Jewelry | devo digest

Eternity Rings – The Perfect Jewelry Gift

On 02.20.10, In Jewelry, By Stevie Wonder

A ring is not just a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of both the depth of genuine love as well as the natural life cycle. An eternity ring is well-recognized as the icon of eternal love, hence the name. Eternity rings are an ideal choice of gift to convey to someone that you love them with all your heart and are eager to proclaim this love.

Eternity rings can be used as engagement or wedding rings, or as a profession of love for someone special. Even without a special ceremony, giving a loved one an eternity can have a huge impact as a symbolic gesture. It expresses your commitment to love that person forever, throughout both of your lifetimes. An eternity ring also declares this message of optimistic love to the world at large.
Eternity rings can be easily purchased at a variety of venues, and come in a plethora of styles. The most common variation is the diamond eternity ring. For decades, the diamong ring has been used to represent the love and commitment of a man. Yhe engagement ring is a tradition that shows no sign of disappearing anytime soon. Diamonds are often cut in the shape of pearls, emeralds, or round gems. In addition to diamonds, other jewels are also set in these types of rings.

There are plentiful reasons for the continuing popularity of the use of eternity rings to symbolize commitment to loved ones. Many people rely on the wedding ring as a commonly known sign that they are committed to their relationship. Diamong rings have long been used for this purpose, and it is not surprising that their styles have evolved over the years. While the level of expertise and care that determines the beauty of each ring remains the same, the types of setting and bands that are popular has definitely changed with time. Eternity rings can be purchased in many coatings, including 14k yellow gold, white gold, silver, and platinum. Whatever setting and style you choose, you are guaranteed a strong symbol of your love that will sweep your loved one off their feet.

Hypoallergenic Properties of Titanium Jewelry

On 02.15.10, In Jewelry, By Stevie Wonder

Anyone who has ever experienced itchy skin, constantly watery eyes or sneezing knows how allergies can make life much more difficult. Hypoallergenic materials may be the only option for people with severe cases of allergies since they can be reacted by almost anything. Sensitive skin can be affected by almost any metal or material. Picking a metal that is 100% hypoallergenic prevents any irritating side effects on a person’s skin while still being an attractive piece of jewelry.

Titanium is a completely hypoallergenic metal that is slowly growing in popularity. The metal is as durable as steel, while being as lightweight as aluminum, making it the perfect metal for creating the best jewelry. Surprisingly, 10% of the population is allergic to nickel, which is frequently found in gold and white gold. Every grade of titanium that has been tested has displayed that it was 100% hypoallergenic and will not irritate or discolor skin at all. Because of its hypoallergenic element, it is also used for surgical implants and instruments. Its strength and hypoallergenic qualities makes it perfect for medical operations since titanium is immune to corrosion and bio-compatible. These qualities also make it the ideal choice for jewelry because it can resist the general wear-and-tear put onto it every day.

Titanium jewelry is rising in use because it’s much more affordable than other types of hypoallergenic material while still being an attractive piece. It can be changed to virtually any other color, ranging from bright, vibrant blues to dark forest green. The best part is that the color is created by anodizing. This is the process where oxygen changes the metal’s surface crystals. The change in colors doesn’t change the materials surface completely, and it is still 100% hypoallergenic so it will not irritate the skin.

Purchasing a piece of jewelry that is created with titanium eliminates any worry that the skin will get a reaction from the material. It is perfect for gift giving since there is no guess on whether or not they are allergic to particular metals. Titanium is the perfect material for bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings because there is no chance that the skin will become discolored or a rash will occur.

Tagged with: hypoallergenic jewelry • titanium bracelets • titanium jewelry • titanium necklaces • Titanium Rings

Deep Blood Red Ruby Ring Designs

On 01.18.10, In Jewelry, By Ric

Although there are pink and various tones of red rubies, the best stones are the ones that are a deep, rich red with blue undertones that look reddish-purple and are known as blood red rubies or pigeon blood ruby gems. The blood red ruby ring designs that bring out the richness of this particular stone are usually set in yellow gold. For unusual styles in natural blood ruby rings, I suggest looking at vintage or antique pieces, especially if it’s going to be your engagement ring.

