Archive for the ‘Alternatative Metals’ Category

All About Palladium Engagement Rings

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Palladium engagement rings are becoming a popular choice for women who desire a unique alternative white metal other than gold or platinum. The distinctive bright white hue allows any gemstone to be shown off to full effect in a brilliant, sparkling way.

Whether you choose a palladium ring as a stunning backdrop for gorgeous diamonds or a lovely complement to colored gemstones, palladium can make a beautiful choice for an engagement ring and is quite unique.

What is Palladium?

Interestingly enough, palladium is part of the platinum metal family, but comes at a cheaper cost. In fact, a lot of the qualities that platinum is prized for are offered with palladium, but without the hefty price tag.

Characteristics of Palladium

Additionally, there are other distinct characteristics that make palladium so popular for use in engagement rings. The pure white color of palladium means that any diamond or gemstone you choose to use in your ring will be highlighted beautifully, and the metal never is plated or dipped to attain its distinctive shade.

What’s more, palladium will not tarnish as some other metals can, and will not cause any negative reactions to those who have metal sensitivities as it is hypoallergenic.

Cost

Purchasing an engagement ring can be an expensive proposition, but palladium can help bridge the gap between more expensive metals and still allow you to have an affordable yet unique engagement ring. While not as cheap as gold, palladium is cheaper than platinum and shares many of the same qualities that platinum enjoys. You can think of palladium as the middle man between white gold and platinum – white gold is cheaper, but platinum is more expensive, making palladium a middle-of-the-road choice that still remains affordable.

Finding a Palladium Engagement Ring

For the bride-to-be who desires something a little more unique, a palladium engagement ring could be worth considering. While it may be more difficult to find a palladium ring than a more common type of metal, many large jewelers will carry a limited selection for you to choose from. Many online retailers may offer a wider selection of palladium rings, so it is always worth checking online stores to see if you can find the perfect engagement ring that fits your budget. Many jewelers are also happy to customize a ring to your exact specifications, so don’t be afraid to choose this option if you are unable to find a suitable ready-made design.

While palladium engagement rings are fairly new, as couples become aware of this precious metal more of them are turning to palladium as a distinctive, unique choice.

Tags: palladium, palladium engagement rings, palladium vs platinum
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Finding a Unique or Unusual Engagement Ring

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

While classic engagement rings are beautiful in their own right, some women prefer a bolder style of jewelry. That’s why unique or unusual engagement rings are the perfect choice, both for their inherent symbolism as well as the personal touch a unique engagement ring offers that an off-the-rack design simply cannot.

When choosing a unique or unusual engagement ring, there are several things you can incorporate into the design of your ring to make it stand out and showcase your personality beautifully.

Choosing a Unique Setting

There are several types of settings to choose from when shopping for the perfect engagement ring. While prong settings are the most popular, you should consider some of the more unusual settings that differ from a traditional ring.

For example, a pave setting engagement ring is a unique choice, where the entire band is encrusted with gemstones (usually diamonds) for a sparkling look that makes it seem the entire ring is made from nothing but gemstones. Pave settings are beautiful, but they are easily one of the most expensive settings you can buy.

For a more affordable alternative, but still just as unique, bezel settings use a metal ring to hold the gemstones in place. These settings work especially well for women who lead an active lifestyle, because unlike a prong setting, a bezel setting is more resistant to damage and is unlikely to snag on fabric and potentially damage the setting.

Gemstone Choices

Of course, simply choosing an unusual setting may not be enough to truly express your individual taste and personality. Consider choosing a unique gemstone other than diamonds to showcase your personality and make the engagement ring truly your own.

Colored gemstones, such as vivid rubies or sapphires are a beautiful choice, as are emeralds or aquamarines. If you like the look of diamonds but want something more unusual, consider choosing a fancy colored diamond. Diamonds are available in all kinds of colors, from purples and pinks to yellow, greens and even blues.

For an extra bit of symbolism, using your birthstones is a fabulous way to personalize your engagement ring and create a truly unique ring that is very symbolic of your life together.

