The Functions Of Black Shoes

Everyone needs black shoes. The color black is the basical of all in fashion and it is crucial to own shoes in black whether for dress or casual wear. For men or women the basic ones goes with multiple attire for a variety of events. When out on the town black shoes are a must have for wear with tuxedos and evening dresses as well as other less formal wear.

Black footwear can go with everything from a fine quality business suit to a tuxedo for men. The choice of shoes makes a big impact on what people think of a person's fashion consciousness. A man in a black or gray business suit accompanied by a pair of fine quality men's black dress shoes really makes a statement. You wouldn't want to wear black shoes with a brown suit but for most colors they are the perfect choice.

Black footwear is just as important to women, if not even more so. Women actually have a lot more choices than men in variety of footwear. They can choose from sandals, flats, high heels, pumps, and more and also choose between dressy, casual, or formal. I know women who own several pairs of shoes in black alone just because of the diversity that is needed.

The durability of black footwear is another reason many people choose them for athletic shoes for just about any sport. They don't show the scuffs like white shoes do and when you are playing sports there are always going to be scuffs and scratches on your athletic shoes. This is why black is the color of choice for many baseball and soccer organizations.

Find more about shoes as well as shoe fashions at Dani Black Shoes

Masonic Jewelry - A Symbol of Brotherhood

Masonic jewelry is worn as a sign of membership of the brotherhood or passed down as family heirlooms. Here is a guide to this unique and interesting custom.

-The Brotherhood
The Freemasons have the longest history of any organization in the world. The beginning Grand Lodge was formed in 1717 in Greater London, but there was loose organization and use of conditions and symbols centuries before that. Stonemasons were the founding fathers.

Nowadays, it is not essential to be an actual mason to be a member as the principles of the brotherhood are self-improvement, social acts and self-awareness. They were behind the creation of public schools in Europe and America.

In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, they also got it upon themselves to be sure orphans, the elderly and widows were taken care of when the system supplied no security for them. There are a lot of conspiracy theories, films and articles surrounding the mystery of the Masons, but there's no real secret to this philanthropic and educated organization.

- Types of jewelry
To designate membership in a Masonic lodge, there are a variety of Masonic jewelry pieces that a member can wear. The conventional piece is the signet ring, but there are other options as well. For the adult male who already owns a Lodge ring, other gift options are cuff links, tie pins, pocket watches and even pendants. These can all bear as is the emblems as the rings.

- The Symbols
Symbols in freemasonry are important and they designate the degree of the member, the lodge and what the member wants to say about his membership. The most common symbols are the square and compass which represent the cornerstone of freemasonry.

In the centre of these tools is the letter "G", which stands for geometry, a principle of freemasonry, and for God, the original builder. Another tools of the trade found in Masonic jewelry are the trowel, the plumb level and columns. There are many other symbols to choose from when designing different pieces.

- Proper wear

Just members should wear membership jewelry, but there are cases where antique Masonic jewelry is passed down as family heirlooms. As far as how to wear the rings, there are no rules on the proper way. A few men like to wear the emblems facing them but other people like to clothing them facing out for others to see. Married men usually wear their rings on the right hand ring finger. Some men choose to wear their ring on the pinkie finger. So, actually it's all about personal preference and comfort on how to wear the pieces.

- How to clean it
In gold or silver, Masonic jewelry can be very simple or quite ornate. The more intricate the design, the dirtier it can get. Gold pieces can be soaked in warm soapy water and scrubbed on a soft brushing. If there are enameled or synthetic colored parts, do not soak the piece, but gently scrub with a soft soapy brush. Regularly polish with a soft cloth. For sterling silver pieces, only use cleaners designed for silver cleaning. These products come in wipes, cloths and creams.

There are millions of freemasons across the world and a gift of men's Masonic jewelry is a great way to recognize his contribution to society and to honor his pride and dedication to his brotherhood.

Bridesmaid Jewelry

Your prince charming has popped the question and you said yes. Nowadays you're in the throws of organizing the wedding of your dreams. The fact is that it is little details like the bridesmaids jewellery that will actually tie your wedding in collaboration to make it a cohesive event that will be remembered for years to come.

However, that could not be as easy as it sounds. The truth is that for any bride choosing your bridal party jewellery can be among the harder tasks. Traditionally, almost brides make a gift to their attendants at the rehearsal dinner to show their gratitude. For many brides this gift is the jewelry that they would like their bridal party to wear the next day.

In opting your bridal jewelry you'll prefer to spend a little of time thinking about what you would like your overall look to be. Traditionally, the bridal party normally wears a duplicate dress and matching jewelry. While this is completely accepted, it has also get acceptable to add a bit of variety to your overall look. Maybe you want your honor attendant to have something special. Or possibly you prefer to provide different pieces of jewelry to each of your attendants that actually display their personalities and fashions. The option is actually yours so follow your spirit and have fun with it.

When you've an idea about what your bridal party style is becoming to be you are able to really begin to have fun by becoming shopping. If you are searching a conventional and classic look then why not look for an ivory faux pearl jewelry set in gold. This standard look is something that your bridesmaids can bring with them through the years while also searching pretty and dressed for your big day. Or maybe you're searching a bolder piece for your bridesmaids. If so then why not select some rhinestone chandelier earrings that actually make a argument and add a few sparkle to your attendants ensemble? Or perhaps you want to coordinate your bridal party jewelry with their dresses. If you select a crimson dress for your bridesmaids you might prefer to accent their look with a ruby red Swarovski crystal bridesmaids jewelry necklace set.

The fact is that there are a lot of dissimilar pieces of jewelry out there for you to look through. Decide what kind of bridal fashion you've and then find pieces that will enhance that style. By doing this you are able to make sure that your bridal party will be dazzling, almost as dazzling as the bride!

Type of ring

Nowadays most citizenry wear rings - a lot of specifically finger rings - just as a form of ornament. But in more ancient times they had a bigger significance. In daytimes elapsed a few rings were trusted to contain magical powers (talismanic rings) and yet others were rings of deeply personalised significance by which one would be classed in society

In earlier Egyptian Empire, rings intended the authority of a individual. These rings were the forerunners of what we now term signet rings and they had carved scarabs or imprinted hieroglyphs. The Greeks then again wore golden bands mostly with carved stone or other forms of engraving. The too soon Romans ruled the wearing of rings by law - during earlier times iron rings were worn by everybody whom were freeborn and top ranking citizens were allowed to wear gold rings under the early empire. Later on the freeborn citizens wore gold rings, slaves that were freed wore silver and all slaves wore iron rings.

