Win Up to 5 Pieces of Jewelry and a 1.00ct Diamond in Danforth Diamond’s Super 6 Sweepstakes September 21, 2011
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds, Buying Engagement Rings, Diamond Jewelry, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Win Diamond , 42comments
Danforth Diamond, your online engagement ring expert, is launching a facebook sweepstakes beginning September 19, 2011. Five lucky winners will receive fun and elegant silver or gold pieces from Danforth Diamond’s jewelry collection. A grand prize winner will receive a one carat cushion cut diamond!
Danforth Diamond offers a wide selection of classic solitaire, three stone, antique and designer engagement rings which are all offered in 14K gold, 18K gold, platinum and palladium. Even with this great selection of engagement rings, Danforth Diamond knows the importance of educating their customers on metal properties, the 4 C’s of diamonds and other tricks of the trade. Now, with a presence on Facebook, Danforth Diamond provides a social platform for customer’s that want to share their jewelry knowledge and buying experience
“Our goal with the extensive Learning Center on Danforth Diamond is to educate our customers on metals and diamonds so they can purchase with confidence,” said Jill Renee, president of Danforth Diamond. “Creating a vibrant facebook community will create a platform where our fans become teachers. We can’t think of a better way to create an excited fan base of jewelry fanatics than by giving away five pieces of jewelry and a 1.00 carat cushion cut diamond with almost perfect criteria!”
The one carat cushion cut diamond has an ideal cut with G color and VS1 clarity. There is no fluorescence, and it is GIA certified. The retail value of the diamond is $5,585. The first five prizes include a sterling silver bracelet with butterfly charms valued at $150, a sterling silver bracelet with three stretched oval gold dust links valued at $185, 14K two tone gold hoop earrings valued at $460, a sterling silver bracelet with ladybug charms valued at $230 and a 14K white gold diamond cluster necklace valued at $600. Drawings will occur every Monday for 6 weeks starting on October 10th! The grand prize winner will be drawn on November 14th and the winner will take home the diamond! To view all of the prizes please visit danforthdiamond.com.
Drawing will occur every Monday for 6 weeks, starting on October 10th! The grand prize winner will be drawn on November 14th and the winner will take home the 1 carat diamond!
To view images of the prizes, please visit http://www.danforthdiamond.com/super-6-sweepstakes.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!! Jill Renee
Even Kate Middleton must choose Dresses and Jewelry for her Bridesmaids! April 12, 2011
Posted by Jill Renee in : Engagement Rings, Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry , 1 comment so far
Kate Middleton has chosen five bridesmaids, ranging in age from five to twenty-five, to stand by her side as she officially becomes royalty. There is hype not only surrounding Kate’s gown but also surrounding the gowns of the bridesmaids. While some information about the wedding has been revealed, such the baker of the royal wedding cakes, we have received no information regarding the designer(s) of the bridesmaids’ gowns or the royal gown.
According to legend, the bride and her bridesmaids would dress alike in order to protect the bride from potential kidnappers. In the middle ages, men would often capture a bride from a neighboring town if there was a shortage of women within his community. It seems that the royals have loosely followed this tradition by modeling their bridesmaids’ dresses after their own. Princess Diana’s bridesmaids, mostly young girls, wore white dresses resembling the royal gown, especially in the sleeves. Also according to royal tradition, the same designer is used for all dresses, which naturally weaves a similar touch through all the gowns.
Perhaps Kate will stick with tradition and model her bridesmaid’s gowns after her own! For now, we will have to wait and see!
Speaking of bridesmaids, we are often asked, “When is the best time to hand out bridesmaids’ gifts?” We suggest handing out your bridesmaids gifts during the rehearsal dinner! Waiting until the day of the wedding may put more stress on you, which is the last thing you need on your wedding day! Also, a very popular gift to give bridesmaids is jewelry that they can wear on the day of the wedding! Check out our bridesmaids’ jewelry at danforthdiamond.com. Jewelry, especially pearl jewelry, is a gift that is useful for the wedding day and your bridesmaids’ can wear beyond the wedding day.
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5 Reasons Why Buying Online is NOT Scary… April 5, 2011
Posted by Jill Renee in : Jewelry , 2comments- Helpful and Knowledgeable Sales Representatives
- Better Value – 40% lower than retail stores
- 30-Day, No Questions Asked Return Policy
- More Selection – All Rings are Made to Order
- No Pressure
We understand the excitement and confusion that come along with buying an engagement ring! You search and search for the perfect ring that will take your girlfriend’s breath away yet you must stay within a reasonable budget. Visiting local jewelry stores allows you to talk to a sales representative face to face and to hold the jewelry in your hand but it also gives you fewer choices and you end up spending more money. 
