November 2006 Archives
Meet A King Of Diamond Branding
The art of creating a brand identity for any product is certainly a daunting and sometimes overwhelming task.
Creating a successful brand requires careful planning and effective strategies.
A proper and effective brand identity is crucial to the success of any company selling a niche product. The successful marketing of any product is almost always a byproduct and commensurate with the effort in launching a well designed brand image/theme for that product.
This is especially true in the world of loose diamonds and designer diamond jewelry, since it is often exceedingly difficult to differentiate one diamond from the next.
It takes the special and creative talent of a select few to successfully market a diamond brand; bringing it to the attention of the general public.
Hearts on Fire Diamonds, & The Tiffany Lucida Diamond are a few examples of successful diamond marketing.
One strategic branding and marketing agency in New York City, is spotlighted in Raymond A. Nadeau's ground-braeking new book, Living Brands: Collaboration + Innovation = Customer Fascination, for its approach to developing unique brand identities for its clients.
This company is spearheaded by Jim Feldman and his creative partner Barbara Bonn.
Nadeau calls Jim Feldman and his creative partner, Barbara Bonn, among “today’s finest creative and cultural minds.” He focuses on their work for one of the world’s largest producers of yellow diamonds; the Louis Glick Diamond Corporation. Acknowledging that customers have been “brainwashed” about the superiority of white diamonds, JFCD rejected the sentimental stereotypes of traditional jewelry marketing, instead identifying a new, fashion-oriented target market for the company’s stones, and naming them Blonde Diamonds®. The agency’s launch ad campaign featured glamorous dark-haired women and headlines such as “Meet a Natural Blonde” and “New Blonde in Town.”
Jim Feldman, President of JFCD, says, “In essence, we created the first brand-name for yellow diamond jewelry, which had always been treated as a commodity. Our campaign strategy was to engage the emotions of women for whom acquiring diamond jewelry involves self-worth, self-esteem and often self-purchase. ‘Blonde’ has connotations of luxury, sophistication and passion that resonate with these women. The humor of the headlines caught their attention; the remarkable beauty of the jewelry brought them into the stores. We love the idea that our brand name is becoming the generic for yellow diamonds.”
Diamond Cleaning & Diamond Jewelry Cleaning Tips & Information
We get phone calls literally every day with questions on the proper method for cleaning diamonds and diamond jewelry.
Everyone knows that diamonds attract all of the oils of our skin which makes the stone dirty and grimy and prevents maximum brilliancy from being refracted out of the stone and back to the eye.
Ask any woman how she feels about people touching and handling her diamond engagement ring...it stinks. It is really frustrating to own a beautiful diamond ring and then to see it get dirty so quickly.
Unfortunately, there is much confusion and mis-information out there regarding the best methods for cleaning diamond jewelry.
People talk about ultrasonic cleaners and all kinds of gadgets...we say; stay far away from these problematic devices.
These UltraSonic contraptions are better left for reading glasses..not your diamond ring.
Below is a link to a great blog entry my Dad (Barry) posted awhile back on diamondvues regarding our opinion on what is the best way to care for and clean your diamonds and diamond jewelry.
http://www.diamondvues.com/2006/09/how_do_i_clean_my_diamond_enga.html
Duke It Out, Baby! Battle Royale Shaping Up In Manhattan's Diamond District.
Real estate developer Gary Barnett wants to revitalize our 47th Street Diamond District by building a state of the art modern all-amenities skyscraper that he claims will revitalize and energize New York's Diamond Industry and allow it to successfully compete with emerging Diamond powerhouses in China, India, Mumbai, and Las Vegas.
Not everyone is a Happy Camper.
The full story is here: Brick by Brick
Gorgeous 3 Stone Diamond Engagement Ring!!
Here are a few pictures of a simply stunning 3 stone diamond ring we just shipped out today for one very happy customer!!
The engagement ring is by world famous ring designer, Vatche!
Why Our 'Tiffany' Replica Setting Is The Best On The Market!
We get asked this question every single day.
Our Tiffany replica engagement ring is the most popular Tiffany style ring on the Internet.
We sell more of these exclusive custom settings of our own manufacture, than any other setting by far. We have thousands of testimonials in cyberspace for our ability to manufacture the highest quality Tiffany replica engagement ring on the Internet.
