Wedding Jewelry 101

Choosing the perfect jewels to adorn your bridal look can be tough. Should you stay classic with pearls or go with diamonds? Should you try a vintage style or shoot for a modern look? There are endless options when it comes to wedding day jewelry and I’ve got a few tips to help you out.

1. Take direction from your dress. You want your wedding day jewelry to go with your gown so use it for inspiration. If your dress is more vintage looking, you might want to stick with pieces that have a similar vintage feel. If your gown is modern, go with sleek jewelry with clean lines.
2. Be sentimental. Your wedding jewelry is a perfect area to get your something old or something borrowed. Does your grandma have a beautiful piece of jewelry you love? See if she’ll let you wear it. Chances are she will be honored and thrilled.
3. Don’t spend a lot of money. Yes, it’s your wedding day but don’t feel like you have to spend tons of money when it comes to your jewelry. There are plenty of costume jewelry pieces out there that look absolutely stunning and won’t break the bank. Trust me, you won’t be able to tell the difference in pictures.
4. Shop around. Look at a few places before deciding which pieces to go with. Department stores are a great place to look for pretty costume jewelry. My wedding jewelry came from Anthropologie and J. Crew, so you never know where you’ll find it!
5. Be yourself. If you don’t normally wear jewelry, keep your look understated and simple. You don’t need to throw on a statement necklace if it’s not you. Stick to what makes you feel both comfortable and beautiful!

Original Article: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/21/4855668/wedding-jewelry-101.html

Eliminate The Risk In Online Jewelry Purchases

When buying anything online you may feel you are putting yourself at risk; this is especially true when it comes to online jewelry purchases. Jewelry purchases can be made with very little risk online with the following crucial pieces in place.

When looking to make a jewelry purchase online first check to make sure the site you are buying from offers a secure checkout.  Look for a SSL encryption or certificate upon checking out.  If you can’t find one or are unsure you can call to speak with the company.  A reputable company will have a quality website with employees available to take your phone calls and answer questions about their products as well as their website check out process. A professional and reputable online jeweler will have a specialized shopping cart in place with proper identification so that buyers know they are secure when checking out.

What is the online reputation of the jeweler?  Do a thorough review on the Internet into the company as well as with the Better Business Bureau.  Check any and all reviews.  Another good tip is to look at the about us section on the company’s website.  Many local, small town jewelers are expanding to the web.  These jewelers can offer you lower prices, superior quality but don’t have the money to advertise with glitz and glamour.  This does not make them less reputable than big box companies, if anything you may receive better service because they have a smaller number of clients to make happy.

Find out about the companies return policy and warranties offered.  The price of the piece should not be a concern at all when it comes to the companies warranty and return policy.  If a return needs to be processed are you limited to store credit or will you get a complete and full return of the purchase price?  Is there a restocking fee? Stones and jewelry settings should come with at least a five year warranty.  A solid product warranty, in my opinion, equals a solid company to purchase online from.

If you are looking into purchasing gemstones or diamonds you will want to find out as much information about the piece as possible.  You should have information such as the cut, color, clarity and carat weight as well as who they use to grade their stones.  Check to make sure that the stones are procured through legal sources.  If this is not clearly stated on the site you may want to call and check with the company.  It is important that you are not buying stones that are illegally being sold.  You also want to make sure the person grading the quality of the gemstone or diamond is reputable.

Purchasing jewelry online might take a bit more time and research than going to a big box store.  The benefit is in the cost savings and convenience that is gotten from purchasing jewelry online.  If you find an online company that you are drawn to but still feel uneasy about purchasing online call them.  Many online jewelers have local store fronts and would be just as happy to deal with you via phone, email and if the chance arises in person.  

DaRoche Jewelers is on online jewelry company with a local feel.  You will find a variety of options in jewelry, including custom diamond solitaire engagement rings, online at http://www.darochejewelers.com/.

Basic Lessons In Caring For Jewelry

Properly caring for jewelry is something that many people struggle with.  When it comes to wearing, cleaning, repairing, storing and shipping jewelry these tips will benefit your pieces no matter how much or how little they cost; the value of jewelry is the value your heart places on it.

