The Collectibles Store Blog

From: solitaire engagement ring. They say that gem stones are a girls’ bestfriend, then you would have to care for your bestfriend right? It’s so great to have beautiful diamond jewelry which you can use for special and formal occasions.  Although, diamonds are hard stones, it is still important to care for them to avoid any kind of scratches or damage.  

Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for your precious stones.

– It is best to avoid wearing your diamonds or gave them stained with oil, beaching liquid, or whenever you are doing heavy work.  These may affect the lustre of your stone, metal bands and may even damage the texture.  Bleach and other chemicals may discolour the metal bands. 

– When keeping or storing your gems, separate it from other jewelries.  It may scratch your other stones.  Keep your diamonds individually packed since it can also be scratched by another gem stone.  If you cannot provide a box or you would have to store your jewelry in one box, then you could use cloth pouches or plastic sealing bags to keep them separately.  Just make sure that the jewels are perfectly dry to avoid any moisture formation. 

– gem stone settings need to be checked.  You could take it to your favourite jeweller every year to check on the prong or the settings.  If they are loose, then your jeweller could make repairs immediately.  You could take it every six months to the jeweller, some would have their stones checked yearly. 

– Clean your diamond jewelry every month.  Its shine and brilliance could get affected by the oils and fats that it is exposed to.  The oils and fats could be from your skin or from your cosmetics.  You could always get a professional to clean it for you.  

– You could cleanse your jewelry at home.  Just drop it in tepid water with some liquid soap and brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush.   Use a strainer when taking it out of the water to make sure that you are not losing any stone.  Rinse it carefully with lukewarm water and dry it. Make sure to completely dry it since water could tarnish the bands and weaken the clasps.  

– You could get ammonia mixture cleansers from your jeweller.

– Aside from bleach, chemicals and fats, extreme temperatures can also be harmful to your jewelry.  It could cause some damage on the jewel’s cement or can fracture the gemstones. 

– Avoid wearing your diamond jewelries when participating in sport activities or swimming.  

– diamonds that were altered may need a different kind of care.  There are some diamond jewelries that have undergone treatment.  There are some stones that have been fractured before and were treated with epoxies.  Epoxies could melt in intense heat and eventually cause your diamond to fracture again. You could ask your trusted jeweller if your diamond jewelries have been altered in any way. 

Always keep in mind that your diamond jewelries are indeed the hardest stone, but it does not mean that they will be able to last forever given that you are not taking care of it properly.  Proper caring would surely make the shine last for a long time, even forever.

For more see round diamond solitaire engagement rings and heart diamond engagement rings.

Tweet This Post

From: affordable princess cut engagement rings. Diamonds are synonymous to the word “forever.” This is basically why most people, especially couples, choose diamond jewelry as a symbol of their affection and eternal love for their partner. Unless stolen or lost, real diamonds are meant to stand the test of time and generations. No wonder these are considered as the most expensive mineral used as a gem. 

For men, a pair or two of jewellery is enough. But when it comes to women, it is altogether a different story. Most of the time, men have to contend in buying the engagement or wedding ring alone to keep some element of surprise while women would want to have a companion while choosing a ring to get better perspectives.

Standing the test of time

If there were one piece of jewelry that exemplifies eternal sparkle and beauty, that would be the diamond jewelry. Long before, diamond jewelry were already described as the as the best “dress” or the “best wedding ring” because it’s endless or eternal loop is great symbol of love that would last for eternity. Generally, all gem jewelry is set with a stone or diamond set. These are categorized as a “full eternity”,that has stones set completely around the shank,and a “half eternity”,which has stones set partially around the shank. Today, many gem jewellery come multi-stranded or plaited, among other themes or designs. 

If you are looking forward to getting a gem jewellery, whether as a wedding or engagement, for purely personal satisfaction, or a major investment,take note of its special characteristics aside from carefully examining the 4Cs,the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

In a jewellery store, two diamonds may look alike but they can be very different and just like two gem stones of equal size that have very different values. The four qualities of a gem namely color, clarity, cut and carat weight determine the real value of the gem you are looking for. These standards are also applicable to most gemstones.

Usually, a full diamond eternity ring costs twice or thrice as much than the half eternity because it has more diamonds. More and more people,especially women,focus in buying half gem eternity rings that have stones concentrated in the “head” or front of the ring because they can easily be sized compared to full eternity rings, more comfortable to wear, and less expensive. 

