Silver Jewelry

The silver jewelry and accessories available at Blue Nile are made of beautiful sterling silver. For our collection, we have chosen classic designs created by some of the finest silver craftsmen. This guide will help you learn to identify quality in silver jewelry and accessories.


Sterling Silver

Pure silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.

Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent non-silver portion of sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best companion, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color.

The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the metal's value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design.
Stamps of Quality

Most high quality silver items are stamped with a "fineness" or "quality" mark. This mark designates the precious metal content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be accompanied by a maker's mark or registered trademark.

Silver Alloys

Because pure silver is so soft, it should only be used when malleability is required, such as in handcrafted jewelry featuring weaving and other intricate designs.

Sterling silver is most often used for jewelry and household accessories because of its combination of beauty and durability. Acceptable quality marks for sterling silver include:

* sterling
* sterling silver
* ster
* .925

Care

With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver.

Clean Your Silver Regularly

Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to remove tarnish. You can find fine silver polishes, solutions, or cloths appropriate to remove tarnish at most hardware stores or specialty craft stores. Tarnish is most easily removed when it first becomes visible.

Although wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, regular cleanings of all your silver items will prevent tarnish and keep your silver bright and sparkling.

Look for the fineness mark and the maker's mark on the underside of the silver item you are considering to ensure the quality.

Buyer's Tip

Sterling silver is the standard for beautiful high-quality silver jewelry. It's over 90% pure silver, mixed with alloys to add strength and durability. And it won't wear down, as silver plating can.
Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling Silver Sweetheart Locket


For jewelry that lasts, all our silver jewelry, like this Sweetheart Locket, is pure sterling silver.

What's Right for this Occasion?

The more important the occasion, the harder it may seem to find an appropriate gift. Here are a few guidelines to ensure that your gift will remind her of this occasion every time she wears it.


Anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a sign of growth and commitment. Symbolize your past, present, and future together with a three-stone diamond ring. Choose from several styles in popular shapes and sizes, or use our Build Your Own Three-Stone Ring® feature to create a unique gift. You could also consider our Diamond Curved Journey Pendant in 18k White Gold, which features seven diamonds graduating from smallest to largest to symbolize love's journey.


Birthday
Birthday
Birthstone jewelry makes an ideal birthday gift, and Blue Nile offers simple, classic styles that she can wear every day. Another option could be our Sweetheart Locket in Sterling Silver, which opens to show two of her favorite photos, and can be engraved for a personalized touch.


Milestone Event
Milestone Event
For a milestone achievement such as a graduation or job promotion, a diamond solitaire pendant makes an exceptional gift. Choose from a broad range of pendant styles in platinum or 18k gold, or use our Build Your Own Diamond Pendant® feature to choose the perfect diamond and setting.


New Baby
New Baby
Create a personalized gift with our Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet and Charms. You can commemorate future special occasions with additional charms from our collection.


Just Because

Platinum Jewelry

But not with platinum. A scratch in platinum may leave a mark on the metal, but this metal is so strong that it will not readily chip or splinter. For that reason, we set all loose diamonds in safe, secure, platinum prongs.

While it is the strongest of jewelry metals, it can scratch and develop a patina of wear. Many people prefer this look, unique to platinum. But if you like the shine, a jeweler can polish your jewelry to bring back the original reflective finish. In the mean time, buffing with a soft cloth can give your jewelry renewed luster.

The majority of our platinum jewelry is 95 percent pure platinum combined with 5 percent iridium, palladium, ruthenium or other alloys. For guaranteed quality in platinum, look for the marks 950 Plat or Plat.

Care

Soaking platinum in a mild solution of soap and warm water and gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled brush is usually all that is required to maintain the metal's luster.

View our beautiful platinum jewelry.

Buyer's Tip

When selecting a setting for a diamond, we recommend using a platinum head. Platinum's cool white sheen beautifully accentuates the sparkle and brilliance of a diamond, and its great strength holds the gem firmly.

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Gemstone Jewelry

CONTENTS

• Diamond Education
  • Certification
  • Shape
  • Clarity
  • Cut
  • Carat
  • Color
  • Fancy Diamonds
  • Blue Nile Signature Diamonds
• Jewelry Education
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Bracelets
  • Watches
• Rings Education
  • Ring Guide
  • Wedding Ring Guide
  • Choose Your Jeweler
  • Choose Your Ring
  • Choose Your Diamond
• Platinum Education
• Gemstone Education
  • Color
  • Clarity
  • Cut
  • Size
  • Enhancements
• Silver Education
• Gold Education
• Pearl Education
  • Akoya
  • Freshwater
  • South Sea
  • Tahitian

This guide defines the five essential characteristics of gemstone quality. By understanding these characteristics, you'll be able to shop with confidence. Print this helpful information and take it with you shopping so you can make the best choice on a beautiful piece of gemstone jewelry.

The jewelry industry recognizes the highest quality gemstones by purity of their hue, the depth of tone, and the color saturation. The best value is in colors that include "slight" traces of other colors, are not too light or dark, and have a lot of saturated color. Blue Nile offers some of the highest-quality colored gemstones available. Nearly all gemstones today, including Blue Nile stones, have been treated to enhance their color. The most common methods of treatment are heating, nearly always seen with aquamarine, citrine, amethyst, sapphire, ruby and tanzanite, bleaching commonly seen with pearls, and irradiation performed on nearly all blue topaz. more Almost all gemstones contain inclusions. Even those most highly prized have at least some inclusions. Flawless gemstones are very rare and very expensive. The best value is found in gems that are lightly to moderately included, like those in Blue Nile gemstone jewelry. Emeralds are typically treated with colorless oil, wax or resin to minimize surface-reaching inclusions. more Unlike diamonds, with gemstones there isn't an "ideal" cut geometrically configured for maximum brilliance. But a high-quality gemstone cut is one that presents the most even color, exposes the fewest inclusions, and displays the majority of the gemstone weight when set in jewelry. more

