Sunday, September 19, 2010

The Value Of Fine Jewelry Pieces For Women

Fine jewelry has been an important staple throughout history. Since the ancient times humans have been inclined to wear jewelry pieces to adorn their bodies. Beginning in the old stone age about 25,000 years ago, both men and women took different objects they found, drilled holes in them and wore them in different areas around their bodies. However, women are more adept to wear jewelry pieces because of the many purposes they hold.

In a recent survey done by a lifestyle magazine, it has been found out that 95 out of 100 surveyed women spends more time shopping for fine jewelry pieces than any other items. Such result significantly shows how important jewelry is for many women. With this result at hand, you might be wondering what is it with jewelry that makes women swoon for it. Accordingly, there's a whole range of reasons why women love jewelry.

To begin with, all kinds of jewelry pieces are additives that reinforce the real context of dressing as well as artistic display. They are regarded as essential components of fashion and style due to their ability to improve the appearance of wardrobes that women often wear. Hair dresses adorned with loose diamonds could make the hair glimmer, brooches and pins apparently make a dull looking office suit into a livelier outfit. Jewelry pieces worn on different parts of the body such as bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces create a focal point that hides aesthetic flaws of women.

Other than accessorizing, articles of jewelry are also utilized to define the social status of women in the society. From the ancient times, various cultures have used jewelry pieces to identify the position of women in their tribes and communities--slaves were often seen wearing beaded articles of jewelry, while upper class women often wore metallic jewelry items that are adorned with precious gems such as crystals and loose diamonds. Although such purpose may not be as intense today compared from the past, it cannot be discounted that is still apparently a practice that many rich and famous people uphold.

Many women also love fine jewelry pieces because of their associated symbolism as well as the spiritual and health value they hold. Women from India have long been using the "tika- which looks like a chandelier earring that is hooked at the hair end with the pendant at the exact center of the forehead to represent spiritual preservation. Nose rings on the other hand is said to enhance sexual reflexes, while necklaces, which are often worn close to the heart are identified as pieces that work on emotions and attract or strengthen love. Charm bracelets are utilized to harness luck, while bangles are signs of creativity and the sun's potent energy. Gemstones of all sorts have been used to cure different health conditions with diamonds being used to induce clarity and jade to enhance relaxation among others.

Of course, jewelry pieces tell volumes of stories that is why women love them so much. They tell stories of love, friendship, celebration, welcoming or personal epiphany. Articles of jewelry are about relationships with spouses and partners as seen from the use of wedding and engagement rings accentuated with round brilliant cut diamonds, friendships that are defined by friendship bands and rings, and families through the consistent use of heirlooms that are passed from one generation to another. All in all, jewelry speaks volumes about the characters of women that not even written or spoken words could express.

Fine jewelry pieces have long been adored by women because of the many purposes they hold. Loose diamonds for instance that have round brilliant cut are often used to accentuate wedding and engagement rings used to encompass undying love and devotion. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings are worn for artistic display as well as to improve the appearance of clothes, improve health and define social status among others.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Thursday, September 16, 2010

A Simple Guide On Where To Buy Your Diamond Jewelry

In buying fine diamond jewelry, not only do you have to consider the four C's but also the place where you intend to make your purchase. Diamonds whether loose or embedded in jewelry are truly expensive. This fact is one of the primary reasons why purchasing diamonds is probably one of the biggest decisions you have to make. With this in mind, you have to be cautious about the shop where you intend to buy them so that you won't regret your purchase later on.

There are different means in order for you to acquire diamonds. One of the first things that you could do is to go online and look for online jewelry stores that specialize in fine diamond jewelry. Doing your purchases online is a practical way to land on articles of diamond jewelry without tiring yourself, as online jewelry stores are the key to finding diamonds that are both competitively priced and high in quality. In addition, online jewelry shops hold all sorts of diamond jewelry products from different parts of the world which gives you more room for choices.

The primary benefit of purchasing jewelry online is the comfort it provides and the time and energy you could save--with just a click, you could instantly choose from a wide array of jewelry selections, and it is also possible to engage in online jewelry auctions without your physical presence. Similarly, online jewelry stores offer competitively priced diamonds and jewelry pieces, whether round brilliant or any form of cut you desire, because they do not have price markups since they don't have physical stores to run that often incur overhead expenses such as electricity bills and employee salaries among others. The main issue with online purchasing however could be found on the copiousness of jewelry selections that often undermine the ability of consumers to appropriately appraise the value and quality of their jewelry choices. Nonetheless, as the internet equates to anonymity, there are myriads of jewelry scammers that could victimize naive jewelry buyers.