There are a few companies that make a similar claim of creating a 'Tiffany' setting with the best likeness etc. These companies might even be charging a few dollars less than our asking price for our Tiffany replica.
I guess this facilitates the question of whose setting is better...and what is actually the best value for the best likeness.
Although we only promote our product based on its own merits, and our thousands of testimonials are a testament to this, it is still important to point out some clear discrepancies between the Authentic Tiffany Ring/Our Tiffany Replica vs. some of the "better" Tiffany replicas on the market.
Indeed, there are many subtle nuances that go into the perfect manufacture of a 'Tiffany' inspired setting (the most popular solitaire setting of all time) . All of these factors and variables must be accounted for in order for a true Tiffany replica engagement ring to function like the authentic Tiffany, from both a structural/quality and an aesthetic standpoint.
If you read our lengthy description regarding our exclusive Tiffany replica, you will learn about the painstaking detail that goes into re-creating this incredble ring. All of these steps are crucial, in effecting a true Tiffany replica. Take a good look at the actual photographs we provide of our Tiffany replica and compare them to the original. Can you tell the difference? Now compare them with the orginal, as well as against some of the competing "tiffany" replicas. You will see noticeable discrepancies between the original/our replica vs. the other replicas.
True, some replicas are better than others. However, in order for it to actually be indistinguishable from the original Tiffany, down to the very last detail, every minute aspect must be accounted for.
Here is a recent consumer testimonial on a popular diamond information site (www.pricescope.com), where the consumer talks a bit about his research for the best Tiffany replica.
The consumer ended up purchasing a competing Tiffany replica from a different company and went on to make the following observation:
One word of advice to those who are presently squinting at their monitors to find the “best” Tiffany replica: the setting is really, really, really small. Very obvious, yes, but I found myself getting carried away with the extreme close-up pictures. In reality, I would wager that all the “main” replicas will look identical unless you do a side-by-side comparison with a magnifying glass.
Is this really true?
You decide.
I am enclosing 1 example below of this consumers Tiffany replica next to our own.
Do you notice any distinguishable differences in these head on photos?
Take a look at our SuperbCert Tiffany Replica on top. Notice the distinctive and beautiful clawed prongs with their unique taper. See how they are tapered to the diamond without the clutter of too much metal over the top of the stone. We accomplish this by carving a concavity into the inner portion of all 6 prongs, where the loose diamond is actually held in place. Our premise (as well as Tiffany's) is for there to be minimal clutter of metal over the top of your beautiful ideal cut diamond. To this end; we also create our ring basket to the exact specifications of your diamond...no extra metal..and perfect prongs geared to your specific stone!
Now look at the competing "Tiffany" replica. Sure it's decent. However, look at the prongs. These prongs are rounded off and flat, not clawed like the actual Tiffany diamond ring. This is indeed one of the hallmarks of the Authentic Tiffany. Now you might also notice how the prongs come up over the top of the stone a bit more than is necessary...
There are many more differences....
Are they somewhat subtle? Maybe.
Are they only noticeable under a "magnifying glass"?
Certainly not.
Is it worth it for you to spend a few dollars more on these distinctive differences, in order to get a Tiffany inspired ring that is truly indestinguishable from the authentic version?
Only you can answer this question.
Remember however, "you get what you paid for".
Excel Diamonds Custom 'Tiffany' Replica Is The Best, Part 2
Yesterday, I posted a blog entry here, to address a question we get every single day regarding our incredibly popular SuperbCert Tiffany replica diamond engagement ring.
We get asked all of the time, why it is that our 'Tiffany' diamond engagement ring replica has the best feedback on the Internet amongst all Tiffany style rings for its increible likeness and identical quality to the original Tiffany ring.
In my previous entry, as well as on our product description page I spend some time outlining the many nuances, both structural and aesthetic that go into the manufacture of our exclusive Tiffany ring design. All of these factors are critical in making sure that the outcome is exactly like the original.
There are many Tiffany replica engagement rings on the market. The fact that this solitaire setting is the most classic, elegant, and popular of all time has made it the most copied design of all diamond engagement rings.