If you are into a more vintage look, you can also search for an antique or heirloom ring at an estate sale, antique stores or online. Vintage rings are likely to incorporate more unique and unusual gemstones and styles that are simply not created today because of the lack of technology that was available back when the original ring was created.

Finding a unique or more unusual engagement ring doesn’t have to be difficult, and is often the perfect choice for couples who have the desire to express their own individuality within the relationship.

Whether you choose to play around with various settings or gemstone choices or simply want something that isn’t so traditional, a unique engagement ring will be a beautiful memento that will serve to commemorate one of the most important days in your life in a way that’s especially personal to both of you.

Tags: Engagement Rings, unique engagement rings, unusual engagement rings
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Finding Silver Engagement Rings

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Despite the majority of engagement rings being made from gold or platinum, silver engagement rings are exceptionally beautiful and affordable, making them a popular choice for couples who are on a budget. If you are interested in finding a silver engagement ring to pop the question with, there are a few things you should know about this affordable metal.

The Benefits of Choosing a Silver Engagement Ring

While gold engagement rings are the traditional choice, more couples are looking to silver as an alternative metal choice for their rings. Not only is silver typically less expensive than other metals, but even for the bride-to-be who loves the look of platinum but can’t afford the price tag can benefit from a silver engagement ring for a similar look.

Silver is already typically used in many engagement rings, but generally only in detail work such as intricate knots or elegant looking accents. Many two-tone engagement rings also use silver to give the ring a distinctive appearance.

While silver engagement rings are generally cheaper than gold or platinum rings, the overall cost will depend on the intricacy of the design. If you are looking for a silver engagement ring to cut down on the cost, then you should stick with a classic, understated ring because an elaborate silver ring can be just as expensive, if not more so, than traditional gold rings.

What Makes Silver Different From Other Metals?

When creating a silver engagement ring, pure silver has sterling silver alloys added to the mix to increase the metal’s strength, as pure silver is too soft to use in jewelry on its own. Typically compared to other white metals, such as platinum or white gold, silver engagement rings can be just as beautiful and offer a more affordable alternative to couples who can’t afford to spend much money on a ring.

While silver is affordable, it can often become quite tarnished and will require frequent cleaning and polishing to restore the ring to its former glory. When you are not wearing your ring, it should be stored in a separate area way from other jewelry to avoid potentially scratching or damaging the ring.

Even though all engagement rings are prone to damage when worn during heavy housework or using household cleaning products, certain chemicals such as bleach and ammonia can discolor silver. If you are using these products, do not wear your silver engagement ring or you will risk damaging the metal.

Silver engagement rings are a lovely alternative to traditional gold or platinum rings, and offer the additional bonus of being much more affordable. In order to protect such a precious investment, make sure you regularly clean and polish your silver engagement ring so that it remains as beautiful as when you first put it on. With the proper attention, your ring will continue to bring joy every time you look at it for many years to come.

Tags: alternative engagement ring metals, Engagement Rings, silver engagement rings, silver rings
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How to Find a Titanium Engagement Ring

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

When selecting an engagement ring, choosing the type of metal for that ring is one of the most important decisions you will make. The metal not only affects the durability and versatility of an engagement ring, but also the overall appearance.

Finding a titanium engagement ring may be a little more difficult than traditional gold or platinum rings, but titanium is prized for its durability and the extra effort spent to find a titanium ring may be well worth it.

Choosing Titanium

Titanium, when mixed with other alloys, is one of the strongest metals available. While titanium offers extreme durability when used in an engagement ring, it’s a lot harder to work with than gold or other metals because of its strength.

For women who are allergic or have sensitivites to certain metals, titanium is the perfect choice because of its hypoallergenic properties. It also resists damage and decay much better than other metals and is very lightweight despite its durability.

Styles

Titanium is a difficult metal to work with, so couples who choose a titanium engagement ring are limited with the styles they are able to use. Delicate designs, such as most Celtic rings, are impossible to fashion from titanium.