The wearing of wedding rings came in as early as the Roman times - matrons wore wedding rings to indicate their authority in the household. Early Christians also wore signet rings. During the Middle Ages bishops obtain a ring as a part of the ceremony of consecration and Popes traditionally received the Fisherman’s ring. These latter ring is a signet ring that takes a symbolisation which represents St. Peter in a fishing boat with the name of the Pope around it. This ring is used by the Pope to attest his Papal briefs and is then destroyed when he dies. Kings are also generally given a ring during their coronation. Not until the sixteenth century delays that the wearing of rings turned popular, commonly with a set of jewels. Rings of completely types including signet rings are, of course,still worn today.

Engagement rings accept also been given since ancient times but not until the 15th century was it that they were made with diamonds. This is similar for wedding rings - the gold bandings only came later during the sixteenth century. In U.S.A. today married women wear some their engagement ring and wedding ring while married men often wear just their wedding band.

Today a lot of signet rings are worked graduating scholars. They contain an engraved logo of their degree or profession and as such they are called in a graduation rings. Some also have a ring made for their organization or fraternity. Some doctors have their own rings given to them after they get their certify to practice. There are rings that are very popular for children - some even come free in their cereal boxes! Mood rings tend to switch their color dependant on the mood of the wearer and special decoder rings that decodes secret messages on a letter it comes with are also examples of ring varieties.

There is lots of different designs that would certainly fit everybody’s taste. Whatever the type, style or reason, the wearing of rings is still popular to this daytime.

The getting married ring

The getting married ring is a ring that will often be made from precious metals, and it will be worn on the left ring finger. It is also worn on the right ring finger in countries such as Norway or Russia. The purpose of a wedding ring is to represent a marriage. Both spouses will wear rings to show that they are commited to each other. The custom originated in Europe, but has spread to many other countries which are outside of Europe. In some cultures the getting married ring is simply one of three rings that will lean when a duo is in the work of getting married.

The other two rings are the engagement ring and the promise ring. The engagement ring is well known, and will be given when a couple has become engaged. A promise ring is not as well known, only will tend once a couple starts courting each other. In many European countries, the name of the soon to be spouse will be placed within the ring. While wedding rings have traditionally be worn by women, getting married rings are now designed for men as well. It is the responsibility of the best man to make a point the rings of the couple are cared for. The best man will present both rings during the marriage.

In extremely involved weddings, a ring carrier perhaps used to carry the rings as well. The ring bearer will generally be a young male who is related to either the groom or bride. He will carry the rings on elaborate pillows. In some European countries, the engagement ring is the wedding ring, and the condition of the ring will change once the couple is married. If a another ring is used for the wedding ring, the bride could still put on it if she chooses. The option of which finger the ring should be worn on has changed over the centuries.

Traditionally, the fourth finger on the left or right hand has all of the time been applied, and when a marriage has on their rings on their left hands, this is a sign that they have eternal love for each other. While wedding sets have historically been endured of women in the US and UK, they are now commonly worn by men. The use of diamonds on wedding ring is highly favorite. The precious metals that are used in the ring will often be gold or white cold, only titanium has also get favorite, specially as gentlemen. Many couples will avoid using diamonds and will use other precious gems such as rubies or sapphires.

Besides this, stainless steel is at present being applied in a number of wedding rings. Stainless brand has a a lot higher enduringness than gold, and can showcase a better finish than titanium. Some metals are poisonous, and are not used for wedding rings. If you want to buy a gem, you will want to measure the quality based on its softness. Gems have a softness scale that ranges from 1 to 10. A gem with a rating of 1 will be the softest, while a gem with a rating of 10 will be the hardest. Gems that have a rating of 7 should not be picked for wedding rings.

A diamond heart and soul pendant

A diamond heart and soul pendant is not always the first gift that arrives to beware when you're shopping for the right gift for Mother's Day. It is, however, a gift that comes to mind when you want something for a special woman in your life. Do not forget Mom when you consider any important holiday. She will be thrilled with the gift of diamonds and hearts to symbolize your love for her.

A diamond heart pendant is perfect for Mother's Day. It is one of the most important days of the year and it provides you with the opportunity to show your gratitude to the woman who has shown you unconditional love and nurturing for you entire life. You don't have to limit yourself to the traditional flowers and cards, year after year. Give her a gift she will always be able to enjoy.

One of the greatest things about a diamond heart pendant for Mother's Day is that it will be unexpected. She probably never calls for for much a card to acknowledge her day and she would not be expecting a nontraditional gift like this. If you prefer to give her something that is truly unique and that she will cherish for years to come, then give her a heart pendant to show her that you hold her close in your heart.

There are several diamond heart pendant styles to choose from. Diamonds represent the love, trust, and friendship you have with your mother. Decide a style that suits your mother and she will wear it proudly from each one time she sets it on. Give her gift that will make her feel cherished by the single she holds dearest.

A diamond heart pendant projects an understated elegance as it dangles lightly from its chain. When she receive her necklace as a Mother's Day gift, she will feel treasured, just as she should be. Mother's Day is important because the person you celebrate on this day is so important to you. She will make an impressive statement every time she wears her beautiful token of your love for her.

The diamonds in the diamond heart pendant also represent April's birthstone. It is the almost enduring stone; given as a Mother's Day gift, it will also be the most endearing stone. No other stone is as significant or popular as the diamond and there's no major way to delight and surprise your mother than with this bejeweled gift.

If you can not work a diamond heart pendant into your budget for Mother's Day, then consider giving her one that's affection shaped without the diamonds. There is even one to choose from that has "MOM" written down one side so that she can proudly display her special gift and the purpose for which it was given to her.

There are many styles to choose from including those that have "MOM" on them and those that do not. Diamond heart pendants and those with no diamonds are both beautiful choices. There are also some designs that feature other gem stones. Whatever you choose to give your mother, it is sure to be a cherished and favorite Mother's Day gift.

Unique Jewelry Ideas For Mothers

One never needs a holiday to say thank you and I love you with a special piece of jewelry to the mother in their life. Luckily, there are a plethora of beautiful and unique jewelry ideas ranging from personalized charms to birthstone necklaces. Each piece will certainly make the woman who loves and supports her children around the clock, feel beautiful and pampered. No matter how much baby food she finds on her pants. Here are some cunning pieces to add to your mother's jewelry collection.

Personalized Charm Necklace - This delicate necklace is charming and unique. You may inscribe the name of your baby on the front and back of each individual charm and the birth date of your baby. The necklace also comes adorned with the birthstone of your child, making this jewelry distinct and wonderfully personal.