Certainly, there are some replicas that are better than others. Heck, many diamond and jewelry stores seem to think any generic, cheap 6 prong diamond setting should qualify as a "Tiffany style engagement ring".
My point was/is, if you absolutely insist on an exact likeness to the original Tiffany in terms of quality and look, you have just narrowed down your search to a mere few companies (at best) of which there are definite distinctions between their products.
It is easy for a company to say they manufacture the finest Tiffany replica engagement ring on the market.
Our company doesn't just say it. We back up the rhetoric with comprehensive photos and descriptions of this diamond ring, not to mention the plethora of testimonials in cyberspace for this ring as being indistinguishable from the original.
This brings me to point of this posting.
You may ask yourself; if the SuperbCert Tiffany replica is so darned good etc. and is of the same quality as the original...and SuperbCert talks about not settling for the cheap, "dime a dozen" imitations....then, why buy the best replica if I can buy the authentic original?
Makes sense, no?
This is a great question!
We thought long and hard about this question when we initially conducted our research for the manufacture of this exclusive creation. Our desire was to fill a specific need, not to be the best "copycat".
The problem for the untold thousands of customers who wish to purchase the authentic Tiffany diamond engagement ring is twofold:
1. The authentic Classic Tiffany platinum diamond engagement ring costs a small fortune.
2. (..and this is the kicker..) Tiffany & Co. will only sell you there classic 6 prong engagement ring solitaire when you purchase it together with one of their diamonds. They WILL NOT, under any circumstances, sell you the ring by itself.
The problem, especially with policy # 2, is that the loose diamonds sold by Tiffany, although quite beautiful and typically of ideal cut quality, are NOT the most beautiful and brilliant diamonds money can buy. They are also so prohibitively expensive that you may as well take out a mortgage to buy one.
Educated diamond consumers are well aware of the fact that they can get a more beautiful and precision cut diamond (such as a Super-Ideal Cut Diamond), elsewhere, at a far greater value. Often, this allows them to get a bigger, whiter, and cleaner diamond, for the same money (or even less), than a lesser diamond from Tiffany.
However, these customers would still like to purchase the Tiffany engagement ring, which is noted for its timeless elegance and ability to promote the beauty of a well cut center diamond.
Here is where the consumer gets stuck and a "need" created.
Sure, they would love to purchase the original Tiffany setting. They cannot do so however, without literally paying for the privillege by purchasing the diamond from Tiffany at an exorbitant premium.
These customers just want to be able to create and build the diamond engagement ring of their dreams, with the type of setting they want, the type of diamond they want, at the best possible value.
That is where our company comes in with the exclusive manufacture of our unrivaled SuperbCert Tiffany replica.
Sure, we would love to sell you one of our own Signature, Super-Ideal Cut diamonds to set in our Tiffany replica ring.
However, we make no stipulation that you purchase both the loose diamond and diamond ring setting from our company.
We are more than happy to manufacture our replica Tiffany diamond engagement ring to the exact dimensions for a diamond you already own, or one that was purchased elsewhere.
The bottom line is this;
Sometimes the very best identical replica, presents a far greater opportunity and value than the authentic original!
Getting married/ Need a Priest, FAST! LOOK HERE!
You and your gal decide this minute to get married? Need a Priest real fast?
No problem, no sweat. Rent-A-Priest is here!
Diamonds For Tech Geeks.
That's right. Tech Geeks are peoples too and deserve to enjoy the finer things in life.
Cartoon Barry; The Ultimo Top-Notch Tech Geek.
Despair not you Techies for the corporate world has harkened to your angst and come to your aid.
Grab your wallets, your salvation HAS COMETH: Diamonds For Tech Geeks
Why You Should Not Buy A Loose Diamond From A Drop Shipper
So many Internet companies selling diamonds, jewelry, and engagement rings are unfortunately nothing more than a drop shipper selling pricey diamonds with their tacked on profit, shipped directly from the manufacturer to the end consumer. These guys know squat about diamonds and are basically just pushing paper.
Do a search for loose diamonds on the popular diamond forums like www.pricescope.com & www.diamondtalk.com and you will find dozens of diamond vendors selling the very same diamonds using the drop ship method.