The carat weight of a gemstone is not necessarily an accurate gauge for gemstone size. To help you judge the size of a gemstone, Blue Nile lists the diameter of the gemstone when viewed from above - since if the gemstone is set in jewelry; this is the only part of the gemstone that is visible. more Nearly all gemstones on the market, including gemstones offered by Blue Nile, have been treated to enhance their appearance. Gemstones that have not been treated but exhibit desirable color and clarity command extravagant prices. Some enhancement treatments are almost universal, are permanent, and require no special care of the gemstone, such as heat treatment to enhance color. Other treatments are common, and may require more or less special care to avoid damage, such as infusion of colorless oil, wax or resin to improve clarity. more

The beautiful color of a gemstone is its most defining characteristic, and many jewelers consider it to be the most important evaluation criterion. When deciding upon gemstone color, examine hue, tone, and saturation.

Hue

The most valuable gemstones are those that exhibit a pure color and only "slight" hues of other colors in addition to their primary color, as all Blue Nile gemstones do. For example, Blue Nile sapphires range in hue from "slightly purplish-blue" to "slightly greenish-blue," pink sapphires always range from "pink" to "slightly purplish-pink," and rubies range from "slightly orangish-red" to "slightly purplish-red". With the exception of opals, variation in a gemstone's hue will be called out in the gemstone details on the product detail page.

Tone

Tone represents the depth of color, ranging from colorless to black. Gemstone tone is described as "light," "medium-light," "medium," "medium-dark," and "dark." Blue Nile offers gemstones with the most sought-after tones that fall within the medium-light to medium-dark range. For all of our gemstone jewelry, you'll find any tone variations are called out in the gemstone details.

Saturation

Saturation, or color purity, refers to the degree to which the gem is free from brown or gray hues. The most desirable gemstones, which show little gray or brown, are often described as having "vivid" or "strong" color saturation. Generally, the levels of color saturation will not be called out in the product details because the gemstones in our jewelry are hand-selected for their vivid colors.

Ruby

Emerald

Sapphire

Pink Sapphire

Garnet

Citrine

Peridot

Opal

Aquamarine

Blue Topaz

Amethyst

Pink Tourmaline

Identifying Marks

Because gemstones form under unique circumstances, each individual gemstone is comprised of a combination of trace minerals, which create a unique set of identifying marks or inclusions. Inclusions will not necessarily detract from the beauty or desirability of a colored gemstone.

What to Look For

When considering a colored gemstone's clarity, you should measure your expectations against the standard for that variety of gemstone. Some varieties of colored gemstones, such as aquamarine, blue topaz, and citrine, have naturally fewer inclusions while other gemstones, such as emerald and ruby, tend to have a higher rate of acceptable inclusions.

Clarity is an important factor in comparing quality colored gemstones. Even opaque opals can have milky inclusions that will affect their iridescence and color play. In general, the best values are available in gemstones that are moderately included. Exceptional gemstones with few or no inclusions are available, but they can command extravagant prices.

Colored gemstones are generally cut to maximize the beauty of their color. To recognize quality in the cut of a gemstone, there are several points to consider.

What to Look For

A good cut showcases the gemstone's color, diminishes its inclusions, and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. Because gemstone color can vary, there are no hard geometrical standards when it comes to maximizing brilliance or color. Gemstones, especially rarer ones, are sometimes cut for size without regard for their color. For example, when corundum varieties such as sapphire and ruby are cut for maximum weight rather than beauty, they may display banded colors or streaks. Blue Nile sells only the finest quality, hand-selected colored gemstones.

Buyer's Tip In a gemstone with more saturated color, the best cut may be more shallow than average, permitting more light to penetrate the gemstone, while in a less saturated gem, the color may benefit from a deeper cut.

Gemstone Cut

Look at the gemstone in the setting and ensure that all the facets are symmetrical. An asymmetrically-cut crown indicates a gemstone of low-quality. In all cases, a well-cut gemstone is symmetrical and reflects light evenly across the surface, and the polish is smooth, without any nicks or scratches. These are the characteristics that Blue Nile jewelers look for when selecting our gemstone jewelry.

Buyer's Tip Like diamonds, fine quality color gems usually have a table, crown, girdle, pavilion, and culet. Iridescent opals are one exception, and most often have a rounded cabochon cut.

Different Densities

The carat weight of a gemstone does not necessarily allow you to accurately envision the size of the gemstone. Different gemstones have different densities (mass per unit volume), so two gems that appear to be the same size may actually have very different weights. For example, a ruby is more dense than a diamond, so a 1-carat ruby will look smaller than a 1-carat diamond.

Buyer's Tip Always request the dimensions of a gemstone to ensure that the majority of the gemstone weight will be visible when set in the setting.

To help you envision the gemstone's actual appearance, we at Blue Nile provide the diameter dimensions (for round) or length and width (for other shapes) of a given gemstone. You can even click the zoom button to see a closer look at any piece of gemstone jewelry.

Blue Nile's Colored Gemstone Enhancement Policy

Blue Nile offers consumers only the highest quality, authentic gemstones. Our colored gemstones undergo rigorous internal inspections by our trained gemologists to ensure they meet our stringent quality standards.

Due to their rarity and unique visual properties, nearly all colored gemstones sold at fine jewelers, including Blue Nile, are enhanced using various techniques. Many of these techniques have been used for centuries. Colored gemstones that have not been enhanced are very rare and command extravagant prices.

Our diamonds are not enhanced in any way, other than normal cutting and polishing.

Colored Gemstone Enhancement Processes

There are many methods of enhancing colored gemstones. We describe the most common enhancements below. For more information on colored gemstone enhancements, see the American Gem Trade Association's Gemstone Information Manual.

