Is Platinum Better Than White Gold For an Engagement Ring?

White gold is a wonderful metal, and has a fascinating manufacturing process. At the same time, platinum is an equally intriguing metal. But is platinum better than white gold for an engagement ring? Both have a level of class purchased at the high end of the spectrum, and both are highly resistant to tarnishing (even capable of withstanding contact with sulfuric acid). But is one better than the other? Let's look at what each one says, and briefly consider their composition.

Seeing as gold production is only approximately 82 million troy ounces per year (note that a troy ounce is only 32 grams), gold most certainly makes a statement about its owner's ability to keep the bills paid. And of course, even the word "gold" says something about a sparkle that the eye can't quite detect. There is a mystique surrounding the metal that people save two months' salary to put on one another's finger.

But of course, since only 5 million troy ounces of platinum are mined each year, having platinum doesn't just say, "I have money." A piece of platinum jewelry says, "If I grow any wealthier, I may run out of ways to show it off." But rarity alone says nothing about the genuine quality of the materials, does it? Perhaps white gold is simply a more easily acquired metal.

White gold does not occur anywhere in nature. It is actually a combination of gold and another metal, then it is electroplated with rhodium to be white. White gold alloys come in several different varieties, and can be used for vastly different purposes. Keep in mind that the rhodium tends to wear off, often in as little as a year... meaning it has to be replaced over and over again.

Some white gold involves alloying it (combining two metals by melting both and combining them) with nickel, which gives it great strength and rigidity, which works well in rings and pins. If gold is alloyed with palladium, however, it becomes soft and pliable, which is ideal for diamond settings.

Platinum, however, is naturally white. It needs no combination, and can be used essentially pure. Technically, it tends to have traces of other metals within, making it approximately 95-98% pure. But gold is nearly always combined - 24 carat gold (99% pure) can be warmed slightly and molded like a child's putty. 18ct gold is 75% pure, and 14ct gold is 58.5% pure.

So, white gold should be far less expensive than platinum, as it is higher maintenance, tends to have less tolerance to abrasion, it tends to only be about half actual gold, and tends to look like silver after only a few years.

So, is platinum better than white gold for an engagement ring? It is your choice to decide which metal is right for you. Obviously white gold has the cost benefit and platinum requires less upkeep and is more durable.

White Golden Retriever? Be Careful!

White gold is in vogue. But nobody goes for buying silver instead of gold though silver can give you the 'white' you are seeking. Why? Obviously, gold is gold. Very different and far more superior! The same holds true for a purebred White Golden Retriever as well. The Goldens have been named so after their colour which is always a shade or tint of gold. Their colour can range from very light cream to dark Mahogany. But there is nothing like a white Golden Retriever. If a breeder claims to have a white Golden, he is either marketing a cream European/English Golden as 'white' to make it sound rare; or he could be trying to sell a cross-bred dog as a pure Golden to fetch a higher price.

Goldens are adorable dogs. They make a perfect pet with their eager-to-please demeanour, cheerful disposition, playful nature and high energy level. They are obedient, loyal, loving and very good with kids. Their intelligence makes them easy to train and discipline. And for these characteristics that Goldens are preferred and loved by dog enthusiasts. Colour doesn't really matter.

But still if you have your heart set on getting a white Golden, what you can go for is a European/ English Golden. The English Golden is lighter in colour and comes in shades of light cream and pale gold. Some such Goldens are so light in colour that they almost look white. But remember that it is 'almost white' and never perfect white. Even if there is a white-like Golden pup, it will probably have a darker coat as it grows up.

While going for an English Golden, you also need to know that apart from the colour there are some other differences as well between the English and the American Golden. The English Golden has a larger mouth and a longer nose, and is stockier than its American cousin. Also, the ears of the English Golden are at the same level as their eyes whereas the Americans have their ears behind and above the eye level. The white Golden Retriever will have a less dense coat and comparatively short hair compared to the American Golden.

You should keep in mind that these differences will disable your dog from qualifying as per the AKC standards for Golden Retrievers. This will hamper your dog's chances of participating in various dog shows. So if you want your four-legged fellow to be there in every show, the white (English) Golden could not be for you. However, the colour makes no difference in the innate characteristics for which the Goldens are loved the world over.

Here's a word of caution if you want only a white Golden Retriever to be the star of your eyes. If you find a breeder offering you with the 'rare' white Golden Retriever, ensure that it is purebred, i.e. both its parents are pure Goldens. Seek and check all the documents that certify a dog's purebred status. Also check the credentials of the dog's parents. Since the popularity of the English cream Golden is increasing by the day, there are many breeders who cross breed a Golden with a white breed dog to produce a Golden look alike with white coat. It is therefore important to acquire complete information about the parents and lineage of the dog you are buying.

Remember, you can never get that 'perfect golden temperament' from a dog which is not a perfect, pure Golden. You can definitely choose the colour you like, but in doing so you should in no way part with the 'Golden standards'.

So go ahead and have a great time with a beautiful white Gold.

Maintenance Care For Your Diamond Ring

Though Diamonds are considered the hardest natural mineral, it still needs extra care and regular cleaning to keep its shine. This article will give you tips on how to properly clean your diamond ring to keep it beautiful and shiny.

One way to clean your diamond ring is washing it with soap water. You can use soap water regularly to clean your precious jewelry. After washing, let your ring dry then wipe it with soft fabric. Wiping it with soft fabric will not only take some water stains off, it will also polish the diamond. Washing it with soap water is also good when you accumulate stains in your ring from your kitchen, especially when cooking.

All diamond cuts have crevices, this crevices accumulate dust from time to time you wear your diamond ring. The best way to keep the sparkle and take the dust off easily is to brush the diamond with worn, soft-bristle tooth brush.

Diamonds should be kept individually inside soft cloth pouches to avoid the stones from hitting each other. Some ring designs also give better safety for these stones: six-prong, four-prong and bezel setting are good designs to keep the stones safe.

Ammonia solution and cold water is also good to keep your diamond's shine. Soak your diamond ring in a mixture of ammonia solution and cold water for thirty minutes then wash your ring with tap water. Then brush it with soft fabric.

Note, touching your diamond with your fingertips too often will transfer the oil from your fingers to the diamond. Always hold your diamond ring by the edges, and remove it while doing handy works.

There are so many diamond cleaning agents available in the market right now. You can ask your local jeweler for more tips to take care of your precious ring. Some jewelers have special services like cleaning your jewelries for you.

Wedding Rings - Symbol of Love and Eternity

The most important part of bridal jewelry is wedding rings. They are symbol of eternity and love and are made of costly metals. These rings are worn on the ring finger of the left hand and it is important to select a classic and timeless design for your ring which can never become un-stylish or outdated after long period of time also.

Wedding rings are that piece of sparkling jewelry which promises everlasting love. It is a symbol of your care and love which you want to give to your future bride. It is a very special piece of jewelry as it is worn every day for the rest of the life. Hence you must be very careful while selecting your wedding ring.

The first thing is to consider is the type of metal you want for your ring. There are lots of options available in metal. If you are selecting the ring for men then you must go with hard metals such as titanium and gold. And if you are selecting for girl then platinum, white gold and silver are the perfect and elegant choices for girls.

You must also think of the style and design of the ring. Your wedding ring can be studded with diamonds or gems or it can be simple also. Simple gold ring is in the trend from many years and it is popular today also. But diamonds are the latest trend and the craze of diamond is increasing day by day. And the reason of its popularity is that you can find diamond in different cut and color. Recently people are selecting titanium wedding rings also. And the reason of selecting titanium is that they are more durable compare to silver or gold and are perfect choice for men. It can also hold diamond and other gems with more durability compare to other metals.

