Diamonds, named for the Greek word "unbreakable", have been used in jewelry and religious icons for thousands of years and are the most widely recognized and highly prized gem in the world. They are synonymous with elegance, luxury and ever-lasting love and bring sparkle and pleasure to all who encounter them. With all the standards of perfection, colors, cuts and carats, where is one to start? We've compiled a list of all these aspects of diamond shopping and more for your convenience.
Gems can come in many different cuts and colors and can add sparkle and class to anyone's life, but one aspect of jewelry selection that should not be neglected is the setting. The setting of a stone can alter the look and feel of any piece of jewelry and should always be considered. Do you want a lighter, flashier stone? Or are you going for a more durable, heavy look? Whatever your preference, use our settings guide to get to know more about this important aspect of jewelry selection.
The most common style setting is the prong setting. It has tips that bend around the diamond, holding it in place. There are usually four prongs, although there can be more. The more there are, the safer the stone is. However, too many prongs can obstruct the view of the gem.
A channel set ring consists of a thick band with a channel carved in the middle that holds smaller stones within it. This type of setting is not usually used for engagement rings but for those that do not have a central or main stone. Stones are very secure set within the band but are not shown off as well because they are not lifted above the band.
A bezel setting includes a ring with a raised "collar" surrounding a main stone that holds it in place. This setting offers durability and safety with the option of a half bezel, which covers less of the central stone than a full bezel setting.
A tension setting allows for a stone to be showcased fully. Two pieces of metal press into the stone to hold it in place. This is not as safe for the safety of your stone. If the metal gets stretched in any capacity, the stone will fall out. Re-sizing of a ring is limited with this type of setting, given that if a ring needs to be re-sized, the entire ring setting must also be reworked.
Pave settings incorporate several, very visible gemstones held in place by tiny, virtually invisible prongs that circle the ring. This type of setting is popular for engagement rings. A larger prong set stone on top of the pave-set ring has become an option for an engagement ring.
January's stone is Garnet. This stone is known for its generally red hue, but its colors can range anywhere from green to brown. The garnet historically signifies faith, friendship, loyalty and truthfulness.
Amethyst is the gem of February. The purple stone is a member of the quartz family and can come in colors ranging from pale lilac to a red or bluish billet to deep purple. The amethyst symbolizes sincerity and sacred love.
March's stone is the aquamarine. The gem was named for the Latin aqua marina, meaning seawater and is known for it's tranquil blue hues. The aquamarine is a sister to the emerald and is believed to reawaken love, kindle friendships and elevate the spirit.
The diamond is April's stone. These timeless gems symbolize lasting love and friendship. Diamonds can come in many colors from pink to blue, and these naturally colored options are typically more rare than the clear, colorless varieties.
May's stone is emerald. A member of the beryl family and sister to the aquamarine, the emerald is said to be a symbol of devotion, contentment and undying love. The stone is known for its deep green color, which ranges from light to deep green.
The iridescent pearl is June's stone. Usually thought of as round and white, pearls actually come in many hues and shapes. The five factors of luster, orient, surface-cleanliness, shape and size determine the value of the pearl.
July's ruby is said to symbolize great passion and courage. This blood red stone is a popular choice for wedding rings for a unique and individual bride.
Peridot is the August birthstone. Peridot can range from yellowish green to deep olive and is formed in volcanoes. The gem is said to bring happiness, attract love and foster friendship.
The beautiful blue sapphire is September's stone. A sapphire's color ranges from light to dark blue, often with a tinge of green or violet. They symbolize truth, sincerity and faithfulness.
October's stone is the opal. The most common type is a white opal with pastel flashes, but other kinds include the black, fire, boulder and crystal versions. These gems symbolize hope, fidelity and purity.
The citrine is the stone of November. It can vary in color from light yellow to smokey brown. This stone is in the quartz family and is a symbol of warmth and affection.
December's stone is the Topaz. The Topaz is known for it's beautiful blue color. It's characteristics suggest Prosperity and Success.
Choosing and understanding the right metal for your jewelry can be crucial. Which is the most durable? Which involves the most cleaning or maintenance? Which is shiniest? Not only should these questions be factors in your decision making, but you should consider the look and feel of the jewelry that you want to present to the world. Use our guide to discover which metal is the right one for you.
When choosing Gold there are a couple of factors to consider:
Gold is made of several different karats.
A karat is the gold content of the metal. It measures the content of pure gold mixed with other metal alloys to make up the metal. Gold in it's purest form is 24Kt.
10KT Gold contains 41.7% pure gold ( 417 parts per thousand parts)
14KT Gold contains 58.5% pure gold ( 585 parts per thousand parts)
18KT Gold contains 75% pure gold ( 750 parts per thousand parts)
There are several different colors of Gold. The most popular is yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold.
Yellow Gold is made by mixing pure gold with alloy metals such as copper and zinc.
White Gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as silver and palladium.
Rose Gold is made using a mix of pure gold with alloys including copper, which gives the reddish color.
You can use a combination of gold in jewelry, which is called two toned, three toned or multi colored gold.
Most jewelry is made from sterling, or standard, silver as opposed to fine silver. Sterling silver is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, giving it a harder texture and a lower melting point, which makes the piece last longer. Most sterling silver undergoes a process called "flashing", in which it is plated in a thin coat of fine silver to give it a bright, shiny finish. Britannia silver is an alternate form of silver which has a higher concentration of silver at 95.8%. Britannia silver is most commonly used to make table and flatware.
Platinum is a white metal and used in jewelry in almost it's purest form, which is approximately 95% pure. This metal is very dense and heavy and is extremely long wearing.
Palladium is similar to platinum with a silver, grey, white color, and resides in the platinum family of metals due to the similar chemical properties of the two.
Tungsten is a very hard , strong and durable metal and is highly scratch resistant. This metal has a permanent polish which means that it never has to be re-polished. Rings made of Tungsten can't be cut or soldered, so if your buy one of these rings, it's important to know your size since they can't be resized.
Rhodium is a white metal very similar to Platinum. Since the natural color of gold will eventually wear through white gold jewelry, you should maintain your white gold jewelry by having it rhodium plated every 12 to 18 months.
Ring size is not the same as finger size. Steel gauge-rings are used by jewelers to determine the proper ring size. Fingers change throughout the course of the day which affects the results of gauge rings.
Measuring the finger with a strip of paper or using "measuring holes" produces inaccurate results. It is recommended to measure ring size at the end of the day, when fingers are at their largest diameters.
A wider band may be worn more loosely and larger knuckles and hands should wear a slightly loose ring. Slimmer knuckles or smaller hands should be fitted with a tighter ring.
It is important to have your jewelry inspected and cleaned regularly by a jeweler you trust.
You can also always call us or come by for cleaning advice or advanced cleaning services.
Refunds are permitted within 10 days from the date of purchase when accompanied with sales slip. The returned merchandise must be unused and unworn, in original condition, and where applicable, in the original gift box with all warranty cards and instruction books intact.
Exchanges are permitted within 30 days from the date of purchase when accompanied with the sales slip.
Gift Recipients will be issued a merchandise credit only, no refunds.
Gemstone Enhancement
If your purchase includes a gemstone, please not that many gemstones have historically and traditionally been enhanced to improve color and/or stability.
Servicing and Cleaning
We will clean your jewelry and check the settings free of charge. We recommend this be done at least twice a year.