http://blog.8pixel.net/ An RSS feed for Simpleblog EN diamond ring can be a chore when presented with the wide selections available today. Society may be trending away from tradition but jewelry remains firmly rooted in it. Evidence of traditional dependence is found in the vast availability of re-mastered classic styles and replicas of past creations. Antique and replicated Antique style diamond rings are sure fire hits when purchasing a diamond ring.

New styles of diamond rings are almost always tied back to the antique diamond rings and are steeped in tradition. Newly created old style rings with filigree crafted bands based on Victorian era craftsmanship provide the look and feel of antiquity. The availability of style samples and talented jewelers make it easier to customize an antique diamond ring to suit the recipient if desired.

Some antique diamond ring purchases happen quite by mistake and can be a fun surprise for the purchaser. It’s always great to find a piece of historic jewelry especially if you can also discern its origins and history. While it’s great to get a deal on a historic piece, resizing concerns do arise when purchasing true antique diamond rings versus replicated styles. Rings that don’t fit just right can be difficult to wear. When you find a need to adjust sizes of an antique ring, always defer to the jewelers expertise. Over sizing or overstretching a ring can mean a costly secondary repair that will forever mar the beauty of the ring.

Finding that perfect antique diamond ring can be a challenge unless you are willing to forgo the actual history and purchase a new ring crafted in an antique style. Many women prefer the new antique style vs. the actual antique because they know the history and it is truly theirs alone. Now a day, most jewelers have lines dedicated to traditional styles and offer varieties of precious metals and stone settings to make them one of a kind heirlooms for the next generation. With the internet, it has become easier and riskier at the same time to purchase antique diamond rings. A good rule to live by if searching internet venues for antique diamond rings is to find local sellers while avoiding those too far from you to visit in person. Jewelry purchases are always best transacted in person to lessen the possibility of being cheated.

True antique diamond rings are becoming more difficult to find inside family circles and are more likely to be found randomly without any real history tied to them. The traditions of passing on estate jewelry have recently fallen to the wayside along with family togetherness. In many cases, jewelry of quality has been sold to bridge rough patches in the lives of the owners and others have simply been lost. Often times, true antiques are found in places such as pawn shops and garage sales where the proprietor may or may not know their value or history. This can be a brilliant opportunity to create new history with an old piece or previously loved jewelry.]]> 6/28/2011 4:09:00 AM http://blog.8pixel.net/?view=plink&id=123 123 Black Diamonds are known as ‘Carbondo’ in the scientific community and along with other colored diamonds are becoming more widely accepted in the international jewelry stage. They offer a comparatively new spin on engagement rings and other jewelry.

Found in Central Africa and Brazil, the black diamond has a polycrystalline structure unlike the traditional diamonds that are crystalline. Basically meaning, the traditional diamond was formed of a large crystal and the black diamonds are formed of many different crystals. The coloring in these gem stones range from a dark shade of grey to a true black. The coloring and structure limits their ability to sparkle compared to their counterparts making it less desirable to some. Others enjoy the deep coloring and rare individuality that these beautiful gems offer.

Our hopes of paying far less for nontraditional gems are dreams of the past for all. With costs of precious metals and gems on the rise, manufacturing, shipping and other costs are keeping up and driving the prices of all jewelry up. Diamonds have always been a costly investment while these and other colored diamonds sold at much lower prices. The market has recognized this and currently black diamonds sell at about the same rate as other colored diamonds, just below white diamond pricing. That doesn’t mean you can’t get beauty at a fair price. I suggest researching your preferred cuts and settings locally. Once you have a firm understanding of what you are looking for, search for the bargain.

One trick to a successful purchase in our media driven society, where celebrities play a large role in setting the expectations for engagement rings, is to make the engagement ring as unique as possible. Knowing your significant other’s likes and dislikes, preferences and habits will make your job easier. Black diamonds are common enough to be known yet uncommon enough to garner envy from friends and family who don’t have them. Pairing the traditional cuts and precious metals with beautiful nontraditional gems can make a fabulous statement about the couple. These dark gems speak to tradition while expanding individual tastes into engagement rings across the world.

