Archive for the ‘Buying Diamonds’ Category

Engagement Ring Research

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

When someone has decided that they have found the person that they would like to spend the rest of their life with, they have truly been blessed. Finding the ideal life partner is an elusive task, and when it finally happens, it is something that mere words cannot adequately describe. This is one of the reasons that a diamond engagement ring is such a wonderful thing, because when you ask that special someone to marry you, there is so much to it that only a symbol can truly explain the way that you feel. The precious metals involved, of the earth but so transcendentally beautiful, formed and etched to artistic perfection, coupled with the effervescent purity and permanence of the diamond center say more than language can possibly convey.

It is a pleasure to be involved in a business that is so integral to the tradition of engagement. Buying diamonds can be difficult for a number or reasons, but one of the many nice things about the Internet is the way it makes diamond engagement ring research so simple and convenient.

For instance, if you want to learn about the different characteristics of diamond quality, all you have to do is search for the “4Cs of diamonds” (which are, incidentally, cut, carat, color, and clarity). If you are wondering how you can make sure that your diamond engagement ring is authentic, you can explore certification laboratories like the Gemological Institute of America online and gain an understanding of the diamond certification process.

Precious metals are something that few of us are very familiar with until we embark on the search for the perfect engagement ring. People generally think about gold engagement rings or perhaps platinum engagement rings first, but what types of gold engagement rings are out there? What is the difference between 24k and 14k or 18k gold? How much should I be paying for a platinum ring? Is a silver engagement ring a good choice? Many people are asking about tungsten engagement rings and titanium engagement rings. Years ago, you had to depend on what the jeweler told you, or research them at the library. These days, it is a snap to arm yourself with the information that you need to shop for an engagement ring intelligently.

You need to know the lay of the land when you are buying an engagement ring, and the comparison shopping opportunities that are available online are very useful resources. You can look at engagement rings with similar features side by side, being offered by many different sources, and get a good idea of the correct price to pay. They say that knowledge is power, and the more knowledge you bring to the table when you are shopping for an engagement ring, the better.

Love is grand, and the day that a couple gets engaged is one of the happiest and most memorable days of their lives. With a little bit of research and a discerning eye, you can be certain that you are presenting your beau with the perfect engagement ring that she will cherish for a lifetime.

Tags: diamond engagement ring, engagement ring, gold engagement ring, platinum engagement ring, silver engagement ring, titanium engagement ring, tungsten engagement ring
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Engagement Ring Shopping Tips

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Buying an engagement ring is a once in a lifetime experience for most of us, and when you are a decent and reputable person who is in the engagement ring business you never lose sight of the fact that you are playing a special role in the lives of your customers. Yes, every business person needs to make a profit at work so that they can pay their bills, and everyone who buys an engagement ring has a job where they need to make money as well. But it is important that engagement ring shoppers pay close attention to the details of their purchase and get themselves a good deal from an honest jeweler who is fair and who stands behind his or her work.

Many people who are buying an engagement ring are not savvy when it comes to diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals, and unfortunately, there are people who sell engagement rings who know this. I am firmly convinced that the vast majority of the people in the jewelry business are completely ethical, but it is definitely important that you make sure that what is being delivered is what has been agreed upon when you are buying an engagement ring.

A person or a couple can get very excited about the fact that they have finally decided to take the plunge. They decide that they are going to buy a beautiful diamond engagement ring, or perhaps a platinum engagement ring, and pop that question. When someone gets into this state of mind, they are prone to making rash decisions. They may pick a particular jewelry store out of the phone book and head down there without having done any research. They may not know a certified diamond from a hunk of cubic zirconia or a carat from a carrot. If they happen to walk into a jewelry store that may not have the most well developed set of ethical values, they are liable to walk out of there having bought an engagement ring that was really not a very good deal. It’s like a person deciding to buy a car one day and getting so excited about it that he or she doesn’t consider the possibility that the first dealer may not have the right car for them on that day. When you think like that, you are invariably going to someday realize that you could have done better if you had been more measured and patient while you were doing your shopping.

Shopping for the perfect engagement ring can be a lot of fun, and we are not trying to cast aspersions or suggest that buying an engagement ring is tantamount to throwing yourself into a pool of hungry sharks. We are simply suggesting that you avoid allowing your excitement to get the best of you. Do your research and go to the jewelry store with sufficient knowledge so that you can negotiate a deal on the ring that you like that is fair to you, and fair to the seller. If you avoid uninformed impulse buying, your experience of shopping for an engagement ring will be pleasant one.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Platinum Engagement Rings, the perfect 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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Engagement Rings: Past, Present, and Future

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The tradition involved in presenting a prospective spouse with an engagement ring is a rich and storied one, but since diamond engagement rings are a statement of fashion as well as being a symbol of love, new and innovative styles emerge as times change. Each generation is going to alter the tradition slightly, and that is a good thing, and it is the way that traditions continue to grow rather than falling into entropy and eventually dying out. Evolving design possibilities for engagement rings emerge as time passes due to technological advances as well as stylistic innovations.