But before selecting the style and design of the ring you must consider you budget and taste and preference of your partner. And you can easily buy your wedding ring from the online stores. Online stores offer wide selection of design and style in wedding rings. By browsing the online stores you can find that all types of wedding rings are available and you can easily select according to your requirement and budget. By purchasing your ring from online you can also compare the ring and can find the best one for your partner.

No matter whatever design or style you select for your ring but always remember that it should be presented with a special vow and then of course it will charm your partner.

Diamond Rings - Importance in Daily Routine Life!

There are several aspects in which you can use rings set with diamond. Though, this is just a stone but from past many decades several kings and queens use this gemstone to enhance their beauty and looks.

Time has changed too much and a common man can also buy such items instead of rich folks. Though, the price level of pure diamonds is quite expensive that an ordinary man can not afford it but still people demand for it. Not only women but men are also very conscious about their looks and found eager to buy such products to enhance their looks and personality.

To overcome the price issue of such products, thousands of jewelers all around the world introduce replicas of diamonds at affordable rates. Though, these items are not genuine but they are too much identical to the real ones. The similarity of these products is too much realistic that even an expert and qualified jeweler found it difficult to differentiate the replica and real one.

So, for those who can not buy a million dollar diamond ring, these replicas play a vital role to avail the facility of such luxurious and expensive item in few thousands of dollars. You can easily buy different products of diamond like rings, necklaces and pendants at very affordable rates. All you have to do is to search thoroughly and select a proper and unique design for you or your partner.

You can also present a diamond ring to your loved one on the anniversary or birthday ceremony. Most of the people find it quite difficult to select a proper ring for their partner. Therefore, hundreds of websites are easily available that provide thousands of designs and styles of diamond necklaces and rings. So, search thoroughly and buy a perfect proper diamond replica for your partner. For further details you can also follow the links given below.

Piercing Care

In order to prevent an inflammation, your fresh piercing demands for constant ongoing care. During at least two weeks, twice a day minimum, you will have to clean your wound with special liquid disinfectant, up to complete healing will be achieved. Please use only oil-free antiseptic creams, forget about the sauna, pool and solarium, swimming in natural water basins and especially in sea water, because sea water slows the healing process.

Should any complications (such as severe redness, pain, etc.) occur, rush to the dermatologist immediately. Could happen, the doctor will have to remove your ring.

If you have managed without an inflammation, wear first adornment until the wound heals completely. Otherwise, it might easy catch dirt, and this time an inflammation will develop for sure.
No other care products are allowed, except recommended ones, and no other creams should be used but oil-free.

Please refer to the description of the professionally done piercing after-effects provided below:

1) Stable redness, which is expected to go down in 3-4 days;

2) Bleeding can last over some two-three days;

3) Extra sensitivity will bother you for approximately 2 weeks;

4) There will be some discharge of white-yellowish liquid for nearly 2 weeks, which is just normal and good for healing;

5) It could slightly decrease in size.

See below for all the stuff you would need for your aftercare procedures:

- Special solution, broad spectrum antiseptic. This liquid they will recommend you in the piercing saloon.

- You have to rinse piercing twice a day - in the morning and in the night - for the entire healing period. To do this, soak cosmetic swabs or tissue in your special liquid and clean the area of puncture from discharged blood plasma and lymph. Don't even think about scratching off this bloody scab from around the ring with your nails! To remove it, moist the ring with the soaked little cotton pad, pressing it against the area for half an hour. Do not turn your ring over!

- There is no need to clean your piercing for too often, and it is not recommended. You don't want to irritate your wound and thus prolong the healing. On the other hand, it is not advisable to rinse the puncture less than 2 times a day, as it may allow an infection to develop.

Platinum is a Perfect Choice For Men's Diamond Earrings

Platinum is a perfect choice for mens diamond earrings. Modern and beautiful, platinum is the perfect partner for diamonds.

Why? Because beautiful white platinum does not cast any color on a diamond. Perfect as diamonds are valued by their lack of color! Platinum is a precious metal. It does not tarnish, so it keeps its brightness and sheen. It will not darken over time. It is also heavy; it weighs considerably more than gold. So it feels substantial to wear.

Platinum is strong, which makes it durable. Because of it strength, platinum is used in men's earrings in its pure form. Gold has other metals added to it to give the strength needed to stand up to wear. Generally the platinum used in fine jewelry is 90 to 95% pure. Purity of Platinum is measured in parts per thousand. So 95% pure Platinum is called 950plat.

It is rarer than gold, it is more expensive to mine and refine and there are far less Platinum mines worldwide. Add to the fact that Platinum is now in very high demand, you'll find platinum earrings are more costly then gold.

To reduce the cost of platinum jewelry and satisfy rising demand, more alloys are being used. Sold as an alloy they can contain up to 25% other metals. They are called 800 or 850 alloy depending upon the amount of other metal used. To keep the color white, metal in the platinum family are used, such as iridium. As an added bonus these metals are even harder than platinum.

Metal Allergy sufferers

Many people have had to give up wearing earring as they are allergic to metals, sometimes including gold. Platinum is often tolerated by these people. Remember platinum is often used in medical equipment, so it is good for sensitivities.

White Gold Vs Platinum Vs- Which is the best choice?

Platinum is very popular today, far outstripping demand for white gold. One of the reasons is Platinum is naturally a bright white color which complements diamonds beautifully. White gold is greyer. To give white gold a whiter color, jewelry is coated with rhodium, a member of the platinum group of metals. However this coating does not last over time with wear, and pieces need to be recoated. So whilst white gold is lower in cost, it may not keep its bright white looks permanently if this coating wears.

But you need to pay for platinum's good looks. Expect to pay up to twice as much as gold! However if you are investing in a substantial diamond consider this. Platinum is stronger and less breakable than gold. Important when you think about the prongs that hold the diamond in the earring!

A more affordable alternative to platinum - Palladium earrings

Want to know how you can get the look of platinum without the cost? Palladium! It shares platinum's fabulous color (it is often mixed with gold to make white gold) and it won't tarnish. However it's not as strong.

Palladium is in the same family of metals as platinum and it's rare. So it's precious in its own right.

Men's Wedding Bands, Quality and Tradition

The focal point of any wedding has always been the bride. A main portion of that relates to the engagement and wedding ring that the bride will be wearing on that special day. No one ever asks the groom to see his new wedding band because it's simply been an established tradition for the men's wedding band to be somewhat cost effective and plain.

Those days are in the past. With the popularity of titanium, palladium and tungsten carbide rings, the world of mens wedding bands has reached a whole new level of elegance. As men become more image conscious the desire to have jewelry that stands out has driven the market to new levels of excellence.

Designers like Edward Mirell have taken the helm and have helped to design bands that will be as inspiring as the sparkle in a bride's eye. Designers like J.R. Yates have maintained an elegant contemporary look that maintains a level of manliness that has inspired to go beyond the boring styles of their father's and into a new generation of exciting design.

With cost in mind these new designs have been able to maintain the equivalent cost of their predecessors and still cost a small fraction of what the brides ring will cost. This allows individuals looking for the perfect wedding band the opportunity to find a cost effective wedding band that suits their taste while keeping extra money for wedding favors. Along with design changes the color choices have reached a whole new level as well. Titanium can come in multiple colors including black. When used in conjunction with silver titanium it can make for a very stunning effect. Rope bands and diamond set bands have also become very popular amongst new grooms and even celebrities like the Tuttles have put their name behind this newly renovated industry. With all of the new choices for men's wedding bands it easy to see why men have willingly jumped to these new designs as they present a great value and they look stunning. With a titanium wedding band you'll share the spotlight with your bride and people will be asking you to see your new ring.

It won't be long that every man looking for a wedding ring will be sporting a new titanium or tungsten band that has been designed for a new generation of man that is image conscious as well as price conscious. Titanium weddings bands stand as an excellent quality product for a new generation.