Our sales representatives are always here to help you! They respond quickly to e-mails and phone calls and are happy to spend time with you on the phone to discuss any and all rings you may be considering. Our sales reps will pull up the picture and a sample ring (if it is available) and do the best they can to describe ring measurements and details. Also, our jewelers are in-house and can quickly respond to technical and theoretical questions. We can let you know if alterations can be made to the ring without going through a third party. This lets you easily create a unique and special ring that fits your exact personality.
Buying an engagement ring over the internet can be an intimidating and uncertain procedure but it also gives you the opportunity to get a better value on your engagement ring without sacrificing quality. Buying a ring from danforthdiamond.com will save you 40% off retail prices because of lower overhead, not lower quality! You pay 40% less because we don’t have to pay store leases. Yet we still demand high quality and carefully inspect every ring before it is sent out the door.
It may be difficult to trust web photography and grasp the true look of a ring from multiple images and rotating pictures. For this reason we offer a 30-day no questions asked return policy to give you the opportunity to inspect the ring yourself. Furthermore, our sales representatives are happy to take additional pictures and e-mail them to you or answer any questions you might have on the look or measurements of a ring. 
Because all of our rings are made to order, you have a much larger selection when buying online from danforthdiamond.com. If you find a ring on danforthdiamond.com or on any other site that you would like to adjust in order for it to be perfect, give us a call or send us an e-mail and we will see if we can make the ring you have in mind!
Buying online gives you ample time to peruse the site and thoroughly check each and every option WITHOUT the pressure to buy!
Keep the Sparkle in Your Eye! (how to clean your diamond engagement ring) March 22, 2011
Posted by Jill Renee in : Jewelry , 1 comment so farYou have a gorgeous sparkly diamond engagement ring on your finger and the metal shines like new fallen snow, here are some hints on keeping your engagement ring in tip top shape for a long time to come.
Once you come down from the high of being newly engaged regular life will resume. This means cooking, cleaning and work related activities. All of these things will dull the appearance of your engagement ring and diamond. The good news is that this can easily be kept in check with a few simple steps:
- Fill a small bowl with 1/3 cup of ammonia and 2/3 cups of hot tap water. If you are working near a sink, be sure to seal the drain to prevent losing your precious stones.
- Soak your engagement ring in the solution for about five minutes. To remove caked on dirt such as cooking sauces or play dough, soak your engagement ring for ten minutes.
- After your ring has soaked thoroughly, remove it from the solution and gently scrub the prongs and band with a soft toothbrush. Avoid scrubbing your diamonds directly because you may scratch them and do not use an old toothbrush because toothpaste remnants are too abrasive for your engagement ring!
- Rinse your ring under warm running water – make sure the drain is closed!
- Dry your ring on a clean soft cloth and enjoy the renewed sparkle of your engagement ring!
It is also a great idea to have the prongs that hold the diamonds in your engagement ring checked by a jewelry professional one time per year to make sure all is well and that none of the prongs have loosened up. A ring purchased from danforthdiamond.com and still under warranty comes with a free yearly cleaning and tightening. If you follow these simple suggestions your engagement ring will continue to look great year after happy year!
Mardi Gras Update from Danforth Diamond Team! March 16, 2011
Posted by Danforth Diamond in : Jewelry , add a commentOur time in New Orleans has been a blast so far! On Sunday we attended three parades, a barbeque, and a good ‘ol New Orleans style crayfish boil. The parades are unlike anything I have ever seen! It is a great tradition and so nice to see the community coming together with pride for the city of New Orleans. We have attended the parades held by the Krewe of Thoth, the Krewe of Endymion, and the Krewe Bacchus. The Krewe of Thoth was my favorite! Thoth is known for it’s generosity and creativity. They host very child friendly parade and their parade route passes the Children’s Hospital, a home for the blind, and a retirement community. The theme was “Thoth Goes to College” and each float was themed around a different major. The crowds were so excited as the cheered for the passing floats! The crayfish boil was something very new to me as well. It is a whole lot of work for a small amount of meat but well worth it! The cajun spices were the perfect addition to the boil! Today we are taking it easy and resting up for the big day!
