What Makes Platinum Engagement Rings So Irrestible To Lovers?
I’ve always had an issue with platinum. Unlike gold and silver, whose name just rolls off the tongue, platinum sounded scientific, dull even. It brought back awful memories of chemistry class, and painful hours wasted away on the periodic table.
But look beyond its decidedly unglamorous name, and you’ll realize that it does indeed have many exquisite attributes ideal for an engagement ring.
To begin with, you know how they say that diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love because the sheer durability of the stone exemplifies the eternal strength of l’mour?
Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but doesn’t it seem like an ugly rip in such a beautiful metaphor when you find out that the white gold band holding your precious stone in place has to be re-plated several times as its shine and shimmer slowly fade with age?
With platinum, that simply does not happen.
To read more - go here
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/ring-settings/makes-platinum-engagement-rings-irrestible-lovers.html
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Girl Power – What To Look For In Men’s Engagement Rings
Ladies, how do you tell the world that your man is taken? That he is officially off the market, and engaged to his soul mate (namely you)? Consider an engagement ring for the man of your dreams.
Ladies - say "I love you" with an engagement ring for menCheekily labelled ‘management rings’ by the mass media, men’s engagement rings are all the rage.
Hollywood diva Jennifer Hudson only recently presented her fiancé, David Otunga, with a stunning $15,000 Neil Lane engagement ring.
But rather than looking at management rings as a mark of ownership on your beau, take it as a symbol of commitment by you and your lover to remain true to each other till you walk down the wedding aisle (and after).
Engagement rings for men are really not as revolutionary as some might think they are. In certain South American countries such as Argentina, for example, gentlemen flaunting brilliant diamond bands on their ring fingers would be safe from curious stares given the culture and tradition of the country.
To read more - go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/engagement-rings-guide/girl-power-look-mens-engagement-rings.html
Ladies, how do you tell the world that your man is taken? That he is officially off the market, and engaged to his soul mate (namely you)? Consider an engagement ring for the man of your dreams.
Ladies - say "I love you" with an engagement ring for menCheekily labelled ‘management rings’ by the mass media, men’s engagement rings are all the rage.
Hollywood diva Jennifer Hudson only recently presented her fiancé, David Otunga, with a stunning $15,000 Neil Lane engagement ring.
But rather than looking at management rings as a mark of ownership on your beau, take it as a symbol of commitment by you and your lover to remain true to each other till you walk down the wedding aisle (and after).
Engagement rings for men are really not as revolutionary as some might think they are. In certain South American countries such as Argentina, for example, gentlemen flaunting brilliant diamond bands on their ring fingers would be safe from curious stares given the culture and tradition of the country.
To read more - go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/engagement-rings-guide/girl-power-look-mens-engagement-rings.html
If men are not approaching you, there might be something that’s making you “unapproachable”.
Men are always approaching women, but there are certain situations that will stop them in their tracks: a group of women, a woman who is sitting down, a “mean” facial expression, etc. Are you preventing men from approaching you?
What It Means:
Men work in mysterious ways and the thing that they strive to protect most in life is their “ego”. Yes, no man likes a shattered ego.
Because of this, men typically approach women that look “safe” – rather than going up to someone that is likely to embarrass or reject them.
For example, most men refrain from approaching a woman that is surrounded by a group of friends.
Going up to a group of women is intimidating and requires the man to impress all the ladies, rather than just one.
This drives the odds of actually striking up a conversation with the lady he has his eye on through the floor.
To read more - go to
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/men-notice.html
Men are always approaching women, but there are certain situations that will stop them in their tracks: a group of women, a woman who is sitting down, a “mean” facial expression, etc. Are you preventing men from approaching you?
What It Means:
Men work in mysterious ways and the thing that they strive to protect most in life is their “ego”. Yes, no man likes a shattered ego.
Because of this, men typically approach women that look “safe” – rather than going up to someone that is likely to embarrass or reject them.
