Engagement rings are a symbol of a promise and a commitment for the future. They are highly romanticized and something that girls fantasize about, probably starting about the time they first notice boys. They will most likely change their mind more than several times, both about the boy they envision giving them the ring and about what the ring that symbolizes their engagement will look like.
Engagement fantasies are just that - fantasies; I can assure you that they are not thinking along the lines of what a discount ring, or even an affordable ring will look like. As they get older, their character and values will determine whether their fantasies are more towards marrying for love, or for status. It is a horrifying thought to know that the majority of marriages are somewhat of a business decision. I guess that would apply as well then, to the engagement.
Inexpensive engagement ring ideas may come to mind for the pure of heart who only fantasize about that the man of their dreams be wonderful and kind, and not necessarily worldly and successful. One of the main arguments that create conflict in a marriage is finances. If the man of your choice doesn't have unlimited financial resources at the time of his proposal, you may want to choose an affordable engagement ring.
Jewelers offer beautiful rings in all qualities, sizes and price range. It should not be difficult to find a ring to suit your taste and budget but if you are creative and can't find the ring of your dreams, another option would be to design your own ring and have it custom made.
One thing to ask the jeweler before choosing a ring is the grade of the diamond. Diamonds are graded and priced according to what is referred to as the four Cs for color, cut, clarity and carat weight.
Read everything you need to know about purchasing a diamond engagement ring and more.
Nov 28, 2008
Choosing the Right Engagement Ring For Valentines Day
Nov 20, 2008
How to Choose the Perfect Ring
Choosing a ring
When it comes to choosing our own jewelry we can be very picky as well as we can be very impulsive buyers. I would like to give you some advice about choosing your rings. When I help out my customers in person I get to really direct them into jewelry that fits for them individually. What I mean by that, is that many people only look at the jewelry without taking in consideration their hands, fingers & comfort. When choosing a ring of course we want the ring to look good but will it look good on our specific type of hands? It's just like clothing, it may look great on the models but maybe not so much on you. Look at your hands, are they wide or narrow, are your fingers short, long, thin...
If you have big hands you must get a solid ring because chances are your hands are strong & you use them accordingly & you don't want the band to brake. Also don't choose something too tiny it will look out of proportions. Wide bands can fit you but not too wide, go for about half an inch wide. You are one of the lucky people who can wear very large stones
so don't miss out on that!
If you have small thin hands you probably already know that rings which are too massive & heavy aren't meant for you. Go for filigree or Celtic designs they will be much more comfortable & will suit you best. Wide bands can suit you as long as they are not too wide & keeps you from closing your hands completely so if you buy online & don't get to actually try it on before buying verify the width.
Wide bands are very hot right now, but they aren't meant for everyone. Long slim fingers suit them best. Actually most rings will suit you best but not too narrow, stick with about a quarter inch and more width in the front.
Short chubby fingers sorry for you but you should avoid wide bands, you wont be comfortable & it will end up in a jewelry box. If you have short fingers choose a thinner band with the front part small to medium size. If you really want to go with a wide band well choose one that tapers down in the back to about a quarter of an inch or less. Try a colorful stone that will catch the eye or maybe a cameo ring.
I hope this advice will help you find rings that better suit you & that it will have you purchase the right ones. After all when we love a ring, that it looks great on your hand & it is comfortable it often ends up being a real treasure.
Nov 17, 2008
Cleaning Jewelry
Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry
Don't leave your beloved jewelry sitting in a drawer just because it's too dirty or because you forgot to take it off before going in the hot tub or pool. Sterling silver may turn all black or gold color when it's in contact with the chemicals presents in the water contained in such facilities. Products like bleach & nail polish remover will also have a terrible effect on your sterling silver jewelry. But it's not over for those pieces since you can clean that off pretty easily.
Many cleaning techniques & products are available on the market today so don't rush to your nearest jewelry store. They will clean your jewelry efficiently & it may be the right solution if you don't mind paying or really don't want to deal with it.
Many cleaning solutions are sold in regular stores, you just put the jewelry in the little container filled with a special cleaning solution, close it up & shake it a bit. It will work pretty well & wont be ruining the material or stones but it may also remove the antique look you used to have. Many jewelers add a darkening solution onto the jewelry which gives it an antique look by turning the incursions black & it shows all the details of the piece a lot better.
Cleaning cloths are a good alternative, just rub the jewelry & it will turn nice & clean again. It may take more time but it does give great results. Only problem is you may not be able to rub in certain areas depending on how the piece. If your jewelry is just a little dirty this technique is the best, it will refresh the clean look of it and you will be surprised at how well it works. Many different type of cleaning cloths are available, the biggest seller on the market is the Sunshine Polishing Cloth. Such cloths are impregnated with special chemical cleansing compounds that do wonders.