• Heat Treatment
  

  The application of heat to enhance the color and/or clarity of gemstones has been a common practice around the globe for centuries. It is part of the standard polishing and finishing process for many colored gemstones. As such, it is accepted by the jewelry industry and the American Gem Trade Association. The enhanced color and/or clarity of heat-treated gemstones is permanent.
  
  

• Infusion
  

  The filling of a gem material with an oil, wax, glass, resin or other material, colored or colorless, to improve appearance. This process began centuries ago by gemstone merchants who found that immersing emeralds in oil or waxes made them look clearer to the unaided eye. This practice continues today with many colored gemstones.
  
  

• Coating
  

  The use of wax, resin or oil applied to the exterior of a porous colored gemstone to protect the natural substance, and to improve sturdiness and appearance.
  
  

• Bleaching
  

  The application of chemicals or other elements to lighten or enhance color consistency.
  
  

• Dyeing
  

  The act of adding coloring agents so that they permeate a colored gemstone to enhance or alter color.
  
  

• Irradiation
  

  The alteration of a gemstone's color through the use of radiation. This is often followed by a heating process. The enhanced color of irradiated gemstones is permanent.
  
  

• New and Future Technologies
  

  Techniques for enhancing colored gemstones, either detectable or otherwise, are continually being developed. These may be difficult, or in rare cases, impossible to detect, even for the most sophisticated laboratory. Blue Nile will continue to work with industry groups and gemological experts who are committed to the identification and disclosure of new and future techniques in order to maintain our stringent quality standards.

Basic Gemstone Care

While gemstones are durable, they require varying levels of care. For example, some gemstones are especially vulnerable to household chemicals and temperature changes. Cleaning gemstones presents special challenges. While many gemstones should be cared for by following our basic care guidelines below, please refer to our Gemstone and Pearl Care and Enhancement Overview to understand the care requirements for your specific stone. If you still have questions, please contact Blue Nile customer service.

• Cleaning
  

  After removing your gemstone jewelry, clean it by following the directions on a non-abrasive jewelry cleaner. Make sure that the jewelry cleaner specifies that it is safe to use with your gemstone. Use a soft cloth to remove any remaining dirt or other residue.
  
  

• Storing
  

  Store your gemstone jewelry in a lined case or a soft cloth, so the gems do not touch each other or parts of other jewelry. Gemstones are harder than gold, silver, or platinum and can scratch the surfaces of your other fine jewelry if they are not kept separate.
  
  

• Wear
  

  While it's true that gemstones such as ruby and sapphire are second only to diamond on the hardness scale, it is not a measurement of their indestructibility. It means that these gemstones are able to resist scratching almost as well as a diamond. Abrasive surfaces, harsh chemicals, and sharp blows can damage even the hardest gem. Your gemstone jewelry should be the last thing you put on when getting dressed and the first thing you take off at the end of the night. Store your gemstones carefully and they will be enjoyed for generations.

Gemstone and Pearl Care and Enhancement Overview

Gemstone	Accepted Enhancements	Gemstone Care
Amethyst	Heated to alter color.	Basic Gemstone Care.
Aquamarine	Heated to alter color and clarity.	Basic Gemstone Care.
Blue Topaz	Heated and/or irradiated to alter color.	Basic Gemstone Care.
Citrine	Heated to alter color.	Basic Gemstone Care.
Diamond	None.	Basic Gemstone Care.
Emerald	Infused to alter clarity and/or color.	Do not use ultrasonic cleaning. Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray.
Garnet	None.	Avoid sudden temperature changes.
Opal	Coated to alter surface consistency and durability.	Do not use ultrasonic cleaning. Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray.
Pearl (natural and cultured)	Bleached, dyed, polished and coated.	Do not use ultrasonic cleaning. Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray. For more information, visit Pearl Education.
Peridot	None.	Basic Gemstone Care.
Pink Tourmaline	Irradiated to alter color.	Do not use ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes.
Ruby	Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity.	Avoid household chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning.
Sapphire	Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity.	Avoid household chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning.
Tanzanite	Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity.	Do not use ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes.

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Fashion Week of the Stars

Jewelry lovers, it’s been a busy week for star sightings. With five days of non-stop fashion gawking & party hopping at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in new york, Jewelry.com is suffering from a serious case of whiplash. The nice news is, the special events & front rows were buzzing with celebrity jewelry statements for your drooling pleasure.

Delicate chains & tasteful studs – move over! Big, beefy, gaudy, & loud are making their mark. The must-have fall trend is (of course) the statement necklace, & they caught the look all over the place.

Perhaps the hottest show was for the Marc Jacobs line, whose front row diva quotient flew off the charts when Jennifer Lopez, in gorgeous drop earrings, & Posh, in a stunning diamond bracelet were spotted sitting together! His after party was equally star-studded as the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Anne Hathaway, Winona Ryder, Sofia Coppola & Jessica Simpson all jostled for his attention - & a stool at his exclusive 60-person sit-down dinner at Robert De Niro’s new Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca.

Charlize Theron rocked it at the Fashion Rocks event at Radio City Music Hall, Rachel Hunter wore it to Justin Timberlake’s highly anticipated William Rast show, Serena Williams lit up the front row at Zac Posen & Blake Lively used it to make her unfortunate green jumpsuit feel like it made sense somehow at Miss Sixty.

To grovel or not to grovel? Isn’t that always the query at Fashion Week?

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Celebrities and Jewellry

Paris Hilton

Socialista, Paris Hilton, may have a new BFF, but she no longer has about $2 million of her own jewelry. The Los Angeles Times reports that a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves entered through the unlocked front door of Hilton’s Sherman Oaks home at 5 a.m. Friday morning and ransacked her bedroom before fleeing with the icy loot and other personal belongings.

