Shoppers will always be delighted to view the diamond jewelry in a display case at a local department store. The salesperson will smile and greet them and try to introduce customers to many shapely options in diamond jewelry that are on sale that month. While the shopping clock ticks, the customer is likely to get a full education on the four C’s for diamond stones and hear all about the delightful options that make a diamond perfect for placing in rings, bracelets, and earrings.

The salesperson will be very motivated to talk about the clarity factors found inside diamonds. While the shape of the stone does not affect diamond clarity, the brilliance of the diamond will come through if some inclusions are not noticeable when the diamond ring is being viewed with the naked eye. Some diamond shapes can camouflage various imperfections due to where the diamond cut is made in the stone. These shapely options give diamond lovers the opportunity to save money.

Other shapely options for diamond jewelry will offer wearers the opportunity to wear impressive pieces of jewelry based on the size of the stone. The shaping of a marquis cut on a diamond is perfect for placement in diamond jewelry that is worn on the index finger as a complimentary piece of fine fashion jewelry. This diamond shape will also be quite suitable for wear as a left hand ring for engagement purposes, but the placement of smaller diamond stones in this ring setting could influence the visual appearance when those stones are placed in a ring guard.

Most jewelry lovers migrate toward brilliancy found in round shaped stones. The shapely options could be worn in a circular cut stone pattern or one that presents more visual depth, such as the shape of a princess cut diamond. The visual effects of the princess cut diamond jewelry choices are very dramatic and brides will often select this diamond shapes for solitaire engagement ring settings. To save funds, the bride could elect a brilliant cut diamond, which is worn as a solitaire, and compliment it with a band shaped out of pure white gold or yellow gold.

The shapely options for diamond jewelry extend to those worn about the neck. A pear shaped diamond would make a marvelous pendant that would be perfect for gift giving for any holiday of the year. Oval cut diamonds on bracelets would make an elegant gift for a new graduate, and diamonds and pearls together would be the perfect combination of diamond jewelry shapes that would be perfect for gift giving to a new mother. Additional precious gems could be added at any time which would present other shapely options that many women find very delightful.

The color of the diamond stone is one of the factors that give diamond jewelry such flair. A woman would love to wear an anniversary band which is shaped as a band but affords the wearer the glitter that diamonds are known for producing. The shaping of diamonds will produce fiery blends of color that range from light yellow to bright blue. A shapely ankle would look very distinguished if it was adorned with a band of diamonds that were encased in platinum metals or 14-karat gold.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

A diamond appraisal is used to determine the dollar value of a specific gem. Loose diamonds that are bought and sold by jewelry wholesalers for the wholesale diamond jewelry market are subject to the process of diamond appraisal prior to sale. Diamond appraisal uses four main criteria – known as the “Four C’s” – in order to evaluate loose diamonds and determine fair market prices of such precious stones.

Read more on What Does a Diamond Appraisal Mean?…

Popularity: 5% [?]

Silver hoop earnings are not dead. You may have thought that they came and went with the 80’s, and I’m hear to tell you this is simply not true. If there is one accessory I find the celebrities wearing more and more frequently this would be it. They are simple, clean, and they look pretty darn hot with basically any type of ensemble. You really can’t go wrong with gold hoop earrings, or sterling silver hoop earrings for that matter. Hoops are just a nice complementary piece of jewelry.

Now, if anyone in this country knows how to appropriately emulate a celebrity – it’s the NYU (New York University, for you foreigners) and FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) students. They know what’s up, that’s for sure. But the best part about these youngsters is that they are designers-in-training themselves, so they often take modern style and elaborate on it or modify it.

The celebrities that teenagers see in music videos, television programs or movie screens are largely responsible for dictating trends in teen jewelry fashion. The oversized, ostentatious accoutrements favored by rap musicians have spawned the hip-hop jewelry trend, and teenagers have been patronizing lower-priced but accurate replicas of celebrity bling. Instead of the diamonds and other precious gems used in celebrity jewelry, cheaper zirconia and base metals are used for duplicates. designer pendants that are imported from Israel and Brazil. These pendants combine tradition and contemporary by mixing pearls and leather, or crystal and brass.

