Fashion Clothing

From: cushion cut diamond solitaire engagement rings. Diamonds are forever, so the song goes. That might be so, but your diamond jewelry still requires proper care and cleaning or you will not enjoy its celebrated beauty. 

Like any other personal ornament, diamond jewellery needs some periodic cleaning and grooming to be at its best. The following are some practical care tips collated over time from diamond owners.

Dirt and grime

A clean diamond shows more brilliance and fire than any stone of its kind that is dirty, smudged, or covered with grime. These definitely lessen the beauty of your jewelry.

This is simply because oil, dirt, or water reduces the natural sheen of the stone. Oil is usually caused from constant touching and natural day-to-day handling of your gem stone jewellery.

Dirt and grime, on the other hand, often settle at the bottom of the diamond. These interfere with the diamond’s brilliance. 

The minutest film of oil that smudges the stone reduces the diamond’s capacity to reflect light. Dyes or other colored liquid materials can also have an effect on the apparent color of your stone.

Precautions

While it might be the hardest mineral and can only be cut or polished by another gem stone, a really hard blow can cause these stones to chip. 

Doing rough work, strenuous sports and other heavy activities might also be risky. They can loosen clasps, bezels and other holding mechanisms of your jewellery’s stone. 

It is good policy to remove jewelry when going into a swimming pool, Jacuzzi or hot tub. Chlorine and bleach could accumulate in your jewelry and make the gold and other metals brittle and could loosen the prongs that hold the stones.

Everyday toiletry items can dull your diamond’s luster. Lotions, soaps, powders, perfumes, hair sprays, and your own skin oils can diminish your diamond’s sparkle.

Cleaning 

If you do your own cleaning, you can prepare a mix of warm water and any mild detergent. Put in some few drops of ammonia, if you have it. 

Soak your jewelry for some minutes to loosen the grime and the oil. Afterwards, very gently clean your jewellery with an old toothbrush. (An eyebrow brush is very good.) 

Using warm water, rinse away the sudsy feel. With a soft lint-free cloth, pat it dry while trying not to touch it (if possible) with your bare fingers.  

There are commercial jewelry cleaners that come with applicators that you can buy and quickly clean your jewelry. Be careful to read and follow the instructions well. 

Regular inspection 

Everyday use (putting on and taking off) of your gem stone jewelry might loosen some of the metal frames. It is good to inspect your jewelry regularly.

Take it to a competent jeweler if you suspect something is loose for fixing. It is good policy if you can have you gem jewellery examined once a year. The jewelers can do repair work, if there is need of one, and can do the cleaning as well.

Storing

Never store all your jewellery together in a bunch. The diamonds can scratch all the other gemstones, metals, and the other gems. 

Your gem jewelry is best stored in a fabric-lined case with individual compartments. Wrap them separately in soft cloth (or tissues) or in jewelry pouches for each piece. When you wear them, you can enjoy them in all their glorious best.

For more see asscher cut diamond engagement rings and vintage diamond solitaire engagement rings.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Technorati Tags: diamond jewelry, diamonds, Jewelry

From diamond engagement rings. Jewellery is big business and the real value of any Jewelry is dependent on the Diamond that is part of it. With this in mind, how do buyers know or make sure that they are paying for the real thing? What are the qualities or characteristics to check or watch for to be sure that the Gemstone is genuine?   

It takes training and the right equipment to determine if a Diamond is genuine.  The term “genuine ” means that the Gemstone doesn’t only look as expected, it should also meet the physical and chemical characteristics unique to that Gemstone.  It takes training and the right equipment to determine if a Diamond is genuine or not and there are testing laboratories to do this job. 

Before going any further, are treated Diamonds still genuine? A treated Gemstone, as long as its molecular structure isn’t altered, can still be the real thing but it is no longer natural. Some Gemstones are treated to enhance their appearance and decorative value.  

What to Check

Yes, there are professionals to perform the tests that determine if a Diamond is genuine or not but it is a valuable asset to any Gemstone buyer to know the attributes to be tested. 
The following are the characteristics to check: 
1.0 Chemical composition and atomic structure
The atomic structure is what differentiates Gem from other carbon based matter like graphite. The stone’s hardness, and light reflection is dependent on the atomic structure. Gemstones usually have crystalline structures. 
2.0  Hardness and durability
Hardness is reported in a scale of 1 to 10, a method developed by Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist. The hardest are Diamonds at (10) and the softest is talc at (1). A Gemstone should have a hardness of no less than 7.
3.0 Other physical properties like the refractive index, dispersion and specific gravity.

