Saturday, July 31, 2010

Differences Between Wedding Ring And Engagement Ring

Since prehistoric times, bands have played significant roles during betrothals and marriages. In fact, it would be difficult to imagine completing engagement and wedding ceremonies without any band to attest that such events really happened. Due to their enduring presence, the use and purpose of wedding ring and engagement ring are often confounded with each other. But, it should be taken into account that though these jewelry pieces are commonly seen among married women, they profoundly differ from each other in many aspects.

In order to identify the differences of wedding ring and engagement ring, let's take a closer look at their individual functions. To simply put it, an engagement ring is given by the man to the woman prior to their marriage in order to signify that they are bound to be married. On the other hand, wedding bands are the jewelry pieces exchanged and worn by the couple during their wedding day to seal their marital vows. After the ceremony and the years of their marriage, both the bands are worn by the woman on her left finger, while the man only wears the wedding ring since men are not accustomed to wear an engagement band.

Between wedding and engagement bands, many couples prefer investing on engagement bands. As a matter of fact, an engagement ring is probably the ring that captures more attention than the wedding ring, which is appropriate as it symbolizes the silent announcement of the engaged status of the couple. Engagement bands traditionally have prominent center stones that are commonly constructed from fine diamond jewelry. Today however, aside from diamond engagement bands, couples can also incorporate other precious stones like ruby, sapphire and opal in place of diamond as the central stone as they are inexpensive but also good in quality and design.

Meanwhile, wedding ring is often plain in design and finish, or at times is designed as the simpler version of the engagement ring. However, there are also couples that make use of fine diamond jewelry for their wedding bands, though this rarely happens as the plain design of such ring symbolizes the sanctity of marriage. The wedding and engagement bands are both worn on the left finger between the index and pinkie as tradition has it that the said finger holds the vein that is connected directly to the heart which is referred to as the vena mori. But, this is not always the case as there are cultures that place their wedding and engagement bands on the right hand.

Wedding and engagement bands are usually purchased separately from each other. They may also come as a set, which is why a wedding ring can also be as elaborate as the engagement ring. However, if you are to purchase each piece separately, remember that you are going to wear them everyday, so when you select the shape of the stone always consider your lifestyle. Diamond may be hard, but it is most likely to chip off or break especially if its edges are pointed; it would be more appropriate to pick bands that have round brilliant cut stones embedded in them as they are more likely to last longer.

Generally, wedding ring and engagement ring are important pieces that represent two important stages in a couple's relationship, the engagement and marriage. They vary greatly in terms of function, purpose and design. Setting aside their differences though, what is apparent is that they share the same concept of undying love and commitment, apparently shown from their round shape that has no beginning and no end as well as the materials used to develop them. They also serve as material seals that strengthen the symbolism and sentimentality of devotion of the couples.

Wedding ring and engagement ring are important jewelry pieces that represent love and devotion. Both these pieces vary greatly from each other in terms of purpose and design. Traditionally, the engagement ring is made from fine diamond jewelry with round brilliant cut that is given to signify the engaged status of couples, while the wedding ring is a simpler version that represents the sanctity of marriage.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Monday, July 26, 2010

Is There Such Thing As Cheap Diamond?

The diamond is perhaps one of the most revered gems in history. It serves as a manifestation of power, love, invincibility and refinement to name a few. Due to the acknowledgment given to such gemstone, along with the controversies surrounding its mining process, purchasing and owning a flawless diamond would definitely cost a person his fortune. If you are looking for means to buy cheap diamond, there are certain ways that you can do to get one.

As a start, why not search for online jewelry shops that are known for their inexpensive jewelry pieces but are high in quality? Online jewelry shopping is a very practical means to come up with an inexpensive diamond because compared to local jewelry shops that usually place markup prices on their diamonds to cover their overhead expenses, online jewelry stores offer their clients with competitive prices in such a way that they don't incur additional costs often induced by overhead expenses. You can also engage in online diamond auctions usually facilitated by longtime jewelers. Of course, purchasing online will help you save not only your money but your time and energy.

