Black Diamond Engagement Ring

There are many kinds of diamonds to choose for your loved one, especially for an engagement ring. You can actually choose different designs, shapes, sizes and colors.

Colorless diamonds are popular choices for engagement rings. A man can choose to give his bride-to-be a pink or yellow diamond engagement ring; which is preferred by a lot of women. So giving a black diamond engagement ring is not really a popular choice.

Unlike traditional colors of diamond engagement rings, this engagement ring is "unique" if not an eccentric kind of ring to choose for a loved one.

There are probably a few women who would have a taste or penchant for this very odd color of engagement ring because often the color of black is associated with evil, darkness or even witchcraft. So it would be surprising if not scary to be given this ring.

But unknown to people, black diamonds are popular stone choices for male jewelries especially for Europeans. They are usually included in wedding rings and bracelets and are often combined with more lustrous or more colorful diamonds and other precious stones to enhance the brilliance of the colored gems or highlight the black diamond itself.

Men who offer to give this type of engagement ring also choose rings that are set in platinum or titanium to enhance the color of the black diamond or combine it with stones the color of their choice and have the design custom made to make it extra special.

The appearance of black diamonds may be in hues of green, gray or midnight black. The color can range from being dense or translucent in hue.

When buying a black diamond engagement ring, you need to go to an accredited jeweler because some people trick sellers by adding color to fancy stones and make it appear a true black diamond. You can ask for papers proving that you are getting the real deal.


By Alice Sy

Where To Look For Cheap Wedding Jewelry

It has been customary for soon-to-be brides to be concerned about every detail of their special day. Unless your family already has an heirloom of fine-looking wedding ornaments, chancing upon a few pieces of attractive yet cheap wedding jewelry is certainly a delightful surprise.

Despite being a seemingly trivial facet of that big and momentous occasion, the value of finding the perfect set of necklace, bracelet and earrings to match the bridal gown should never be underestimated. In fact, some people even go to great lengths just to ensure that everything is perfect - even if it means spending large sums of cash for a jewelry set that they'll only be wearing once.

Of course, there are ways to save up on cash. Getting your hands on a bridal jewelry set doesn't always have to be expensive. You can in fact get a hold of cheap wedding jewelry without breaking the bank. Here are some tips on how to avoid overspending.

1. "Something OLD, something new, something BORROWED, something blue..."

People around the world have long since followed this age-old wedding tradition. You may also apply this phrase in an attempt to save money on wedding jewelry. First, you can fit it into the "something old" part by purchasing second-hand pieces of jewelry. You can buy these things over the Internet, particularly on Ebay, or in shops that sell used items.

For the "something borrowed" bit, you may actually borrow wedding jewelry from friends or family members. Not only is it an ancient wedding custom, you also get a chance to cut back on your wedding expenses simply by borrowing stuff instead of purchasing them.

2. "Do-It-Yourself"

If you can't afford to buy a set of fine-looking wedding jewelry, you might want to try making them yourself. You don't necessarily need to wear diamonds or expensive gemstones in order to get that glitter you very much wanted. You just need a small budget to purchase the materials you'll be needing and a bag full of creativity. Not only will you save money making your own wedding jewelry set, you will also gain the pride of saying that you've actually created something beautiful using your bare hands.

3. Window-shop with your friends.

This alternative is suitable for people who do not have a knack for making their own jewelry. If you would rather buy ready-to-wear jewelry instead of crafting them, then you may want to do some window-shopping with your friends first. Doing so allows you to get a closer look at the various offers in the market. The more options you have for cheap wedding jewelry, the better chances you'll get out of your potential transactions.

By Albert Lee

Diamond Engagement Ring Size - What Is The Average Carat Weight of a Diamond Engagement Ring in 2008

The diamond engagement ring is a symbolic gesture usually received by the bride to be from her future spouse. Diamond engagement rings come in a variety of styles and sizes these days and no matter what one may desire with regard to this type of ring they are sure to find one which perfectly suits their tastes. Some individuals who are shopping for an engagement ring may wonder what carat weight is the appropriate one to purchase and what most people buy when it comes to diamond size. The following will highlight some trends with regard to carat size and focus on what the average carat weight of a diamond engagement ring is in 2008.