Hoop earrings are another traditional style that is as popular today as they were ages ago. Hoops can come in a variety of different materials, such as gold, silver or even hard plastic. There are small, delicate hoops and big, bold hoops. Some hoops are thin, others are thicker. There are the choices of celebrities are hoop earrings that are perfect circles, and ones that are more oval shaped. There are even square are rectangular choices that are similar to circle hoops in style.

Fashion Jewelry Trends
Fashion jewelry is popular in today’s fashion conscious society. Women, and sometimes even men, use fashion jewelry to accent their outfits. The difference between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry is that fashion jewelry is affordable and crafted from less valuable materials than fine jewelry. It’s easy to have a jewelry collection that features something to match every ensemble.

Trends come and go. For example, the love beads and mood rings of the sixties and seventies aren’t as popular today as they used to be. Sometimes, however, trends from bygone eras make resurgence and become new again. One of the biggest trends that is taken from a previous decade is that of colorful eighties style jewelry. That means jelly bracelets, giant earrings, and even wrist cuffs in a variety of vibrant shades and patterns.

Read more on Celebrity Silver Array Hoop Earrings-fashion and Trends of Best Jewelry…

Popularity: 27% [?]

What do loose diamonds have in common with a pile of coal? More than you might think; in fact in geological terms, loose diamonds are nothing more than glorified lumps of coal. The differences are:

- the arrangement of the carbon atoms
- how each material is formed

Even when it comes to the formation of diamonds, the difference between processes is one of degree rather than mechanics. Here then is some interesting information for potential buyers of wholesale certified diamonds and gemstones.

Carbon is Carbon

Some may remember an episode of the old “Superman” TV series from the 1950s in which Clark Kent created a diamond by compacting a lump of coal in his fist. While it is doubtful that even the “Man of Steel” could exert such preternatural geologic forces as take place deep in the earth, the concept illustrated was essentially correct – those loose diamonds that eventually wind up at diamond dealers who sell them to jewelers are made of carbon that has been subjected to extremely high pressures of 60 kilobars (for comparison, that’s 60,000 times normal air pressure at sea level) and temperatures of over 2300 degrees Fahrenheit (structural steel melts at around 1520° F)!

The pressure and heat needed to create diamond is found only at the earth’s lithosphere where the crust meets the upper mantle – about 90 – 240 miles beneath the surface. Diamonds can also form when a meteorite strikes the surface of the earth, creating similar conditions or are carried on within the meteorite (some diamonds do come from outer space!).

Coal on the other hand is formed from the decaying remains of ancient plant matter that has also been compressed by geologic forces, but much closer to the surface. In chemical terms, carbon atoms that make up carbon molecules are arranged in a flat, hexagonal pattern, making them much more brittle. In diamond however, they are arranged in a tetrahedral, or box-like structure. This is what accounts for the hardness of loose diamonds.

Can One Turn Into the Other?

Eventually, if a coal deposit sinks low enough into the earth and is subjected to high pressure and temperature, it can become diamond. Theoretically, diamond could also change into coal, if kept free of chemical reactions that color the gems and stabilize the surface, then subjected to a vacuum. This is unlikely outside of controlled laboratory conditions, however.

Loose Diamonds Are Made, Not Born

What we refer to as loose diamonds do not occur naturally. Once diamond is mined, it is categorized into “industrial grade” and “gem grade.” Gem grade is subject to diamond appraisal, and naturally is of primary interest to diamond dealers.

The raw diamond is cut into loose diamonds, then carefully carved and shaped by craftsmen into forms suitable for decorative jewelry. This stage can have a great impact on the value of loose diamonds as determined by a diamond appraisal, and must be done with painstaking care and uncommon skill.

