Sheri L

Depth is a crucial consideration in jewelry engraving - not just in the depth of your message, but in the depth of the cut. Engraving that goes deep into the metal is usually less prone to wear than shallower engraving. Since the whole idea of engraving jewelry is to have an everlasting message that can be easily read, or a beautiful pattern than can be easily seen, be sure to discuss durability issues with your engraver.

Engraving Techniques

Hand engraving and machine engraving are the two types of engraving available. Hand engraving is done with a graver. A graver is a chisel-like tool and good hand engravers are adept at inscribing different intricate text styles and symbols. Machine engraving works with a computer or templates and an engraving machine. The types of text styles may be limited in some machine engraving operations, however, machine engraving is often less expensive than hand engraving.

1. Choose by the look rather than by the method

Both types of engraving are usually still quite affordable, so it is often best to check out both options and select the type of engraving you want based on how it looks rather than by the particular method used. Machine engravers as well as hand engravers will have samples of lettering and other designs to help you decide on the look you want for your piece of jewelry.

2. Make sure your piece of jewelry is suitable for engraving

Be sure that the piece of jewelry you choose to have engraved has a large enough surface to contain the engraving work you want. For example, ring bands should be wide enough to contain all parts of the design or lettering with even spacing. A too-crowded look can ruin the look of the piece. Don’t be shy - get the engraver’s advice!

Meaningful Messages

While engraving names and dates is popular and can be very touching, don’t be afraid to be even more expressive and creative when having jewelry engraved for a loved one.

1. Be sure your message suits the wearer, the occasion and the piece

Wedding rings can be engraved with a single word that holds special meaning for the couple. The message you choose for a relative’s graduation will certainly be quite distinct from the one you choose for your husband or wife for your 25th anniversary. Remember that the message you choose will hopefully last for generations, so be sure to give your choice of engraving a lot of thought. .

2. Personalize the jewelry in an expressive and thoughtful way

Keeping #1 above in mind, don’t be afraid to be sentimental. For example, if a couple shares a special phrase, the message can be shared even more by having one half of the message engraved on each wedding ring. Engraving pet names or nicknames is another good way of personalizing jewelry if the recipient likes the name. If you share no special name or phrase, express something heartfelt and thoughtful that shows your feelings for the wearer and you can’t go wrong!

Sheri L

“Diamonds Are Forever” is the seventh in the series of James Bond spy movies, as well as Shirley Bassey’s title song, inspired by Ian Fleming’s novel of the same name. The song emphasizes that diamonds last “forever and ever” and “when love is gone, they’ll luster on.” Diamond is the world’s hardest natural material and diamonds are the most durable and ever-lasting material on Earth, so, yes, diamonds really are forever thanks to their durability. .

Durability is stability, hardness and toughness

A gemstone’s durability is its degree of stability, hardness and toughness. Toughness relates to chipping and breaking, while hardness has to do with scratching. Stability refers to how well the gemstone resists light, chemicals and heat. Diamonds have excellent stability and hardness as well as good toughness so this all adds up to incredible durability.
Stability – Diamond is used in the electrical industry and in engineering drill bits because of its high resistance to heat, light and chemicals. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is technology that allows synthetic diamond to be fabricated, either in thin or thick sheets, due to a gaseous chemical reaction.
Although diamonds are highly resistant to most chemicals, bleach should not be used to clean diamonds. Diamonds are often cleaned with a mixture of ammonia and water or a diamond cleaner and soft-bristled brush. Diamond has an extremely high melting point of 3,820 degrees Kelvin. It is the best heat conductor of all natural elements, due to its high lattice density. Lattice density refers to the amount of atoms per unit of volume. As atoms are denser in diamond than in any other natural material, diamond is also the hardest of all natural materials.

