Diamond Rings and Stud Earrings

Fancy colored diamonds exist in all shades, hues and colors of the rainbow, but some of the most popular colors are blue, champagne, yellow, chocolate and black. Many colorful diamonds are treated in ways that enhance their colors, and there's nothing wrong with that as long as the treatment is disclosed to you. Fancy Color Diamonds: How do they get their color? Natural fancy color diamonds get their coloring in different ways: * Trace elements in the diamonds can produce color; nitrogen creates a yellow diamond. * Color can result when radiation is present during a diamond's creation; green diamond hues are the result of radiation. * Inclusions are undesirable in a colorless stone, but can contribute unique tones and flashes of color in a fancy color diamond. Diamond Color Manipulations Gemologists can create fancy color diamonds by manipulating less desirable diamonds to alter their colors. Irradiation, followed by a high heat treatment, can turn brownish and pale yellow diamonds into richly colored, affordable gems. Black Diamonds Black diamonds have a lot of character. Due to their deep, opaque color, they create a chic, dramatic look at a relatively affordable price. They are fashionable on their own, and elegant when paired with white, contrasting diamonds. Champagne Diamonds Champagne diamonds are not as expensive as white diamonds and are available in a sparkling range of champagne tones, from light to dark champagne and fancy cognac. Blue Diamonds Blue Diamonds are a are a spectacular addition to anyone's colored diamond collection. Most blue diamonds on the market have been heat-treated to enhance their color. Yellow Diamonds Yellow or canary diamonds are another great addition to a diamond collection. Most of these diamonds are also usually heat-treated to produce an intense yellow color. Some interesting color combination's are: Black, chocolate and white - or Blue, yellow and white

Why should I buy fine jewelry on the internet? The number of people buying diamonds and fine jewelry on the internet is growing but there are some who still ask, "Why should I buy fine jewelry on the internet?" Well, here are some words of encouragement. There are many advantages that come along with buying jewelry online. Ordering jewelry online saves you a trip and lets you browse through thousands of jewelry items at your leisure. And it's much easier to compare prices online rather than driving to multiple jewelry stores. Buying jewelry on the Internet is usually cheaper as online retailers do not have any physical storefront to take care of. Therefore they do not have as much overhead to cover when compared to "brick and mortar" retailers. When shopping on the Internet for jewelry, make sure that you take time to compare prices between websites so as to get the most valuable price for your fine jewelry. A lot of web stores, including large retailers provide customer reviews for their products. This can be very helpful when deciding on buying a piece of jewelry from an online retailer. Many stores also allow you to return items just as you would at any other physical retailer. Is buying jewelry online safe? In most cases, yes! Lots of merchants happily offer a 14-30 day, money back return policy. Always check to see how many days your seller guarantees your money back, as this may vary with different stores. Most websites use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology to ensure safety if you choose to pay with a credit card. A lot of sites also allow you to pay with Paypal and other popular payment processors. Make sure the site has an SSL Certificate before you make your purchase. Shopping on the internet should be fun! I hope this information has been helpful!

Quality matters Fortunately, gemstone jewelry pieces need very little care, and small steps can keep them looking like new for generations. However, keep in mind that longevity is affected by cut, chemical treatment, and polishing, which means that less expensive stones will not last as long as the best stones and genuine metals used as settings. Storage a key to longevity Gemstone jewelry prefers clean and dry surroundings. Abrasion and dust can leave lasting damage. Wrap each stone or necklace individually in soft tissue to avoid direct rubbing against hard surfaces. Soft stones are especially vulnerable to scratches and other tiny imperfections if handled carelessly. Protect your jewelry by storing it in a jewelry box. Develop good habits Gemstone jewelry maintenance has much to do with using good habits. Take rings off when washing hands, not just to keep them safe from harsh soap, but away from sinks and drains! Also, remove your gemstone jewelry when working with tools, moving heavy objects, or doing anything else that could potentially cause damage. Chemicals in cosmetics can harm stones and affect the appearance of metals as well. So add gemstone jewelry as a final act in dressing. Need a cleaning? Keep it professional Have your gemstone jewelry professionally cleaned, and carefully inspected for integrity of mountings. Beware of polishing tools which are promoted as do-it-yourself aids, because their correct use needs training and maintenance. I hope this information has been helpful. Remember to be safe when shopping from anyone you don’t know. And have fun!

