Buying Ruby Jewelry Online

How to Evaluate, Identify and Select Certified Genuine Rubies and Fine Ruby Jewelry

Sndgems jewelry guides are easy to use, interesting and helpful guide to buying jewelry onle. Our jewelry guides are indispensable guide to judging jewelry characterstics, distinguishing genuine from imitation, making wise choices, useful to all type of consumers, from professional jewelry to online searchers.  Our diamond guides help everyone in viewing diamonds as gemologists, diamond experts, diamond dealers, experienced lapidaries, diamond buyers and online customers.  Our diamond guides dissects each aspect of diamond value in detail with a wealth of diamond grading information. Our gemstone guides help everyone in viewing colored gemstones as gemologists, gem dealers, experienced lapidaries, gem buyers and online customers.  Our gemstone guides dissects each aspect of ruby, sapphire, ruby value in detail with a wealth of gemstone grading information. Our guides offers step-by-step instructions for how to examine and judge the quality and craftsmanship and materials even if you dont know anything about jewelry.  If you're thinking of buying jewelry online this guide is a best place to start.  Our guides will help you to know about jewelry details such as finishes, settings, flaws and fakes. Our guides cover diamonds, gemstones, jewelry craftsmanship, treatments, diamond and gems sources, appraisals. There is something for everyone.

Buying a ruby ring may be the one of the most important jewelry related decisions one has to ever make. Our jewelry guides is designed to help you get the best buy possible.  Our diamond guides are highly informative - useful for first-tine diamond buyer, the gemologist, and the jewelry retailer. Its a must read for everone who is planning to buy jewelry online.  Our guides offer a wealth of information keeping explanations streamlined enough so even the first-time ruby buyer can confidently buy ruby jewelry online. Our guides shows you step-by-step how to evaluate sapphire and settings in different designs and metals.  Its helped thousands of ruby jewelry buyers make smart decisions - and it can help you to.

Read about thousands of satisfied customers who have used these guides and bought jewelry from our online jewelry store.

Ruby Jewelry Guides, Free Ruby  Expert Advice, Free Ruby Education

Become an Well Informed Educated Smart Savvy Buyer - Tips on Smart Jewelry Buying

Buying Ruby  Jewelry is easy at the same time daunting with so many online jewelers offering jewelry. It is important that consumers get all the advice, education and knowledge to become a savvy online shopper. There are some basic steps to follow:

1. Do your research on the the jeweler and the jewelry store

Buy only from trusted reputable retail jewelry syores or online jewelry stores. How do you find out a reliable trustworthy jeweler and jewelry store? Here are some simple easy steps to follow:

. Check Jewelry Stores Physical Address using Google Maps

. Check Jewelry Stores Telephone Numbers

. Check Jewelry Stores References

. Check How Long They have been in Business

. Check Customer Reviews Online

. Compare Jewelry Stores Prices as well as Quality, Selection

. Return Policies

. Product Guarantees

. Third Party Appraisals

. After Sales Service

With the internet and social media evolution finding all of the above about a jewelry store is easy. Use the powerful tools internet and social media has to offer to do price comparison, customer reveiws, business location, business history, and more can be found fast. Also check similar designs at other online as well as local jewelry stores. After receiving jewelry from online jewelry store take it to local jeweler to get it appraised again. Post videos of you jewelry and write description to get opinions from your friends, family and others. Be an informed educated savvy buyer.

2. Get to know Ruby Jewelry Basics:

Be an educated diamond jewelry buyer. Get to know ruby 4C's so that when you buy jewelry from a jewelry store the jeweler can't take advantage of your ignorance and end up charging higher prices. This will help you asking the right questions and get the ruby quality you're paying for. Ruby pricing is not regulated and the best way to know the right price is by first learning about ruby 4C's and then doing price comparispon online. Get to know all about ruby grading organization like GIA, EGL, AGS. A prior knowledge of gemstones (ruby, emerald and sapphire) will help you understand and retain what a jeweler tells you. This gemstone guide will help you in evaluating the quality of ruby, emerald and sapphire, an aid in avoiding fraud with information on immitation (synthetic and treatment), as a handy reference on colored gemstones, provide a collection of practical tips on choosing and caring for gems and a challenge to view colored gemstones through the eyes of gemologists and gem dealers. When gemologists speak of shape, they usually mean its face up outline. The most common gemstone shapes include round, oval, square, pears, marquise and octogon.

Getting educated and informed about ruby will almost guarantee you to get the best deals on ruby jewelry at jewelry stores.

3. Don't be Trapped by Inflated Price & Discount Glimmicks:

There is no such thing like free. What you pay is what you should get. Use internets vast resources like price comparsion tools and local jewelry stores to become familiar with ruby prices. This will allow you to understand real prices and allow you stay away from unreal discounts like 50 - 75% off.

4. Take Advantage of Vast Resources Internet & Social Media Sites have to offer: Even if you don't buy from an online jewelry store you should use internet to do price comparison, check jewelry stores reputation, customer feedback and reviews, watch you tube videos, look up jewelry stores trade report, facebook and twitter likes and following, read its history and more. Several decades back consumers did not have internet and social media to see company products and offerings, do price comparison and had to buy from a local jewelry store at whatever prices they asked.

Internet and social media has dramatically changed jewelry buying process in favor of consumers proiding them unlimited options and choices as compared to buying from a local jewelry store.

5. Narcol-md-12 your Selection and Do Price Shopping:

After getting informed on jewelry stores reputation and ruby 4C's the next step is narcol-md-12 down your choices and don't rush to make a purchase. Take your time and check out out prices for similar designs, diamond and gemstone quality, gold and platinum quality.

Know the Ruby 4Cs      Click to Contact Us      Certified Ruby Anniversary Rings

Is Ruby Jewelry & Precious Metals a Good Investment?

Just like the precios metals like gold, sterling silver and platinum prices have doubled and tripled in last five years ruby prices have also have risen around 25% in last five years and that is why buying rubyand metals is a good investment. When thinking about rubies most people turn to the image of exquisite and stunning ruby jewelry with rubies sparkling, glittering, shimmering but rubies can be also considered as the investment, especially in times of economic woes like this is the case today.

The rubies of good and excellent quality will always hold their value so you don't need to worry about losing money on them. This is because rubies have their unique status and extreme appeal, and these two factors help retain ruby's value.

Rubies are global merchandise and are therefore not affected with an economic situation in certain region or in certain country. This also means that rubies can be sold in any country, anywhere in the world, without losing their value.

Another big advantage when investing in rubies is the fact that there are no costs to maintain. People often prefer investing into the real estate forgetting that real estate has big maintenance costs and is also being taxed. When you look at it from pure economic reasons it makes much more sense to invest in rubies than real estates. The only actual upkeep with rubies refer to insurance costs.

Famous Ruby Mines

Natural ruby is the rarest and most valuable of all precious colored gemstones. The price paid for a ruby at auction was $3.6 million, at Christie's. This was for a 8.62 carat unheated  Burmese ruby set in a Bulgari jeweler designer ruby ring. The price of $425,000 per carat set a new record not only for rubies, but for colored gemstones. The buyer was Lawrence Graff, a well-known jeweler from London.

Fine Rubies are so valuable because of its extreme rarity like the burma rubies. Ruby is the red color of corundum, the same mineral as sapphire. But where other corundum colors such as blue, yellow and pink are quite rare, gem quality corundum is extremely rare and is found in only a few locations in the world.

The most valuable pigeon red rubies come from Burma, now known as Myanmar. The region is known for the very finest real red rubies is the Mogok Valley, located about 140 miles northeast of Mandalay in Burma. It is believed that ruby mining here has been active for more than a thousand years, and this is the source of the rare "pigeon's blood" ruby. The best Burmese rubies have are fully saturated red and a have rare unique fluorescent quality. Some specimens also have a velvety softness due to tiny inclusions of rutile that are known as "silk" in the gem trade.

While Mogok is the most famous location in Burma for the finest pigeon red rubies, most of the Burmese rubies found today actually come from a different location called Mong Hsu in the Shan State of Burma. The Mong Hsu depositand the deposit was so huge that it was hailed as the most important discovery of burmese ruby for hundreds of years. But these Mong Hsu rubies were not of the same quality as the famous Mogok rubies -- they had a tendency to a slightly bluish or purplish hue which was not as attractive. However, the color can be improved by heat treatment, so virtually all the Mong Hsu ruby in the market has been heat treated.

Prior to the discovery of the Mong Hsu ruby deposit, there was a period when virtually all the world's supply of ruby came from locations outside Burma. In 1962 there was a military coup in Burma and the military took control of the Mogok ruby mines. Burma was virtually closed for decades, as Ne Win pursued his own bizarre brand of socialism. The world was forced to look elsewhere for ruby. They went to Thailand, because Thailand had the largest supply of facetable material.

The Thai rubies came from Chanthaburi and Trat, an area of eastern Thailand bordering Cambodia. The Thai rubies had a very different look from the Burmese rubies. Though the Thai rubies have very excellent clarity, they have high iron content which rendered them a dark garnet-like red instead of Burmese ruby pigeon red color. The Chanthaburi gem dealers  discovered that the color could be improved with heat treatment, and the Thai rubies went on to to have a major market success. But by the middle of 1980's the Thai mines were all exhausted.

As the supply of fine ruby from Burma has gone down, African ruby has been able to meet some of the worlds ruby demand. A significant deposit was discovered in Madgascar in the Andilamena area and for a number of years most of the new ruby in the market was from the Madgascar mines. More recently there has been discovery Tanzanian ruby, but the most of the new African material is now coming from Mozambique in Africa including some rare unheated rubies.

Largest Diamonds

10. The Millennium Star
Weight: 203.04 carats

The Millennium Star is internally and externally flawless pear-shaped diamond (total of 54 facets). With the weight of 203.04 carats it is the 10th largest diamond in the world. Originally, the rough stone was 777 carats found in the Mbuji-Mayi district of Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1990. After 5 months of studying and planning the cutting of the stone, it was decided to cut the rough diamond into three pieces. The Millennium Star is the outcome of the largest piece. The value of the stone hasn't been revealed but the Millennium Star was insured for 100 million English pounds, this is believed to be a fraction of its true worth.

9. The Red Cross
Weight: 205.07 carats

The Red Cross is canary yellow cushion-shaped diamond with weight of 205.07 carats. The rough stone weighed 375 carats and was found in Kimberly mines (South Africa) in 1901. The diamond was presented as a gift to the art sale held in London by Christies in 1918, on behalf of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John. Another rare feature is that a Maltese Cross is distinctly visible in the top facet, hence the double appropriateness of its name, the Red Cross Diamond.

8. The De Beers
Weight: 234.65 carats

The De Beers diamond was found in Kimberly mines in 1888, the rough stone weighed 428.50 carats and measured 47.6 mm through its longest axis and 38.1 mm square. Weighing 234.65 carats, the De Beers is the 8th largest faceted diamond in the world. After its display in Paris the Maharaja of Patiala bought the De Beers. In 1928 Cartier of Paris set it as the centerpiece of a ceremonial necklace that came to be known as the Patiala Necklace. The necklace originally contained about 2,930 diamonds weighing about 962.25 carats. Today's whereabouts of the De Beers diamond and the Patiala Nacklace is unknown.