Wholesale certified diamonds must also be analyzed and graded by a professional gemology lab. It is here that the stones are evaluated for carat, color and clarity. Along with the results of the diamond appraisal which evaluates the cut, they provide the basis of valuation.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Over the last 10 years there are so many things that have changed in the jewelry business, some of them for the good of the industry and others to its detriment. The internet has accelerated the transference of information and made products readily available. National chain stores have changed their business models to become more aggressive and today’s consumers have altered their buying habits accordingly. Industry veterans suggest that 10,000 privately held stores could close over the next 7-10 years. Simply put, the jewelry business isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago and independently owned jewelry store owners need to respond quickly. With this article, I hope to offer advice on how to overcome the many challenges that independents will encounter.

Today’s consumers can be categorized as value or experience driven. The value driven consumer rarely cares about the image of the store, the brand name of the products, or the service after the sale. He/she is concerned about one thing and one thing only and that is “the lowest price possible”. The internet is best equipped for this type of customer and has done a great job of servicing them. The attraction for potential internet consumers may be the value and the anonymity of comparing products and prices without human interaction. Some people have told me that they feel obligated to purchase after spending time with salespeople at brick and mortar stores, this adds undue pressure to make a quick decision. Spend thrifty consumers can also be methodical decision makers and require time to feel good about their decisions; the internet offers this while brick and mortar stores do not. Generally speaking, a retail store’s operating expenses represent a high percentage of their overall revenues. They simply have to sell their diamond and jewelry for more – competing with internet retailers on price and shopping leisure becomes a difficult task. So in turn, independently owned stores have lost market share every year for the last 9 years. In fact, the retail independents have shown only modest growth of 2%-5% per year while internet retailers have grown 25%.

The experience driven consumer is largely concerned about selection, convenience, brand image, availability, and service. Recognizing this are the national superstore chains, including Jared Jewelers, Helzberg, Bailey Banks & Biddle, and others like them. These companies are building bigger and better stores with millions of dollars in inventory bursting out of the showcases. Every possible jewelry choice is available and their customers don’t have to shop anywhere else. In addition, they are placing a greater emphasis on training their employees than they have in the past. The days of receiving second rate advice and service at national chain stores are becoming a thing of the past. This is something that independent retailers have always hung their hats on: they can no longer say that you’ll only get great service at privately owned stores. All of this is made possible by an aggressive plan to take over a market previously controlled by mom and pop stores, and then investing in that plan. The independent jewelry store can’t offer the same size product selection because they don’t have the finances. The chain stores have better real estate, better product selection, and more money for advertising.

You could say that the internet retailers have opened the door for the chain stores by fragmenting the marketplace and putting independents on the ropes. Recent growth by chain stores and internet retailers has placed independents in a bad place. They can’t sell their jewelry at the same price as the internet retailers and can’t afford to offer the same product selection as the chains. Without careful planning and adjustments in their business model independently owned stores could border extinction. There are some that would strongly disagree with this outlook and think that it would be impossible for it to happen. To that I ask one question…”When was the last time you purchased home improvement items from a mom and pop hardware store?” Or “When was the last time you purchased electronics from a mom and pop electronics store?” These stores existed until the consolidation of their industries occurred. It simply took longer to happen in the jewelry business, but I assure you that it will continue to happen. The future for independents seems bleak but there are things that can be done to assure their healthy existence in the industry.

Taking back market share is going to be a very important part of the process and this should start with the internet. Most independents have done nothing to create a presence on the internet; I’m amazed to hear that some jewelers don’t even have a website. I think this is largely due to their reluctance to embrace a business practice that has taken so much from them. An example of a well-done internet jewelry website is http://www.rokstok.com The internet retailers have grown quickly because they haven’t been challenged, it’s time for the independents to step up and create a much more competitive environment for internet retailers. The area most needing improvement is the sale of online diamonds and engagement rings. Margins of course, have dropped considerably on loose diamonds because of the availability of aggressively priced goods. Independents have a real problem accepting the notation of selling diamonds for much less than they have in the past. In order to succeed, they’ll need to understand that diamonds can be sold for more in a store and less online. Why not do business with both types of customers and take back some of the market share previously lost to competitors. Putting together an effective website involves more than listing jewelry on web pages. Content is very important as well as search engine optimization, I recommend hiring an SEO specialist before hiring web programmers. They’ll give valuable insight on how to create a successful website.

