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

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!

Kim G

Walking out of the jewelry store, little bag in hand, the buyer is generally a happy one. In the process of finding the perfect item, you have dodged pushy sales staff, negotiated the best deal, and you are confident that you won’t have to think about jewelry for a while. Right? Not so fast. Are you covered if something happens to your precious little prize? Not as covered as you might think.

Ideally, you buy jewelry to wear. But with the variety of bobbles out there, it is not realistic to think that you will wear every piece of your jewelry wardrobe at every moment of the day – especially if you are a bit of a collector. You will need a safe place to store your gems until you wear them again and a jewelry box is ideal. As a jewelry fan myself, it stops my heart to hear when people store their jewelry on the bathroom counter top. Whether you have a few pieces or an entire collection, invest in a jewelry box. Not only will a jewelry box or an armoire keep your jewelry neat and tidy, it also serves a protective function. Many jewelry boxes and armoires come with hooks to hang your necklaces, which is the ideal condition to keep them from tangling and breaking. Likewise, most storage boxes will come with a sorter for rings to stand them up so as not to rub against each other, thereby preventing scratching. You’ll find that whatever the variety, all jewelry boxes are lined with a soft fabric to prevent items from damage.

Unfortunately, if your house is ever broken into, an organized jewelry box is a thief’s jackpot. You are far more protected if your home has a security system, but you can never assume that you are safe from a break-in. A serious jewelry collector will need to take additional steps to assure security. Consider buying a safe. A properly installed quality safe will not only protect your jewelry, but also your important papers from theft as well as fire or flood damage.

Even the best protection can go awry however, and there may be situations in which your jewelry is gone for good. Before such an event, you’ll need insurance to re-coop the monetary value of pieces lost. What’s that? You thought that little warrantee booklet containing important looking papers from the jewelry store protected you from loss? Nope, that’s usually never the case. The warrantee given to you, or even purchased by you, at the jewelry store will only cover certain things such as a stone loss or crack, and even then, only if you’ve had the item inspected according to their guidelines. If an entire item is missing, you are most likely out in the cold.

Yeah, but I have home owner’s insurance, so I’m covered, right? Not always. Every home owner’s insurance policy is going to be different of course, but it is common that many insurance agencies only cover jewelry up to a certain dollar amount under a regular policy – anything above that amount is not covered. If you are a jewelry collector or if you have one substantially costly item, such as an engagement ring, it is a very good idea to obtain a separate jewelry rider for your home owner’s insurance. In order to obtain this, you’ll need receipts for your jewelry or an insurance replacement appraisal from your jeweler. If you don’t have that, or if the pieces you need to cover are inherited, you can obtain an independent appraisal from a reputable appraiser which will cost anywhere from $30 on up. Once obtained, the average cost to maintain a jewelry insurance rider is approximately $1.30 per year for every $100 in jewelry value. Simply put, if you have a $5,000 engagement ring, it will cost you $65 per year to insure it. When you think about it, would you rather pay $65 a year to insure your ring, or another $5,000 to replace it if it’s stolen?

The bottom line is this: when you buy jewelry, you’ll want to keep it forever. Protect it from wear and tear, and most importantly, protect it from theft or loss. It’s the best investment you can make.

Tom B

A number of years ago, I had an epiphany while tearing my hair out over what to buy my young niece for Christmas. I bought her a jewelry box, and each subsequent year I gave her another piece of jewelry to help her build a collection that would serve her well for the rest of her life.

Of course, the pieces I gave were inexpensive. But the idea did cause me to wonder what would comprise the five essentials for a woman’s jewelry collection — a starter-set, if you will. I figured this would provide me with a great template when considering what to buy my wife on special occasions.

My five essentials–

1. A strand of pearls. In my opinion, nothing says ‘dress up’ better than pearls. They work well with almost any color and style of dress, they are durable, if treated properly, and an 18″ 7mm strand of good-quality pearls won’t set you back much more than the cost of a weekend getaway. I’d recommend an 18″ strand, by the way, because this length works with a variety of necklines. You’ll find strands of pearls in a variety of subtle tones from pink, favored in the west, to gold, favored in the east. Either are beautiful, so choose what flatters your skin tone.

