Diamond Stud Earrings

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

Diamond stud earrings are perhaps the most versatile pair of earrings a girl could have.

Diamond stud earrings go well with just about any outfit, from a simple jeans and t-shirt ensemble, to a beautiful summer or cocktail dress. Heck, diamond stud earrings even go well with your wardrobe staple little black dress or a formal evening gown.

Aside from the fact that they work well with almost any outfit, diamond stud earrings also have the power to make you feel beautiful and affluent (even if you are not). Admit it, wearing a small, lovely pair of diamond stud earrings can make you feel pretty and like a million bucks even in sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

Choosing the Style of Your Diamond Stud Earrings

When we say diamond stud earrings, most of us envision simple round stud earrings. But diamonds stud earrings are more than that. For instance, you can go with a simple round pair, but you do not have to go with white diamonds. Why not go with a fresh yellow diamond instead. Also, you do not have to stick to the round shape. You can go with a tear drop shape which is more sophisticated and has timeless feel to it. You may also consider the cut of the diamond. Asscher cut diamonds are all the rage right now so why not forgo the standard round shape and go with a diamond stud earring with a stepped square cut.

Another popular cut is the cushion cut which is way older than the Asscher and was popular back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is also sometimes called the pillow cut or the candlelight cut because it was popular before there was electricity and thus a diamond with this cut sparkled by the light or candles.

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Diamond Jewelry for Men

Posted on January 4, 2012 by admin

“Diamonds are a girls best friend,” so goes the iconic Marilyn Monroe song and dance number. But the silver screen icon were alive today, she might have taken back her words.

If you looked at today’s male hip hop artists, you’d think diamonds would literally be gone tomorrow the way they cover themselves with the gemstone. From diamond covered knuckle rings to humongous diamond encrusted pendants, to diamond speckled “grillz,” today’s hip hop artists never seem to run out of places for diamond jewelry. Hip hop artists also call diamond jewelry by different colloquial names including “bling-bling,” “bling,” “ice,” or “frosting.”

Outside of the hip hop scene, you will see well-dressed athletes and powerful businessmen sporting diamond stud earrings, diamond covered cufflinks and diamond studded watches. Many also prefer to wear diamond rings, bracelets, chains, necklaces and pendants.

It is therefore a good thing that, just like with women’s jewelry, men’s diamond jewelry come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and designs. Men’s diamond jewelry today are decorated with black, green, or blue diamonds. There are also a number of different metal bands that are used to hold the precious gemstones. Some of them include white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

With regards to design, most men prefer simple rings or wedding bands. Formal occasions call for bigger rings, and diamond watches. Tuxedos are finished with cufflinks.

This generation has become less critical of young men who wear diamond earrings. Gone are the days of stereotypes. Today, even the manliest of men could wear a pair of diamond stud earrings and no one would find that odd.

Men’s relationship with diamond jewelry has really come a long way. Jewelers should make their products as diverse as possible since they could profit as much from their male clientele as their female patrons.

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Different Types of Diamonds

Posted on January 2, 2012 by admin

Diamonds are classified based on the type and quantity of chemical impurities that are found in them. There are generally two types of diamonds. Type I are those that contain nitrogen molecules, Type II diamonds are those that contain impurities other than nitrogen. These impurities can only be seen through strong laboratory microscopes.

About 20 percent of all natural diamonds are used as gemstones. The majority of them are used for industrial purposes.

98 percent of all diamonds are Type I diamonds. They are colorless, yellow, or brown. The remaining 2 percent are Type II diamonds. They are the purest, and are therefore the rarest. They are either colorless, or come in different colors like yellow, brown, blue, grey, purple, and pink.

White Diamonds

White diamonds are the most common type of diamonds around. They are mined all over the world and come in a vast array of shapes and sizes. The most valuable types of white diamonds are the most colorless or the whitest diamonds.

Colored Diamonds

One of the four Cs of diamond is color. In the case of colored diamonds, the intensity of the color is what makes them valuable.

Yellow diamonds – yellow diamonds come in a wide variety of shades ranging from very light yellow to a deeper canary color.

Blue diamonds – blue diamonds also come in a wide array of shades ranging from sky blue to a steely sapphire hue.

Pink diamonds – pink diamonds are the rarest and most valuable diamonds in the world. The primary source of pink diamonds is the Argyle mine in the remote north of Western Australia. Pink diamonds from the Argyle mine have the richest color. Although the Argyle mine is the foremost source of pink diamonds, less than 1/10 of 1% of their diamond production is classified as pink.

Champagne diamonds – champagne diamonds come in a variety of colors ranging from light straw to rich cognac.

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Finding the Best Diamond Jewelry Online

Posted on December 24, 2011 by admin

Finding the best diamond jewelry online may be ideal for people who do not have the time to visit actual jewelry stores. While there may be risks involved in purchasing fine jewelry online, such as being scammed or receiving a rip-off, there are benefits to buying online jewelry as well. For once, you can purchase fine jewelry online for a lot less than you would pay at a retail store.