Hardness – Diamond measures a perfect ten on the Mohs
scale. The Mohs scale is named after Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist, and it tests hardness by how easily a mineral can be scratched. Talc has a score of only one to diamond’s ten.
Softer minerals cannot scratch harder minerals. Diamond is so hard that the next hardest mineral on the Mohs scale, corundum – which is sapphire and ruby, is four times softer than diamond. The hardness of diamonds makes them perfect for wearing as jewelry as they are not easily scratched. Since diamonds can scratch other diamonds, however, diamond jewelry pieces should be kept separate in a jewelry box.

Toughness – Ruby, sapphire and alexandrite are all tougher gemstones than diamond, but diamond is still very tough. A diamond will usually only break if it is dropped on a hard surface or hit with a blow that splits its four-way cleavage. Cleavage is a straight, clean crack in a gemstone.
Feathery cracks on the top of a diamond may cause easier breakage and diamonds with these types of surface cracks are not very durable. A good quality cut diamond has its girdle, or outer rim, left thick enough to prevent chipping. The pointed end of a diamond is called a cutlet and if the cutlet is too pointed, breakage could occur during the setting process.

Sheri L

Whether you’re buying jewelry for yourself or as a thoughtful gift for someone else, make sure you do it the right way by avoiding these 5 common mistakes:

1. Dealing with inexperienced vendors:

You should always buy jewelry from professional jewelers with decades of experience in the jewelry business. Why? Think about it. Do you really want to be merely sold jewelry, or do you want to purchase quality jewelry from people who know what they’re doing?

Jewelry experts know the standards, follow the regulations and understand what quality is. They back up what they sell. Experienced jewelry experts are proud of the knowledgeable service they can provide to their customers and they want to help educate you. They have a career in jewelry and a well-established jewelry business and understand that purchasing fine jewelry is not the same thing as shopping for a toaster. Jewelry is an intimate purchase and jewelry often lasts several lifetimes as it’s often passed through generations. Why trust something that important to just a salesperson?

2. Skimping on quality:

Expert jewelers are experts on quality. You should be informed of exactly what jewelry you’re buying in terms of its value for the money you’re spending. Jewelry experts should be forthcoming about all of the details about their jewelry. They should provide all the information possible so that you can be sure you’re getting a quality piece of jewelry at the best price available.

Jewelry experts interested in selling only quality jewelry want to communicate with their customers. They truly care about the kind of jewelry they sell and not about making a sale just for the sake of making a sale. Look for quality jewelers with decades of experience behind them to answer all your questions about exactly what you’re buying. If they seem to be withholding information about the jewelry they’re selling, look elsewhere!

3. Settling for a limited selection:

Don’t settle for a limited selection of jewelry. The best jewelers have the largest selections of jewelry for you to choose from. They understand that their customers are not only interested in purchasing quality pieces of jewelry for themselves, but also want to buy pieces for their loved ones for gifts on special occasions. When you find a knowledgeable, trustworthy jeweler, you’re going to want to keep buying from that jeweler, so a large product line that keeps expanding is important.

Career jewelers stay on top of trends and demands in the marketplace. They give you a wide choice so that you’re sure to find just what you’re looking for. You don’t want jewelry you just like, but jewelry that you just love – the perfect accent for that special outfit or the perfect gift for someone you love. You need a large selection of quality jewelry options with jewelers who care about helping you find what you want.

4. Ignoring the importance of your convenience:

The last thing you need or want when buying jewelry is to be rushed or pressured. That’s why many people prefer shopping for jewelry online in the comfort of their home or office. This way, you don’t feel pressured from sales people or rushed near closing time at the mall. Today’s computer technology allows for clear, close up photographs so you know just what you’ll be getting. No need to try and point to items in a display case or to try to wait patiently to get a sales clerk, often with limited knowledge about the pieces he or she is selling anyway, to help you.

Be sure that the jewelry website you choose to buy jewelry from is backed by knowledgeable career jewelers with many years of experience. You should be able to find all the information you need on the site and should be able to ask any additional questions you’d like before you buy.

5. Paying retail instead of wholesale:

Ecommerce and online shopping are not only popular for reasons of convenience, but for value and lower prices too. Big box retail jewelry stores like you to think that they’re still the only option, but smart consumers know better. Why pay more than you need to for quality jewelry? Look for a reputable online jeweler that’s committed to finding you the best price possible.

