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.

November Birthstone - Topaz and Citrine

Topaz

Topaz is a gemstone available in a rich rainbow of colors. Prized for several thousand years in antiquity, all yellow gems in antiquity were called topaz. Often confused with citrine quartz (yellow) and smoky quartz (brown), quartz and topaz are separate and unrelated mineral species. The most prized color of topaz is called Imperial topaz after the Russian Czars of the 1800s and features a magnificent orange body color with pinkish undertones. Topaz also comes in yellow, pink, purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones.

Citrine

Citrine, the other birthstone for November is known as the "healing quartz". This golden gemstone is said to support vitality and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer. Citrine can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow to dark brownish orange. It is one of the most affordable of gemstones and plentiful in nature. Citrine is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.

October Birthstone - Tourmaline and Opal

Tourmaline

Tourmaline has become a favorite gemstone among jewelry designer, and gem collectors the world over. Since it is available in a wide variety of colors, it is ideally suited to almost anyone's taste. Tourmaline also is known for displaying several colors in the same gemstone.  These bi-color or tri-color gems are formed in many combinations; gemstones with clear color distinctions are highly prized.  One multi-color variety is known as watermelon tourmaline, and features green, pink, and white colors bands; to resemble its namesake, the gemstone is cut into thin slices having a pink center, white ring, and green edge.  Tourmaline is found in many localities including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa, and the USA.

Opal

The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color)."  Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its background.  Opal is a formation of non-crystalline silica gel that seeped into crevices in the sedimentary strata. Through time and nature's heating and molding processes, the gel hardened into the form of opals. The opal is composed of particles closely packed in spherical arrangements. When packed together in a regular pattern, a three-dimensional array of spaces are created that give opal its radiance.

All about Csarite

Csarite

Relatively new to the jewelry world, Csarite ( old trade name Zultanite) or aka Diaspore, which is the actual name of the gem material, is one gemstone whose amazing natural color changing abilities makes it well suited to savvy jewelry connoisseurs. As you watch its colors change from kiwi to champagne to raspberry, you too will be entranced by Csarite's 100% natural beauty. The pinnacle of exclusivity, beauty, rarity and desirability, Csarite is a rising star in fine jewelry due to its sparklingly brilliant tranquil colors. Like Tanzanite, Csarite is so rare that it comes to you from only one source in the world, a remote mountain area in Anatolia, Turkey. Named by Murat Akgun in honor of the 36 sultans who ruled the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia in the late 13th century, Csarite is a true Turkish delight
A gem that changes color?
Color change gems show different colors when viewed under different light sources, such as sunlight and indoor light. Astonishingly beautiful, exotic and rare, Zultanite demands a double take - its unique color change is truly that mesmerizing. If for you fashion is all about getting attention, Csarite is set to redefine your look.
While some of Csarite's key characteristics are its delicate color saturation, durability and play of light, the beauty and intrigue of this regal gemstone ultimately lies in its different colors. Csarite displays a range of earthy hues and similar to the famous color change gem Alexandrite, it can change from kiwi greens in sunlight (candescent light) to raspberry purplish-pinks in candlelight (incandescent light). But unlike other color change gems such as Alexandrite, Csarite's color change is not limited to two basic colors. Incredibly, the same Csarite can also exhibit khaki greens, sage greens, cognac pinks, pinkish champagnes, canary yellows, rich champagnes and gingers in different light sources. Csarite's kiwi greens with canary flashes are noticeable under sunny skies, while traditional indoor lighting will elicit rich champagne colors. During a candle lit dinner, the same gem reveals pink to raspberry hues. While just wearing Csarite unveils its breathtakingly diverse colors, one of its most unique characteristics is that unlike other color changes gems, Csarite's best color change is not dependant on dark tones. Some women prefer the colors of Csarite because they like the more subtle pastel contrast and find they complement earth tones (green, chocolate, mocha and gold), making the gem more wearable. Like all color change gemstones, the larger the Csarite, the more visible the color change.