Mesmerizing Rose Gold Engagement Rings

Gold metal is one of the favorites of women all around the world. It has been one of the most famous metals when it comes to jewelry. Yellow gold was quite popular many years back and still is but now gold has become popular in different kinds too. White gold and rose gold are examples of other kinds of gold that are gaining the same recognition and same popularity as the yellow gold. Rose gold engagement rings are mesmerizing and simply exquisite.

Rose gold is a unique and different kind of gold and has come into existence only recently. It is being liked by many women across the globe due to its different and unique look. This gold is also called pink or red gold. It has a great amount of copper in it, which gives it a dark reddish pink color. A simple ring would be a good ring for your engagement. But if you think it would look more beautiful after combining it with other metals then don't hesitate to do so. Rose gold would look lovely with all kinds of other metals. It can be combined with diamonds or rubies.

The problem with these gold rings may be that it is not very much common yet and is rarely found. You will have to visit a larger number of shops to find it. Further, after purchasing it you will have to keep it with a lot of care. It is not scratch proof and should not be taken near chemicals. Rose gold engagement rings are available in almost the same price as the yellow ones. But as these rings are rare in number the jewelers sell these at much higher prices. If your budget allows you to buy rings, which are expensive, then rose gold rings are a perfect choice for you.

Diamond Bracelets

Types of diamond bracelets include bangles, cuffs, beaded, charms, spirals and link bracelets. Some are also made up of gold, sterling silver and diamonds.

The origin of the term "bracelet" is from the Latin word "brachile" meaning "of the arm", via the Old French "barcel". The Scarab is one of the most recognized symbols of ancient Egypt.

Exquisite bracelets sparkling on the wrist add beauty, style and personal statement. Diamond tennis bracelets remain one of the most classic and popular choices. A tennis style is a thin strand of diamonds arranged in a symmetrical pattern.

Diamond tennis types are elegant and thin jewelry pieces worn on the wrist. Tennis star Chris Evart was famous for wearing her diamond line bracelets while playing. The origin of the name comes from a 1987 incident where Chris Evart, a world champion in women's tennis, broke a thin diamond-strand bracelet she was wearing while playing a tennis match. The match was halted so that the scattered diamonds could be recovered. Since then, thin diamond bracelets had a new name-and a new popularity among diamond lovers.

Diamonds are always stunning, elegant and timeless classic gifts to the loved ones. A tennis bracelet makes an excellent anniversary, birthday, or wedding gift for a spouse. These come in classic and modern styles. Diamond tennis bracelets remain one of the most classic and popular choices.

Buy a diamond bracelet with at least near-colorless (I grade color) diamonds that are guaranteed to have no visible imperfections (SI grade clarity), Diamonds should be colorless and light should reflect the brilliance of the diamonds in the diamond bracelets. Diamond bracelets that are guaranteed to show no visible color and are genuine14-karat gold against their wrist, and the subtle brilliance of platinum bracelets accented with diamonds will surely add to woman's charm and beauty.

Tips on How to Choose Gold Charm Jewelry

Gold charm has always been a good choice for gift giving; this is a perfect present for all ages and occasions. Charms come from wide variety, from shape to styles and sizes, and these are all available in your local jewelry store - sounds easy to find you perfect fit. Charm jewelries are wearable in different occasion, whether you'll attend in a classier occasion or wore it during a simple gathering.

If you're planning to give a gift to your special someone, you should try this brilliant suggestion: Find a charm bracelet and a single charm. These kinds of bracelets has single, double, or triple link. The sturdiest is the triple link, while the nice starter bracelet is the single link. Now, for every event or occasion that your special person gets involved with, give her a charm bracelet. Each bracelet symbolizes each story of her success in life. Your gift will be more appreciated and it really does made sense to someone's mind.

To help you give better understanding of charm jewelry, here are some guidelines to help you purchase a perfect gold charms, pendant and bracelets.

* You must understand that charms and pendant has many usages. Many people would tend to hang charms on a charm bracelet because their sizes are smaller, and pendants are for necklace because they are larger. Generally, most people believe that this can be true, but there are some people who prefer to put large charms on their bracelet and smaller charms were hang on their necklace.Some people like gold charms with handmade glass beads. This is just a matter of an individual taste of design and style.

* · You must know the desires of the person you are purchasing for. Does she prefer the white over yellow gold? Remember that white gold look similar to silver but unlike silver, gold doesn't tarnish.

* Be aware of the size and the weight of the charm. You must know that the size of the charm or pendant is important. If you are having a hard time purchasing a pendant via web, the best thing you can do is to visualize a quarter in your mind (the quarter is 1" by 1") and simply make it as your reference.

* Also, make sure that the weight in grams of gold charms sold in the web is correct. Each charm should have its weight in grams placed next to the other charm. This will assure you that the charm displayed is solid and not hollow. Do not buy if there is not weight listed. Sometimes a retailer will trick you, but if you're really wanted a hollow gold charm like puffed jewelries, same manner you should do 'ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE WEIGHT'.

* Lastly, find an online store that offers good quality products as well as customer service. To give you an extra tip, consider a charm website that offers a free wish list, where your gift receiver can sign up and list his/her favorite charms. eBay has many different suppliers that offer gold charms so use eBay to find cheap beads, gold charms whatever you are looking for.

Just always remember that what you are giving is not just an ordinary charm, but a gold charm that cost an amount of dollar for you. Nevertheless, your receiver will really enjoy wearing it in any occasion, plus giving her an extra credit by letting her know that she is being appreciated by wearing that charms that symbolizes her story of success. If you are buying charms for yourself then learning some care tips for jewelry will help your charms last and look good for years.

Gold - Karat Indicates The Purity

Karat can be spelt in different ways - carat or karat. The dericvation is from the ancient word for weight. Without going into particular historical details, carat / karat is therefore a measure of quantity. Although their meanings are similar there are differences in their reference. Carat is used in the measurement of weight of gemstones whereas karat refers to the purity of gold. Therefore karat refers to the quantity of gold in an item, not its actual weight. Pure gold is 24-karat gold. Metals are mixed with gold to increase its strength and hardness - commonly copper, nickel, silver and zinc. This changes the composition and therefore the purity. Whereas pure gold is 24 karat, alloy gold is 9, 14 and 18 karat.

It is normal practice to see karat information attached to each piece of gold ring on display. The majority of European and American gold jewelry is cast from an alloy of gold and so purity is measured in karats or the percentage of gold composition in the metal. Frequently these are seen on tags as numbers followed by the letter K. By American standard for gold rings or for any gold jewelry for that matter, the composition of the metal must be at the very least 10K purity which translates to 41.7% pure gold. One will find higher purity levels with alloys at 22K and 24K less frequently because such are usually too soft for use by American and European jewelers. In contrast, higher purity alloys are in common use in other parts of the world such as Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Jasper - A Beautiful and Popular Gemstone For Fashion Jewelry

The word jasper originated from the Greek word meaning "spotted stone". It is a semiprecious stone composed of mostly chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz along with other minerals which provides patterns and colorful bands. The characteristic patters of the particular stone give it its name - landscape, ribbon, orbicular and picture. Among these varieties, the landscape type is the most popular as it offers a small panorama in stone. This semi-precious gemstone is found in India, Germany, U.S.A, Sicily, North Africa, France and many more countries. It is an opaque fine grained stone which is found in a multitude of colors such as yellow, pink, brown, green, grey/white and shades of blue and purple. The patterns and colorful bands are formed due to the organic material and mineral oxides within the stone matrix. Massachusetts has this stone as its State Rock. The stone is moderately hard, rating a 6.5-7 on Mohs scale.