Testing Laboratories

The following organizations provide certifications on the results of testing conducted. They also provide training and research services to their members. 

Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
American Gemological Society (AGS) 
American Gem Trade Laboratory  of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). AGTA  the largest trade organization of  Diamond traders
American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) 
European  Gemological Laboratory

The true value of any Diamond shouldn’t be determined by just the physical appearance. Advancements in science have produced synthetic “Diamonds” which cost just a fraction of the genuine Gemstones. Knowledge is the best protection  against paying for the price of the genuine item and getting a “fake”.

For more please see unique emerald engagement rings and Solitaire Princess Cut Engagement Rings.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Technorati Tags: diamonds, gemstone, genuine, Jewelry

From: affordable princess cut rings. Given very few exceptions, diamond jewelry is the world’s most expensive in its class. Even those gem items that are small or flawed still cost more than the best of the other gems.

It is small wonder, then, that some people would capitalize on this and put out fakes to rip off the unwary and make a fast buck for themselves. How does one make sure one’s diamonds are real?

As a layman, you can rely on your common sense and use some of the following random tips. Spotting a fake diamond may not be very easy (some con artists use very sophisticated techniques nowadays), but it can be done. 

When all else fails and you cannot trust your judgment, you can always have your stone appraised by a competent professional jeweler.

Scratches 

Check for scratches. As your elementary science had told you, gems are the hardest known element so far discovered in the universe. It stands to reason then that it cannot be scratched or gashed by anything softer.

Moissanite (which resembles a real gem) and cubic zirconium (another diamond dead-ringer) both scratch easily. Ask your jeweler for a magnifying glass and check it yourself.

Personal tests

Breathe into a gem. If it clears up fast, it’s real. If it takes the stone some seconds to evaporate the moisture, it might be a fake. 

Hold the stone up to the light. If there is a rainbow of colors instead of shades of gray, your diamond could be a fake. It does not have a gem stone’s real property to reflect light.

Sometimes, the setting and the mounting of the stone are both giveaways. Fake stones are usually set in inferior metals. Cheap stones and cheap settings usually go together. (The settings might also be plated in gold or silver to simulate the real things.)

Be forward about your purchase and ask about your diamond stone. Ask if your stone is a gem stone or a moissanite. 

The dealer should be able to provide the information. Some retailers have a “don’t ask, don’t tell policy”. 

Best of all, ask for the stone’s certificate. If the gem is real, dealers would be willing to issue such a certificate. 

The best certificate comes from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the European Gemological Laboratories (EGL) if you are from the continent.

These organizations examine diamonds and issues grade reports on them. GIA and EGL are the two of the most respected laboratories acknowledged by the whole diamond industry in the world.

Be a sometime expert

If you have the inclination, the resources and the time, you may enroll at the American Institute of diamond Cutting, for instance. This independent academy can train you to become a diamond expert.

Other companies, like the famous De Beers Group, have their retail personnel study at the diamond Academy for a training course that provides information all about diamonds. Getting into the company will make you an expert, too.

Studying on your own all about diamonds will also fill you in with some essential information about the gem. Libraries and the Internet abound with information. 

In the meantime, some of the tips on how to spot fake gem jewellery can help. An inquisitive mind and a healthy skepticism are definitely advantageous.

For more see three stone princess diamond engagement ring and antique princess engagement rings.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Technorati Tags: diamond jewelry, diamonds, fake, Jewelry

From round shaped diamond solitaire engagement rings. To set things straight, lets begin with describing loose faceted Gemstones. This is so that you can understand better the following information on these types of Diamonds.

A Diamond is a precious stone that is of high value because of its beauty, rarity, color and luster especially when already cut. The number of cuts or facets have been calculated to show the maximum brilliance or sparkle of the stone.

Because of the popularity of Diamonds, loose faceted Gemstones are quite in these days. When Diamonds are loose, that means that they aren’t mounted in gold or silver. So why do most people like to buy loose faceted Diamonds? Here are some reasons why you should consider buying precious stones in their loose form.

1. Most people like them loose because they can choose the design they want for their loose stones. Jewelers can be asked to do special settings of loose faceted stones. When you choose the design, you can mix and match different stones and patterns to suit your taste. You can even choose what type of Jewelry you want it set in (i.e. pendant, ring or bracelet).