Bear in mind that square, oblong and round stones are excellent choices for gem stone jewellery such as rings because of its continuity. Also, don’t forget to compare prices. gem jewelry need not always be too expensive. If you have found a design that you really admire in a specific jewellery store or an online jeweler, try looking in other stores because they might be selling the same product with the same specifications for a lesser price. Make sure that you at least have a minor comparison of prices from several different jewelers before you finally buy that diamond jewelry. 

Also, check and double-check the bill of sale carefully. After buying your dream diamond jewelry, make sure that everything about it is fully described in written from and explained to you by the jeweler.

For more see oval cut engagement rings and pear shaped diamond solitaire engagement rings.

Tweet This Post

From cheap diamond engagement rings. Unlike other gem stones, a diamond’s quality is judged mostly by the absence of color in them. The worth of diamond jewellery is judged solely by the purity of its brilliance.

Like any other natural stone, however, diamonds come in several shades of colors that are beautiful in themselves. 

So far, there is a good range of colors in diamonds, aside from the in-demand blue and pink. Commercially available now are yellow, orange, green, champagne, grey, black, white, red, purple, chameleon and violet gem stones.

Absence of color and perfection 

Among jewelers, the finest diamond stones are those that are totally colorless. They are graded D, meaning they are absolutely free of any color. 

Theoretically, a chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond is also perfectly transparent with no color whatsoever. However, a good number of all the gem stones used as gems are imperfect.

A tinge of color

The next group are stones with very slight traces of color which can be seen by a gem stone expert. When assembled into a finished jewellery, the color shades of these stones usually cannot be discerned anymore. Still, they are graded as E or F color gems. 

Down the line, those stones which show very little traces of color are categorized as G or H color diamonds, or perhaps I or J color, depending on the strength of the color seen.

Grading and color

Those stones that are graded between D and F are considered “colorless”. Those that belong in the G to J group are called “near-colorless”. Those within the K to M grading are “slightly colored” and the N to Y stones usually looked like light yellow or brown.

One peculiar twist to the rule – those gem stones graded Z are also rare and those bright yellow diamonds are priced higher than the ordinary.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) had developed the present color rating system for white gems (“D” down to “Z”, according to the intensity of the coloration). This has been universally recognized and adapted, overriding the previous older systems. 

Fancy 

The industry considers diamonds with intense colorations as “fancy”. An intense yellow coloration is regarded as one of the fancy colors and belongs to a different color grading system.

Gemologists have another rating system for fancy colored diamonds that is different from that used in white gems. However, this is not commonly used because these stones are relatively rare. 

The color seen in the stones either detract or enhance its value, depending on the color itself and the intensity of the coloration. Examples would include the grade Z bright yellow, or an intense pink or blue in the stones, each one of which commands a better price.

Impurities 

There are reasons for these colors in the stones. They could be structural defects in the crystal lattice of the stone or it could be a result of some chemical impurities.

Nitrogen is the most common impurity. It sometimes replaces a small proportion of carbon atoms in the diamond causing a yellowish or brownish tone.

Many impurities and structural flaws produce different colorations in the diamonds. Impurities are almost always present in white gems. It is not detectable in the rarest stones.

As always, choosing your gem stone jewelry always go back to your own prerogatives on the pros and cons of owning either colored or white diamonds.

For more see cushion cut diamond engagement ring and princess cut solitaire engagement rings.

Tweet This Post

From: emerald cut rings for less. Diamond jewelries are one of the most prized pieces.  But it comes with a price, and usually a heavy one.  diamonds are ideal engagement gifts but it could be very expensive especially if you are after a larger carat.  Fortunately, there are tips that could help you pick a good diamond jewelry without paying too much.  

Start by identifying how much you are willing to spend on the jewellery.  Start shopping around.  Do not immediately settle for the first store that you have seen. Buying second-hand jewelries can also be an option.  Compare their price offers.  You could also look at different internet sites selling brand-new and second-hand jewelry.  But there is some caution that needs to be exercised when buying jewelry online. When shopping online, always read the fine print. There are some websites that offer gem stones in lower prices along with different schemes and gifts.  

Whenever you are looking for a diamond jewellery or any other jewelry, timing is important. Most of retailers would give discounts during holiday season, however, whenever you are buying gem stone jewelries check if the item you are buying can be returned.  Some retailers or companies would offer jewelries in reasonable prices but with a fine print that it cannot be returned.  