If you have no issues purchasing and owning pre-owned blings, another option that you can do is to personally visit stores that offer either discounted or inexpensive jewelry pieces. You can find these shops in the form of pawnshops and thrift stores. However, make sure that you are knowledgeable enough about diamonds so that you will know if what they are offering are real or not. Nonetheless, if you really are open for this option you must be prepared to get disappointed because more likely that you'll leave the shops empty handed, but if it's your lucky day chances are you'd be able to close a good deal and get a sparkler that is still in good condition.

Another practical approach that you can do to get cheap diamond is to buy loose diamond. Basically, a loose diamond is a real type of diamond that hasn't been used for jewelry production process. Compared to read- to-wear diamond jewelry pieces, loose diamond is more economical because you don't have to pay for metals used for ready made diamond jewelry pieces, the services, warranty coverage and the gift casing. With loose diamonds, you have the option to customize your jewelry according to your own preference.

Alongside online shopping and buying loose diamonds, you can also get cheap diamond by downgrading some of its characteristics. By downgrading on some of the areas or the 4Cs of your diamond, you can make a huge difference in terms of cost. If you're worried about the quality of your sparkler, you don't have to because downgrading does not incur discernible reduction on the quality of the diamond. For example, in terms of clarity downgrading instead of buying flawless diamond, you can just settle for a diamond that has lower clarity rating but can still be considered as eye-clear, or in terms of carat try purchasing diamonds that have carat grades shy away from full numbered or exact half numbered carats.

Lastly, if you are really tight on budget, you can settle for clarity enhanced diamonds or treated diamonds. Try to remember that all diamonds, with an exemption for the very rare and flawless ones, have character flaws called inclusion or imperfection. Inclusion determines the clarity grade of a diamond. Hence, when you speak of treated sparklers they have imperfections that were corrected by differing processes such as irradiation, filling imperfections and laser drilling to name a few; however, it must also be taken into account that these enhancements does not totally ruin the quality of diamonds, but they make such gemstones relatively inexpensive.

Cheap diamond is not really hard to find if you just know how and where to find it. Visiting online shops, pawnshops and thrift stores that usually sell inexpensive jewelry pieces is a good start for your search. But then again, if you don't want to waste time searching, you can always go for clarity enhanced diamonds. They are generally inexpensive but have apparent high quality aesthetic appearances.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Fine Jewelry: The Perfect Gift For Any Occasion

Fine jewelry refers to items that are commonly used for personal accessories, most common of which includes earrings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches. Oftentimes, jewelry pieces are made from differing materials ranging from metals and gemstones, to seashells and synthetic materials. Ever since the prehistoric period, jewelry has arrested the attention of humans, and this perspective is still applicable to date. In fact, we use various kinds of jewelry pieces depending on our moods and occasions.

Fine jewelry pieces have been primarily used as adornment, but aside from they are also regarded as the perfect gifts for varying occasions. This is due to their ability to encompass fashion sensitivity, which simply translates to their capability to maintain their timelessness and their ability to synthesize different aspects of the society. One good example of which is in the form of engagement and wedding rings, which are common tokens to seal two important life occasions, engagement and wedding. Jewelry can also be symbolic of group membership; for instance in many organizations worldwide the use of rings or pins is common to denote their membership to a certain group or as a welcoming item for new members.

Nowadays there's a wide selection of fine jewelry pieces for both males and females. For females, popular jewelry choices includes necklaces, earrings, brooches, bracelets and rings. For men, the most common jewelry pieces available are cuff links, tie accessories, watches, customized rings, necklaces and money clips. Overtime, the designs, finishes and prices of these pieces have evolved in order to befit differing situational, cultural and occasional needs.

If you wish to give something meaningful to someone, you may want to purchase jewelry pieces with gemstones. Loose diamonds are the most preferable gemstones to accentuate jewelry pieces because they are widely available, cost efficient, and goes well with any jewelry design and occasions. If you're planning to propose to your loved one, the best way to do so is to give her a ring with loose sparklers. This is the most exemplary means to tell her how much you value her love, as the ring itself is already representative of your unending commitment, and the diamonds would justify your indestructible love for her.

