Diamond Engagement Rings Archives
Designer Engagement Rings: Tiffany Setting.
More than any other designer engagement ring setting, the classic Tiffany setting has captured the hearts of millions of couples searching for the perfect engagement ring for their loose diamond.
Above: Exceldiamonds.com Version of the Tiffany Classic Setting:
Click HERE for the Tiffany Diamond Engagement Ring by ExcelDiamonds.com
What is it about the Tiffany six prong setting that has so captivated the masses, making it the most popular traditional solitaire diamond ring of all time?
There is more than one answer to this question. However, one reason in particular is the foundation for all others and is the basis of this article.
There is a very core difference in philosophy and objective between the designers of the Tiffany classic setting and the designers of other fashion jewelry rings like Tacori, Verragio, and Scott Kay (to name a few). Many of the manufacturers for designer engagement ring settings have a primary goal of commanding the attention of the viewer to the ring setting itself. They would like the observer to immediately notice not the center diamond but the actual engagement ring and to recognize it as their “branded” setting. To accomplish this goal they will often design ring settings that are extremely “busy” with a lot of filigree and detailing. Many of their creations also feature accent diamonds in different shapes, sizes, and configurations. These jazzed up and gaudy settings effectively overpower the center diamond and draw attention away from the diamond to the ring. Now this is no big deal in an instance where the center round diamond is of poor cut quality and (consequently) appears dull and lifeless to the viewer. In this type of scenario, the ring setting becomes a positive diversion from an awful looking diamond. However, in the case of an Ideal cut diamond which has been crafted to achieve a high level of beauty and brilliance, it distracts the viewer from what should be the prize of the entire engagement ring ensemble; a magnificent and sparkling ideally cut diamond.
The designers and creators of the famous Tiffany Classic Engagement ring setting had the primary objective of promoting the beauty of a well cut diamond in mind. They were preoccupied with creating the ultimate complement to a high quality loose diamond. Theirs, would be the type of ring that would literally push the diamond into the light and highlight its beauty and brilliance for all to see. There would be no distraction from the prize (center diamond) to the ring setting. At the same time, they made every effort to create a setting that would be timeless, understated, and elegant; an engagement ring that would radiate class and not scream fad. Thus, the magnificent Tiffany diamond engagement ring was born.
Here is a direct quote taken from the Tiffany website:
“Over a lifetime a woman may look at her engagement ring one million times or more. Design is important. Every Tiffany setting shoulders the diamond with consummate respect, honor, and grace. The diamond is the Hero. The stone is held properly by the girdle, to maximize light moving in and out. The prongs are thick enough to hold the stone tightly, yet thin enough to be a beautiful design element. Each Tiffany ring has balance and pleasing proportions. Design gimmicks and fads are eschewed.”
What we found during the course of our extensive research was that everybody selling any type of cheap six prong setting was calling it a “Tiffany style setting”. We were truly amazed that these the diamond vendors and companies selling these generic, cookie cutter settings were trying to pass them off as “Tiffany replica rings”. The fact of the matter is that these settings share nothing in common with the actual Tiffany setting. They are usually of poor manufacture, less than pure platinum, lightweight, and don’t look or function like the actual Tiffany. Any person who is even remotely familiar with the beauty and grace of the actual Tiffany ring can immediately recognize the tremendous discrepancies in these cheap fake Tiffany rings and knockoffs.
Here is a link to view an excellent replica of the Tiffany Classic Setting:
Classic Tiffany Style Solitaire Engagement Ring Setting by Exceldiamonds
Above: Tiffany Replica Setting by Exceldiamonds.com
Diamond Engagement Rings
I thought it would be important to provide you with a list of different types of Diamond Engagement rings. There are so many different styles of diamond rings that it often gets confusing when the time comes to make the big purchase! There is a never-ending selection of unique engagement rings available today and it is important to know what your options are.
Platinum engagement rings are extremely desirable due to the incredible contrasting qualities of the precious metal to the white center diamond!
There are 3 stone diamond rings that are incredibly popular today as a result of a major marketing strategy on the part of DeBeers...
Traditional Diamond Solitaire Rings like the classic Tiffany Engagement ring, have obviously been the most popular diamond rings of all time and will never go out of style.
Diamond engagement rings are available with accent diamonds on the side or even precious gemstones, such as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.
There are even some designer companies today like Gelin & Abbaci and Scott Kay that have created Tension setting diamond engagement rings where the diamond seems to be suspended in mid air without the aid of a 4 prong or 6 prong setting.
I have enclosed a photo collage below of some different types of diamond engagement rings that are available today.
Of course you can visit us at www.ExcelDiamonds.com for the finest selection of breathtaking and unique diamond engagement rings!
Enjoy!
Whats the Deal With Engagement Ring Tension Settings?
Lately, people have been calling and asking about diamond engagement ring tension settings.
Sample of a Diamond Tension Engagement Ring
Our company does not manufacture or carry diamond tension settings, nor do we advocate their usage.
The fact of the matter is that a tension setting engagement ring may be funky and faady, but it will not (and cannot) protect the integrity of your diamond the same way that a 4/6 prong setting will.
It is our opinion, (and that of many experts in our industry) that a tension setting engagement ring poses a great liability to the proper and adequate protection of your diamond. Given just the right knock against a hard surface your diamond will be in danger of popping right out of the setting, never to be seen again! We believe that "adequate" protection is just not adequate (pardon the pun..) when it comes to protecting your valuable diamond.
Therefore, we cannot in good conscience sell tension setting engagement rings on our website and strongly caution our customers against buying one.
As a complete aside, I happen to dislike tension settings from an aesthetic point of view, since I believe that they lack tremendously in elegance. True; they are funky at the moment but will definitely not have the staying power and timeless appeal of the more traditional diamond engagement ring settings.
Diamond Tension Setting Concept: Tension rings are created with special alloys that put anywhere from 65 to 95 pounds pressure on the center diamond. The precious metals are especially hardened by pressure or by thermal treatment. This special treatment to the precious metal results in the precious metal having a certain toughness which will grip the diamond without the need of a bezel or claws. The diamond is pressed by the girdle on each side by the metal of the of the ring. Each metal end has a small groove or concavity called the 'seat' into which a small section of the girdle fits.
Diamond engagement ring
Here are some pics of a diamond engagement ring we just created for a customer of our who is flying in today from Florida to pick it up! The princess cut diamond ring features our Signature SuperbCert Princess Cut 1.40 carat, F color, VS2 clarity Diamond set in an elegant white gold engagement ring setting.
An important aspect to this unique engagement ring is the "chevron" or "V" tip prongs that encase the four points of the princess diamond so as to protect the structural integrity of the stone.
For more information on our Signature Princess Cut Diamonds which are crafted to achieve maximum brilliance and beauty, click on this link:
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/education/superbcert-princess-cut.php
New Designer E-Rings by Vatche!!
Hey Everyone!!!
I just got word from Max Krause; Dir. of Sales & Marketing over at Vatche (www.dvatche.com) that they now have a new line of designer wedding rings and diamond engagement rings which we will be featuring (in our capacity as an authorized retailer) on our retail diamond and jewelry website very shortly.
Some of these designs cater to the latest styles of wedding rings worn by celebrities and "fashion-istas" (is that a word?) all over the world.
Here is a peek.
Judah
More Designer Engagement Rings by Vatche!!!
Hey Everyone,
Thought you might like to see a few of of the breathtaking new diamond engagement rings by Vatche!!