To find the best diamond jewelry online, first learn how to measure the quality of diamond and precious metals like gold, silver and platinum. Familiarize yourself with carats and karats.

Next, start your search for fine jewelry by entering the words “fine jewelry” in search engines like Yahoo or Google. If you are looking for something more specific you can add words like “rings” or “diamonds.”

Browse various sites for important information. There are some sites that sell jewelry made by well-known manufacturers while some have their own jewelers.

Look for information regarding guarantees, return policies and secure ordering. Make sure read these things carefully. A piece of fine jewelry is very valuable. You’d want to make sure that your purchase is guaranteed and your purchase price can be refunded if you want to return it.

Another important document you should look for is the certificate, particularly if you are purchasing a diamond jewelry piece.

If you are certain that the site reputable, look through the categories (diamonds, rings, gold, white gold, etc.) or search the site using key word or words of the item you are searching for.

If you find a jewelry piece that you like, you may have to enlarge the image to get a better look. While nothing beats seeing the piece in person, this will at least give you a good idea of what the piece looks like.

When purchasing an item, pay close attention to other items that are being offered.

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Importance of Diamond Jewelry Certificate

Posted on December 22, 2011 by admin

Diamonds are extremely valuable and rare. Their value depends on their size, clarity, cut and color. They are also very rare, which also adds to their cost. Because of their value, some disreputable individuals and business manufacture fake diamonds in order replace real ones in the market and make a lot of money.

There are several ways to determine if whether a diamond is authentic or fake. The first one is very simple. Hold a diamond close to your mouth and breathe on it. If it is an authentic diamond it will not fog. If it fogs, then it is most likely a fake. Diamonds are one of the hardest substances on earth. An authentic diamond will not be scratched. Also, if you hold text behind a diamond, it will not be legible through the stone. Lastly, it you shine UV light on a diamond, it will reflect blue light.

All of these tests though mean next to nothing anything without a certificate.

To prove a diamond’s authenticity, gemologists can appraise a diamond and provide certificates to validate its authenticity.

Diamond jewelry certificates are extremely important. Not only does it serve as proof that the diamond you purchased is not a fake, it also indicates that your diamond did not come from war-torn countries whose rebels sold rough diamonds to fund terrorism, wars, slavery and genocide.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one of the largest and most recognized grading authorities for diamonds. The GIA provides professional authentication services for diamonds based on carat, clarity, cut and color. It provides certification along with a report of its findings. Aside from providing authentication services, the GIA also has research and training programs. It also offers information to make sure that gem industry standards are maintained.

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Custom Diamond Rings

Posted on December 20, 2011 by admin

There are several jewelry stores that let customers design their own diamond rings. You simply have to drop by their store and coordinate with their gemologist and/or jeweler. Some online stores also offer customers a chance to customize their diamond rings. You simply have to log on to the website of an online jewelry store and click on “Create Your Own Ring” link. You will be transported to page that lists down the steps that you need to follow in order to create your ring.

However, before you start creating your own ring, there are a few things you have to consider.

First is your budget. Set a limit before you start designing your ring. This will keep your from designing your ideal ring only to found out later that it will cost several thousands of dollars more than you can afford.

Next, get ideas from jewelry catalogs and magazines, either printed or online. Collect pictures of diamond rings that appeal to you so you can easily consult them when you need to. Group similar rings together to determine what styles you are attracted to the most.

Decide on the metal your ring will be made out of. Choose from gold (yellow gold, white gold, rose gold), sterling silver, or platinum. Also take into consider allergies to metal that you may have.

Next consider the style of the band of the band. Do you prefer it to be plain and smooth or would like to have diamonds paved all the way around it?

Choose the cut of the diamond or diamonds for your ring. The most common types of cut include Round, marquis, teardrop, emerald, oval, princess, radiant or heart-shaped. Next decide on the carat, color and clarity of the diamond. These things will depend largely on your budget.

When you are finished with everything, you can now take your design to a jeweler and have you custom diamond ring made.

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Looking for the Right Insurance for Diamond Jewelry

Posted on December 18, 2011 by admin

Diamond jewelry is very valuable and is considered an investment. If you have purchased a piece of diamond jewelry recently, consider having it insured because it could get lost or stolen.

Insurance companies will charge you based on your jewelry piece’s appraised value. A higher appraised value will make it easier for your diamond jewelry to be replaced of it got lost or stolen. However, you will also have to pay a higher premium for it.

To get the right insurance for your diamond jewelry, you’d want enough insurance for your ring to be replaced but not so much that premiums are way too expensive.

Here is how to look for the right insurance for your diamond jewelry:

First, take your jewelry piece to a certified gemologist to get an insurance appraisal. Select one that has a GIA or AGS certification. More often than not, the store you bought your jewelry piece from will be able to give you an appraisal. However, you must make sure that the store appraiser does not over inflate the value of your diamond jewelry piece.

Call your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company. Let them know that you would like to add a jewelry piece to your policy. Once you furnish a copy of the appraisal, they will give you a quote.

If you are unhappy with the quote you received from our homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company, search for other companies online or call different insurance companies and compare their quotes. It is important to shop around and compare rates before you commit to a policy.