2. If you dream of having a big-stoned piece of Jewellery and you simply can’t afford it, maybe you could get one if it were loose. Because most of the time, when stones are set in Jewellery already, they come are really expensive. But buying them loose gives you the freedom to set them in designs that are simpler by jewelers that charge lower.

3. If you are a die-hard collector of Gemstones, buying them loose would be the perfect way to obtain them because you can see the stones in their entire splendor. Since all facets are exposed in a loose stone, the maximum brilliance is appreciated. Also, the authenticity is also more visible this way.

4. Aficionados can choose properly between different categories like fancy, cabochon and faceted. If you go for the faceted category, which means the stone has many flat surfaces, you can choose distinctly between the following cuts: round, trillion, square, baguette, pear and marquise.

5. If you are geared towards business, it is important that you buy Gems that are faceted and loose because if you want to buy them as an investment to resell them later on at a higher price, these are the stones that are much easier to sell.

For Gemstone buffs such as you, buying Diamonds in their loose and faceted forms is the best way to go. Not only are they cheaper, but the possibilities are endless.

For more see antique cushion cut rings and emerald cut diamond rings for engagements.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Technorati Tags: diamonds, gemstone, Jewelry

When looking through your jewellery box, do you ever wonder what the actual value of the piece is? I don’t mean the price that you payed for the item, I mean the price you would get for your jewellery if you sold it at market value now.

Trying to figure out that magic number is harder than it seems because there are a number of factors you need to take into account. You have to remember though that when you bought that lovely piece of silver jewellery, you payed the price that the shop was selling it for, which is not the price it’s worth.

When you buy a piece of jewellery from a store, you end up paying the manufacturers fee, plus the mark up that the store puts on to make a profit. This figure is very hard to find out, but an even harder figure is the mark up that the manufacturer puts on the product. The manufacturer of the item will put their own mark up onto the jewellery to ensure that they make a profit on the cost of materials and labour that it took to make the product.

Due to all of the above factors, you never pay the true value of the jewellery, so what is it really worth? The main factor to look at when trying to value your jewellery is the value of the actual materials that are used to make it. Say you have some silver gemstone jewellery or silver pendants. By weighing the precious metals and finding out the current scrap price for the metal, you can work out the value of the materials used in your jewellery. You will also need to think about any other materials on the piece, jewels will often have an affect on the price, these can be value by a local jeweller if you are unsure.

Finding out the value of the raw materials will come as a bit of a shock, this is because the raw materials value will only be around 15% of the actual retail price. However, you will have to consider some other factors that will have an effect on the value of your jewellery.

When selling jewellery, sentimental value also comes into account, a piece of jewellery that means something to you will be worth more than something that you don’t care much about. Another factor that would add considerable value to your jewellery would be who it’s made by, if the manufacturer is famous or popular. This value can be hard to judge because the way the manufacturer gets known can come down to a number of ways, whether it’s the quality of work, or a celebrity wears the make of jewellery.

Overall, the value of your jewellery will be less than the original retail price, unless the manufacturer has gained any reputation that would increase the price. Unfortunately that the way the manufacturer and the jewellery store makes their money.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Technorati Tags: gemstone jewellery, jewellery, old jewellery

A popular pastime today is collecting beautiful gemstones.  While some people collect them solely because of their beauty, others collect them for their value and rarity. If you are not sure where to start in your gemstone collection, consider these 5 types of gemstones which are beautiful and may give you ideas for your own collection.

Jade

Jade is a beautiful green colored stone that has been used for thousands of years in not only decorative carvings, but also implements like axe heads and weapons.  Jade is most often used in early Asian decorations like the popular jade dragon that has been a favorite decoration for thousands of years.

 Turquoise

Turquoise is a blue-green colored mineral that is made up of hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum.  This beautiful stone has been used for thousands of years in middle-eastern countries like Iran and Egypt and was also very sought after in Turkey.  Although it did not naturally occur in Turkey, it was used as a means of trade with the Turks.

In the United States, turquoise can be found naturally in some of the southwestern states such as Nevada, Arizona and California.

Emerald

Emerald is a dark green colored mineral which can have a very high value.  Like diamonds, emeralds are graded using the 4 C’s – Color, Clarity, Cut,  Crystal.  Emeralds occur naturally in Egypt, Brazil, Austria, India, Russia and Pakistan as well as Columbia.  Because of its high value and rarity, synthetic versions of emeralds have been created for use in inexpensive jewelry by using a process called hydrothermal synthesis.  This synthetic emerald is grown in a controlled environment and  the emerald can grow as much as 1/3mm each day.