Vintage and Antique Blood Red Ruby Ring Prices

Antique styles usually have untreated rubies and are often the original blood rubies from Burma (Myanmar) and therefore of the best quality. You can find a selection of such items at a place called Adin Antique Jewelry and other vintage jewelry shops, and often there are pieces for just a few hundred dollars. Authentic antique blood ruby rings are frequently found accented with old mine diamonds and sometimes in art deco designs with other gemstones such as emeralds or blue sapphires and often with seed pearls. There are a few blood red ruby ring styles that are exquisite for about $250 and include pearls as accents and are set in solid gold. However, the vast majority of antique genuine blood ruby rings range from $500 to about $1,000. In that price range there are dozens of styles to choose from.

Alternatives for Buying Cheap Blood Ruby Rings

If you want pigeon blood red ruby ring styles in contemporary designs set in yellow or white gold or platinum you will need to budget at least a couple thousand for the better quality items. However, you can have a very cheap ring if you choose one of two alternatives.

The first way to save on buying a blood red ruby ring is to select a gemstone that is natural but has been treated to enhance it’s color. Treating rubies with heat to bring out their color is a very common practice and allows rubies to be priced much more affordably because a lesser quality stone with a lighter natural color may be made to look like a high quality natural pigeon blood ruby. These enhanced blood red ruby ring designs may be priced around $100 or $200 depending on the metal mounting you choose. For solid gold with a treated ruby you will spend around $300 or more, for platinum much more, but there are cheap sterling silver blood ruby rings under 100 dollars from many online jewelers.

The other cheap blood red ruby ring buying alternative is to choose “created” rubies as the central stone. Created means they are manmade, not natural, however, if your aim is to have an affordable yet beautiful and fun cocktail ring for parties, then you can get imitation ruby rings for $30 to $50 in dazzling designs that may even have sparkling cubic zirconia diamonds as accents and may be set in gold electroplated mountings or solid sterling silver. There are online shops like Emitations and Heavenly Treasures who have lots of created ruby ring styles that are ultra affordable and very good quality, even if they are faux.

Tagged with: antique ruby rings • blood red ruby ring • blood ruby rings • cheap ruby rings • ruby rings

Where Does Amber Come From?

On 01.18.10, In Jewelry, By Ric

When selecting your amber jewelry, and seeing the uniqueness of each piece and the color variations, and the diverse types of fossils that each stone contains, you may naturally wonder where does amber come from. In geographical terms amber comes from many regions but primarily from the Baltic Sea and The Dominican Republic.

Baltic amber is heavily mined from Russia, Poland and other Eastern European countries and is primarily honey colored or yellow, brown and orange, although it may be reddish-purple or even green. Dominican amber tends to be more transparent and it also contains more fossils. Dominican amber is famous for being green and translucent blue in color.

But where does amber come from in the historic geological sense?

The formation of amber is a natural phenomenon that has taken millions of years. In the case of Dominican amber, it is considered retinite which formed from the resin of plants and trees in the tropical forests that trapped insects while still in a sticky or semi liquid state and over millions of years solidified and became fossilized rock. In the case of Baltic amber, it is considered succinite, but the basic process of its formation is the same. Tree and plant resin, with bits of debris like leaves, flowers or insects, became hard over the course of millennia and created the solid rock-like formations we now treasure in finely crafted amber jewelry.

Getting answers to questions like where does amber come from? how old is it? and where are the best pieces found? will help you better appreciate the value of the jewelry you purchase. Since the two most famous regions for amber are also tourist holiday destinations you may find yourself one day on vacation surrounded by amber choices in one of the two very different regions where amber is found, the Baltic Sea and the Caribbean tropical paradise, the Dominican Republic.

Where does amber come from in Poland?

It washes ashore along the Baltic Sea and may be collected along the coast and is also shaft mined in Russia. However, while beautiful amber is available in Gdansk and other costal towns, it is abundantly available inland, in the Polish city of Krakow, since that is one of the top tourist destinations of the country. There is a massive market in the heart of Krakow that is dedicated to finely crafted Polish amber earrings, necklaces and bracelets, with gregarious merchants and jewelers selling their wears from quaint stalls that fairly burst with amber jewelry.

To find out more about amber and the jewelry that’s made from it you might like to visit the Amber Earrings Website.

Tagged with: amber earrings • amber jewelry • Baltic amber • Polish amber • where does amber come from

White Gold Eternity Rings & Design Variations

On 11.18.09, In Jewelry, By Sarah

Traditional styles are easy to differentiate, it’s either a full eternity ring with stones all around or a half eternity ring with gems only on the top. However there are a few variations on these styles.

