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Archive for May, 2009
How To Give The Gift Of Fine Jewelry
Author: admin
Fine jewelry is one of the most luxurious and exquisite gifts that you can give for a holiday or a special occasion. However, picking out the perfect piece for a loved one isn’t always easy. Everyone has their own unique tastes when it comes to fine jewelry, so choosing a piece that the recipient will wear often requires full knowledge of that person’s style and preferences. The temptation is often to spend the most possible money, with the idea that the larger the precious stones the more beautiful the jewelry will be. However, more often than not, a smart choice is not always the most expensive item, but is the item that best suits the wardrobe and the eye of the person who you are shopping for.
If you are planning to purchase a piece of fine jewelry, it is a good idea to make time for several trips to more than one store so that you can have the time you need to compare prices and styles across several different vendors. Before you set off on your shopping trip, try to make a thorough examination of the kinds of jewelry your intended recipient already owns. This will keep you from making a redundant purchase, but more importantly it can give you a guide that will help you choose the perfect piece or set of fine jewelry. Make notes about what kind of stones are most prevalent in the existing set of jewelry. Although many women and men enjoy having a wide variety of stones, it is often a good idea to choose a piece that will match well with earrings, necklaces, and rings that person already owns. If you discover a jewelry box that is already filled with rubies, for example, you would probably do well to choose an item that includes rubies so the recipient can wear the item with matching pieces that are already a part of his or her regular jewelry repertoire. Also notice whether the person you are shopping for tends to prefer single large stones that make a bold statement, or whether his or her collection includes mostly items that combine many small stones for a more delicate and refined look.
If you are not terribly knowledgeable about jewelry styles in terms of modern versus classical settings, avant garde versus conservative pieces, or any of the other spectrums along which fine jewelry falls; pictures can provide a valuable tool in helping you make your purchase. Take simple snapshots or Polaroid photos of some of the recipient’s favorite items, and bring them with you when you shop. A salesclerk with a trained eye will probably be able to glean important information from these pictures, and will then be able to steer you towards pieces of fine jewelry that are similar in terms of style. This can help you make sure that the money you spend on fine jewelry as a gift is money well spent, because the more specifically a piece suits the taste of the recipient, the more often he or she will be likely to wear it.
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Giving a diamond ring is a great way to say, “I love you” to that special someone or to propose marriage. But when you set out to find that perfect diamond ring or any diamond jewelry, you can quickly become confused with all the offerings available today. It’s important that you know what to look for in diamond jewelry.
The Four Cs of Diamonds
Look for the four Cs of diamonds. These are clarity, cut, color, and carat weight. Clarity signifies the presence or absence of irregularities or imperfections in the stone. Imperfections may appear as bubbles, spots, or lines. The clarity is often determined by the passing of light through the diamond. The fewer imperfections the diamond jewelry has, the more valuable it will be. Clarity is graded on a scale from flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect (I) according to the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) quality analysis scale for diamond jewelry.
The diamond’s cut is also important. The cut is what gives a diamond its brilliance and determines the number of facets in the diamond. The “round brilliant” cut is the most popular diamond cut, especially for an engagement ring.
Diamond color also determines the value. Colorless diamonds are the most valuable; however, diamonds with color are popular for non-proposal gifts. Diamond colors range from D (colorless) to Z.
A diamond’s carat is the actual weight of the diamond, not the size. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. One ounce contains 142 carats. Larger diamonds usually have a greater value for each carat.
Real Diamonds are set in Real Jewelry Pieces
When you shop for a diamond ring or other diamond jewelry, be sure it is set in real gold jewelry for its band, necklace, bracelet, or earrings. There are 14K cubic zirconia jewelry pieces that might contain what “looks like” real diamonds, but they are actually simulated (or manmade) diamonds.
Look for the trademark in jewelry such as 14kt gold necklaces, 14kt gold earrings, 14kt gold bracelets, and diamond rings.