Color Enhanced Diamonds Fancy color diamonds are rapidly growing in popularity. Natural fancy colored diamonds are very rare, extremely attractive, and tremendously expensive. Very few people have the pleasure of owning these much coveted stones. But with modern advancements, it is now possible to enhance the color of a dim or pale diamond to a diamond with intense, vibrant color. Treatment Methods The most common color enhancement process is known as irradiation. Brown and yellow diamonds are transformed into fancy colored diamonds by controlled exposure to periods of radiation. The color change is permanent unless the diamond is subjected to extreme heat. High Pressure High Temperature treatment (HPHT) is another common color changing process in the diamond industry. Through exposure to extreme pressure and heat, similar to a diamond’s natural environment, yellowish diamonds can become more desirable fancy colored diamonds. Today, this process is also used to turn brownish diamonds into more costly colorless diamonds. HPHT is also a permanent color enhancing process. Facts About Color Enhanced Diamonds * The color will not fade, as it penetrates the entire diamond. * Fancy colored enhanced diamonds don't become radioactive! * Fancy colored enhanced diamonds come in a variety of colors. Blue, green, orange, yellow, red and pink. * They look exactly the same as natural fancy color diamonds, and are offered at a fraction of the price. Clarity Enhanced Diamonds Clarity enhanced diamonds have been around for a couple decades or so. There are a variety of treatment methods that are used to enhance clarity. Not every diamond can undergo a clarity enhancement process as only certain flaws can be repaired. One method is by using a laser beam to wipe out flaws. An advantage of the laser method is that its results are permanent and do not weaken the diamond. Another method of clarity enhancement involves inserting a clear substance into the surface imperfections of a diamond, to minimize their appearance. The process, which is referred to as fracture filling, typically improves the clarity grade of a diamond by approximately two grades. However, you should know that fracture filling is not a permanent treatment. Cleaning, repairs, and sun-damage can eradicate the filling. Also, fracture filling material has a lower tolerance of high temperatures, and has the potential to crack or melt if repairs are made on the diamond. I hope this information has been helpful. Remember to be safe when shopping from anyone you don’t know. And have fun!

About Gold Jewelry Gold jewelry is either made of solid gold or has been gold plated. Gold plated means the jewelry was made from another metal and then coated with 1 or 2 layers of gold. The base metal is usually sterling silver, but it may also be brass or nickel. Gold plated jewelry is a great way to have a nice piece of jewelry without having to pay a fortune. I have several pieces of gold plated jewelry and to me it’s just as durable as solid gold. Someone once asked if the plating wears off. I told them that it would take a whole lot of wear and tear for that to happen. I personally have never had the plating wear off. But, this can also depend on what type of jewelry it is. I've had no problems with gold plated pendants or earrings. Obviously, rings and bracelets may wear more quickly depending on how often you're wearing them. What is Gold Vermeil? Vermeil is a more expensive version of gold plated jewelry. It consists of a sterling silver base that is coated or plated with at least 2.5 micrometers of gold and will not wear off as easily as standard gold plating. Gold is rarely used in its pure form (24k) for jewelry because it is just too soft. Pure gold is not very durable and scratches and dents easily. It's the addition of other metals that increases the strength and malleability of gold. 10k, 14k, and 18k gold are most commonly used for jewelry. Caring for your Gold Jewelry Keep gold jewelry away from harsh chemicals like household cleaning fluids as they create abrasions and reduce the luster of the metal. Cleaning gold jewelry is best done with warm water and detergent-free soap. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean the pieces. You can also buy liquid cleaners made especially for cleaning jewelry. Cleaning instructions vary depending on the kit, so read the label and follow its instructions. When you are not wearing your gold jewelry, they still require proper storage. Keep your precious pieces in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers. If you can not separate your jewelry in your jewelry box, wrap each piece individually in tissue paper or place in small plastic pouches. Don't jumble your diamond pieces in a drawer or jewelry case, because diamonds can scratch your other gold pieces of jewelry, or even scratch each other. About Sterling Silver Jewelry Pure silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent of the non-silver portion of sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best companion, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color. The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the metal's value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design. I personally prefer Sterling Silver over White Gold. White Gold doesn't compare to the bright, gleaming shine that only Sterling Silver can deliver. I recently lost one of my 14k white gold ball stud earrings and decided to replace them with Silver studs. I was amazed at the difference! Sterling Silver has a glimmer that white gold just can't match! They've also given new life to my tiny, princess cut diamond studs that I wear next to them. I highly recommend wearing Sterling and Diamonds together! Caring for your Silver Jewelry With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver. Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to remove tarnish. You can find fine silver polishes, solutions, or cloths appropriate to remove tarnish at most department stores. Tarnish is most easily removed when it first becomes visible. Although wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, regular cleanings of all your silver items will prevent tarnish and keep your silver gleaming. I hope this information has been helpful. Remember to be safe when shopping from anyone you don’t know. And have fun!

Simulated, Natural and Lab Created Gemstones What's the difference? Well, it's pretty simple. Gemstones can be natural, lab created or simulated. Natural and lab created gemstones have the same physical, optical and chemical properties. Simulated refers to a created stone that looks similar in appearance to a genuine gemstone, but has different physical, optical and chemical properties. Lab created stones are an affordable way to own a genuine gemstone. The only difference between natural and lab created is that the lab created stones were not mined from the earth. Tip: When buying someone jewelry as a gift find out what their birthstone is. I hope this information has been helpful. Remember to be safe when shopping from anyone you don’t know. And have fun!