Tiny Triple Charm Necklace - This incredibly dainty and sweet necklace can be an extraordinary addition to a mother's wardrobe. Three miniature pendants, stamped with an engraving of your choice, hang sweetly from a sterling silver chain. This necklace is wonderful for mothers of three, adorning her neck with all of her children's names. Another engraving idea would be to add the first, middle and last name of her special little one.

Classic Vintage Heart Locket - Now mom can wear her love where everyone can clearly see it. With this Vintage Heart Locket, a message can be inscribed on the outside (baby's name, a loving message to mom or baby, baby's birth date) while a picture of baby and family can rest sweetly on the inside.

Personalized Mommy Tag Necklace - This very attractive version of a classic military necklace is also great for the environmental mom. The necklace is made from recycled materials and comes with two separate silver tags. The larger tag reads Bebe (meaning baby in French) Love, while the second tag can be inscribed with baby's name and birth date. This necklace can be ordered with multiple name tags for all the kids in your life. Celebrity moms such as Jennifer Garner, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Hudson love this particular style.

Personalized Bracelet Set - This particular gift can be given to mom and baby. The silver bracelet set can be personalized with baby's name on the outside of the bracelet with the baby's birth information (date/length/weight) on the inside. The bracelets are sleek and adjustable to fit comfortably on mom and baby's wrist.

Cora Lee is the owner of BlissLiving, widely known for a huge selection of exclusive handmade personalized mother's jewelry including personalized mother's necklaces and bracelets, designer diaper bags, and unique baby gifts. For additional mother's day gift ideas and tips and all the products above, visit http://www.BlissLiving.com BlissLiving.com has been featured in US Weekly, People Magazine's Celebrity Babies, and Pregnancy Magazine, and has been listed as one of the highest rated sites by the Better Business Bureau, with double AA ratings, for five years in a row

What is a Colored Diamond?

Are They Still Diamonds?

In a word, yes. While the common color grading scale used for diamonds runs from D (completely clear) to Z (obviously yellow) there is an entire subset which fall beyond the Z rating into the umbrella grade of "Fancy." Fancy diamonds still hold all of the other characteristics of traditional white diamonds - the hardness, the technical measure of clarity, the cut, and carat are all the same.

A Scale All Their Own

Diamonds that fall outside of the white grading scale, still have to have a subjective color grade assigned to them. However, the grading scale is considerably easier for the layman to understand. Colored diamonds with the faintest hints of color are given a grade of Faint. Lightly colored gems are either Very Light, or Light. The bolder colors, your truly fancy gems, are graded along a scale ranging from Fancy Light to Fancy Dark, with Intense, Vivid, and Deep breaking up the middle.

A Stone of Many Colors

As you might have guessed, pink isn't the only color. The infamous, and rumored to be cursed, Hope Diamond is a 45.52 carat dark grayish blue diamond. Canary diamonds are a brilliant yellow. Both brown and black diamonds are both real and growing in popularity lately. Other colors include orange, red, green, and purple. According to the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute, there are 27 official hues which span the color spectrum, and there are diamonds to fill each of those hues.

Not to Get Too Technical

How they gain those hues is a bit of a technical process. Essentially, when the diamonds are forming from pure carbon, the molecules arrange themselves into a cage called a crystal matrix. As the they are crushed under the earth's pressure, that matrix closes in on itself. Occasionally, during that process, atoms from other elements such as boron, nitrogen, or hydrogen, will be trapped inside as their respective matrices close. The end result is the colored diamond. As one would rightly assume, when multiple gases are trapped in the diamond, you get blended colors, like pink champagne.

Still Really Rare

While color is certainly one reason why people prize fancy diamonds, it's certainly not the only one. They are exceptionally rare. Colored diamonds, with a Fancy or deeper color grade, account for a mere 1.8% of the entire world's diamonds. When that percentage is broken down by color, those percentages get even smaller. Canary diamonds, which are known for their brilliantly yellow hue, account for less than 0.1% of the world's diamonds. Factor in the other common factors - the size of the stone, the inherent shape, and the sense of clarity, and colored diamonds of significant size and quality get even rarer still.

Why Choose a Colored Diamond?

They aren't for everyone or even for every type of jewelry. However, they do have some very strong selling points. The rarity of colored diamonds makes them special. The variety of colors means that they can be used to convey not only the emotions associated with a traditional diamond, but also to cater to the specific tastes of the recipient. It's those strengths that allow colored diamonds to fill jewelry niches that traditional white diamonds could not. In the end, a colored diamond provides a new and unique spin on a familiar and classic idea.

Jill Renee, President of DanforthDiamond.com has years of experience and expertise in the jewelry market, and has helped many satisfied customers in finding the right piece of jewelry from loose diamonds, wedding rings and engagement rings. Let Jill and her experienced staff help you, please visit DanforthDiamond.com

Celebrities and Their Diamond Engagement Rings

What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.

The history of diamond engagement rings

Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.

The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.

Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.

Famous ladies and their engagement rings

Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:

Royalty:

• Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.

• Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.

• Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.

Actresses:

• Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.

• Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.

• Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.

• Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.

• Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.

Pop stars:

• Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.

• In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.

• Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.

• Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.

• Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.

• Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.

Replica diamond engagement rings

Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.

Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.

Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.

Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.

Jewellery Boxes - How to Make Your Own Personalized Jewellery Box

Making a beautiful and personalized jewellery box at home is not very difficult. There are many materials available out there which can be used to design a lovely box for storing all types of jewellery articles like necklaces, rings, bracelets, chains, hoop earrings, studs and dangling earrings. Some people prefer simple boxes with only one compartment, while others like to have dividers inside their boxes to store different jewellery articles in separate cubicles.

Those who are in the jewellery making business also need to design creative and attractive boxes and jewellery cases for their customers. In this article we will discuss different styles of jewellery containers and the materials that can be used for making an elegant and easy-to-make jewelry holder.

The simplest kind of a jewellery case is the one made from cardboard. Everybody has had the experience of working with cardboard at some point in their life. I remember learning to make small boxes of cardboard in the handwork class at school. These cute boxes in funky colors can be decorated with stamps, ribbons, laces and embellishments. If you want to make a box from wood, you will need to learn the basic woodworking techniques. Another option is to create fabric pouches made from velvet or other similar fabrics. These cases can also be adorned with different materials like stones, sequins, beads and crystals.

A personalized jewellery box can be made by using charms or engraving your name on a wooden box. Some people also use artwork prints or stamps to customize jewellery cases. You may need to buy a simple wooden or leather box and then paint it with different colors and patterns. Rubber stamping is a technique which is easy to use and very effective. There is a lot of information available online on wood engraving as well as rubber stamping that can be used to create lovely jewellery organizers at home.