The Wishbone Eternity Ring

The first is called a wishbone eternity ring which comes to a point at the top. It still has no raised shank or larger central stones, but the V-shape is not the customary flat, wide band. Different styles based on a wishbone ring design are often used to allow two rings to fit together, especially in case of matching with a solitaire engagement ring. Sometimes the V creates a perfect space for the solitaire to rest, making the rest of the ring appear to be a continuous eternity style.

The French Baguette Eternity Ring

Another variation is called a baguette eternity ring (yes the same word used for French bread) and the usage of this word is no accident. The diamonds are in fact cut long and slender like a baguette! Although this style of eternity ring is not about the shape of the ring itself, the long cut of the diamond forces the baguette ring to be wider, especially if the stones are set vertically. These eternity rings are often quite expensive since baguette cut diamond are larger and the cut requires a certain amount of waste which you pay for.

Three Stones for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The next eternity ring I can suggest is one only has only three diamonds or gemstones. If these are bezel set, tension set or pave, they will be flush with the band like a true eternity ring, however, if they are prong set, and the stones are in a raised shank, then they are usually termed: three stone rings or sometimes trilogy rings. They are not genuine eternity bands, but their symbolism is in keeping with the theme, having one stone that represents the past, one for the present and one for the future, making this style a lovely wedding band, or a ring that can be both an engagement and wedding band together.

Choosing Your Own Eternity Ring Wedding Sets

It’s unfortunate that wedding sets very seldom incorporate an eternity ring as the wedding band. Therefore, if you are wanting your band to be an eternity ring, you’ll have to mix and match on your own. So that the engagement ring and the wedding band combine nicely, you must pay attention to these important factors: the color of the mountings and how the metal has been finished, polished, brushed, satin or engraved; the color, clarity and cut of the stones, how the diamonds are set, and how the two rings will fit together on your finger. Try to pair similar diamond cuts and don’t go for an engagement ring with a round stone and a band that’s emerald cut. It will look odd. Likewise try to select the same metal quality for the mountings so that they will wear evenly.

Don’t match a silver or white gold engagement ring with a titanium eternity ring and expect them to look like a set or to last the same way. You can however do one thing that’s a little sneaky. You can mix and match white gold and yellow gold, and if done properly, can be a wonderful two-tone set with an engagement ring in yellow gold and a white gold shank and likewise an eternity ring with white gold accents, or vice versa.

Tagged with: engagement ring • eternity rings • titanium eternity ring • White Gold Eternity Rings • Wishbone Eternity Ring

Cheap Designer Jewelry – Not Designer Knockoffs

On 11.13.09, In Jewelry, By Ric

The thing about designer jewelry that makes it so enticing is that it’s popular from been seen in magazines and on fashion runways around the world, it’s well-known from billboards and advertisements, it’s usually glamorous and stylish, touted as a lifestyle choice for the elite or wealthy, and most of all it’s EXPENSIVE. But since everyone wants the best of both worlds namely glamour and high fashion without the high price, there are designer jewelry distributors who now make it possible to have designer collections at a discount. I’m not talking about all the knockoffs that sell imitation junk for pennies, but about genuine designer jewelry for cheap. I’m talking about retailers like Treasure Box that have cheap designer jewelry from Dolce & Gabanna, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Moschino, Gatik, DKNY, Lucas Jack London, and for kids jewelry designers like Juicy Couture and official Disney jewelry.

From Calvin Klein to Disney Jewelry

Although most designer jewelry is hundreds of dollars when the collections are first debuted, they do come down in price later in the season. For example Treasure Box has some deals like DKNY rings for about $40 and Calvin Klein ring designs for around $50. The Disney jewelry is expensive as far as childrens jewelry but you can get some simple pieces, like a Cinderella ring for about $45. Gatik, a designer that specializes in mens jewelry has a few pieces with Treasure Box that retail for less than $30, which make good Christmas gifts, and who’s to know how little you paid?

There’s another place that often has good designer jewelry deals, and it’s called BlueLuxe, and they carry more avant-garde designer pieces like Anne Koplik, taj taj, Wasabi, Catherine Weitzman, Flying Lizard, Kevia, Marlyn Schiff, Pyrrha, and Sheila Fajl starting at about $40. If you need designer charms, there’s WIIYH? for as little as $9 a piece and lots of gorgeous Anne Koplik starting at about $30 made from genuine Swarovski crystal.

The funny thing about BlueLuxe is that have such good prices on cheap designer jewelry that they have become famous themselves and are even featured in the glamour and fashion magazines like InStyle, Sports Illustrated and People.