We have advocated for the longest time not to purchase a diamond this way. It is far to dangerous and will often result in a disasterous outcome. A diamond needs to be evaluated in order to make an informed decision.
A perfect case in point, is a woman who contacted us today regarding two cushion cut diamonds that look similar on paper, but are actually of extremely different cut qualities.
Here is a photo of the two stones and a copy of my e-mail to this lady regarding the comprehensive photos and analyses that we sent her.
Continue reading "Why You Should Not Buy A Loose Diamond From A Drop Shipper" »
Should I Buy This Diamond?
Is a question we are frequently asked.
Here are the specs the consumer provided us based on the presentation of his Jeweler who recommended its purchase, calling it an "Ideal" Cut.
Round Brilliant Shape. GIA Grading Reprort
Measurements 6.37 - 6.41 x 3.96mm
Weight 1.00 carat
Price = $11,000.00
Proportions
Depth 62%
Table 56%
Girdle Medium to Thick, Faceted
Culet None
Finish
Polish Very Good
Symmetry Very Good
Clarity VVS1
Color Grade E
Fluorescence None
Even though this diamond has a grading report from the GIA, the foremost diamond grading lab in the world which is definitely a big plus, we recommended that he pass on this diamond.
Why?
Look closely. The correct and proper spread for a 1 carat round diamond should be in the range
of 6.44-6.55 millimeters and show a total depth percentage in the range of 60.7-61.7 percent with a girdle thickness that ranges from thin to medium. This leads to proper balance and enhanced light refraction.
This diamond with a spread of 6.37, depth of 62%, and a girdle thickness of Medium to Thick properly measures for a .96 carat diamond, not a 1 carat stone. Why did the diamond cutter do this?
Money.
The price differential between a .99 carat to a 1 carat diamond in this color/clarity combination is in the range of an extra 10-15%. Thus, the cutter "squeezed" the diamond proportions so as to attain the 1 carat size.
Do your homework and work with a reputable diamond vendor.
GIA Founder Dies.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) lost one of its founding fathers G. Robert Crowningshield --a brilliant gemologist, legendary research scientist, and industry pioneer-- who passed away at age 87 in New York.
Former vice president of the GIA Laboratory, Crowningshield is considered the father of modern gemological research in spectrometry. One of the original founders of the GIA Laboratory in New York, Crowningshield was a paramount scientist who established hard-hitting, results-oriented, ongoing research as a key tenet of the Institute. For more than 55 years, he gave selflessly to GIA and its people, building a body of gemological knowledge personally and deliberately, gemstone by gemstone.
Crowningshield made thousands of significant contributions to the study of gems. His achievements helped lay the foundation of modern gemological research, instilled credibility in the jewelry business, and made Crowningshield one of the most respected and honored men in the industry.
His career was distinguished by an extensive list of "firsts," including groundbreaking findings in the spot method of refractive index determination on Rayner and similar refractometers; spectroscope recognition of treated colored diamonds; a comprehensive study of gem-quality synthetic diamonds; and dyed jade. Crowningshield was also renowned for his expertise in nomenclature and is widely recognized for his contributions in that field, including an acclaimed 1983 treatise, "Padparadscha: What's in a Name?"
Crowningshield made fundamental advances in the understanding and identification of treated and synthetic diamonds; of colored stones such as tanzanite and amethyst, padparadscha sapphire and heat-treated corundum; and of natural and cultured pearls.
He also helped develop and teach the GIA diamond grading system, now the standard system worldwide. Along the way, he shared his wealth of practical experience in hundreds of articles, lectures and industry presentations. Crowningshield's prodigious body of published work across five decades, much of it published in Gems & Gemology, included landmark articles on his discoveries and more than 1,000 entries in the Lab Notes section alone.
In recognition of Crowningshield's immeasurable contribution to the science of gemology, GIA in 1997 formally named its research facility the G. Robert Crowningshield Gemological Research Laboratory. Acknowledged as one of the finest gemological research centers in the world, it continues the tradition of scientific advancement begun by Crowningshield in areas of gem identification and detection. It also continues to build a vast compendium of gemological information on more than 100,000 gemstones in a growing database that began with Crowningshield's own hand-drawn spectrographs of thousands of gemstones he personally identified.