2. Diamond solitaire. While this is by far the most popular choice for engagement rings, one shouldn’t have to wait until then to enjoy the sparkle of a diamond. Even a smaller stone in a solitaire mounting catches enough light to set off the gem’s fire, and this ring’s simplicity makes it a great choice with any outfit. It can be a surprisingly durable choice, as well, as long as you keep an eye on the prongs. Remember; if it snags, run, don’t walk, to your jeweler.

3. Diamond stud earrings. Properly mounted diamond studs allow you to maintain a touch of elegance when other jewelry isn’t appropriate. For example, note the athletes such as LeBron James that sport diamonds while at play. While their bling is usually over-the-top, diamond studs don’t need to be large, or top-quality, to have an impact. In fact, in my opinion, smaller stones tend to enhance the delicacy of one’s ears.

4. Gold chain. I know that everyone in America owns a gold chain; many own many. Unfortunately, most of them are so cheaply made that their life expectancy is slight. For a life collection, I’d suggest a substantial chain, one that weighs enough that it seems surprisingly heavy when you hold it in your hand. These chains don’t skimp on the inside of the links where metal wears on metal. Rather than flat chains, which inevitably kink and lose some of their luster, consider the more open-link styles such as the curb, or Cuban. With proper care, they’ll last a lifetime.

5. Gold bracelet. Again, a standard for casual dress-up, parties, and office wear. An attractive gold bracelet draws attention to your hands, so it makes a great partner for that super manicure you just splurged on. Durability is essential with a bracelet, since it will snag and catch. Favor an open-link style, the heavier the better. And don’t skimp on the clasp; a lobster clasp, for one, is much more substantial than the usual spring ring.

With these five basics, a woman can dress up or down, ready for everything from a volleyball game to a coronation. Having a blueprint for gift-giving will make shopping for those special occasions a little easier, too.

Kim G

Men, you know you’ve done it. It was the evening of her birthday, Valentine’s Day, your anniversary, Leif Erikson Day, what have you, and you waited until the last minute to buy her a gift.

Your brain searched frantically for an idea…flowers made her sneeze and the last time you gave her a funny card and a teddy bear you slept on the couch for a week. What else is there? Jewelry always works, right? Well, I must admit, yes, but only if you don’t fall into the common pitfalls of the uninformed jewelry buyer.

If you really did wait until the last minute, you have already made the first mistake, and guys are not the only ones guilty of this. A rushed buyer is far more likely to leave the store spending far too much on a less than quality piece of jewelry. The cure for this is simple; plan ahead so you have time to shop around. It will save you headaches in the long run and besides, girls love it when you put some thought into her gift.

“What can I help you find today?” These very words from even the friendliest salesperson can send a customer into a panic because instead of hearing an offer to help, they hear “what can I scam you into buying?” Let’s call this Mistake Number Two. When a salesperson is asking you what they can help you find, they want to know the occasion for which you are considering a jewelry purchase, but they also need to know what she likes, what your budget is, and what her lifestyle is like. Many folks don’t take this highly important factor into consideration when buying a gift for someone. For example; your wife works in a factory where she works with her hands. You’d like to buy her a ring for her birthday and you think that a birthstone would be ideal. Her birthday is in May; the emerald. Have you caught the error yet? Emeralds are beautiful stones but they are also considered somewhat brittle gems. If your wife worked in an office where she didn’t hit her hands as much, there would be little cause for concern. But for someone who works with their hands quite a bit, an emerald may cause trouble because it is more likely to crack or chip, in which case she will soon find herself without a ring. Your salesperson needs to know how ‘hard’ a person wears their jewelry so that they can help you match the right purchase to the right wearer.

Let’s say that you didn’t heed this warning, you bought the emerald ring and the emerald cracked. Now what? Did you look into the warrantee before you bought it? Common Mistake Number Three. A broken piece of jewelry is disappointing, but it happens all the time; the trick is taking care of it. Each jeweler has their own warrantee policy. Some jewelers require you to purchase a separate warrantee; with others you are given a limited warrantee. Some require you to have your jewelry inspected by a salesperson every so often, and even then only certain defects are covered. Buying from a reputable jeweler will not always save you. It is up to you to find out how your purchase will be protected when you leave the store and make sure you get the warrantee in writing.

Have you ever gone into a jewelry store and told the salesperson your budget only to have them smirk and show you an item twice the price? High pressure sales tactics are a huge reason as to why so many customers shy away from jewelry stores. It is also the main reason why so many folks leave the store with a $400 purchase when they can only afford $100. Common Mistake Number Four; folding under pressure. When you are making a jewelry purchase, especially if it is a gift, you want to feel good about what you’ve found; not guilty for having a budget, and certainly not burdened with a huge credit card bill. Stick to your budget, and if you feel that your salesperson is trying to get you to spend out of your comfort zone, walk away.