A reputable, experienced jeweler wants you to receive the best value possible. The best value possible when you’re buying jewelry is getting quality, service, selection and price. You shouldn’t settle for anything less than that. Look for wholesale prices and discounts and specials. Look for a career jeweler that wants to please you by providing ultimate quality at ultimate prices. It’s that simple. Fine jewelry is a lasting remembrance, unlike flowers or candy. You really don’t have to spend a fortune to get quality jewelry you love.

Sheri L

Jewelry is a popular gift choice that can fit into every special occasion. Not only is it beautiful and romantic, jewelry endures while flowers and candy are soon gone. You don’t have to spend a fortune to find the perfect piece of thoughtful jewelry. Whether you decide on heart shapes, sentimental engraving or red, violet or pink gemstones for your loved one, be sure you make your gift unique and personal.

Perfect Presentation

A heart-shaped locket pendant necklace is classically romantic, but is still unique and personalized when you take the time to fit special photographs inside and have a sentimental engraving done on the back of the pendant. Smaller jewelry items such as a ring, a charm, cuff links or stud earrings can be carefully wrapped in tissue paper and strategically placed along with the pieces of candy in a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
If a light-hearted approach is the way to your loved one’s heart, caboodles of candy conversation hearts surrounding a piece of jewelry in the presentation box can make for a fun surprise when the box is opened. If the color of the jewelry suits it, you can use red cinnamon candy hearts in the box if you’re looking for a more dramatic and elegant statement. A gift of a charm can be playfully romantic when it’s accompanied by a hand-made card written by the recipient’s “Prince Charming.”

Hearts and Flowers

When buying heart-shaped jewelry, consider your love’s style. Would she prefer the sparkly elegance of a pave heart, the classic appeal of a puffed heart or the modern appeal of a twisted, freeform heart? Think about her favorite jewelry for clues about metal color as well as style. Besides heart-shaped pendants, rings and earrings, you may also want to consider a heart-shaped watch or a bracelet with a heart motif.
If your loved one loves flowers, you can give lasting flowers in the form of jewelry. Floral-motif necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings and more are available in many different styles and price ranges. Floral engraving can also be added to the outside of plain rings or pendants and you may want to include both your own and your loved one’s initials into the pattern for a custom design.
Romantic Colors

If your love adores red, you can opt for a ruby, garnet or red cubic zirconium, depending on your budget. If your sweetie prefers pink, consider rose quartz, cubic zirconium or pink tanzanite. Purple tanzanite is a pretty possibility for those with a passion for purple. Amethysts may be a welcome alternative for those with February birthdays since amethyst is a popular birthstone for this month.
What if the piece of jewelry you have your eye on is not a color traditionally associated with romance? In that case, a little creativity and heartfelt sentiment on your part can turn it into a thoughtful and memorable gift. For example, you can give a blue sapphire, or other blue gemstone, piece with the message “I feel blue without you.”

Sheri L

Half Of A Diamond’s Worth Is Based On Its Cut

Although all of the ‘4 C’s – carats, clarity, color and cut – are important when choosing a quality diamond, cut is considered the most crucial characteristic.

Without a good cut, a diamond will not be as brilliant and sparkle as much as it could. This is why half the worth of a diamond is based on its cut.

The less symmetrically proportioned a diamond is, the less fire and brilliance it will have no matter what shape it is cut into. The jeweler chooses the shape such as round, marquise, heart, pear, emerald, princess, radiant or oval based on how well the light will be refracted in the cut diamond. Placement of the facets is very important to allow for the brightest shine. Most diamonds are cut to have 58 facets.