As discussed earlier, this stone occurs in nature with a wide variety of patterns and colors. Dalmatian variety is off white in color with black spots like a Dalmatian dog, and it is believed to give protection from nightmare and increases patience of an individual. The fancy type occurs in colors ranging from off-white to beige with swirls of green, grey and lavender, and is said to help alleviate depression and bring mental and physical well being. Green Jasper is used to keep the balance between the physical and spiritual side. The leopard type may have orangish tan color with red, yellow, dark brown, pink or black spots. It resembles the fur of a leopard which used to improve the vibrations of the body. The red form of this gemstone is believed to offer protection, helps in sense of smell, promotes physical energy etc. The Rainbow variety of the stone is used as tonic for good health. Ocean jasper has wavy greenish gray, beige, pink, maroon or white and it helps in breathing during meditation.

This gemstone is widely popular in the design and making of fashion jewelry. This popularity can largely be attributed to the varieties of stone that are readily available in the market today. This large range of colors and patterns mean that the stone can be paired with base metals like copper, as well as with precious metals like silver. In fact, a darker variety of gemstone combines beautifully with a brilliant sterling silver setting. In addition to being used in fashion jewelry, it is also used to create ornate decorative bowls and other objects.

It is believed that it can strengthen the stomach and cure the gynecological troubles. It is also used to drive away evil spirits and protect against the bites of snake and spider. It is known to protect against the dangers of the night and is mentioned in the bible several times. The red variety is used to bring luck for actors. These stones help to balance the emotional energy in the body. It is associated with Leos and Virgos and it is the birthstone of people who born in the month of October. While cutting, extreme care should be taken because banded varieties have a tendency to separate along the layers.

Looking For White Gold Engagement Rings?

She's beautifully tanned and takes your breath away every time you look at her. No matter where she is, or what she's doing, she can't wait to get back to you. You, on the other hand only know one conversation; it's always about how incredible she is. Watching as she nears, the white gold necklace looks great against her skin. A white gold engagement ring will be perfect.

Every woman wants an engagement ring from the man she plans to marry. Women talk and compare deals, shopping and ideas. Women also watch one another. They study and evaluate clothes, shoes, hair styles, jewelry and especially engagement rings. Women want to be sure their ring stands out. Her ring says to the world, "I'm spoken for." Rings not only decorate the hand, they also accent the personality. A white gold ring indicates to admirers, she or whoever gave it to her, are clear in their intent. White gold is easy to spot and hard to ignore. Few eyes will drift from its luster and attractiveness. Powerful is an understatement when describing the way white gold captures attention. No one will ignore its power.

When shopping for rings, size is not all that matters. For men, buying jewelry for a special woman can be a challenge. Women moods change and often they change jewelry to match the mood. This fact can make selecting an engagement ring difficult. If a man selects an engagement ring without that special woman present, he should be prepared to accompany her for the exchange. It may not be right for her.

An engagement ring is more than accessory jewelry. In most cases, it only comes off when it has to. Her preference and commitment is apparent by the ring she wears. To take this lightly is a good way to be in the "Dog house" for a while. Bracelets, wrist or ankle, can be enter changed depending on the outfit of the hour or day. Necklaces, watches, ear rings and other jewelry usually offer a certain casualness. Not engagement rings. They are like nails; they stay on.

For most men, shopping for jewelry is a simple matter of look - pick - buy. If a guy likes it, in any store, he buys it in any store. Purchase made - he moves on to his next project. For most women, the fun is in the shopping. The allure of selection requires comparative shopping. The jewelry must meet certain criteria and preferences, as well as a list of desires. When the perfect match is found, nothing is better.

Jewelry has been the item of many heirloom transfers. What was Great Grandmother's, becomes the treasure of a great granddaughter. Wedding sets are the same way. If it was previously owned and worn by a family member, it is likely to be passed on. Before the wedding; before the bachelor parties; before the guys say you're nuts, comes the second most important question in your life. The first question: "Will You Marry Me?" - The second - "What's her ring size?" By selecting a white gold engagement ring, she'll forgive you if you're wrong.

5 Tips For Purchasing Jewelry Online

Purchasing jewelry online offers may advantages, the biggest being saving a ton of money.  However while the reward increases, the risk increases as well.  There are simple precautions you can take to safeguard yourself against not-so-honest online retailers and ensure you get exactly what you pay for.  Below are 5 simple methods to ensure a safe experience when buying diamond jewelry online: 

1- Know the exact details of the item you are purchasing.  Many online jewelry retailers do not provide enough information about the product they are selling.  Factors such as Total Carat Weight, Diamond Color and Clarity, the number of diamonds included in the item, the quality of gold or metal, etc. should all be clearly identified. If you are missing just one of these pieces of information, you may not end up with the item you believe you are purchasing.

2- Always check the return policy.  You should always have an option to return the item, even if you just don't like it. Note the specifics of the Return Policy, as some retailers only allow returns if the item is damaged, some charge a restocking fee and many online retailers will only provide 5-7 days to return the ring.  The optimal policy will allow you to return the item within 30 days with no questions asked.

3- Does the company offer any type of warranty?  What happens if a diamond falls out 2 days after you receive the jewelry?  It is then most likely a manufacturer's defect and you should not be held responsible to pay for the repair.  Make sure the company offers some sort of free protection plan or warranty to cover manufacturer's defects. 

4- Is the online retailer a member of the Better Business Bureau? Don't just assume they are if they show the seal! A one minute online inquiry with the BBB will show if the company is an accredited member and if they've received any complaints within the last 12 months.   Also look to see if the company belongs to any industry organizations. Any reputable jewelry retailer will have membership to jewelry organizations.   

5- Is the site secure?  Make sure the site uses SSL encryption software and has a privacy policy in tact. They should state clearly that they do not share or sell your personal information with any outside sources. Also make sure the online jewelry retailer has partnered with a company that monitors each transaction and guarantees each purchase to be 100% safe and secure.  If they don't state the security features prominently, most likely it's because they don't have it!
 
Purchasing jewelry online can save you a lot of money and afford you a beautiful piece of jewelry. Be cautious and follow the above practices and you should have a safe online shopping experience! 

Diamond Jewelry - Wear Your Heart With a Sparkle

Diamond jewelry invariably stays in a women's heart and captures her soul for eternity. Undoubtedly to reach a woman's heart, it could only be through diamonds. With sparkling diamonds all over her body, it would take more than an Angel to grab attention when she's around. With such glittering varieties around, one would simply want to be lost in it for a lifetime. There are great designs in these jewelries that unquestionably appeal to your senses. It gives a sense of class and elegance and lets you sparkle even during broad daylight. Wondered what could suit your wrist the best? Well unquestionably nothing could the way a diamond bracelet can. It would not just enhance the beauty of your wrist but also personify your personality with a glitter.

A woman dressed elegantly with jewelry could feel that something's missing on her, well its nothing but a bracelet with diamonds. The bracelet would exponentially enhance the entire attire that she's wearing. Something's just can't be substituted well one amongst them is a bracelet which sparkles and glorifies the beauty of a woman. As far as varieties of bracelets are concerned there are tennis bracelets, chain bracelets, fashion bracelets and so on and so forth. With such elegant and alluring designs of bracelets in store for you it is not just hard but impossible to move ahead without buying one.

A diamond necklace guarantees to take your breath away. There are one to many diverse styles designed with superior quality, precision and clarity. It simply gives you a graceful and elegant look no matter what your attire is. These are available in a variety of styles and designs which make you look simple to classic.

A beautifully crafted necklace with diamonds on it would enhances a woman's personality by adding style, elegance and color and would undoubtedly entice you to buying one. Diamond earrings are the most beautiful jewelry designed to suit your ear lobes and has invariably left everyone short of breath. It simply enhances the grace of a woman in the most elegant manner. They have been designed to look elegant in both formal and informal wears.

They basically vary in style, design, shape and size as per the stones studded in it. They can be categorized as drop earrings, hoops, stud earrings, chandeliers and can be in white gold, yellow gold, silver, or platinum. Diamonds are the strongest amongst all gemstones and hence diamond jewelry has invariably symbolized the strength and integrity of a relationship.

