My New Jewels

Anniversary ring is a great way to seal your love

2006-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Today I feel like saying a few words about anniversary rings. Anniversary ring is the best way to reinforce the promise you made when you got married. Diamond anniversary rings, also called eternity rings, are most suitable for emphasizing that you meant your vows until "death do us part". That's because that's how long you are both making your pledge to each other.

The symbolism of an anniversary diamond ring is part of the design. The reason for the diamonds going all the way around the ring is to symbolize a never ending circle of love. No beginning and no end.

One of the most in demand of these types of anniversary rings is the 3 stone diamond anniversary ring. Featuring one larger and two identical smaller diamonds, the 3 stone diamond anniversary ring is rich in meaning. The three stone diamond anniversary ring symbolizes the past, present and future all bound together.

And should you both have one, or just her? Well certainly it is less common for the male to have an anniversary ring, but certainly not unheard of. However it would be prudent to consider the design of the rings. It would be better if the two rings were designed to be complementary. But not the same. His ring should be larger, wider, and more masculine.

Talk to your jeweler about matching anniversary ring might be a very good idea. But whichever you finally choose, a diamond anniversary ring is the only gift to celebrate your anniversary.

Valentine's Day Gift

2006-03-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

The Jewelry Information Center reports on a Valentine's Day video news release that men's and women's fantasies continue to diverge. The JIC cites a finding that only 2.5% of American women want lingerie for Valentine's Day, while jewelry comes in as the most desired gift of all. The video release had already reached over 14 million viewers by Feb. 10, reports JIC, which partnered on the release with the Chocolate Manufacturers Association and Liz Claiborne.

JIC also is promoting Valentine's Day on radio airwaves with an audio news release available via satellite called "Shop Smart, Then Pop the Question," helping men select the perfect diamond engagement ring. The release is being played on a variety of radio programs, from drive time talk programs to classical, rock, and country music stations.

JIC Media Liaison Helena Krodel just completed an intensive, four-city media tour for Valentine's Day. During visits to St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; Denver, CO; and Colorado Springs, CO; Krodel appeared on eleven television shows, three radio programs, and held five print interviews with local newspapers. Krodel offered fine jewelry trends, gift ideas, savvy jewelry shopping tips and celebrity jewelry news. She also gave JIC member local designers and retailers an on-air "plug" while in each city. "After the JIC's Valentine's Day appearances in St. Louis, we had 4 clients call our store and order pieces directly from the segments where we received local plugs!" says Leo Anglo, Vincent's Jewelers, St. Louis, MO

With more than the fire and brilliance of diamonds at one-tenth the cost, moissanite intrigued Jonathan Kantner of The Jewelry Factory in Mary Esther.

Kantner had long been interested in lab-created stones, keeping current on innovations in created rubies, sapphires, emeralds for years.

"I believe in bringing technology into the industry," Kantner said.

These new, man-made stones, with much of the brilliance of gemstones created naturally, have made fine jewelry affordable for more customers, he said.

When he heard about a former computer company's advances in creating a stone in the laboratory to mimic silicon carbide, first discovered in 1893, he was intrigued. Cree Research, Inc., a North Carolina company, discovered a way to form large crystals of this substance while doing semiconductor fabrication research.

A master diamond cutter in North Carolina was consulted, and he suggested the colorless form of moissanite could be an excellent substitute for diamonds, according to information provided by C3, the company formed by Cree owners

Great Diamond Industry News

2005-09-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

In Yakutsk they do not want to return the diamonds to Russia

The third day in the capital of Yakutiya continues the spontaneous
meeting "Fradkov, bikhigini of atakhastama! Fradkov, do not lead us to the extreme!"- with such slogans left picket to the central area. In the national suits, with the flags and the transparencies, on foot and on the horses. They all require one - not to return diamonds to Moscow. The reason for agitations became the stormily discussed in the State Duma bill "about the depths". If it is accepted, that Russian monopolist in the region of putting out the diamonds - company "ALROSA" history of rings - from the closed joint-stock company will become that opened. In Yakutsk they fear, that as a result can occur the redistribution of actions in favor of federal center. And then, it is said, Moscow will completely manage diamonds obtained in Yakutiya. Today actions are distributed between the government of Russia and the government of Yakutiya approximately equally

Yakutsk now bathe in the diamonds?! Or wage by diamonds they obtain and pay by them in the supermarkets in the tundra?! In general these diamonds - property of the entire country, and the not separately undertaken Yakuts. You see, there would be no these stones, so Yakuts, until now, on the deer from one yourta to the next chased. Thus far indeed Yakutiya even in the composition of Russia. Or, it can be, this already claim for its "tundra" revolution?

