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Blue Sapphire Stones

There is something about the color blue that makes it the most favored color in the world. Psychologists say that there is something calming about the color as it reminds us of the sky on a clear day or the crystal clear depths of the ocean. Without knowing anything about blue sapphire stones from a gemologist’s point of view, they are among the most popular stones simply because of their color. However, in terms of a gemstone, sapphires are second only to diamonds in their hardness, coming in at 9 on the Mohs scale which makes them durable and easy to care for, and of course quite valuable.

What Exactly Is a Blue Sapphire?

The ‘funny’ thing about a blue sapphire is that you could say it is the same stone as a ruby only it is blue and not red! Both are gemstones of the corundum family of minerals but a blue sapphire gets its color from both titanium and iron impurities being present in the crystal while rubies derive their vivid red color from chromium. A sapphire then is any member of the corundum family that is colored anything but ruby red, and blue sapphire stones are not only the most beautiful, they are the most valuable. Going a step further, cornflower blue from gems mined in Kashmir is actually the most valuable of all the blues. Sapphires are only found in a few locations around the world, the most notable being Kashmir (India), Burma, Australia, Thailand, …

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Emerald Cut Diamond Rings

When choosing a diamond engagement ring, there are a variety of factors to consider. You may have heard about the four C’s — color, clarity, carat, and cut. Each of these factors contributes to the unique beauty of each finished diamond. Here we will be discussing cut, emerald cut to be exact. This cut is rectangle-shaped with gently slanted corners. Made to showcase the clarity of a diamond, emerald cut features rectangular step-cut facets. When shopping for emerald cut diamond rings, it is a good idea to know more about the ratio of length to width. On average, a ratio of 1.35 is ideal for achieving a classic, sophisticated look.

As previously mentioned, the emerald cut is best reserved for diamonds with excellent clarity. Because of the way this shape is cut, it highlights even small imperfections in the stone. Clarity is a word used in the gemstone world to describe blemishes and interior imperfections called inclusions. Inclusion might be a crack in the stone or even fragments of a totally different stone. Occasionally you can see diamond imperfections with the naked eye, although usually, a jeweler must examine the stone under 10 times magnification to grade the clarity. One thing to note about clarity inclusions is that small one that doesn’t affect the appearance of the diamond can be useful in verifying authenticity or even identifying the diamond if it is ever lost or stolen.

Emerald cut diamond rings

They are popular with the rich and famous because …

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Antique Engagement Ring
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Antique Aquamarine Engagement Rings

Choosing a unique and classy engagement ring can make the proposal moment even more amazing. Every woman is expecting to see a diamond engagement ring because it has been so common. You could purchase an elegant diamond ring, but they tend to be very expensive and the appeal of them goes away quickly because diamonds are repetitive and overused.

You should propose with an antique engagement ring if you want to get an amazing reaction. Also, avoiding diamond engagement rings should be obvious. You should look into the other types of gemstones that would make for a great choice when used with an engagement ring. One amazing choice would be the aquamarine gemstone, which looks beautiful when used with engagement rings.

Why Choose an Aquamarine Engagement Ring?

First off, aquamarine is the birthstone for the month of March. So, if your future fiancé were born in the month of March, then it would be a great choice just based on that alone. If you are making the proposal during the month of March, or plan on having the wedding during the month of March, then an aquamarine engagement would be very symbolic and meaningful for that reason.

Other than the fact that aquamarine is the birthstone for the month of March, it is also a beautiful gemstone in general. It is a unique color that really breathes life into any engagement ring. It is a very appealing stone to use in an engagement ring and it is not dull …

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Amethyst Jewelry
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Amethyst Jewelry

Amethyst is a gemstone that is used in various types of jewelry. The actual word Amethyst is derived from the Greek word amethystos, which has a literal translation of “remedy against drunkenness”. Amethysts, and all gemstone for that matter, are graded in the exact same way as diamonds. They are graded by their color, clarity, cut and carat weight. Amethysts are known as a variety of crystallized quartz, and are a member of the Quartz family, or to give them their scientific name, silicon dioxide. You will typically find that the crystal structure of an Amethyst is hexagonal.

Amethyst jewelry comes in a wide variety of natural shades and colors. These include purple, bluish-purple and reddish-purple. However, with that said, amethysts in their purest form are actually colorless. An amethyst will produce color due to the absorption of certain wavelengths of light. The color will consist of three separate components which are the hue, which is the initial impression of color. The tone, which is the term given for the lightness or darkness of color and the saturation, which measures the intensity of an Amethyst’s color.

The amethyst is also known as a birthstone for the month of February. It covers the zodiac sign for Aquarius which is known as the water bearer. Amethyst is also a wedding anniversary gemstone that is typically presented for the fourth and sixth year of married life. The amethyst as a birthstone also has certain properties that are associated with the zodiac …

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Platinum Wedding Bands
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Platinum Wedding Bands

Platinum wedding bands are starting to become more popular amongst couples. They are becoming an especially desirable type of wedding band for men. Most platinum wedding bands provide classic appeal that makes them superior to the alternatives such as gold bands and white gold bands.

The platinum bands consist of a more unique style than what can be found with the other types of wedding bands. You can find much more intriguing designs and patterns with the platinum bands. There will be designs that appeal to everyone with these rings. It should not be too hard to find a specific design of platinum wedding band that you really like.

Benefits of Platinum Wedding Bands

Platinum wedding bands provide a unique appeal that sets them apart from both gold and white gold wedding bands. There are many different designs and patterns to choose from that improve the overall appearance of the ring as well.