If you wish to be sure about your diamond jewelry purchase you could always visit the local jewelry stores in your area. The primary advantage of this option is that you have the power to personally check the quality and value of the round brilliant diamonds that you are interested to buy. Professional jewelers could also answer all your queries which would help you establish the right purchasing decisions. Major drawbacks about this option however, lies on the prices of their products; as they have overhead expenses to cover, physical jewelry stores have the tendency to place additional markups on their product prices, which is why jewelry pieces from these stores could be a bit expensive, and they have limited.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for rare jewelry finds such as oval diamonds from the Victorian era, heirlooms that you will add to your collection, or perhaps used diamonds to save money, you could personally visit specialty stores, thrift shops or pawnshops. If you intend to follow this option, it is essential that you are knowledgeable about diamond jewelry to make appropriate purchases. You must also be patient enough to perform the task of searching as these stores usually do not hold such forms of valuable items. However, if you're lucky enough you could get rare finds that are worthy for your collection, though such instance is considered once in a blue moon.

When you're in the market for a piece of fine diamond jewelry, it pays to shop around and make comparisons to be able to make the right purchase. If your primary option is purchase online, be sure to do an intensive background check on your prospective online jewelry stores to make sure if they are legitimate or not and also consider looking at their return and refund policies to ensure that your interests are protected. As for physical jewelry stores, always consider comparing prices, services and the quality of their products. If you are not familiar with the jewelry stores around your area, you could ask for the recommendations of friends and family members to ensure that your money won't just go down the drain.

If you intend to buy fine diamond jewelry, regardless if it has oval diamonds or round brilliant sparklers, it pays to go over your store options to ultimately make the right purchase. Basically, you have two options when it comes to purchasing diamonds. First, you could go online, which is a good option to save time, money and energy, and second, you could visit your local jewelry stores, where you could personally appraise the jewelry you would like to purchase.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Friday, September 3, 2010

Diamond Rings: What To Look Out For

Clarity is one of the four C's that affects the quality of the diamond. It refers to the amount of flaws found in a diamond. These flaws are imperfections brought about by mistakes in cutting or that come from the original rock. A diamond with poor clarity will have faults that are easily noticeable, and may even be seen with the naked eye. They will not look charming set in diamond rings, and have low resell value. In contrast, a diamond with great clarity is highly sought after by collectors, and will be a gift of true value to loved ones.

Flaws can be grouped into two; external flaws are called blemishes, whereas flaws within the diamond, that can alter its ability to reflect light, are called inclusions. Since inclusions get in the way of a diamond's sparkle, they can reduce the value of a diamond more, but they can also be useful. Inclusions can be used to identify particular diamonds as a sort of diamond fingerprint. This can be used to secure your diamond rings.

Diamonds are graded based on the visibility of these flaws. This is done while they are still loose diamonds. There are several gemological organizations worldwide that have created independent grading systems, although in many cases they are very similar. You should familiarize yourself with the grading system used in the store where you buy your diamond. When shopping for diamond rings, you will want to assess the clarity of the diamond above anything else. Clarity is one of the main factors used in determining a diamond's monetary value. It is a standard accepted by gemological organizations across the board.

To guarantee you get diamonds of the best clarity, purchase loose diamonds first. You can make an ocular inspection of the diamonds before buying. You can ask the jeweler for a loupe or magnifier so that you can view them under 10 x magnification. If they don't want you to take a closer look, you should look elsewhere.

Be careful when picking jewelry stores as well. One store may be offering rock cheap prices, or limited period sales. You may think you're getting a good deal; but they'll lose most of their value in as short as ten years. You'll want to get diamonds of lasting value. You can find a quality diamond at a fair price, but you need to know your diamonds.

When shopping for diamond rings, you will want to assess the clarity of the diamond above anything else. Clarity is one of the main factors used in determining a diamond's monetary value. Don't look at jewelry stores at face value. To ensure you get diamonds of the highest clarity, get loose diamonds first. You can buy a good quality diamond at a reasonable price, if you take the time to learn about diamonds.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Round Brilliant Cut: Increasing The Value Of Your Loose Diamonds

Since the ancient times, diamonds have captivated the interest of humans. They are probably the most revered articles of accents provided by nature; deeply symbolizing beauty and forever. From all the stones that the world has introduced, diamonds are the most distinguished""appealing to people of all classes. Whether they are loose diamonds or blood diamonds, one thing remains a fact, they will continuously captivate the attention of generations of people.