In addition to sturdy jewellery organizers, people also try making fun jars at home to store jewellery articles. Such a jewellery box can be used as a decorative item and looks beautiful. All you need is an empty jar, acrylic paints, wrapping or pattern paper, ribbons or laces, and other embellishments that you like, such as handmade paper flowers, stickers, buttons, beads and brads, etc. These jars can be personalized in any way you like and can also make excellent gifts for all occasions. Other than jewellery, these jars can also be used to store stationary items and other belongings.

People also make treasure holders to use as jewellery cases. Such a jewellery box can be given any shape you like. Alternatively, you can use a pattern paper to give a theme to your beautiful box. Personalizing a jewellery case is easy and fun. You can start from scratch by working with raw materials or you can also have a pre-made jewellery case and then decorate it according to your taste and style. Working with laces, ribbons and other types of embellishments is easy and it can give a whole new look to an otherwise simple jewellery holder.

Please visit our site for full information like history, designs, types, buying tips, caring tips, cleaning tips, importance and all other important aspects of all Jewellery items and its different types and designs. You will find tons of articles on all popular jewellery designs and types like Jewellery Box

Diamond Hunting

Diamond hunting can be quite traumatic for the uninitiated. It is a big purchase and often one that has high emotional content. Simply knowing the facts before you start can ease the pressure. It also helps for the vendors to know you have some idea of what you are looking at.

There are a few things to know. Lets start with some diamond shapes to consider when you are doing your shopping: oval, pear-shaped, round, emerald, heart-shaped and marquise. Thew most important thing, however, is the quality and to determine quality you need to understand the 4 C's, which are as follows:

Carat weight: The weight or size of a diamond is measured in carats. A single carat is made up of one hundred segments called "points." One hundred and fifty points equals one and one half carats.

Clarity: This expresses how perfect the diamond is by identifying the flaws or inclusions. Where the inclusions are, how big they are, and their type determines the value of the stone. Inclusions are shown as follows:

FL = Flawless, IF = Internally Flawless - minor surface blemishes,

VVS1-VVS2 = Very, Very Small inclusions,

VS1-VS2 = Very Small Inclusions,

I1-SI2 = Small Inclusions,

I1-I2-I3 = Imperfect - inclusions visible to the eye.

Slight inclusions; do not reduce the beauty of the stone although they do reduce the value.

Color: Colorless diamonds are extremely rare in nature. Color definitely helps determine the value of a stone. An unpracticed eye does not easily see different gradations from high white to the start of the yellows. Bright-colored diamonds are a bit different. Some examples are blue, amber, red, etc. Bright colored diamonds in larger sizes can command very high prices indeed. Collectors worldwide are eager to acquire them.

Cut: Precise formulas are to determine the appropriate cut for a diamond. A typical diamonds is cut with 58 facets. The stone's light-reflecting properties and its light dispersion are critical measurements in determining the stones quality and value.

These are just some of the things to look out for. Every diamond also has a identifying serial number which can be seen under a microscope and it never hurts to have a look for yourself. In the end the purchase of a diamond is a very personal thing so remember to pick one you actually like.

Ron Hughes is CEO of Adapt Information Technology, one of the longest standing Internet businesses in the world. He is also a public and seminar speaker and frequent contributor of articles on business subjects. In addition, Ron is a founder and director of Ozecover (http://www.ozecover.com.au), a free public service that allows the Australian public to compare every health insurance company and product to assure the best health cover for themselves and their families

On Hope Diamond

Hope Diamond is a brilliant blue stone, surrounded by white diamonds and suspended from a diamond necklace. This is a surprise to many when they first know about the diamond as they expect this famous diamond to be a clear diamond.

The Hope Diamond in the beginning was a beautiful violet colored 112-carat stone. It was first purchased by a merchant named Jean Baptiste Tavernier, who later sold the stone to Louis XIV of France. The diamond was then cut into a 67-carat stone with the color named as French Blue.

The diamond was stolen when the crown jewels were looted during the French Revolution. It subsequently was found again in 1812 and was bought by George IV of England. George IV of England later sold off the diamond to pay off his debts. Where the stone went then was not known, though it found its way as part of Henry Philip Hope's collection. Till this day, Hope's name is still attached to the diamond.

The Hope Diamond has a long-standing legend of a curse which originated when it was plucked from an idol in India. Regardless how true the legend was, many who have owned the diamond have met with misfortune. The Hope family while owning the diamond went bankrupted. The stone was then sold to Cartier jewelry firm in Paris. When Pierre Cartier later sold it to Evalyn Walsh Maclean of Washington, DC, her first son was killed at age nine in a car accident and her daughter committed suicide at the age of twenty-five. Her husband was declared insane and was institutionalized until his death in 1941.

After Mrs. Maclean acquire the stone, she had the stone reset and made it into the necklace that we know today. The necklace was eventually purchased by Henry Winston from Mrs. Maclean's estate in 1947, which became part of the Smithsonian Collection.

To summarized, whether there is a curse on the diamond, the Hope Diamond is still well known for its beauty and brilliance

Places to Find Less Expensive Diamond Engagement Rings

A hurried purchasing of jewelry items is never advisable. There is a huge amount that the average earner has to fork out. Hence, the efforts should be directed towards finding out those places where jewelry such as diamond engagement rings is available at lower costs. Actually, it is not easier to find out such traders. You will have to make extra searching, besides considering the ways to cut the overall costs.

The cost of diamonds is usually very high, if the precious stone is of great quality. With all the 4C-clarity, color, cut and carat being of high standard, the stone becomes very expensive. Before you set out to find right places for buying the rings, it is advisable to first know about the tips on reducing the costs of the gem.

A sure shot way to lower the costs is to opt for those diamonds that are little downwardly placed on the quality parameters. But there is no significant reduction in the brilliance and fire of the precious stone for diamond engagement rings. The stones having little inclusions or flaws are always cheaper to buy and the cost will go down if its color is yellowish. Another way to chop down the costs is to opt for lesser numbers of facets on the stone's surface. Instead of a heart or pear shape, the stone should be of rectangle or square shape, if budget is the concern.


Once, these aspects of cutting the costs are in your mind, you are well prepared to find out the right places of shopping for the jewelry.

There are two main places where you can shop for diamond engagement rings. The first usual choice of the couples is to visit the nearby jeweler's shop. For many people, the shop provides convenience as the shopkeeper may be known to them. But will he offer the jewelry at cheaper rates as well?

Brick and mortar shops have to spend on overheads that only increase their spending. Hence, such shops are unlikely to be the choice for budget couples. However, they can visit the shops for having a glimpse and feel of the rings and they can compare some designs as well. if they still want to purchase the ring from the physical shops, they must ensure that they are not paying the same price that is mentioned on the tag. They can always ask for lower prices.

