Jewelry & Watch News

To truly understand the value of a diamond, you need to understand the different components that make a diamond special—what makes it clear, bright, and brilliant. Cut is one of those main components. In fact, it could be considered the most important component, as cut determines how light enters and refracts within a stone, giving diamonds their distinctive sparkle. Most people, however, confuse “cut” with “shape”—round, princess, pear, cushion, etc. While the shape of the diamond can affect its value (for example, round cut diamonds tend to be the most expensive,), the diamond cut proportion is what you need to look out for. Our quick diamond cut value guide breaks it down: Shallow Cut Diamond If a diamond is too shallow in depth, light will enter the diamond but escape through the bottom of the diamond. This means you won’t have the white “flash” that many diamonds exhibit when moved under light, and the diamond will appear darker.   One reason people may choo...

Diamond rings are synonymous with beauty, luxury, and a hefty price tag. As you search for a discount on diamond rings, you may find jewelers promising amazing deals with prices that seem too good to be true. But if they seem too good to be true... they probably are. Unfortunately, many in the gem industry will resort to misleading claims, deceptive advertising, and even outright scams. Let the buyer beware when dealing with “discount jewelers” and “diamond wholesalers.” Here are five warning signs to look for when shopping for affordable diamond rings: #1: Low Cut Grade A diamond’s “cut grade” is one of the main determinants of both its beauty as a work of art and its value on the jewelry marketplace. A well-cut diamond will reflect an astonishing amount of light back to the eye of the viewer, leading to the sparkle and shine that gives the stone its distinctive appearance. A poorly cut diamond will appear dull or glassy, with dark patches where light is not reflect...

Rose gold has emerged as the most popular color for—well—everything. From our lips to our smartphones, nothing has escaped rose gold’s blushing and romantic Midas Touch. With metallics taking center stage for today’s beauty looks (including hair color!), rose gold remains the ultimate in sophisticated chic style. Rose gold began its lustrous appeal in 19th century Russia and was created by mixing copper and yellow gold, resulting in a unique blushing pink shade that exuded innocence and romance. Fabergé used rose gold in many of his creations and the metal later became popular for rings and other fine jewelry, especially during the Victorian period. For wedding bands and engagement rings, rose gold has regained its popularity for settings and bands. However, rose gold also looks amazing when used as the dominant metal for earrings, pendants and diamond bracelets. Not only is the metal unique, but rose gold’s warm hue also looks great against most skin tones. Ready to v...

This month’s dazzling birthstone is – Diamond! To celebrate this timeless stone, here are 10 fascinating facts about diamonds. The word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, meaning ‘unbreakable.’ Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth, and the only way to scratch one is to use another diamond. The quality of a diamond is determined by the four C’s: cut, colour, carat and clarity. A ‘carat’ is equal to 0.2g and is used to measure the weight of a diamond. The term carat comes from the Greek word keration, meaning carob seed. It is believed that carob seeds were once used as a unit of weight since every seed was nearly identical in mass. In 1477, the first known diamond engagement ring was given by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy, which sparked a trend amongst European nobility. Diamonds are formed miles beneath the Earth’s crust and come to the surface through deep volcanic eruption. The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous s...

Notable Watch Index Styles Watches are comprised of so many intricate details from the inside out, some you may not even think of. From an aesthetic perspective, you might prefer a particular case material, dial color, or bracelet style. One element you might overlook is the watch’s indices. Indices are another way to refer to the watch’s hour markers. You may be surprised at how much different types of watch indices can impact the look of the dial. Here, we’ve compiled some common types of indices for you to consider. Arabic Numerals Arabic numerals are the most common symbols for numbers today, replacing Roman numerals. They can appear in watches in different forms. Sometimes, Arabic numerals may number each hour marker from one to twelve. Other watch designs use Arabic numerals at the three, six, nine, and twelve-o’clock positions. Occasionally, you’ll see only a single twelve-o’clock Arabic numeral marker.  In some watches, elements like a date window or...

Styles and designs for men’s rings are as different and unique as the man who wears the ring. Whether you’re on the hunt for a wedding band or a promise ring, the choice for the perfect men’s ring is dependent on his style and personal taste and your budget.  From simple bands to intricate diamond solitaire statement rings, our collection of men’s rings has the ideal band for every budget and personality. The definition of his perfect ring might vary based on the type of ring he wants and the occasion that the ring celebrates or symbolizes. There are many factors to consider before you finalize your purchase and slip that ring on his finger. If you’re on the hunt for men’s rings, here is everything you need to discover and uncover his perfect ring. Wedding Bands A wedding band is a forever symbol of his vows to you. This is the ring that he will wear forever, and it is a ring that requires the most thought. Men need a ring that will remain timeless and adapt t...

A Royally Gorgeous Ring In 1961, a diamond cutter in London named Arpad Nagy created the profile cut; but often referred to it as a princess cut diamond . The name eventually stuck, and thus the modern day princess cut diamond was born. Even though princess cut diamond engagement rings were first introduced in the 1960s, this style still looks as modern and stylish as ever. In fact, it is universally known as the second most popular diamond cut. A princess cut diamond is square-shaped with 58 facets that are positioned similarly to the facets on round brilliant diamonds. This cut is known for maximizing the diamond’s sparkle, so it is perfect for women who want their diamond to gleam from across the room . The Princess Look at a Great Cost Another reason why women love princess cut diamonds is their affordability. Diamond cutters are able to use around 80% of the rough stone when creating a princess cut diamond. This is much higher than the industry average, whi...