Sources told the Times that Paris was not home at the time - even though she was photographed the previous night at several LA night spots.

Out at 5am on a school night? That’s a lot of holiday spirit...

Authorities do not believe the Hilton robbery was connected to burglaries that have beset the Westside and Hollywood Hills lately, costing many celebs hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry and other valuables.

In those incidents two or three men wearing ski masks and gloves hit more than 70 homes usually at night and often on weekends. Some of the victims of these gloved intrusions include former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing and her Oscar-winning director husband, William Friedkin, Los Angeles Clippers basketball star Cuttino Mobley, Duran Duran guitarist John Taylor and his wife, Juicy Couture President Gela Nash-Taylor, and country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Jewelry thieves seem to be making a comeback these days, with the shocking Harry Winston robbery in Paris making headlines, and the economy perhaps forcing others to put their sticky fingers where they don’t belong. Or maybe it’s Hollywood copycats paying homage to their most famous incarcerated gloved criminal, one Mr. O.J. Simpson?

Regardless, celebs like Hilton might want to take extra security precautions until the crime wave passes. Like, say, locking her door?

Diamond Rocks

2008-12-27 13:19:22　769 Reads Add to Collection

It’s rough being the world’s richest supermodel. Diamonds are thrown at your feet, gemstones are bestowed upon you like royalty, and big name actors woo you with bling that would make even a pirate blush. What to do with the clutter? What any sensible, rich, criminally attractive woman would do. Get rid of it.

Brazilian beauty, Gisele Bundchen, is streamlining her treasure chest by auctioning thousands of dollars worth of glittering jewels in the Christie’s Jewels: The los angeles Sale scheduled for October 15th. Tom Brady’s significant other will be selling a 3.35 carat colored Sabbadini diamond ring that is expected to fetch between $15,000 to $20,000. he's also unloading a six-carat diamond pendant necklace worth between $120,000 to $150,000.

The supermodel hasn't officially revealed who gave her the lavish leftovers, but A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio and surf god, Kelly Slater, are on her pre-Brady love list.

A portion of the auction proceeds will go to the Russell Simmons co-founded charity Diamond Empowerment Fund, which provides educational funding to diamond-producing countries in Africa.

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Men's Jewellry Trends

Mens Wedding Rings Show

There is not a day that goes by that you do not see or hear an advertisement for wedding rings. These adverts are always mentioning how a woman loves diamonds & how a diamond wedding ring will make her the happiest woman in the world. there is some truth to these commercials, but there's never any adverts that mention men’s wedding rings.

Most people do not put a great deal of thought in to the purchase of a man’s wedding ring. plenty of men purchase a plain band of gold, platinum, or titanium, but there is a wide variety of different wedding rings that are available for men.

Today, plenty of men require a wedding ring that is a little more elegant than the plain, traditional wedding band. plenty of men are choosing wedding rings that have diamonds set in them. Some men chose wedding rings that have a single diamond while others will chose a wedding ring that may have several diamonds set with either a channel or bezel setting.

Some men still prefer the look of a traditional wedding band, but we require it to be fancier. So plenty of men are now choosing to have their plain wedding bands engraved. This still allows them to have the traditional look that we require & at the same time gives them a wedding ring that is more elegant.

plenty of people will only focus on the woman’s wedding ring, but it is important to remember that it take two to make a marriage & the man should have the opportunity to own a beautiful wedding ring as well.

Sundance Jewelry for Macho Men

Nothing says "guy jewelry" like leather & metal or any combination there of, & Sundance Catalog, who okay has great jewelry for women as well, has some spot on jewelry designs for your macho man.

Even if you can't talk him in to this way good cuff bracelet created by Charlie Favour which combines braided leather & silver, how about a watch? You rarely know.

This Tioga watch is even in the right price range at under $100:

tioga timepiece
A well-made watch with a rugged bent, our stainless steel timepiece pits bright white numbers & glow-in-the-dark hands against a bold, black face. Sweep second hand; green ribbed nylon strap.

Here's another bracelet that looks all guy:
braided leather bracelet
masculine lariat bracelet, hand worked with eight strands of leather, accented with solid pewter beads at the knot closure.

Diamond Gifts for Mens

Diamonds are not just for women. In fact, diamond gifts for men are an excellent option for birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day, anniversaries, retirement, and many other special occasions. Here are just a few of the diamond gifts that you can get for the men in your life.Watches are among the most popular ways to give the gift of diamonds to a man. There are several ways that you can incorporate diamonds into a watch, including on the face and around the dial. Around the dial of a watch, there are typically two ways to find diamonds on a watch. The first is a solitaire diamond at the top in the 12 position. The other is to place a diamond for each number on the clock. Both of these provide an elegant and classy look for a watch that would never be considered too much design or gaudiness for any man.

The other way to add diamonds is on the face. On the face of the watch, you can have just a few diamonds or a whole design that surrounds the outside of the dial. For a square face, the diamonds can line just two of the sides or they can form a complete border around the dial. Round-faced watches can also include a row of diamonds around the border of the face or they can include a more extravagant design. A simple and obvious rule of thumb is that the more diamonds you want on your watch, the more expensive the diamond watch is going to be to purchase.

When it comes to diamond gifts for men, more and more men are appreciating diamond pendant necklaces. Although not the traditional diamond necklaces which are associated with women these necklaces often include a pendant accented in diamonds that is a perfect match for that man’s personality. Dog tags, initials, the Star of David, and crosses are some of the more traditional pendants for a necklace while boxing gloves, dice, a skull and bones, and a dollar sign or a money bag are some of the more trendy options that you have when picking out diamond gifts for men.

For several years, diamond stud earrings have been a popular way to give diamond gifts for men. Whether men like to wear just one earring or two, diamond studs provide a way for them to let more of their personality show. In the case of earrings, typically bigger is always better.