Earrings, bracelets or necklaces with loose diamonds are also good choices for that special gift as you can rarely go wrong when it comes to design. These pieces works well for female siblings, friends or relatives during their birthdays or for any special event for that matter. Other than the wide selections available, the use of these pieces are not only confined to specific occasions, rather they can be utilized everyday the inexpensive ones. Surely, loose sparklers are guaranteed to improve the look of jewelry and make it appear timeless and usable.

If you're a woman and you would like to give something unique to your father or husband, a cuff link would be a good preference. When it comes to cuff links, there are no restrictions when it comes to themes and motifs because they can encapsulate the best trait of your loved one. For instance a simple round cut matt silver cuff link that has loose sparklers in it can symbolize the reticence of a man. Overall, jewelry regardless of size, prize and design is the perfect gift idea because it is fashion forward, timeless, encompass your emotions in small but meaningful package, and more importantly they symbolize the personality of the person who's going to wear it.

If you're running out of gift ideas to give to your loved one, you may want to try giving fine jewelry with loose diamonds. For your proposal, a ring with three round cut loose sparklers could signify your eternal love and commitment. For your mother's birthday, a necklace with heart shaped pendant that has loose sparklers in it could truly exemplify how you appreciate her. Basically, jewelry pieces are perfect gifts as they complement any type of occasion.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Diamond engagement ring and wedding bands for the true, loving couple

Marriage is the ultimate symbol of love and commitment between two people who promise to cherish and care for each other for the rest of their lives. It is what marriage symbolizes that makes the moment so exciting - that moment when your partner presents you with a ring and asks your hand for marriage. It could be called a promise ring, a simple engagement band or a diamond engagement ring that the couple wears before their wedding to state their betrothal.And wearing an engagement ring is an exciting reminder for the couple that they will soon wed and build a family together.

It is not easy to shop for an engagement ring especially if you don't know what to start or what features should be considered.You can do away with the surprise and opt to shop with your fiancee but where's the thrill in that? Excluding the cost, there are a lot to consider about the ring itself, like the style and gemstone, when you go ring shopping.Each ring has an embedded gemstone which can have a different cut, color and weight. One of the popular designs is the trinity ring, a three-stone diamond engagement ring said to symbolize the couple's past, present and future.

The current tradition is that men wear one wedding ring, which could also be his engagement band. The former, on the other hand, wears an engagement ring after accepting a proposal and a separate marriage band after the wedding. Therefore, getting married will require purchasing, at least, three rings. For many couples, they have opted to purchase a jewelry wedding bands in a matching set that includes a man's wedding band, a woman's engagement ring and a woman's wedding ring.

During weddings, the couple makes a vow to be with each other until death to they part - a love to last forever. Marriage rings symbolize strong relationships like a strength of a diamond, the toughest and hardest mineral known to man.It is the number 1 in the ranking of hardness minerals in the Mohs scale of mineral harness, a method used in comparing hardness of stones.It is resistant to scratches, making it perfectly suitable for marriage rings worn on a daily basis.

It is important to do some research and set your budget before shopping for a diamond engagement ring. Diamond rings are more expensive than others because its gemstone is a high-priced, precious commodity. The average price is somewhere between $3,500 and $4,000, depending on the diamond's color, carat weight, cut and clarity. As long as you stick to your budget, you can then feel free to choose among the many styles and design to buy your girlfriend.It is what the ring symbolizes that matters and not the size, cut and cost of the stone attached to it.

In the end, remember that the focus of marriage if you as a couple, and not the material symbol of it. You need not purchase an very expensive ring that will only burden you financially.Also, consider buying jewelry wedding bands in a set since these usually come in cheaper. Lastly, enjoy shopping! Remembering what the ring is for and who it is for is a great inspiration when shopping for that engagement ring.