Danforth Diamond Mardi Gras Contest! March 3, 2011
Posted by Danforth Diamond in : Jewelry , 2commentsAfter rummaging through my mother’s closet and scouring the racks of trendy discount stores, I am equipped with feathers, sequins and glitter galore! I will squeeze my swabs of purple, green and gold alongside my Danforth Diamond
Mardi Gras beads, business cards, ribbons, and other promotional items! I am excited not only to experience the thrill of Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street but I am also excited to commence the Danforth Diamond Mardi Gras Contest by handing out the first of thousands of purple bead necklaces. My friends and I will be passing out the first beads on March 8th at 8:00am during the Zulu Parade. After Zulu, we will head to the largest parade of the Mardi Gras celebration, the King’s parade! The Krewe of Rex hosts this elaborate parade at 10am in Uptown New Orleans. So look for us on the streets and visit danforthdiamond.com on March 8th! Anyone can register for the Danforth Diamond Mardi Gras Contest and have a chance of winning a diamond necklace! I can’t wait to see you all there! Kate and I are flying down to New Orleans on Saturday and will have to survive a full two days of parades before the marketing campaign and Danforth Diamond contest begins! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and the Danforth Diamond Blog to get an inside look at Mardi Gras in New Orleans!
We are heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras! February 28, 2011
Posted by Jill Renee in : Jewelry , add a comment
Register to Win this Diamond Necklace!
We are joining the festivities and promoting the fun by kicking off our Mardi Gras Contest on Bourbon Street on March 8th, 2011.
Anyone can participate and participants can easily register to win a Diamond Necklace, valued at $357, by visiting danforthdiamond.com. The contest will run for 40 days and 40 nights and the winner will be chosen on Easter Sunday! Three Danforth Sales reps will be trucking thousands of royal purple beads down to New Orleans and handing them out on Bourbon Street to officially commence the contest on March 8th. A medallion hangs from the strand of beads containing information about the contest and the Danforth Diamond Logo. You can follow Kate, Emily and Doug on their journey to New Orleans through our blog at danforthdiamond.com/blog or look for them on Bourbon street! SEE YOU THERE! GET EXCITED!
Happy Chinese New Year! February 3, 2011
Posted by Jill Renee in : Jewelry , add a commentThe Chinese calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles and the New Year celebration correlates with the fifteen days it takes for the moon to transform from a new into a full moon. It is said that the Chinese New Year is similar to the Western Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year packed into fifteen days. These fifteen days of celebration will commence this evening with families feasting together while the new moon rises in the dark night sky.
All over the world, people of Chinese and Vietnamese decent have prepared for this day with a diligent cleaning of the home in order to sweep away any ill-fortune that may have existed in the family. They carefully prepare the home and several traditional meals to bring in good luck, happiness, and longevity. The next fifteen days will be spent forgiving foes and visiting friends while the moon grows larger overhead. Gifts of food, crafts, jewelry and good luck money are shared with children and neighbor alike. Danforthdiamond.com offers a great selection of jewelry to add to your wish list! Check out the gold nugget earrings – they are my favorite!
This year we return to the luckiest zodiac sign of all, the year of the rabbit! Those born in the year of the rabbit are articulate and talented, affectionate, yet shy. Zodiac symbols provide a fascinating insight on oneself and offer a time for self reflection. Still searching for gift ideas? Offer someone the wish of good luck with a good luck charm from Danforthdiamond.com! On the fifteenth day the celebration will culminate with the traditional Festival of Lanterns to ring in the Chinese New Year! Children of all ages send hundreds of red and gold lanterns into the sky wishing one last time for peace and happiness to be brought to all in the New Year.
Giving a Diamond Its Color July 26, 2010
Posted by Jill Renee in : Jewelry , 2commentsHow Diamonds get Their Color
People should be forgiven for thinking that diamonds have no color and are brilliantly and sparklingly clear. The truth is that this sparkling, transparency is sold and marketed by diamond merchants and jewelers and the idea that a diamond should have any color at all has been banished from the minds of many. The truth is that almost every diamond has some color to some degree, and there can be a startling variety in the colors that are encountered in nature.
First of all, it is necessary to understand how a diamond is formed to be able to see how color variations are introduced by deformities in the otherwise, precise crystalline structure. Diamond is formed from pure carbon at great depths within the earth’s crust where the pressures and high temperatures are extreme. By heating and crushing the carbon atoms, they are forced into a compact atomic structure which is exceptionally strong and stable. So strong is this atomic, crystalline structure that diamond is the hardest, naturally occurring material known to man.
This crystalline structure is also colorless with light being able to pass through the atomic lattice unhindered. Pure diamond is indeed colorless, and there are some rare examples of them but expect to pay an exceptionally heavy price for them. The fact is that during the formation process, Mother Nature ensures that there is plenty of opportunity for variation in how the crystal structure is formed and which will affect color variation in different ways.