The more diamond you can afford, the better off you are with your gift. Generally, men’s diamond earrings do not go less than .25 carat. However, how the diamond earrings are designed is usually up to each person. In some cases, men like one large diamond in each ear. In other situations, if an earning is designed of several finely cut diamonds it works just as well. The type of diamond does not matter nearly as much as long as they are noticeable and they provide a good amount of shine when they hit the light.

Diamond rings are also a popular choice of diamond gifts for men. These rings are usually coupled with Mother of Pearl and onyx, as well as larger stones like fiery topaz, garnets, and sapphires. Typically, the design of each ring can vary greatly and can even be custom designed. Some trendy designs include a square shape, a horseshoe, or a circular shape. Others include those with shapes, letters, or symbols on them, like a cross, initials, the word “Dad,” an eagle, and a Masonic design. Diamond gifts for men of course can also include the wedding band. Diamond accents are the perfect way to dress up any ring for your nuptials.

Although not as popular, diamond I.D. bracelets are also a way to give diamond gifts to men. Some men enjoy the thoughtfulness and a unique way to display their identity. I.D. bracelets, which are available in titanium, white gold, yellow gold, or silver, with channel set diamonds. Others will have a single diamond set near the name on the face of the bracelet. Dog tags are very similar to I.D. bracelets and can be given to younger generations instead of the bracelets.

The type of diamond gifts for men that you purchase are not nearly as important as matching each guy’s personality. Whether you are buying for that special person in your life, your brother, or your father, each gift is going to be different and have a different meaning to it.

While these are all popular ideas for gifts with diamonds, they are just a few of the many ways to incorporate diamonds in to a gift. Adding diamonds to a gift with immediately increase the personal value of any gift that you give. It shows that time and thought went into picking it and that you care enough to buy diamonds.

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Cubic Zirconiac VS Diamond

Cubic zirconia is much less expensive than a diamond, so cubic zirconia engagement rings

are much more affordable than diamond engagement rings.

Not only are cubic zirconia engagement rings less expensive, but they look almost the exact same! To an untrained eye, cubic zirconia looks identical to diamond.

When thinking of getting an engagement ring, here's a chart comparing both cubic zirconia to diamonds that you'll want to consider:

Cubic Zirconia Compared to Diamonds ?

	Cubic Zirconia	Diamond
Price for one carot	Less than $20	Approximately $20,000
Light dispersion	higher	lower
Hardness	Not hard at all	About 500 times harder than CZ
Weight	Heaver than diamond	Ligher than CZ
Durability	Will show wear over time	One of the most durable materials in the world

If you're wondering how easy it is to sniff out a cubic zirconia engagement ring vs. a diamond ring, it's hard.

At first glance, the two seem quite similar; truth be told, the best way to tell them apart is by using specific tools such as a magnifying glass or microscope. If your girlfriend whips these out when you propose, you might want to reconsider the engagement ;)

After time, however, cubic zirconia could crack, scratch or fade in brilliance easily. Hopefully by then you've either come clean about buying it for her (if you lied initially) or you've saved up enough money to get a diamond engagement ring.

They say a diamond is forever and that's more than just a marketing slogan- diamonds are very durable and will keep their shape and form for a lifetime in most cases. Cubic zirconia rings, however, will fade after several years depending on their exposure and care.

Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings- Common Elements Used

Cubic zirconia isn't the only material in an engagement ring- there's also the ring/band itself to consider. The most common materials used are:

• Sterling silver
• Sterling silver coated with platinum
  
• Rhodium coated sterling silver
• White gold (in rare cases)

Do you see a common theme here? It's Sterling Silver and that's in order to keep the cost of the engagement ring down.

If your aim is to get an affordable engagement ring that will last, I would strongly suggest getting one with a platinum or rhodium coat. Sterling silver is too easily scratched and damaged; platinum is not.

For other types of affordable engagement rings, consider also looking at:

• Gemstone engagement rings
• Cheap diamond engagement rings
• Ruby engagement rings
• Build your own engagement rings

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How to Clean Your Diamond Ring at Home

Diamond engagement ring, a symbol of love and care, a promise of marriage and happiness. Probably one of the most memorable moments in one’s life is given and getting a diamond engagement ring.

Diamond engagement ring is something which will be worn for many years and of course likely be handed down to the next generation.

At the time when you receive your diamond engagement ring, you will be amazed by the sparkle of the diamond. It’s simply beautiful. But day by day its sparkle will become fade and the ring its self look dull. Diamonds have a magnetic affinity for grease.

Daily products such as soaps, our natural skin oils, hand lotions, hair styling sprays, everyday dust and other house hold products leave enough of a film on your diamond ring and the ring its self look dull.

Thick layer of gunk and grime will accumulate over time behind the diamond blocking light and making the diamond look dull and unattractive.

Coatings and other special substance used to protect them and keep their shine. Using abrasive substances, harsh chemicals and vigorous scrubbing could potentially remove this protective coating making the ring more susceptible to dirt and grime. So, take special care when cleaning your diamond ring.

There are many products available in the market you can buy to clean your diamond engagement ring but you can clean your ring yourself and can save some money.

Knowing how to clean diamonds will keep your engagement ring dazzling for years.

There are many home tonic dealing with how to clean jewelry. But most of these do not work and can be extremely harmful to your jewelry.

Below are some of those tonic, try to avoid them for the sake of your diamond engagement ring:

Clean your jewelry often to avoid having to take it to a jeweler for costly and harmful cleaning methods.


Avoid

1. Boiling water:

Many people believe that boiling water can remove all unwanted substances. This is also true for jewelry. Do not even boil your diamond ring in water as it will destroy fine jewelry.