 Ruby

Ruby is a red colored stone which is used in many different pieces of valuable jewelry.  Of all the different shades of ruby, the most expensive and sought after are the brightest red colored gemstones. Ruby is mined in a number of countries throughout the world including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, Kenya and many more.  Within the United States, natural deposits of Ruby have been found in Montana as well as  North and South Carolina.

Topaz

Topaz is what’s called a silicate mineral and will generally be a light wine color, or sometimes have a slight look of green, blue, pink or red, but is fully transparent, unlike many other gemstones.  It is naturally found in many countries throughout the world including: Pakistan, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Norway and a number of other countries. There are many other types of gemstones and collecting them can be a fun hobby, or can become a very lucrative business.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Technorati Tags: collecting beatiful gemstones, diamonds, emeralds, jewelry collections

Yes, you guessed it right! Hip hop jewelry as the name sounds came from the ever famous hip hop culture. When the ‘rap’ style embraced the music industry, celebrities turned into their latest fashion trend, the ‘bling-bling’, another term for hip hop jewelry. The rise in popularity was so high that almost everyone started to wear expensive, flashy hip hop jewelry imitating their stars who liked flashing them. Ranging from flashy rings to glowing pendants and earrings, the designs were endless.

Some may argue that it was actually stars like Elvis Presley and Tom Jones who first started wearing flashy jewelry in the 1950’s. But it was the rise of hip hop music that resulted in hip hop jewelry. 

Time changed everything including the hip hop jewelry styles. The moment a record hit the charts, you’d see how fans imitated the star in the music videos. Did you know that the particular piece of hip hop jewelry worn could actually boost or deflate a persons reputation? A variety of cuts and styles is what you get if you go to a shop that sells hip hop jewelry. You’d have to spend hours in selecting one, as each piece is exquisite.

What was the trend of hip jewelry back in the 90’s? Well, it was actually Platinum that was used. Watch out for the hip hop artists in the past doing their thing on the catwalk or in their music videos and you are sure to notice the various metals and stones used as hip hop jewelry. Later on Platinum was replaced with Gold, and different precious stones.

Fashion trends tend to change at the blink of an eye. Nevertheless hip hop jewelry has sustained its charm by giving not only rings and pendants, but also watches, belt buckles, etc. Many celebrities use their hip hop jewelry as a status symbol. It is who they are. And this is what their loyal fans like. It has withstood time and still remains in the hearts of many who fancy such jewelry.

After reading this article, you will be curious to get another article has been written by the author. You can check out babylock embroidery machine site which provides numerous used embroidery machine options and related information for your need.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Technorati Tags: Fashion, Jewelry, product, Shopping, style

I looked through some jewelry that I inherited from my mother when she passed away and found some beautiful diamond earrings in her jewelry box. As I looked further in her paperwork I found that she ordered these diamonds from an on-line diamond store that I just had to look up and find out more about them. I got quite an education by reading their web site. Here is what I learned.

The diamond is determined to be valuable or not as valuable by the color it projects and by the cut that the gemologist fashions the diamond with. Each diamond is unique in its style and color. A diamond is like a human being, not one is the same as the other. The size of the diamond is not always the most important quality of it. Where the diamond was found and how it is cut is extremely important. The round-cut diamond allows the facets of the diamond to shine through more effectively.

Most diamonds are found in Europe, Israel and South Africa. It is very important that the diamonds that you buy are not Conflict-Diamonds. That means that these diamonds were not mined by slaves and people who were kidnapped to do mining. This particular web-site specified that their diamonds are not Conflict-Diamonds. I really appreciated that knowledge.

Diamonds have a rich history of being a romantic gift that men who were deeply in love have bestowed upon their mates. Richard Burton bought the famous blue pear-shaped diamond ring for his beloved, Liz Taylor. Each February the commercials on television describe the diamond pendant or ring or earrings as the most special way to say “I love you,” especially on Valentines Day. Diamonds have a big reputation of saying “I love you” in the most special way.