For example, most men refrain from approaching a woman that is surrounded by a group of friends.
Going up to a group of women is intimidating and requires the man to impress all the ladies, rather than just one.
This drives the odds of actually striking up a conversation with the lady he has his eye on through the floor.
To read more - go to
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/men-notice.html
Have you heard the inspirational quote that goes something like this, “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking”?
Yeah, well… that wisdom can be applied to relationships as well.
You can get a good indication of the character of a potential girlfriend/boyfriend by just observing what they do and how they treat others when it “doesn’t matter.”
What it Means
You can tell a lot about a person’s character by watching how they interact with others. People are able to put on a “front” or a “façade” for a short amount of time (especially on date, etc.), but they will always revert to their true character.
This is a scary thought when it’s applied to relationships. Can you imagine getting engaged to a man who has been a “different person” throughout your entire courtship and suddenly becomes this irate, hot head with no regard for others? Talk about a nightmare…
This type of scenario happens all to often in relationships because people feel that they can revert back to “themselves” when no one is watching (except you) and/or there are no consequences for their misbehavior.
To read more - Go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/boyfriends-true-characteristic.html
Yeah, well… that wisdom can be applied to relationships as well.
You can get a good indication of the character of a potential girlfriend/boyfriend by just observing what they do and how they treat others when it “doesn’t matter.”
What it Means
You can tell a lot about a person’s character by watching how they interact with others. People are able to put on a “front” or a “façade” for a short amount of time (especially on date, etc.), but they will always revert to their true character.
This is a scary thought when it’s applied to relationships. Can you imagine getting engaged to a man who has been a “different person” throughout your entire courtship and suddenly becomes this irate, hot head with no regard for others? Talk about a nightmare…
This type of scenario happens all to often in relationships because people feel that they can revert back to “themselves” when no one is watching (except you) and/or there are no consequences for their misbehavior.
To read more - Go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/boyfriends-true-characteristic.html
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Diamond appraisals can be tricky business.
First off, virtually anyone can call themselves an independent jewelry appraiser. There is no law requiring appraisers to be licensed in the same way that lawyers and physicians are licensed.
Grant it, there are associations, schools and institutes that jewelers can attend in order to become qualified to appraise diamonds but even then, an appraiser's "say so" does not necessarily make it so.
I have been reading where some jewelry appraisers are secretly on the payroll of jewelers in exchange for undervaluing items from competitors (which could ultimately result in loss of sales).
Secondly, appraisals are not the same as diamond grading certificates or reports. I have seen undercover investigatory reports conducted in shopping mall jewelry stores, where clerks show a reporter their "certificates" which contain appraisal values of various stones.
A clerk would say something like; "We are selling you this engagement ring for $900 but you can see on this diamond certificate that the stone was appraised for $2200."
What a deal right? Well, ding ding ding - red flag!
For one thing, reputable diamond reports such as those done by the GIA, AGS and GCAL don't offer appraisal values but rather give their independent evaluations of the clarity, cut, carat and color of stones. The price of getting a report done might be on the report but not a figure stating how much a diamond is worth.
The next thing is - don't get drawn into the hype of an engagement ring "blowout sale". If a particular diamond appraisal is one that a jeweler can put stock in, you can bet your last dollar that the jeweler would be selling the stone for $2200 and not for $900.
Many jewelers can afford to give blowout sales because initially, they are selling engagement rings at 200-300% above wholesale prices. And if you inspect those cheap engagement rings, don't be surprised to find that they are not cut nicely or have poor clarity.
And if you decide to buy that "cut price jewelry," good luck returning it and getting your money back. You might be told that there are no refunds on sale items.
When buying an engagement ring online, go with highly reputable retailers such as James Allen or Amazon. They offer a wide array of quality pieces to fit any budget plus they iron clad 100% money-back guarantees should you not be pleased with your purchase.