Ask for a copy of your insurance to verify that your diamond jewelry is covered. Do not forget to read the fine print to know exactly what your policy covers.

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History of Diamond Jewelry

Posted on December 15, 2011 by admin

It is said that the first diamonds were discovered in India some 3000 years ago. The stones were considered valuable because of their ability to refract light. People wore them as ornaments and as talismans to ward off and protect from evil.

In the Dark Ages, diamonds were thought to have medicinal or healing properties. Some believed that those suffering from maladies or wounds should hold a diamond in their hand and make the sign of the cross. Some even believe that ingesting diamonds could speed up recovery or even cure a person from different kinds of illnesses.

In the Middle Ages, diamonds were seen as valuable items rather than stones with mystical powers. There was a surge in the demand for diamonds during this period that mine owners started to spread rumors that diamonds are poisonous if ingested to prevent miners from swallowing diamonds for the purpose of smuggling.

In 1866, diamonds were discovered in South Africa by a child playing with brightly colored stones near a river. One of the stones that child was playing with was recognized as a diamond. The gem that was cut from it was aptly named “Eureka”. This discovery led to a diamond rush and started a new beginning for diamonds. Diamonds from South Africa still make up a large percent percentage of the world’s diamond jewelry today.

Gem quality diamonds are being discovered around the world. Australia, for instance, has recently become a competitor in terms of production and mining superb gem quality diamonds. Other countries that have become players in the diamond industry in recent years include Canada, Russia, and South America.

It is important to note though that the great majority of diamonds discovered all over the world are not gemstone quality diamonds. In fact, 1/5 of all diamonds mined are considered gem quality diamonds.

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Ways to Clean Diamond Jewelry

Posted on December 7, 2011 by admin

One way to make your diamond jewelry last for a long time is to keep it clean. Fortunately cleaning a piece of diamond jewelry is fairy easy and will only take a few minutes of your time. Here’s how:

First, soak your diamond jewelry in a warm solution of soap and water. Use a mild dishwashing liquid or other mild detergent.

After letting it soak for a while, take a soft bristled brush and use to gently remove dirt. Do not use a stiff bristled brush for cleaning as these can scratch the metal setting of your diamond jewelry. Also, do not scrub your jewelry too vigorously. Although diamonds are some of the hardest substances on earth, scrubbing to forcefully could loosen them from their setting. Run your jewelry under a jet off water to flush out the grime or build up.

After cleaning it with a soft brush, let it swirl around the solution for a bit and then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Do not forget to use a strainer or to close the drain so you do not lose your jewelry.

Next, dry your diamond jewelry using a clean, lint-free cloth. Use a tooth pick to push out any remaining dirt from the stone.

If your diamond jewelry needs a stronger cleaning, soak it in a solution of half ammonia and half water for 30 minutes. After soaking, gently clean it using a soft brush. Once you’re done brushing it, swirl it around in the solution for a few times and then rinse it thoroughly. Pat dry using a lint-free cloth.

Some jewelers offer a cleaning solution or a jewelry cleaning kit. It includes the cleaning solution, drying and polishing cloths. Before you use it to clean your jewelry, read the product information and make sure that it is appropriate for cleaning diamonds and the kind of metal in your jewelry.

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Tips in Buying Wholesale Diamond

Posted on December 5, 2011 by admin

Diamonds are perhaps the most valuable gemstones around. Diamond jewelry pieces are generally expensive, which is probably why they are prized possessions and rank high on most people’s wish lists. “A diamond is forever,” so the popular saying goes. This is the reason why most couples seal their engagement with a diamond ring, or seal their wedding vows with diamond-paved wedding bands.

But not everyone has the money to spend on expensive diamond jewelry. If you are on a tight budget, but wish to surprise a special person in your life with a diamond jewelry piece, consider going to wholesalers.

Wholesalers offer quality products at really low prices. However, there are some things you have to keep in mind when buying wholesale diamond.

First, educate yourself about diamonds. You cannot choose a quality piece of diamond jewelry if you do not know the first thing about diamonds. Learn the four Cs of diamonds: cut, clarity, color and carat. Once you arm yourself with this knowledge you will be able to discern whether a piece of diamond jewelry is of quality or not.

Next, beware misleading advertisements. There are several diamond jewelry shops – either traditional or online – who misrepresent what “wholesale” means. These shops are actually discount retailers and not wholesalers. Discount retailers offer flawed pieces at discounted prices. They only use the term “wholesale” to mislead customers.

When buying wholesale diamond jewelry, inspect everything about the piece: the metal, setting, and the mount. A lot of jewelers sell pieces with fake gold or silver. Terms like “gold plated” and “realistic” should sound off warning signals. These could mean that the jewelry is not real gold, or the stone ma not be a real diamond piece but a cubic zirconia.

If you are considering buying online, make sure to purchase from a legitimate wholesaler. Look for the Kimberly Process certificate to make sure that the pieces are not funding wars in Africa. Also make sure that online store has 100 percent money back guarantee.

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