7. The Jubilee
Weight: 245.35 carats

The Jubilee is a colorless cushion-shaped diamond with a weight of 245.35 carats. The original rough stone, an irregular octahedron without definite faces or shape weighed 650.80 carats and was found in the Jagersfontein Mine towards the end of 1895. When during the cutting it became evident that a superb diamond of exceptional purity and size was being produced, it was planned to present it to Queen Victoria. In the end this did not happen and the diamond remained with its owners. The following year marked the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria (the 75th anniversary of her coronation) so the gem was renamed the Jubilee to commemorate the occasion.

6. The Centenary
Weight: 273.85 carats

The Centenary was found in Premier mine in 1986, in its rough form it weighed 599 carats. When cutting was completed the Centenary weighed 273.85 carats, measured 39.90 × 50.50 × 24.55 mm, and had 247 facets - 164 on the stone and 83 around its girdle. Never before had such a high number of facets been polished onto a diamond. The true value of the Centenary diamond is unknown, but the diamond was insured for around $100 million in 1991.

5. The Spirit of de Grisogono
Weight: 312.24

The Spirit of de Grisogono, at 312.24 carats, is the world's largest cut black diamond, and world's 5th largest diamond. In a white gold mounting, it is set with 702 white diamonds totaling 36.69 carats. This diamond originally had a rough weight of 587 carats and was mined several decades ago in west Central Africa before being imported into Switzerland.

4. The Cullinan II
Weight: 317.40 carats

The Cullinan II is the massive 317.40 carat cushion shaped diamond in the center-front of the Imperial State Ccol-md-12n of Great Britain. Cullinan II was cut from the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, it weighed 3106 carats, or about 1 1/3 pounds. It was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, who opened the mine and was visiting on that eventful day. The nine larger stones of the Cullinan diamond remain either in the British Ccol-md-12n Jewels or in the personal possession of the Royal Family.

3. The Incomparable
Weight: 407.48 carats

The Incomparable, in its rough state weighing 890 carats, was found in the town of Mbuji Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in the 1980s. Four years were spent studying and then cutting the stone, the biggest piece of rough ultimately yielded a gem weighing 407.48 carats; it is the third largest diamond ever cut. Internally flawless clarity and fancy bcol-md-12nish-yellow in color, it measures 53.90 × 35.19 × 28.18 mm.

2. The Cullinan I - aka the Star of Africa
Weight: 530.20 carats

The Cullinan I, a pear shaped diamond weighing 530.20 carats is also known as the Star of Africa. It measures 53mm x 44mm x 29mm, and has 76 facets. It's called the Cullinan I because it is the largest of 9 large stones cut from the 3106 carat Cullinan Diamond. Cullinan I was placed by King Edward in the Sovereign's Royal Sceptre as part of the Ccol-md-12n Jewels, and it is now on display in the tower of London. Estimated value of Cullinan I is over $400 million! Learn More

1. The Golden Jubilee
Weight: 545.67 carats

The Golden Jubilee, with the weight of 545.67 carats, is the largest faceted diamond in the world. Rough stone weighed 755 carats and was discovered in Premier mine, South Africa in 1985. The Golden Jubilee was presented to the King of Thailand in 1997 for his Golden Jubilee - the 50th anniversary of his coronation. Prior to this event, the stone was simply known as the Unnamed Bcol-md-12n. Estimated value of the Golden Jubilee is $4-$12 million.

Know Everything About World Famous Diamonds

Celebrity Ruby Rings

Award Show Jewelry

Award Show Party Jewelry

Celebrity Engagement Rings

Celebrity Jewelry

Celebrity Jewelry Line

Fashion Jewelry

Hip Hop Jewelry

Mens Celebrity Jewelry

Movie Premiere Jewelry

Red Carpet Jewelry

Royalty Jewelry

Get to Know What Ethically Sourced Diamonds Are?

Diamond mines in politically unstable parts of central and western African countries are controlled by few revolutionary groups and where innocent human lives are subjected to torture, terrorism, violence and human rights abuse and in many cases the ultimate prices - death. For years, diamonds have been mined, cut and polished at the cost of a human life, injury, pain, grave injustice, human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation in many parts of Africa.

As the journalist Douglas Farah writes, "Diamonds are valuable as currency in this conflict diamond trade for numerous reasons. They are easy to transport, easy to sell and retain their value over time. They do not rot and do not need to be held in special conditions".

''Stop Blood Diamonds'' is an organization pledged to stopping the exploitation of the diamond trade by human rights abusers. Blood diamonds, often called conflict diamonds, are mined in war torn African countries by rebels to fund their conflict. The rebels grossly abuse human rights, often murdering and enslaving the local populations to mine the diamonds. Read More

Diamonds and Rebellions

These rebel groups in Africa sell diamonds from these mines to fund their operations and these diamonds are called conflict or blood diamonds. The public concerns about the purchase of such diamonds leading to war and human rights abuses the diamond industry introduced the Kimberley Process in 2002. This process ensures that diamonds sold by such rebel groups are not sold along with other diamonds. The Kimberley process provides documentation and certification of diamond exports from diamond producing countries to ensure that the proceeds of sale are not being used to fund criminal or revolutionary activities.

Having such strict procedures also does not help curb the blood diamond trade to the fullest extent. Approximately 2% of diamonds traded today are possible conflict diamonds. This is due to the relative ease of smuggling diamonds across African borders and violent nature of diamond mining in nations which are not in a technical state of war and whose diamonds are therefore considered “clean".

Terrorism and Human Rights Abuses

Conflict diamonds are so called because these come from countries that suffer from terrorism and human rights abuses. Several groups which want to control diamond trade in these countries have killed many innocents. Therefore, conflict diamonds are also called blood diamonds. The money earned by selling these diamonds is also used to fund such terrorist activities of these groups in West African countries like Angola, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville) and Liberia. Read More

The Tragedy of Sierra Leone

During the late 1990’s, blood diamonds caught the world’s attention during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone. It was estimated that 4% of the diamonds traded during that time were conflict diamonds.

There was an important study done to shed light on the Sierra Leone tragedy. It exposes how diamonds - small pieces of carbon with no great intrinsic value - have been the cause of widespread death, destruction and misery for almost a decade in the small West African country of Sierra Leone. Through the 1990s, Sierra Leone’s rebel war became a tragedy of major humanitarian, political and historic proportions, but the story goes back further - almost 60 years, to the discovery of the diamonds.

The diamonds are, to use the title of Graham Greene’s classic 1948 novel about diamond smuggling in Sierra Leone, The Heart of the Matter. In the 1960s and 1970s, a weak post-independence democracy was subverted by despotism and state-sponsored corruption. Economic decline and military rule followed. The rebellion that began in 1991 was characterized by banditry and horrific brutality, wreaked primarily on civilians. Between 1991 and 1999, the war claimed over 75,000 lives, caused half a million Sierra Leoneans to become refugees, and displaced half of the country’s 4.5 million people.

Get to Know Diamonds and De Beers - The Diamond Cartel

Until the 1980s, De Beers was directly involved in Sierra Leone, had concessions to mine diamonds offshore, and maintained an office in Freetown. Since then, however, the relationship has been indirect. De Beers maintains a diamond trading company in Liberia and a buying office in Conakry, Guinea.[1] Both countries produce very few diamonds themselves, and Liberia is widely understood to be a ‘transit’ country for smuggled diamonds. Many ‘Liberian’ diamonds are of Sierra Leonean origin, and others reportedly originate as far away as Russia and Angola. De Beers says that it does not purchase Sierra Leonean diamonds. Through its companies and buying offices in West Africa, however, and in its attempts to mop up supplies everywhere in the world, it is virtually inconceivable that the company is not - in one way or another - purchasing diamonds that have been smuggled out of Sierra Leone.

What about the Governments in Africa?Many of the world’s diamonds are harvested using practices that exploit and degrade children, communities, the labor force, and the local environment. Workers are subject to brutality, degrading working conditions, low pay and sometimes death. Consider the facts: over 1 million diamond diggers in Africa are paid less than $1 a day, living in poverty and working in dangerous conditions. Many of the diamond workers in Africa are children under the age of 16, accounting for between 30-50% of the workforce in countries like the Congo, Angola, and Sierra Leone. Local communities in Angola are being tortured by local diamond companies in an effort to force them off the diamond rich land, while the government turns a blind eye.

The Kimberly Process - An End to Conflict Diamonds?More than 99% of the world's diamonds are now from conflict free sources and are officially traded under the UN mandated Kimberley Process. We are glad to bring you diamonds that are conflict free and have been mined and traded with the strict guidelines of the Kimberly Process. Thanks to the international effort that started in May 2000 when Southern African diamond producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, to come up with a way to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and to ensure consumers that the diamonds that they purchase have not contributed to violent conflict and human rights abuses in their countries of origin.

Today, more than 99% of the world's diamonds are free from conflict free sources and are officially traded under the UN mandated Kimberley Process. We are glad to bring you diamonds that are conflict free and have been mined and traded with the strict guidelines of the Kimberly Process.

Know Everything About Rubies

Ruby History: Ruby is one of the most expensive gem, large rubies being rarer than comparable diamonds. The largest cuttable ruby weighed 400 carat and was found in Burma. Many rubies are important part of royal insigma and other famous jewelry. The Bohemian St. Wenzel's ccol-md-12n (Prague), for instance, holds a nonfaceted ruby of about 250 carat. The coloring agent is chrome, sometimes iron. The color is very stable against light and heat. The color distribution is often uneven, in stripes and spots, a so-called "pigeon's blood", pure red with a hint of blue. Cut ruby luster can reach that of a diamond. Often the ruby is clouded by inclusions. These are not classified as faults, but as evidence to the genuineness of the ruby.

Physical Properties: Ruby Color: Vaying Red; Ruby Moh's Hardness: 9.0; Ruby Density: 3.97-4.05; Ruby Chemical Composition: Aluminium Oxide; Ruby Transparency: Transparent to Opaque; Ruby Refractive Index: 1.762-1.778; Ruby Dispersion: 0.018; Ruby Pleochroism: Strong; yellow-red, deep carmine red.

The word "ruby" derives from the Latin word rubeus, which means red. Ruby is the name given to the red variety of corundum. All other colors of corundum are called "sapphire," as in blue sapphires.

Ruby-Occurence: Other important sources of ruby now include Thailand, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and Kenya. The wonderful, rich color of ruby combined with its high brilliance and wearability make it an unusually fine choice for any piece of jewelry.

Ruby-Color: Its color ranges from purplish- or bluish-red to yellowish-red. The finest color is a vivid, almost pure, spectral red, with a very faint undertone of blue, that retains its beauty even in artificial light. The brightest red and thus the most valuable comes usually from Burma. Violet red, sometimes quite dark, rubies come principally from Thailand. We work with our jewelry manufacturers to bring you some of the most beautiful ruby color available in our rings.

Ruby-Clarity: Rubies which have areas full of inclusions which interferes with the light, producing a distinctive silky sheen are not very desirable. Some rubies in the market are also opaque are considered inferior quality. We offer rubies that are very slightly included.

Ruby-Size: The common unit of measurement for stones is weight, expressed in carats and decimal parts thereof. Size of stone which can be diameter, or length and width is expressed in millimeters. Size and Weight are equally important. Well cut stones will have be bigger in size for the same weight.