Profile Of A Credentialed Jewelry Appraiser
Simply put, you want to take advice from people that are trained to appraise jewelry and have professional experience in the area. Go through this checklist to see if your potential appraiser fits the bill of a credentialed appraiser.
1. At the very least, have your diamond appraised by at Graduate Gemologist ("G.G") or the comparable Fellow of the Gemological Institute of Great Britain ("F.G.A"). The 'G.G 'is the jewelry industry's most prestigious credential.
Professionals with these qualifications were put through rigorous approaches to comparing, grading, identify, buying and selling stones.
However, bear in mind that neither "G.Gs" nor "F.G.As" were taught how to appraise stones. Ideally a jewelry appraiser should have top gemological credentials as well as additional training and certification from a reputable appraisal organization.
2. Does the person doing the valuation have references? Ask for references. A professional appraiser with experience should be able to give you references from places such as banks and trust companies.
3. Have your diamond appraisal conducted by an independent third party - not someone connected to a jewelry store. When appraisals are issued in-store, they are typically done for the purposes of getting customers to buy the merchandise of that particular store.
What you want is to have an engagement ring appraised by someone who does not give two hoots about whether you buy the ring or not. The typical store clerk who so eagerly gives you his/her "expert opinion' is neither independent nor professionally qualified to give a valuation. Hence, take store clerk or in-store valuation with two "grains of salt."
Some popular independent appraisers include the Accredited Gemologists Association, American Society of Appraisers and the National Society of Jewelry Appraisers.
Anatomy of a Diamond Appraisal
An engagement ring is something you'd want to treasure but if you or your significant other loses his/her ring, then you'd want to have some sort of fall back position - insurance.
Some people think that if you buy a ring for $2000 and insure it for $4000, then if the ring is lost, the insurance company will simply issue a check for the $4000. Well, we all wish it were that simply - don't we?
An insurance company would want to look at your ring's valuation to help them reach a payout figure. But If the valuation does not contain explicit accurate description of the ring, then be prepared for the likelihood of getting a payout that is much less than the sum insured.
Because when the insurer goes to a jeweler and says that you normally sell this ring for $2000, how much will you sell it to me for; if the jeweler says $1000 or $1200 then that is what you'll get.
But if the valuation contains the pertinent information and is reputable, then you have a greater chance of getting an appropriate replacement in kind. Why "in kind?
Because insurance contracts often limit cash settlements. Furthermore, since insurance companies have volume buying power and purchase agreements with their suppliers, they can get appropriate replacements for substantially less than what consumers can get.
Since different kinds of jewelry insurance policies exist, I would advise that you chat with your agent or broker for more details on your options and the settlement practices.
At a minimum, a thorough jewelry appraisal will have the following:
A picture of the jewelry.
Style number, brand name of the diamond, shape, measurements, and weight.
The 4Cs of the stone - color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.
The lab that issued the diamond grading report and the report number.
Karat of the metal
The type of construction, craftsmanship, and design.
The date, appraiser's name and signature, addendum information, and qualifications page.
The value and the purpose and function of the appraisal. For example, was the diamond appraisal done at market value for tax purposes or at retail value of insurances purposes.
Transparency In Jewelry Valuation
An appraiser having credentials is one thing, but the valuation process itself should be one that takes place right in front of you. So a transparent appraiser will:
Not ask that the diamond be pulled from the setting. You want to safeguard yourself from an appraiser switching your stone to one of lesser quality. Although, there is greater accuracy in valuating a loose stone than one still in the setting.
Weigh a loose stone in front of you before the appraisal begins and after the process is completed.
Clean the piece in front of you
Only give you ranges in clarity, color and color if the stone is appraised while mounted. According to noted diamond expert Fred Cuellar, the highest grade for a diamond that is mounted is VS1 clarity and G in color.
Not give you an exact figure for what a piece of jewelry is worth but rather offer up a range.
Won't ask or offer to buy your jewelry or sell you one of his/her own
Won't charge you a fee based on the value of our jewelry. This should help remove the temptation to overvalue the merchandise.