To escape from usual static price tags of the physical shops, you should take resort in the online shopping when purchasing diamond engagement rings. The online retail jewelers are always prepared to pass on the advantage of no or low overhead spending. Therefore, their prices are competitive as they have to reduce the prices to remain in the tough online jewelry business.

But not all the online sellers will be offering cheaper rates on the rings, though their rates are lower than brick and mortar shops. Some online jewelers need to beat the competition more than others. It is such jewelers who will cut down the prices more than others. You will have to make a search on internet for such online sellers.

Hence, search the internet extensively and go through numbers of jewelry websites. Compare them for prices of diamond engagement rings of your specifications of designs, settings, colors etc. The more comparison you make, the higher are chances of finding out the jewelry well within your budget.

With expertise and wide experience of the jewelry business and industry behind him, the author has been providing useful help to the customers in making right purchasing of jewelries like diamond engagement rings, wedding rings, gemstones, earrings and pendants. Please visit Glimmerrocks.com for more details

Why to Opt For Silver Jewelry

If we go back to the history of Silver Jewelry we will be amazed to know that it has been used since 2500 BC as ornaments and investment purposes. It is quite popular among people these days also. More are more fashion conscious people are interested in silver jewelry. Sterling Silver can be used to make earrings, rings as well as jewelry. The advantage of silver jewelry is that they are beautiful and affordable at the same time.

Many young people find using silver jewelry a great way to look elegant and graceful. It catches the attention of even the most discerning customer. The appeal of sterling silver is much more than even gold. It shows more refinement than gold. Though fashions change very often, sterling silver jewelry will never go outdated.A classic design of silver earrings and rings will go with current fashion as it would with the fashions of a hundred years ago.Wide variety of mix and match is possible with silver jewelry. Silver is the best option if you are looking at a certain gem or set of colored stone to go into a piece of jewelry. It is the best type of precious metal to choose when you want top select jewelry for children.

Silver earrings are not only preferred by women but young men also. The number of young men wearing silver earrings has been on the rise. It is considered as a fashion statement by the young generation. Silver rings are indispensable accessories for women. The beauty conscious generation go for the simple, elegant rings to their hearts' contentment.

One has to be very careful while purchasing silver earrings. Since cheap imitation of silver jewelry looks similar to the original ones you have to look out for fake ones. There are many quality controls in it and you can purchase the ones you like with a guarantee for manufacturing defects.

Charm Jewellery Expresses Uniqueness of Every Woman Everywhere

Thousands of years ago, Egyptian Pharaohs adorned themselves with charm jewellery encrusted with precious gems to ward off evil spirits. Jewish scholars hid Jewish laws from the Romans on tiny parchments concealed in golden amulets worn close to their hearts on necklaces.

Renaissance knights were the first to "wear their hearts on their sleeves" when they entered tournaments or battles wearing their lady's "favors" tied around their arms. These good luck charms were bits of cloth often adorned with small bits of embroidery and jewels sewn by their ladies and meant to symbolize the strength of love in warding off evil and injury.

Queen Victoria was the first to wear dangling charm jewellery purely as a fashion accessory in the early 20th century. Intricately details bits of silver and gold depicting life milestones like the birth of children were strung beside those depicting religions, favorite hobbies, pets or even flowers

Today, charm jewellery is everywhere. Little bits of silver, gold or other metal sometimes adorned with gemstones are fashioned into visual symbols of what a woman likes, what she knows, even how many children she may have. They're fashioned into necklaces, earrings and rings as well as the more traditional wrist and ankle bracelets. But even the variety of bracelets themselves have exploded in the 21st century as charms are once again popular.

There are still thousands of traditional charms that dangle freely and are attached by links to gold or silver link bracelets. However, there are now two other basic bracelet styles that incorporate charms.Italian charm bracelets are made of flat charm links that form stretchy bracelets. Each charm is enclosed in a standard sized rectangular link allowing for endless personalization options. Approximately 17 such links will snap together to form a medium sized bracelet while 19 links will make up a typical large sized bracelet.

The latest bracelet style is built around a single narrow band of silver or gold. Charm beads of varying shapes and sizes. The beads spin freely on the band allowing for more detailed 3D designs. Adding charms and distributing them evenly around the bracelet is easy because each charm bead includes not a smooth hole through its center, but a threaded hole. The ends of the bracelet and clear spacers positioned at one third intervals around the bracelet are also threaded so beads must be twisted and screwed over them to be added or removed.

This bead type charm system is also proving popular in creating necklaces of varying lengths. The band that holds the charms in this case can either be fixed or flexible and comes in different lengths. Because of the spacing system, necklaces, like bracelets, can include just a few charms or be completely covered in them.

Charm jewellery's popularity has endured through the ages because of this flexibility. It allows a woman to clearly express herself through both her choice of charms, where she chooses to wear them and how she chooses to wear them.

Moissanite Ring, With a Large Crystal On a Tight Budget

First discovered inside a meteor at the end of the nineteenth century, Moissanite crystals were thought of as far too rare and inaccessible to ever make suitable jewellery. However, since the 1990's, Moissanite has been created in laboratories, and has since become a very popular and widely-available gemstone. The reasons for its popularity stem in part from its affordability and its great resemblance to diamond. It has a shine and lustre comparable to any historical gem, and makes a great jewel in its own right. Many women appreciate the crystal for its brilliance, and Moissanite jewellery is now a very fashionable item to have.

Moissanite engagement rings are much less expensive than the traditional diamond ring, and they have a more durable surface than a cubic zirconia. Moissanite rings have a brilliance and fire that some people say is greater than a diamonds. Moissanite has a greater refraction than the diamond, and its natural colour means that it looks a lot more authentic than a cubic zirconia. It is in fact more expensive than the latter synthetic crystal, though some still feel that a Moissanite ring is simply another diamond replacement.

Moissanite engagement rings and Moissanite wedding bands are not fake diamonds at all, but instead a man-made crystal that resembles a diamond, both in natural hardness, and the lustre and fire of the jewel. People have come to feel that Moissanite rings are beautiful and attractive in their own right, as fashions change. A platinum Moissanite ring is popular with movie stars and supermodels alike and these classy pieces of jewellery look set to increase in value as they age.

Some may be worried that their fiancee will be expecting a diamond ring, and if they are not confident about buying a ring without their beloved's knowledge, then they can propose, and then discuss the type of ring with their fiancee afterwards. Most couples planning to get married find that it is a struggle to save for a wedding, and buying a Moissanite ring can cut the costs. It is possible to buy Moissanite engagement and wedding rings as a set, giving the bride fashionable and stylish jewellery without breaking the bank. As a way of providing a ring with a large crystal on a tight budget, Moissanite is a great buy and it is really like diamonds one of few things those last for ever and it is really a good choice to be your engagement gift .