2. Toothpaste:

Toothpaste is abrasive. But toothpaste is highly used as a most common home remedies for cleaning jewelry. You should completely avoid using toothpaste to clean your jewelry. Toothpaste is only for your teeth not for your jewelry. Toothpaste will scratch gold and soften gems.

Diamond Engagement Ring
Diamond Engagement Ring

3. Soap:

Soap cannot be an option for cleaning your diamond ring.

Even the mildest soap unavoidably leaves chemicals and residues on surfaces it cleans and even small deposits of soapy residue will dull the stone.

Specialized jewelry cleaners and detergents formulated to remove deposits and chemical buildup are the best choices for cleaning diamond engagement rings and other diamond jewelry.

Engagement Ring from Amazon


Now come to the point of cleaning Your Diamond Engagement Ring.

Option -1

You are not enough experts to clean your diamond ring, so the first choice is go back to the jewellery shop. They are expert and can be able to-

1. Check the condition of the ring

2. Make sure that the claws are in good condition, and

3. Ensure that there are no problems.


Option -2

The second option is – "clean your diamond jewellery yourself". Always be careful as you are not expert as that jewellery cleaner of the jewellery shop.

What you can do?

You can use a small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and a warm solution of mild liquid detergent or mild soap and water to clean your jewelry.

1. Soak your diamond ring in a warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water.
2. If there is any dirt or dust than use a soft brush and gently brush at the back of the stone.
3. Change angles frequently to work into crevices.
4. Rinse in running water or fresh water and frequently change angles to remove all cleaning solution.
5. Dry the ring with clean lint-free cloth (e.g. used for cleaning a camera lens or glasses) or a jewelry polish cloth.

Precautions-

1. If you have sensitive skin use rubber gloves.

2. Don’t use a brush with bristles.

3. Be very gentle while removing the dust/dirt.

4. Put the ring in a strainer to keep from losing it.

My Jewellry Store (US)

How to Buy a diamond engagement ring?

Smart guys not only acquire precious love but also know how to buy valuable jewelry

So you love her and you are ready to buy an engagement ring for her. It seems fairly simple: Treat. Here's the plan: Withdraw cash from any ATM or sign up checks or bring your new or heavily abused credit card into a form of transport into jewelry, choose what you like, pay and leave. It may be literally that easy! Buying an engagement ring is a piece of cake for some, but buying a good one is a bit more difficult, so become smart enough before buying your first diamond.

Let me define what is a good diamond: A good diamond is one that will hold its value (what you paid for) or increase in value over the time period. For 2009, only one out of 50 diamonds sold to an endusers (that is) will hold its value or increase in value. The other 49 (98 percent of the game) will have an average value of the secondary market only 19.7 percent of the original purchase price. This means that if you do not know how to choose a good diamond, you will have loss of value of your diamond by over 80 percent! A poorly selected diamond, which you will buy at 5000 dollars (245,000 INR) will sell off somewhere around 1000 dollars (48840 INR) after the 30-day return policy expires. Obviously, I do not want that to happen. I want that the new diamond you are going to purchase now will keep on increasing in value for years to come.

So you say yes, I knew it that a smart will say YES, so it is better to do your homework before purchasing your diamond rings and follow these simple strategies by me for you so that you do not fall prey to misleading diamond sellers.


Beautiful blue diamond ladies ring for freshness and comfort


Strategy #1: What is your budget?

Go ahead, think, and set up a reasonable amount that you would like to spend before you go for buying your first diamond. A recent research in India has shown that people who purchase diamond engagement rings spend somewhere around 2000 to 4000 dollars on an average. If you will do your homework, you should easily be able to get the diamond of your dreams less than the price.


Strategy #2: Think like a detective

Put on your detective hat and find out what shape and size of the diamond your wife or lover would like and what kind of approach she has for them as well and this information can be obtained by her best friend or mother. You can also walk through a mall with her having jewelry outlets, pop into a jewelry outlet and calmly say this phrase to her, "Hey darling, if you could have any jewelry, what do you choose?" and she will say this or that and in this way, you can get to know about her taste. Also, while in that jewelry outlet, get her ring size.


Strategy #3: Brush up your knowledge of diamonds

When you will go in to buy diamond jewelry, it is important to speak in the language of jewelers to get to know what is its fair price. Here comes the time when you should know about 4C and 5C - "cost" to come. Here is a brief tutorial. The 4C stands for carat weight, color, clarity, and cut of the diamond.

I. Carat weight: This is the physical weight of the diamond. It can be described in fractions ¼ ct, ½ ct, 1 ct, etc. or dots .37, .45, .98. When I say points, it indicates percentage points (1 ct is equal to 100 points) or 100 percent of the total, so a 48 ct means the diamond is 48 percent of 1ct. If the quality is good, the largest diamond or what we say "solitaire" costs more.

II. Engagement rings with the average size. Clarity: Here, we describe how the diamond is clean and free from inclusions and blemishes. Defects may be scratches, nicks, or chips outside of the diamond. Inclusions are imperfections that are "included" within the diamond. The clarity scale begins with "perfect" and runs ends at "imperfect". That's the whole scale.

· VS-1 - SI-1 are really good to get if the diamond is to be worn. · -IF - VVS-2 are the best for investment. · I-1 - I-3 are very poor, but this quality is available for very tight budgets.

III. Color: Diamonds come in all colors of the rainbow, but usually the white is better. The alphabet minus A, B and C are used to indicate how the diamond is. White: D, E, F are colorless, G, H, I, near colorless, J, K, L and K through Z are slightly yellow and are of low value.

IV. Size: The proportions of a diamond are critical for the amount of brilliance and beauty (dispersion) we see. Diamonds are available in four classes of cut. Class I and Class II are well proportioned diamonds and average 88-93 percent light return. Class III and Class IV are not properly proportioned and average only 33-38 percent light return.