Before you go ahead and visit any kind of jewelry store, do your homework first.  gem stone jewelries on display could be overwhelming.  Jewellers would often refer to the 4 Cs: cut, carat, clarity and color.   Getting familiar with these 4 Cs would help you get a good deal.  Let’s take the cut of the diamond.  Cuts could affect the cost of a diamond jewellery.  An emerald cut gem could be less expensive by as much as 30% compared with princess cut gems.   Buying lower quality cuts could actually cost less. 

Color could also help you in getting a better deal. When buying gem earrings or jewelries, those that are colorless are more expensive.  diamonds would mostly have a touch of yellow and this tint tends to be more affordable, especially on earrings. Although we want clear gems, since clarity gives the diamond a different look, small marks would not hurt.  diamonds that have small and few marks tend to be inexpensive.  Don’t worry, those marks are difficult to see by the naked eye. 

To stay within your budget you could go for less than one carat diamonds.  Highlighting or enlarging a small cut diamond depends on the setting.  There are ways to make a small diamond appear larger, for example, nestling it on a prong.  Another kind of setting that will make the diamond appear larger would be using bezel settings.  

If you are after an engagement ring, you could also look at the metal of the ring. There are rings that have white and yellow gold and platinum metal bands.  Rings with white gold bands cost less than those with platinum bands.  There are also some jewellers who offer discount prices if you will be buying the engagement and wedding rings together. 

But if all of these fail to get you within your spending limit, then you could always consider other stones.  There are other kinds of stones not as expensive as diamond jewelry but also as beautiful like sapphires, topaz and even rubies or any kind of gemstone.  After all, the diamond jewellery is only the expression of what you feel, it still what you feel which matters.

For more see diamond solitaire engagement rings in asscher cut and 3 stone princess cut diamond engagement ring.

Tweet This Post

From: diamond solitaire engagement rings in cushion cut. Jewelries, especially diamond jewelries and accessories are commonly associated with women.  But nowadays,  jewelries are also becoming popular among men.  History has showed us the accessorizing is common among men during the early civilizations.  Men would wear rings and pendants bearing their symbols and signs, displaying heir social and class status through them. 

Currently, the most common jewelry for men is the groom’s ring.  Over the years,  groom’s ring has become more than just a ring but has become a symbol of the groom’s prosperity and stability.  Men has different preference for their rings, some would like jewelries that are subtle, while others would like intricate rings that will match the bride’s ring. Whatever design, it would surely reflect the personality of the owner. 

But men are not just sticking to wedding bands, there are other men’s accessories  which can be defined as jewelries. There are cufflinks, bracelets, money clips, watches and necklaces.  Finding gem men’s jewelries are not that difficult at all.  There are department stores and retailers where you could buy them.  But online shops are becoming more popular especially they are posting detailed information about the accessories.  

Just like in any women’s jewelry, stones for men are also available in different cuts and colors.  When looking for men’s diamond jewelry always check for the 4 Cs:  cut, color, clarity and carat.  Also check the craftsmanship and the originality of the diamond.  Most men choose an antique jewelry since it is more unique and original in design.  

Men’s diamond jewelries are usually in three kinds of settings, channel, pave and invisible.  diamonds in channels have the stones in the groove, while those in pave would usually have the stones supported by small prongs. While the invisible setting is ideal since it would make small diamond cuts look bigger. The settings are hidden and stones are supported underneath.  

Aside from the designs, metal bands are also changing.  Yellow gold bands are not the only one used, there are other alternative metals like titanium.  Titanium has become known for its durability and affordability.  Another kind of metal becoming popular is the tungsten carbide.  Tungsten carbide bands would usually have gold and platinum inlays.  

Men’s gem stone pendants are more subtle in design compared with women intricately made pendants.  But it never ceases to make an impression.  gem studded earrings are another popular feature among men accessories.  It used to be just one stud, but right now a few studs would do.  

Just like women’s gem stone jewelries, it is important to care for men’s gem stones.  It should be kept in proper jewelry boxes, cases or pouches and should not be left lying on counter and kitchen tops, along with the keys.  diamonds even though they are known to be hard stones are still capable of being damaged especially when exposed to extreme temperatures, force and chemicals. 

gem rings or jewelries are not only great gifts for women, it makes people feel special thus making it also a suitable gift for men.  It may be a very expensive gift but its value would represent the undying and eternal love and devotion.  In relationships, diamond jewelry is a great gift that will symbolize commitment.

For more see unique princess engagement rings and affordable diamond solitaire engagement rings.

Tweet This Post