Want to know if you want the dump, wholesale, retail (fair market), or premium value of your merchandise.
While appraisers are not Gods, you'll ideally only want to deal with an appraiser that stands fully behind his/her work. That is, there won't be any disclaimers on the appraisal saying the appraiser won't be held responsible for any action that is taken with the appraisal.
If an appraiser doesn't stand behind his work, then there is little point in having the valuation done in the first place.
http://twitter.com/getdiamondrings
First off, virtually anyone can call themselves an independent jewelry appraiser. There is no law requiring appraisers to be licensed in the same way that lawyers and physicians are licensed.
Grant it, there are associations, schools and institutes that jewelers can attend in order to become qualified to appraise diamonds but even then, an appraiser's "say so" does not necessarily make it so.
I have been reading where some jewelry appraisers are secretly on the payroll of jewelers in exchange for undervaluing items from competitors (which could ultimately result in loss of sales).
Secondly, appraisals are not the same as diamond grading certificates or reports. I have seen undercover investigatory reports conducted in shopping mall jewelry stores, where clerks show a reporter their "certificates" which contain appraisal values of various stones.
A clerk would say something like; "We are selling you this engagement ring for $900 but you can see on this diamond certificate that the stone was appraised for $2200."
What a deal right? Well, ding ding ding - red flag!
For one thing, reputable diamond reports such as those done by the GIA, AGS and GCAL don't offer appraisal values but rather give their independent evaluations of the clarity, cut, carat and color of stones. The price of getting a report done might be on the report but not a figure stating how much a diamond is worth.
The next thing is - don't get drawn into the hype of an engagement ring "blowout sale". If a particular diamond appraisal is one that a jeweler can put stock in, you can bet your last dollar that the jeweler would be selling the stone for $2200 and not for $900.
Many jewelers can afford to give blowout sales because initially, they are selling engagement rings at 200-300% above wholesale prices. And if you inspect those cheap engagement rings, don't be surprised to find that they are not cut nicely or have poor clarity.
And if you decide to buy that "cut price jewelry," good luck returning it and getting your money back. You might be told that there are no refunds on sale items.
When buying an engagement ring online, go with highly reputable retailers such as James Allen or Amazon. They offer a wide array of quality pieces to fit any budget plus they iron clad 100% money-back guarantees should you not be pleased with your purchase.
Profile Of A Credentialed Jewelry Appraiser
Simply put, you want to take advice from people that are trained to appraise jewelry and have professional experience in the area. Go through this checklist to see if your potential appraiser fits the bill of a credentialed appraiser.
1. At the very least, have your diamond appraised by at Graduate Gemologist ("G.G") or the comparable Fellow of the Gemological Institute of Great Britain ("F.G.A"). The 'G.G 'is the jewelry industry's most prestigious credential.
Professionals with these qualifications were put through rigorous approaches to comparing, grading, identify, buying and selling stones.
However, bear in mind that neither "G.Gs" nor "F.G.As" were taught how to appraise stones. Ideally a jewelry appraiser should have top gemological credentials as well as additional training and certification from a reputable appraisal organization.
2. Does the person doing the valuation have references? Ask for references. A professional appraiser with experience should be able to give you references from places such as banks and trust companies.
3. Have your diamond appraisal conducted by an independent third party - not someone connected to a jewelry store. When appraisals are issued in-store, they are typically done for the purposes of getting customers to buy the merchandise of that particular store.
What you want is to have an engagement ring appraised by someone who does not give two hoots about whether you buy the ring or not. The typical store clerk who so eagerly gives you his/her "expert opinion' is neither independent nor professionally qualified to give a valuation. Hence, take store clerk or in-store valuation with two "grains of salt."
Some popular independent appraisers include the Accredited Gemologists Association, American Society of Appraisers and the National Society of Jewelry Appraisers.