The Basics In Wearing Jewelry

When it comes to wearing your favorite pieces of jewelry take care when performing everyday tasks.  When you are performing manual tasks such as cleaning the house or changing the oil in your car wearing your jewelry leads to exposure to harsh chemical s and physical damage.  It is better to remove your jewelry before many everyday physically demanding tasks.  It is also important that when applying makeup and playing sports that you safely store your jewelry.  Makeup, perfume and lotions can damage the appearance of jewelry.  In sports your pieces could become damage or even cause damage to your or another player.  It is best to avoid wearing jewelry when participating in sports.

Correctly Cleaning Jewelry Pieces  

For the longest time cleaning jewelry meant I would wear it into the shower.  This is the exact opposite of cleaning your jewelry.  Soap and chemicals in shampoos can harm jewelry.  When cleaning jewelry it is found that a homemade cleaning solution or one purchased from your jeweler are the best options.  Be careful not to soak the pieces for too long and be gentle when cleaning settings and stones.  Using a polishing cloth can be helpful as well as they prevent film build up and are free of loose strings and threads that accompany many towels.  Another tip is to always rise the piece in warm water.  Hot water can cause certain types of metal to tarnish. When cleaning each piece check for any damage that has occurred.  A detailed inspection can prevent the loss of a treasured heirloom.

Reputable Jewelry Repair

You should be confident in the jewelry check in procedure upon dropping off your piece for repair.  Make sure they document each piece with a detailed description and that they do an inspection of gemstones and diamonds.  The same documents should be matched up with the documentation you have when picking the pieces up after repair.  Ask friends and neighbors for a referral based on previous jewelry repairs they were happy with.  When you meet with the jeweler that will be repairing your piece determine if it will be sent out or if the piece is repaired in house.  In house jewelry repair is always the safest option.

Storing Jewelry For Safe Keeping

Storing your jewelry when you are not wearing it is as important as any step in the process of owning and caring or jewelry.  Keep your pieces in a secure, organized location.  To prevent jewelry from tarnishing you can place anti tarnish strips in your jewelry box that will help collect any extra moisture and oxidants to help to prevent a build up from occurring.  It is also advisable that all jewelry that is being stored be inventoried in detail with pictures and documentation.  This is helpful if your jewelry is ever stolen.  It will be simple to see what pieces are missing based on your documentation. 

Shipping Jewelry Safely

When you are shipping jewelry it is essential to use more than one box.  Never ship jewelry in only the box it comes in.  A piece should be secured in a jewelry holder and placed in an otter padded shipping box.  Padding should be added to prevent the inside box from moving at all.  All jewelry shipped should be documented properly and insured.  All boxes that contain jewelry should be secured well with tape.  The receiver should always have to sign for the package.  Never allow a shipper to leave boxes without it being signed off on.  If possible eliminate any wording on the box that refers to what the contents are inside the box.  All labels referring to jewelry should be removed prior to shipping.

The tips above will help you in the future when it comes to all the faucets involved in protecting your jewelry pieces. 

DaRoche Jewelers is on online jewelry company with a local feel.  You will find a variety of options in jewelry, including custom diamond solitaire engagement rings, online at http://www.darochejewelers.com/.

Diamond Cluster Settings, the Next Big Engagement Ring Trend?

Diamond cluster settings may just be the next biggest thing in engagement rings, offering an elegant alternative to halos AND saving the average groom-to-be thousands of dollars.

First, let's talk about halo settings. If you follow engagement ring trends at all, it's hard not to notice how hot halo settings have been for the last few years. Surrounding a center stone with a halo of smaller, often pave set, diamonds offsets the centerstone to make it appear larger in contrast. And brides have been jumping on the halo bandwagon because it's just downright beautiful and classy.