Due to our inclination to diamonds, these stones became permanent fixtures during betrothals, weddings and other special occasions. Fine diamond rings and almost all articles of jewelry made from diamonds have turned into valuable belongings equally at par with real estate and artworks. For these reasons alone, purchasing diamonds has become a practice that demands deep comprehension about the important features of such stones in order to make informed decisions. While much has been said about the clarity, color, and carat of diamonds, not all of us are very familiar about the facet of diamond cutting.

Cut with an emphasis on diamonds, refers to the guide of style or design used to shape a diamond for polishing. As oppose to shape, this feature is what defines the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond, which all affect the stone's brilliance and fire. History of diamond cutting had its roots back from the middle ages, and has since been consistently innovated to what we know it today. Although many cutting styles have emerged and fall off along the way, the round brilliant cut remains as one of the most revered by jewelers and jewelry aficionados alike.

Round brilliant cut was originally developed by a Belgian diamond cutter named Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. An engineer by profession, Tolkowsky developed this cut based from precise mathematical and empirical analysis that accounted the essence of brilliance and fire in diamonds. As an end result, a diamond cut this way contains 58 facets""33 on the top or crown, 25 at the bottom including the culet or the bottom point of the stone. Likewise, it yields two diamonds in one cut, one larger than the other; hence, very little diamond pieces are wasted.

A round brilliant cut diamond that is cut properly creates a shape that permits more light to reflect on the diamond in differing angles, enhancing its brilliance and fire. Due to its relatively safe shape, it is considered as the best choice of cut in terms of its "saleability," optics as well as insurability. Other than these qualities, diamonds that are round brilliant in cut are also revered for their versatility to befit any type of jewelry setting. As such, it is not a surprise to know that approximately 75 percent of diamond jewelry sales are credited to this kind of cut.

If you are shopping for loose diamonds that you would be customizing into jewelry later on, it would be more preferable to go for the ones that are round brilliant in cut. With all the mentioned characteristics of this cut, not only will you emphasize the aesthetics of your diamonds, you are also augmenting their sale value and insurability. Nonetheless, with its versatile nature, you will not have any trouble finding the right setting for your diamond jewelry. In a nutshell, diamonds that are round brilliant in cut are definitely worthy of your expenses.

Loose diamonds are always appropriated for fine diamond rings and other fine jewelry pieces. This is because they give individuals the option to choose the setting that would befit their design preference. In order to further reinforce the beauty of loose sparkler, most jewelers would suggest that it would be more preferable to pick round brilliant cut diamonds since such cut is considered as the highest quality pattern that maximizes the brilliance and fire of diamonds to their full extent.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Loose Diamonds: Looking At Round Brilliant And Fancy Cuts

For most people, the only time they look for diamonds is when they want wedding or engagement rings. The smart way to go about this is to find loose diamonds first and have them set later. You can inspect them for flaws better, and possibly get a better deal. However, you need to be meticulous when buying. It's easy to make mistakes and give too much, or end up with an inferior diamond.

When looking at loose diamonds, you should confirm the diamond's value. You'll want to scrutinize each one for the four C's; carat weight, cut, clarity and color. But keep in mind that each diamond is unique, and it's unlikely for a single diamond to get two separate assessments with identical results. Ultimately, the value of a diamond is subjective, so you shouldn't be too obsessed looking for it's exact value.

The pinnacle of all diamond cuts is the round brilliant cut. Thanks to the work of Marcel Tolkowsky, the proportions essential to get the most brilliance and fire out of a diamond were established and popularized. Further innovations streamlined Tolkowsky's measurements to optimize diamond's potential for brilliance.

The round brilliant cut is also the established favorite cut. By comparison, different fancy cuts become popular in line with the current fads. Nowadays, people look for sparkle, so the heart, oval, and pear cuts are popular. However, the quality and value of a diamond is based on other factors. You can easily get a high value diamond of any cut - or low value, if you buy carelessly.

So buy a diamond jewelry gift with any cut you desire. It may be a shape that catches you or your significant other's fancy, or one that evokes special memories or feelings within you. If all you want is a huge diamond, and you don't mind flaws, it's easy to get one for cheap. But even if you are buying cheap, you have to scrutinize your purchases to avoid getting gypped.

When it comes time to set your loose diamond, it's sound to have it done by the same people who sold it to you. If you bring it to another jeweler, they won't want to be held responsible for any damage the diamond may incur during setting. If the seller won't take responsibility for their own diamonds, leave them for a seller who will.

For most people, the only time they look for diamonds is when they want wedding or engagement rings. The smart way to go about this is to look for loose diamonds first and have them set later. The round brilliant cut is the most enduringly popular cut. Fancy cuts become popular based on prevailing fashions. However, the quality and value of a diamond is based on other factors. So buy a diamond jewelry gift in the cut you really want.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Diamond rings: Nothing says I love you like it

People with extra money would usually channel their funds on investments that can earn their money interest.To help their money grow, they would usually acquire assets like land or stocks and even condominium units because they can generate revenue as their value appreciates.