This is part of a brand new collection that we are featuring on our website (as an authorized Vatche retailer) from this outstanding designer.
Enjoy the eye candy!!!!
More New Engagement Rings by Vatche!!
Some more eye candy for you; these gorgeous diamond engagement rings with matching womens wedding bands, by master jeweler -- Vatche!!
Diamond Engagement Ring Eye Candy.
2.54 carat G color/VS-2 Clarity Superbcert Princess Diamond in the Vatche Royal X Prong Setting.
Diamond Engagement Rings: Eye Candy II.
Hand crafted, Custom, 18kt. Yellow Gold Tiffany Replica Channel Setting by Exceldiamonds.
.86 carat G Color, SI-1 Clarity center SuperbCert diamond with .35 TCWT F-G color, VS clarity channel set
diamonds.
Diamond Engagement Ring: Eye Candy III
Here is a 3 stone diamond engagement ring set in white gold by Exceldiamonds.
The Center Diamond is a 2.01 carat, H color, SI2 clarity Cushion cut diamond.
The flanking side diamonds are half moons weighing a total of .66 carats (.33 each) and are H color, SI1 clarity diamonds.
Diamond Engagement Rings: Eye Candy IV.
3 Stone Platinum Truffle Ring by Vatche. Diamonds are Superbcert.
Custom Tiffany Replica Platinum Channel Set Diamond Engagement Ring by Exceldiamonds. Center Diamond is a 1.63 H Color/ VS-2 Clarity Superbcert. Channel set diamonds are .35 TCTWT F-G Color / VS Clarity.
Halo Rings Anyone?
We have just added these beautiful Halo Rings manufactured by Vatche to our Exceldiamonds.com website.
Beautiful.
More Bling! Bling! For You!!
Here are the latest Diamond Engagement Rings from Vatche!
Tiffany Engagement Ring? You Decide.
Why in the world does every diamond vendor on the internet selling these ugly, generic, cookie cutter, 6 prong diamond mountings feel like they can call it a "Tiffany Engagement Ring"?
I mean, these things rings are inferior to the actual Tiffany ring in sooooooo many ways.
They are poorly constructed in lightweight "platinum" or "14kt. gold".
They have porosity all over the place.
They don't look like the actual Tiffany.
They don't feel like the actual Tiffany.
They are not of the same quality as the actual Tiffany.
It seems like any ring that has a 6 prong head on it gets labeled as a "Tiffany style engagement ring".
Why don't you decide. (Remember this is just off a picture. In real life you'd "see" the difference with your eye closed.)
Actual Tiffany Ring
Cheap "Tiffany" Knock Off
Decent "Tiffany" Knock off
Exact Tiffany Replica
Here is the finest Tiffany replica engagement ring on the internet. See the difference.
Custom Micro Pave Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum!
Hey Folks,
Check out this custom made diamond engagement ring just completed in the factory.
You are looking at a custom built setting of solid 950 platinum, set with 48 (melee) round brilliant diamonds of .01 each (.48 carat total weight) in a intricate micro pave setting.
If you are familiar with this gorgeous style you will recognize this as being an exact replica of the now famous Micro Pave Diamond Engagement Ring by the popular designer, Vera Wang.
Personally, I think this is a beautiful and unique engagement ring setting for showcasing a well cut diamond.
It is not something that your going to typically see on the fingers of all of your co workers.
And it is a showstopper!!!!
Tiffany To Open Two New Diamond & Jewelry Stores In China.
Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co., plans to open two new stores in China during 2006. One store will open at Beijing's Oriental Plaza, and a second store at Shanghai's Plaza 66. Beijing is scheduled to open in May, and Shanghai could open towards the end of the year, the company reports.
"The Oriental Plaza in Beijing and Plaza 66 in Shanghai are ideal environments for a Tiffany store," said Darren Chen, group vice president at Tiffany & Co. "These convenient locations expand our presence both in Beijing and Shanghai, cities of growing importance as global business centers and as destinations for both domestic and overseas tourists."
Once the new stores open, Tiffany will have a total of two stores in each of those prominent cities. Tiffany currently has a boutique in Beijing's Peninsula Palace Hotel, which opened in 2001, and a boutique in the City Plaza shopping complex in Shanghai, which opened in 2004.
How do say "Bling-Bling" in Chinese?
"Bring-Bring"!
Buying Loose Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands, & Wedding Rings: Trust and Verify.
Marshall Loeb of Market Watch quotes our friend and colleague, Jay Mednikow with advice to consumers on how to safely shop for loose diamonds, engagement rings, wedding rings and bands, both in jewlery stores and through internet websites. It is advice we agree with 100% and worth following.
Few purchases are more mystifying for first-time buyers than fine jewelry. There's more information out there than ever - from jewelers' Web sites and online forums to nearly ubiquitous grading reports from independent labs. But buying expensive gems and precious metals is still largely a matter of trust between you and the jeweler.
First, educate yourself on the basics. For diamonds, that means the four Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. For gold, platinum and silver, it means purity.
You can find helpful information on these fundamentals from the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Gemological Institute of America, the most prominent diamond grading agency, provides tutorials on buying diamonds and colored gems at (GIA Education).
"It's less of a blind purchase than it used to be," says Jay Mednikow, president of 115-year-old Mednikow Jewelers in Memphis and Atlanta. "But a jeweler who knows what he's doing can take advantage of you if he wants to."
Thus, there is still no substitute for a reliable dealer with an established reputation. Many jewelers are GIA-certified gemologists and display their credentials prominently.
For diamonds, Mednikow recommends buying only those with grading certificates from GIA, the American Gem Society or another independent laboratory. If a jeweler says he can offer you an uncertified diamond at a discount, tell him you'll pay to have it analyzed since the cost should be only $50 to $300 depending on the size of the stone. Read warranty and return policies carefully and make sure all guarantees are written on your sales receipt - it's your legal contract.
You may have a hard time distinguishing between slight variations in color and clarity, but still trust your own eyes.
Mednikow recommends holding diamonds with a pair of tweezers over your finger or against a white background and under lights of different types and varying brightness. With shapes other than round-cut, which has standard specifications, and with colored gems, you will have to rely much more on the jeweler's expertise.
If you are buying a colored stone such as a ruby, sapphire or diamond, ask if it has been "treated" to enhance the color. Some processes are routine, like heating for sapphires and rubies and oiling for emeralds, but others are temporary or undesirable.
Up to half the gold jewelry sold in the U.S. bears a false karat rating, says Mednikow. Choosing a reliable merchant is your only insurance, although national retailers like Zales and Sears are diligent about the purity of their gold.
Loose Marquise Diamond Shape: What to Look For.
The Marquise Brilliant takes its name from a legend that the Sun King desired a stone to be polished into the shape of the mouth of the Marquise of Pompadour.
The Marquise Brilliant is a boatshaped modified brilliant. It is generally agreed that a length-to-width ratio between 1.75:1 and 2:1 is most pleasing. As with other fancy shapes, a certain degree of what constitutes a beautiful shape has to do with the consumer's individual taste. The ultimate shape of the finished diamond is determined by the rough and what parameters it allows. The typical Marquise Brilliant contains 56 facets.
Of concern to consumers when evaluating a marquise shape diamond is the appearance of a visual pattern called a "bow-tie" which looks exactly like that, right in the center of the diamond. It is true that an extreme bow-tie can be jarring and unattractive to the eye, but some amount of bow-tie is beneficial to the visual appearance of the diamond as it provides contrast brilliance and makes the stone stand out in sharper detail.