A Pioneer and Star. R.I.P.
Gift Spending To Rise This Holiday Season.
In its annual consumer spending survey for Christmas gift-giving season the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) expects the average household spend to increase 9 percent to $676.
Seventeen percent of consumers suggested they would spend much more than they spent in 2005, about 56 percent said they would spend the same on gifts in 2006 as they did one year ago, and 27 percent said they would spend less for Christmas 2006.
Expected holiday gift purchases for 2006, according to ICSC's survey, found that men plan to spend about $717 and women intend to spend about $637.
43 shopping days to Christmas.
Yellow Gold Is Back!
We've seen it this past year with our customers going for yellow gold settings and wedding bands.
Two-tone rings comprised of 18 karat yellow gold shanks and Platinum baskets are extremely poplular.
London Financial Times reports today on this latest Jewelry trend:
What The Heck Is An "Ideal Cut" Emerald Diamond?
A consumer came on a popular diamond discussion forum just yesterday, asking about an emerald cut diamond he found on one of the online diamond websites.
The emerald cut diamond was defined by this particular vendor as being an "ideal cut" emerald diamond.
Consumer is pretty psyched about the prospect of purchasing an "ideal cut" emerald diamond..and asks advice from some of the experts. Here is a link to this thread.
There are two major problems with this stone being classified as an "Ideal cut" diamond:
1. There is no such classification as of this moment. Indeed, there is no such thing as an "ideal cut" diamond for loose diamonds of this particular shape and facet structure (emerald cut diamonds.). Therefore, to coin an emerald cut diamond with the term "ideal cut" is by definition misleading, unethical, and can only be designed to fool the customer into thinking the diamond is something which it clearly is not!!
2. The actual photograph and information of this particular diamond provided to the customer by the diamond vendor indicates a diamond with a culet that is off center by a whopping 8.4 percent!!
This skewered diamond is quite far from ideally cut, even if such a designation did exist for emerald cut diamonds!!
This is the photograph of the diamond posted by the consumer. Arrows outline the skewered symmetry of this misshapen stone.
This is what a properly cut emerald cut diamond ought to look like!!
Take a good look at the attached photo that clearly illustrates what a Well-Cut and correctly proportioned Emerald Cut diamond should look like.
This diamond is symmetrical.
1. The culet fact is in the center and aligned with the Table facet above (Blue Arrow).
2. The step facets emanating from the center culet facet are of the same size and equidistant from each other and adjacent facets (Red Arrows).
3. The East-West junction facets are symmetrical, of even size, and the same distance away from the culet's center point (Yellow Arrows).
4. The step facets at the diagonal junctions are of the same size and distance from each other (Green Arrows).
Waiting for Him to Buy You that Diamond?
I know for some of you wonderful Ladies, Godot will sooner show up!
So it is with interest that we note that 68 percent of those surveyed in a new Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC) study said they've bought diamonds for themselves.
The study of 3,553 JCOC panelists took place between Oct. 27 and Nov. 1, with 83 percent of respondents saying they own diamond jewelry. Self-purchase topped bridal, holiday and birthday gifts, which were the next highest in rank, according to respondents.
As the holidays approach, the survey found that 16 percent intend to buy diamond jewelry, with well over half citing it as a self-purchase. More than a third said they were undecided, with the potential to buy diamonds either as gifts or for themselves. With a significant amount of consumers willing to self-purchase, the most popular price range for diamond jewelry other than bridal is between $300 and $2,500. Right-hand rings are the most favored style, followed by stud earrings.
Heartfelt Testimonial For Excel Diamonds
We are always touched when we receive a really heartfelt testimonial from one of our happy customers!
Here is one such testimonial received today and posted to this popular diamond information website.
The photo below is of this customers beautiful princess cut diamond ring!
You Know A Gorgeous Asscher Diamond When You See One!!
I got a chance today to play with a whole bunch of beautiful Asscher cut diamonds for our clients...
Took a whole boatload of pics. ;) of gorgeous Asschers ranging from 3.09 carats (a stunning 3.09 carat!!) to .80 carats, D color, to I color.
Some were better cut than others and a few were drop dead gorgeous!!!