I have been asked about using the new ultrasonic cleaners available at many stores, so I have purchased one myself to try. First, I must say do not ever put any jewelry with gemstones or precious stones in such an apparel. It will ruin it. Also many of those apparel have an automatic shut down timer. Personally, it did not work on the pieces I tried it on. It did have a small effect, but I had to keep on reactivating it to the point where it became a nonsense. So I would not recommend wasting your money, it may be ok for cleaning other things but not jewelry.
The technique I prefer may not be suitable if you have just a few personal pieces of jewelry. Tumblers are such great jewelry cleaners it's unbeatable.
If you want to do it yourself, remember to remove Turquoise & Howlite gemstones and cameos before putting the jewelry in the tumblers. There are two types of tumblers; rotary & vibratory both need stainless steel shots in the barrel to work. Shots are available at specialized jewelry supply stores for about twenty dollar a pound. The rotary tumblers with a capacity of 3 pounds need about 1 pound of shots while the regular vibratory tumblers need about 3-4.
Both apparel work very well just add the stainless steel shots, a little water, a bit of regular dishwashing detergent & your jewelry in the barrel & start the machine. Regular cleanings with the rotary tumbler will take about 24 hours while the vibratory will take only a couple of hours. Another inconvenient of the rotary tumbler is that you will have to load & close the barrel each time while the vibratory is an open barrel so you can just throw & pick up your jewelry freely. Also, the vibratory tumbler can hold a larger volume of jewelry at once. Still, rotary tumblers are interesting because they are much cheaper & make a lot less noise.
You want to avoid cleaning your jewelry as much as possible? Good idea, you can do so by being careful avoiding direct contact with ammonia, bleach, nail polish remover, alcohol, and other harsh cleaning products. Best is to always remove all your jewelry before cleaning, going to pools or hot tubs, painting, moving heavy furniture, doing sports so that you don't brake it or get it dirty. Also, when you are not wearing your jewelry store it in a ziploc type of bag, the reason for that is that sterling silver oxidizes in contact with oxygen which turns it black over time.
Nov 16, 2008
How To Care For Your Diamond Engagement Ring
Your engagement ring is a precious symbol of your eternal love. Something you wear every day no matter what you are doing. And because of this, your engagement ring can be subjected to harsh chemicals and activities. While it's true that diamonds are the hardest gem, they can become damaged if you are not careful. Learning how to properly care for your diamond ring can ensure that it really will last for eternity.
Through your everyday activities, your engagement ring can get smudged and soiled. Even
If you take them off when you do housecleaning and shower, they can collect dust. Soaps, lotions, and our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime which can dull the brilliance of your diamond engagement ring .
In order to keep your diamond looking sparkly and new you should clean it regularly. Regular cleaning will insure that the maximum amount of light can refract the stones fiery brilliance. To clean your diamond, you can use a small brush - an eyebrow brush is perfect. You don't really need any special chemicals, just make a bowl of sudsy water with soap or mild detergent and put your engagement ring in the water to soak. After a few minutes (or longer if it is really caked with dirt and grime) take the soft bristled brush and scrub the diamond in the suds.
Rinse the engagement ring thoroughly to remove all the soapy suds. Don't simply hold it in your fingers under the water or you might find yourself taking the drain apart to search for your ring! You can put the ring in a small strainer and run the water through that to make sure all the soap gets washed off. Finally, take a lint free jewelers cloth and pat the ring dry.
If your diamonds are really dirty, you may need something a bit stronger than soap and water. In this case, try a mixture of half water and half ammonia. Let the diamond ring soak for 30 minutes. Then gently brush them with a soft brush. Rinse and dry as recommended above.
You can also buy jewelry cleaning kits in almost any department store. These kits have everything you need - the solution and brush and are quite convenient as you can store them away and use them over and over again. Read the label to see if the kit is OK to use on your diamond engagement ring.
If you really want a super clean diamond you can try an ultrasonic cleaning machine. These machines use high-frequency to generate a cleaning motion. Every machine is not the same though, so read the instructions before using.
Caring for your engagement ring is not just about cleaning, there is a certain amount of maintenance you should provide. Be sure to take your diamond ring to a jeweler once a year. Have them check the mountings and prongs and make any needed repairs. This can prevent your diamond from coming out of its setting and getting lost.
When you are not wearing your engagement ring or if stones have become loose you should be stored it in a a fabric lined jewel case, or jewelers box where it can be kept separate from your other jewelry. Ideally, every piece should have its own compartment. This will keep the diamonds in your engagement ring from getting scratched as well as keep your diamond from scratching your other jewelry.
To take best care of your diamond engagement ring, remove it when doing physical work. Although diamonds are a very hard stone, they can be chipped and scratched easily. Also don't let your diamond to come into contact with bleach household cleansers which can damage the settings and mountings. These cleaners can even change the color of your setting or the diamond itself!
Your engagement ring is one of your proudest possessions and it is is essential to keep it brilliant and sparkling. The preferred cleaning method is up to you but between cleanings try not to touch the diamond with your fingers. This will help maintain its dazzling shine and brilliance for longer periods between cleanings.