Ruby-Enhancements: Most rubies used in jewelry have been heated at very high temperatures to permanently enhance their color and are an expected part of the polishing process and are accepted by the jewelry industry.

Judging Rubies Color: American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is one of the most recognized authorities on gemstone grading. Enhancements that are not permanent are considered to deceive the customer. Gemstone enhancements considered acceptable should be permanent; not immitated (substitutes); and color altered.

Ruby-Saturation: Saturation (color purity) is the brightness or vividness (dullness or drabness) of the color. It refers to the degree to which the hue is hidden by bcol-md-12n or gray. Colors with minimum amount of bcol-md-12n or gray are described as vivid or strong. For color purity GIA uses saturation and AGL uses intensity.

Ruby-Tone: Refers to the depth of color (light or dark). The lighest possible tone is colorless. The darkest is black. Tone is another word for the degree of lightness or darkness. Judging the tone of a stone is difficult because it doesnot display a single, uniform tone. To judge the tone of a stone, examine it face-up and look for areas of light and dark. Thai rubies come from a light to dark red with differing degrees of blue undertone giving them a purplish cast. African rubies have a tint or undertone of bcol-md-12n or orange. Rubies can have tones: "light-medium," "medium," "medium-dark," and "dark". We prefer rubies with medium tones.

Ruby-Hue: Refers to the basic colors of blue, gren, yellow, orange, red, purple and violet. To determine the hue, look for the dominant color in the face-up view. When you move the stone in different directions you see the different colors. All rubies exhibit some other colors (hues) in addition to their basic red color. African rubies have a tint (hue) of bcol-md-12n or orange.

Ruby-Cut: Rubies are usually given a mixed cut, which is generally oval, but can be round or, more rarely other shapes. Sndgems offer well cut cut rubies for maximum brilliance in rings with ruby.

Enhancements: Unpolished gemstones are typically very rough. Looking at gemstones straight from the mine, they might be mistaken for pebbles or gravel.

Nearly all gemstones available on the open market have been "enhanced" (i.e. something has been done to make them look better). Gemstones that have not been enhanced are very rare and command extravagant prices.

There are many methods of enhancing gemstones. Some of the most common enhancement treatments are described below. For more information on gemstone enhancements, visit the American Gem Trade Association website

The use of heat to enhance the color of some gemstones is a common practice around the globe and has been going on for centuries. It is part of the standard polishing and finishing process for many gemstone varieties, including aquamarine, citrine, amethyst, sapphire, ruby and tanzanite, and is accepted by the jewelry industry and the American Gem Trade Association.

The enhanced color of heat-treated gemstones is permanent and does not require special care. Aquamarine, citrine, amethyst, sapphire, ruby and tanzanite gemstones offered by Sndgems have been heat treated.

Colorless oil, wax and resin are used to improve the clarity of some gemstones. The colorless oil, wax or resin is infused into surface-reaching fissures (called inclusions) to improve the stone's appearance. This process began centuries ago by gemstone merchants who found that immersing emeralds in clear oil or waxes made them look clearer to the unaided eye. Today, almost all emeralds are treated in this way. Gemstones with colorless oil, wax or resin enhancement, including emeralds, can be harmed if handled roughly. Recommended special care for such gemstones is avoidance of sudden temperature changes, steaming, chemicals and ultrasonic exposure.

Emeralds offered by Sndgems.com may have been treated with colorless oil, wax or resin.

Tips on Buying Rubies Online

Natural gemstones occur in a broad range of qualities, and the price can vary accordingly. For example, a pale opaque ruby commands about one-tenth the price of a fine quality ruby that displays a vivid red color with brilliant depth and intensity.

1.  Learn as much as you can by visiting accredited educational sites, like The Gemological Institute of America, American Gemological Institute, this will enhance your learning on the history of Emeralds and know how to spot a fake.

2.  Know where the finest rubies come from: Mining for rubies started some 2,500 years ago, and to this date, ruby mining is still being undertaken in some parts of Asia such as Thailand and Burma, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United States. But Burma, now known as Myanmar, is the most well-known source of fine rubies. Studies have shown that ruby mining in Burma could be traced way back into the Stone Age and Bronze Age, as proven by tools found in the Mogok mining area. Thailand, on the other hand, is considered today as the most important trading center in the world when it comes to ruby trading. There have also been discoveries of rubies in some areas in Vietnam and most recently in Madagascar..

3.  Look for distinct inclusions. Inclusions not only give each Ruby character it also can help determine exactly which mine the Ruby originated from.

4.  Remember that all rubies will have some type of inclusions, no matter how small. This is also why you should never turn down an emerald of nice color simply because of some inclusions.

5.  Be wary of discounts. Rubies are rare. Very rare. And no one needs to discount ruby jewelry because of this rarity. If you see rubies being offered at big discounts you should be very cautious.

6.  Don't be too strict on proportioning when shopping for rubies. These stones are very rare and they are cut to save the most amount of the original crystal. Since color is the most important factor with rubies, be prepared to see some unusual shapes.

What are natural gemstones

A gemstone is defined as a mineral or petrified material that when cut and polished, can be used in jewelry. It is a mineral that is valuable, rare and often beautiful.Minerals were forged beneath the surface of the earth over millions of years through the forces of heat and pressure, resulting in a distinct crystal form with an orderly pattern of atoms. This internal arrangement determines a mineral’s chemical and physical properties, including its color. Crystals are not necessarily formed only in rocks or beneath the surface of the earth; they are also formed within plants and animals. Such gemstones are called Organic gemstones (coral, amber etc.). Every mineral originates as a small crystal and “gcol-md-12s” as more atoms are added. A particular gem or mineral can be a variety of different colors, depending on impurities, also known as inclusions, in its atomic structure. Quartz, for example, is normally colorless, but occurs in a range of colors from pink to bcol-md-12n to the deep purple of amethyst, depending on the amount and type of impurities in its structure. Gemstones are precious because the extreme climatic conditions and the nurturing inside earth’s womb for millions of years, are not just rare conditions but almost impossible to occur again. And this is the reason that the importance of gemstones is much beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal.Of almost 4,000 different types of minerals found on earth, fewer than 100 are considered beauteous or durable enough to be used as gemstones. Of those, only around 20 are commonly used in jewelry. The traditionally included category of most valuable gemstones is emerald, ruby, sapphire and pearl. Because of their aesthetic appeal and glorious history, these gemstones are more valuable than other colored gemstones. Finest quality emeralds and rubies can sometimes be more valuable than diamonds of comparable size.Gemstones are classified into different varieties, species and groups. For instance, ruby (gemstone) is the red variety of the species corundum (mineral) that belongs to the hematite (crystal) group. Varieties of the mineral beryl include emerald (green), aquamarine (blue), heliodor (yellow), bixbite (red), goshenite (colorless) and morganite (pink).Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their aesthetic appeal or durability, or even change their color. Almost all gemstones are treated in some or the other way. Most of these treatments are permanent in nature and an accepted norm in the industry. Treatments do not affect a gemstone’s value. Learn More

Seeking quality

Akin diamonds, gemstones are judged by the "Four Cs" of color, clarity, cut and carat weight, with color being the most important consideration, by far. As a general rule for all gemstones, the better the color, the higher the value; better clarity and better cut are also valued more - and generally, the larger the stone, the more it will cost per carat. Even to an untrained novice eye, many of these types of differences can be seen when similar stones are examined side-by-side.Other factors that may influence the price of a gemstone include whether it is available readily or is rare in existence; whether it is a rare fancy shape or a calibrated size; and sometimes the origin of the gem. For instance, sapphires from Kashmir or rubies from Burma command a higher price than their equivalents from other origins.

All about Birthstone Jewellery and its Association with the Zodiac Signs

The custom of wearing birthstone jewellery is very old and it started in Poland for the first time in the fifteenth century. Birthstones are thought to have a magical power. People in ancient times believed that the special powers attached to the birthstones protect the wearer and endow him with special characteristics

An Introduction To Colored Gemstones - Commonly Seen Gemstones

When shopping for gemstones, it's important to familiarize yourself with the popular varieties. Most popular gems are judged by the "four Cs": cut, color, clarity and crystal (or transparency). The cut should be clean and symmetrical, the color should be vibrant, the stone should be free of imperfections, and light should easily pass through without cloudiness. Stones are also judged on carats, which is a measure of their weight.

Beauty and Evaluation of the Birthstone of July: Ruby and Ruby Jewelry Online

Ruby the blood red colored gemstone is a rare beauty. Ruby is believed to be from the family of corundum. There are basically two types of corundum. One is ruby and the other is popularly known as sapphire. There are subcategories of sapphire too. Ruby is the red corundum which may be transparent or translucent and it is very hard.

When judging rubies from photographs, one can separate then into two main characters the Mild and the Wild. With this short-cut, we will be able to extract some basic rules for an otherwise unmanageable multitude of ruby varieties.

Mild rubies exhibit a dense red glow with introverted, rich and earthy colors. Such a ruby can vary from fire engine (red-red) to rose red (add some purple) to an earthy crimson red (add some bcol-md-12n). Highest prices are paid for fire engine red, with rose red and then crimson following. Bcol-md-12nish brick red rubies are the most reasonably priced. When purchasing a mild, insist on at least one image with light in the back. Mild colored ruby will easily hide inclusions from the camera. Make sure the image does not only focus on the surface of the stone. A mild ruby needs an image with light falling in from the back of the gem. This will show you inclusions with all honesty. Many images on the web are "front-loaded". They show only the surface of the gem but not the inside. This is done to peddle translucent, or even opaque, cabochon quality as facet grade ruby. Above all else, a mild colored ruby needs clarity. Heavily included ruby in mild colors looks dull in person. The value of such cabochon quality corundum is negligible in comparison to transparent ruby (unless it displays a star ruby of course). The scarcity of good material has somewhat lowered the bar to what is labeled as facet-quality ruby. A translucent or opaque mild ruby might look OK on the photo, but the stone will be boring in person and have zero luster. Clearly, these are not good qualities in a stone. Ruby is by nature more included than, say, tourmaline. You will only get a "free of inclusion" if you have very deep pockets. However, some inclusions are wanted, while others are to be avoided.
Fine silky needle structures are delightful, shattering light rays into a hypnotic gleam. Thicker needles are interesting under the lens and do little harm to beauty. Less attractive, and hence price reducing, are whitish clouds, visible black spots, gcol-md-12th lines with weak color zones or broken crystals. While mild ruby will swallow its inclusions, it will also hide its luster and no high-end camera can change that. However, even the worst cut ruby has luster as long as it is clean. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to capture this on photo. Hence, in mild ruby photos, you need to be picky with inclusions but may be generous with luster and radiance. A pleasant mild ruby will never disappoint as long as it is clean.