Minimal bow-tie indicated by the arrows.
An example of a beautifully cut marquise diamond is shown below.
Diamond Cleaning: Use Efferdent and Smile!
Saw this humorous posting today on Bridal Blog
Here's her story:
I keep meaning to stop in at a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned, but my mother-in-law to be (MILTB) told me this ridiculous slash terrifying story where she swears a friend of a friend of her cousin Phyllis did just such a thing and had her ring replaced with a fake. I realize that the chances of this story being true are infinitesimal, but I’ve yet to stop in and have it done, so clearly there is a tiny part of me that truly believes Phyllis’s friend’s friend. My MILTB went on to say that the BEST and ONLY means one should be using to clean a ring like mine is Efferdent—as in denture cleaner Efferdent.
So, today I did it. I walked into Duane Reade with purpose and conviction, found a box of denture cleaner and bought it. I was so excited to come home and try it out, I could barely contain myself. I heated up some water in a small teacup, dropped in the efferdent tablet, plopped in my ring and stood there watching the water fizzing for five long minutes. Even my dog looked up at me as if to say “you’ve officially crossed the line.”
When I couldn’t handle the suspense for one second longer, I fished my ring out of the icky blue solution, rinsed it off and Bing. Bam. Boom. Seriously, WOW. I may have been temporarily blinded. Dammit all if my ring didn’t look just as sparkly and shiny as the day I got it.
Now I just wonder if an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner can have the same cleaning results for dentures?
Smile!
Plumbers AND Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend!
The Washington Post reports this morning that not only Diamonds but also Plumbers just may be a girl's best friend.
Say what? Well, sometimes plumbers just know. And after 24 years turning wrenches on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University, plumber Ronnie Bledsoe had one of those hunches about where a missing engagement ring might turn up.
Not just any old engagement ring, either, he was told, but a $20,000 rock that got sucked down an automatic-flushing toilet weeks ago.
The loss devastated Debbie Squiccimarri, a New Jersey high school teacher who was visiting the Emmitsburg campus Feb. 20 with her 17-year-old daughter, her sister and her niece when the ring vanished down a toilet in the Cogan Student Union Building.
"Everybody thought the big deal was how much it cost," said Squiccimarri, 43, who first slipped on the two-carat diamond ring after her fiance popped the question on Christmas night. But its real value was closer to the heart than the pocketbook: "I didn't feel engaged anymore after flushing it."
Bledsoe tore apart the toilet that day; Squiccimarri visited the campus's sewage treatment plant before heading home to Ramsey, N.J. Bledsoe even tore apart more pipes over spring break. No luck. Friends, especially ones with plumbing know-how, told Squiccimarri to kiss the ring goodbye.
But maybe, just maybe, Bledsoe figured, if the ring traveled the maze of underground plumbing to an L-shaped juncture under the fourth manhole from the building, where a new six-inch pipe opened, and spilled onto an 18-inch horizontal ledge before dropping down another eight-inch pipe drain . . .
The hunch paid off. On March 20, Bledsoe lifted the manhole cover, spied something bright in an inch of water and fished out the ring with needle-nose pliers.
Yesterday, ring and betrothed were formally reunited. Not a man of many words, Bledsoe said in a telephone interview yesterday: "I was really happy about it because I remembered how down she was the day she lost it." Squiccimarri said she gave Bledsoe a reward but did not want to publicize the amount.
Squiccimarri was visiting the campus on a frigid weekend when she blew her nose and lost the ring.
"I heard it go in. As soon as I moved to the bowl, it flushed -- and they're so loud, those flushes, it was like a freaky feeling when it went," she said. "I just screamed, 'Oh, my God! My ring!' "
She made a tearful call to her fiance, Frank Eufemia, 46, a former professional baseball player who teaches at the same high school.
"Is your arm caught in the toilet?" he asked her. "Because if it's not, stop crying." Later, he even joked: "Well, that was a short engagement."
Bledsoe, 70, of Gettysburg, Pa., said that about half a dozen rings have vanished on campus over the years, usually down sink drains. He estimated that Squiccimarri's ring traveled at least 250 yards from the toilet to the odd twist under the manhole.
"This is just one of those things plumbers understand," he said.
How does that song go? "Finding Love In all the right places"
Loose Baguette Diamond: What Is It & What To Look For.
A straight baguette is a relatively small, elongated diamond that usually is rectangular in shape. The cut is characterized by square corners with rows of step-cut or steplike facets parallel to the table. Baguettes do not conform to the Federal Trade Commission's" 17 -facet" requirement for diamonds.
Straight Baguette.
The name of the cut must proceed the word diamond. Baguettes today are most often employed as side stones, although they also can be the main shape in full-band rings or fashion rings. When used as side stones they serve to camouflage the shoulders of the center stone, masking it £rom the girdle to the culet. Baguettes can also be lined up to produce a continuous flow of diamonds on a ring, bracelet, brooch (i.e. circlet) or necklace.
Baguettes are usually channel-set, but sometimes prong set. Less-expensive baguettes are often channel-set into bracelets. Measured in millimeters more often than weight because their size must be precise for their function, typical sizes for today's side baguettes are from 1.5 mm to 3 mm in length. For larger, more important pieces, designers and retailers may order straight baguettes of 2.7 mm to 4.7 mm, for example.
The word "baguette" is a French word for a long, narrow loaf of bread. This shape, beginning in costume jewelry, is a fashion outgrowth of the 1920s to mid-1930s. During that time, interest in functionalism in architecture and the Bauhaus movement influenced the applied arts and dominated contemporary design. In the Art Deco period, many stones were cut in strict, geometrical shapes, typified by the calibre technique or elongated baguette. In contemporary times, jewelry houses like Bulgari have sustained their use and passion for the baguette. Nicola Bulgari once exclaimed, "We flirt with the baguette." The yield for a baguette from the diamond rough is 38 to 42 percent.
Baguettes are extraordinarily clear. If baguettes are to be used as side stones or as other matched pairs, they must be of similar quality, color and clarity to one another, and to the stone they are enhancing. The step-cut appearance is unforgiving and does not allow for little imperfections in the diamonds. Stay with VS clarity and higher. SI clarity must be examined to insure that the imperfection(s) are not eye-visible. A small chip is much more obvious on a baguette than on a heavily faceted diamond.
Loose Cushion Cut Diamond: What Is It?
The Cushion Cut is a generic name for the Old Mine Cut developed before the turn of the century; these days the name" cushion" is often used for colored stones cut in this shape.
A Cushion Cut is a square or squarish-rectangular cut with rounded corners and 58 brilliant-style facets that resemble a pillow shape, hence the name.
A hundred years ago, when Cushion Cuts were first developed, diamonds were not cleaved into two pieces of rough, as they are today; they were ground down as a single stone and the resulting polished was lumpy and thick. Cushion Cuts have very thin girdles and bigger culets than today's full-cut diamonds.
Designers are requesting Cushion Cuts with big culets, but, in general, the smaller the culet, the better the stone. Older Cushion Cuts return light in blocky patterns; newly cut ones return light in needlelike patterns.
MARKETS AND MARKETING
Cushion Cut diamonds are popular in matching pairs. They are especially being used in larger-carat earrings and also as a center stone in rings. Cushion Cuts first became popular again about ten years ago, and their popularity has increased as designers and antique dealers continue to use them.