The bulk of color variation in diamonds is caused by impurities being present when the diamond is formed from the carbon melt.
The most common color for diamonds is yellow or brown, and most diamonds you are likely to encounter for jewelry purposes will not be completely colorless but will have a yellowish-hue. For most examples, there will be no discernible color or yellow-hue to be seen with the naked eye, however you may catch a tinge of yellow or a “dirtiness” to the tint of the stone. The yellowing is created by the presence of nitrogen in the carbon forming the diamond, and because this atom is of a slightly different size to the carbon atoms in the crystal lattice of the diamond, this causes some distortion. The physical distortion of the lattice-work in turn creates a distortion of the light passing through the stone, creating a yellow hue.
Other elements may be present such as hydrogen or boron (which will create a grey color), however it is not only impurities which create color variation.
Some diamonds are subjected to radiation sources when they are being formed or lying fully-formed in the earth’s crust. The effect of radiation on the crystal structure is to excite the atomic structure which in turn gives off energy in the form of light and this is responsible for green diamonds.
A third cause of color variation is known as “plastic deformation” and this involves a warping of the diamond crystal lattice itself. The precise arrangement of the carbon atoms is strained or in some instances, broken (but at the atomic level and not visible to the naked eye). Plastic deformation creates the red and pink colors found in diamonds and in some instances, brown diamonds are created by this defect.
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Get it Right – The Importance of Ring Size May 25, 2009
Posted by Jill Renee in : Jewelry , 1 comment so farBuying and engagement ring is something that most people only want to do once in a lifetime. However, buying an engagement ring is a bit more complicated than buying a new pair of shoes or even a new car. Potential buyers have to get a firm grasp on not only the measured qualities of a diamond, but also the taste of the intended recipient. The buyer must then figure out how to make those two things meet at a cost which is within the buyer’s budget. To put it bluntly, there are a lot of variables to consider when buying an engagement ring.
Fortunately, many people are able to trust the knowledge of their jeweler, helping to mitigate potential unforeseen circumstances when shopping for an engagement ring. However, there is one variable which neither the jeweler nor guesswork should be used for: ring size.
This is a detail which seems too important to overlook, and yet many people do. One of the most common justifications given for simply estimating a future-fiancés ring size is the need for surprise and the willingness to “just have the ring resized later.” This logic has one rather significant problem with it – not all rings can be resized.
To understand why, it helps to know how rings are actually resized. First, it’s important to know whether the band is being made larger or smaller. For a minor enlargement, a jeweler can sometimes just stretch a ring. However, for major adjustments in size, a jeweler must actually cut the ring. To make a ring smaller, the ring is cut and a piece is removed. To make a ring larger, the ring is cut and additional metal is inserted into the band. The ring is then welded back into one piece, massaged back into a circle, polished to hide the cuts, and finally buffed to a shine.
In an ideal world, the process is quick and the results are not noticeable. However, this process obviously cannot be applied to all rings. Why not? Well, there are two critical flaws which can prevent a ring from being resized.
The first such flaw relates to ring’s metal. In order for a jeweler to insert new material to enlarge a ring, the jeweler must know exactly what metal, or blends of metals, that the ring is made of. For this reason, many antique rings, family heirlooms especially, cannot be resized. However, this can extend to white gold rings if the composition of the alloy isn’t known. Mismatching metals can result in spotted or stained rings. Even if metal isn’t being added to a ring, not knowing the composition can cause spotting or staining when the jeweler attempts to melt and buff the ring back to the correct shape.
The second reason why some rings cannot be resized comes down to the process of buffing and reshaping. Rings which have detail lines or contain stones around the band would cause design inconsistencies if metal was to be taken away or added. Stones could be damaged, lost, or destroyed, decorative lines and details smudged, blurred, or even smooshed beyond recognition, and the ring essentially ruined.
Yes, there are alternatives to resizing. A jeweler might be convinced to swap out a ring, if the ring had purchased new. Ring guards, a metal piece inserted into a ring to make it smaller by taking up space, can be used for rings that are too large. However, these are overlooking one very important fact – when you’re on bended knee looking up at the one who just became your fiancé, you want her to be able to wear the ring right away. And you want it to fit.
The ultimate lesson is that ring size isn’t something you should guess at, nor is it something that you should consider fixable at a later date. Finding a ring size discretely might not be easiest task, but seconds after you pop the question, it will certainly be worth it.
Jill Renee – This article is provided by DanforthDiamond.com a leading authority on wedding rings, engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RIN