Let me tell you; when an Asscher diamond is cut right...it is one of the most beautiful diamonds on the planet!!! Just an incredibly elegant stone..with amazing sizzle and pop!!
Here are a few photos of a particularly gorgeous Asscher diamond that I got to spend time with today...ya gotta love it!!
Nobody would ever believe this was an I color diamond.....the magic of "Cut"!!
Take a look!
How Do I Buy A Diamond Over The Internet?
Is a good question many consumers are asking.
Excellent discussion ongoing here: Click, Click. There's My Diamond!
Where Have All The Diamond Cutters Gone?
New York?
No.
Israel?
No.
Belgium?
No.
China, my friends.
China?
Yup, China!
China has become the manufacturing powerhouse of diamond industry during the past three to five years. There are more than 100 diamond-cutting factories in the mainland, each one employing 100 to 4,000 workers. The total number of diamond cutters in the country now stands at about 60,000.
Approximately 6.1 million carats of rough diamonds are processed in China every year. Guangdong province in the south and Shandong province in the east are the major locations for diamond polishing due to their low labor costs and skilled workers.
The import of rough diamonds and re-export of polished diamonds is tax free, another benefit.
Say this real fast: "Chinese Diamond Cutter".
It's gonna take some getting used to.
Check Out These Diamond Studs!!
I was taking some photos today of matching diamonds for one of our customers who is looking to buy a pair of Ideal cut diamond studs.
Here is one particular photo I really liked.
More Beautiful Asscher Cut Diamonds To Drool Over!
It seems like I've been looking at one beautiful Asscher cut diamond after another, all week this week.
The ratio of Asscher cut diamonds we are getting requests for at the onset of this Holiday selling season is pretty incredible.
It seems like these diamonds are all the rage right now and judging by some of the really beautiful ones I've sold this week..I can see why!
Take a look at this monster!! I took these pics. today!
How Much "Sex", sells Diamond Jewelry??
It seems like everywhere I look these days, I see jewelry companies and websites promoting their diamond jewelry with pictures and banners of scantily clad models wearing some kind of diamond necklace, or diamond jewelry.
The interesting thing is, the focus is almost always highlighted around the models voluptuous chest.
What gives?
I mean, I know the age old expression that "sex sells", but how much of it...and where do you draw the line?
At what point does the jewelry become secondary to the female anatomy?
At what point do you actually look at an ad slick for some diamond jewelry and entirely miss the point that some jewelry store is soliciting your business for JEWELRY, because you are too caught up with the racy photo?
I would think that at some point, the use of an almost nude model, in what is actually an ad for an entirely different product ;), becomes more of a diversion and distraction than an ASSet (pardon the pun).
We also feature a nice looking model on the cover of our SuperbCert diamond website. My designers talked me into it and I agreed to go with the photo. At that point I thought it to be cool but a bit risque.
A few years later..and by today's apparent standards, our model seems almost mummified next to some of these other models!
Here is a look at a recent banner that caught my eye...(for the beautiful jewelry..of course ;))
This banner ad was sent to me in an e-mail and it REALLY confused me:
Hmm....wonder what these guys are selling??
This one tops everything I've seen so far...the recently created diamond bra from Hearts on Fire diamonds.
Does "Sex really sell" or are we just losing touch....(and a bit of control)??
Tripping On Fresca At The Office!
We go through alot of soda cans here at the office every week.
Between meeting with clients in our showroom (sodas are gratis...diamonds are not ;)), and our own consumption, we need to stock a decent amount of soda cans.
The problem is, my Dad has no clue what a "decent stock" ought to look like, so instead he just has a boat-load of soda cans ordered!
The other problem is that Dad really likes Fresca so that's all we have! The rest of us in the office like Fresca too...but I think it might be time for a change.
I guess this means were gonna order a boat load of diet coke for next week!
I'll know we need serious help when there are more soda cans than diamonds flying around here!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Emerald Cut Diamonds Selling Very Well This Season
We have had a suprisingly large number of calls so far this holiday season, for well cut emerald diamonds.
Many people are opting away from popular diamond shapes to some of the more elegant and classic shapes.
Within this trend, emerald cuts seem to be surging.