V. Cost: Instead of putting a sheet of money that does not stay current, have a good list of resources for the best price possible, you can get for any carat weight, clarity, color and cut.

Strategy #4: Choosing Quality

While a poor quality of diamonds can be bought as soon as it takes to go to 7-11, some diamonds of good quality can take months to find. Your best bet is to start your search six months in advance. If this sounds extreme, think how long it took to find your woman!

So to recap, before buying a diamond engagement ring, you have the best strategy! This includes establishing the budget, her and your expectations, have a good understanding of 4c and 5c, etc. being yourself, and giving enough time to pull out of everything.

Now you have become a very smart lover. Good luck and congratulations for your engagement with the love of your life.

My Jewellry Store (US)

Caring for Your Pearls

Pearl Care

Pearls are the world's only organic gem and are composed of calcium carbonate. This means special attention is required to ensure pearls will stay beautiful and last a lifetime.

Pearls Require Special Care

Because pearls are an organic gemstone, they are somewhat different from other gemstones and precious metals. They are softer and more delicate, and they can therefore be more easily scratched, cracked, and damaged. In addition, substances such as perfume and hair spray -- and even natural body oils and perspiration -- can dull pearls' luster or cloud their brilliance. For these reasons, your pearls may require a bit of special care.

Be Careful With Cosmetics And Your Pearls

It's a good idea, for example, to apply perfume, hair spray, and other cosmetics before putting on your pearls. In this way, you can minimize the amount of these products that comes into contact with the pearls. After wearing your pearls, wipe them with a soft damp cloth to remove any traces of cosmetic products or body oils. Wash the pearls periodically with a mild soap and a soft cloth, to remove any accumulated build-up.

Store Your Pearls Separately

Because of their delicacy, pearls should be stored separately, away from hard jewelry items, to prevent scratches or other damage. If possible, store them wrapped in soft cloth or in a soft-lined container, pouch, or jewelry box.

Related Forum Threads:
- Caring for Freshwater Pearls

Grading Pearls

Pearl Grading Defined

Pearl Grading is the practice of assigning degrees of quality to a pearl or a piece of pearl jewelry based of the quality attributes designated by industry best practices and authority groups such as GIA and EGL.

There Is No Industry-Wide Standard Pearl Grading System - Yet

As with any other item that can appear in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and conditions, a standardized system of grading must be used when purchasing or selling pearls. Only in this way can the pearl be described according to mutually agreed-upon and understood terms, so that both buyer and seller can determine a fair price. Unfortunately, the pearl industry as a whole has not adopted a universally used standard grading system. Instead, the specific grading system often used, depends upon the specific jeweler or pearl distributor. Eventually a standard system will come into the market - most likely developed by the Gemological Institute of America. Until that time, those in the industry must rely on commonly accepted grading systems derived from the quality grading characteristics of pearls.

There Are Two Major Pearl Grading Systems – But Buyer Beware

Two major grading systems are in fairly widespread use: the AAA-A system and the A-D system (also called the Tahitian system). These are the most accepted systems, and considered standard by nearly all reputable pearl dealers, both retail and wholesale. But even these systems can become misleading if a seller uses terms from the grading system, (such as "AAA") but uses them to describe a different quality pearl than that which the system is generally understood to be describing. Or a seller could use a term not in the grading system (such as "AAAA") to make it appear that the pearl is beyond even the highest standard quality -- when in reality, that seller's "AAAA" pearls are actually equivalent to the more-common "AAA" grade, and his "AAA" pearls might only be equivalent to the commonly used "AA." Use of "AAAA" or "AAA+" is considered bad taste, or even dishonest, by most reputable pearl dealers. It is seen as a way to simply charge the customer more without providing a superior product.

Ask To See The Pearl Grading Descriptions In Writing

For reasons such as these, it's extremely important when purchasing pearls, to be absolutely certain of the meaning of any descriptive terms used by the seller. If possible, ask to see a written description of each grading term, so that you know exactly what the grade implies. Reputable jewelers will be happy to comply with such a request. Only in this way will you be able to determine if the price the seller is asking is reasonable.
Related Articles:
- Tahitian and South Sea Pearl Grading

- Pearl Quality Factors

- Pearl Nacre

- Pearl Colors

- Pearl Luster

- Pearl Matching

- Pearl Surface

- Pearl Shapes

- Pearl Sizes

- Pearl Weight

- Imitation Pearls

The AAA-A System

This system grades pearls on a scale from AAA to A, with AAA being the highest grade. This grading scale is common to freshwater and akoya pearls only, but is accepted by many with South Sea and Tahitian pearls as well:
AAA:The highest-quality pearl, virtually flawless. The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 95% of the surface will be free from any type of defect.

AA: The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 75% of the surface will be free from any type of defect.

A: This is the lowest jewelry-grade pearl, with a lower luster and/or more than 25% of the surface showing defects. In many cases, if the pearl is being mounted into a piece of jewelry, it can be mounted so that the defects are hidden -- thus providing a lovely jewelry piece at a lower price.

Related Forum Threads:
- Detecting Dyed Pearls

- Discussing Orient

- Fabricated Grading (AAAA and AAA+)

- What is Gem Quality?

- Freshadama Grade Freshwater Pearls

- Pearl Grading Standards

- GIA Pearl Grading Course

- Standardizing Pearl Grading

- Better than AAA?

- Identifying South Sea Pearls

Intermediate Grades And Pearl Grading For Stands

Some reputable sellers may also use intermediate grades for the pearls - those pearls that do not fall in a category but are between two - such as A+ and AA+. Obviously, these grading categories are quite broad and leave room for interpretation and individual judgment. Also note that in multi-pearl pieces such as strands, necklaces, bracelets, etc., every one of the individual pearls may not absolutely meet the indicated grade level. For example, a strand referred to as "AAA" must have most of its pearls as AAA pearls. However, a few pearls could have slightly lower luster or a tiny bit more surface defects. This is because matching is also a primary consideration in multi-pearl jewelry, sometimes even overriding a very strict grading of each individual pearl.