Dealing with the superstores takes a different approach and a lot of courage. Most independents will never have the funds needed to compete on the same level as the superstores. That’s not to say that they can’t hold their own and carve out a good living. It will require choosing a jewelry category that is possible to dominate or own a large piece of. Dealing with the chain store advertising budgets, inventory, prime locations, and trying to be all things to all customers will be next to impossible. I think the store owners that’ll be successful will leverage their passion and strengths in certain product categories and attempt to own that market. I’ve owned a retail jewelry store for 13 years and witnessed the deterioration of the market for privately held stores. I’m also experiencing first-hand the problems faced by my counterparts and vacillated over the proper course of action. I’ve decided to stay true to my passion and continued to promote my bridal and diamond business. I know in the end that it’ll be the right decision because I have a good chance of creating a strong presence in one product category. This presence will be hard to take away from me and I should always be able make a good living. I hope that all independents can do the same, but it’s obvious at this point that it will take courage and commitment.

Read more on Jewelry Retailing – The Current State Of The Industry…

Popularity: 4% [?]

Whether you’re a collector, investor or retailer or one of the country’s professional jewelry wholesalers and dealers, it is recommended that such valuable pieces – including GIA wholesale certified diamonds – be stored in a way that keeps them secure and preserves the setting. Although diamond itself is virtually indestructible, some elements of the setting, such as silver, can be subject to tarnish, or surface damage. Gold especially is one of the softer metals and can easily be scratched – and as professional jewelry wholesalers will tell you, this can seriously affect the value of otherwise beautiful pieces.

Protecting Your Investment

Diamond wholesalers and retail diamond dealers alike understand the importance of not only protecting, but organizing their pieces in ways that make them accessible as well as secure. Pieces purchased for retail from jewelry wholesalers should be stored in an anti-tarnish container lined with a fabric that not only protects the gold finish from scratching and marring, but also displays the wares in an attractive way. A wise diamond dealer who offers jewelry pieces for sale in a retail store understands the use of contrast – a dark colored background – that allows pieces to stand out in all their brilliance.

Wholesale certified diamonds that have been analyzed and evaluated by a gemology lab find their way into a wide variety of settings ranging from simple engagement rings to elaborate necklaces and tiaras. Jewelry storage solutions vary according to the setting. For example, jewelry wholesalers may recommend a ring case. Typically lined with fine velvet in dark blue, maroon or even black, these boxes contain numerous slots into which your wholesale certified diamond rings can be placed securely, while the lid can left in a lifted position for an attractive display.

Showing It Off

When it comes to necklaces, diamond wholesalers and dealers often find a revolving jewelry stand to be an effective way to display merchandise in a way that is eye-catching and allows the customer to get a good look at what is being offered. While jewelry wholesalers may be less concerned with such matters (except at trade shows and expositions), jewelry retailers will find such a rotating display an excellent way to attract attention.

Keeping It Safe

It may seem obvious, but it bears mentioning that quality jewelry is an attractive target for thieves and burglars. Jewelry wholesalers and retailers alike understand the need for security; this is even more important for individual collectors and investors. Jewelry wholesalers may be able to recommend security solutions for your fine pieces; in general however, you will probably want some type of built-in safe if you have an extensive collection of valuable jewelry, and in fact, your insurance company may require it. If in doubt, ask a jewelry wholesaler, as such a person typically has extensive experience in the safekeeping of such merchandise.

Read more on The Importance of Proper Jewel Storage…

Popularity: 3% [?]

The jewelry industry has gotten very creative over the last couple of years and with that creativeness has come an amazing assortment of jewelry designs. Technology has also advanced and complicated styles that weren’t possible are not being made. Finally, manufacturing costs have come down and now can you choose from an amazing collection of jewelry styles while spending much less than in years past. Read more and you’ll learn what’s at the front of the pack.

