White diamonds or Lady Di ( a la Kate Middleton)

White diamonds or colored stones a la Kate Middleton.  White diamonds are the number #1 choice for engagement and bridal jewelry. But if you are working with a smaller budget and the bride likes a big ring, a colored stone such as a blue sapphire looks really wonderful with a pave diamond surround like the Princess Di ring and is a good option to consider.  Sapphires come in all qualities and a jeweler will bring in several choices at different price points for you to see.

Bridemaid gifts - what to give

"What do I buy my bridemaids?", this is a question we hear often usually a week or two before the big day when money is scarce and the budget practically non existent. Shopping for the bridesmaid gifts seems to happen when wedding bills are due and budgets have been stretched to the max.  Pearl jewelry is the classic bridesmaid gift.  Understated and elegant.  With the vast choice of freshwater pearls available in today's market you can buy a really lovely bracelet, earrings or pendant for the bridesmaids at a fraction of the cost of Japanese pearls and they virtually look the same.  Depending on the budget you can get pearls in all price ranges.  Pearls are a jewel box basic and go with everything.

Trend Predictions for 2013

Trends for bridal jewelry is still white gold or platinum with micro pave halos and pave shanks with milligrain detailing.  These rings bring to mind the timeless elegance of the early 1900's, when rings were crafted by hand. These rings are the trend in 2012 and we see it continuing into 2013.  With regards to fashion jewelry, we are selling more pink and yellow gold jewelry than in the past and this trend seems to be getting stronger every year.  Another trend is for rings that maintain their white color and in response to this we offer 19 karat white gold, a super white that doesn't yellow over time.

Three important things to consider when choosing a wedding band

When choosing a wedding band, the buyer has to consider his/her lifestyle in order to decide whether the band should be made of 14 karat or 18 karat gold.  If you work a lot with your hands 14 karat gold, due to the higher alloy content, would be the best choice.  Platinum is also a good option though pricey. 
Comfort fit bands are definitely the best option for guys who don't normally wear rings because the inside of the ring is smoothed and rounded making it very comfortable to wear.
Style and design are also important factors to consider when buying a band. Ask yourself if the band will still look good in 10,15,20 years or will you tire of it over time. Should you buy yellow or white gold or two-tone? A classic style will always retain its appeal and look good over time.  Trendy items are "in" one day and "out" the next.