Past Carat Weight Trends

In the early 20th century, diamond carat weights were quite generous. In 1939, the average carat weight of engagement ring diamonds was 1 carat. A couple of decades later in 1976, the average carat weight of diamond engagement rings actually decreased to a ¼ carat. The fluctuation in the average size amounts can be seen for a few different reasons such as the cost of the diamonds and the overall average income of the population at that time.

Current Carat Weight Average and Differences Seen in Various Areas

Today, the national average for the diamonds chosen for engagement rings with regard to carat weight is 0.38 carats. In general, the carat weight averages of engagement ring diamonds are increasing. However, in order to truly understand the average relating to diamond carat weight for engagement rings it is important to look at the specific regions in which the engagement rings are being purchased as trends can be seen throughout these areas as well.

Larger cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and New York City have an average of 1.6 carats as it relates to diamond engagement rings. When viewing diamond carat weight averages in some of the Southern states and "Bible Belt" regions, the carat averages are anywhere between 0.25 and 0.40 carats. The state of Alabama has an average of 0.50 carats when it comes to diamond carat weights for those who are about to be married. When considering the entire state of California, the diamond carat weight average has been seen as over 1.0 carats. Focusing in on a more specific region within California such as the La Jolla/Del Mar area, the carat size is quite generous and is stated to be around 2.75 carats. When looking at carat weights with respect to engagement rings outside of the United States, such as in Europe, the average there is 0.30 carats and the stone within the engagement ring is not always a diamond gemstone.

In general, the average size of one's diamond engagement ring is increasing. With regard to the cost of such a beautiful ring, the average price spent on a diamond engagement ring these days is somewhere between $2500 and $3000. Although many have heard the notion that a diamond engagement ring should be at least 1 carat in weight, this is a relatively new sentiment. The fact of the matter is that a diamond engagement ring should suit the individual it is being given to and should be affordable to the person buying it. The true purpose surrounding it is the thought and love with which it is given.

By James Greene

Choosing a Fabulous Bling Bling Engagement Ring

Most men feel the pressure when choosing an engagement ring for the woman of their dreams. This is often due to the fact that the average man does not sit around and study diamond rings or learn what is important and what is not. It is a common misconception to just think about the size of the diamonds and color of the setting because you can end up with a not-so-pretty ring. As most men forget some of the important characteristics of a diamond ring, here is a bling bling buying 101 to help make your purchase.

The Five C's

The five C's are what most jewelers associate with when you are buying a diamond ring. They are as follows; color, cut, clarity, carat and cost. Each of these aspects of a diamond affects another. If the stone is larger in the same cut it will be more expensive but a stone might be smaller in a different cut and still be more expensive. Also you might have speckles of dirt in the diamond which decreases the clarity or the sparkle and makes it worth less.

Color
Diamonds come in array of different colors from clear to blue or pink. There are even canary diamonds which are yellow but more expensive than the yellow tinted clear diamonds. Most popular by demand are the clear diamonds that have no tint of color in them.

This color scale is marked from D,E,F as colorless to further letters in alphabet as color increases. As you continue in the alphabet, the more color a diamond has and typically it will cost less. The only exceptions are when you have rare diamonds that are colorful like yellow, pink or blue.

Cut

The two most sparkling cuts of diamonds are the brilliant and the radiant. These diamonds sparkle more due to the amount of laser cuts they do when cutting the diamond. Each crossing set of cuts, also known as a facet, allows the light to sparkle off of it a little more creating a more beautiful diamond.

The brilliant diamond is round and the radiant diamond is rectangular with soft corners. These cuts are recommended because if you are on a budget and can only afford a smaller diamond, you will still get a lot of sparkle for your money.