In choosing the right engagement ring we must remember, it does not need to be the biggest, but it has to uniquely fit the individual and couple. Relative newcomers, black diamonds offer a graciously beautiful alternative to the more expensive traditional white diamond engagement rings. As with many gemstones, they are available in a wide variety of cuts and settings. There is a wonder in the beauty of a dark traditional cut stone being set in a platinum, white gold, or silver band with offsetting stones of varied color and brilliance. The light color of the metals and the progressing shimmer of color provided by accent stones combine into a new classic that’s popularity are skyrocketing. Most importantly, enjoy your search for that perfect engagement ring; it should never be a chore.]]> 6/28/2011 3:59:00 AM http://blog.8pixel.net/?view=plink&id=122 122 vintage diamond rings are classic pieces. Women of all ages want that one perfect piece in their jewelry box for special occasions and to pass down to their children. You can’t go wrong with a vintage diamond ring.

Whether you are purchasing an engagement ring, an anniversary gift, or a just because I love you present for that special someone, vintage diamond rings are a great place to start. They offer style tradition, beauty and elegance that is sure to complement any woman wearing it.

True antique vintage diamond rings are a nice surprise when you can find them in the size and style you need. This can be accomplished if you are truly in the market for an antique. You might start your search by going to local consignment jewelry shops and pawn shops; either is likely to have some family heirloom sitting in the case. A good portion of antique jewelry is sold by the finder after it is lost by the original owner. It is a shame to lose the history of special pieces but their loss can be your gain. Be cautious of size and condition when buying second hand or estate jewelry. While the stones could be perfect, the setting may need too many adjustments to maintain its natural stability.

More commonly, you opt for the remakes and new vintage styles developed in recent years that mimic closely the traditional vintage diamond rings. Filigree rings are some of the most intricate and sought after vintage diamond rings. The art involved in using the tiny threads of gold or silver is all but lost in recent years. Jewelers used to study and practice for years to perfect their craft while modern machinery and assembly lines are quickly replacing most of the lesser artists. In a sense, we should be thankful that technology narrowed the field, leaving only the best of the best to provide truly custom jewelry. Conversely, artists are becoming harder and harder to find as the traditions of passing on craftsmanship to the next generation has all but died off.

A diamond ring is the universal I love you gift and is a costly purchase. In order to protect your purchase, it should be appraised and insured as soon as possible. It is always a great idea to photograph your new ring, keep all documentation and store those along with any insurance paperwork in a safe dry place. Safe deposit boxes work great for this. It’s also a good idea to store your actual ring in a safe dry place if you are not wearing it on a daily basis. Leaving your expensive jewelry in a dresser top box is far more dangerous than it once was.

Saying I love you can be as simple as a touch or as extravagant as a vintage diamond ring, however you say it, live it and stay loved.]]> 6/28/2011 3:35:00 AM http://blog.8pixel.net/?view=plink&id=121 121 engagement ring has its own charm, style and flair. These traits should be reflective of your style and unity as a couple. The vintage engagement rings offer a variety of options, all including several accent stones and ornate metal work. Simple bands with single stones are not commonly found in Vintage engagement rings. Vintage engagement rings offer a detailed multi stone style that has timeless heirloom qualities.

Now that you are ready to ‘tie the knot’ or ‘jump the broom,’ it’s time to purchase that little piece of forever. You have limitless choices in today’s society and there are hundreds of colors, stones, styles, and settings to consider. If your intended is a traditional gal with all the hopes and dreams of that white picket fence, 2.5 kids and the big barking dog out front, you know you have to stick with tradition and get her a classic beauty of an engagement ring. What else but a vintage engagement ring could come close to her traditional charms?