Not to get in the way of any bride and her bling, BUT, we have a hunch that the next major engagement ring trend will be cluster settings. Whereas a halo setting features a sizable center stone encircled by much smaller stones, a cluster setting usually "clusters" stones of equal size tightly together, with or without a center stone. The effect of the cluster setting is mega sparkle due to the many more facets of diamonds now reflecting the light in all different directions, as opposed to the halo setting's big center stone plus lots of little scintillation from the mini halo diamonds.

And not that we need celebrity engagements to prove our point (because we certainly can start trends without them), but it's interesting to note one celebrity engagement ring that took full advantage of the cluster setting's sparkle, so much so that people did not know she had a cluster setting. From the picture, it appeared that Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burress's ring was a massive 2 carat oval-cut centerstone when upon further investigation, I noticed that the ring was actually a cluster setting of smaller diamonds set in the shape of an oval. As I explained in this article, the difference in price is enormous: instead of $40,000 with a 2 ct. high-quality oval-cut diamond, Kandi's actual ring cost about $11,000 since it did not have a multi-carat center stone but rather lots of smaller diamonds clustered together.

And this, my friends, is where the trend gets exciting for you. Not only are cluster settings beautiful, but they can save you a lot of money. If Kandi's fiance Todd Tucker could save almost $30,000, can't the average Joe out there save at least a couple thousand? The concept of a cluster setting can be applied to engagement rings, diamond stud earrings, and pendants, and the end result is that diamond jewelry becomes more affordable for the tight budget. Let's take a look at this.

This diamond cluster setting from James Allen features a 0.76 total carat weight of smaller diamonds clustered together, which provide comparable brilliance and diameter to a 1.50 carat diamond. What is the price tag of this cluster setting? $1,890. In order to compare the price of a 1.50 carat loose diamond with this cluster setting, I searched for a diamond with the same color and clarity as the clustered diamonds, but that was 1.50 carats. The average price I came up with was $12,500 for ideal cuts. That's not even including the ring setting, which would probably run about $1000. If we do the math here, that means a savings of over $11K!

Of course, there are smaller diamond cluster settings, and there are bigger, just like with any ring. Would a rich and famous celebrity cluster together big diamonds? Yes. Does that mean that you need to? No. If the objective of a diamond engagement ring, according to most of the future grooms who write us for diamond advice, is to find a diamond that is big and sparkly, then ladies, why not go for a cluster ring? You can get big and sparkly and pocket the savings for your down payment or honeymoon. Now doesn't that just make a whole lot of practical sense?

I know, practical does not always describe every bride. Some brides really have their hearts set on a minimum number of carats. But if it's possible to suggest this cost-saving and still beautiful alternative, I think it's worth your consideration. And who knows, maybe you'll be the trendsetter with the cluster ring since, ladies; halo settings are becoming so passé.

Original Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ira-weissman/diamond-cluster-settings-_b_4868523.html

Custom Jewelry and Loose Stones

When it comes to getting married creating a unique event is more important than ever.  Brides are creating Pinterest accounts before they can drive.  This is why the push for custom engagement rings has become increasingly important.   Not only is a custom piece is something that is sure to be a sentimental heirloom it is also easier than ever in the world of jewelry today. 

Designing a custom engagement ring or wedding band set is fairly simple now days.  There are multiple ways to go about finding a jeweler that will help create a custom piece that your bride to be will adore.  There are a multitude of online jewelry retailers that will create custom pieces as well as local jewelers.  Designing the ring is relatively simple choosing a loose diamond might prove to be a little harder. 

Choosing a loose diamond really comes down to personal preferences.  Remember when choosing a diamond she will wear it every day. Every time she glances down at her hand you want her to remember how important she is to you and how much she loves her ring. 

Diamonds come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.  The shape of the diamond is based solely on what your bride desires.  This might take a bit of effort but paying specific attention to the jewelry she wears or looks at when you are shopping together may help to lead you down the right path.  Many women if given the choice will choose a classic diamond solitaire however this is not always the case so you want to follow your future brides lead here.  She will be wearing this ring for a very long time. 