I'll keep you posted ;)
Today Is My Birthday!!!
Today I turned 28.
I was born on November 20, 1978.
Methinks I'm gonna ask Dad for BIG diamonds to set in a pair of cufflinks!
....or maybe a vacation! ;)
Excel Diamonds Launches Custom Jewelry Gallery!
Press Release: Nov 21, 2006. Excel Diamonds, home of the SuperbCert Signature Ideal Cut Diamond, announces today the launch of the much anticipated Custom Jewely Gallery.
This stunning selection of custom made jewelry is comprised of categories for custom diamond engagement rings, custom diamond eternity rings, Custom Diamond rings and right hand rings, custom diamond necklaces and pendants, custom diamond bracelets, and custom diamond earrings.
Director of sales and marketing, Judah Gutwein, expresses excitement over this new development which will showcase Excel Diamond's ability to create one of a kind custom made engagement rings and high end jewelry.
"We have always been known as a reliable and reputable Internet source for the highest quality diamonds, ideal cut diamonds, and engagement rings. This new gallery of our custom jewelry creations will promote our unique ability to create dazzling jewelry in our own factory" , says Gutwein.
Nearly all of the custom engagement rings and jewelry from Excel Diamonds are customized to the exact specification of the customer.
"It is incredibly special when a customer has the ability to work with us hand in hand to create the custom diamond engagement ring of their dreams. This is an altogether emotional and momentous purchase for every couple. Imagine her surprise and pride when you tell her that you actually worked with the jeweler to design her engagement ring!"
For information on how you could create the custom diamond engagement ring of your dreams, please contact Excel Diamonds Toll Free at 866-829-8600.
Imelda Marcos Is BACK!
With a vengeance, my friends.
Former first lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos—known for spending millions on shoes, clothing and real estate while her countrymen lived in poverty—has launched a fashion jewelry collection.
Marcos, 77, created the Imelda Collection this month after learning of the "hopelessness and helplessness of Filipinos everywhere," according to the collection's Web site.
Marcos used components of her personal collection of costume jewelry from around the world and Swarovski crystals to create the jewelry, which includes bib necklaces, brooches and bracelets.
"You don't have to be rich to be beautiful," Marcos says in a statement on the Web site. "Sometimes I have been rich. Sometimes I haven't. But there is still beauty out there. It may cost you the earth, it may be quite cheap, but in nature it might even be free."
Marcos created the jewels at the urging of her son, Martin "Borgy" Manotoc.
The Web site does not give further information about the jewelry's distribution or price points.
The shoes, Imelda, your 3000 pair of shoes!! Give us the shoes!
Buying Your Diamond Engagement Ring: Make Sure You Don't Become the Basted Turkey!
For many of us procrastinating guys, Today, Thanksgiving, marks the very last day of procrastinating from getting her that Diamond Engagement Ring or other Diamond Gift before Christmas hits next month.
So enjoy the Turkey today, the Beer! and the Triple-Header NFL line-up of games because starting tomorrow no matter how bloated, sick, and out of it we feel, we gotta put the pedal to da metal and get this gig done, PRONTO!
For the great majority of us, we'll be shopping for the Diamond Engagement Ring on the Internet.
It's convenient, fast, and demands very little physical exertion.
Be careful and check out the Vendors. Make sure that their listed diamonds are either in-house or can be shipped in to them by the supplier/manufacturer so that they can physically examine them for you, supply you with extra data, info, and photos, and to insure that there are no problems with the diamond.
Most Diamond Internet Vendors today carry what is called Virtual Diamond (VD) lists of diamonds that are supplied to them by manufacturer/wholesalers that are looking for a Retail window of opportunity. These diamonds are advertised with minimal information about the stone and if ordered are directly drop-shipped to you by the Manufacturer and is never "seen" by the Vendor you ordered it from. The information provided by a lab grading report is a useful start but tells you nothing about the face-up visual beauty of the diamond.
We recently blogged about this disturbing trend here:
and posted an informative thread to Diamondtalk.com on why it is dangerous to totally rely on "numbers" to buy a diamond. Playing The Diamond "Numbers" Game Doesn't Work
Bottom Line is this: get as much information as you can about the diamond and Vendor before you put your hard-earned money down on the Table.