Clarity

The clarity of the diamond is determined on the amount of dirt spots or bubble looking spots in the stone. These marks are called inclusions and most are not visible to the naked eye. The more there are in the diamond and the larger they are, the less value is put on the diamond. This is one of the most important things to consider when looking at a diamond.

If there are multiple inclusions that are large, the diamond would be not as sparkling and that would decrease the value. Most people would get a large diamond if they could afford it, but a lot of larger diamonds have more inclusions than smaller ones. This make the larger diamonds with great clarity cost way out of your budget.

Carat

Carat is the measurement of size they use when evaluating diamonds. The carat is a weight measurement that equals about two-hundred milligrams. Diamonds are anywhere from 0.01 carat to 5 carats. The most common way to get a good sized diamond without paying too much is to get a .9 or .95 carat which is just under one carat. When shopping for a diamond you will see this difference and also see rings with total carat weight.

The total carat weight is the total of all the diamonds in any given ring. Make sure you look into that as the center stone may be smaller than anticipated due to side stones in the setting. If you want to be very careful, go to a diamond store that allows you to view each individual loose diamond prior to setting it for you. This allows you to verify the specs prior to purchasing.

Cost

Diamond rings can cost anywhere from one-hundred dollars to millions of dollars. Each of the four previous C's come into hand when determining the cost of any diamond ring. The general rule of thumb is to spend three months pay on a diamond ring. I think that is a little steep and would stick to one month's pay. You can always upgrade in the future or spend the money to put a down payment on your first home together or go on a vacation.

Make sure that you price rings out based on the color, cut, clarity and carat before making the purchase. Some stores have sales on diamonds which usually means they are overpriced to begin with. I would stay away from places like that. There are jewelry exchanges and places that do not have sales and guarantee their diamonds for a lifetime. These are the types of stores you want to look into.

Final Note

As a final note of advice when choosing a diamond ring is the warranty and wear and tear policy of the store. It is more desirable to go with a company that will polish or re-dip it in white gold at no extra cost throughout the years as rings wear. Also if your diamond falls out, make sure they will replace it at equal color, cut, clarity and carat at no charge. This way you do not have to worry about that expense yourself. Just make sure you bring your ring in every six months so the warranty stays true!

By Alexine Laurel

Aquamarine Engagement Rings

What better stone to choose for an engagement ring than one that represents optimism, wellbeing, and faithfulness? We are talking about the beautiful Aquamarine gemstone. Not only is this gemstone a great conversation starter, it also is the birthstone for the month of March. The name aquamarine has Latin origins, "aqua" meaning water and "mare" meaning sea.

The aquamarine is aptly named because of the wide spectrum of blue colors that it comes in; from a pale blue to a deep sea blue-green. The deeper colors are more sought after, therefore more expensive. No matter what shade that you decide on for the stone for an engagement ring, the ring will is bound to be commented on.

Most aquamarine stones have been heat-treated to enhance the blue coloring. This treatment has no effect on the quality or the hardness of the stone. The aquamarine rates a 7.5 on the hardness scale, making it a perfect choice for daily wear.

The aquamarine is a virtually flawless stone, rarely if ever having inclusions that are sometimes common in other gemstones. This gemstone is great for being cut into any shape and faceting enhances the sparkle and beauty of the stone. Due to the beautiful blue coloring of the aquamarine, the most common settings are either platinum or white gold. However, the blue is equally as beautiful in yellow gold settings.

Caring for the aquamarine gemstone is simple. Simple cleaning with soap and water brings back the beauty of the stone. Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners, rapid temperature changes, and contact with most household cleaners to prevent damaging the gemstone.

Finding aquamarine gemstone rings for engagement purposes should not be hard as most jewelers carry a variety of styles. But if you do have difficulties or cannot find a design that strikes you as the one you must have, you should look online and you will find many reputable jewelers. So if you are planning a wedding by the seaside or just want a ring that is special and unique, consider the distinctive aquamarine gemstone for the engagement ring you present to your beloved.

By Julie Shields