Certain settings are easier to use in a titanium ring than others, and unusual settings (such as channel or bezel settings) are the easiest type to incorporate into the design. If you choose a prong setting, the prongs will actually be a different metal type and be riveted onto the band because titanium cannot be soldered.

Where to Find Titanium Engagement Rings

Titanium engagement rings are often more difficult to find than white or yellow gold rings, and even platinum rings are typically easier to locate. Large chain jewelers may have a very limited selection of titanium engagement rings, but you are much better off checking online-only retailers or jewelry auctions to find one.

If you are looking for a low-cost alternative to a platinum ring, titanium may be your best bet. The metal itself is quite inexpensive, but titanium engagement rings may be more expensive because the metal is so hard to work with.

If your bride-t0-be prefers a simple design, than a titanium engagement ring will probably be an inexpensive option. If, however, you want to create a more intricate design you are better off buying a gold or even platinum ring because intricate designs are very difficult to create using titanium.

Special Considerations

Although titanium is a very durable metal, it is not impervious to scratches or damage. Titanium rings will become scratched through daily wear and tear or more frequently if you wear the ring while doing household chores or other brisk activities. To help eliminate this problem, avoid wearing your ring while doing heavy chores and store the ring when you’re not wearing it in a box away from other jewelry that may scratch the metal.

Titanium engagement rings can be an inexpensive, durable and beautiful token of your impending life together. While your design options are limited when compared to gold or other metals, you can still create a beautiful ring that will last for years to come.

Tags: alternative engagement ring metals, Engagement Rings, titanium, titanium engagement rings
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Buying a Multi-Tone Engagement Ring

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Even though yellow gold is the classic choice for engagement rings, couples today have a wide variety of metals to choose from when picking out the perfect ring. In fact, multi-tone rings are becoming increasingly popular as a unique alternative to using only one metal, and have a distinctive look all their own.

Types of Metal Used for Multi-Tone Rings

Any metal that you find in an engagement ring can typically be used as part of a multi-tone ring. Take the time to become familiar with your different options:

Usually bought in 14k or 18k versions, yellow gold is the classic metal used in engagement rings. The smaller the carat value, the less expensive it is.

White gold, a beautiful alternative to yellow gold, looks beautiful as the backdrop for a diamond or other gemstone. However, because the rhodium coating on white gold can wear away over time, white gold rings require more upkeep.

Platinum, on the other hand, is one of the most durable engagement ring metals and one of the most expensive. Even with daily wear, platinum’s sheen and brilliance will not wear away such as with white gold.

If you are looking for a more affordable metal, silver is usually quite inexpensive. However, this metal requires frequent polishing to keep its shine.

Titanium, often used in men’s engagement rings, offers a distinctive and durable look. This metal is typically used in more modern rings, and can actually be treated to appear in lovely shades of blue and purple.

Though more rare than regular yellow and white gold, colored gold offers a distinctive and beautiful look for the bride-to-be who wants something a little more unique. Colored gold can be in a variety of shades, including a pale pink (referred to as rose gold) or even shades of green.

Multi-Tone Ring Styles

When shopping for a multi-tone engagement ring, you have several designs to choose from. Many Celtic engagement rings use multiple metals, usually in the form of intricate knots or braids.

Alternatively, different metals can be used as accents in the ring, such as words, arches or other symbols. Multi-tone engagement rings often use one metal as detailing on the edges or rim of the ring to complement the overall design, as well.

Multi-tone engagement rings do not always use diamonds or other gemstones as the focal point of the ring (although they can,) but the distinctive look of muliple metals serves as the basis for the ring design itself and as such, some gems may detract from the overall design. As a general rule, the more rare the metals are, the less likely it is to use gemstones in the design.

When considering the cost of a multi-tone engagement ring, they can often be less expensive than a traditional ring depending on the metals used. If you use inexpensive metals, such as silver or yellow gold, it will be cheaper than a multi-tone ring with rarer metals and gemstones.

