Diamond Rings and More

Posts Tagged ‘fine jewelry’

Some of us purchase gold jewellery because – it looks good, our mom said so, it compliments the color of our skin, its a great possible investment, yaddy, yaddy yah. The reasons are as plentiful as the overly honest dealers who would sell you the jewelry.

Perhaps I shouldn’t skip too quickly over the “great investment theme” because its or can be somewhat important to know that “10 Carat gold” all the way up to “18 Carat gold” is not generally considered to be shrewd investment material. It is simply not investment grade, hard assets even if your home insurance covers it in case of theft.

Some of us want to claim an investment while still flaunting the bling on our skin and there is nothing wrong with that so flaunt something a little or considerably better than 18 Carat in order to claim the investment angle. The trick, especially in North America and England, is – where does one buy 24K Gold?

Most jewellers who don’t sell 24 Carat gold are likely to tell you that there is no such thing in jewelry since its too soft for most applications. They do have a point there however from experience I can tell you that 22 Carat Gold necklaces of 110 grams have been known to support the pull of a 50 pound child.

I first started buying gold in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. It was, at one time very inexpensive there. Then I frequented the gold souks of Dubai and the other Emerites. Genuine 24K stuff can be purchased there.

Truth was, I thought it was 24, but it was often only 97-98% pure, but hey, still better than the 14k stuff sold in North America.

Then I found them. These are massive jewellery shops on both the Hong Kong and Kowloon side. They sell amazing pearl, emerald and exquisitely carved gold pieces. We are told and shown paper that indicates that, the HK government certifies what they are selling, but a few of these tourists traps have all kinds of interesting motivational **deals** especially in Kowloon. Anyway, they have certificates claiming their 24 Carat Gold is 99.999% pure, but when I took their stuff to London, I was told oh no, its only 22K not 24.

I took their gold to a reputable goldsmith to melt down, he again informed me that the material was only 22 to 23 Carats Gold purity. I kept thinking about how embarrassing it would be to pull out one’s own little gold volume/weight measurement tool in one of those massive elite stores and proudly if not loudly proclaim that the pure piece they were trying to sell wasn’t truly pure at all – I am also imagining that one could expect a nice long talk with the local police for creating such a fine disturbance.

I am expecting a counter plug where someone will say I am from HK and the government certifies these big shops blah blah but I have purchased big items 4 times in 6 years and each time while trying to sell elsewhere in North America and the UK have been told similar bad news ( Even when I presented the govt stamped HK certificate|It made no difference to the buyers even when presented with the certificate of authenticity which comes with each piece purchased from HK ) Can authenticity certificates be faked? Certainly. Might certain shops fake them? I can’t say.

The lesson to learn perhaps is when buying gold from a store don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of govt certifications blah blah blah.

Lesson learned, when buying precious metals in the form of jewelry internationally don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of govt certifications blah blah blah.

If your goal is really investment and you have no real need to put on your bling then buy a regulated certifiable gold bar from a western based dealer who is very much liable in western courts and has both insurance and liability coverage.

If what you are looking to purchase is 14 Carat or below, ignore almost everything above since, 14 Carat is not investment quality anyway.

If you are in Hong Kong and not sure if you should buy. Don’t hesitate, just understand that very rarely ever will a street vendor sell you absolutely 24 Carats, even if she believes that is truly the gold carat. Haggle the purchase price with the knowledge that what you are getting is substantially more than 22 Carats but really not 24 Carats. Compare this to the North American or even UK experience where you are most likely being sold only 14 Carats.

Don’t sweat it, just buy it, wear it, enjoy it, don’t lose it and have fun.

Mankind has been buying amazing mens jewellery almost since the beginning of time. One would think there shouldn’t be any of this precious metal left by now, lol. Surprise! There is still lots. Have a look at the best diamond earring jewellery on the planet.

We all know that jewelry can come in various shapes, types, and forms. No exception to this rule: Beautiful Heart Jewelry. Gemstones are a welcome addition to many jewelry designs, but do you know all the various types of gemstones that can be utilized? In this short, brief article we will be focusing on the different types of gemstones that are most often used in the production of fine jewelry.

