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Archive for the ‘Jewelry’ Category

Choosing a wedding ring is one of the most important decisions a bride and groom will make together as a couple. Considering the options of yellow gold, white gold, and platinum is the first step in making this endearing choice. For decades, white gold has been the leading choice with brides followed closely by yellow gold as a popular and affordable second choice. The price of platinum is cost prohibitive with many couples’ budgets, and white gold rings are a comparable substitute for the look and feel of platinum. Titanium bands offer men a rugged look and are gaining popularity in the jewelry market. They are inexpensive and offer a perfect solution for keeping in line with budget restrictions.

Traditional bands for brides and grooms have always been very popular in white gold. Silver tones in jewelry, wedding and ring bands, and all types of jewelry pieces have become very trendy with many who prefer the subtleness of silver rather than the showiness of yellow gold. It is well know that yellow gold is softer and needs some extra care, while white gold is more durable and will keep its shape through years of continuous wearing in all kinds of conditions.

Take the time to visit several jewelry shops and try on the different finishes offered. White gold is many times a choice because of skin tone and hair color. There will be countless styles in white gold and yellow gold with a lesser number in platinum, sterling silver, and titanium. If quality is your goal, white gold is the appropriate choice for wedding and engagement rings, class rings, and dinner rings. The combination of a diamond or gem stone set in white gold is stunning and holds its value for a life time.

Decide on a price point and keep in mind that at a later date, a larger stone can be set in the original white gold setting, if so desired. Many times rings will be upgraded for special occasions and wedding anniversaries and remounted in the same band for sentimental reasons. Investing money in a white gold band is a wise choice for savvy jewelry shoppers.

Browse online jewelers to get an idea of price and style. Read information concerning the differences between white, yellow, and platinum for bands. Lifestyle and price point may dictate the buyer’s choice. Nickel is an alloy commonly used in white gold. Some people, roughly one in eight, experience a mild allergic reaction to nickel. Speak with jewelers about the alloys contained in any white gold ring or band being considered. There are other alloys and gold combinations that make up white gold that do not cause any skin irritations. Ask questions with the jewelry experts concerning the choice of a white gold band or ring.

There is no doubt about it.  Today, an increasing number of people are buying their engagement rings and wedding rings online. 

By the same token, however, most online diamond retailers understand that buying diamonds online does not suit everyone’s tastes. Spending thousands on something that you can’t see or try on before buying can put even the most internet-savvy shoppers off.  In addition, buying something as personal as an engagement ring can be difficult to do “at a distance”.

So, why is it that more and more people are turning to the internet to buy their diamonds?

First and foremost, the internet provides a wonderful self educational tool, whether you are in the market for an engagement ring, new car or sofa.  Most people nowadays want to get an idea of what constitutes a ‘good deal’ and, more than anything else, understand their subject.  Few people will venture into the market for a $5,000 engagement ring without at least getting a basic understanding of the 4Cs of diamonds, which is the mechanism by which diamonds are graded around the world today.  The level of education and advice about buying diamonds available online today is fantastic, providing consumers with the ability to self-educate to a level never seen before.

As you brush up on your diamond knowledge, you’ll then encounter a world of online diamond retailers.  Because of the high ticket values, these website are often glossy, with high resolution images, incorporating all the latest marketing and graphic techniques to entice the customer.  After all, few people would buy an engagement ring from a website which was poorly constructed or maintained.  Some of the tools available to consumers today are wonderful, such as the ability to be able to view different designs of engagement rings in 3D rotations, videos and magnified images, for example.  Some even provide a virtual hand image with the ring, showing how the finished engagement ring will look on your finger.  Therefore, the need for you to even visit a jewellers shop is eradicated.

Perhaps the main benefit of buying online, however, comes down to one thing.  Price.

Any retailer with physical ‘bricks and mortar’ premises will have high overhead costs.  These costs are for the rental of the property, a shop window full of diamonds, display cases and a safe full of diamonds inside, 7 day a week staff costs etc, all of which adds up to a hefty cost which needs to be paid for.   By whom?  Well, the customer of course.  These costs are built into the price you pay for your engagement ring in the shop.  As a result, you’ll find that most online diamond retailers are significantly cheaper in price than normal jewellers.  Furthermore, the fact that there are hundreds of high quality online diamond retailers in one ‘virtual’ space means that prices are incredibly competitive, which again is great news for you.

The list of reasons for buying diamonds online goes on and on.  The main factors have been mentioned above, but what about the fact that when buying on the internet, you don’t have a pushy salesman on your back, and the fact that most online diamond rings are made to order and haven’t been sitting in a shop window for months on end, and probably tried on and rejected by a number of couples before you.  What about the fact that many online diamond specialists such as http://www.dejoria.co.uk for example offer consumers the ability to choose your perfect diamond from over 100,000 worldwide at the touch of a button, rather than trying to sell you something that almost matches your requirements from their existing stock.   And finally, what about the fact that the level of personal advice, expertise and guidance provided by most online diamond specialists is second to none.

Of course, you have to choose well.  Like anything, there are not-so-reputable diamond retailers out there, both online and in the high street, so make sure you buy certified diamond rings, and ensure that all the relevant supporting documentation, warranties and after-sales service are in place, and you can’t go far wrong.