Multi-tone engagement rings are becoming a popular choice for the bride-to-be who desires a distinctive, beautiful ring that is a unique alternative to a classic design. With the proper care, your multi-tone engagement ring will be a beautiful symbol of a couple’s love and comittment to one another for many years to come.

Tags: celtic engagement rings, engagement ring, multi-tone engagement ring, multi-tone metal ring, two-tone engagement ring, types of engagement ring metals
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Rose Gold Engagement Rings

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Traditional white and yellow gold engagement rings are beautiful in their own right, but for the bride-to-be who desires something more unique, a rose gold ring may be the perfect choice.

What is Rose Gold?

Commonly referred to as pink or red gold, rose gold gets its lovely hue from a mixture of pure gold and copper. Rose gold has a higher percentage of copper than any other gold, lending it the lovely pinkish hue. Of course, the actual color of rose gold can vary from depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will add silver or other metals to change the hue even more, lending rose gold a deeper or lighter pink shade.

The color of rose gold can also be affected by the carat. Higher carats will yield a lighter tint because there is more pure yellow gold present, which reduces the effect of the copper.

Where Can I Find Rose Gold Rings?

Rose gold is still relatively rare to find in engagement rings, but more designers are turning to alternative metals as a unique choice for couples ready to spend the rest of their lives together. If you customize your engagement ring, you can typically request the ring be made with rose gold. Antique rings may also be an option, as the time period when the rings were made is famous for using many unique design options and metals, including rose gold. While rose gold is roughly on par with the price of traditional yellow gold, the rarity of this metal used for engagement rings can make it a bit more costly. The fact that many couples must custom-order an engagement ring or find independent jewelers who specialize in rose gold make it a more expensive option than traditional metals.

If you choose rose gold for your engagement ring, there are a number of things you can do to not only offset the cost, but add an additional unique touch to your ring. For example; rather than having the entire band made from rose gold, you could consider using rose gold as an accent to complement the rest of the ring! You can use pink gold on the rim of the setting, or use it as an accent color along the edge of the band. You can also use rose gold to complement a pink diamond, if you so choose. This adds extra beauty to an already gorgeous piece.

Protect your Investment

Just as you would care for any of your gold jewelry, your rose gold engagement ring should be handled with the same treatment. Avoid wearing your ring while using harsh household chemicals, doing heavy housework or any activity that can potentially scratch or damage your ring. Unfortunately, if you are allergic to copper, the copper alloys in rose gold can cause your finger to become red, irritated and swollen. Take this into consideration before purchasing a ring.

A rose gold engagement ring can be a beautiful and unique choice versus traditional metals. For couples who love the classic symbolism of a gold ring, rose gold offers a wonderful alternative that is just as meaningful.

Tags: alternative metals, rose gold engagement ring
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Titanium Engagement Rings

Monday, May 4th, 2009

I saw a woman wearing a titanium engagement ring the other day, and it was really lovely and seemed to suit her style and sense of self very well. It had a very unique tension setting, and it conveyed a combination of strength and permanence juxtaposed next to softness, vulnerability, and pure, vibrant beauty. The way that the diamond was cradled between the “arms” of the titanium ring made a profound statement, and I was very impressed.

I struck up a conversation with the woman and asked her how she liked her titanium engagement ring, and why she chose a titanium ring rather than a gold engagement ring, or even a silver engagement ring, because her titanium ring was the same color, more or less, than a silver engagement ring. She told me that frankly, the purchase of a titanium engagement ring was not her own choice. She was surprised by her fiancÃ© and she actually didn’t know much at all about titanium before she was presented with her titanium engagement ring. She had learned in school that it was a very hard and sturdy metal that is lightweight and used in the aerospace and automobile industries. She also said she owned a titanium tennis racket. She did mention that she had heard something about titanium being used to make jewelry, but not being a big jewelry person, she just hadn’t looked into it.