I took the earrings my mother had bought to a jewelry appraiser and found that she did in deed buy a very good quality of diamonds. My mother was a very wise lady and gave me a very special gift that I will one day leave to my granddaughter as her inheritance. So the gift not only gives me delight, but every female who inherits these beautiful diamonds will receive the same pleasure.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Technorati Tags: diamond, diamond earrings, diamonds, Jewelry, products, review, Shopping

In our capital driven society, many people look to express their affluence in the accessories they choose. One of the easiest ways for men and women to enjoy the fine things in life is to purchase a wrist watch. There are many different styles and price ranges of watches, but one must be certain to look for quality over brand name or flashy appearances.

Many would be fortunate to inherit a luxury watch from their grandparents or parents. It is a symbol of joy and pride for one to have a luxury watch in their possession. However, if you don’t have one, do not despair.

A key thing to look for when purchasing a new watch is a certification of quality. This certification is called Chronometer Design, and is only given to watches with the highest standard of precision. Any watch with this certification means that it has passed through the rigorous testing of the COSC, Switzerland’s official rating bureau for Chronometers.

A buyer should also consider if you will need a quartz or an automated watch. They both work differently. The automatic watches work through activation of your own movement, for example the shake of your hand or the signing of a letter. While a quartz watch will need to have its battery replaced. Interestingly, in the world of men’s luxury watches, automatics are more common in the world of men’s luxury watches than on the women’s side of wrist wear, because 90 percent of watches are quartz. Automatic watches are usually more expensive as it takes a lot of engineering and precision work for its proper functionality.

Besides the above mentioned watches, there is also sector watches. These sector watches are usually of top performance, guaranteed of its quality and mos timportantly its reliability in the most extreme conditions. Sector watches are often modern and sharp in design. They are also water resistant to a minimum of 100 meters. These fine watches provide unbeatable in terms of quality and performances in sport watches.

If properly cared for, a luxury wrist watch can be passed down between generations, creating a valuable investment, as well as treasured memories. One must consider their current lifestyle and future plans before buying a wrist watch they intend to pass down, though.

To facilitate you more on which type of watches one should need to buy, you will consider their lifestyle as different brands of watches will match or fit different style for you. For instance, get a sector watch if you are a sport lover, but if you are a traditional man who just loves sophistication and elegance, a sector watch may not be a right one for you.

If you are one of the more elite members of society, you may be looking for a watch with diamond, gold, or other precious metals. If this is the case, grab your checkbook and head to your local jewelers. Be advised, you’ll be paying a pretty penny for that bling!

Popularity: 19% [?]

Technorati Tags: Jewelry, jewelry watch, mans watches, watches, women watches

It used to be that a plain gold wedding ring was the most common choice for men when they entered into marriage. These days there are more choices in men’s wedding rings than ever before. Platinum, titanium and tungsten have entered the scene. The traditional look is still available, but the choices are now a lot broader.

Think about traditional men’s wedding rings. They’re usually yellow gold, or even white gold. Sometimes they have a subtle pattern etched in. They’re stylish, classic and attractive.

Then there are the modern choices. For example, a contemporary tungsten band is ultra-hard and lightweight. It’s ideal if you want a good looking, well priced ring that won’t fall apart with regular wear. They’re highly scratch resistant and can polish to a high sheen that looks a lot like silver.

Titanium is another new favorite among men. There are two kinds of titanium: black and light. They’re both durable and lightweight, not to mention quite fashionable.

Light titanium is gray in color and can be polished to a fine sheen. It can be inlaid with a stripe of yellow gold or crowned with a diamond that matches the woman’s ring.

Genuine black titanium is produced by a special manufacturing process that creates a uniform color throughout. Scratches won’t show and there is never a need to re-plate the exterior.

But your options in a men’s wedding ring today go beyond just the choice of metal. These days, a lot of men are choosing a band that’s narrower than the more traditional styles. For people interested in an attractive and discreet ring, this thin, lightweight style is ideal.

Many men’s rings these days also feature inlaid gems such as sapphires, diamonds and rubies. The criteria for the stone’s quality are the same as in a woman’s wedding ring. Great cut, flawless clarity, fine color all apply.

To sum it up, a good example of a modern men’s wedding ring is a narrow platinum band with a small oval diamond. Most men these days won’t have any problem wearing a ring like this. Part of the reason is that they’re more comfortable with being fashionable than has been the case traditionally.

The best wedding rings today still incorporate the highest quality features available. Qualities such as durability and the ability to resist scratches are still important. However, now there is a completely new range of stylish choices in men’s wedding rings.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Technorati Tags: Jewelry, marriage, men's wedding rings, wedding bands, wedding rings, weddings