Cheap Vintage Jewelry by Yesteryears Designers

The other end of designer jewelry is from the designers that are now considered vintage like Lisner, Miriam Haskell and other great costume jewelry designers that have made a comeback by the retro jewelry trends of late. A god place to buy these retro or vintage jewelry designs is simply called Amazing Vintage Jewelry and they retail online at good prices and have a selection of products that caries, but may Lisner, Sarah Coventry and even the famous Trifari jewelry.

Jewelry Designers

There are many retailers and even the designers themselves that sometimes offer specials on end of season or overstocked items and sell at discount prices on their own websites. If you go to these famous designer jewelers, you may be able to get some cheap jewelry that isn’t available anywhere else. Here are just a few you may want to check out and see what they offer in seasonal or last minute specials.

A. Link is a division of Dali Diamond who offer high quality diamond jewelry
Alex Soldier offers bridal jewelry and exclusive designer jewelry
Add-A-Pearl is all about pearl necklaces mostly for children
Alberto Bossi is about Italian gold and gemstone jewelry
Alwand Vahan is a designer that retails through Bergdorf Goodman
Andrew Meyer offers a selection of bridal jewelry that’s unique
Arezzo Jewelry is about fine Italina diamond jewelry set in gold
ArtCarved has a wide variety of unique titanium and tungsten jewelry
Barry Kronen is gold jewelry that is contemporary yet vintage by style
Bellataire is a unique line of treated diamonds that are rare and expensive
Bergio offers pink and yellow diamond creations
Bez Ambar is about exclusive art jewelry
Buccellati has designer Italian gold jewelry
Canturi is unusual artistic fine jewelry that often incorporates mosaic

Tagged with: cheap jewelry • costume jewelry • designer jewelry • mens jewelry • Vintage Jewelry

Cubic Zirconia Jewelry Online

On 11.06.09, In Jewelry, By Sarah

There are many jewelry shops in every town and city where traditionally men and women have always gone to select their wedding rings or engagement rings or jewelry. There are also small shops that specialize in cheap costume jewelry and these are plentiful in shopping malls, but they take time to go to, time to have a salesperson show you what’s available, and often end up being frustrating experiences instead of a pleasurable shopping experience.

Internet Shopping for Jewelry

We all know the internet is a great option for shopping, and most of us have done it, but it still takes time to search for a shop that has what we want. When it comes to jewelry, it can be difficult to know what quality we are being offered. Sometimes we just give up and select something quickly from the top ten choices and call it a day.

Friendly Recommendations and Jewelry Reviews

For all the benefits of online shopping, the tried and true referral system still holds true. We will often buy online after reading a recommendation or a review much easier than buying what we see and looks pretty to our own eyes. With hundreds of cubic zirconia rings online you will likely need a recommendation to know which offers quality and which should be passed by.

So to help you, I have done some research and selected some of my favorite jewelers, CZ ring makers and manufacturers and tell you what I think and what many other shoppers have found, and then let you compare. Now, when budgets are a little tighter than we’d like, I focus on inexpensive cubic zirconia rings that offer high quality and good prices.

Real or Lab Created Diamonds?

Naturally you can have solitaire rings or custom engagement rings made to suite your style and budget. You can even go to The Diamond Store in the UK and select loose diamonds and ring settings and have them joined together to make a ring that suits you and will cost less than other “ready to wear” diamond creations. You can also go to Cool Diamonds or Diamond On Net and put a custom ring together, but they will still cost you hundreds of dollars. If you can afford that, will be delighted with these genuine diamond shops, but if your budget is really limited I recommend a shop called Emitations for discount CZ rings that will last. You can choose from clear CZ stones that look like genuine diamond rings or you can choose colored cubic zirconia lab created gemstones that mimic rubies and emeralds, sapphires and yellow or pink or blue diamond rings.

While I may not know exactly what you’re looking for in CZ jewelry, I can confidently say that whatever you need is probably in one place: Emitations, for rings, earrings, bracelets, engagement rings, wedding sets, glamorous Hollywood jewelry copies, royal gemstone replicas, celebrity engagement ring designs, designer rings and even custom pieces you can order that have been inspired by famous jewelry creations. There are also cheap jewelry options for daily wear and so many colors and styles you will not need to go anywhere else.

Give Emitations a try and know what it means to have quality CZ jewelry rings and wedding sets that don’t frustrate you to buy and don’t make you blow your budget when you need a little extra bling.