These Seven Main Considerations Of A Diamond’s Cut Determine Its Brilliance:

1. Table Percent – the measurement of the flat topped, biggest facet of the diamond
2. Crown Angle – the angled upper part of a diamond that connects the table and the girdle
3. Girdle – the part of the diamond that attaches to the setting and forms the diamond’s perimeter, connects the crown and the pavillion
4. Pavillion Percent – the angled lower part of a diamond that connects the girdle and the cutlet
5. Cutlet Size – the faceted tip of the diamond, has to be the correct size to avoid chipping
6. Symmetry – refers to how well the facets are created and connected geometrically, if the facets are not well-aligned, the light can not refract well and the, diamond will not be as brilliant as it could be
7. Polish – refers to how smooth the diamond’s facets are on the surface, if the facets are not smooth, the stone may look dark or blurry rather than clear and sparkly

The diamond must not be too shallowly cut or the light will not be refracted to its optimum level as some of the light will be directed to the base of the stone. If the diamond is cut too deeply, the light will also be redirected, but through the sides of the gem. A diamond that is cut too shallowly or deeply might even look dull. The cut that allows for the maximum light refraction and brilliance in a diamond is called a “fine cut” or “ideal cut.”

The cut measurements of a diamond must be mathematically precise for maximum brilliance as the geometric proportions form a prism. The cuts are angled to refract the maximum amount of light to allow for the full color spectrum of the prism to be present. The color spectrum refraction adds to the “fire” of a diamond.

A Diamond’s Cut Also Relates To Its Durability

The cutlet, or bottom tip of the diamond, has to be cut to the right size in order to deter chipping. The girdle is the part of the diamond that is attached to the setting and if the girdle is cut too thin, the diamond may chip or may not set properly. Diamonds should also be cut so that any feathery cracks are below the surface of the diamond. If these cracks are on the top of the diamond, the diamond will not be as durable as it could break more easily.

Sheri L

Costume jewelry can certainly have its place, especially when the budget is tight. But, eventually we may find ourselves wanting at least some pieces of quality jewelry made of gold, silver, platinum and/or genuine gemstones. Few of us can afford to buy an entire wardrobe of quality jewelry all at once, but most of us can plan for and build a quality jewelry wardrobe gradually over time.

Four Easy Pieces

A good place to start, in building your quality jewelry wardrobe, is with four pieces that co-ordinate well together. It may be a bit “much” to wear all of the pieces at once, of course, but you want to be able to choose different combinations of say, two pieces, that will work well together to accessorize your clothing.

Four starting pieces that tend to work well are a pair of earrings,
a necklace, a bracelet, and a ring . Take special care and effort to find your first quality piece of jewelry as it will set the tone for the pieces to follow. Once you find one quality piece of jewelry that you absolutely love, coordinating the other pieces with it becomes easy.

Buy Only What You Love

As your goal is quality over quantity, buy only the pieces of quality jewelry that you really love and leave those pieces that you merely like aside. You can “fill in” with less expensive costume jewelry until your quality jewelry wardrobe is complete. The idea is to have enduring pieces of jewelry that are your signature pieces, so rushing to buy them even when your budget allows it is not a good idea.

If you seem to be having trouble deciding where to start in finding your perfect pieces of quality jewelry, consider your birthstone, but don’t feel obligated to choose jewelry just because it contains your birthstone. Looking through magazines, jewelry catalogs and jewelry websites is a good way to discover your taste in quality jewelry. Take note of the pieces that you really feel strongly about. Try to figure out what it is about the particular piece that you love.

Shapes, Styles and Sizes that Work

While finding the pieces of jewelry you really love should be your first consideration in building your quality jewelry wardrobe, you also need to find pieces that work with your clothing wardrobe. Chances are that if you really love the jewelry, its shape and style will also work with your favorite pieces of clothing, but you should think about details such as the chain length of a necklace and the size of the pendant so that your signature necklace will suit the outfits you want to wear it with the most.

Once you have four quality pieces of jewelry, you can keep adding gradually to your collection. The types of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings are nearly endless and you can collect pieces you love for different occasions. For example, you may want small or medium hoop earrings and studs for work and larger hoops
or glamorous chandelier earrings for weekends. Jingling gold bangle bracelets or a charm bracelet may be great for some occasions, while a classic silver cuff or a diamond tennis bracelet may be your dream look for other occasions.