The ring that she was wearing was simple in a way, but creatively elegant and as I say it really got my attention, so much so that I was compelled to approach her about it. I asked her about the comfort of the ring when you are wearing it all the time, and she said that her ring was designed with what was called a “semi-comfort fit.” The inner edges of the titanium engagement ring that she had were rounded like the full fledged “comfort fit,” but not as extremely, so the ring fit very comfortably, but it slipped onto her finger firmly. She said that in terms of fit, her titanium engagement ring was the perfect marriage of comfort and the secure feeling that her ring would not fall off of her finger, or be easily removed by the adept hands of a surprise thief.

She also added that even though she was not very familiar with titanium engagement rings before she got hers, she was absolutely stunned when she saw it for the first time. She confided that her fiancÃ© had been struggling with the tough economy when he was shopping for her engagement ring, and he was just blown away when the jeweler introduced him to titanium engagement rings. He was concerned that a gold engagement ring or a platinum engagement ring might set him back even further and drive him deeper into debt just when he was preparing to get married. But he honestly loved the titanium engagement ring that he would up buying and felt in the end that he really wasn’t compromising at all.

There are many engagement ring choices out there, and though the traditional gold, silver, and platinum or palladium engagement rings will never go out of style, this couple’s experience demonstrates the fact that a titanium engagement ring is a viable alternative as well.

Tags: diamond engagement ring, engagement ring, gold engagement ring, platinum engagement ring, silver engagement ring, titanium engagement ring
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Engagement Rings and Family Advice

Friday, May 1st, 2009

When you are ready to propose to the love of your life, it is likely that you don’t know a whole lot about engagement rings, and that is understandable. It is always a good idea to speak with people that you know who do have experience with engagements rings, because those who have gone through the process of buying a diamond engagement ring can share information with you that you would simply have no way of knowing.

One valuable resource to turn to is your family. Certainly your mom, your aunts, and perhaps some of your cousins and sisters have gotten engaged, and you can pick their brains about what types of engagement rings they like and recommend. Let’s face it, there are so many different engagement ring choices out there that it can make your head spin. You have to find the perfect diamond for one thing, and that can be very confusing. Should you get a bigger diamond that may not be certified by the GIA (The Gemological Institute of America), or should you spend your allotted budget on assured quality and get a GIA certified stone? What about the shape of the cut of the diamond, what would look best on her finger? And there is diamond color to consider, should you get the classic white diamond, or step out of the box and perhaps by an engagement ring with a red, pink, yellow, purple, blue or green diamond? There are so many decisions to make when you are shopping for the perfect engagement ring for the woman that you want to spend the rest of your life, and making the right choices can be very challenging. Soliciting the advice of family members who know more about diamonds, precious metals, and engagement rings than you do is a great way to avoid some of the pitfalls that an inexperienced engagement ring shopper might naturally encounter.

So once you have discussed the details of the diamond itself with your confidantes, you are going to have to get on to the next aspect of the wedding rings that requires some comparison shopping and decision making: the precious metal that is going to be wrapped around the finger of your beau. Of course gold engagement rings are very popular, and some people who are on a budget prefer silver engagement rings. On the other end of the scale are the higher end platinum engagement rings. Palladium engagement rings are very fetching to the eye, and there are metals such as titanium and tungsten that are gaining in popularity these days. You have to find out if your future spouse is allergic to any of these metals before you buy the ring, and this is another one of the many tricky matters that you have to consider when you are trying to decide on the perfect engagement ring.

Buying an engagement ring is an important decision, and it is always a good idea to consult with family members who are experienced with engagement rings and have our best interests at heart before we finalize that decision.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, GIA certified, gold engagement rings, palladium engagement rings, Platinum Engagement Rings, titanium engagement rings, tungsten engagement rings
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Staying Within Your Means When Buying an Engagement Ring

Monday, April 27th, 2009

When you are buying an engagement ring for the woman that you want to make your wife, you have to take a lot of things into consideration. The purchase of a diamond engagement ring is a matter of the heart first and foremost, and the primary thing on the mind of most people who are shopping for an engagement ring is that they want to make their girlfriend the happiest woman on earth when she first lays her eyes on that glistening diamond ring. That having been said, a diamond engagement ring that is set in a precious metal like gold or platinum is going to be a major purchase, so you do have to keep financial considerations in mind regardless of how large the quantity of your love may be.