The rubies that can labeled as wild exhibit flamboyant neon radiation in a flashy and energetic red. Often described as "neon", "vivid" or "electric", these rubies may have a good deal of purple, pink and violet in them, yet their main feature is a radiant, almost aggressive red. Such a ruby will always catch your attention. It will stand out, even in a shop window loaded with other gemstones. They are the masters of the red universe. No other material (man-made or natural) can beat them. Some flowers come close, but of course they lack fire and glow. The three most important qualities of a wild ruby are color, color and color. Ferociously red rubies are found in Ceylon, Vietnam and Africa, but rarely. Burmese rubies, on the other hand, are often on the wild side. (The craziest ones are coming from Namya these days.) Wild Burmese rubies have been worshipped for millennia. They are the fame of Burma and are extremely costly. Most jewelers, and even many dealers, have never seen one. Most mortals actually never get to see anything but mild colored cabochon quality. Mild colored opaque ruby is the standard in jewelry. Others have shed many words to describe high-end rubies, so I won't try any longer. Nothing beats the eye-to-lens sensation of a buster neon ruby, but a good image will get your appetite started. The best wild rubies separate violet and purple from red. The magic of ruby comes from the ruby-only ability to mingle blue/violet into red and then set it aflame in radiation. Some pink and purple sapphires can do the same trick but red spinel never does. In straight sunlight, many good wild rubies will show themselves more like a blob of red gleam. Though this is a sign for a good gem, it is not enough. With light intensity reduced to a manageable amount, blue/violet and purple will separate from the red. This might look like color-zones, but it is exactly what you want: A digital separation of blue/violet from red (with purple and pink in-between) is the best indicator for intense red ruby. For wild rubies inclusions are only a secondary concern. Color is king. A neon ruby can easily be moderately included without looking dull. Even in translucent material a neon red is still very attractive and many budgets will be limited to more or less included material. Translucent rubies are OK as long as the color is extra terrific and the price right. A fine wild ruby never holds still on an image. Something always seems to be moving in them. Often it looks as if a flickering fire or a hot swirling fluid is caught in the gem. As if there is something alive in them. However, beware of digital enhancement. Since color is the name of the game, some are tempted to "improve" their pictures for the web. Avoid "super bargains", plastic-like hues, and check the photos background: It should be neutral and real (the gem should not be "cut-and-pasted" into a new background). Light conditions should be normal (mixed light, filtered sunlight). Tungsten light alone is not enough. Ask for images in different light settings and angles. One can't easily repeat a faked or stolen photo in variations.

Regularly discussed is the line between pink/purple sapphire and ruby. Yes, pink is a pale red but only what is independently certified as ruby can be sold as ruby. All else is wishful thinking of the seller. Period. You may trust a third party laboratory to draw the line between red and pink. They are professionals, have no stake in the classification and will not risk their jobs for favors. Rich purple or hot pink sapphires can be as extra-terrestrially glowing as ruby. Here Ceylon is even better than Burma, which makes sense given that Sri Lankan ruby tend to be more on the pink side too. Deep neon purple or pink sapphires are terrific alternatives to ruby and are not that expensive, yet.

Gemstones are described by gemologists using technical specifications. Gems have refractive index, dispersion, specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, fracture, and lustre. Some minerals that are too soft to be generally applied in jewelry may still be considered a gemstone because of their remarkable color, lustre or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Crystals and gemstones are a marvel of nature- in there perfect geometrical structures. Only five types of gemstones were considered precious: diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, and amethyst.

A gemstone, gem or precious /semi-precious stone is a highly attractive and valuable piece of mineral, which when cut and polished is used in jewelry or other adornments. Although the different stones formally have the same chemical composition, they are not exactly the same. Color is the most obvious and attractive feature of gemstones.

A diamond is a transparent crystal of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms and crystallizes into the face centered cubic diamond lattice structure. Toughness relates to a material's ability to resist breakage from forceful impact. The most familiar usage of diamonds today is as gemstones used for adornment. Television ads portray them as the ultimate gift of love. Magazine ads want us to believe that a diamond is the only perfect gift to express love. If you plan on purchasing a diamond because you like how it looks or if gives you or your love one pleasure then by all means buy it but also consider it as a form of investment.

Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'. Colombia continues to be at the top of the list in terms of the countries in which fine emeralds are found. The magnificent green of the emerald is a colour, which conveys harmony and love of nature. The value of an emerald depends on cut, color, clarity, and carat. The colours do not occur until traces of some other element are added.

A Ruby is a red variety of the gemstone corundum, the color caused mainly by chromium. A ruby appears red because it absorbs all the other colors of white light - blue, yellow, green, etc. The fewer the number and the less obvious the imperfections, the more valuable the ruby is. Although pieces of red corundum can be found weighing many kilograms, they are generally not of sufficient quality to be valuable as gemstones.

Sapphire is the non red variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide. Some natural sapphires can be found as completely transparent, or "white. Sapphire includes any gemstone quality varieties of the mineral corundum except the fully saturated red variety, which is instead known as ruby. The value of a star sapphire depends not only on the carat weight of the stone but also the body color, visibility and intensity of the asterism. Color changes may also be pink in daylight to greenish under fluorescent light. Australia leads the world in sapphire production.

No matter the gemstone they look best in jewelry, which uses gold as a base. Although the price of some platinum group metals can be much higher, gold has long been considered the most desirable of precious metals, and its value has been used as the standard for many currencies (known as the gold standard) in history. Blue gold can be made by alloying with iron and purple gold can be made by alloying with aluminium, although rarely done except in specialized jewelry. Alternative white gold alloys are available based on palladium, silver and other white metals (World Gold Council), but the palladium alloys are more expensive than those using nickel.

Know Everything About Rubies Before Buying Ruby Rings Online

Known to be the symbol of eternal love, the fiery and emotional ruby is usually presented as a gift for couples celebrating their 15th and 40th wedding anniversary. Although rubies come in different shades of red - from orange-red, pinkish, to purple-red - the most valuable form come in a deep red shade.

Common Locations of Rubies

Mining for rubies started some 2,500 years ago, and to this date, ruby mining is still being undertaken in some parts of Asia such as Thailand and Burma, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United States. But Burma, now known as Myanmar, is the most well-known source of fine rubies. Studies have shown that ruby mining in Burma could be traced way back into the Stone Age and Bronze Age, as proven by tools found in the Mogok mining area. Thailand, on the other hand, is considered today as the most important trading center in the world when it comes to ruby trading. There have also been discoveries of rubies in some areas in Vietnam and most recently in Madagascar.

Myths and Rubies

In the ancient Sanskrit language, ruby is called ratnaraj translated as "king of gemstones." Ancient Hindus believe that it is the "Lord of all Gems."

Also known as the birthstone of those born in the month of July, and in some studies those under the zodiac Capricorn; ruby is not only regarded as a symbol of eternal love.

Out of the many myths and legends surrounding its brilliance, the one that stuck the most to lovers of this lasting gemstone is the one that said one should always be appreciative of rubies because they become lackluster when neglected, overlooked or unloved. In a word, you personify its symbolism, and its importance is revered in your relationship with it.

Sovereigns or ccol-md-12ned heads turned to rubies for help in predicting and consequently preventing impending danger. Royalties kept rubies in their possession to protect them against vulnerability. They believed that the stone turns dark in color when imminent danger is at hand and returns to its original shade when the threat is gone.

It is likewise believed that any one who wears ruby ring is given good health, wealth, wisdom, and luck in love and can live peacefully amongst his enemies. This is probably one of the reasons why this gemstone has been regarded as one of the most cherished gems in history. Even today, rubies are viewed as more precious and rare than diamonds.

Its inherent eternal flame, its brilliance, the way the shade of red is refracted on each facet of the stone, giving a different red every time you turn it towards the sun, and the rich legend surrounding it; these are only some of the finest qualities of ruby that make it precious and rare. This is why some true-blue romantics prefer it over diamonds. Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, and yes, they may spell forever, but forever does not cross over to eternity. A ruby's eternal flame does.

Buying Ruby Jewelry Online for 40th Anniversary

Anyone celebrating their 40th anniversary around now would have been tying the knot during the late 1960s, a heady and evocative time in popular culture. For the gift buyer, this thcol-md-12s up some magnificent ruby anniversary gift ideas, maybe even giving you the opportunity to remind the couple of the original meaning of swinging after 40 years of devotion.

Joking aside, the fact that a marriage has lasted four decades really is cause for celebration. For longer than most of the family members can remember, the couple have been there. Maybe they are an integral part of the clan, or perhaps they're only seen at Christmas but never miss a birthday. Whatever your relationship, it's time to celebrate their union with a wonderful ruby anniversary gift.

No doubt as the anniversary approaches, the couple will be thinking of the day, forty years ago, giggling at the fashions and humming the tunes. Why not blow the dust off their memories with something to really bring the period to life? A copy of the Times from the day of the wedding, for example, will make a fascinating read. Or how about a compilation of hit singles from the year? And for those who cashed in their sixpences when decimalisation came in, a framed set of coins that were in circulation in the 60s is sure to delight.

Of course, not all couples have their feet rooted in the period of their marriage. Some are still plucking today's cultural treasures as they emerge. A fitting gift idea for these hep cats might be tickets to a dazzling West End show. You could even combine it with a meal in a London restaurant. If nothing else it will stop them taking a packed lunch into the theatre; Spamalot should not be taken literally.

Experiences need not be limited to terra firma, either. Breathtaking balloon flights over the British countryside and romantic boat trips down the Thames make gifts to remember. You purchase the personalised tickets and the couple can book a day of their choosing a ideal for those with a busy life but a need to relax in each other's company.

A bcol-md-12se around the net for 40th wedding anniversary gifts will no doubt thcol-md-12 up some terrific ideas to celebrate the day. The gift doesn't have to refer to the past or the present, of course. There's nothing wrong with a simple bottle of champagne and some celebratory flutes, or some quality spirits for the couple to savour. Quirky or traditional, as long as the gift is focused on the couple, it will blow them away.

Ruby History, Birthstone Information Before You Buy Ruby Rings Online

Rubies are the stones of folklore and mystery. Often fiery red and reflecting an extraordinary depth of color, ruby is said to resemble the heart and is able inspire the passions of love. This stone is often associated with masculinity and strength though it is said to also represent passion and strength in women. A member of the corundum family of crystals, ruby has a long and storied history much like its mineral cousin the sapphire. These brilliant stones can be found in many parts of the world including areas of Southeast and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, though the finest quality stones are said to come from Thailand and Burma. Red corundum is nearly as hard as diamond and is highly prized for this quality.

History

Next to diamonds ruby is considered by many to be the most valuable gemstone in the world. The deep red color of these stones was long prized by royals and monarchs throughout Asia and the Middle East and the history of this dates back thousands of years.

Ruby is similar to other stones comprised of corundum like sapphire. The color of this stone is said to come from various levels of iron and chromium that is present and varies from pinkish red to deep red. In fact, lighter shades of ruby are often classified as pink sapphire. The early twentieth century saw the first synthetically manufactured corundum stones and was originally done to supply a gcol-md-12ing industrial market for crystal substances that were hard enough for grinding metals. Industrial corundum is made from bauxite and can be seen commonly used as the abrasive known as emery. It was not long before synthetic gemstones were being made and offered for sale.

The differences between a naturally-occurring stone and a manufactured stone are very subtle is very difficult to determine with the untrained eye. Only a person well-trained in gemology can make such a determination. Genuine, gemstone quality ruby can be quite expensive and buyers should be wary of stones that are offered at a discount price.

Birthstone Information

This stone represents the birth month of July and is associated with several astrological birth signs such as Sagittarius, Scorpio, Leo and Cancer.

New Age Beliefs and Powers Through The Ages

These stones have long been held up as sources of beneficial powers. As with many other gemstones and crystals, ruby is thought to give the wearer powers of immortality and strength of heart. Still other beliefs hold that the bearer is protected from the effects of witchcraft and the evil wishes of others. The bearer is said to be safe from poisons and the strength of heart gives the bearer the power to make peace with ones enemies.