Cushion Cuts offer a lot of weight at a moderate price. Larger Cushion Cut diamonds sell for about 30 percent less than full-cuts of the same weight, while smaller cuts sell for about the same. A 1-carat G/VS Cushion Cut stone will sell from $2,800 to $3,800. Two-carat and up stones sell in the $3,500 to $5,000 per carat range. The most popular sizes are .75 to 1.5 carats. The availability of 2-carats and up is a problem because of the high demand for larger stones, both by estate and antique dealers for replacement or repair and by manufacturers.
Look for good clarity and color. Because Cushion Cuts have very thin girdles, girdles on older ones are often chipped. Look for Cushion Cuts that are symmetrical; off-shape ones are difficult to use. Look for a medium culet that is not too heavy, unless you have a special reason to use this cut with a big culet. Pick a mounting that's appropriate for the softer reflections and refractions of a Cushion Cut. Old Mine Cuts were traditionally set in yellow gold or silver with a patina or oxidation; therefore, they look better set in matte metals rather than highly polished ones.
Engagement Ring Purchase onThe Internet: Is This A Good Deal?
Is the question being asked by a consumer this morning on Diamondtalk.com. He has seen a Princess Cut that is being listed on EIGHT different internet diamond websites at different prices!!
Discussion is here: Good Deal?
Here are the multiple listings for this one diamond:
Who really has this diamond?
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42x7.27x5.21 $6209 $13847*SP
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42x7.27x5.21 $6262 $13964SP
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42-7.27-5.21 $6276 $13996*
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42x7.27x5.21 $6291 $14029
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42x7.27x5.21 $6306 $14062*S
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42x7.27x5.21 $6308 $14066*SP
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-stk no gd vg no 7.42*7.27*5.21 $6339 $14136*S
2.23 I VS1 71.7% 72% GIA med-sl thk no gd vg no 7.42x7.27x5.21 $7198 $16051
This diamond is supplied by the manufacturer to many internet websites and is known as a "Virtual Diamond".
Little if any information is provided save for a few numbers off the lab grading report and the price. You are buying blind.
We have blogged on this topic several times. Same Diamond Listed All Over The Internet?
Virtual Diamond (VD) databases do not give you the necessary information you need, e.g.; photo's, Imagescopes, and light performance data such as provided by the Gemex Brilliancescope. As such, these lists are useless. Would you buy a Home this way? I doubt it. Why should your diamond purchase be any different. It's also big money.
This is a big purchase not only because of the money, but even more so because of the emotion and psychology behind it. You need to get this right the first time. Work with Internet websites that give you comprehensive information.
Diamond & Jewlery at Retail: How Much Money Is Involved?
The US jewelry retail industry generates annual revenues of about $44 billion from 28,000 specialty, department, and discount stores. Specialty retailers hold about 50 percent of the market. Wal-Mart is the biggest jewelry retailer in the country, followed by Zale, the biggest specialty jeweler with over 2,000 stores and kiosks. The industry is highly fragmented: the top 10 jewelry chains hold less than 25 percent of the market. Other large specialty retailers are Tiffany and Sterling, the US branch of British jeweler Signet Group.
Jewelry sales depend partly on consumer income. Small jewelers can effectively compete with large chains because price isn't the main factor determining retail sales. Profitability depends on the volume of sales because sales costs are high and fixed. Because gross margins are very high, often 50 percent, mass merchants like Wal-Mart have taken market share by controlling costs and cutting prices.
Jewelry is often classified as bridal merchandise (engagement, bridal and anniversary rings - about 35 percent of the market); fashion jewelry (rings, bracelets, earrings, pins, gold chains); and watches, silver flatware, and other giftware. Diamond jewelry and loose diamonds account for the largest share of total jewelry store sales (46 percent); gold jewelry for 11 percent; colored gemstone jewelry (rubies, sapphires, emeralds, etc.) 9 percent; and watches 4 percent.
Tiffany's Lucida Diamond: What is it ?
Tiffany & Co.'s Lucida is an exclusive patent pending diamond cut whose shape is a square mixed cut. It has 50 facets, a high crown, stepped facets, wide corners and a small table with a brilliant pavilion. The design of the cut maximizes the stone's sparkle and brilliance. A photo is shown below.
AGS-0 Ideal Cut Princess Diamonds have similar sparkle to the Tiffany Lucida, without the price tag!
Lucida Diamond.
Tiffany has added an eternity band and a three-stone ring as well. Lucida, which means the brightest star in a constellation, is available exclusively at Tiffany & Co. stores worldwide. The setting is copyrighted and the diamond has multiple patents pending.
The Lucida diamond is made from the same rough as a well-cut round. Created by Tiffany's gemologists, the cut is similar to the Asscher and antique Cushion Cuts. Tiffany showcases the Lucida cut in a special four-prong ring shown below. The sculptural band has clean lines and soft curves that merge with the prongs in a sloping crisscross design, which, when viewed from the side, is reminiscent of cathedral arches.
Lucida Ring.
Lucida was designed and introduced by Tiffany in 1999. The retailer has positioned the collection to fit between its classic Tiffany setting and its cuttingedge Etoile collection and has become something of a status symbol. The worldwide launch was backed by an extensive advertising campaign that included four-page inserts, spreads and single-page units in fashion and lifestyle publications. The Lucida is available at 150 locations internationally, including Japan, France and London.
Each Lucida diamond is sold with a Tiffany Certificate. The inside shank of each ring is currently engraved with the following: Copyright, Tiffany & Co. Lucida, metal fineness and the phrase "patents pending." When the patents are finalized, the actual patent numbers will be engraved in the shank.
Click on the icon below for a stunning collection of the finest Tiffany style diamond engagement rings and Ideal Cut diamonds at outstanding values!!
X Prong Custom Filigree Round Diamond Engagement Ring by Vatche!
Hey Folks!
Check out this absolutely stunning new design by Vatche just finished for one of our customers.
This beautiful diamond engagement ring by Vatche is the famous X prong with a new twist; hand carved intricate filigree work!!
The ring is completely hand made in 950 heavyweight platinum and is accompanied by Vatche's Lifetime Guarantee!
The center round brilliant diamond is from our collection of wholesale loose diamonds listed on our website database.
This ring is now available for sale on our www.exceldiamonds.com website!
Enjoy the pictures!
Do You Know How To Buy Your Diamond Engagement Ring?
NOT as this couple unfortunately found out. Be A Smart Diamond Shopper
We totally agree. Here are our recommendations for your safe diamond engagement and wedding ring shopping:
1. Work with a reputable Jeweler; be it Brick & Mortar (B&M) or Internet. Check with your local BBB and the Jewelers Vigilance Committe (www.jvclegal.org)
2. Know what you're buying. Make sure your diamond has a lab grading report. The two most stringent, accurate, and consistent diamond grading labs are the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and the AGS (Americn Gemological Society). Insist on them.
3. If you're more comfortable shopping with a B&M Jeweler, look at as many diamonds as you can and away from the diamond counter's high intensity halogen lights which tend to make even the ugliest darkest diamonds look D-Flawless.
4. If you're shopping with an Internet Diamond vendor, make sure that they can examine the diamond for you to determine if there are any red flags you need to know about which would dissuade you from buying the stone.
A great number of Internet Vendors sell of Virtual Diamond (VD) databases and never see the diamond you're buying. The diamond is drop-shipped directly to you from the manufacturer. We covered this topic in more detail here: Cyberspace Diamonds
5. Ask the Internet Vendor to supply you with as much information as possible, including photo's.
6. Be clear and understand the Vendor's Policies: Payment, Returns, Upgrades, etc. and any timelines or deadlines that might accompany these Policies.