Amber is not made from minerals, but from compressed tree resin. This tree resin has to harden for over 1 million years before it can officially be called “amber”. Many of the Baltic States, such as Lithuania, are leading producers of the world’s finest resin. Some amber can be over 120 million years old.

The most prized gemstone in the quartz family has been amethyst for many years. Prized for its purple hue, it can range in tone from light to dark.

Emeralds are a very ancient gemstone. It is believed that the Ancient Egyptians mined these fine gemstones as far back as 3500 B.C. They are known for their fine green to bluish green color.

The most popular color for the gemstone Jade is “green”, but it can come in other colors as well. It has a nickname: “The Stone of Heaven”, and it has been closely linked to Asian tradition, culture, and history.

The gemstone jasper can come in a variety of colors. It is a member of the chalcedony family. Known for its very interesting and elaborate patterns, one of the most popular forms of this gemstone is the “picture jasper” (which is specifically known for it’s beige’s and browns and swirls).

Rubies, amongst the most highly valued precious gemstones, are known for their intense red color. In the Sanskrit language the word for ruby is “ratnaraj”. It means “king of precious stones”.

One of the most popular gemstones in the United States is the sapphire. One reason could be that it is much more affordable than an emerald or ruby. Sapphires can come in various types, but “blue sapphire” tops the list. It is known for its medium to deep blue color.

The world’s largest turquoise producing region is in the southwest United States. In fact, turquoise is found in only a few places on earth. It is prized for its attractive color (medium blue or greenish blue) and its ancient heritage. It is very popular in some modern sleek designs.

Did you know that some gemstones are classified as organic? This refers to the fact that they are produced by living organisms. Examples of these types of gemstones are coral, pearls, and amber. Other gemstones are classified as inorganic, which means that they are composed of minerals.

We hope that you enjoyed this brief tour into the world of gemstones that are most often utilized in the creation of jewelry. Heart jewelry uses these gemstones very heavily. Beautiful and colorful, these gemstones can add significant value to a piece of jewelry.

Want to find out more about heart jewelry or open heart jewelry, then visit Betsy Johnson’s blogs.

Long before the American Dollar, the Indian Rupee, or the British Pound came along there was another measure of currency that spanned the globe. Do you know what it was? It was gold. In fact, in many areas of the world it is still used as a form of currency today. Both rare and very heavy, it has been used as a status symbol for both merchants and kings. In this article we will be exploring the world of gold. We hope you enjoy this little journey into the wonderful world of this precious metal.

Denoting itself as one of the worlds most valuable and precious metals, gold sets itself apart from the rest of the precious metals. It is so malleable and soft that just one mere ounce of it will produce a wire that can stretch 5 miles in length. If you would prefer to pound it rather than stretch it, you could create a sheet that will cover 100 square feet. Because it cannot corrode or rust it will last almost indefinitely.

It can be found almost everywhere. It is in our rivers and seas, in the crust of the earth, and in our plants as well. Unfortunately, it is expensive and difficult to extract…which is why it is so pricey. It takes about 2.5 to 3 tons of gold ore to produce one single ounce of pure gold.

Gold is the most popular metal in today’s jewelry. This is pretty much a given. It is used in fine jewelry, heart jewelry, good jewelry, cool jewelry, you name it. Most of the gold goes into one “shape” though. Do you happen to know what it is? It’s the simple wedding band. Since gold is so soft and malleable, it is not used by itself though. It is often combined with other metals to give it strength and durability. When two or more metals are combined they form what is known as an alloy. Most of the gold that we use in our jewelry production today is in the form of an alloy.

What are these various types of jewelry you ask? How about: (1) Gold jewelry, (2) Wholesale gold jewelry, (3) White gold jewelry, (4) Gold plated jewelry, (5) Gold body jewelry, (6) Gold charm jewelry, (7) Rose gold jewelry, (8) 24k gold jewelry, (9) 14k gold jewelry, (10) 22k gold jewelry, (11) 18k gold jewelry, (12) Indian gold jewelry, (13) Gold horse jewelry, (14) Plus other fabulous gold jewelry items.