Russian Diamonds

2005-09-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

Russian diamonds will leave abroad
Aleksey Kudrina placed the task before the concern ALROSA of becomingmost important world company for the volume of means, the obtained from sale diamonds. For this government to preparedly abolish quotas to the import ofdiamonds. The money of gosmonomolii required for the buying up of mining, petroleum and gas active memberships.The minister of finances of Russia and on the pluralism the chairmanof observant advice to company ALROSA Aleksey Kudrina stated, that the diamond-mining concern must become world leader not only onthe output of diamonds, but also according to the financial indices. "observant council posed the problem of being first company not onlyon the output of diamonds, but also by the volume of means, obtained from their sale ", - said minister into the medium. Clean profit THE PRIVATELY HELD COMPANY AK ALROSA on MSFO in 2004 was12,118 billion rubles, what in almost is two times more than the index of 2003 - 6,357 billion rubles. "in 2005, as it is expected, company will overlap this result ", - it stated Kudrina. Government will help achieving this goal. By the way, Russia does not produce clarity enhanced diamonds. "Russia during half a year will let out edict about the cancellationof export quotas to the diamonds", - it described about the plans of Kudrina's government

Solitaire Engagement Ring

2005-08-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

The beauty of a lone diamond mounted in platinum setting with encrusted gems is endless. This solitaire engagement ring will astonish your beloved with its ideally cut 1 carat round brilliant diamond. The diamond is nearly colorless (grade G) making the sparkles clearer, and the fire brighter. The grace and shimmer of this diamond ring will mesmerize your beloved with its dancing sparkles. You and your beloved will not be disappointed.
Also check out my "just added" diamond studs!

Three Stone Diamond Engagement Rings

2005-08-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

This breathtakingly gorgeous 3 stone diamond engagement ring features an ideal cut 1.25 ct. round brilliant center diamond. The stone is of G – H color (near colorless) and to the naked eye it appears to be very clean and well cut. Its natural clarity has been improved to SI1 level through a process known as clarity enhancement. Both side stones match the center piece in color and clarity. The grace and shimmer of this 3 stone diamond ring will mesmerize your beloved with its dancing sparkles. The featured diamond ring is certified by the Gemological Appraisal Laboratory of America and have an appraisal value of $18,000. This 3 stone engagement ring is readily available in size 6, but can be re-sized free of charge. 18K white or yellow gold or platinum settings are available

Loose Diamonds

2005-08-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

Our certified diamonds collection is our pride. All our diamonds are hand picked by GIA certified gemologists to represent the best value in each category. We carry GIA and EGL certified diamonds, certified clarity enhanced diamonds as well as non-certified loose diamonds with price ranges to fit anyone's budget. All certified diamonds are accompanied with certification papers viewable online. We have hundreds of diamond ring designs for all occasions, be it an engagement, birthday or anniversary gift. Images of the most popular diamond rings are available on this site. All of our diamond rings are individually handcrafted using diamonds and precious metals to satisfy each customer's unique desires. All ring sizes are available in 14K/18K yellow and white gold and 950 platinum. We have plenty of diamond stud earrings

My New Online Jewelry Shop

2005-08-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog entry. Just decided to start a blog about my newly created jewelry items and share them with the world. I’m very proud of my special collection of engagement rings. The latest and greatest additions can be found on my main engagement rings page. Lots of effort went into building these engagement rings and i love every one of them as my own. That should be enough for starters. All types of comments are welcome.

The Romance of Jewelry

2005-08-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

"Well," you may ask, "isn't jewelry romantic by it's very nature?"

To some extent this is true, but we wear jewelry for any number of reasons that are not romantic... to look sophisticated, to look professional, to impress our friends and neighbors.

So what about the romance of jewelry?

In this case I'm talking about romance in a broader sense than simply relationships.