7. Ask about and receive any paperwork that comes with the diamond.
8. Stay away from in-house Appraisals. Such Appaisals are inflated, will cost you undue high insurance Premiums, and is a practice that is frowned upon and not sanctioned by the reputable National Association Of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA). Best is to get an evaluation and Appraisal from an Independent Appraiser that does not work for a Jewlery store and does not sell their own diamonds and jewelry. Contact NAJA for a llisting and location of such Appraisers.
Shop Smart. This is a big purchase not only in terms of money but also in terms of emotional significance.
Good Luck!
It Is Safe To Buy Your Diamond Engagement Ring On The Internet.
According to recent statistics from comScore Networks, online sales are already up in 2006. Gian Fulgoni, comScore chairman, said in a January press release, “The 2006 year opened on a strong note, with solid growth of 33 percent in online nontravel sales versus the same period in 2005.” He went on to optimistically predict, “It’s clear based on what we’re seeing so far in 2006 that the strength in online sales will not wane anytime soon.”
According to a comScore press release: “The growth in 2006 online consumer spending follows a year of solid gains. Total online spending for the full year 2005, including travel, reached $143.2 billion, up 22 percent over 2004. Online nontravel spending in 2005 accounted for $82.3 billion, an increase of 24 percent over 2004 levels.”With this kind of money at stake, the question is not whether a business can afford to set up an online store. The question is whether a business can afford not to.
Sales of Loose Diamonds, Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamond Rings, and Wedding Bands by reputable Internet vendors are increasing at a rapid clip. Information on the Cut quality of the diamonds such as lab grading reports, photographs, and light analyses help consumers "see" the diamond on-line and provides very useful information to making an informed purchasing decision.
Keep in mind that buying your Diamond Engagement Ring through an Internet Vendor demands the same caveat Emptor and verification as does shopping with a Brick and Mortar Jeweler.
We discussed and covered several important DO'S and DON'TS just yesterday in this Blog Entry.
Buying Your Diamond in Cyberspace
To paraphrase Sy Sims: An educated consumer makes for a very good and happy customer.
Hey Guys: Can Diamonds Buy Women Love? Guess Again.
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend. Right?! Well, fellas, not according to a survey just released by True, an on-line relationship service. They found (surprisingly?) that women value Love and a long-term committment-relationship more than diamonds and jewelry.
Read the results of their survey here: Love Or Diamonds?
Awesome Diamond Engagement Ring Testimonial!!
Here is an extremely heartfelt diamond ring testimonial that we just received from one of our customers, completely in his own words. It is testimonials like these that make our family diamond business so rewarding!
Barry,
Firstly, let me apologise for my rather lengthy silence after having promised a testamonial many months ago. I was beyond satisfied with the ring, and as a guy I can't say I've ever been very taken with jewellery of any sort nor had any previous appreciation of it, but the ring you crafted was exquisite in every respect (but I will get to that soon).
In actual fact my delayed response has probably been a good thing as its allowed me to witness just how the ring feels on my fiancee, how it looks under different light and how all different types of people seem to be awestruck by it. I realise that last comment may seem like hyberbole to someone reading your site, but I'm quite a level-headed engineer, not particularly partial to glamour...but 'awestruck' is perhaps the only factually correct word I can think of.
Perhaps I should start this at the very beginning. When I started my quest for the best diamond I could afford within my budget I started trawling through the web, and stumbled on diamondtalk.com My education began there, and all roads seemed to lead to Barry, and Excel Diamonds. Of course, I emailed and questioned numerous other sellers across the States, but no one was even close to matching the level of attention, patience and customer care provided by Barry - at all hours of the day! All my emails and little queries were replied to extremely promptly - at times I wondered if Barry ever slept! As I can only speak from my own perspective on how I sought to find the right vendor, I'll say what I was ultimately looking for was simple....INFORMATION. Before making such a purchase I wanted indepth data, graphics, photos and independent grading reports. Barry was more than willing to provide all of this (it's all on the website without even asking!), and really let the diamonds speak for themselves. I couldn't even find one vendor who even closely rivalled the willingness or ability to offer the level of service Excel Diamonds provided.
In the end I purchased a SUPERBcert Round 0.92 Carat F Super Ideal H&A SI1 diamond. As anyone who's going through buying a diamond knows you're constantly juggling the different parameters for the best overall effect, depending on your priorities. For me, my objectives were primarily brilliance and overall scintillation, then clarity and colour. Above all I wanted a fiery stone which would really sparkle. I couldn't see the inclusions at all as they were masked by the superb cut, and I couldn't have guessed that the colour was F..it was as white and colourless as I could have wanted. On top of that the cut was phenomenal. I can't describe the sparkle...it's like it's on fire...day or night, in low-light or shade. First-rate all round!
When I opened the box when the ring arrived, I was taken aback by the sheer craftsmenship. The Tiffany Classic Diamond Engagement ring in platinum was simply beautiful. I'll let my fiancee's reaction tell you about the diamond. When I proposed and opened the box, her jaw seemed to drop for a few seconds. I was expecting her to be more taken aback by the proposal, but I think the diamond was more shock-inducing! She was speechless while she was looking at the ring, but when she got her voice back she said it looked like something out of a commercial...and that it was just HUGE (and I was worrying it wasn't big enough!) She was overwhelmed for a few minutes, and even now from time to time I catch her staring at it hypnotically. This was over and above the reaction I was hoping for! So thank you, Barry, it was all down to you!
In the meantime since then, I've seen a number of people catch sight of the ring, and have them stare in amazement. Her friends are jealous, and even they stare at it for wayy to long! i just hope it's not giving other boyfriends or fiance's out there added pressure! Every time I look at it, i'm incredibly pleased I decided to go with Barry and Excel Diamonds, and I couldn't be happier with how my fiancee feels about it.
I can't thank you, Barry, enough for a truly first-class ring, and I can't recommend you highly enough either. I couldn't imagine how the service or the quality of his products could be any better, I was impressed every step of the way. I read many a testamonial like this for Barry before I found the diamond I wanted, and there's no other way to say it, every one of them was absolutely right!
Thank you for everything you've done, Barry.
Tim & Fumiko
p.s. Barry, please feel free to correct or edit any little mistakes I might have made!!
From Israel Comes The Divine Diamond
National Jeweler reports of the design of a special diamond shape that takes a page from a fiction bestseller to hopefully drive sales. This is the focus of Israeli diamond designer Shlomo Cohen, credited with developing the Princess Cut in 1982.
Now, taking the idea of the "Golden Ratio" or "Divine Proportion" popularized by author Dan Brown's phenomenally successful novel, The Da Vinci Code, Cohen has released "The Vinci Diamond," a 62-facet "pentacle" cut incorporating the Divine Proportion's precise ratios.
h its table. In the end, he met this challenge: Three pentacle shapes, conforming to the exact dimensions of the Divine Proportion, are visible.
"The completion of my work at the same time as The Da Vinci Code has enjoyed such amazing international success is a happy coincidence," Cohen said. "And, the fact a major Hollywood movie by the same name will soon be released is an added bonus."
The cut has been patented in Japan, Israel, Belgium and the United States.
Fad or a diamond design that will withstand the test of time? We have blogged on this topic previously here:
New Diamond Shapes: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?
"Promise" Her Anything, But Give Her a Diamond
Interesting article in today's GW Hatchet Newspaper discussing college guys giving their gals affordable "promise" rings instead of more expensive diamond engagement rings until they make the big bucks.