Some General Scientific Information

The chemical name Al2O3 otherwise referred to as aluminum oxide with traces of iron or chromium.

The hardness is 9 on the Mohs scale - the Mohs scale measures the hardness of metals, minerals, gemstones and crystals on a scale of 1 to 10. For example the hardness properties of most quartz crystals fall around 7 on the scale, as does steel and titanium. Diamond is the hardest known substance on the Mohs scale coming in at a hard 10. To most consumers hardness generally reflects the stones able to resist scratches and cracks.

There are several artificial forms of enhancement used on these stones. Heat is often used to enhance the color of these stones and the average buyer would be unaware if this technique was employed. Imperfections are sometimes filled.

There is no cleavage.
Birefringence is weak and ranges anywhere between 0.007-0.010.
Refraction index ranges between 1.757 - 1.779.
The specific gravity is 3.98 - 4.1.
The crystalline system is hexagonal.

Romance and Ruby Jewelry

Romance and ruby jewelry go hand in hand. As a true sign of love and passion, it is a must gift for your beloved, a perfect way to say you care for her. Preferably, it comes in red color but nowadays, it is also gaining popularity in pink, purple and bcol-md-12n colors too. Moreover, it is also used as wedding jewelry these days.

Rubies, the first stone to be known by humans is found in Burma, India, Pakistan, Thailand and Kenya. Historically, rubies are associated with freedom, charity, dignity and divine powers. So, ruby enhances the personal confidence and inner beauty of a person and can be worn on any point of time. Wear rubies with a formal black dress or any other formals; it can make a simple and plain dressing into a couture dressing style. It is ideal jewelry for any skin tone and gives radiance to the personality of a person. Thus, it is most sought jewelry for all the times.

Generally, rubies come in mixture of diamonds. Small diamonds placed with rubies gives a marvelous effect and therefore, increases the overall appearance of a person. Nowadays, gold, silver and platinum are also used with rubies for making jewelries. They are stunning and simply extraordinary. Rubies are also cut and finely shaped like diamonds. Different cuts like oval, emeralds and marquise make it more exclusive than ever. Pure and fine rubies are five times costlier than diamonds.

The most popular form of ruby jewelry is ruby pendant. A beautiful ruby ring in combination with crystal clear diamond gives a breathtaking view. Sometimes, white and yellow gold is also being used in featuring the perfect romantic gift in ruby. Gifting a ring in ruby is also considered an exclusive expression of love. A ruby worn in the third finger of your left hand is a symbol of eternal love. Ruby ring is also believed to bring good luck for a person. That's make it really desirable and valuable.

Ruby is a birthstone of July. It is said that people who wear their birthstones are greatly influenced by the properties and qualities of that gem. So, many people buy rubies to gift their friends and loved ones born in the month of July.

If you are planning to buy a ruby; check its quality well. The purity and effectiveness of ruby is not measured in size but in its color. The purest and valuable ruby is deeply red. The purplish red ruby is least in its value. So, make sure you get a real ruby instead of a phony one.

Star Rubies & Sapphires

Commonly known as ruby star and sapphire star but they also appear in garnet, spinel and other less known varieties. There are differences between all stars, but we will here pretend that nature made all stars equal.

Gemstone phenomena, especially asterism, are a tough call to judge on photo. However, no normal jeweler will be able to show you a fine natural star sapphire, let alone a selection to choose from. Good stars are rare even beyond the normal gemstone rarity. Unless you live in a metropolis or travel to Tucson or Basel, the internet is the only place to compare and buy such gems.

Looking at images on the web, stars seem to be quite an ugly bunch. Rarely do they show nice colors, often they are zoned, patchy, heavily included, silky, egg-shaped and at times the asterism is hardly visible at all.

And of course you will find many "perfect", "fully colored", giant star sapphires or rubies for a few dollars. These are synthetic or surface diffused or lead-glass filled gems which are mostly worth just as much as they cost.

There is nothing wrong with twenty carat Linde star for fifty dollar, but be wary of those sellers trying to offer them as real.

So, are they are either ugly or faked? No, don't be discouraged. Real, natural stars are mind-shaking and heart-breaking. Many star skeptics have become sworn star fans after their first encounter with fine quality. 

Here is what to look for when selecting a star sapphire or ruby online:

The value of any star sapphire ring depends strongly on the quality of its asterism, which is defined by (no order):

1. Sharpness
   

2. Symmetry & linearity
   
3. Completeness (6 rays mostly)
   
4. Travel (smoothness of movement)
   
5. Position
   
6. Lucidity & Depth 

The relative importance of these criteria are questions of personal taste, culture and fashion. Most collectors would perhaps trade in some off-centeredness for good movement, or overlook a meandering leg while fcol-md-12ning at a missing one. 

We feel lucidity, travel, position and completeness may be most important and price relevant.

Only then, with decreasing relevance, come:

1. Color
   

2. Clarity (inclusions)
   
3. Shape
   
4. Finish (top and bottom) 

Asterism and color together easily make up 80% of the value of a star (sapphire, ruby or any other variety).

With ten dimensions (as compared to the old 4 Cs) stars are a quite demanding topic. But they are rewarding, too.

Caring For Ruby Jewelry

Gemstone Colors

The colors of the gemstones are what make them look so dazzling and alluring. The most dazzling gemstones are the precious stones. Emeralds, rubies and sapphires are known primarily for their bright green, red and blue colors. While sapphire is also available in colors like pink, green and yellow. Nevertheless, all gemstones have beautiful colors, which increase their exquisiteness. For instance, pearls are white, pink, red, aquamarine is bluish green, amethyst is purple, garnets are green, red, purple, and topaz is yellow and orange in color. Gems also come in different shades of colors, like blue, green or red.You can choose your gemstone according to the color you like. The deepest or richest colors are the most valuable and expensive stones. Emeralds have different shades of green, but the most popular shade is the bluish green, which is the richest color. Sapphires too are found in pink, green, yellow and different shades of blue. However, the rich blue color is the most valuable and popular stone. Rubies are also found in different shades of red, while the color known, as "pigeon's blood" is the darkest and richest red available, which is very powerful. This deep red ruby is mined only in Myanmar.When precious stones are found in mines, they do not look as attractive as they should be. Stones are usually polished, carved and cut into different shapes and sizes for it to acquire its beauty. According to the polish of the stone, the value increases.It is a common notion that the deeper and richer the color of the stone, the more precious and valuable it is. For instance, bright white pearls, green garnets, royal purple amethysts, yellow topaz, deep red corals are the most precious and valuable gem stones existing. A lighter colored gemstone, like a light green garnet isn't as precious as a parrot green garnet.It is very difficult to obtain the richest color of a stone, as they are very rare. Thus most of the people settle with lighter colors, as they are easily available and very affordable. These days, people prefer a lighter garnet, or a lighter purple amethyst, as it is next to impossible to afford or find the "perfect" green or purple. As long as the gemstone is powerful and attractive people are content.

However, it is strange that diamond, which is the most expensive and exquisite gemstone, is valued by how colorless it is. Diamonds are rated according to their shine, and neutral color. If the diamond is white or pale pink, it is regarded as a low grade diamond. But if the diamond is known as a pink diamond, or a canary diamond then it is considered worthy. The most high priced diamonds are oddly, colorless.

Know Everything About Birthstone Origins:

In the Old Testament, the book of Exodus tells the story of the Breastplate of Aaron, used in religious ceremonies. (Aaron...just in case you were absent from Sunday school that day...was the Biblical figure who performed, at Moses' direction, the miracles that confounded Pharaoh and his magicians.)

Aaron's breastplate was adorned with four col-md-12s of gemstones, three gemstones in each col-md-12, in the following pattern: Sardius, topaz, carbuncle; emerald, sapphire, diamond; ligure, agate, amethyst; beryl, onyx, jasper. These twelve gemstones represented the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve positions were later co-opted by astologers who linked them to the twelve months of the calendar year and the twelve signs of the zodiac.

The Traditional Birthstone List contains these older birthstones and represents birthstone traditions heralding back to the 15th century. The Modern Birthstone List was created by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri. Gemstone purists complained that the NAJ list was devised solely for commercial purposes (they probably didn't believe in Santa Claus either!). As a result, astrologers who prescribed gems often substituted alternate or secondary stones. The Mystical Birthstone list below originated in from Tibet over a thousand years ago. The Ayurvedic Birthstone list is derived from age-old Ayurvedic Indian Medicine, a practice of native people for more than a century.Month Modern Traditional Mystical AyurverdicJanuary Garnet Garnet Emerald GarnetFebruary Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst BloodstoneMarch Aquamarine Bloodstone Jade BloodstoneApril Diamond Diamond Opal QuartzMay Emerald Emerald Sapphire AgateJune Pearl Alexandrite Moonstone PearlJuly Ruby Ruby Ruby RubyAugust Peridot Sardonyx Diamond SapphireSept. Sapphire Sapphire Agate Lapis LazuliOctober Opal Tourmaline Tourmaline JasperNovember Yellow Topaz Citrine Citrine PearlDecember Turquoise Lapis Lazuli Onyx RubyAstrologically speaking, your place on the Zodiac is more meaningful than your birth month for tapping into your "power," which has led to the creation of the following list of "Star Stones" related to the star under which you were born, rather than the day.Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - Ruby, Agate, GarnetAquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) - Garnet, Moss Agate, Opal,Amethyst,Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) - Rock Crystal, Sapphire, Amethyst, BloodstoneAries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) - Bloodstone, DiamondTaurus (Apr. 20-May 20) - Sapphire, Turquoise, Amber, Blood Coral, EmeraldGemini (May 21-Jun. 20) - Agate, Chrysoprase, PearlCancer (Jun. 21-Jul. 22) - Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl, RubyLeo (Jul. 23-Aug. 22) - Tourmaline, Sardonyx, OnyxVirgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) - Jasper, Carnelian, Jade, SapphireLibra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22) - Opal, Lapis Lazuli, PeridotScorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) - Aquamarine, TopazSagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) - Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise, Topaz

So whether you choose an emerald from the Breastplate of Aaron, a moonstone from Tibet's mystical birthstone list, an opal for its ayurvedic birthstone properties, or your very own "star sign" representative...may the force (of the birthstone) be with you.

Know Everything About A Guide To Popular Gemstones

Gemstones have been used as adornments in jewelry and other items since for centuries. In early times, only royalty could afford gems but today nearly everyone can have a bauble with a gemstone or two in it. Here's some information on seven gemstones favored by jewelry makers.

Amethyst

Amethyst is a type of quartz that comes in shades of purple. It is a highly accessible stone and used in all types of jewelry. This gemstone can vary greatly in quality and color and is the birthstone for the month of February. There are 14 different locations where Amethysts are abundantly found today.

Aquamarine

This light blue gemstone is the birthstone of March and is a favorite of jewelry designers today. It can range in shade from almost white to sky blue and can be rather expensive. This stone belongs to the beryl family of gemstones and is abundant in Brazil.

Bloodstone

The vivid red spots in this stone give it it's name, but the stone itself is really green jasper. The spots come from iron oxide deposits within the stone. This stone was used in ancient times for many carvings and was a favorite of Christian martyrs. A German Emperors seal carved in bloodstone is on display at the Louvre museum in Paris.