Anatomy of a Diamond Appraisal
An engagement ring is something you'd want to treasure but if you or your significant other loses his/her ring, then you'd want to have some sort of fall back position - insurance.
Some people think that if you buy a ring for $2000 and insure it for $4000, then if the ring is lost, the insurance company will simply issue a check for the $4000. Well, we all wish it were that simply - don't we?
An insurance company would want to look at your ring's valuation to help them reach a payout figure. But If the valuation does not contain explicit accurate description of the ring, then be prepared for the likelihood of getting a payout that is much less than the sum insured.
Because when the insurer goes to a jeweler and says that you normally sell this ring for $2000, how much will you sell it to me for; if the jeweler says $1000 or $1200 then that is what you'll get.
But if the valuation contains the pertinent information and is reputable, then you have a greater chance of getting an appropriate replacement in kind. Why "in kind?
Because insurance contracts often limit cash settlements. Furthermore, since insurance companies have volume buying power and purchase agreements with their suppliers, they can get appropriate replacements for substantially less than what consumers can get.
Since different kinds of jewelry insurance policies exist, I would advise that you chat with your agent or broker for more details on your options and the settlement practices.
At a minimum, a thorough jewelry appraisal will have the following:
A picture of the jewelry.
Style number, brand name of the diamond, shape, measurements, and weight.
The 4Cs of the stone - color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.
The lab that issued the diamond grading report and the report number.
Karat of the metal
The type of construction, craftsmanship, and design.
The date, appraiser's name and signature, addendum information, and qualifications page.
The value and the purpose and function of the appraisal. For example, was the diamond appraisal done at market value for tax purposes or at retail value of insurances purposes.
Transparency In Jewelry Valuation
An appraiser having credentials is one thing, but the valuation process itself should be one that takes place right in front of you. So a transparent appraiser will:
Not ask that the diamond be pulled from the setting. You want to safeguard yourself from an appraiser switching your stone to one of lesser quality. Although, there is greater accuracy in valuating a loose stone than one still in the setting.
Weigh a loose stone in front of you before the appraisal begins and after the process is completed.
Clean the piece in front of you
Only give you ranges in clarity, color and color if the stone is appraised while mounted. According to noted diamond expert Fred Cuellar, the highest grade for a diamond that is mounted is VS1 clarity and G in color.
Not give you an exact figure for what a piece of jewelry is worth but rather offer up a range.
Won't ask or offer to buy your jewelry or sell you one of his/her own
Won't charge you a fee based on the value of our jewelry. This should help remove the temptation to overvalue the merchandise.
Want to know if you want the dump, wholesale, retail (fair market), or premium value of your merchandise.
While appraisers are not Gods, you'll ideally only want to deal with an appraiser that stands fully behind his/her work. That is, there won't be any disclaimers on the appraisal saying the appraiser won't be held responsible for any action that is taken with the appraisal.
If an appraiser doesn't stand behind his work, then there is little point in having the valuation done in the first place.
http://twitter.com/getdiamondrings
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
“I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the numbers in a diamond” – Mae West. Don’t you just love this quote from 1970s sex symbol Mae West?
Forget cut, clarity or color. Ever since the ancients decided to harvest the seeds of the carobs tree to weigh their precious baubles against, carats are the one thing that has continuously fascinated the world.
And when it comes to carats, bigger is definitely better.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/carat/2-carat-diamond-engagement-ring-rock-her-world.html
Forget cut, clarity or color. Ever since the ancients decided to harvest the seeds of the carobs tree to weigh their precious baubles against, carats are the one thing that has continuously fascinated the world.
And when it comes to carats, bigger is definitely better.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/carat/2-carat-diamond-engagement-ring-rock-her-world.html
Sunday, April 22, 2012
1. The best method. Get your sweetheart to tell you his/her ring size or take him/her to a jeweler to ascertain the size. Read the rest of the article here
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/design-your-own-engagement-ring/ring-size.html
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/design-your-own-engagement-ring/ring-size.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)