Article is here: Promise Rings
Our opinion? Promise her anything, but give her a Diamond.
Iran Affecting Diamond & Jewelry Prices.
Commodities prices roared to new peaks on Tuesday as fund buying restarted, triggered by fears over the nuclear stand-off in Iran and the impact of surging economic growth in China, investors said.
The oil market hit a new record peak, taking key industrial metals prices with it and propelling precious metals to their highest since the early 1980s.
"The fundamental factors are the intensifying of the political situation in the Mideast Gulf and the Chinese GDP figures, which got everyone back to thinking China is eating up global natural resources," a fund manager said.
China's economy is on course for growth of at least nine percent this year signalling accelerating imports of energy and raw materials.
Fears about Iran's row with the West over the country's nuclear program sparked oil's latest rise.
IPE Brent crude set a fresh high of $72.20 per barrel before falling to $72.03 at 0847 GMT.
Brent has rallied from below $60 in December, buoyed by a fresh flow of fund investment amid mounting concern over Iran and the possibility of U.S. military action against the world's fourth largest oil producer.
"If we look forward it's continued economic growth and a potentially disastrous situation in the Mideast Gulf," the fund source said.
Most commodity indexes, which between them have attracted around $80 billion of speculative investment into the markets, are weighted heavily towards oil.
Fasten Your seatbelts!
Watts & Schrieber Engaged?
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have reportedly become the latest celebrity couple heading for the wedding chapel after the King Kong star accepted her actor beau's marriage proposal.
The couple has been spotted shopping for engagement rings in Los Angeles.
An insider at top store Antiquarius tells America's In Touch magazine the couple were shopping for $400,000 rings earlier this month.
Mothers Love Diamonds.
Children, Mother's Day is fast approaching.
Mother knows best...when it comes to driving gift sales, as American moms are expected to motivate $13.8 billion in retail gift buying this year, finds the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2006 Mother's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.
Jewelry gifts are expected to account for $2.1 billion In Mother's Day sales, compared to the $1.7 billion spent on jewelry for the holiday last year. That's second only to the $2.8 billion that NRF's survey indicates will be spent taking moms out for brunch or dinner, up from the $2.2 billion shelled out for celebratory Mother's Day comestibles in 2005.
The average Mother's Day shopper expects to spend $122.16 this year, according to NRF, up from $104.63 last year. Popular gifts include: greeting cards, which 85.4 percent of respondents said they'll be giving mom this year; flowers, which 67.6 percent of respondents expect to purchase; gift certificates or gift cards, on the list for 31.9 percent of shoppers; books or CDs, which 25.8 percent plan to give; and electronics or computer-related accessories, which 6.7 percent plan on giving mom.
"Consumers certainly enjoy splurging on luxury items, such as fancy meals and jewelry, but greeting cards and flowers still remain favorite tokens of their appreciation," Phil Rist, vice president of strategy at BIGresearch (which conducts the NRF survey), said in an NRF release. "No price tag is too high when it comes to showing mom the love and appreciation she deserves."
Men are expected to spend more than women on the holiday, with the average male expected to devote at least $148.51 on mom, compared to the $97.72 women are expected to spend.
Moms aren't the holiday's only gift recipients, as 20.7 percent of respondents to NRF's survey said they'd be buying for wives this Mother's Day; 9.1 percent for daughters; 8.5 percent for grandmothers; 7 percent for sisters; 7 percent for friends; and 12.3 percent for other relatives.
Young adults, ages 18-24, are this year's big spenders, dropping $142.40 per person this Mother's Day, up from the $96.08 they put toward mom last year. Those aged 45-54 are expected to come in second, spending an average of $129.29 per person, followed by 25-34 year olds, who are projected to part with $122.39 each.
Belgian Gov't Reduces Taxes On Diamond Companies.
At the end of 2005, a new fiscal law was adopted that will make Belgium far more attractive to all companies doing business there —which means not only diamond companies, but firms from all business sectors and industries.
The principle of the new program relies on what’s been referred to as a “notional interest rate.” As of accounting year 2006, all Belgium-based companies will have the opportunity to calculate a totally fictitious interest rate on their equity. This interest rate — which is currently between 3.442 and 3.942 percent — will be deductible from the taxable profit, a measure that is likely to reduce the taxable profit of businesses to verylow levels. The effective tax burden, especially for larger capitalized companies, could drop from the usual 28 or 34 percent corporate income tax rate to the negligible figure of 6 percent in the best cases.
The new tax law does not have any stringent conditions — no employment condition, no investment condition, applicable to all companies, no limitation on activity — and will restore the balance between Antwerp and other competing diamond centers.
Kaushik Mehta of Eurostar Diamond Traders, however, has a different opinion: “It’s very good as you pay less tax. The notional interest will certainly help ease business in Belgium, but it’s still no match for Dubai, at least as far as their zero tax is concerned. Antwerp has other assets, such as a huge market, to compete with other diamond centers.”
The notional interest tax plan will also assist with respect to DeBeers Diamond Trading Company (DTC) and the Banks. The diamond industryr is typically a sector that requires large working capital and relatively small profit margins, and a substantial number of companies have capital booked as current account. Currently, this cannot be taken into consideration for the notional interest deduction and is booked as a loan. From this year onward, registration fees on capital increases of 0.5 percent are abolished and there is virtually no cost involved anymore in increasing the statutory capital. Therefore, it is useful to incorporate the loans/current accounts into statutory capital. This, of course, can substantially increase the equity of the company, which also results in an improved solvability toward third parties — this is equity against balance sheet total. Banks are, indeed, pushing diamond companies to move toward an equity of 15 percent-plus because traditionally the equity of Belgian diamond companies is very low. Also, for sightholders, DeBeers takes into consideration the financial strength of a company, which is reflected in the equity and solvability ratio.
Consequently, the larger the capital, the higher the amount of the notional interest deduction. This allows companies with larger capital to pay lower taxes on their profit and as a result have higher net profits, which, again, they can capitalize. The following year, the equity has grown with the increased net profits of the previous year on which the notional interest deduction is applicable. So, this creates a rollerball effect in which equities grow quicker and quicker and are constantly leveraged with the notional interest deduction the following year.
It’s been understood that the measure would also benefit smaller-size companies, depending on their degree of capitalization, as the law applies to all corporate entities. Percentwise, it can create the same result, but, of course, the nominal amounts are smaller.
The first cycle of the system will be completed within the year. Tax reduction is positive in that it spurs production and eventual tax revenue. The effects on consumer prices remains to be determined.
Buying Your Diamond Engagement Ring On The Internet: Why You Can't Rely On Just The "Numbers".
We have long advocated and blogged that buying a diamond on-line from an Internet vendor that does not actually have the diamond in-house can be dangerous to your psyche and pocketbook. The link is here: Buying Your Diamond On The Internet
This fact was once again driven home to us and one of our clients who requested information on two Pear shape diamonds listed on our Exceldiamonds.com website Exceldiamonds.com.
Both diamonds weighed .81 carats, were VS-1 Clarity, were graded by GIA, and had different Millimeter Measurements . One was a "D" color, the other a "G" color. How do you make a decision? Tough way to spend thosands of dollars, isn't it?