Emerald

One of the more expensive stones, this birthstone of May is the stone of love and life. One of the most popular gemstones of all time, it has been used in many ccol-md-12ns and scepters. Emeralds range in shades of green, but the deepest ones hold the most value and can even cost more than diamonds.

Opal

One of the most opulent gemstones, this stone is a combination of fiery colors like a rainbow of sparks. Opals are used in many different jewelry settings and are a favorite gemstone of jewelry wearers today. Originating from Australia, this stone has great history and lore.

Ruby

This red stone has long been associated with love, passion and power. One of the more precious stones, it is considered the King of gemstones and has been extensively used in ccol-md-12ns and jewelry of Kings, Queens and Emperors. Mined mainly in India, the finest rubies are quite rare and expensive.

Sapphire

When we think of sapphire, we mostly think of the deep blue stone, but in fact, this stone can come in many colors. This stone belonging to the corundum group of gemstones is hard to find and highly valued. Second only to diamonds on the hardness scale, sapphires can be more expensive than diamonds especially the most prized specimens.

Topaz

With it's rich golden glow, Topaz is often used as a symbol for the setting sun. Though typically a golden bcol-md-12n, Topaz can also be found in blue, green, pink and red. This birthstone for November is a hard stone but can crack with a hard blow so care should be taken when wearing.

These are just a few of the many stones that are used in modern jewelry designs today. Some designs use just one stone or incorporate many different stones for more color and interest. Perhaps you have picked a favorite from the list above, or if you are like me, you love them all!

Gemstones Buying Guides

Colorful gemstones are just anybody's dream to have. Their natural colors more than match your very fashionable dresses. Their sheer range could strike you spell bound. Gemstones are precious or semiprecious mineral stones which when cut and faceted can be used as jewels.

There is more to gemstones than just being jewelry items. They are regarded as lucky when worn specific to an individual's birth month. Before we deal with this aspect in detail lets see the classification of gemstones.

Classification and Characteristics of Gemstones

There is a tri-level classification of gemstones namely, groups, species and varieties. Simply put, rubies which are red in color belong to conundrum species which in turn belong to hematite group. Others like emerald, aquamarine, goshenite, heliodor and morganite, all of them belong to that variety known as beryl. There are over 150 different species available.

Gemstones display all characteristics of crystals like dispersion, refractive indices, hardness, and specific gravity etc. They also possess characters like inclusions, fractures and cleavage which play upon their quality and values. However gemologists include all gems into the precious list.

Hardness is another important characteristic of gemstones. Simply put, hardness means resistance to scratch which is measured in Mohs, a system developed by an Austrian mineralogist F. Mohs. The scale of hardness reads from 1-10 with higher number indicating the hardest. If talc is at the bottom with just 1Moh, diamond has 10Mohs. Other popular gemstones like feldspar, topaz and sapphire having Mohs of 6, 8 and 9 respectively.

Birth Stones

US Geological Survey lists gemstones classified as birth stones. It is believed by most people that wearing birthstones brings luck to their lives. It is not surprising that all societies have this kind of faith with regards to gemstones, albeit with differences here and there, looking at the romancing tryst every society had with these 'stones'. The list is in the order of calendar months with each month having at least one gemstone specific to that month. One can find a list of birth stones on official website of USGS.

Buying Gemstones

USGS cautions buyers against unscrupulous sellers as more and more of them are trying to push through synthetic gemstones as genuine pieces to unsuspecting, inexperienced buyers. Gemstones are measured by size and carats. (1carat=1/5th of a gram.)

When buying gemstones, watch out for:

1. Heating alters the color sometimes improving clarity

2. Irradiation darkens colors

3. Impregnation with wax, resins etc fills cracks, flaws

4. Fractures filled by injecting plastic

5. Differential colors in center and surface indicates diffusion treatment.

Know Everything Gemstone Jewelry Secrets Revealed

The mystery and magic of colored gemstones has been an integral aspect or the "Lore" of most cultures for many centuries. Here is what noted gemstone experts Antoinette L. Matlins and A.C. Bonanno have to say on the matter.

"The fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. For our ancestors, the blue of sapphire produced visions of the heavens; the red of ruby was a reminder of the very essence of life. By Roman times, rings containing colored gems were prized symbols of power-and the most powerful wore rings on every joint of every finger!

Since ancient times, colored stones have been thought to possess innate magical powers and the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. According to legend, emeralds are good for the eyes; yellow stones cure jaundice; red stones stop the flow of blood. At one time it was believed that a ruby worn by a man indicated command, nobility, lordship, and vengeance; worn by a woman, however, it indicated pride, obstinacy, haughtiness. A blue sapphire worn by a man indicated wisdom, and high and magnanimous thoughts; on a woman, jealousy in love, politeness, and vigilance. The emerald signified for a man joyousness, transitory hope, and the decline of friendship; for woman, unfounded ambition, childish delight, and change.

Colored gems, because of the magical powers associated with them, achieved extensive use as talismans and amulets; as predictors of the future; as therapeutic aids; and as essential elements to many religious practices-pagan, Hebrew, and Christian."

Gemstones 101

Natural gemstones are found in nature. Laboratory-created stones, as the name implies, are made in the laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-gcol-md-12n, {name of manufacturer} - created, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory-created stones do not have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they are less expensive than naturally mined stones. By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.

Gemstones may be measured by weight, size, or both. The basic unit for weighing gemstones is the carat, which is equal to one-fifth 91/5th) of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 units called points. For example, a half-carat gemstone would weigh .50 carats or 50 points. When gemstones are measured by dimensions, the size is expressed in millimeters (for example, 7x5 millimeters).

Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their appearance or durability, or even change their color. Many gemstones are treated in some way. The effects of some treatments may lessen or change over time and some treated stones may require special care. Some enhancements also affect the value of a stone, when measured against a comparable untreated stone.

Jewelers should tell you whether the gemstone you're considering has been treated when: the treatment is not permanent; the treated stone requires special care; or the treatment significantly affects the value of the gemstone.

Some common treatments that you may be told about and their effects include:

* Heating can lighten, darken or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone's clarity.

* Irradiation can add more color to colored diamonds, certain other gemstones and pearls.

* Impregnating some gems with colorless oils, wax or resins makes a variety of imperfections less visible and can improve the gemstones' clarity and appearance.

* Fracture filling hides cracks or fractures in gems by injecting colorless plastic or glass into the cracks and improves the gemstones' appearance and durability.

* Diffusion treatment adds color to the surface of colorless gems; the center of the stone remains colorless.

* Dyeing adds color and improves color uniformity in some gemstones and pearls.

* Bleaching lightens and whitens dome gems, Including jade and pearls.

In this day and age, gemstones are generally worn for their natural beauty or as a fashion statement, but there are many that "buy-in" to the mythical and mystical symbolisms of gems as well. Whatever a persons reason, the world of gems today offers an almost endless choice. Many new gems have been discovered and are widely available in reds, blues, greens and many unusual shades as well. Enjoy!

Know Everything About Benifits of Gold Recycling

Many of us have seen the commercials stating "cash for gold" yet are unsure as to what this entails. Basically, cash for gold or gold recycling as it is known, is when owners of gold pieces and/or gold jewelry take their items and sell them to companies which then take the gold items and turn them into something else, i.e. recycle the gold. Gold recycling allows you to get rid or your gold items and get money for doing so. The following are some of the benefits associated with gold recycling which will help you to see just how useful gold recycling really is. In the current climate Gold is at an all time high price, so if you have some trinkets around your home, you could easily trade them in for cash. Many people expect much less than what they are actually given when they sell their gold, it’s a great surprise for them.

Get Paid for Gold Jewelry and Items Which See Little or No Use

One of the big benefits to visiting a gold recycling centre is that you will be able to get paid for gold items which you rarely or never use. Rather than have these items sit in your drawers, why not sell them and get paid for something which you will not miss in the long run. Depending on the gold recycling company, most will offer fair amounts for the gold you sell to them which will make the gold owner extremely happy to say the least. If you have some gold items laying around in your drawers or jewelry box, consider selling them to companies which offer gold recycling programs, now would be the best time to do so.

Make More Room in Your Drawers and Jewelry Box for New Items

Another benefit to using a gold recycling program is that it will free up space in your drawers and jewelry box. Think about how much room could be granted simply by selling some old gold jewelry and other gold items which you have stored away. In addition, by gaining more space in your drawers and jewelry box through using a gold recycling program you can make room for new jewelry items which may have caught your eye while you were out at the shops.

Gold Recycling Is Easy to Do.

There are many Gold Recycling Centres around these days, and you will also find that when you use a gold recycling program, the entire process is extremely easy to accomplish. Many companies which offer the gold recycling service send you the postage prepaid envelope, storage envelope and short form to fill out. Once you send the gold items to the company they will come up with a figure dictating what the gold scrap jewelry is worth. Once the amount is determined the customer will receive their check in the mail shortly thereafter. Gold recycling is a fast, easy and efficient way to recycle your unwanted gold jewelry and make room for new and improved jewelry pieces.

Know Everything About Fair Trade Jewelry: The Challenges and Rewards of an Emerging Movement

Searching the web for "fair trade jewelry" will pull up a number of companies. Fair Trade Jewelry, as certified by the International Fair Trade Labeling Organization, (FLO) does not exist. Yet fair trade, as a concept to the general public, basically translates to a livable wage, fair working conditions and environmental safe guards for the production in cooperatives in the developing world. How much FLO owns the concept of fair trade, which they have certainly developed, is an open question.

In labeling their products as fair trade, jewelry producers are expanding or exploiting the concept to the public. Depending upon your perspective, you could view these companies as "fair washing" or as working within the spirit of the fair trade movement. The ambiguity of the current state of this movement will be addressed in a meeting sponsored by the Earthworks Action this upcoming October, 2007. Earthworks Action, which started the "No Dirty Gold Campaign," has laid the ground work for this meeting which will being key players together, through the Madison dialogues.

A few small companies are producing artisan or ethnic "fair trade" jewelry in village settings, which come closer to the fair trade concept. These companies who would be considered "fair trade" only discount the environmental effects of where they source their metal and gems. Organic certification is tied to the fair trade concept and jewelry involves practices which inherently are destructive to the environment.

These small niche companies actually represent a negligible share of the main stream jewelry sector, where the ethically sourced issue gained a little prominence partly as a result of the film, Blood Diamonds, released in December, 2006. Diamond business comprises over fifty percent of all jewelry business in the US.

The first certification from FLO international has focused on the artisan mining efforts of ARM. A contract between FLO and ARM was signed in July, 2007. TransFair USA, the American certifying agent for the fair trade label, is not in agreement with FLO International, though at the JCK Fair Trade Meeting, they expressed an interest in pursuing large scale mining as a potential area for certification. This whole process is going to take several years.

The current number of people in the jewelry industry involved in fair trade is quite small at this point. Eric Brauwart, founder and President of Columbia Gem House, has created a solid system for fair trade gemstones. Martin Rapaport, one of the key players in the diamond trade and Kimberly Certification, has been solidly behind fair trade, raising the profile of the movement as a whole.