Eternity Rings For Special Occasions

When we talk of eternity rings, we are mostly referring to the rings that are exchanged by people who are close and that want a sign to signify their friendship. These are rings that have sentimental value to the two people that are exchanging them. This is not new. Rings have been part of human interaction for as long as we can remember. They can be made of anything from fine gold, to diamond, to steel and also other precious stones. There is really no limit to the material that can be used to create an eternity ring because its significance is all that matters. There is also a general consensus that the deeper the relationship, the more people seem to invest in the ring although there are obvious exceptions to this rule. There are different occasions in which eternity rings are exchanged and we shall now examine them.

The most sentimental of these occasions is a wedding. There is perhaps no other time that rings mean something more than at a wedding ceremony. During a wedding, expensive rings are exchanged. It has been mostly the custom of ring exchanges to have the man give a ring to a woman that he loves but when it comes to a wedding both the man and the woman exchange rings. In a wedding arrangement, the man provides the ring to the woman and the woman's family buys the ring for the groom. This is an acceptable way of exchanging eternity rings.

Another occasion when eternity rings are exchanged is during an engagement. This is the time that precedes a wedding. When a man and a woman fall in love, the next step if they have made up their minds to get married is to become engaged. This is an occasion where the two commit to each other and start working toward a wedding. During this occasion which is usually very memorable, the man "proposes" to the woman usually in a gesture where he kneels down and offers a ring to the woman of his love. This ring is usually expensive although as we said, the intentions are what matters.

These are perhaps the two most common times to exchange eternity rings. But these by no means the only ones. Eternity rings are exchanges when two people commit to a lifelong friendship especially when that friendship is threatened with separation. This separation is usually distance. For instance, people exchange eternity rings when they are leaving high school and going off to different colleges. Girls are more prone to do this than boys and more friendship eternity rings are bought and exchanged by girls than by boys.

The best place to shop for eternity rings is online. This is because there are literally hundreds of types of rings and at equally varied prices. Different jewelers sell rings at different prices and the only way to shop for the best prices is to comb through the different websites that sell eternity rings.

Searching For Julia's Heart

The phone rings. He wonders if it is her. He just left her a message, practically begging for her to call. "Please call me back!" The dread of losing her has consumed him, to the point of losing control. "Is this obsession? An addiction to her attention?" He wonders, looking out the window at distant buildings, from the dark space of his room.

The phone continues to ring. It is of the rotary kind, void of any common technologies, baring no information. Someone calls, someone in need, he is there, to rescue, to help, to be helped.

One more ring, and he picks up. "Hi. What's up?" She says. Her voice reaching his heart like no other can. While her tone, her words, hitting him hard... "She is upset. She seems distant and has no desire to talk." The thoughts scream in his head, fighting away every positive instinct he has remaining.

"Hi! How are you?" He asks her, having no ideas, having no clue what he will say, lost before the conversation begins.

"Good. What's up?"

"Nothing. Ummm, just wanted to see how you're doing."

"Like I said, I'm good. Is that all?"

"I wish she would offer a little help... please, why should she? In fact, she shouldn't."

"Ahh... yah, I suppose. Well... no, not really. Actually, I wanted to apologize!"

"Okaaaayyyy. For what?"

One of the neighbors across raises the blinds, to look out their window and into his, to watch the drama, the spectacle of his confusions.

"Well. Honestly, I, I, ummm, am sorry for not paying attention to you!" He says this almost shaking, not knowing exactly what he is talking about, despite all the preparation with his friends.

"Be calm and honest, don't wanna come across as obsessive. And lose the drama that you carry around like a body part." That was their consensus. "And then ask her out. Simple question, simple answer. Preferably in person, but if you can't manage that you pathetic lump of male fearful hormones then use that futuristic instrument of yours that erases all space with the one you love."

"What the heck was that?" He wonders hours later. "Badly timed lousy humor these things I call friends tend to waste and throw into empty space. I will get them back. Right now I want to focus. Right now she is the only important one."

"Paying attention to me? Whatttt are you talking about?"

"Well, last night, at John's party..."

"What about John's party????" She interrupts him.

"Ummm, well, I wanted to come up to you, to talk to you."

He pauses for a second or two, trying to measure her reaction. The silence on the other end was somewhat encouraging. He continued, "But people kept coming up to you... actually it was not people, it was these salivating slugs hanging by your side for a second of your attention... at least they had some guts...can't blame them, just being near you adds a few years to anyone's life...stop it with the weird stuff, stop... and to be honest I did not have the courage to just talk to you. I'm sorry."

Another pause; continued silence on the other end.

"Now what do I say?"
"Every action has a matching action somewhere... or is it that every action has an equal and opposite reaction... why doesn't this thing called heart follow rules of physics, things would be simpler... may be then more smart people would study physics... what does this have anything to do with anything???"

"Anyways, ummm, oh, and I also wanted to say that it would be really nice, to, may be, you know, if we went out sometime?!?!" He said, with a multitude of marks in his tone, featuring high levels of insecurity.

Her response is not what he was hoping for. In her own way, she expresses her frustrations with him.

"Ahhhhhh.... Not again. Action and opposite reaction. Action and opposite reaction. Obsession on my side means running away on her side. I'm scaring her. I'm scaring myself. What do I do what do I do... say something, anything..."

"I know you said that before, but I thought you might like to go out, I thought you were giving me signals."

"What signals? What are you talking about?"

He hears about six hundred thousand voices in his head all at the same time, all debating what to say. Somewhere he hears something about love. "'Say 'I love you!' Say it from your heart!'"

"I can't, no way, she just told me she is not interested, she'll think I'm a lunatic."

"'So what? She already thinks you're a lunatic!'"

May be she heard some of those voices. She reaches out, "Is there something you want to tell me? I mean may be we should just put it all out there."

"There is a lot more I want to say," He responds, pauses for a second and thinks, "but I feel like it will be more of the same thing." He adds sadly, desperately hoping for a rescue, for more help, but he's already fallen into the purgatory of self-annihilation, searching for help everywhere but in his heart.

"I am not the obsessive kind. This is all Tee's fault. The jerk, I don't know why I ever listen to that good for nothing human meat."

The conversation ends. He looks out his window for eternity. There is an extremely entertaining smudge on the glass. Eventually, even the smudge loses its appeal. He picks up the receiver, and dials Tee's number. A few rings, and there is an answer on the other side.

"Hey. It's me. She told me I'm obsessed... What the heck am I supposed to do with that? How do you think this makes me feel? And I am probably driving her crazy, I'm driving myself crazy..."

"Okay, okay... calm down. It will be okay. I just need to finish peeling these carrots, call me back in a few minutes and we'll talk about the whole thing. Just remember it will be okay."

A few weeks pass. He avoids all eye contact, afraid of what that will do to his emotional intelligence, but still stealing glances of her every chance he gets, convincing himself no one is watching but really knowing that actually the whole world is aware and keeping track of his antics. For one amazing minute, more like three seconds, of one amazing day, they do make eye contact. She looks at him, reading him like a book. He looks at her, she looks so beautiful, getting lost in her eyes, even from such a distance. Neither smiles. It breaks his heart; yet, somehow and at the same time, it mends every scar he has felt, just by seeing her eyes from within twenty feet. Obsession and fear, even if just for that day, turn into love and appreciation, and with his heart already committed to hers, giving him a glimpse of what for ever is.

Men's Titanium Wedding Bands

Other than silver, gold and platinum, another most important metal that is especially popular for men's wedding bands is the titanium, a charcoal-gray hued metal. Titanium wedding bands are durable and light since titanium is an extremely lightweight metal. However, it is as strong as steel and widely popular on aircrafts. Also, this metal is the hardest natural element in the world and so is very strong, durable, does not tarnish and is hypoallergenic. The metal has a lovely sheen that can be a good alternative to white gold, silver and platinum. Titanium has three times the strength of steel and much stronger than gold, silver and platinum.