A diamond engagement ring is a promise of a lasting and loving life together for a couple. Diamonds are the common gemstone used in marriage rings because it is the hardest mineral, making it a perfect part of a ring that symbolizes strong love and commitment. But diamond rings can be tough on the wallet, that's why many couples decide to purchase a jewelry wedding bands in matching sets, as these often come cheaper. But no matter the cost of your wedding rings, the important thing is to make the marriage work and to keep the love alive forever.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Engagement Rings: Choosing The Perfect Diamond Ring For Your Bride

Diamonds are forever. Loose diamonds are long revered for their astounding and compelling beauty. These precious gems can stay as elegant as ever even after a long time. It is a universal belief in almost all cultures across the world that diamonds are ideal for engagement rings since these gems are symbols for eternity.Furthermore, aside from being an emblem of everlasting love, diamond rings have now become status symbols.What made them extraordinary is their expensive cost and the value they currently hold, which makes diamonds a luxury for many people.

Not too many people are financially capable to afford diamond rings. This one big reason why diamond engagement rings are great for surprising your soon to be wife and loved ones.As a sign of your eternal and incomparable love, it would be a great idea if you would surprise your bride to be with a diamond engagement ring.A diamond engagement ring can definitely make your marriage proposal more extraordinary and remarkable one, both for you and your bride to be.

However, before you go on with your plan of getting a diamond ring for your proposal, it would be better if you will educate yourself first with what to look for in diamond jewelry.Since diamonds are all but expensive commodities; it is imperative that you acquaint yourself with the ways on how to find quality diamonds.Getting the necessary education and guidance in getting the right type of diamond jewelry can help you maximize the huge amount of money you are about to spend. Moreover, it can help you in determining the appropriate type of diamond jewelry that can effectively suit your bride's style and preference.

Buying a diamond ring to surprise your bride to be is a task tailored for you. In choosing a diamond engagement ring, it is vital to remember several factors such as the ring size, the style and the type of metal.The first thing to look for is the ring size so as to make sure that your effort and the money you spent will not go into waste. You have to be sure that the diamond ring you are planning to purchase can fit the ring finger of your bride to be. In doing this, you have to think of ways that can help you in finding the ring size of your future wife or you can just tell the jeweler about her body type and size.

The style of the ring should also be considered in finding the right type of diamond jewelry.Diamond rings are sold in varying cuts, styles and colors.Classic solitaire diamonds are very popular while colored diamonds are among the trendiest and stylish.The tiffany style is perfect for a classic look while the invisible style are suited for a more modern and current appeal. In addition, the personality of your bride to be must be your basis in choosing a ring.It would also be perfect if the diamond is certified by diamond grading experts.

One of the vital things to consider in buying a diamond ring is the type of metal present. You can select from a wide array of metals available in the market such as yellow, white gold and platinum.In choosing the metal type of the ring, you have to be cautious of your budget and the type of diamond that will be accompanied by the metal.White gold and platinum metals are the best choices for colored diamonds.

Diamonds are perfect for engagement rings since they symbolize eternity. Diamond jewelry including loose diamonds are now a luxury for many people and a symbol of an eternal love. Diamond engagement rings are perfect for surprising a loved one and for marriage proposals. In choosing a diamond engagement ring, it is important to bear in mind several factors such as the ring size, the style, the type of metal and the required certifications.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Diamonds And Finding The Best Diamonds

While there are plenty of ways to express and show our sincere and purest form of love to our special someone, giving her a ring can definitely mean something more special. In deciding on the ring that we want to surprise our loved one with, we need to make it as extraordinary and unforgettable as possible.There could never be a better gift for your special someone or your loved one than a diamond ring.Diamonds are eternal pieces of gem making them a perfect symbol of never-ending and enduring love.

Diamonds are the perfect choices especially in choosing the ring for your marriage proposal.These astonishing pieces of jewelry can definitely make your loved one ecstatic and even more surprised. Furthermore, these exclusive gemstones can survive the wear and tear of even the most extreme conditions making it an ideal sign of your eternal love.Even after a long time, these rings will remain as exquisite and as glamorous as it was when you first bought it.

However, the thought of popping out a ring and asking our special someone to marry us might get us too excited in buying a ring straight away. Still, we have to keep in mind a number of essential things before we go into our nearest jewelry store. These precious gemstones are expensive pieces of jewelry. That is why in choosing the ring, we have to be mindful of several factors to make sure that we will get the best ring for her. Also, since these rings do not come cheap, we have to make sure that we can get the most out of the money we would invest for these exclusive pieces of jewelry.