Add-A-Bead Charm Bracelets

Pandora and TrollBeads have created a new phenomenon in jewelry that includes a contemporary spin on the charm bracelet. TrollBeads is a brand name “add-a-bead” charm bracelet designed by Scandinavian artists using sterling silver and Murano glass beads. The silver beads are a collection of symbols and animals each with a meaningful story behind them. Each artist has there own bead that they’ve created using inspiration from mythological stories and fairy tales. The Murano beads are hand-blown genuine Murano glass – made by Italian craftsman. Pandora is similar in style and concept but places a bigger emphasis on the silver while TrollBeads has both sterling silver and glass to choose from.

These charm bracelets make wonderful gifts and most people buy one for themselves as well as for friends. The beauty of the jewelry is the ability to build bracelets together with friends and family, once built they look amazing and very fashionable.

Yellow Gold is on the Move

For years white gold and platinum have dominated jewelry fashion however, many jewelry designers are now showing new styles in yellow gold. This recent movement has been seen in styles created by Tacori and Simon G, most notably with Tacori’s new yellow gold Medallion. This medallion has been voted the hottest new jewelry style by readers of various women’s magazines. What we’ve seen is that women are now wearing yellow and white gold jewelry together and it seems to be quite fashionable. Look for two-tone bridal jewelry to make a comeback very soon as well.

Be a Star

Tiffany & Co. has been selling a diamond studded silhouette of a star and this necklace has created an interest in star jewelry. You’ll notice many jewelry stores carrying similar stars in necklace, pendant, rings, and earrings. Most of these stars are basic but classy looking 5 point stars pave set or channel set with round diamonds or baguettes. Carat weights for these items normally range from .25ct to 1.50ct total diamond weight. These styles have been hitting the market since Summer of 2007 but you’ll see many more variations as time goes on.

Journey Jewelry Debeers created the concept of Journey Jewelry a couple of years ago but it took a while to catch on. Recently, it became one of the most popular diamond jewelry gifts available. Journey Jewelry is created with a collection of diamonds growing in size from smallest to largest, these diamonds symbolize the growth of love that people have for one another. As your love grows so should your diamonds, at least that’s what Debeers believes. Journey styles have been shown mostly in white gold set with princess or round diamonds. The concept is based loosely on the Past, Present, & Future 3-stone jewelry that was also created by Debeers. You can view great diamond journey jewelry styles at http://Rokstok.com.

Automatic Swiss Watches

For men, fine quality Swiss watches have become a very important choice in timepieces. The sport watches created by Movado, Rolex, and Breitling have driven the market and still remain the leaders in men’s wrist watches. Another craze seems to be oversized or very large watches, you’ll see this in many of the Breitling designs. The styles are getting bigger and bigger and the bold use of decorative dials is quite striking.

Read more on Hot New Diamond Jewelry And Swiss Watch Trends…

Popularity: 5% [?]

Christmas is an annual holiday that is accompanied by many traditions. From trimming the tree to wrapping gifts and singing tunes that represent the meaning of the holiday, there are many happy moments that December brings every year. In addition to those longstanding traditions that many of us have grown to love, there are also certain colors that will forever remind us of this precious holiday. Among the most popular are, of course, red and green. Other classics include silver, gold, blue and even white.

Read more on Decorating Yourself With The Colors Of Christmas In Jewelry…

Popularity: 4% [?]

There are a number of people who wear leather as an adornment. The placing of these leather goods will be anywhere you want. The most popular places to wear leather items are that of the neck area and the fore arms. Here you will find that you can choose a number of different elegantly styled leather bracelets.

Read more on How to Choose the Different Elegantly Styled Leather Bracelets…

Popularity: 3% [?]

A toe ring is a ring that can be made out of various metals and non-metals worn on any of the toes. It is usually almost exclusively worn by women but is becoming more popular with men. The second toe of either foot is where they are worn most commonly. In most western countries they are a relatively new fashion accessory. There is no symbolic meaning for wearing toe rings though and they are only regarded to be a new fashion jewellery. They often accompany barefoot sandals.

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Popularity: 4% [?]