Additionally, the prices of some precious metals and stones have become more in line with the spending ability of the general public over the years, and that has impacted the tradition and opened up more possibilities for couples who are shopping for an engagement ring.

Since the engagement ring is such a traditional piece of jewelery, the styles of the past still look relevant today, but, more modern stylistic notions have entered the craft and there is a mingling of the traditional with the modern in the realm of engagement ring design these days. In the end, the purchase of an engagement ring is a personal choice, and there are indeed a good many engagement ring choices out there.

Many people have looked at the engagement rings that they have seen on the fingers of their older family members since they were children and fallen in love with them. Indeed, many of these classic engagement ring designs are stunning even today. A lot of women feel as though they would love to have an antique ring, and buying an antique engagement ring can be a good choice. There are also vintage engagement rings being made in the present that are intended to be reminiscent of the classic styles of years gone by, and they are certainly a viable option for those who are seeking a vintage flavor.

Diamond solitaires have been an industry standard for years, and they are very popular today as well. As we say, the diamond engagement ring is a deeply embedded tradition, and the simple elegance of a diamond solitaire engagement ring is not something that is likely to go out of style any time soon.

Contemporary designs utilize the advances in technology that we mentioned that give jewelery designers the ability to create innovative alloys that can provide interesting colors. Technologies that were not available decades ago allow the modern design professional to shape diamonds more creatively while adding more intricacy in the detailing of the engagement ring. Mokume Gane engagement rings are becoming quite popular, and Celtic engagement rings are very interesting with their trademark knot designs.

What specific future innovations may be in store for the traditional engagement ring is anybody’s guess, but in all likelihood, we will continue to see a mixture of the classic and the new. One thing is for certain, however; the engagement ring has always been a symbol of an enduring and committed, loving relationship, and that is a tradition that is worth upholding.

Tags: celtic engagement rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, diamond solitaire engagement rings, Engagement Rings, Mokume gane, Vintage Engagement Rings
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Engagement Ring True Stories

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The true love that is symbolized by a diamond engagement ring is something that is unique to this special type of ring, and it is interesting to hear some of the different stories that people have to tell about their own engagement ring experiences. We have spoken to many people over the years who have been willing to tell us their personal engagement ring stories, and we will endeavor to share some of them with you here. From stories about losing a platinum and diamond engagement ring and finding it the day before the wedding, to winning the money for the perfect custom engagement ring at the race track, we have heard them all. But not really. I’m sure that we will hear more, because truth is indeed stranger than fiction, especially when you are talking about engagement rings. But a friend shared his engagement ring experience with me a while ago, and I found it to be a good story.

When this friend of mine first fell in love with the woman who was to become his wife a couple of years later, he was a young guy who was still attending college. Of course this means that he didn’t have very much money. It was truly love at first sight for both of them, and within a couple of months they started talking about getting married. They discussed the perfect engagement ring, going to online jewelry stores and researching the diamonds and precious metals. They learned about the 4Cs of diamond quality, and about the way that quality diamonds are certified by the The Gemological Institute of America. They discussed whether they would prefer a large diamond or if such an engagement ring might be too pretentious. Then they explored the precious metals, learning about the various gold alloys, silver, platinum, palladium, titanium, and tungsten engagement rings. They even considered whether or not my friend should wear a man’s engagement ring. In the end, they did locate the engagement ring that was perfect for them. They had a lot of fun dreaming about the future, and this was just one of the many things that they discussed. They also imagined a nice wedding, and what it would be like to have a family and buy their first house. They were, after all, two young people who had fallen in love.

On Spring break when they were seniors in college they went to Las Vegas. They had a wonderful time, and their love was brimming over. They couldn’t wait. They knew it was kind of a rash decision, but they went to a wedding chapel and they got married.

Because they had very little money, they had no ring. And things were tight for them for the next couple of years. But two and a half years later, while both of them were working rather low paying jobs while looking for a break, my friend, who went to school for drama, landed a role in, of all things, a Las Vegas Strip production of a Broadway play. The salary was phenomenal. He went online and bought the ring that they had decided on those years before when the two of them were just dreaming.

