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How to Care for Fine Jewelry and Precious Stones

January 24, 2011 By

Diamond Ring Courtesy of Zoara

Owning fine jewelry and precious stones is one thing. Knowing how to care for your jewelry is a whole other story. Jewelry care is an element of jewelry ownership that is often overlooked, but is one of the most important factors in ensuring your jewelry stays vibrant and intact. Here a few basics on jewelry care:

Diamond Jewelry
Owning precious jewelry requires vigilant care. Diamond jewelry such as engagement rings, bracelets, or earrings needs special care that other jewelry might not require. You should first take note of what kinds of materials are used in your jewelry – what kind of metals are used, what kinds of stones and how many – all of these factors determine how you will clean your items. There are a few trusted methods to clean diamond jewelry:

1. Take your pieces to a jeweler to have them professionally cleaned and buffed. This might be a good idea if you have particularly delicate engagement ring settings with either very small stones or larger stones.
2. At-home cleaning can easily be done with a solution found in most stores. Most jewelry cleaners come in a small jar with a plastic basket where you place your jewelry for a few seconds or minutes. After your jewelry has soaked take it out of the basket and brush it with the small brush that accompanies the basket. Be careful not to scrub too hard – a gentle brushing is all that is required. When you are done, simply run the jewelry under warm water and dry with a towel.

Gemstone Jewelry
Often times people will forsake for their gemstone jewelry for other jewelry because they find gemstone care too complicated or they just don’t think these precious items deserve the same care. Caring for gemstone jewelry is not only crucial for beautiful and long-lived pieces, but is actually very easy. Here are few steps not too miss:

1. Your jeweler is always a safe bet if you are unsure about your piece. Again, like diamond jewelry, anything with delicate or fine components such as small gemstones would be best in the hands of a professional.
2. Store bought cleaners are a second best option. There are a number of cleaning solutions specifically for gemstones. Keep in mind that not all gemstones are the same. Pearl care requires different solutions and cleaning methods than other gemstones such as rubies or sapphires. Be sure to carefully follow the directions on any cleaner you purchases and remember to be gentle.

Whatever your jewelry is, be sure to care for your precious pieces. Give them a good cleaning every few months and your old jewelry will be transformed into that brand new piece you purchased years ago!

Filed Under: Jewelry How-Tos Tagged With: , ,

Romantic Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day

January 24, 2011 By

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, eager love birds are thinking about how best to “show the love” to their one true love. But let’s face it – flowers and candy are so passé. Why be so impersonal? After all Valentine’s Day is about romance, love and connecting with that special person in your life.

I personally love giving (and of course getting) jewelry as a gift. But with so many options and so much to choose from, where do you begin? Let’s dive right into gift giving 101 and explore the many fabulous options we have on this Valentine’s Day.

Simple & Sentimental
Gift giving, especially on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be over the top. Often times it is gifts that come from the heart that mean the most. I am quite partial to simple pieces such as a gold bracelet, pretty earrings or lovely pearl jewelry. And these gifts are really affordable. You don’t have to break the bank to find something beautiful and meaningful.

Diamond Stud Earrings
These are probably one of the sexier and romantic pieces of jewelry you can give for Valentine’s Day. The great thing about diamond stud earrings is that they are available in such variety. There are many different choices of diamonds and styles you can pick from and, best of all, diamond studs are actually quite affordable. Plus they are a guaranteed pleaser!

The Heart of All Things
What Valentine’s Day would be complete without a beautiful heart-shaped piece of jewelry? This is truly one of those all-time classic pieces that everyone woman is sure to love. I personally love the delicate heart-shaped diamond pendants because they come in so many different styles and designs. I have seen some with just a simple solitaire diamond and I’ve seen others with multiple diamonds in gorgeous designs and metals. It’s pretty much a no fail gift.

The Ultimate Gift
Valentine’s Day is quite possibly the most romantic time to ask the person you love to marry you. Of course diamond engagement rings are the ultimate gift for just such an occasion. But tread lightly on this – it is best to know your intended’s wants and needs for such a gift before any hasty purchases are made. The great thing is there are a lot of rings to choose from and a lot to learn. Depending on the future bride’s style, there are dozens of styles of engagement rings, from pave to vintage, side stone to classic solitaire and everything in between.

In short, Valentine’s Day is a fabulous opportunity to use your creativity to really show that special person in your life how you feel. With so much to choose from, you can’t possibly go wrong!

Filed Under: Jewelry How-Tos

Finding Fine Jewellery

January 13, 2011 By

exquisite pendantThis year for my wife’s birthday, she dropped a few hints that she was in the market for some fine jewelry. I had a few things to learn about fine jewelry if I was to fulfill this request, and seeing as how she picked out her wedding and engagement rings herself, I was still quite a beginner in this arena. I went to a Fine Jewelery store to browse around and look at my options, and there was quite an overwhelming array of selections in the store.

Pearls, bangles, charms, broaches, bracelets, necklaces, engagement ring settings —it seemed intimidating to be confronted with so much fine jewelry at once, so I decided to go with a safe choice: a nice set of diamond stud earrings. Her engagement ring was already a full carat, so I knew that a set of earrings couldn’t dwarf the main piece, so I looked for a set between half a carat and three quarters, ideal cut.

Making the Grade

I know a little bit about diamond grading, and I’ve always heard that colors range from D (clear) to Z (yellow), and that clarity ranges from F or IF (flawless) to I-3 (noticeable artifacts), but for the first time I got to see these grades first-hand. I had always wondered why two very similar-appearing diamonds could have such dramatic fluctuations in price, but the clerk at this fine jewelry store was quick to educate me by handing me his loupe and showing me several pieces side-by-side.

It was eye-opening to see first-hand the little details that you never quite notice when you’re looking at a diamond from a distance, the “inclusions” appearing as tiny bubbles inside the diamond, and the color difference between a D or E and a G or H. It seems fairly petty to outsiders like me, but you really come to realize when looking at a piece of fine jewelry that it’s the difference between a little or a lot of sparkle, even when you’re not scrutinizing the piece under a powerful lens.

There really is an art to all of this, and jewelers are not to be underestimated in their skill and ability to craft well-cut diamonds that highlight the most of what a previously dirty, rough chunk of carbon has to offer.

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