Other characteristics of titanium are that it is more dent, bend and scratch resistant compared to gold, silver and platinum. It also offers an exotic array of colors that other metals do not. However, titanium does have one negative characteristic, which is that it cannot be resized, since this metal cannot be soldered. However, they can easily be cut off the finger in case of emergency as in the case of platinum rings, even though it is a tougher process as compared to platinum rings. It should be noted that in case of an aircraft grade titanium ring, it is not possible to cut the ring off the finger under any circumstances.

Titanium is usually considered for men because of its lightweight, durability and resistance to corrosion. Though this metal has been recently introduced in the jewelry market, its popularity seems to be increasing steadily. Sometimes, titanium can also be alloyed with other metals for greater strength. However, it is suggested to choose wedding bands with the purest grade of titanium that can be found. Blue Nile wedding bands provide 100% pure titanium wedding bands. A pure titanium wedding band can be cut off the finger in case of emergency. Also, pure titanium wedding rigs can be polished in case of scratches to make it look new again.

This metal is incredibly lightweight and comfortable, about 1/3 the weight of gold. Also, a choice of precious or semi-precious stones can be set into titanium rings for those who prefer these to plain wedding bands. The bands can also be made with comfort fit for daily wear as in case of wedding bands.

Top 5 Things About White Gold Jewelry?

Gold jewelry is said to be a woman's best friend. Whichever woman you ask, they will all tell you that they love wearing gold. It enhances a woman's beauty to a great extent and makes her look beautiful and elegant. Indians particularly believe a lot in gold jewelry and no Indian wedding is complete without it. Some of the finest jewelry pieces are made with gold be it in India or Paris and Milan. Indian brides love gold jewelry and so do family members at a wedding ceremony. They are also given as presents to each other.

Buying gold jewelry can also be looked upon as a great form of investment because its worth might increase, and gold jewelry is usually inherited from mothers to their daughters, thus, it is a great buy and gift.

White gold is a type of gold which is basically an alloy or a mixture of other metals like silver, nickel, platinum and palladium. It has a number of sizes just like yellow gold. It can be found as 18KT, 24 KT, 8KT or any other karat. 18KT of gold is a mixture of 75% gold and 25% silver and palladium.

As an Accessory?

White gold, true to its name, is white in color. Thus, the jewelry made from this gold is also white and sliver which gives it a beautiful finish. It makes a person look extremely sophisticated and since the color is white, it can be worn with anything from one's wardrobe.

There are a number of different types of shapes and sizes that gold can be molded into, thus making it very flexible and versatile. It is malleable, so it has this property. You will find not only chains on white or any other form of gold, but also pendants that come in different shapes and sizes, earrings and rings.

Additions:

These pieces of jewelry also have a lot of different colored other stones embedded on them, making them look even more beautiful and making the person wearing them look even more elegant.

• Who can Wear? - Not only women, but men also can wear a number of accessories made by gold. Sterling silver necklaces are yet another type of jewelry that can prove to be a great gift for friends, engagements, weddings or any other occasion. People love them and they make almost everyone look exquisite and grand. They also have a number of shapes, sizes and can also be custom made, thus making it easy for you to get something that suits your needs, preferences and tastes.

• Where to Buy? - You can buy these pieces of jewelry either in jewelry shops which are found almost everywhere, or even online. Online, you will find a greater range and wider selection of pieces because there are people selling these from all over the world. You can even find unique pieces that are not mass produced.

• How to Take Care of White Gold? - White gold rings usually have a coat of rhodium on them which is white and has the same properties as that of platinum. Rhodium protects it but should be changed frequently because it wears off.

Putting Pink In Your Engagement Ring

If you are getting engaged, a diamond ring is the traditional way to go. If you prefer something unique, try putting a pink twist on the ring.

Some of the most popular jewelry in the world was made that way by celebrities. One great example is pink diamond engagement rings, made popular by Jennifer Lopez. When Ben Affleck proposed to J Lo in 2002 with a $1.2 million ring that included a six carat radiant cut pink diamond in the center, women all over the world began looking for pink diamond rings of their own.

Pink is not the only alternative color that diamonds can come in. Some other popular colored diamonds include blue (ranging from a light, faint baby blue to a dark blue similar to a sapphire), yellow, and red. Champagne diamonds are actually white diamonds that are a lower grade - these diamonds are considered to be slightly "brown", but some enjoy the uniqueness of a colored diamond nonetheless. Pink diamond engagement rings are not easy to find; besides the popularity they have achieved in recent years because of celebrities, pink diamonds themselves are not often found in nature. While some diamonds are enhanced (dyed) to achieve certain colors, most women who are looking for quality are not interested in these stones.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades pink diamonds on a scale depending on the amount of color contained in the stone. The grades are Fancy Deep, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Intense, Fancy, Fancy Light and Fancy Faint. Of these grades, most of the pink diamond engagement rings are in the bottom three color categories. It is exceptionally hard to find a pink diamond that is Vivid or Deep, and the few diamonds that do fit into this category are not usually that large. Most of these diamonds are mined in Australia.

Of course, if you can't afford the expense of a pink diamond, or just are unable to find a pink diamond that suits your needs, there are options. Pink sapphires are a less expensive way to get a large pink center stone for your engagement ring. Sapphires are precious gemstones that are related chemically and structurally to diamonds (they are all made of corundum) but they are found in higher quantities, making them more affordable. A pink sapphire with diamond side stones set in an engagement ring is sure to please any woman looking for that pink touch.

While pink diamond engagement rings are popular today, many women realize that they may not be the most stylish long term. Even though jewelers are seeing a surge in purchases of pink diamonds, most engagement rings sold are still of the white diamond variety.

Gold Wedding Rings And Symbolism

Gold is a naturally occurring metal, which is considered to be very valuable by most cultures. It has deep roots that go back to the beginning of mankind and it has been used in jewelry since this time. It has religious symbolism in most major religions.

Some of the earliest recorded mining and use of gold is attributed to the ancient Egyptians. It can be found in their pyramids, which served as tombs for their leaders, and there is much fine jewelry that was created by the Egyptians. Later it was adopted as a standard of money and up until the 1700's many countries exclusively used minted gold coins as their currency.

Gold is repeatedly mentioned in the Old Testament, which are the books that form the basis of the Christian Bible. It has been portrayed in the Book of Exodus as symbolic of rebellion against god. In Communist propaganda, gold is seen as a staple of the capitalistic enemy. In many ways reinforcing this stereotype, credit card companies and businesses have long used the term "gold" to recognize top range cards and customers.

It has many positive symbolic references as well. The Book of Genesis describes Abraham as being rich with silver and gold. Moses covered the Ark of the Covenant with pure gold, because he was instructed to do so. Saints and religious leaders have often been described as having mouths of gold.

Perhaps one of the most common symbolic symbols is the gold wedding ring, which is used in many different cultures. The wedding ring is used as a way to show commitment and fidelity towards your spouse. The most popular design of wedding ring is still the solid gold band. Typically a man's wedding band will be slightly broader than a women's band. These simple bands continue to be popular in part because of how easy it is to keep them clean.

In some parts of France a wedding ring consisting of 3 interwoven bands is very popular. This is used to represent the Christian values of faith, hope, and love. Those in Greek cultures often receive puzzle rings. These rings are made so that upon properly arranging them they form a single ring. Traditionally this represented a test of the woman's monogamy.

In North America, as well as some other countries, women frequently wear two rings on the same finger. The engagement ring and the wedding ring are worn together. These rings are often engraved with a name or a short phrase in the United States. Sometimes in the UK women who have been married for a long time will wear three rings: a wedding band, and engagement ring, and an eternity ring. In Russia wedding rings traditionally consist of 3 interlocking bands of rose, white, and yellow gold.