The Secret to Buying a Diamond

If diamonds are a woman's best friend then why does the man have to buy them? Most men are not familiar with the fine details of diamond characteristics and value. Making such a large purchase without any experience or knowing who to trust can make diamond shopping a daunting task. A visit to your local jeweler almost always consists of a tutorial on the "4 C's" leaving you more confused than ever.

What your jeweler will not tell you is the single most important diamond trait which determines value and brilliance. The rarely mentioned yet most important detail is a diamond's depth percentage. A diamond cut to the ideal depth percentage will reflect substantially more light known as brilliance or fire. A diamond with the same color and clarity may appear dull and boring compared to a diamond with an ideal depth percentage.

Diamonds are often cut either too shallow or too deep in order to save diamond mass which results in a dull appearance and cheaper cost. You may think you are getting a good deal but you are really paying for poor quality. The ideal depth percentage is different for each diamond shape. An ideal round diamond should be cut between 58-63%.

To find the best quality diamond look first for an ideal depth percentage, then consider color, clarity, and carat weight. Buy only certified diamonds which come with a third party verification of its characteristics. Make diamond education a large part of your search and you will be better equipped to make an educated purchase. You work hard for your money so make sure you are buying the best!

Most jewelry stores will charge a hefty premium for a properly cut diamond. Desert Brilliance offers ideal cut diamonds without any additional fees giving you the most for your money. Buy with confidence at Desert Brilliance for the best priced, best quality diamonds available. Visit our diamond education page and then compare our prices to others. We promise to bring you the best value possible and will answer any questions you may have during your diamond ring purchase process

Jewelry Birthday Presents For Little Girls

Birthdays are important marks in our lives. This is our own big day! We look forward to this every year. For a little girl's birthday, it makes a big difference when jewellery is given. She will grow up having the appreciation for jewellery.

Perhaps the reason for this is because they are shiny, little, colorful and fun. Receiving jewellery enables kids to appreciate and understand the essence of beautiful objects. They develop a talent to appreciate beauty from presents they receive.

These days, the little category of children's jewellery presents has become more popular especially if these are given on very important occasions such as birthdays.

An ideal gift for a special little girl is a unique and customized charm bracelets. These can be made of any material. The best are made of sterling silver and 14k gold. Charm bracelets bring out a little girls' creativity as she can mix and match this with any charms she desires. Charms come in different sizes and figures. They are almost anything imaginable such shoes, hearts, butterflies, cartoon characters and a lot more. Commonly, charms are painted with enamel. The more expensive ones have gemstones and other materials incorporated in them. Charm bracelets have the potential to be the most relished item. But you have to make sure that the locks or clasps are well designed to prevent it from getting lost, kids' earrings should not be forgotten when thinking of giving kids jewellery gifts. The best options are 14k gold as little girls would love the feel and the look of this precious metal. Compared to 18k gold earrings that adults wear, kids' earrings are lighter and fun which makes it perfect when worn at school, at home or anywhere else. Like charms, they also come in various designs.

The little girls will surely love wearing these as they come in different sizes and shapes like teddy bears, hearts, ladybugs, butterflies, cats, dogs and anything that you can imagine. Others come in simple designs or mounted with diamonds, pearls or birthstones.

Giving your kids with children's jewellery may cost more than the traditional and common presents that we used to give. But the feeling of giving something that is meaningful and lasting is priceless. The best thing about this is that jewellery gift will last forever.

So, when that special little girl outgrows her first jewellery item, she can keep this and save it and later on pass it to her own kids

Fashion For Rings Last Year

What was the "in" fashion for rings last year might not be necessarily "in" this year. However, 2009 is a time when the economic crisis is widely felt all over the world because of this; the trends in engagement ring shopping have now become one that is budget friendly. So if you are planning to propose this 2009, here are the newest recession-friendly trends in engagement rings.

In buying engagement rings, it is now a usual practice to choose a diamond separately from the metal band of the ring. More and more people are now customizing their engagement rings rather than buying those that are already pre-set. This might be due to the fact that customizing rings can give people more freedom in their choice of metals and diamonds that are going to be used to complete their ring. In this way, people can sacrifice the quality of the metal to have a better quality diamond or vice versa. This allows people also to have more control on the budget that they had set aside for ring purchases.

People nowadays are also aware of the types of metals as well as the four C's of diamonds and are now making more and more educated purchases. They are now using their knowledge of engagement rings to get the most 'bling' for their buck. Here are some examples of the purchasing trends that are budget-friendly.

White platinum which is the more popular but expensive choice in metal for engagement ring can now be replaced by alternative metals which are a fraction of its cost. White silver, blackened silver or white gold can replace white platinum and are about 40 percent lower in terms of cost. Palladium, which is a metal that is similar to platinum can also be used and is priced about 70% lower than platinum.

Another recession-friendly trend in engagement rings is going back to the classic designs of having a solitaire diamond adorning the ring. People are now choosing the less intricate designs such as the classic tiffany instead of the much complicated and expensive designs that have many paves surrounding the band.

With regards to diamonds, people are now choosing the stones based on their knowledge and ability to adapt to the four C's. People know that the cut of a diamond affects its brilliance. People are now choosing the cuts that will give their diamond engagement ring the best sparkle and brilliance. These cuts are the round brilliant and the princess cut engagement rings.

A number of people are also going for the natural look by choosing rough cut diamonds for their rings. Rough cuts are exactly just that, diamonds which are roughly cut that they are not symmetrically cut or polished. These types of stones are not as brilliant but are still as gorgeous as the traditional diamonds.

In terms of diamond color, it is now common for people to choose diamonds that are a little yellowish. Yellowish diamonds when set on white platinum or white gold can appear paler or more colorless thereby making the engagement ring appear more valuable.

How the diamond is set on the ring is also changing in 2009. More and more people are shying away from the pronged setting and are choosing more the engagement rings that have diamonds that are set in a semi-bezel way into the ring band. The semi-bezel setting will give added hold to the diamond to prevent its loss brought about by an active lifestyle. Another recession-friendly trend is the use of the tension setting to hold the diamond in place. Tension settings have been in existence since the mid 1900s but the technique has greatly improved that it holds the diamond more securely than the traditional pronged setting. Tension setting also allows more light to pass through the diamond making the engagement ring produce more sparkle.

Although not as recession-friendly as the others, the use of three diamonds to adorn the engagement ring is also becoming popular. The three diamonds represent the past, present and future of the relationship and give additional 'bling' factor to the ring.