But while enormous and expensive assets may be the way for most people, others choose to invest on more enjoyable and less expensive items.And there is nothing more appropriate than to invest on their hobbies where they can directly enjoy money they have spent.

There are a number of hobby collectibles that can be considered a reasonable investment just like toys, fine jewelry and luxury cars which gain value over time.Choosing the right toys and even the right jewelry, particularly gold or diamond rings is the key factor in getting the right investment hobby that would naturally appreciate in value as the years pass.

Toys are a good example of items that, when kept in mint condition, can actually sell for more than its original value, sometimes ten to twenty times the original.Another good example is fine jewelry because this definitely appreciates in value in time.Diamond encrusted jewelry like diamond rings can definitely get more expensive over time.

Diamond rings can also be a investment not only in the financial sense but also a material asset dedicated for someone you love or care for.Diamonds pretty much last for a lifetime so it can be smart investment compared to other things like cars or houses that can depreciate as time takes its toll and cause mechanical or aesthetic problems.

In a nutshell, spending extra money on assets and investments is a smart thing to do as it should be dictated by the desired outcome as time progresses.Looking into the non traditional methods of earning profit or interest for your money can be a good way to start as there are numerous ways available that can reap rewards and feed someone's happiness and interest at the same time.

While some people spend on assets like condominium units or land to make their money grow, others choose to invest on their hobbies and interests instead. Some like fine spending on fine jewelry or expensive cars or rare toys. This is a smart investment because like diamond rings or rare toys, they can only get pricier as the years go by.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Fine Jewelry: Common Types, Their Designs And Functions

The visual appeal of fine jewelry has never ceased to amaze us. As a matter of fact, jewelry pieces are sometimes perceived as the determining factor of societal status especially during the ancient times. These pieces have played significant roles in shaping some of the most important traditions we know of. From necklaces and earrings, to rings and bracelets, these articles have long provided humans with personal satisfaction that no other objects could provide.

There are many kinds of fine jewelry pieces available. Some are used as adornments, while others are used as symbolic tokens for certain occasions. There are articles of jewelry that are plain and cheap, while there are also pieces that are so ornate, they are often expensive. Below are some of the most common articles of jewelry available in the market as well as their qualities and purposes. Rings are perhaps the most common articles of jewelry that almost all of us are familiar with. They are widely available in several varieties; they may come as plain cylindrical bands commonly seen in wedding rings adorned with gemstones such as diamond heart setting, spiral or serpentine coils, signet rings, and open on one side. Rings have different functions but they are commonly used as symbolic tokens during engagements and weddings or just to accentuate the fingers. In the case of signet rings, these bands are employed to tote the emblems of fraternal orders or the insignias of certain organizations.

Another popular type of jewelry is the necklace which is worn around the neck. Basically, there are four general forms of necklaces: close fitting collar band with stones or beads, chain necklace with a single pendant, row of beads that are usually graduated in size held by a wire or chain, and several chains or strings of differing lengths worn on top of each other. Necklaces can be created from various materials but works well with metals, gemstones or the combination of two, and they are usually partnered with pendants made from gemstones with the diamond heart being one of the most sought after pendant design. In order to highlight necklaces, they are worn with tops or dresses that have low necklines, as this clothing finish diverts the attention of people towards the neck where the said jewelry is hanged.

Meanwhile, earrings are jewelry for the ears that can either be set on against the ear lobes or hanging drops like pendants. One of the most usual forms of earrings set on the earlobes are large pearls, while popular hanging earrings are chandeliers and hoops. Traditionally, wearing earrings demands for ear piercings because the practice of wearing this jewelry in the past was a barbarous custom. Currently, earrings can be worn either through piercing the ears or just by clipping the said jewelry.

Another type of fine jewelry is the bracelet, which is worn on the arm. This piece can be in the form of closed band, spiral coils, open on one side, closed with clasps or flexible rings made from several links. Aside from the ring, necklace, earrings and bracelets other form of jewelry pieces include pins, cuff links, anklets, chains, brooches, and collar buttons. All in all, articles of jewelry vary in terms of function, design and quality; it is within the discretion of the wearer where he or she would like to use these pieces.

Fine jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings are commonly used as personal adornments. However, they can also be used to signify societal status, as a form of currency, symbolism as well as artistic display. They can be made from precious metals set with gemstones just like a diamond heart setting and may come in varying finishes depending on the wearers preference.

-Lorraine Jacobs