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Archive for the ‘Jewelry’ Category

Pick up any wedding magazine and you will see an extravagance of design ideas. The difference we are seeing is the trend toward fancy and feminine. Even the ever popular sheath style has added a waistline. Curves are accentuated this year and ruffles, pleats, and flounces are everywhere. Plain is rare this year and engagement rings are following the trend.

Having said all that, the timeless diamond solitaire ring with its elegant simplicity will never go out of style. A single, perfect diamond sparkling all by itself on a simple band will always create a statement.

This year, designers are over the top with extra sparkle created by diamonds, diamonds, and more diamonds. And the choices are abundant. Many online jewelers offer the service of designing your own ring. You will match your wishes from each of the 4 C’s to pick the central diamond and then choose the setting to showcase that diamond. Prices are shown once you have matched the two.

Bands come in several styles. The pave bands feature smaller diamonds set in the band for as far as the eye can see. This is a great way to add a great deal of sparkle without spending a great deal more. Pave or not, you may choose from split band, twist band, double band or triple band.

Another popular style this year, also adding glamor and sparkle, is the 3 stone band. The central diamond is flanked by 2 slightly smaller stones on a plain or pave band.

To add even more bling to the ring, many designs this year feature a “diamond frame”. Smaller diamonds completely frame the central diamond.

For an even more unusual ring, “fancy colored diamonds” are still gaining popularity. Movie stars are all about maximum bling and they are choosing yellow diamonds, brown diamonds and pink diamonds for their engagement rings. You will need additional information about colored diamonds and this can be found on specialty websites.

No matter which style you choose, enjoy the process. We have more choices today than ever before and nothing is more exciting than planning your future with the one you love. You will find the perfect ring at the perfect price using the tools available on specialty websites.

Visit us at Engagement Ring Trends where we have done the research for you. Download our free Diamond Buyers Guide with the questions you need to ask your jeweler.

There is a popular misconception that platinum and white gold are both lustrous cold white metals. Wedding bands made from either of these metals do look white and do look great. Which is best? Let’s look at each one.

White Gold: This is one of the most popular choices when it comes to wedding bands. Sorry to burst any balloons, but white gold is not a pure gold. Gold, in its purest form, is yellow and very soft – too soft to use in most jewelry pieces.

Pure gold is mixed with other metals to form a harder alloy that is then suitable for jewelry making. When measuring gold content, 24 carat equals 100% pure gold. Common alloys include 22 carat, 18 carat, 14 carat and 9 carat. As an example, white gold that has 50% gold content is 12 carat.

A white gold alloy could contain quantities of silver, palladium, zinc, copper or nickel. It is the alloy created with nickel, zinc or palladium that produces white gold. When these metals are combined with gold they effectively bleach the yellow gold, white. Some metals have a stronger bleaching effect than others, however they also have stronger hardening effects.

Wedding bands that are 18 carat should contain 75% gold, with the remaining 25% often 15% palladium, 5% silver and 5% copper. This would result in an 18 carat white gold that is hard wearing and yet looks very much like platinum. You can buy very cheap versions of white gold, however, they are generally made with inferior metals and don’t last as long as quality white gold.

Platinum: this metal is much rarer than gold so it is far more expensive. Platinum is a fairly hard metal and while it can be worked into rings in its pure state, can also be alloyed for easier use. Like white gold, platinum has various grades of purity and is actually a light grey in color – not white.

To get the brilliant white finish that white gold and platinum are famous for, they need to be plated with rhodium. Over time, this rhodium plating will wear away leaving the base metal behind. As the rhodium plating wears away the brilliant white finish that platinum and white gold are famous for will be replaced by a dull light grey appearance. Platinum wedding bands also turn a light grey or off white color.

Platinum is more expensive than white gold, however they may both look quite cheap over time because of that rhodium plating. You can restore the white lustre to your jewelry by having the rhodium plating reapplied. Which is best? It is in the eye of the beholder. Many don’t realize that white gold was created to imitate platinum. White gold is no longer considered a platinum substitute, it is popular in its own right. If you are looking for a platinum finish on a budget, be wary – you will get what you pay for. If you really want the platinum look – get platinum.

For those wanting white gold, be sure to buy white gold that is good quality, not created from a cheap alloy blend. You cannot judge one as better than the other when it comes to wedding bands, they are both well suited so it is up to the buyer to buy what they like best.

If you are after that special white gold wedding bands or any other jewelry white gold then pay us a visit. We have quality products starting at $1.