Many other smaller players are attempting to produce ethically sourced jewelry, but they are limited because neither the market nor the supply chain for production is there. A small manufacturing company can have thousands of inventory pieces from all over the world. Very few precious and semi-precious stones are even claimed to be fair trade produced. Though not technically fair trade, one positive recent development is that Hoover and Strong is now offering recycled precious metal at competitive prices for jewelers who are interested in environmentally friendly sourcing.

Outside of sourcing, the manufacturing of jewelry is going to be extremely difficult to mold into the fair trade cooperative model. I am most familiar with work out of Bali. Their hand silver work is arguably the finest in the world, and it is steeped in tradition. To manufacture on a large scale, many companies operating out of Bali will take an item and distribute it to the local villages. Each artisan will purchase the silver in its raw form which they will refine in order to create their own sterling, which is .925 percent fine. The product that comes back is often inconsistent and often is not sterling silver, as hallmarked. This type of system does not work well when there are exacting quality control issues and a strict on time delivery.

Jewelry manufacturing on a large scale therefore, does not easily fit the small village model as textiles or some agricultural product might for other reasons as well. There is the initial investment of expensive equipment and the cost of silver and gold just to produce an order...

One of the most significant recent developments in fair trade manufacturing is an effort out of South Africa, (LINK) where villagers have been trained into the jewelry trade. African countries rich in raw materials for jewelry want to be more involved in jewelry production to increase their manufacturing base. Eventually, with supervision and much support, cooperatives are formed. This model is heavily subsidized by NGOs and private corporations, which means it will be difficult to duplicate in other countries that might not have that kind of resource base.

Despite the challenges, there is strong support among a small group of people in the jewelry trade to address these issues. Many in the forefront of this movement believe it is only a matter of time before those who purchase their jewelry strongly connect to the manufacturing process as well. Jewelry is usually purchased to mark an occasion or a commitment. For others, it is about having something beautiful. How would the customer feel knowing that the gem they purchased funded a civil war or that the ring they bought for their mother was made in toxic working conditions in a third world sweat shop? What man would ever knowingly purchase a conflict diamond to complete an engagement ring?

Yet that is exactly what has happened in the past, and the movement in fair trade shows that at least some segments of the jewelry industry are determined to change the way business is being done. The percentage of people who are concerned enough about corporate social responsibility is the same demographic that supports the organic movement-it is a strong and gcol-md-12ing segment of the population. How fast the fair trade movement takes hold also depends to a large degree upon how much pressure the public exeprts.

Know Everything About Gemstone Treatments and Enhancements

Always buy from reputed sellers who produce certificates by Gemological Institute of America to prevent a lucky stone turn unlucky.Though stone treatment has gone on for centuries, new techniques and methods are now available and many of today’s gemstones are treated to improve their appearance and make them more marketable. While it is common knowledge within the gem trade that stones are enhanced through treatment, the buying public has known little about the treatments until recently.As long as the consumer realizes that the stone has been treated, and the value adjusted accordingly, this is not a deceptive or underhanded practice. Treatments can do such things as change or enhance color, make the stone more durable and enhance the character of the stone. Unless the stone is stated to be natural, we can almost always assume that the stone has been treated with the common treatments used on that type of gemstone. Natural precious stones with no treatment at all are a rarity and very expensive.Treatment maybe as simple as the old treatment of soaking chalcedony in honey then ageing it on the roof of the house so the honey caramelized and changed the color. When the stone turned black, it was called Black Onyx. Gemstones can be treated with heat, laser treatment, radiation, bleaching, stabilization, putting in acid, applying pressure, oiling, impregnation, dyeing, or combinations of any of these techniques. Here are just a few examples of common stone treatments:1. Chalcedony is treated with heat to become Carnelian, and when it is dyed black, we call it Black Onyx.2. Aquamarine is sometimes heated at a low temperature to bring out the blues and lessen the naturally occurring yellows, which make greens appear in the stone.3. Rubies are rarely available these days that have not been heat treated, but if you can find natural rubies, the value is at least 30% better than that of a treated stone.4. Diamonds in colors have become quite popular. Many of these are treated with radiation or a combination of pressure and heat. Naturally colored diamonds are far more valuable than their treated counterparts.5. Emeralds can be treated with oil or impregnated with polymers, even dyed polymers to enhance color.6. Tanzanite is naturally bcol-md-12n and when it is treated with heat the characteristic blue with violet undertones becomes apparent.7. Sapphires are sometimes heat treated at a high temperature to bring out the dark blues and enhance the clarity of the stones.8. The Padparadscha Sapphire is most often treated with heat to enhance the brilliance of the color.9. Pearls have been bleached, waxed, heated, dyed and irradiated to enhance their color and luster.10. Citrine is frequently heat-treated amethyst or smoky quarts. Natural citrine is usually a light yellow.11. Topaz is often irradiated or heated to bring out the brilliant blues. It is also sometimes sliced and layered by color to give an almost iridescent color. This topaz is usually called Mystic Topaz.12. Turquoise can be dyed, stabilized, have the matrix enhanced and even backed with plastic when it is mounted.If the price of any of these stones seems too good to be true, you are probably looking at a treated stone. If no deception is practiced and the buyer and seller are both happy with the transaction gemstone treatment is not an unethical or deceptive practice.

Know Everything About Colored Diamonds

The inherent beauty possessed by every diamond ring is rivalled only by the larger-than-life stories behind the discovery of diamonds. Various legends surround the discovery of diamonds, including one which involves a valley in central Asia full of diamonds but guarded by snakes and birds of prey. There are even tales about the poisonous nature of diamonds, but these are generally attributed to mine owners who spread the myths to discourage the workers from swallowing the diamonds straight from the mine.

While these myths are clearly untrue, there is no doubt that diamond rings and other diamond-laden jewelries possess beauty, and many believe that they also possess mystical power. The ancient Greeks used them as talismans and as cures for a variety of ailments.

A diamond ring may be expensive, but it has become popular because of its sturdiness, making it ideal even for daily wear. The scratch-resistant feature of a diamond ring is one of the reasons why it has become a popular wedding ring. In exchange for a diamond ring investment, you get a scratch-resistant stone with a grade of 10 in Mohs scale of hardness.  Not all diamonds are equal though: only the purest and flawless diamonds get the highest hardness score, which makes them impossible to scratch, except by other diamonds.

In the 15^th century, diamond rings and other diamond jewelries were only worn by kings.  The increase in the supply of diamonds in the 19^th century increased the demand for diamond rings. They became more popular with the discovery of more diamond mines, the gcol-md-12th of the economy worldwide, and the improvement in cutting and polishing techniques.

There are various types of diamonds but among the best diamonds you can use to create magnificent diamond rings include:

Pink Diamonds

White diamonds, which are sourced from Argyle, used to be considered most beautiful diamond in the world; then the pink diamond was discovered. Don’t expect to see pink diamond rings from your trusted local jeweler just yet. It is the most valuable and one of the rarest types of diamonds from the Argyle mine. Less than a 10^th of one percent of the diamonds sourced from the mine are pink.  A 3.14-carat pink diamond ring from Argyle was once sold in an auction at Christie’s in New York for $1,510,000.  The pink diamond rings from Argyle possess an intense pink color compared to the pale pink diamonds from Africa, Brazil and India. Argyle is known as the largest producer of diamonds in the world.

Blue diamonds

Only a few jewelers have been lucky enough to see authentic blue diamond rings because they are extremely rare. Authentic blue diamonds also come from the Argyle mine, albeit in a limited number. The closest you can get to the real thing is at Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian National History Museum, which houses the “Le blue de France” or the Hope Diamond, a deep blue 45.52-carat diamond.  Be wary about this diamond though if you believe in myths because it is reportedly cursed. This has not, however, stopped people from checking out the blue diamond, making it one of the world’s most-visited works of art, next only to the Mona Lisa. There are however many fancy blue diamond rings in the market. 

Black diamonds

Some people still think black diamonds are a myth because there are not a whole lot of them being sold on the market. Many times, a transaction involving a black diamond is done in a “hush-hush manner” so that no ordinary mortal can prove that this type of diamond really exists. Black diamonds exist as a result of volcanic eruptions. These diamonds, which were formed one million years ago, are still younger than the clear diamonds which were formed over 4.25 billion years ago. Rarely will you find black diamond rings because of the challenge involved in cutting the pitted diamond surface. Native-Americans believed that these diamonds were cursed. Italians, on the other hand, believe these diamonds can make a troubled marriage well again.

Nexus diamonds

With the price of diamond rings incessantly on the rise, scientists resolved to find a way to create diamonds in a laboratory. Laboratory-created diamonds are known as Nexus diamonds. These are diamond stimulants that match the features of real diamonds, right down to their hardness, ability to cut glass, brilliance, radiance and ability to refract. Those who cannot afford real diamonds opt for Nexus diamond rings for their engagement or wedding rings.

All diamond rings may sparkle and shine, but no two diamonds are the same because they undergo different cutting and polishing process. The sparkle of every diamond in fact depends on its facet, the surface on the diamond that traps light and causes it to sparkle. While experts are expected to know how to determine the best diamonds by heart, it wouldn’t hurt if you learn a thing or two about these precious stones as you may be wearing them on your fingers pretty soon.

Get to Know Diamond 4C's

When considering the purchase of a diamond, it is imperative to study diamond education. At Beyond the 4Cs we believe diamond education leads to satisfied customers. We strongly urge you to learn, more than just the basics, we recommend "beyond the 4cs" and you've come to the right place.

The 4 C’s of diamond grading are not four C’s at all but rather B followed by three C’s. The B stands for brilliance, the most important attribute of a gem grade diamond in that the beauty of a diamond is actually the beauty of the brilliance of light. Cut, the proportions and finish of a diamond, are what determine diamonds optical qualities and cut (brilliance) grading assesses the nature of those optical qualities that make up diamonds brilliance – the amount of light and the nature of and balance of light returned to the viewers eye. Brilliance (cut) is the most important consideration in the evaluation of gem grade diamonds, diamonds with color at J or above and clarity above SI-2. The brilliance (cut) of a diamond influences the diamonds value and price by as much as 25%. Yet is it the least documented or understood when purchasing a diamond.

For diamond education purposes, in describing the make of a diamond two words are used, shape and cut. Shapes, such as round brilliants, emerald shapes, radiants, princess, pears, ovals, marquis and hearts indicate the overall appearance and faceting style of any one individual diamond. Cut grading of a diamond classifies the quality of any individual diamond shape by its proportions and finish, with each diamond shape having unique proportional and finish characteristics.

Proportions, the empirical data of degrees of angle, measurements and percentage of measurements, record the specific characteristics of each shape of diamond. For round diamonds all measurements are expressed in relation to that diamonds average diameter whereby a table measurement of 55% or a total depth measurement of 60% are expressions of their percentage of the averaged diameter of the diamond. Measurements for elongated diamond shapes such as emerald cuts, radiant cuts, and ovals are expressed as a percentage of the width alone. Degrees are used to measure the angle of the ccol-md-12n (top, above the girdle) and pavilion (bottom, below the girdle) of the diamond in relationship to the plane of the girdle (diameter). Finish is an interpretive observation of the quality of both the polish of a diamonds exterior surfaces and its symmetry, the relationship of one cutting feature to another, the alignment of the diamond. Each diamond shape is graded by the cut characteristics of its proportions and finish. Both the empirical data of the proportions and the interpretive observation of the finish are considered in a judgment of the overall cut grade assigned to a diamond.

