Loose Diamonds: Protect Your Investment

Diamonds are one of the most coveted precious stones in existence today. Whether you are a celebrity flaunting your wealth or a bride-to-be, your diamonds make you feel spectacular. The best way to keep your loose diamonds looking great and remaining shiny is to make sure you store them properly. By wrapping your diamonds in a soft cloth, you are preventing them from rubbing against other pieces of jewelry in your jewelry box. This could result in scratches or other forms of damage that could decrease the value of your stone.

Since diamonds are fairly expensive, no matter how big they are, it is always wise to protect your investment. Regular cleaning is another great way to prolong the length of your diamond jewelry. Take your loose diamonds to your local jeweler a few times a year to have them cleaned by a professional. This will ensure they keep their luster and will also appear like new again. By following these simple steps, you are making good decisions that will prolong the life of your diamond. You may just want to pass it down to your child as a family heirloom. This is a time-honored tradition among many families.

Earrings Provide Diversity that can Complete Every Outfit

When I wake up every morning, I plan my outfit according to the events of my day. Some days I have to meet with clients, while other days I get the luxury of working from home. Obviously, these outfits are extremely different. No matter what outfit I choose to wear for that day, I always make sure I have a pair of earrings to match. Decorating my ears is my way of feeling as though my outfit is complete. Whether I am wearing some simple silver hoops or a dashing pair of diamond earrings, I always feel better when my face is complemented by those little accents hanging from my ear lobes. 

Many women these days have their ears pierced at a very young age. Therefore, they are exposed to many different styles before they are even able to buy a pair themselves. This is absolutely great for the jewelry industry and is even more spectacular for jewelry lovers everywhere. With demand comes supply, so be certain there will always be a readily available supply of beautiful earrings in all shapes and sizes at your local jeweler. Also, if you are not in the mood to grace the general public with your presence, you can always find a vast selection of jewelry online. From the comfort of your own home (and probably in your pajamas),you can dive into the enchanting world of jewelry. With just a few clicks of a mouse and a little patience, you can have any design you want at your house in no time at all.

Loose Diamonds and Certification

Certified loose diamonds can come in all shapes and sizes. If you are not quite sure what this term means, then allow me to inform you: Loose diamonds are certified when they come with documentation stating all of the attributes the diamond possesses, any treatments the diamond has withstood and authenticity of the origins and export of the diamond. All of these requirements come together to make sure you know exactly what you are getting and to make sure the diamond is legally distributed through a diamond retailer. Without this certification, your diamond could potentially be a blood diamond or a diamond that was purchased on the black market illegally.

It could have even been exported from a foreign country to support their rebellions and vicious civil wars. The last thing you want in your life is to know that you helped some horrible people in the world raise money to buy guns for their extremist ways. Always ask your jeweler for this certificate. It may cost just a little more because you know the precise quality of your diamond, but it is worth it. There should be a big red flagged waived if you are told the diamond has no certificate.

Non-Traditional - Engagement Rings

You want to propose to your special someone, but the usual diamonds don’t really speak to you or your relationship. If you’re looking for something different in engagement rings, consider non-traditional pieces and unique elements. Rubies, sapphires, or emeralds make stunning pieces that are often overlooked in the wedding jewelry market and multiple stones or bands that have inset stones are designs that can be personalized. Additionally, nontraditional stones, such as blue topaz, opal or tanzanite, will make your dollar go even further. Any combination of these elements will give you a striking piece that is as unique as your relationship.

On the other hand, tradition speaks loudly when it comes to diamond engagement rings.  While the color of a gemstone might do for a moment, the sparkle and brilliance of a solitaire stone casting a prism of color across a sunlight room is entirely another.  Think your decision through, thoroughly.  This ring is the one that will grace the hand of the woman you love.  An engagement ring, no matter the stone, the metal or even the value, remains as the symbol of a love eternal. It is the love that matters, isn't it?  Mmmmm, that diamond engagement ring sure is pretty...

Sneaky Engagement Ring Shopping Tips

You're sure that this is the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. However you might not be so sure on her taste in jewelry. How can you suss out your partner's tastes without losing the element of surprise?

Shop for other things Estate sales are a great way to do this. Peruse the jewelry sections, maybe offering the ruse that you're looking for a broach for your aunt Ethel, you know how she loves her themed broaches, and just take a long detour by any vintage engagement rings around. Often times, these are rather quite affordable anyway, and way below a normal market price.

Enlist your friends. Is another friend of yours planning to get married? Have them take your almost-fiance out to help them pick a ring. This can seem a bit transparent, but you'd be surprised what a little confusion can do to make someone open up.

Get something professionally cleaned. Go to a real jeweler and get your broken watch fixed, or borrow your mom's ring to get it cleaned (say she asked you to run the errand) and watch what your partner-to-be looks at.

Well, there's a handful of sneaky tips to help you pick out the perfect ring! Dear readers, did you have to go through any shady lengths when you were trying to find the perfect engagement rings? Let us know in the comments.

Ivory Being Considered the New Blood Diamond

As if we thought things couldn't get any worse for Africa, now a new wicked trade is taking hold of the country’s insurgent operations. We have all heard the stories. Men, women and children forced to work in the diamond mines located within war zones. Profits from stones go to finance militant insurgencies, buy weapons and pay off corrupt officials.

Now, these radical groups are turning to even more evil forms of trafficking. It’s being called the new blood diamond and people across the globe are in an uproar over it. Ivory tusks are being sold on the black market for staggering prices. A kilogram of elephant tusk can be bought for a mere $2,000. That’s nothing compared to what a rhino horn is going for. According to African affairs at the National Security Staff of the White House, a kilogram of rhino horn is priced at $66,000.

Apparently, the demand is coming from the wealthy nations of China and Southeast Asia. Elephant deaths have risen dramatically over the past several years. Increased illegal poaching is driving them even further towards extinction. Wildlife monitoring groups have been recording the astounding developments and warn that if serious action is not taken soon, we could very well see these amazing creatures wiped off the face of the earth.

Fine Silver: An Age Old Tradition

Whenever you watch soap operas, the rich families walk into their candlelit house with no windows and dark wooded furniture and pour themselves a drink from a fancy decanter filled with brown liquid. If not alcohol, they mosey on over to the fine silver and pour a delectable cup of coffee into a china cup.

It’s pretty funny to me. Perhaps I’m just hanging around the wrong group of people, but I don’t know a single soul who keeps their scotch in a decanter or the coffee in a fine silver coffee holder on a silver tray. They may have those things in a curio cabinet, but they’re purely for decorative purposes.

With the exception of church events that I do remember seeing fine silver being used at their appearance is rare. It was usually at Mother/Daughter teas when I was a kid. They really liked to make those fancy and I always got to bring home a bag of mints and a flower.

My grandmother had a very fancy set from Norway that she used periodically. If it was a fancy gathering, that silver came out and itlooked very elegant on her lace tablecloth. It was also from Norway, which made it far cooler than the norm. I inherited that silver when she passed away. I think it’s time I found a place to use it now as this is trend that really should come back into fashion.