The gold wedding ring is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. It is used throughout the world and in many religious wedding ceremonies. Those who are Jewish and Catholic often incorporate the ring into their wedding ceremony.

White Gold Diamond Rings As a Symbol of Love

Love is amazing. Being in love make you want to give your loved one the world. Ring is a symbol of respect, love, caring for someone and all those strong feelings that make life special and worth off living. Money cannot make you that alive if you do not have anyone to share with. That is why giving a ring to someone have all the meaning, not the price that you paid for it. Don't give yourself hard time about how much money you can spend on ring, give yourself a hard time finding a special ring and giving it to a chosen person.

White gold diamond rings are exquisite. They can mark any occasions in your life like engagement, wedding, anniversary or just to capture the heart of the girl. Don't waste any opportunity to make your better half feeling special. Maybe she just gave birth to your baby. Make her happy. You don't need a specific date to make someone special, you can do it any day, and it will show your love even more.

While searching among white gold diamond rings for the ring that is right for your loved one make sure that you are cooperating with the companies that you can relay on. Like with everything else, there is always someone who use fraud to earn so just be careful. Otherwise, allegeable companies will give you money return if you are not pleased, but what makes them do that? They use finest materials, high quality and most superior of diamonds, an extensive control of quality so considering all this they don't doubt in what they are offering.

White gold diamond rings are available in many styles. Some of them are classic style, cathedral and contour, trellis bezel-set, rings knife-edge style.

One more privilege, for you as a customer, companies offer. It is about giving you a freedom to design white gold diamond rings by yourself. It is fun to try all those different settings and make it look exactly as you want. Please keep in mind that, in case you are doing this for your loved one, you must stay focused on what she would like to wear. It is easy to be carried away when too much freedom and possibility in choosing is available.

White gold diamond rings are symbols of something beautiful and gentle just like the person who wears it. They stay cherished through whole life no matter what the occasion was. That is why you need to buy it with love and increase their value that way.

Men's Diamond Wedding Bands

Even though diamonds are considered a woman's best friend, they can be a guy's good buddy too -- particularly if that diamond is set in a wedding band. However, depending on the diamond, the price of the bands will definitely vary. Diamonds can be selected depending on a few fundamental factors like carat, color, cut, clarity, cost, and certification provided by the manufacturer or the shop where the diamond has been purchased.

Solitaires are single precious stone wedding rings. These are usually set in 14k or 18k yellow or white gold, platinum and other metals. Many shapes such as heart, emerald, oval, round, marquise, pear, multi cut, princess, trillion, and radiant can be set. A diamond's weight is the simplest of its characteristics to measure and is in terms of "carat". One carat is equal to a fifth of a gram and each carat is divided into 100 points.

A larger diamond is more valuable as it is more rare compared to a smaller diamond. Also, the price per carat increases, as the diamond gets larger.

The brilliance of a diamond can be determined by the way it has been cut in symmetry.

The amount of light refracted and reflected from a diamond is decided by the precision of the cut. The quality of the cut and final polish reveals the beauty of a diamond. Though all the diamonds appear white in color there are subtle differences according to the. The most expensive is the "colorless" diamond as compared to the other diamonds. Mostly it has different hues and tints rather than a bold color difference.

Since the diamonds can be mounted onto any design and metal, they provide an excellent setting for a wedding band. However, in case of men's wedding bands, daily wear can expose the diamond and its mounting to a variety of metal surfaces, i.e.; steel door handles, steel shopping cart handles, etc., that might damage the diamond. Be certain that the diamond is secure in its setting and get the prongs inspected regularly.

Ensure that a diamond certificate is provided at the time of buying the diamond. This certificate is from an independent testing laboratory and provides all the details regarding the diamond viz., shape, measurements, carat weight, color, and imperfections or inclusions. Also it has the details of certain characteristics of the diamond's cut and any other comments regarding the diamond. Check that the diamond purchased has the numerical ID that identifies the diamond as being connected with its certificate.

For men, diamonds set wedding bands are available as low as $199 or lesser, with no specific higher range. However, the price depends on the size and cut of the diamond. Solitaires are the most expensive. Most of the diamonds set gold wedding bands are set in 14-carat gold, though they can be made into 18-carat or 24-carat on demand.

Silver - The Precious White Gold!

Pure silver (Ag) has a melting point of 1761 (F)/ 961 (C) and its specific gravity is 10.49 units, whereas sterling silver has a melting point of 1640 (F)/ 893 (C) and its specific gravity being 10.36 units.Silver is the most popular metal, owing to a number of factors.

(1) Silver has many of the characteristics of gold, for example, it is very malleable and ductile.

(2) It is a precious metal and therefore anything made in silver has intrinsic value.

(3) Silver is a relatively cheap metal with which to work, taking into account the amounts required to produce small pieces of jewelery.

(4) It has a beauty and color which are quite distinctive.

Pure silver, which is known as 'fine silver', is, like fine gold, a very soft metal and is therefore of little use to the jeweler in this form, except as a plating metal. It is therefore alloyed with other metals to produce harder silver alloys. The main metal used to produce these silver alloys is copper, a small amount of which has a considerable hardening effect on the metal without impairing the malleability or ductility to any high degree.

Silver Alloys:

Sterling Silver

This is the most common alloy in use in the world today; sometimes known as standard silver it has a fine silver content of 925 parts per thousand, the remaining 75 parts being copper.

Britannia Silver

This is a higher standard of silver alloy containing 958.4 parts fine silver and 41.6 parts copper. The alloy is little used nowadays.

{This standard was introduced in England by Act of Parliament in 1697 to replace sterling silver as the obligatory standard for items of "wrought plate". The lion passant gardant hallmark denoting sterling was replaced with "the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia", and the leopard's head mark of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths replaced with a "lion's head erased".} - Wikipedia

One distinct disadvantage of silver is its affinity for atmospheric sulphur, which produces a golden brown stain or tarnish film. This necessitates regular cleaning. When silver is subjected to successive heating, be it for soldering, annealing, casting, etc., the copper in the alloy oxidizes and forms a grey stain on the surface of the metal. This is known as 'firestain' and can pose quite a problem in the finishing stages, particularly if the piece has been subjected to any hammering or rolling processes and the stain has been pressed down into the metal. When it is impractical to remove the stain by the conventional methods of filing, sanding and stoning, it becomes necessary to plate over the stain either with fine silver (which has a lesser affinity for sulphur than does sterling silver and , therefore does not tarnish as quickly) or rhodium, one of the platinum group of metals.

Looking For a Diamond Ring on a Discount

A diamond ring is not exactly cheap.

In fact, one diamond ring may be equivalent to a couple of months of your apartment rental. Still, you don't have to pay more if you can pay for it less. This is possible if you know the techniques that will help you find a quality diamond ring at discounted prices. Read on and you might learn a trick or two.

1. Set a budget.

Without knowing how much you are willing to shell out, you will not be able to find the diamond ring that will fit your needs. In order to set out for a cheaper diamond ring, you have to first determine what is cheap and what is expensive for you.

2. Be familiar with the prices

Unlike some commodities, diamond rings or any jewelry with diamonds on it do not have fixed prices. Prices of the pieces will depend upon the following properties of the diamond: clarity, cut, color and carat. Clarity refers to the clearness of the gemstone, its brilliance as well as its imperfections.

The color on the other hand refers to the "color" of the stone. Although diamonds are clear, there are varieties that have yellow shades. The carat refers to the weight and size of the stone while cut is the shape the stone is cut. Each property will determine the price of the diamond. For instance, the better the clarity, the higher the price. The same goes with the color. Yellowish-colored stones are less expensive. Reputable stores keep records of these things so don't be afraid to ask the store

3. Watch out for sales

Stores frequently offer promos and sales, often during special occasions like anniversaries. Some conduct sales before Christmas to get rid of old stocks. Take note of these sales and follow the prices of the jewelry. Buy when there is a sale so that you can take advantage of the discounts. Although jewelry stores do not really give much in terms of discounts, a couple of percent is already pretty good especially if the price is high.

