Picking the Right Diamond and Ring Setting October 11, 2007
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds, Buying Engagement Rings, Buying Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Jewelry, Palladium Jewelry, Proposing Marriage , add a commentDeciding to propose to the special somebody in your life is a huge decision, one that will lead you down a path of even more decisions. Of course, the first thing that needs to be decided after you’ve decided to propose is what type of engagement ring to get. Between diamonds and settings there are so many choices that it can be overwhelming. Hopefully this can be cleared up.
The Diamond
While you’re probably more than familiar with the 4 C’s of diamonds, there are other things to consider when choosing a diamond, chief amongst them, the shape. Here we’ll focus on the shape and two of the C’s; cut and carat. Clarity and color can be saved for another day.
The Shape
With so many shapes out there it can be confusing as to the actual differences, so let’s simply talk about each of them and their individual merits.
” Round” the most basic of diamonds, and the only shape not considered “fancy,” this shape is very much how it sounds – a rounded diamond in the shape of a circle.
“Princess” arguably the most popular shape, this squared diamond has only grown in popularity while still being a relatively new shape. The princess diamond tends to find its way into solitaire engagement rings more than any of the other shapes.
“Emerald” a rectangular shaped diamond, this shape is reflective of a classic and aristocratic elegance. Unlike other diamonds, the emerald shaped diamond is not a brilliant cut but rather a step cut, being comprised of larger, planar facets that resemble stair steps and act like mirrors.
“Marquise” long and slender, this shape, originally commissioned by Louis XIV of France, is wonderful for maximizing the carat within the setting. The marquise shape will accentuate the length of the fingers and works well on a person with longer fingers.
“Oval” as the name implies, this diamond shape is a very simple oval. This shape works very well with smaller hands and shorter fingers, giving them the illusion of added length.
• Pear – a hybrid shape combining the best elements of the oval and marquise shapes, it resembles nothing so much as a teardrop. Typically used in pendants and earrings, this shape compliments short to average length fingers, helping to give the illusion of longer fingers much like the oval shaped diamond does.
• Heart – essentially a pear shaped diamond with a cleft at the top, the heart shaped diamond is the ultimate symbol of romance. This shaped diamond is frequently seen in pendants but is more than acceptable as a choice in a ring.
• Radiant – this square or rectangular shaped diamond does an excellent job of combining the elegant and classic appeal of the emerald shape with the brilliance of the round shape.
• Trillion – a wedge of brilliant fire, the trillion shaped diamond was first developed in Amsterdam. Traditionally a triangle shaped diamond, the amount of point at the corners is often open for interpretation, but these diamonds work well as both a compliment to a center stone, a unique center stone in themselves, or as a pair of earrings.
• Baguette – very reminiscent of the emerald shaped diamond, this shape of diamond is frequently used as side stones to a larger center stone. Much like the emerald shaped diamond, the baguette shape doesn’t feature nearly the sparkle of brilliant shaped diamonds, but does offer a classic beauty that is hard to match.
The shape is only the first part of what to look for, at least initially, when considering a diamond for an engagement ring.
The Carat
Carats are essentially a way to measure the weight of diamonds. While the use of the carat measuring system may date back to ancient Oriental bazaars and the carob seed, in the present we know that the more carats in the diamond, the bigger it is.
While the size of the diamond that you get can be determinate on a number of factors, not the least of which is cost, the Setting and Mounting that you choose can also have an influence on the size of the diamond that you get for your ring. (more…)
Journey Diamond Necklace October 2, 2007
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds, Diamond Jewelry, Diamonds, Jewelry, White gold , 1 comment so farWith the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s never too early to start finding that perfect gift for the special woman in your life. To show her that you really care, I can’t help but to recommend the Journey Diamond Necklace. The story of the Journey Diamond Necklace is simple and beautiful – love is an adventure and a journey, one that grows and changes over time. Each diamond in the Journey Diamond Necklace graduates from smaller to larger, each one representing your love as it is ever expanding and ever changing.
I invite you to celebrate your love, its past, its present, and its future with the Journey Diamond Necklace offered by Danforth Diamonds. Designed with a beautiful 14k white gold pendant, each of the diamonds have a clarity of I1 and a color of H-I. With a total carat weight of .50 carats, this is a necklace that will draw the attention of everybody in a room.
Show her how much you really care by taking my advice and looking at the Journey Diamond Necklace from Danforth Diamond. It really is something to behold.
Jill Renee