Buying Diamonds Online
When buying diamond jewelry online, be sure the jeweler offers a Jewelry Certificate of Authenticity. Check with Better Business Bureau Online to be sure the retailer is trustworthy. The BBB Online will show if there have been any complaints or reports of fraud against the company. This will give you peace of mind while shopping.
Use search features at jewelry sites to find just the right diamond jewelry. Look for the four Cs mentioned above and ask about the diamond’s weight if it’s not provided at the website. Also, check to be sure the shipping and handling will keep your diamond safe. Find out if shipping insurance is available and what types of packaging is used. Also, ask for assistance if you have questions. A dependable online jeweler will be available to help.
Online jewelry stores usually carry an assortment of jewelry items ranging from a 10kt or 14kt gold necklace with or without attached slides or stones, a pearl necklace, 10kt or 14kt gold hoop earrings, tennis bracelets, diamond rings, pendants, and other fine jewelry pieces.
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Six common questions about sterling silver jewelry
Author: admin
Sterling silver jewelry has been a popular commodity for thousands of years. One of the obvious reasons is the affordability over other precious metals gold and platinum. The large variety of sterling silver jewelry requires certain knowledge in order to choose the right piece and also keep it in good condition as long as possible. The followings are the most common questions concerning sterling silver jewelry.
How do I clean sterling silver jewelry?
It depends. Usually, it is sufficient to use a jewelry cloth (with two layers of cloths in different colors) that you can get from a jewelry accessory store. Don’t use any hard object to clean sterling silver jewelry; even paper towel could scratch the surface. You should rub any dirt off using a jewelry cloth, not fingernails. Silver-dip is another commonly used sterling silver jewelry cleaner, which can also be obtained from jewelry store. The entire silver jewelry is immerged in the solution for half a minute to a minute and then rinsed with water. Make sure the silver jewelry is not plated with any other metal before using the silver-dip or the plating will be damaged.
Where do I store sterling silver jewelry?
It is very important to store sterling silver jewelry properly when it is not used. The ideal place to store sterling silver jewelry is cool and away from sunlight. Heat and light will turn a silver jewelry yellow and cause it to tarnish quickly. Even indoor light source like florescent lights or light bulbs turn the color of silver jewelry over time. If you expect not to wear a certain piece for a long time, put it in a air-tight bag and store it in a drawer.
What types of silver jewelry plating are there?
Unlike gold and platinum, however, pure silver is rather unstable and oxides rather quickly. Therefore, silver jewelry is usually plated with another metal to protect it from tarnishing. There are two kinds of plating for silver jewelry: nickel and rhodium plating. Nickel plating has a more whitish look and rhodium plating has a darker look. Rhodium is used to plate white gold and platinum jewelry and is much more expensive than nickel, and it give better protection to the silver underneath. On the other hand, some silver jewelry is not plated. For instance, high polished sterling silver jewelry does not have any plating and the surface is polished by machine to render shininess. Also, “oxidized silver” jewelry is oxidized on purpose to give a dark antique look and is not plated with any other metals.
How do I know the purity of my silver jewelry?
The purity of sterling silver refers to 92.5% of silver in the alloy. In order to confirm the purity, the metal itself has to be sent to a laboratory to be tested. However, most of the sterling silver jewelry produced nowadays has a “925″ stamp to indicate the authenticity of the jewelry. Although there are cases where stamps are forged and the metal is either not silver or the purity is not as stated, they are very rare.
How about engraving and resizing?
Engraving and resizing of sterling silver rings is rather simple due to the ductility and relatively low melting point. However, make sure your jeweler understands the process of refinishing the ring and that they possess the necessary equipment to do so. Not all jewelers have the equipment to recoat the rhodium plating after cutting and welding the ring. Also, rings set with stones are sometimes not resizable because resizing might cause the stones to pop out. Such settings include channel and invisible settings.
Can I wear sterling silver jewelry if I am allergic to nickel?
Yes, just make sure the jewelry is pure sterling silver, not plated with nickel. Even Rhodium plated sterling silver jewelry sometimes contains a nickel layer between the silver and the rhodium to act as an adhesive. Hence, buy only high polished sterling silver jewelry if you are allergic to nickel.
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