The A-D System (or Tahitian System)

It is important to note that the following grading system can be interchanged with the AAA-A system. For more information please refer to: South Sea Pearl Grading
This system grades pearls on a scale from A to D, with A being the highest grade. This is the system used in French Polynesia (based on a government standard there) to grade Tahitian pearls, and South Sea pearls only. It is therefore sometimes referred to as the "Tahitian system." While this system is standard in producing countries, other markets will still utilize AAA-A.
A: The highest-quality pearl, with very high luster and only minor imperfections over less than 10% of its surface.
B: High or medium luster. Surface may have some visible imperfections, but over no more than 30% of its area.
C: Medium luster with surface defects over not more than 60% of the surface area.
D: May have many slight defects, but no deep ones, spread over 60% of its surface; or deep defects over no more than 60% of its surface; or a combination of minor and deep defects over no more than 60% of its surface. In this grade of pearl, the luster is irrelevant. Even the most lustrous pearls will be graded D if their surface is blemished to this extent. Pearls below D grade are considered not acceptable for use in jewelry.

Nacre Is The Final Factor In Grading Pearls

Both of the grading systems described above focus primarily on the luster and surface quality of the pearl to determine its grade. But keep in mind that other factors also contribute to the quality and final grade of any pearl. One of the most important is the thickness of the nacre, which often determines how durable the pearl will be over time. The thicker the nacre, the stronger and longer-lasting the pearl (provided it is treated well, of course!) For Tahitian pearls, the government of French Polynesia has set a minimum nacre thickness of 0.8 millimeters. Any pearls with nacre of less than that thickness are not allowed to be sold. Keeping in mind that Tahitian pearls tend to be larger than many other pearls (such as akoyas), you can use this rule as a guideline when evaluating your own potential pearl purchases.

Japanese Akoya Pearls

Japanese Akoya Pearls Defined

Japanese Akoya Pearls is a term often used as a misnomer to describe cultured akoya pearls. This is no longer an industry accepted term as akoya pearls are now grown in China, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia.

The Use of the Term "Japanese Akoya Pearls"

For the last century, Japan has been the undisputed champion producer of akoya pearls. Japanese akoya pearls have been known as the hallmark of classic quality and grace. Pearliculture of akoya pearls only began 100 years ago with the technique used by Kokichi Mikimoto - the same technique of nucleus insertion used today. But, as with so many other monopolized industries in the world, the strength of the Japanese in the akoya pearl industry has finally come to an end. The end has been visible to many over the last half-decade, but only recently has this been recognized and accepted by industry authorities.

Japanese Akoya Pearls; Made In Japan – Imported From China

With strong supplies of Chinese akoya pearls pouring into Japan, more than 80% of Japanese akoya pearl farmers are conducting operations in the red.* This is a trend that cannot continue indefinitely, but there is no clear end in sight as long as akoya prices remain stable. With the high price of Japanese materials and the low price of Chinese materials, factories in Japan are now increasingly turning to China as their main pearl source. Japanese factories are rapidly becoming the largest customers of many Chinese akoya pearl farmers. The pearls are imported from China into Japan, processed, and placed on temporary strands, which are then tagged "Made in Japan".

The Phrase ‘Japanese Akoya Pearls’ Is Losing Its Luster

Due to the fact that any given akoya pearl necklace today, almost certainly contains Chinese akoya pearls, the JCK** has recently announced that the phrase, "Japanese Akoya Pearls" is no longer an accurate industry term, and should not be used. The following is an excerpt from the article;
“Note that the phrase "Japanese Akoyas" is no longer used, since most strands combine Chinese and Japanese Akoyas. The consensus is that it doesn't matter where they're from as long as quality is high. But don't be fooled by tags that say, "Made in Japan." The strand is made in Japan, but the pearls on it may be Chinese.”

Related Articles and Forum Threads:
- Comparison of Japanese and Chinese Akoya- Japanese or Chinese?

- JCK on the Term "Japanese Akoya

- Does JPEA Blue Tag Mean Japanese Akoya?

Buyer Beware, Those Akoya’s Are Not All Japanese Akoya Pearls

What does this mean for the consumer? Consumers should not believe or trust pearl sellers that claim to be selling 100% Japanese akoya pearls. These sellers charge a premium for cultured akoya pearls which they may indeed import from Japan. What they are not telling their customers is the fact that not all of the pearls were cultured nor were they harvested in Japan. In fact, Pearl World, The International Pearling Journal, reports that as many as 80% of the pearls in any "Japanese" akoya pearl necklace are, in actuality, Chinese cultured pearls.

Japanese Akoya Pearls Are Sold Only To Factories, Not Retailers

What about those companies that claim to purchase akoya pearls directly from farms in Japan, many will ask. The answer is quite simple, unlike pearl farms in China, farms in Japan sell pearls only to factories. There, the pearls are polished, bleached, matched and drilled - they do not sell finished hanks of pearls, (temporary strands) directly to retailers. As particular farms focus on only one size of pearl, (typically within 1mm range) factories will buy pearls from numerous sources to create finished hanks of pearls. With a mix of 80% Chinese and 20% Japanese, the factories are able to make a handsome profit, while the Japanese pearl farmers continue to lose money.

The Consumer Wins In The End

A bright spot for consumers is the fact that many pearl retailers and wholesalers are accepting the fact that Chinese akoya pearls are, and will continue to be, the standard today, and have the integrity and honesty to express this and to educate their customers. For those retailers who will cling to the "Japanese Pearls Only" policy, eventually their deceit will be their demise.