We called in both diamonds from the manufacturer and did these photographs for our client. We want you to see the dramatic visual differences between these two diamonds. Both diamonds are beautiful but uniquely different in shape and light refraction. The .81 D color has a crushed ice look with good scintillation, and is a classic "Tear-Drop" pear shape; whereas the .81 G color is much more dispersive and has what Bill Goldberg would refer to as a "sexy shape". Both diamonds are very appealing and will make for a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
There is no "right" or 'wrong" answer or decision on these two diamonds, it's entirely subjective. You won't get this information from a drop-shipper who never sees the diamonds he sells and doesn't have a clue. Might work if you're buying a cuisinart from Walmart or a book from Amazon but not diamonds which are visual.
Which Pear Shape would you buy?
Remember to Wear Your Diamond Engagement Ring When You Go Shopping Or You Could Wind Up In Jail!
From this morning's London Times:
There are many reasons why Mr Science Notebook doesn’t wear a wedding ring. Chiefly, when he tried one on, he thought it “felt funny”. He doesn’t really do bling.
I shall now have to warn him against hanging around Canadian supermarkets. For, in such places, social psychologists lurk unseen, noting the presence or absence of such jewellery among unwitting shoppers. From behind the frozen peas the psychologists have observed that people who don’t wear wedding rings are more neglectful of their charges than those wearing wedding bands.
The findings, by Andrew Harrell and colleagues at the University of Alberta, were presented at a conference this month and in a news release sensationally entitled: “Absence of wedding ring connected to parental neglect”. I can’t better the description of this utterly weird experiment, so I reprint it here . . . “862 caretaker-children combinations were furtively observed in 14 supermarkets in Edmonton. Caretaker neglect was measured according to how often the caretakers or their charges, estimated to be between one and seven years old, wandered out of sight or were more than 10ft away from each other — too far to prevent most accidents.” Leaving a kid in a trolley while dashing to a neighbouring aisle was a no-no, for example.
On average, 14 per cent of caretakers — with or without rings — lost sight of their charges at least once. But young, attractive adults without rings were particularly lax. Among women in this category, 19 per cent failed the vigilance test. Among the men, it was 25 per cent.
Dr Harrell’s conclusion? The lack of commitment to marriage, signified by unadorned fingers, extends to a laissez faire attitude to the kids. Harrell implies that these customers might have been shopping for more than just Shreddies, and might have been distracted by “an interest in establishing social, sexual or emotional ties outside of marriage . . .” And you thought that chap dithering by your trolley had just lost his way to the beer aisle!
Am I alone in finding this an excessive leap of imagination? Have you tried keeping a boisterous six-year-old within 10ft of you? Might the neglectful caretakers not have been parents? Dr Harrell’s team was not permitted to speak to shoppers, so we don’t know. That wasn’t the only methodological drawback. “A few children spotted us and would ask their parents ‘Why are those people following us?’,” Dr Harrell says. “Their carer would usually ignore them.”
If one wanted to do a serious study on whether unmarried parents are more neglectful of their children than married ones, why the supermarket espionage? After all, in the pantheon of perilous environments, the home reigns supreme. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, children regularly burn, scald or poison themselves, start fires or fall down stairs or out of windows. They are treated in A&E departments, or by GPs, both of whom have access to family records.
Dr Harrell holds his hands up: “You’re right. We had to make do with the limitations of this study but we hope to look at such things in future.” Meanwhile, he stands by the unpopular thesis that unwed couples are probably more lax than marrieds: “Sometimes the truth hurts, and if it’s predictive of injury and death, then we have to say it.”
Hey, Harrell! Why don't you turn around, bend over, and see if you're hat's on straight. You'd be better off and so would we if you drove a Taxi.
Vatche Diamond Engagement Ring
Vatche Open Gallery Shank Pear Shape Engagement ring we just had done for one our clients. Center diamond is our SuperbCert Super-Ideal, Hearts & Arrows, .85 carat F color, VS-2 Clarity.
Bluenile 1Q Profits Down 9%
On-line diamond retailer Bluenile reported first quarter profits down 9 percent on Sales that increased 15% for the period ending April 2, 2006. The number of orders rose 12 percent and the average order was about $1,482.
The cost of sales rose 15 percent to $40.33 million. Expenses related to sales and administration rose 26 percent to $7.7 million, and capital expenses nearly tripled to $608,000.
Blue Nile reported first quarter results after the bell. Shares closed down 27-cents to $33.65.
During an investor's conference call, Blue Nile CEO Mark Vadon said Blue Nile's prices were "more aggressive" in the quarter and the company had lowered diamond prices to sell more. He also cited the increasing competition and costs for keywords in Pay Per Click advertising on the major internet Search Engines; Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
Website traffic rose during the quarter and the company plans an aggressive conversion rate strategy in 2006 to drive sales. Conversion rate improvements are related to attracting more buyers per click.
SuperbCert Diamond & Vatche Ring; A Match Made in Heaven!
Here is an absolutely breathtaking diamond engagement ring set by world famous designer Vatche, just completed in the Vatche factory for one of our customers. This particular customer requested that the platinum matching wedding band be fused to the diamond engagement ring.
The diamond is our gorgeous SuperbCert 1.07 carat Super-Ideal Cut Diamond!
Check out the photos (which do not do justice)!
Diamond Sales Increasing.
Consumer drive for diamonds hasn't waned in the past decade, with the Diamond Information Center (DIC) reporting 2005 as the 10th consecutive year of retail diamond jewelry's growth in the U.S.
Diamond jewelry sales rose in 2005 to $33.7 billion, up 7 percent from $31.5 billion in 2005. In addition to the growth of overall U.S. sales, which comprise more than 50 percent of worldwide sales, transactions grew by 3 percent and average ticket prices were up by 4 percent.
Diamond Engagement Rings in The Muck!
Stunning Ideal Princess Cut Diamond in Custom Ring!
Check out this absolutely magnificent SuperbCert Princess Cut Diamond ring we just finished in a custom made diamond engagement ring for one of our customers!
The SuperbCert Diamond is our .73 G VVS2 Princess Cut Diamond! The custom mounting is made by hand in 950 platinum with approximately .60 F/G (color) VS (clarity) excellent cut quality diamonds set around the band! The band was made especially thin (2.25 mm width) per the request of our customer and was reinforced on the top where the center diamond attaches to the shank.
You will find more of these gorgeous SuperbCert Princess Cut Diamonds at our ExcelDiamonds website.
Enjoy the eye-candy!
Gay Couples Go Traditional with Engagement Rings and Bands.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Tradition is a very powerful force.
The story is here: Gay Couples Go Traditional.
Will You Consider an "I-1" Clarity Graded Diamond?
Many consumers will shy away from considering an I-1 clarity grade diamond either because of what they have seen, heard, or read. In most cases, I -1 denotes inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Valid when it involves a mediocre cut diamond as light return to your eye is minimal due to facet mis-alignment.
On the other hand, in a finely cut diamond, light refraction through the Table and Crown facets to your eyes is significantly increased and serves to "mask" your ability to see these inclusions in the face-up position from the normal viewing distance of 8-14 inches and will be "eye-clean" and look like a VS clarity.
As a consequence an I-1 / I-2 clarity grade in a finely cut diamond can represent excellent value and allow a consumer to go up in carat weight as well as Color.
An example of an eye-clean I-1 is attached below.
Hey Girl, Show Me your Diamond Ring.
You single gals ever feel this way?
1.33 Asscher Cut Diamond Engagement Ring!!
Here is an absolutely breathtaking diamond engagement ring we just completed for one of our customers!
The diamond is an incredibly brilliant, precision cut Asscher Diamond (1.33 G VS2), set in a completely hand made Cartier reproduction diamond engagement ring setting of our own exclusive manufacture!