Archie Cohen is a professional journalist and a jewelry expert who provided consulting services about loose diamonds, engagement rings, wedding rings and other related jewelry. He has written many articles about diamond jewelry that were published on journals and magazines

Jewellery Buying Decisions

There are many options which face the lives of consumers every day. Luckily buying jewellery is not one of them. Consumers are faced with many different options every time they do come to purchase jewellery and jewellery retailers therefore need to make every effort to make it as easy as possible to help consumers make a choice.

In order to make that choice easier, a jewellery retailer's aim is to make sure their products are extremely reliable and trustworthy, and make sure that nothing ever goes wrong with the jewellery item bought. For a company to say this is very easy and to do this may not cause too many issues either. However, to build up a reputable name and image can take a long time and many companies have to work very hard to do just this. Once a company has built up their reputation to a level that ensures customers are confident to buy from the store, they have the chance to impress that customer with various different products. It is then up to the customer to decide whether or not they like that product.

The final decision of what to buy lies with the consumer. However, there are other factors which will help a customer make a decision too. For instance, a customer will need to know that the jewellery retailer they are buying from has a lot of information about the jewellery products they are selling. The more information a retailer has the more confidence the consumer has during their buying decision and hence the more likely they are to actually purchase the jewellery product. Information can come from a number of sources; staff inside the shop should all be equipped with knowledge and information about the products, brochures catalogues and other point-of-sale materials should also be found easily in the shop to further this information. Other guides such as a diamond jewellery buyer's guide or other buyer's guides can also be very useful.

Of course information has to be provided and that information must come from a reliable and trustworthy source. There is however, more to a customers buying decision than just that. The customers must be able to choose from a vast range of jewellery items. On the one hand, if a customer is presented with too much choice it can make choosing what they want a longer process. However, providing the customer with choice can only be a good thing in the long run. This is because the customer will feel comfortable to know that the company they are buying from has many different jewellery ranges. It will also mean that once they have bought once, they are likely to come back and buy another piece of jewellery.

Diamond Rings

There are millions of gift to present your dear one, but diamond rings always become special! Diamond rings are the most special and exciting gift that tells your love really closer to your dear ones. Diamond rings become even more special, particularly during the time of engagement. Gifting a classy designed diamond ring to your dear loved better-half will be the most pleasurable moment, as you make your remembrance any time close to her heart! Considering this fact, diamond rings are always preferred to be the first and best choice, while the moment of engagement. If you are not really aware of the point on where to start for buying a classy range of diamond rings, you can continue reading the flow-up for better understanding. Here are some crispy tips, which would dearly assist you to pick the right variety of diamond rings for your dear love!

• Fix your budget

It is only you, who know how much you are ready to spend! When it is comes to diamonds rings, it is good to fix a budget because diamonds are usually costly and high-priced! Diamond rings are always expensive and it is ultimately your responsibility to find the best quality diamond rings at sensible rates. Generally, the rate structure of the diamond rings will vary from one to another, depending upon the design and pattern you choose. The budget you fix will decide the actual variety of diamond rings you could select from! The better you fix your budget the greater the options will narrow down.

• Search with different dealers

As said, diamonds rings should be chosen with care! Check with different diamond ring dealers and get to know the quality and rates of the diamonds. This will dearly help you to find the best quality diamond rings. Diamond rings are something special, which you are going to gift your dear ones. So, never make your purchase with an impulse of pressure. Make a relaxed shopping to purchase the best quality diamond rings, so that you can undoubtedly win your dear one’s heart.

• Find what your dear one likes

While getting a diamond ring for your loved one, you must be very cautious to know the taste and choice of your fiancé. Though it is very hard and difficult to determine what her taste is, you can ask her casually about the choice of design that she likes the most. If you are not sure about her taste, then you can choose the best design of diamond ring that looks ultimately classy.

• Look at the properties

Remember that diamond rings should be purchased only seeing their quality but not the designs. The major factor that you must consider is the color, the carat, the cut, and the clarity. All these factors will together fix the cost of the diamond rings!

There are plenty of online shopping jewelry stores, where you can purchase the best variety of diamond rings. Also you can check with different dealers who grant cheap jewelry for sale.

A Guide on How to Choose the Best Diamond Ring Setting

The elegance of diamond is unbeatable. Every woman dreams to wear it around her finger, every man wants to make his woman happy by giving her a diamond ring. You may be worried about the price you have to pay to get that fabulous diamond ring in a tiny box. Worry no more, you can shop online and look for cheap diamond rings.

Both Ebay and Amazon are good places to look for your ideal diamond ring. You will be surprised of how affordable the rings are compared to those you normally find in shopping malls and jewelry shops. From wedding rings, engagement rings and more, you will absolutely love what you will see the moment you start to type the keywords and see the gallery of affordable diamond rings and diamond ring sets.

Did you know that there are diamond settings? The type of diamond setting has the biggest effect on how the ring looks. So whether you are choosing a classical or a contemporary ring, knowing these settings may help you come up with the best decision.

Ballerina Setting- this is a classical, multi-stone design which looks like the 'tutu' of a ballerina. It flares the grace and tenderness of a woman.

Bead Setting- this is a type of diamond setting where creativity is much expressed. It also expresses the peculiarities yet the many wonders of the bearer. A more modern style of diamond rings uses this setting.

Bezel Setting- this can be both classical and contemporary depending on how it is cut and designed. The setting includes a collar of precious metal that wraps around the diamond. This is the choice of those who look for simplicity and elegance.

Channel Setting- this presents a sleek, elegant look to the ring. This is the choice for those who want the ring to last because this setting protects the diamond so well.

Cluster Setting- this setting can look like a flower or an attractive arrangement. For the on-the-go and eccentric type, this kind of setting can give justice to your finger.

Flush Setting- this answers some women love for subtle elegance. A kind of setting that suits timidity, safety and practicality.

These are just six of the different settings that may guide you in finding the perfect diamond rings. You always need to consider the personality, the finger appearance and the preference of the wearer. Yes, because diamonds are forever.

Silver Cuff Bracelet

If you are looking for the perfect silver cuff bracelets, you will not be disappointed when you do your shopping online. This is because you will find a wide range of choices to suit your every mood, need, and preference.

Indeed, there are many styles and designs of silver cuff bracelets around, but very often you will see them as wide bands either in concave, convex or circular shape. They are easy to wear because they do not come with clasps, so all you have to do is insert your wrist through it.

There are bracelets designed with the woman in mind, but there many cuff bracelets appearing on the market that are targeted to the male population as well.

Many stylish bracelets can be engraved to make them more personal. If you intend to give one to your special someone, you can ask your local jeweler to engrave a special message on it. Many online stores offer a special engraving service sometimes free of charge.