Good Luck, Guys!
Cyber Monday Is HERE!!
Shares of Internet retailers dipped along with the overall market on "Black Friday" as the dollar weakened and investors remained concerned about consumer spending.
Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, is usually the second-busiest day for shopping in person. The following Monday, known as "Cyber Monday," is generally a busy day for Internet retailers.
ComScore Networks, which tracks Internet spending, expects online sales of almost $600 million on Monday, which would be higher than any single day during the 2005 holiday season. Online retailers raked in $484 million on Cyber Monday last year.
ComScore estimated sales for the first 19 days of November rose 23 percent this year. This suggests online holiday spending is "strong coming out of the gate," ComScore Networks Chairman Gian Fulgoni said.
However, a MasterCard Worldwide study released Monday showed "Cyber Monday" is something of a myth -- and doesn't rank in the top five days for Internet shopping. Based on information from billions of credit card transactions over the past several years, MasterCard said online shopping actually peaks a week after Cyber Monday. In 2005, Cyber Monday was the ninth-busiest online shopping day of the year.
In midday trading Friday, Amazon.com Inc. and Ebay Inc. each fell about 1 percent, while RedEnvelope Inc., a San Francisco-based Internet retailer of upscale gifts, fell about 3 percent. However, the downward movement wasn't specific to Internet retailers -- the broader market was off slightly in Friday's shortened trading session as the dollar declined and traders bet on lower interest rates.
Get your Credit Cards ready, Get Set, Go................................
Nintendo Wii and Buying Your Diamond Engagement Ring: There is a Connection!
Nintendo Wii
Exceldiamonds Tiffany Classic Replica
No, I didn't toke on some bad weed or have too much tryptophan cross my blood-brain barrier by overdoing the Thanksgiving Turkey.
Nintendo's launch of the Wii over the Thanksgiving Holiday got me to thinking.
No, my friends, I actually see a connection here and it's this.
The Wii is cool,dude, because it allows the Player to actually physically interact with the objects on the screen to the point where you are "there"! You're the Tennis Player, the Boxer, the Baseball Player! How cool is that?
Now we sell beautiful diamonds, engagement rings, and jewelry on our Exceldiamonds.com website. We provide tons of data, information, and photographs on all of our products.
BUT!
You still can't reach out and touch the dang things!
So, Nintendo, SONY, somebody within the sound of my voice, figure out a way for a retractable arm to come out of our Computer screen to and through to the Customer's screen bringing diamonds and settings for their viewing pleasure.
You see it, you touch it, you like it, you buy it. Voila!
Shop within the comfort of your Home or Office! No Traffic or Parking hassles, no getting your tired tootsies stepped on, no need to navigate nattering pushy jewelry store salespeople!
Ahh Mechayah!! (That's pleasure for you people out in the Mid-West).
Farfetched, you say? Meshuggah, you think I am?
Nuu, so think about it already...makes ah lot of sense.
While you're thinking, you'll please excuse me for a bit...got to go answer this e-mail from Rod Serling.
Sweet Chocolate Diamonds
A gift of custom-made chocolates is being iced with a lot more than sugar in Missouri this Christmas season.
A suburban St. Louis chocolate maker and jeweler have teamed up to offer a box of candy decked out with 13 pieces of diamond jewelry.
Their asking price is a cool $1.5 million.
Lake Forest Confections and Simons Jewelers in Clayton created the gift by combining an assortment of chocolates with plenty of jewels.
In addition to lots of diamonds, the jewelry features sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
The gift is being called "Le Chocolat" and will be presented in an intricate box made in Europe.
Chocolate maker Bud Kolbrener says if a serious buyer comes forward, he'll custom make the chocolates out of fresh fruits, creams or even dusted in 24-karat gold.
Asscher Cut Diamond Engagement Rings Surging!!
We have seen an incredible surge in sales of Asscher cut diamond engagement rings, so far this holiday season!
Well cut Asscher diamonds have gained tremendous popularity amongst consumers, because of their amazing brilliance and elegant facet structure.
Here is a diamond engagement ring with a center Asscher diamond that we just shipped out yesterday to one of our customers.