Tagged with: cheap costume jewelry • Cubic Zirconia Jewelry • CZ jewelry • CZ jewelry rings • Lab Created Diamonds

Shopping for Womens Titanium Rings

On 11.01.09, In Jewelry, By Ric

Shopping may be a favorite pastime for the ladies when it comes to clothes and accessories, but when selecting high-end jewelry for a wedding ring, an engagement ring or a piece of jewelry for a special event, most ladies prefer to go straight to one source where they know they will find affordable quality and a good selection.

Since many titanium jewelry shops specialize in titanium rings for men, it can be frustrating for a woman who has a style in mind and wants titanium, due to quality, durability and strength, but finds only the same simple titanium wedding bands over and over again. For ladies who seek something unique, sophisticated and high quality and know that Edward Mirell is the name for titanium, they may still be disappointed to find that the Edward Mirell collections cater mostly to elegant mens titanium ring designs. However, to help, I have selected a few womens titanium rings that may be in keeping with a woman’s need to have a touch of color.

One line that can be found easily Online is the South Beach collection. This Edward Mirell collection also has rings such as the Rainbow Sapphire Ring that incorporates scattered sapphires across a polished titanium band. There is also a company called ArtCarved which also sells online via Titanium-Jewelry, and offers a collection of delicate titanium Celtic rings with etching of knots and eternity symbols that are graceful and feminine. Another online shop to keep in mind is Apples of Gold, who offer just about everything from Celtic wedding bands to Christian crosses for womens wedding bands and engagement rings and even fashion colored jewelry that is reasonably priced. Cheap titanium rings are not easy to find, but there are many good options for under $200.

Womens Titanium Engagement Rings

Most ladies want some sparkle in their engagement rings, be it diamonds or cubic zirconia or some colored gemstones, and because titanium rings are often advertised as rather plain looking bands, many women don’t realize that there is a whole world of engagement rings that use a technology called tension setting. This style of ring is unique because the stone is not set into a band with prongs or elevated settings, but is clasped in a small opening in the titanium band somewhat like a vice grip which holds the diamond fixed in place due to the tensile strength of the titanium which will not release the gemstone even in changes of temperature or pressure.

The wonderful part of these titanium engagement rings is that because they float in space, so to speak, and have no metal to infringe on the light that passes through the stone, they appear even more brilliant and dazzling than traditional diamond ring settings.

Affordable Womens Tension Set Diamond Engagement Rings

There are some very affordable tension set diamond ring designs online like the womens black titanium ring that has a tension set diamond, made by the famous Edward Mirell, that retails for just under $300. There’s a slightly more expensive Contoured womens titanium ring with tension set diamond for just under $500, and a grooved titanium ring by Edward Mirell also for $500. For a bit of gold in a black titanium ring there’s a titanium band with 18K gold inlays and tension set diamond or a titanium womens ring with 14K rose gold that’s also about the same price. All of these titanium rings are guaranteed not to tarnish even for people active in sports or swimmers who leave their rings on while in chlorinated pools.

Titanium with Diamonds, White Sapphires and Cubic Zirconia Rings

Women titanium ring styles, with gemstones and cubic zirconia, are plentiful at a little online shop called Titanium Era, a division of Avalon Diamonds & Jewelry. They offer a wide selection of womens titanium promise rings, wedding rings and titanium engagement rings that have tension set stones or embedded jewels. They have a few gorgeous pieces of womens tungsten jewelry and plain titanium bands for women or traditional titanium engagement rings and also titanium Celtic rings or ones with Chinese characters.

Others have gold inlay or brilliant diamond studded womens wedding rings such as the ultra polished titanium engagement ring with .5 carat diamond in a tension setting called the Diamond Ophelia and costs only $300, or the elegant sandblasted titanium version of a womens titanium engagement ring called the Diamond Countess which retails for under $500.

There’s also a ring called the Diamond Silva which is also set in polished titanium band and incorporates tension set diamond all for under $400. But the really wonderful thing about all the titanium engagement rings that Titanium Era sells is that the gemstone can be a genuine diamond or for a cheap titanium ring option you can select a white sapphire or a cubic zirconia that cuts the ring price almost in half while still having the same basic look and still maintaining thehigh quality, solid and durable titanium in the band. The best prices for CZ rings with titanium are just over $200. A great price for such a high quality ring.

Tagged with: cubic zirconia • gemstones • Titanium Engagement Rings • Titanium Rings • Womens Titanium Rings