4. Look in thrift shops, garage sales and second hand stores

Although diamond rings are not exactly a dime a dozen in these kinds of shops, sometimes, they do appear. Be on the lookout but of course before you buy make sure that you have taken note of the specifications. You may be paying more for what it is really worth.

"I Can Only Wear Gold Jewelry" - The Truth About Jewelry Allergies

"I can only wear gold jewelry, everything else breaks me out." How many times did I hear that exact phrase from my mother when I was a child? Every time I would give her jewelry that was her response.

Why does everything but gold break my mother out? Is that statement even true? When I started designing jewelry over a year ago I decided to find out. I wanted to design jewelry for my mom that she could wear without fear of a breakout. Now I am going to let you in on what I have discovered.

My mother, like many people, develops contact dermatitis when her skin comes in contact with some types of jewelry. The dermatitis is a result of an allergic reaction to the nickel found in many types of jewelry. Nickel allergies are very common. One out of every seven people is likely to suffer from a nickel allergy. More women tend to suffer from nickel allergies than men. However this may be attributed to the fact that women tend to wear more jewelry than men and are therefore more likely to be exposed to skin contact with nickel.

Now that I knew what was causing my mother's breakout, I had to find out what types of jewelry metals did not contain nickel.

First I looked at gold jewelry. Generally speaking, yellow gold (above 14 karat) will not cause an allergic reaction. However white gold may. White gold alloys contain nickel and other "white" metals to produce its silver coloring. One out of every nine people will react to the nickel in white gold.

Another for of gold jewelry is gold filled or "GF" jewelry. Gold filled jewelry metal is created when a base metal is coated with a layer of gold. Gold filled differs from gold plated by the amount of gold applied. The layer used in gold filled jewelry is typically 50 to 100 time thicker that the layer used to coat gold plated products.

Next I looked at silver jewelry. For those who are nickel sensitive, fine silver and sterling silver are great choices for "white" metals.

Fine silver is by definition 99.9% pure silver. Jewelry is generally not made of fine silver because the metal is extremely soft and does not withstand normal wear and tear well.

Typically silver jewelry is made of sterling silver. Sterling silver is by definition 92.5% pure silver. Typically the remaining 7.5% metal is made up of copper. Copper is infused to harden the silver and make it more durable. Since copper is the normal metal used, sterling silver is a great metal for nickel allergic people. You can typically distinguish sterling silver by a "925" mark found on the jewelry. This is common on manufactured pieces, but may not be present on artisan jewelry.

Some other metals that are considered safe for people with nickel allergies are:

Copper - Copper jewelry is generally considered pure and not mixed with nickel or nickel alloys.

Platinum - Platinum jewelry contains 95% platinum and 5% of a secondary metal typically iridium.

Titanium - Titanium jewelry is both hypoallergenic and durable. It is a highly recommended metal for those who suffer from nickel allergies.

Since I have given you a list of safe metals, I thought I would also give you a list of metal terms to watch out for when you are shopping for jewelry.

Fashion or costume jewelry typically contains base metals that include nickel.

German silver or nickel silver is a metal to stay away from where jewelry is concerned. German silver does not contain any silver. The silver refers to the silver coloration of the metal. The color is derived from a combination of nickel, zinc, lead, and tin found within the alloy.

Surgical or stainless steel - Surgical grade stainless steel is made to be in the human body. However, the steel alloy contains between eight and twelve percent nickel. I have heard varying reports as to how safe this metal is for people with nickel allergies. Since the steel alloy does contain nickel, I would tend to avoid it, but some people swear by it.

If you do buy a piece of jewelry and are concerned that it may contain nickel, commercial test kits are available online. These kits contain chemicals that react in the presence of nickel.

Doing a little research can prevent a nickel allergy attack and still allow you to wear any fashion.

Eternity Rings For an Eternity - Heirloom

Eternity rings are given as wedding rings, anniversary rings, special occasion rings or just as a random loving gift. The only rule for giving an eternity ring is that it must symbolize something. That is, of course, if you are giving one, not buying one for yourself!

More and more women are buying eternity rings for themselves. There are a few reasons for this. One, they want to pick it out! Two, women are making more money than they used to and can afford to buy themselves nice gifts. Third, it is not like buying yourself an engagement ring! It is totally socially acceptable to buy yourself nice jewelry. Many women simply want something classically nice to heirloom to their children.

If you are giving an eternity ring, make sure that you communicate its meaning to the recipient. Eternity rings make great heirlooms and quality should be considered when you are making a selection. When children inherit engagement rings and traditional wedding bands, they may not want to wear them. They usually store them in a jewelry box or have them made into other forms of jewelry, such as pendants for a necklace. If you want to give an heirloom gift that the recipients will be proud to wear, an eternity ring is a wonderful option.

One growing trend is to give an eternity ring when a woman has a child. They can be worn as wedding bands or right hand rings. As the woman has more children, you can give her more eternity rings. She can wear more than one on each finger and can wear them on each side of her engagement ring. This way, when you heirloom your eternity rings to your children, they each have their specific one, hopefully engraved with their names and birthdates or some other meaningful message meant only for them.

Eternity rings [http://shop.maliere.com/ecommerce/categories/maliere/eternity-rings.html] are often made with a full circle or half circle of diamonds. If you plan to heirloom your eternity rings, then diamonds are a classic option that is sure to never go out of style. Another consideration is each child's birthstone. Alternating diamonds and birthstones are also classically beautiful and are sure to become a treasured possession by your children. Round stones are traditional, but different shaped stones, channeled into an eternity ring, gives it a unique look that still fits anyone's taste.

Keep 18K White Gold Naked

When is white gold not white gold?

When a consumer walks into a shop to buy an item of gold jewellery, if it is yellow or red then by checking the hallmark (if buying in the UK) they can tell at a glance, with the aid of a loupe, if it is 9K or 18K for example - the colour is fairly obvious. White gold is another story. Yes they can check the caratage just as easily, but what about the colour? Are they looking at the actual gold alloy or is a thin plating of Rhodium disguising the metal beneath?

First a few facts.

24 carat gold is yellow.

White gold is produced by adding a careful selection of white metals that bleach yellow gold. Strong bleaching metals are palladium, nickel and platinum. Moderate bleaching white metals are silver and zinc.
This tends to historically produce two classes of white gold, nickel alloys and palladium alloys.
Because of the price of palladium, the palladium whites are the most expensive and whiter alloys.

Many low grade commercial white gold alloys do not produce an acceptable level of whiteness to the consumer, therefore it has become common practice for manufacturers to rhodium plate items of jewellery to give the nice 'ice white' colour that is associated with white gold.

Rhodium is a member of the Platinum family and a thin electroplated deposit is applied to the surface of the majority of white gold jewellery sold in retail outlets to enhance its appearance.

Many customers are confused by white gold and do not necessarily understand what they are buying when they buy an item of white gold jewellery.

When buying white gold jewellery here are a few questions that it may be advisable to ask:

1. Is it Rhodium plated?

2. How long will it be before the rhodium plating will wear off?

3. How white is the gold underneath the plating compared to the Rhodium and will it reveal yellowy brown patches as it wears?

The term 'white' when applied to gold does not, at the time of writing, although there are plans in progress to change this, have any industry standard guidelines, therefore retailers and manufacturers are placed in a difficult legal position when a customer brings back an item of jewellery that has worn to its natural colour and complains.

A growing number of companies believe that high quality, un-rhodium plated 18K white gold is a naturally beautiful colour metal and are keen to encourage the acceptance of it. It blends in nicely with Titanium products and eliminates the disappointment experienced by people when their white gold ring starts to change colour when worn over a period of time.

Don't hide it - Keep it Naked !!