It came via next-day courier, and he surprised her with the news about the role in Las Vegas, and then, he produced the ring. When I heard that story, I had to think that indeed, dreams really do come true. Especially when there is love in the dream.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Gemological Institute of America, the 4Cs
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Top 10 Reasons to Buy an Engagement Ring Online

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

When a man decides it is time to pop the question, or when a couple decides that they are going to get engaged as a decision that they arrived at together, there is a lot of planning that needs to be done. The wedding will be something that requires a lot of thought, and they will have to decide on living arrangements and if they want to have children right away. But the engagement ring comes before all of these things, and it too is a big decision. The purchase of an engagement ring is a sizable investment, and it is an important symbol of the love that the couple have for one another, so it needs to be approached logically.

Online shopping is becoming more and more popular, and these days, many anxious men and excited couples are choosing to buy their engagement rings online. Here are the top 10 reasons to buy your diamond engagement ring from an online jeweler.

10.) It Saves Gas

Okay, so the cost of gasoline has dropped almost in half since the outrageous prices of last summer. But hey, the economy is tough, so why drive around town, and perhaps out of town, to shop for an engagement ring when you can do it online?

9.) More Competition

When you shop online, you are seeing engagement rings from all over the globe, and due to the competition for your business you will very likely get the best prices online.

8.) Selection

There are thousands of online jewelers offering virtually unlimited engagement ring choices, from titanium engagement rings to designer platinum engagement rings. The online selection of engagement rings is clearly superior.

7.) Convenience

When you buy your diamond engagement ring online, you browse the Internet, point, click, and simply wait for the delivery person to knock your on door with the perfect engagement ring.

6.) Ease of Research

If you choose to buy your engagement ring online, you are not forced to rely on the words of a salesman in a jewelry store who has a slanted viewpoint. You can do your research objectively and gain an understanding of the ins and outs of engagement rings before you buy.

5.) Saves Time

Not only do you save gas by not having to drive around looking for the right diamond engagement ring, but you also save a lot of your valuable time.

4.) You Keep it a Secret

If you are a man who wants to surprise his girlfriend with a diamond engagement ring and a proposal, you don’t want to be seen at the local jewelry stores. Word spreads quickly, and when you shop online for your engagement ring, nobody is any the wiser.

3.) Support Online Jewelers

Online jewelers work hard for their customers, and they appreciate your business! When you buy your engagement ring online, you are making the statement that you believe in e-commerce.

2.) Low Overhead, Lower Price

When you buy your engagement ring from a brick and mortar store, you, the consumer, assume the cost of their overhead.

1.) Comparison Shopping

There is no substitute for being able to compare two rings side by side, and when you shop for an engagement ring online, you have the ultimate ability to comparison shop from the comfort of your very own home.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, online jewelers, Platinum Engagement Rings, titanium 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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Giving an Engagement Ring

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Some couples make a mutual decision to get married at some point in their relationship rather than the woman waiting for the man to “pop the question”. When couples go this route they may choose to discuss the engagement ring together and actually shop for the ring as a couple. There are clearly a lot of advantages to this approach. For one thing, there is no risk that the bride-to-be won’t like the ring that her man picked out for her. Another nice thing is that they can both feel like they were a part of the selection on an emotional level. The fact that they went through the process of shopping for and buying the engagement ring together could be an experience that adds to their bonding as a couple.

The down side of this arrangement is that there is no element of surprise. The presentation of the engagement ring is an expression of the man’s desire to spend the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams. When everything goes according to plan, the surprise proposal and presentation of a dazzling diamond engagement ring is a storybook moment. It is understandable that some committed couples may know that they are going to get engaged at some point and decide together when to buy the ring. But there is certainly something to the element of surprise that can be magical.

If you decide that you are going to buy an engagement ring for the woman in your life and surprise her with the ring and a proposal, it is interesting to consider where and how you should go about doing it. You are invariably going to be nervous when you propose, and there is probably going to be an emotional reaction one way or another, so it may be risky to propose in public. But then again, most dates take place in some sort of public place and it might be nice to pull the ring out of your pocket while you are sitting at your favorite restaurant enjoying dessert at the best table in the house, overlooking the bay, while the pianist is playing her favorite song.

Clearly, the best milieu is a place where you both feel comfortable that has some sort of romantic flavor to it. Many people love nature, and pulling out that ring while you are luxuriating on the beach or sitting on a plateau that offers a sublime view of the valley below while hiking would be a nice effect. A carriage ride through the park on a starry night would be an interesting idea, or you could even pop the question and present her with the ring while you were doing something unusual, daring, and memorable, like hot air ballooning or taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon or a lush green vista in Hawaii.

When you have found the love of your life and you are ready to give her the perfect diamond engagement ring, time will stand still and in a way it may not matter where you are. But, when you think about it, slipping that ring on her finger while you are dancing alone on a beach in Tahiti at midnight under a full moon might be a pretty good idea…

Pictured engagement ring setÂ from the Lieberfarb Line (www.Lieberfarb.com).