Although cuff bracelets can be made of any material such as gold, titanium, or leather, it's silver that is usually more favored by a lot of women. This is perhaps because of the simplicity of the color or the fact that silver can go well with just about any color of the skin. Besides cuff bracelets in Sterling silver are less expensive, but they are nonetheless of good quality. They make wonderful gifts for a special girl on her 16th birthday or graduation day.

Cuff bracelets are flexible, you can wear them any time of the day and still look great anyhow. Even if you are wearing something as simple as a little black dress, choosing the right bracelet can make you look stunning in an instant.

Whether you are the modern and trendy type, simple but elegant, formal and business-like, you are sure to find the perfect silver cuff bracelets in many stores on the World Wide Web.

Diamond Fact

Diamonds have been known to be the hardest and most valuable of all stones. From the Greek word "Adamas" which means invincible, unconquerable, or untamed, diamonds are one of the prized possessions of both men and women since the early human history. They were known to be treasured as gemstones in religious cults and even carving stones in the primitive eras. But it was in the early 19th Century when diamonds have become popular with the masses. Diamonds are judged according to the 4C's which is carat, clarity, cut, and color.

Diamonds are made up of carbon, one of the earth's most basic element. The formation of diamonds happens when intense pressure and temperature converge along with the said element. As the earth cools off, diamonds begin to crystallize and are either excavated by men or by natural occurrences such as volcanic eruption or soil erosion. The atomic structure of diamonds makes it the hardest substance on the planet in second to corundum which is the substance in sapphires and rubies but it doesn't make it unbreakable as believed by common people. It has a hardness of 10 according to Mohs scale of mineral hardness with hardness defined as the mineral's resistance to scratching. And diamonds are on top of the scale. Diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds and is resistant to wear and tear of natural occurrence which is probably the reason why it is the popular choice for wedding or engagement rings as it is most suitable for such event and as it is often worn everyday.

Mining of diamonds has existed since ancient times. India led in diamond production up until the late 18th century when Brazil overshadowed India. It was then later found out that South Africa has another diamond deposit waiting to be excavated and mined. Not long after, several deposits started to appear, Canada, Russia, Angola, and Zimbabwe just to name a few.

Diamonds are turning into a scarce resource of the earth and people would take desperate measures to acquire such value. With little supply and a very high demand, diamonds will never run out of fashion or value.

Hot Jewelry Trends For 2009

If you are one of those fashion conscious people who wants to be ahead on the new up and coming fashion looks, spring 2009 is holding a treat in colors and textures. The jewelry you choose will make a good style great. Whether style you choose to use, you are sure to be excited about all the options these new colors will give you.

What colors are going to be the rage this spring? It's predicted that fuschia, salmon and greens - as well as yellows in various shades as well as the soft lavender look will be popular when the sun starts warming the ground. How do you use jewelry to make these colors pop?

Jewelry in 2009 will be statement jewelry. This can be a piece that works from wonderful to wacky, but geometric shapes and exotic, rich colors with prominent stones/gems are the look on the runway. How do you do this with your clothing? Last year, clothing was toned down to accommodate the jewelry. This year, wear both bold clothing and jewelry to give a memorable statement.

The coral and yellow colors give a warm palette offering. By using India as your inspiration, you can take beaded and etched metal to give a directional look to your clothes. The materials of choice for this are beads, mixed color threads, and worn "finished" metal.

Fashion jewelry is also offering chandelier earrings as a popular choice this year. This soft look will give a feminine touch to anything you wear. Combine this with any look for a sure hit. You can do this with an accent color, or use one of the bold new colors in your earring choice.

The new spring colors offer a great option for ring choices, as well. Wear a multi-colored stone ring to add bling to your outfit and versatility in clothing choices. This bold ring will please the eye and the pocketbook, since you will get such extensive use out of it.

This spring offers a great list of jewelry choices for you. Start looking now to find those perfect pieces. We all know that an outfit can be good, but it's the accessories that make it great. Be bold in your statements and pick some great pieces

The Difference Between Real and Fake Jewelry

The law requires metal to be marked by the maker and the metal quality. For sterling, the mark will be either the numbers 925 (meaning 92.5 % silver, which is sterling) or a "sterling" stamp with the words. Near the clasp should have the mark, it would be at the end of the chain if anything. Sometimes the mark is on a little flat looking ring at the end of the chain, so check around.

Sterling silver will tarnish and on some people it tarnishes quickly due to body chemistry, but on others it may never tarnish. To keep tarnish from happening, sterling is very often plated with another metal to protect the sterling and keep the tarnish from happening. The plating will be a metal called "rhodium" which is very bright or another metal recently used on silver that looks more the color of silver. However, the chain can be sterling and still have the plate on the outside to prevent tarnish.

Other than that, the only real way to tell if something is sterling silver is to test it. For example, like an acid test done by a jeweler. Generally a test will cost some money, not a lot, but maybe not worth it, depending on what you paid for the chain. On a large heavy chain, the test might be worth it, but that's all up to you.

I suggest thinking about where you got the chain from and whether or not you got it from an established business. An established business would serve little purpose in selling anything fake for sterling silver. Always look for both a sterling marks and a stamp or symbol for the manufacture as I said before. Both of those marks should be there.

Here's some information on how to tell if the gold on your bracelet is really gold. The chlorine in bleach is dangerous to gold jewelry, so it's best not to test gold in bleach, or else you'll ruin your jewelry. Stress points like where the metal has been hammered, bent over stones in prongs, formed by chain making machines and the like are the most affected by chlorine. Soldered areas are sometimes affected by chlorine. White gold is most easily damaged but apparently this happens with yellow gold also at stress points in the metal.

Chlorine will cause a darkening on gold, but on yellow gold it looks almost like a very pale gray color. White gold reacts the same way but sometimes goes darker. This is the chlorine reacting to the metals in karat gold. All jewelry metal of 18k, 14k and 10k has other metals in the recipe when the metal is made. Pure gold is mixed with mostly silver and copper (with nickel or palladium with white gold) to make metal strong enough for jewelry.

The karat mark shows how much pure gold is in the mix. For instance, pure gold is called 24k. Now, 10k will have 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts of the other metals, all adding up to 24 part. 18k gold will be 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts other metals, all adding up to 24 parts. That is how it goes with karats.

Yellow gold is not as dangerously affected by chlorine in bleach and a good buffing should make it ok, that is, if it is really gold. The best way to see if it is real karat gold is to have it tested. That means an acid test or a test using one of the newer electronic gold testers some jewelers use. That is what I would recommend.