There is a formula that has been circulated that says that a man should spend two months’ salary on the engagement ring that he is going to present to his lady when he proposes. Many people are okay with this, and it is a decision that is personal. However, nothing is etched in stone. It is feasible that a person who makes a very good salary and has a significant amount of disposable income might want to spend more than two months’ salary on a custom diamond engagement ring that absolutely stuns everyone who sees it.

On the other hand, another person may feel as though spending two months’ salary on an engagement ring is simply much more than he can comfortably afford. This doesn’t mean that he loves his paramour any less than the first fellow. He is just staying within his means and that is a quality that any woman should value in a potential spouse.

If the sky is the limit when you are shopping for an engagement ring you can simply shop around and explore the various designs that you see and pick whatever ring that you like without regard to cost. However, most of us have to work within some type of budget and choose something that we do actually like, but something that we can afford as well.

The good news is that there are very nice engagement rings in all realistic price ranges. There are smaller diamonds and diamonds of less than perfect quality that look fantastic unless you were to scrutinize them under a jewelery loupe. There are also metals that a person on a budget can choose that are less expensive than the standard gold or higher end platinum rings, like silver, tungsten, titanium or palladium.

It is indeed the thought that counts, and many marriages are strained by economic concerns after the passion dies down a little bit. It is therefore a good idea to look for an engagement ring that you are certain that your partner will enjoy, but one that does not put you into so much debt that the good intentions turn into a bad situation. Love is grand, but choosing a diamond engagement ring that is within your means is a good way to get off to a solid start together.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, gold engagement rings, palladium engagement rings, Platinum Engagement Rings, titanium engagement rings, tungsten engagement rings
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Engagement Rings and Online Jewelers

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

When you realize that you have found the woman that you are going to spend the rest of your life with, one of the first things that you think about is finding the perfect engagement ring. When you watch television you hear all of the usual suspects that you see at the mall making their redundant sales pitches, but when you are looking for fine jewelry, you need to keep value in the forefront of your thinking. Companies that spend a fortune on television advertising trying to convince you that they have the best engagement rings are going to pass that expense right on to you, the consumer. Shopping for diamond jewelry is just like any other major purchase: you have to do comparison shopping and get the most that you can for your money.

A man who has decided to get married is rather vulnerable when he walks into a brick and mortar jewelry store. Most men are not savvy when it comes to purchasing jewelry, and when the salesperson gets involved, there are a lot of buttons there to push. They will tell you the exact formula of how much you are “supposed” to spend for your diamond engagement ring, and the innuendos will be in the air concerning the cost of the ring having something to do with the quantity of love that you have for your fiancÃ©-to-be. Most of us live on some sort of budget, and even though you may have decided to take the plunge, that decision didn’t come with a huge windfall of extra money, so you have to stay within your means while simultaneously buying an engagement ring that you are excited about and proud to give. And even if money is no object whatsoever, you want to get the best value that you can when you go the jeweler.

Depending on the size of the town that you live in, comparison shopping for the perfect diamond engagement ring can be challenging. How many jewelry stores are there in your town? If there are ample jewelers to choose from, do you have the time and energy to run all over town looking for the right engagement ring at the right price? Do the stores have a large enough selection to choose from? Can you compare the offerings of competitors side by side? Invariably, the answer to all or most of these questions is going to be a resounding no.

The obvious solution for anyone who is looking to get the perfect diamond engagement ring at the best possible price is to do your shopping at an online jeweler. Shopping for your engagement ring online saves you the legwork and you get to compare practically infinite options side by side from the comfort of your computer chair. When you purchase a diamond engagement ring it is an outward expression of your innermost feelings. When you shop at an online jeweler, you can feel confident that you did the necessary research and got the ring you wanted at the very best price that was available to you.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, diamond jewlery, diamonds online, Engagement Rings, online jewelers, wedding bands, Wedding Rings
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