Something more like this definition from the dictionary:

"A quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life"

That wonderful fission, that bit of a chill that you get from something that is just, well, more than day to day life.

Romantic jewelry is that jewelry that makes you feel special, different, like a princess or a prince. That jewelry that takes you out of your normal hum drum life each time you put it on. The little something extra that comes of wearing something truly special.

Perhaps that is why gold is such a popular metal for jewelry. I love silver and platinum and there are other metals (titanium comes to mind) that make great jewelry, but there is nothing like the romance of gold. To wear gold is to wear the jewelry of kings and queens. In ancient Egypt only the pharaohs and those especially favored by the pharaohs were permitted to wear gold. This feeling of being special and above the fray has continued to the modern day. If you want to feel like royalty (or if you want to give a gift that says you think of your beloved as a king or queen), gold is the answer.

Other jewels that inspire feelings of romance are pearls, emeralds and rubies... and, of course, for many people, diamonds.

Somehow though diamonds don't seem to have the same warmth and romance as the other stones. Actually diamonds were not historically valued as highly was we do today. Much of the romance that has been generated around diamonds is do to de Beers in the early part of the 20th century instituting a brilliant and very effective advertising campaign... so I will leave diamonds for another day.

On the other hand pearls... Pearls feel wonderful against your skin. They are sensuous and mysterious. To look deeply into a fine pearl is to look into eternity. There is also something intriguing about a pearl, knowing that is came not from the cold hard ground, but from an industrious mollusk.

Pearls have been prized in all time periods and all cultures. Historically baroque pearls (large irregularly shaped pearls) were used to make wonderful and fantastic jewelry by embellishing them with gold an gems. Frequently these took the shape of Neptune or other greek gods, sirens, beautiful women and animals. The Canning Jewel in the Victoria and Albert museum is a famous and elaborate use of a baroque as the base for a handsome merman.

Black pearls, particularly Tahitian black pearls have become very popular in recent years. They come in a range of colors from spectacular purples and greens, through pinks to sophisticated browns. All are lovely and the range of colors gives them a great deal of flexibility in choosing just the right pearl for your outfit and mood. The most beautiful black pearl necklace I've seen was from Morrison's a small manufacturing jeweler in Berkeley. The pearls were arranged in a rainbow strung together so that each color melted into the one next to it -- stunning. And of course what could be more romantic than pearls from Tahiti?

(By the way, if you wear pearls, do wear them against your skin, it is good for them, but be sure that you do not wear any perfume, scent or lotion, at least not where it might contact your pearls.)

Emeralds and rubies are traditionally the emperor and empress of gems. Perhaps it is their vibrant colors that inspired our ancestors. Certainly that vivid blood red and cool serpent green are hard to ignore. Even today emeralds and rubies of equal size and quality are more expensive than equivalent diamonds.

In Victorian times colored gems were used to spell out love messages. Sometimes this made for interesting and not necessarily attractive settings; but it is very romantic. For instance a piece of jewelry might have these gems in order:

LOVE: Lapis, Opal, Vermeil and Emerald.
REGARD: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby and Diamond.

The shape of jewelry too can harbor a romantic message. Hearts and clasped hands, hands holding a heart (Claddagh) and cupids are self explanatory, but some shapes are a bit more subtle.

For many cultures, including the Romans and the Victorians, snakes were a symbol of enduring love. A snake biting it's own tail so as to make a circle is a particularly potent symbol of everlasting love. Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a snake engagement ring -- the beginning of a long and celebrated marriage.

Interestingly lizards and frogs were (and perhaps still are) also symbols of wedded happiness. Perhaps this explains the continuing popularity of jewelry depicting this wiggly creatures.

Jewelry in the shape of flowers may also be symbolic. To quote Ophelia "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember: and there is pansies. That’s for thoughts."

Other flowers commonly found in jewelry are daisies for innocence, roses for the growth and continuation of love and bouquets expressing the commingling and compatibility of marriage. When you are considering the perfect gift from that next anniversary, rather than the common "anniversary ring" how about a more romantic bouquet pendant?

So the next time you are rooting through your jewel box before that special tryst or looking for the perfect gift for the perfect lover, consider the symbolic romance of jewelry and gems.