The size of the diamond you choose may depend more on the budget you have set aside for his purchase.  An old adage used to claim that the engagement ring should cost a total of three months’ salary.  This however is not true any longer.  You need to purchase a stone based on what you can afford and what she will like, not on a lame society standard.  A reasonable budget to set aside for a loose diamond starts at around one thousand dollars. A thousand dollars will but a significant diamond with good color, a decent cut, clarity and a decent carat weight.

A loose diamond on its own should have a certain wow factor to it.  Even smaller diamonds with great color and clarity can have a significant appeal.  Choose a jeweler that offers certified loose diamonds.  This will ensure a few things.  One it will assure you that the value of the diamond has been certified.  This means you have proof of the diamonds value.  The next thing that purchasing a certified diamond does is tells you that the diamond was harvested from an area free of conflict. 

Next is designing the ring to go with the diamond.  You may be thinking that you can go into any store and find a setting to fit this diamond so why bother having a custom ring designed for the diamond to be set into. 

A custom, one of a kind ring stands out from the crowd as does the women you are about to ask to marry you.  Take the diamond you have selected along with several design ideas and show them to a custom ring designer.  They will make several mock ups that take into consideration the diamond you have chosen along with setting styles you appreciate, pulling it all together into one perfect custom engagement ring.  A custom engagement ring/bridal set will be pieces she is sure to treasure for years to come.

Choosing An Engagement Ring Style and Complementary Setting

When it comes to wedding rings and engagement rings the setting that you choose is as important as the diamond or gemstone you choose.  The setting you pick should be based on your style, taste in jewelry and your personality.  This is a piece of jewelry that you will wear every day from now until forever.  To choose something that will bring a smile to your face each and every day you should get a basic idea of the vocabulary that is used when it comes to wedding ring and engagement ring settings.

The first setting we will discuss is the bezel setting.  This setting holds a stone in the shape of a circle, it wraps around the diamond or gemstone.  Some bezels come with scalloped edges but most are smooth and molded into the shape needed to accommodate the diamond.  When it comes to bezel settings the one advantage is that the stone appears larger.

It is also can hide small imperfections in the diamond.  It is important to note that if you do choose a bezel setting with yellow gold it will make the diamond appear less brilliant.  Yellow gold in a bezel setting is perfect for gemstones but if choosing a bezel setting with a diamond it is best to go with white gold or platinum to enhance the shine and clarity of your diamond.

An illusion setting is a mount on a wedding ring that enhances the size of the stone to make it appear larger.  It takes the stone away from the band and sets it higher than the band.  A band with diamonds set in via a channel setting is commonly used with an illusion setting.  The channel setting allows smaller diamonds to be set into the main band while the main diamond is set above the band.  This combination can appear rather glamorous at a fraction of the cost.  Smaller carat diamonds can be used and because of the way they are all set into the diamond it appears grand.

A bar setting is similar to a channel setting.  The difference is that instead of each singular diamond being set into the band the diamonds are set into the band are held by individual prongs.  This is a very classic, contemporary look.  Bar setting usually are done with larger side diamonds then channel settings.  A thin bar connects the individual prongs continuing around the band.

A cluster setting is a beautiful option used to accentuate the main diamond.  A cluster setting is where a bunch of small diamonds is added around the large diamond.  A cluster setting is very pretty.  With the smaller diamonds centering on the main stone it appears if they are giving it a squeeze.  This setting works well for a wide variety of stone sizes.

A classic, undated look that is sure to be around forever is the solitaire setting.  A diamond solitaire is often used as an engagement ring and then transferred into a wedding band setting depending on your desires.  For most men this is a fool proof way to purchase an amazing diamond, in a simple setting, that can be enhanced later on.

Gold Jewelry Is Back In Demand

Gold jewelry demand in 2013 saw the largest volume increase since 1997 as consumers across the globe reacted to lower gold prices, the World Gold Council said Tuesday. Full year demand was 2,209.5 tons, 17 percent above 2012 levels. 

