gemstone that is cheaper than a natural diamond, don't be fooled. Enhanced diamonds cost less because they are lower quality, and therefore less valuable. In fact, there is heated debate in the jewelry industry about the use of treatments to enhance diamonds, as it can make stones difficult to grade and certify accurately.
Under US law, all enhanced diamonds must be declared and sold as such. One of the most common practices to enhance diamonds that must be declared is laser drilling to dissolve inclusions to improve clarity. These holes are clearly visible under a jeweler's microscope and it is debated whether or not this process damages the integrity of stone.
The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is the leading organization in studying and grading diamonds and all other gemstones, and they also require that all diamonds that have been laser drilled must be disclosed as enhanced. When buying diamond jewelry make sure it comes with a clear appraisal that discloses full information about each stone.
If clear information about stone enhancements is not immediately available, or a customer service rep does not want to talk about this process openly then walk away and look elsewhere for a natural, high quality diamond. Unfortunately, just because a diamond has not been laser drilled does not mean that it hasn't been subjected to other enhancement treatments such as a being boiled in sulfuric acid. Most inferior stones actually have fractures that extend to the surface from inclusions deep in the stone that allow the acid to travel into the inclusion without holes being bored. Would you consider buying a diamond ring if you knew the diamond had been immersed in sulfuric acid? Or buy a diamond bracelet that had been exposed to radiation? Would you buy any kind of gemstone jewelry that you knew had cracks that had to be filled with a sealant?
The GIA has announced that new treatments to artificially enhance diamonds are being developed all the time, making it more difficult for customers to identify and buy a genuine, natural diamond. They have reported finding diamonds being sold with "an uneven texture with abundant fractures" and "unevenness in their color" although they couldn't identify what techniques had been used to treat the stone. Another report noted that High Press/ Heat Treated (HPHT) annealing of diamonds is "one of the most serious challenges the diamond industry has ever faced"
This worrying trend makes it even more important to only buy diamond jewelry from a source that you trust, and who are dedicated to only creating designer diamond jewelry using the highest quality, natural diamonds. Look for sites that advertise that they don't use enhanced diamonds, and have clear certification for all of their diamond jewelry from
While enhancements may not be visible to the naked eye, they will certainly be visible to a trained jeweler or appraiser. While you may not be immediately concerned about the resale price of your diamond bracelet, engagement ring or gold diamond ring, any valuable piece of diamond jewelry is an investment in the future, and you will certainly want to make sure that any jewelry passed down from generation to generation is the highest value that it can be.

Sources:
[1] http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/1003/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#4
[2] http://www.gia.edu/gemsandgemology/18578/1826/524/back_issue_article_detail.cfm