While traditional cuts regarding gemstones are limited in regards to keeping with the vintage feel, you are free to choose the newer fancy cuts to match your style and taste in cases of custom rings. If you are not able to customize the ring, you still have access to hundreds of predesigned choices. Narrowing those choices will be a step by step process and in the end, it will be worth the hours most spend choosing just the right ring.

Sticking with the old world classics will likely mean you want a white diamond. There are several different color diamonds available, ranging from yellow to black. Colored variations are perfectly acceptable today but where considered inferior in days gone by. If your intended is a true purist, stick with the traditional diamonds and cuts. A round brilliant cut set in gold accented by smaller diamonds is an all-time favorite and classic.

The general style of vintage engagement rings is very liberating and frees you to make many choices in the end design if customized. Accent stones are one area where you have several options. Traditionally diamonds are used but there are many reasons someone might like to have different gemstones used. Birth stones that are also favorite colors or a color palate she favors are but two of the possible scenarios where substituting diamonds in side stones would be acceptable. I have seen everything from cascading shades of colored diamonds to crisscrossed sets of family birth stones used for accent stones.

Most importantly, this is a huge decision, a rather large purchase and it will serve you well to take the time and educate yourself on the differing styles of engagement rings available to you. The newer styles of bands are reminiscent of vintage engagement rings but generally lack the flair and style presented in the classics. Now that you know how flexible they are, why not get your classy lady a classic vintage style engagement ring?]]> 6/28/2011 3:20:00 AM http://blog.8pixel.net/?view=plink&id=120 120 Yellow diamond engagement rings offer a fun colorful alternative to traditional white diamond engagement rings while maintaining strong bonds with those same traditions.

In this young American society, traditions are still being formed, making it a great time to start our own while still embracing the traditions of our ancestors, wherever they may have hailed from. Yellow diamonds are one of the many ways we can and have embraced spins on old traditions. These beautiful yellow or ‘Canary’ Diamonds as they are often referred, offer a twinkling flair to the originals. Yellow diamonds come in several different shades including light yellow, fancy light yellow, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Intense Yellow and Fancy Vivid Yellow.

You like the yellow diamond, it fits you both, now what? Finding the right stone is your first step. Your style collectively as a couple should be reflected always. Do you prefer the traditional style shapes or the newer gemstone shapes? The shape of the stone will set the stage in your search for the perfect engagement ring. Round, cushion, princess or any of the other fancy cuts now available, it’s all about your collective style as a couple. Getting this part right will most assuredly earn you bonus points for years to come.

Now that you picked the perfect stone, the band and setting bring it all together. Paired with yellow or tricolored gold bands yellow diamonds accentuate and blend somewhat into the setting forming a visually cohesive color palette. For a contrasting or framing color palette, the silver, platinum or white gold can be used. In choosing a precious metal you have platinum that had become a recent favorite, silver holds its own but gold still has no equal. The addition of accent stones is another individual decision you will be faced with. Choose carefully. A woman with her hands in bread dough daily would be quite afraid of losing a smaller stone in the dough. Women hate to take their engagement rings off, even when it’s advisable, so keep that in mind. The band should be suited to her size and colored to either accentuate or offset the stone chosen, depending upon your style.

Due to the recent large yellow diamond engagement rings purchased by celebrities and reported on by the media, these engagement rings are gaining popularity worldwide. Unfortunately, it has taken the elite in society to give us collective permission to venture from tradition and not be thought odd. In days long past, the colored diamonds where less desirable and therefore cheaper. Today, these varieties of diamonds are far better known and widely accepted.

Ultimately, whether you just want to veer slightly off the road to a soft yellow diamond engagement ring or you are going to jazz it all the way up with a brilliant statement of a yellow diamond engagement ring, have fun & express your collective spirit!]]> 6/28/2011 3:14:00 AM http://blog.8pixel.net/?view=plink&id=119 119