Global gold jewelry demand increased 6 percent to 553.8 tons for the fourth quarter of 2013. It was the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth with demand 12 percent above the five-year quarterly average, the WGC said in its market report, Gold Demand Trends: Full year 2013 Review. Jewelry consumption saw continuous growth throughout 2013, with the bulk of the increase coming in the first half of the year primarily due to China and other Asian countries whose consumers responded quickly when the price first dropped. However, even during the second half of the year, the volume of gold jewelry demand continued, increasing by 7 percent year-over-year.

Also in the fourth quarter, the US and the UK generated a combined 14 tons of growth. “Although the fourth quarter is traditionally strongest in these markets, due to the Christmas effect, these numbers are significant given their size and direction – the first year-on-year increase in Q4 demand in both markets since 2001,” WGC said in its report.

2013 Gold Jewelry Demand Measured By Value

In addition to jewelry, the WGC report measures gold consumption in technology, investment and central bank purchases. The value of overall annual gold demand fell 28 percent in 2013 to $170.42 billion, from its record highs a year earlier.

However, in terms of value, jewelry demand fell less than 2 percent to $100.24 billion, revealing its strength in volume terms. In terms of value, gold jewelry consumption records were set in India, China and Turkey in 2013 based on local currencies, the WGC said.

Broad Appeal of Gold Jewelry in 2013

The year was also notable because of the increasing preference for higher-karat jewelry, particularly in China (24k jewelry). “This trend became more entrenched as the year progressed, benefitting from the quasi-investment element to jewelry purchases, particularly as the upsurge in demand in Q2 and Q3 led to a shortage of retail investment products.”

In the US, where the high end market segment has been relatively robust, this trend was more noticeable at the lower end of the market, with mass retail brands shifting from ultra-low-karat items to increasing their stock of 14k jewelry, according to the report.

Fourth Quarter Jewelry Trends by Country

“Fourth quarter jewelry demand across eastern markets was likely tempered by the magnitude of buying in previous quarters, which on account of falling prices, had ‘cannibalized’ a proportion of future demand,” the WGC said. “In addition, expectations that prices had stabilized released the pressure on consumers who no longer felt they had to make purchases immediately to take advantage of lower prices.”

India – Fourth quarter jewelry demand fell 2 percent year-over-year to 150.7 tons. “The second half of the year was considerably weaker than the exceptional first half.” 

China and Hong Kong – The WGC is calling the fourth quarter a slowdown from the record numbers during the first half of the year (with the exception of December leading to the Chinese New Year), but demand still increased 10 percent to 150.7 tons for Mainland China for the period. In Hong Kong the growth was even greater at 17 percent to 7.9 tons.

Other Asian Markets – China’s pattern was replicated across the other Asian and Middle Eastern markets with strong demand during the first half of the year, tapering off in October as the drop in gold prices stabilized with growth in December. Fourth quarter results are as follows: Taiwan up 2 percent; Indonesia, up 28 percent; South Korea down 7 percent; Thailand up 17 percent; and Vietnam up 9 percent. No reason was given for the differences within the individual countries.

Turkey –A strike at the Turkish mint between July and September caused a shortage of coins in the market, leading consumers to stock up on gold jewelry. However, once the strike was settled in the fourth quarter consumers went back to gold coins, at the expense of jewelry. For the year, gold jewelry demand increased 8 percent to 7 tons.

Japan –Its 11 percent growth in the fourth quarter was the exception to the regional trend of strong start and weaker finish to 2013, the WGC said. This was because of encouraging economic news and the anticipation of a sales tax increase from 5 to 8 percent in April, leading consumers to make pre-emptive purchases to avoid paying the higher tax rate.

US and UK – Demand among US and UK consumers led to fourth quarter growth at 21 and 26 percent, respectively. As mentioned previously, gold jewelry sales accelerated in the latter months of the year.

Italy – Demand in this jewelry manufacturing center continued its downward trend falling by 10 percent in the fourth quarter.

 Russia – Jewelry demand reached a five-year high in the fourth quarter (up 6 percent), fueled by continued expansion of the middle class, with growth being concentrated in the second half of the year.

Original Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2014/02/18/gold-jewelry-is-back-in-demand/