You’ve done all of your homework and you’ve found just the right gift. You’ve put all of this effort into this great purchase and you feel good about it. Do you know how to care for it so it stays looking great? Common Mistake Number Five; now what? Do you know that an opal should be oiled regularly? Do you know that pearls should not be immersed in jewelry cleaner? Often times, warrantees can be voided if the proper care instructions are not followed. Be sure to ask your jeweler how to care for your new purchase so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.

Buying a piece of jewelry can be a bit intimidating, but if you avoid these common pitfalls, nothing can be more fulfilling than buying the right gift, for the right person, at the right price.

Tom B

The best piece of jewelry is nothing but a chunk of metal or rock without its partner, light. Its beauty depends on the ability to reflect light, turning it into glitter and fire. The enemy of such beauty is dirt, because dirt swallows light. Taking steps to keep your fine pieces clean and pristine will pay you back in brilliance.

The first consideration in maintaining the beauty of your treasures is storing them properly. Some people (i.e., my wife) store their chains in a tangle, like snakes in a pit. Smooth planes of gold reflect light; when those planes are scratched as the pieces rub against one another, the gold becomes dull. Ideally, chains and necklaces are best stored hanging, to allow them to retain their shape.

Jeweled rings also deserve their own space, whether in a soft-lined slot in your jewelry box (you do have a good jewelry box, don’t you?) or in individual boxes or cloth bags. Pearls are especially vulnerable to abrasion, and a jewelry sachet will help keep them at their best.

The second step to maintaining light is to take care as you put on your jewelry. Wait until after you’ve applied your makeup, hair spray, perfume, hand cream, or suntan lotion, and wash your hands before donning your jewelry. Make jewelry the last thing you put on when dressing and first off when you disrobe, to keep them shining.

The third step in keeping the beauty of your collection intact is proper cleaning. You may have had occasion to have a jeweler clean and polish your diamond ring . Remember the surprise you felt when you saw its original gleam return? You can maintain that fire between jeweler visits.

The main enemy to gems such as diamonds, rubies, and sapphires is grease. In fact, rough diamonds are separated from other stones by tumbling them across a grease table, because diamonds stick to grease, and vice versa. Even the oil from your finger is enough to coat your stone and block light.

To clean diamonds, rubies and sapphires, soak them in a mild ammonia solution (1 part ammonia, 10 parts water) for 10 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft brush such as a toothbrush. Be sure to brush the underside of the gem as best you can, too; much of its brilliance depends on the reflection of light off the bottom facets. And, PLEASE, unless you are fond of taking plumbing apart, don’t work over an open sink. I speak from unfortunate experience.

Other clear stones such as topaz, amethyst, citrine, and peridot can be cleaned with a weak solution of liquid dish soap and water, again scrubbing gently with a soft brush, rinsing thoroughly and drying. Emeralds are an exception; because they are so rare, many that are used in jewelry have pits and flaws that are filled with oil. Soap or ammonia can wash away that oil, and diminish their beauty, so limited your cleaning to swipes of a water-moistened cloth.

Translucent or opaque gems such as opals and turquoise should also receive this delicate treatment. Dry-brush away dirt, then gently clean with a soft, damp cloth.

Gold also is best cleaned with a liquid dish soap solution. To clean a chain, stretch a section over the back of your hand until it is taut and brush it link by link. Dirt and grease often hide within the link. Rinse well, pat dry, and finish with a light rubbing of a gold polishing cloth such as those sold in any jewelry store.

Pearls are a different matter; they actually need a bit of oil to maintain their luster. By wearing them against your skin, the little bit of skin oil they pick up suffices. If they have been stored for a long time, though, a very, very light rubbing with a cloth moistened with olive oil will help them regain their sheen. Never immerse pearls in liquid, as dirt will stain the silk string. If they seem dirty, wipe them carefully with a clean, soft cloth. If the pearls slide freely within the strand, or the silk seems discolored, it’s time to have them restrung.

The reason that jewelry looks so amazing in the store is that jewelers understand about light, and every piece in the case is kept scrupulously clean so that the sparkle is maximized. Keep your treasures the same and light will be your friend, too.

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.