Have you ever heard the word karat before? It is often used when referring to gold. It is derived from the word for the fruit of the carob tree. Some popular examples are: the Greek word “keration”, the Italian word “carato”, and the Arabic word “girat”. The seeds of the carob tree were used to measure the size of precious gems in the ancient world. Since the solidus (the pure Byzantine coin) weighed in at 24 karats, the 24 karat mark (or 24KT or 24K) became the mark used to denote that the item in question was in fact made of pure gold.

That’s it. We’ll wrap up this tour of the world of gold for now. Please visit our blog where we will go into more details on the subject of gold, heart jewelry, and just jewelry in general. See you there…

Betsy Johnson has some great deals for you at: open heart jewelry and heart jewelry. Check them out!

Getting married is a major decision; you have to be ready financially and emotionally prepared before you tie the knot. Of course every woman dreams to have the perfect engagement ring, a bezel set diamond engagement ring would be one precious gift a man can give to his loved one.

A diamond has a true beauty of its own but it is enhanced when it is a bezel set diamond engagement ring. These kinds of engagement rings have a particular attraction because it enhances the diamond’s brilliance especially if it is set in silver or platinum bezel setting.

The bezel set diamond engagement ring would particularly work for woman who prefers a retro style or have a vintage effect on their engagement ring. These kinds of rings are also best for those who prefer an active lifestyle because these kinds of rings protect the diamond itself since it surrounds the diamond.

When a diamond ring is also set in bezel, it would actually hide chips or imperfections on the side the diamond.

Prices of diamonds vary depending on the size, design and how it is set, in this particular case for a bezel set diamond engagement ring. Here are some of the points to consider:

If the diamond has a perfect cut and it does not really require to be set in bezel for the purpose of hiding its imperfections; the price depends on the size of the diamond, this price would be higher if the bezel set diamond engagement ring has intricate design that helped enhance the diamond’s brilliance.

The bezel set diamond engagement ring is readily available in local or major jewelry stores anywhere, even online.

In case you plan to give your bride-to-be a truly special engagement ring, you could have it custom made, again this may cause you additional, but it’s really worth it when you see the happiness it brings to your loved one.

When looking for jewelry and watch, make sure you visit the website that specializes in diamond engagement rings and Rolex watches.

Diamonds remain to be one of the most sought-after possessions for they represent perfection, beauty, power, and wealth. Among all gemstones, a diamond is considered the most suitable particularly in engagements.

An engagement ring is a piece of jewelry worn with much value. Engagement rings oftentimes lead to a wonderful union between two lives. History affirms that engagement rings came about in 1215 when Pope Innocent III declared an interlude for marriages. In those times, as promise from the man that he would not abandon his woman during the waiting period, a simple metal band was given to the woman.

These bands were later enhanced and accentuated with gemstones and eventually came to be known as engagement rings.

Today, modern technology provides for wide varieties of diamond engagement rings, perfectly cut and ornamented. Yet despite the boom of contemporary designs made of famous brands, many couples still prefer heirloom or antique engagement ring.

An antique diamond engagement ring has its unique charm that cannot be found in mass marketed jewelries. Passed from generation to generation, antique diamond engagement rings bear witness to unconditional, endless loves. It brings ardent hope of lasting bond for the would-be couple.

Any ring over 50 years of existence is an antique. Antique diamond engagement rings are often lavishly designed. They have distinctly varied designs, including Victorian, Edwardian, and Art-Deco, to name a few. It could even be said that no two antique rings are ever the same, as none of them could ever have identical cuts.

Antique rings unlike the new fashioned rings, made out of state of the art technology, are not perfectly cut but this very imperfection adds even more to the ingenuity and uniqueness of each piece.

Though rare, you can still get hold of antique diamond engagement rings if you are clever and patient enough to search for it. Here are some suggestions:

You can first rummage your mothers jewelry box, who knows what prized possession you might find in there. You can go to a certified and trusted jeweler who may guide you in your quest. You can go to a pawnshop or visit an antique/vintage store. You can attend estate sales where you can find estate rings; these are newer rings, not yet antique, but are on their way to becoming so.

And of course, use the internet to get quick access about these timeless masterpieces.

When looking for jewelry and watch, make sure you visit the website that specializes in diamond engagement rings and Seiko watches.