Platinum wedding bands also provide a classic look that cannot be matched by the gold and white gold rings that are available. One other major benefit of buying platinum wedding bands would be that it is a tough metal so the rings will last longer and stay in great condition as well.

Choosing a Set of Platinum Wedding Bands

You can find many different designs of platinum wedding bands. Some with diamond stones, some without. The elegant look of these bands is achievable even without a diamond stone. A small diamond stone can also complement the …

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Garnet Pendant
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Garnet Pendant

Due to garnet’s deep red color, similar to that of a red ruby, it is very commonly found in a selection of two and three-dimensional pendants. But garnet is not only found in a deep red color. Other, more rare colors exist, and are frequently found on high-end jewelry. These include andradite, spessartine, and the basic pyrope (red) garnet.

Andradite

Andradite can come in several different colors from green, yellow, orange, and black, and is mostly mined in Russia, however it has also been found along the Arizona and Mexico border. Perfect andradite gemstones are rare, and have significant jewelry value as accent pieces to other gemstones in the garnet family, or as standalone gems.

Andradite gemstones

Spessartine

Spessartine is a very deep orange member of the garnet family. This particular garnet is mined all over the world, namely in Brazil, Africa, and in some parts of California. Mined spessartine is usually of very good jewelry quality, however the rarity of spessartine commands prices of upwards of $250 per carat for smaller size gemstones.

Pyrope

Pyrope is the classic “ruby red” garnet that most everyone knows. These are the most reasonably priced of all the garnets, however the price varies greatly with the deepness of the coloring. Deeper reds are considered more desirable and more valuable. This is the standard garnet for many birthstone pendants.

Two Dimensional Garnet Pendants

The natural red color of garnet contrasts nicely against a sterling silver or white gold setting, making it a preferred gemstone for bright …

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Diamond Choker Necklaces
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Diamond Choker Necklaces

A diamond choker is basically a choker necklace that contains diamond stones. It is a stunning piece of jewelry that provides a luxurious yet sophisticated and classy appeal. It is a great choice of jewelry to wear for a special event or occasion as it will catch everyone’s attention. The elegance of the design of a diamond choker is something that also puts it ahead of many other choices of diamond necklaces.

This is one of the more unique choices of diamond necklaces that you could choose. The choker necklace shows off a vast amount of diamond stones, either big or small. It does so while being prominent and dominating your fashion image. Due to the intensity of the diamond choker it is often worn as a piece of fashion jewelry only for the most special events.

Diamond choker necklaces can be pricy because they often contain quite a number of diamond stones. It is more common for celebrities and wealthy individuals to wear this type of jewelry. It is especially common to see such individuals wearing a diamond choker necklace at award shows, dinner events, and so on. This is definitely not a piece of jewelry that you would wear casually or professionally but when you are dressing up for a special event it would be perfect.

Diamond Choker

There are imitation diamond choker necklaces available for those that cannot for a real diamond choker necklace. These are basically choker necklaces that are made up of a gemstone that is similar …

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Swarovski Drop Earrings
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Swarovski Crystal Earrings

In today’s jewelry industry, there are certain elite companies that distinguish themselves by offering only the finest products, crafted solely from the highest quality raw materials. One such company is Swarovski, the brand name carrying worldwide recognition for their luxurious crystals and crystal jewelry.

Swarovski crystals are used to create crystal glass miniatures and sculptures and to adorn clothing, jewelry, chandeliers or other home decor elements. All Swarovski sculptures are inscribed with the brand’s logo, which evolved from the original edelweiss flower, to a “S.A.L.” engraving, and finally to the current swan logo.

The brand is nowadays recognized worldwide, sometimes to the point of crystal jewelry being uniquely associated with the Swarovski name. The crystals produced by Swarovski have earned their fame through their unique features: precision cuts, impressive clarity and marvelous sparkle. Swarovski crystals are used to create a wide variety of jewelry, from necklaces and pendants to rings, earrings and tiaras.

The reason why the Swarovski crystals are highly coveted in the jewelry industry is their unique appearance and brilliant refraction characteristics, as well as unparalleled cuts and innovative shapes. In order to obtain the rainbow spectrum refraction that Swarovski crystals exhibit, certain coating techniques are used. One of the most popular is called Aurora Borealis, or simply “AB”, which is a metallic coating used on some crystals to ensure that the light refracted by their surface disperses into a rainbow spectrum of colors. Such technique, in conjunction with a glass composition containing 32 percent lead, yields the …

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Pear Shaped Rings
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Pear Shaped Engagement Rings

Pear-shaped engagement rings are a very unique and popular option today. They are also referred to as a pendeloque or teardrop shape and are basically a combination of the marquis and oval cuts. On a pear-shaped stone, one side is round in shape and the other side tapers to a small point. There are many varieties with regards to stone choice, settings and size available.

The most commonly chosen setting for pear shaped engagement rings is the diamond solitaire. The actual diamonds can be found in many sizes and carat weights and the stone is normally set lying perpendicular to the band. This enhances both the size and the length of the stone and gives it a truly brilliant shine and look. Pear stones are normally set in either a prong or a tiffany setting although there are many other settings that are available.

Other styles for pear shaped engagement ring settings include accented rings which includes other stones that are lined up on each side of the pear-shaped stone. Other, smaller stones are typically placed around the center stone. These other cuts may include pear shapes, round and marquis cuts all of which make beautiful accents for the center pear stone. Cluster settings are another very popular choice. These include smaller clusters of gems that completely surround the pear stone in the center of the ring. Cluster settings normally include smaller round diamonds or other precious gemstones to highlight the larger pear-shaped stone. Many designers also add their own …

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