We put together this brilliant diamond engagement ring at practically a wholesale price!
Here are the pics!
Custom Made Diamond Engagement Ring!!
Here is a gorgeous diamond engagement ring just completed for one of our customers.
The ring is a custom made hand filigree engagement ring by master designer, Vatche (www.dvatche.com).
The diamond is one of our exclusive SuperbCert Super Ideal Cut Diamonds!!
Here is part of what the customer wrote to us upon receipt of this ring:
I got the rings yesterday right on time. It was kind of surreal looking at my rings in my car at UPS's parking lot. I can't tell you how glad I am that I went with the filigree bands - they are simply stunning. The superbcert diamond (Judah - I am very glad I went with the round-cut) is very brilliant and beautiful. Overall the rings are exactly what I wanted and pictured my wife wearing some day. I've only had a couple of opportunities to look at the rings (since my soon-to-be-fiance was around all night), but that just goes to show what a good impression they've made on me all ready!
Diamond Engagement Rings
Engagement Rings
A tremendous amount of thought and emotion goes into purchasing that dream diamond ring or brilliant diamond engagement ring.
At Exceldiamonds, we understand the fact that not all diamond rings are created equal. Indeed, it is our commitment to perfection that drives our philosophy that a diamond engagement ring is meant to be cherished and adored as a timeless piece of art.
Our incredible selection of hand crafted diamond engagement rings in classic solitaires, Tiffany solitaires, and diamond accent rings and wedding bands are meticulously crafted to withstand the tests of time.
We put you, the customer, in full control of this brilliant diamond buying experience! You can actually build your own diamond ring and are not forced to select a pre-fabricated diamond ring that someone else put together for you.
Simply browse our selection of thousands of certified loose diamonds in all shapes and sizes. These GIA certified diamonds or AGS certified diamonds are available through our website at dirt cheap, wholesale prices! You will not find the same diamond listed for less money on any other Internet website, or we will match and/or beat the price!
Choose a loose wholesale diamond first, or decide to browse and select one of our fabulous diamond engagement ring mountings first. Many of our customers like to browse our ring selections first, just to get an idea of what is out there and what is available in the latest diamond fashion trends. You will find that our extensive selection of platinum and gold and diamond engagement rings appeal to all tastes and price points.
We also create custom made, hand crafted platinum rings and engagement ring mountings for our discerning clientele.
The most popular engagement ring you will find at a local jewelry store is a classic solitaire setting. Our famous Tiffany Classic Solitaire replica engagement ring setting has already garnered praise from thousands of diamond jewelry shoppers on the Internet. There is no finer Tiffany replica available on the market today. We are confident that if you take our challenge you will agree. The Tiffany setting is just one of many custom engagement ring designs that we manufacture in our New York City Diamond factory.
We will work with your budget to assure that you get your dream diamond engagement ring at the price you can afford to pay.
Whatever your choice, our objective is to provide you with a safe and secure shopping experience for purchasing your diamond engagement rings online. With Exceldiamonds you will save both time, money, and a whole lot of aggravation with our one stop diamond and jewelry website.
Amazing Discovery: Women Who Shun Diamonds!
Incredulous but True! A new species on Planet Earth!!
Read about it Here:
Found: Women Who Don't Want Diamonds!
Tiffany Comes To Wall Street
Tiffany is going to where the money is.
The company plans to open a store inside a historic building at 37 Wall St. in fall 2007. The store will serve as the building's only retailer, occupying about 7,600 square feet on the ground floor and mezzanine, Tiffany announced Tuesday.
Skyline Developers has restored the original façade of the building, a 25-store Beaux Arts-style structure designed between 1906 and 1907 by architect Francis Kimball for the Trust Company of America. The building, one of Manhattan's first skyscrapers, remains
one of the oldest high-rises on Wall Street and will be home to 373 luxury apartments beginning this fall.
Tiffany's first store opened on lower Broadway in 1837, before moving to a larger site uptown.
The new store will carry an array of Tiffany's merchandise including diamond engagement rings; Tiffany's Celebration rings; designs by Frank Gehry, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Jean Schlumberger; as well as watches, gifts and accessories.
Two Tone Classic Tiffany Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring!
Here are a few pictures of our custom made Classic Tiffany Diamond Engagement Ring in two tone (18kt./Plat.) that we just completed for our customer with a 3 carat round brilliant diamond in the center!!!!!!
One lucky lady is going to be wearing this on her finger very soon!!!!
Our Custom Tiffany Replica Diamond Engagement Ring
3 Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
Diamond 3 stone diamond engagement rings have become increasingly popular due to an extremely effective marketing effort by DeBeers. The truth is that three stone diamond rings are incredibly beautiful and desireable in that they represent the past, present, and future.
Here is an example of one of the most popular styles of 3 stone diamond engagement rings available today. This is the 3 stone diamond truffle engagement ring manufactured by Vatche. You can look them up at www.dvatche.com.
Accent Diamond Engagement Ring
Diamond engagement rings are available in all types. You can get the classic solitaire diamond engagement ring, like the famous Tiffany Classic diamond ring. Other options include beautiful diamond accent rings of various styles, like antique diamond rings, or more contemporary tension setting diamond engagement rings with accent diamonds.
Here is an example of a diamond accent engagement ring.
The platinum mounting is by www.dvatche.com.
The Center Ideal Cut loose diamond is a branded SuperbCert Diamond by www.exceldiamonds.com
Designer Ideal Cut Diamond Engagement Ring!
Here is another beautiful diamond engagement ring that we are shipping out today for one of our customers.
This customer ordered one of our beautiful SuperbCert Super Ideal Cut Diamonds to be set in a Vatche Royal X Prong Channel Diamond setting!!
(Previoulsy, I posted pics. of the Vatche Comfort Fit Diamond channel just completed and also being shipped out today. That style features a slightly thicker shank than the Royal X prong which has a more distinctive taper where it reaches the basket. Take a look at, and compare the diamond ring photos in these two threads and you will see the differences.)
Here are a few pictures of the result...which does not do any justice to the true beauty of this diamond engagement ring!!
Survey Highlighlights Importance of Diamond and Jewelry Branding
Diamond and diamond jewelry brands continue to see increased awareness among consumers, according to a survey of 2,571 members of the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC) conducted from May 31 to June 12.
A media release from JCOC stated the leader of the branding pack is the Zale Diamond. It remains the strongest diamond brand since the survey was last conducted in October 2004. It is followed closely by Hearts On Fire, Radiant and the Leo Diamond. While consumers say a brand name is still the least important factor in driving the diamond purchase, they acknowledge that brands are gaining importance.
Among the changes since the 2004 survey: Hearts On Fire has gained recognition in the past two years; consumers are naming more diamond brands, such as Lucida and the Princess Plus; more respondents are saying they own a branded diamond, while a smaller percentage are citing a lack of awareness for not owning one; a larger percentage of respondents say they own branded diamond jewelry such as Vera Wang, Scott Kay and Escada; and consumers say they are slightly more willing to pay higher prices for branded diamond jewelry versus two years ago.
"It's extremely difficult to establish specific brand awareness with consumers," said Elizabeth Chatelain, president of MVI Marketing Ltd., founder of JCOC, in the release. "Although consumers are more willing to pay premium prices for branded products, making a jewelry line 'stand out' is not getting any easier. With the saturation of brands in the market, a name and logo is not enough to catch consumer attention. Each brand must develop a niche, a unique selling proposit