Diamonds are classified and graded according to their cut, carat weight, color, and clarity or what is commonly known as four C's. This grading system was first introduced by the Gemological Institute of America otherwise known as GIA in 1931 and is now widely recognized and accepted as the standard grading system for these gemstones.

In selecting the perfect ring, the first thing to consider is the cut. This criterion refers to the shape of the stone and how well it was cut.Normally, the overall cutting craftsmanship and shape are being graded by the GIA whether a diamond stone is off-round or perfectly round and if the cuts are excellent enough.

Next thing to consider is the carat weight. The carat term for weight measurement of these gemstones traces its origins from a dry fruit that contains seeds that are called carob, whose seeds' actual weight is used to measure the weight of common gemstones.The present standard used internationally has a 5-carat diamond stone equivalent to a gram.

Color is also a significant feature of these precious gemstones that you should take note of.Among the most sought-after colors of these precious gemstones are those which show apparent tint or yellow, which are also the more affordable varieties.Usually, the rarer the color of the diamond, the higher is its price tag. Among the rare and more expensive colors of these precious stones include pink, blue, or green.

The last characteristic you should take note of is the stone's clarity. Clarity is used by a lot of jewelers for determining the stone's impurities. Clarity is used to determine either the lack or the presence of imperfections of the diamond stone whether it is internal or external. Rare varieties of these gemstones are not characterized by these impurities and those which are very rare are usually flawless.

Diamonds are expensive. That is why in deciding on the diamond ring we want to buy, we have to be mindful of several factors to make sure that we will get the best ring for our special someone. In choosing the rings we want to buy we have to consider these four factors namely cut, carat weight, color, and clarity or what is commonly known as four C's; so as to make sure that we will be getting our money's worth.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Engagement Rings And Other Gift Options For Diamonds

Give diamonds not just as engagement rings or wedding rings, but to celebrate other events. You can buy them as business gifts for your coworkers outside of work. Give them for family members on their birthdays, holidays or family reunions. Buy diamond earrings and loose diamonds if rings aren't viable. There is a diamond gift to match every occasion.

Find engagement rings in a variety of shapes, sizes, cleanliness, fluorescence and light performance. Diamonds also diverge and are rated by the four c's: clarity, carat, color and cut. If you are unknowledgeable regarding diamonds, you can still tell their variances in shape and design. But you might not fully comprehend how to properly assess diamonds for value without learning a few essentials.

Whether getting engagement rings, diamond earrings or loose diamonds, get a proper education on diamonds. This way, you will have a better understanding of how much value the gift you are getting actually has. This value isn't just in terms of what you're paying upfront, but in the gift's speculative value as well. Shop smart so that you can give the appropriate value to each gift recipient, whether they be a childhood friend, a business investor, or a prospective life partner.

Several aspects contained in valuing diamonds are not so obvious without a proper study. The truth is, in spite of the existing gemological associations, valuing diamonds remains a subjective process. There are also separate grade systems used to rank and price diamonds. You may be acquiring diamond earrings with greater worth than loose diamonds, albeit visually, they look about the same.

There are some things you should know immediately when it comes to grading diamonds. For one, their weight has more bearing on their price than the quality of their cut. Secondly, diamonds retain their value after it gets cut. Your diamond earrings are probably less than half their original size. But because cutting brings out their fire and brilliance, their value increased.

Grading and pricing systems aside, you can't find anything like the greatest diamond. The Hope diamond, Oppenheimer diamond and Darya-I-Nur aren't any greater or lesser compared to your parent's engagement rings, or to any loose diamonds in the market today. This is because each diamond is created unique. The best diamond gift is not the most expensive, but the one that best matches your needs.

Get diamonds not just as engagement rings or wedding rings, but also for other occasions. You can get them as business gifts for informal meet ups or celebrations. Get them for family members on their birthdays, holidays or family reunions. Get diamond earrings and loose diamonds for loved ones who don't prefer rings. There is a diamond gift to match every occasion.

-Lorraine Jacobs