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, engagement rings online
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An Engagement Ring Transcends Mere Jewelry

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

Jewelry is a nice accessory to any outfit, and many of us get very creative with the way that we wear our jewelry. There are people who enjoy wearing different jewelry depending on the outfit that they are wearing, and others who really love the foundational jewelry that they wear and can never be caught without their special watch or a particular bracelet. Most jewelry is primarily worn as a statement of fashion (with the exception of a watch, which has a particular practical function).

An engagement ring is indeed a piece of jewelry, but it serves a very different purpose than most other forms of jewelry. It is true that the perfect diamond engagement ring is eye catching and very beautiful to look at from the point of view of aesthetics and fashion, but it is also a symbol. As the legendary psychologist Carl Jung posited throughout his voluminous writings, the consciousness of mankind coalesces around symbols. He called these symbols “archetypes of the collective unconscious.”

Love is perhaps the most profound and powerful of human emotions, and the love that you feel for your partner when you have decided to make the ultimate commitment and join hands in holy matrimony is inexplicable in words. So the symbol of that all encompassing love, the diamond engagement ring, transcends the purpose of any other form of jewelry that is worn as a statement of fashion.

The fact that diamonds are nearly indestructible and therefore “permanent,” as it were, symbolizes the lifelong commitment that you are making to your spouse-to-be when you present her with a diamond engagement ring. The ring is saying “I promise to love you forever.”

Diamonds are essentially the hardest substance on earth, able to endure anything that comes their way without crumbling. The diamond engagement ring is a symbol of the durability of your relationship. It is a statement to the effect of “nothing, no force on earth, can drive us asunder, until death do us part.”

A perfect union is indeed strong, like a diamond. It is durable too, and it is a lasting relationship that will span the lifetime of the couple who enter into it. But there is another symbolic factor to consider when you analyze what the diamond engagement ring represents.

Diamonds are very beautiful. When you gaze into a well cut diamond you can get lost in the facets and the angles that lend a sense of dimensionality that trumps the mundane world around us. Diamonds are brilliant, and they shine proudly under lights or out in the sun. The ideal loving relationship between a man and woman is one of the most beautiful expressions of being that we have here on earth. That love is, in a very real sense, the origin of mankind, because we all are born as a result of this type of union.

A diamond engagement ring is not just another piece of jewelry. It is a symbol the beauty that is present when two people are deeply in love, an outward expression of something that is cheapened when you try to explain it.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, jewelry
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Engagement Rings: Does Size Matter?

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

When you are going to purchase an engagement ring, there are many factors that you need to consider. Of course you want to stay within the price range that you feel comfortable with, and the fact is, you can get a very nice ring in any reasonable price range, so the buyer has a lot flexibility on that score. But what about size? Does the size of the diamond really matter? Should you try to buy the biggest diamond that you can possibly afford?

The perfect ring is different for different couples depending upon their unique taste and sense of style. Some people are very traditional and would never consider an unusually colored diamond, and others are blown away by a diamond with a blue or champagne hue. There are couples who demand intricate complexity in their setting, and others who prefer the neat and simple statement that a diamond solitaire ring makes. There is no right or wrong in matters of taste. When you are shopping for a diamond engagement ring it is all about you. Which ring stands out in your eyes?

Many people are impressed when they see a really large diamond on someone’s finger, but there are subtleties at play that a jeweler would notice but a layman would miss. The size of a diamond is not the only indicator of the cost of the ring. There is such a thing as diamond quality, and if a ring is not GIA certified for quality, you can get a larger stone for the same price as a smaller on that is in fact GIA certified.

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is not a for-profit entity. They are an independent body of diamond and gemstone experts who are dedicated to preserving the integrity of the diamond industry. When they certify a stone, their seal is etched into it (it is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under a jeweler’s magnification tools). So when you are considering the question of whether or not size matters when you are shopping for a diamond, you have to consider the quality of the diamond that you are going to get as well as the size. A Gemological Institute of America certification is very important to some couples, and they may wind up with a smaller diamond than a couple who is willing to settle for a lesser quality stone that is not certified. Once again, this is a matter or personal opinion and preference. There are no absolutes concerning what “the best” course of action is.

Many are of the mind that it is not the quantity of something that really matters, but the quality. This seems like a wise assessment in most instances, and it may be the best way to approach the purchase of a diamond engagement ring. However, an engagement ring is a very personal purchase. In the final analysis, when you are asking the question, “does size matter when you are purchasing a diamond engagement ring?” the answer is this: size matters as much as you think that it does.

Tags: diamond color, Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, GIA
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