It was Gemological Institute of America that first developed a standardized grading system for round diamonds, classifying the empirical data and interpretive observations into four cut grades, those being Make Class One, Make Class Two, Make Class Three and Make Class Four.

The American Gem Society has further refined the GIA grading system with strict definitions of variance for both the proportions and finish of a diamond in a system that rates diamond brilliance (cut) by variances from zero (ideal) to ten (poor). Today, the best system of brilliance (cut) grading for fancy shape diamonds (standard shapes other than round) is that of the Accredited Gem Appraisers and Mr. David Atlas, a system that rates diamonds into three general brilliance (cut) quality categories that are described as fine, average and below average. Learn More.

Know Everthing About Spotting Fake Diamonds

Reputable Gemstone Grading Organizations

How to Determine the Quality of a Colored GemstoneIn 1977, American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) became the first laboratory in the world to quantify colored stones in a linear, comparative manner. The organization and its President, C. R. Beesley, are internationally recognized for their expertise in colored stone research and analysis. They have enjoyed a position of leadership in gemstone documentation and have extensive experience in consumer protection programs.The grading system which they devised is comprehensive and requires some study to realize a workable understanding of the process. However, once you grasp the basic principles, you will wonder how anyone could buy a gemstone without using this kind of vocabulary. The following "walk through" of a 3.11 Burma sapphire grading report will help you understand the various components of an AGL laboratory report.Document NumberThe lab assigns individual, consecutive numbers for each grading report issued.ImageA color digital image of the stone is an important part of the grading report. This image assists in verifying the gemstone matches the grading report. Please note the image is for representational purposes and is not necessarily the actual size or color. IdentificationIn this sample, the AGL has determined the stone is a natural sapphire.Shape and CutThe stone is an oval cut in this sample.Carat WeightColored stones are weighed with an extremely accurate scale. In the sample, the sapphire weighs 3.119 carats.MeasurementsThe measurement of the gemstone in millimeters.Color Grade
Color Rating Scale (AGL)

1....2	3....4	5....6	7....8	9....10
Excellent	Very Good	Good	Fair	Poor

Since there are so many optical/physical principles involved in the reflection and re-reflection of light through a gemstone, any particular gem can exhibit a wide range of colors. The color grade is based upon the purity of primary color. For example, the greener the emerald, the redder the ruby, or the bluer the sapphire, the lower the numerical grade on an AGL scale. The reason the 3.11 sapphire is a 3.5 in this sample is the fact the stone has 70% blue as its primary color. It is that simple. The less primary color, the higher the numerical color grade. For example, a 65% primary color would probably be graded a 4.5 color.In establishing a base for international quality reference standards, AGL had to be sure that all stones from the best to the worst could be accommodated by the system. Therefore, the top of the line has become almost a theoretical standard of excellence. Please do not ask for 1.00 to 2.00 color grades. Because of the AGL's stringent grading practices, a 3.5 color is usually the best color grade any gem will receive. A 3.5 colored stone on an AGL Grading Report is nearly synonymous with a D-color diamond on a GIA Diamond Grading Report. On occasion, because of our international contacts, we may find exceptional examples that will receive even better color grades.Tone
Tone Scale (AGL)

0..5..15..20	25..30..35	40..45..50	55..60..65	70..75..80..85	90..95..100
Very Light	Light	Light-Medium	Medium	Medium-Dark	Dark-Very Dark

In the sample above the sapphire's tone is 75. Basically, tone describes the lightness or darkness of a gemstone. Color considered alone without taking into account the tone will lead to errors in interpretation. If a stone is too light in tone, the color will not be rich enough. Conversely, if a stone is too dark, it will sacrifice transparency and brilliancy.Clarity
Clarity Scale (AGL)

FI	LI1...LI2	MI1...MI2	HI1...HI2	E1...E2...E3
Free of Inclusions	Lightly Included	Moderately Included	Heavily Included	Excessively Included

Clarity is defined as the degree to which the stone is free of inclusions. In the sample the clarity is MI1. Here is a good rule of thumb to remember: You will probably not see inclusions in a Lightly Included (LI) gem, you may see some inclusions in a Moderately Included (MI) gem, and you will probably see inclusions in a Heavily Included (HI) gem. Excessively Included (E) gems have durability problems and should be avoided.DepthThe depth of the gemstone.Cutting/Finish
Cutting/Finish Scale (AGL)

1	2...3	4...5...6	7...8	9...10
Excellent	Very Good	Good	Fair	Poor

The cutting of a gemstone numerically describes the overall appearance of a gem. The finish grade refers to the polish of a gem. In the sample the cutting and finish are both 3 (Very Good). These are very difficult numbers to obtain for a colored gemstone. Unlike diamonds which are cut according to strict mathematical parameters, most colored gemstones are cut for weight retention.Average BrilliancyBrilliancy is the amount of flash the gem returns to your eyes. Most diamonds are 100% brilliant. Brilliancy in the sample is 80%. An average brilliancy of 50% means half of the stone returns flash.CommentsThe comment section is critical because it generally designates the country of origin of the gemstone as well as specifying what, if any, treatment(s) the gem has been subjected to. In the sample, the 3.11 is classified as Burma without heat enhancement.Some gems may receive an Estimated Commercial Acceptability (ECA) comment. (Not shown in sample.) This is usually used as a split grade. For example, a gemstone with a 4 color and an ECA of 3.5 is priced as a 3.75 color grade.Total Quality Integration RatingThis comment integrates the total visual impact of the gem into a verbal description and may or may not have an effect on the price of the gem. In the sample it is Excellent. Look at the Color Rating (AGL). Excellent translates into 1.5. The TQIR can increase or decrease the

Get to Know About Gemstone Diamond Appraisal

Difference between Appraisals and Jewelry Lab Certificates

Jewelry lab certificates and appraisals for valuable jewelry are two documents and they are not one and the same, they serve different purposes and contain different sets of information that is helpful to customers and jewelry owners.

Appraisals and Jewelry lab certificates go hand in hand in the sense, a Jewelry lab certificate is a document that describes information about a diamond that has not been part of any jewelry and the appraisal provides information on the market value of a piece of jewelry, based on international trends and prices and whether it is already set in a ring, earrings, or necklace. Once a stone is mounted on jewelry it has a different value when compared to its loose form.

Choosing Labs and Appraisals: We recommend that you while selecting appraisers and jewelry lab certificates on jewelry that you are considering to buy select an independent company that provides these services rather than relying on the documents created by the jeweler that you are planning to buy your jewelry from. In this case the potential for the lab or appraiser to be biased is more, since they indirectly benefit from the sale.

In cases where you already have appraisals and certificates on your existing jewelry but is unsure of their accuracy, it is worthwhile to have your jewelry appraised to find their current market value is.

Appraisals: Most people consider investing in precious jewelry as a safe investment of their savings and this is the main reason why people should obtain jewelry lab certificates and appraisals to document the market value of the diamond, whether it is for insurance purposes or personal investment purposes. This documentation will help you, if you ever decide to sell your jewelry at a future date, to show the actual worth and value of the stones and the jewelry. An appraisal report will help you tell the difference between real and fake jewelry, and the difference between synthetic jewelry and cultured or created stones and natural stones. An appraisal should give the exact details of anything that has been done to the stone and indicate if it is genuine, synthetic, or treated.

Jewelry Lab Certificates: Certificates are only issued for loose stones and not for the entire ring. Certificates sometimes referred to as "grading reports" since they give a grade to the stone based on its specific properties. Jewelry Lab Certificates include information on the diamond (or other gemstone), its cut and shape, stone's color and clarity grades based on the grading scale of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).This certificates also contain specifics on the carat weight as well as the dimensions of the diamond, the stone's angles.

Once you have the certificates and Appraisal report, it will not change unless the stone is physically altered or it is found at a later date that the stone was evaluated incorrectly. While jewelry lab certificates and appraisals are different things they can both give you valuable information about the quality and value of your gemstone and is a timeless testament to the gemstone as long as it retains its originality.

A certification is a diamond industry term for a diamond grading report, which documents the diamond’s credentials. The certification describes the physical characteristics of a diamond and is usually prepared by an independent grading laboratory. It is a valuable tool for wholesalers, retailers and consumers because it states the diamond’s shape, exact measurements and weight, cut parameters, color grade, clarity grade, level of fluorescence, and finish grades.

A diamond certification is only useful if it is reliable and accurate so needs to be issued by a reputable and independent grading laboratory. Not all grading laboratories are created equal so do not expect the grading reports from different laboratories to agree. Some grading laboratories are notorious for being generous in their grading so are very popular with jewelry stores because the reported quality of the diamonds is inflated.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) are recognized in the diamond industry as the most accurate and consistent of the grading laboratories.

A diamond grading report (certification) is very different from an appraisal or other document prepared by someone other than a reputable, independent grading laboratory. For example, there is a big difference between a Diamond Grading Report issued by the GIA and an appraisal or some other documentation signed by a GIA Graduate Gemologist. A GIA Graduate Gemologist is simply someone who has passed a series of diamond and colored gemstone grading courses prepared by the GIA. A GIA Diamond Grading Report is prepared in an unbiased environment, with highly trained GIA Laboratory graders following exacting procedures and using state of the art equipment.

Some unscrupulous jewelers print their own documentation and use names and formats that make them appear similar to GIA documents. These documents can be exaggerated by as much as three color or clarity grades and you can be sure they are off in favor of the jeweler, not the consumer. There is only one reason why a jeweler would use one of these “copy cat” documents and that is make undeserved profits at the consumer’s expense. Inaccurate documentation could affect the value of the diamond by hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars so it is important to have a diamond grading report from one of the top grading laboratories when making a diamond purchase decision.

Authentic diamond grading reports never have a value stated. If the document has a dollar value or a range of color or clarity grades (i.e. G-H color, or VS1-VS2 clarity), it is an appraisal not a diamond grading report. It is simply the opinion of the person preparing the document.

Diamond shoppers seeking to purchase a significant diamond, should be sure they have a diamond grading report from one of the major grading laboratories. That is the only way they can be sure of the characteristics of the diamond they are purchasing. It also becomes a valuable document if they ever have to file an insurance claim or sell the diamond in the future. The certification documents the quality of their diamond and provides a way to identify their diamond.

Ruby in Jewelry

Know Everything About Debeers

The De Beers group is an internationally based diamond mining and trading company that has controlled the flow of diamonds in the US market place for decades. Perhaps a more appropriate title would be cartel, as De Beers was formed as a group of producers whose goal it was to fix prices, control supply and limit competition, and this is exactly what De Beers has done historically with the trade of diamonds.

The name "De Beers" originated with two Afrikaner farmers, Diederik Arnoldus De Beers and Johannes Nicholas de Beers. The De Beers brothers discovered diamonds on their farm and unable to deal with the stress of protecting the farm from the influx of diamond seekers, they sold the land and the mines. The land was home to two large mines were involved in the transaction: Premier and Kimberly.

Huge battles raged through the next few years as two entities emerged on top of the competition to acquire the land. These entities were the Barnato Mining Company formed by Barney Barnato and prospective investors, Cecil Rhodes and Charles Rudd. While De Beers had already acquired Premier, they wanted Kimberly as well. The buying began, each company ferociously buying up stock in "Kimberly Central." Eventually Rhodes and Rudd won out and forced Barnato to agree to a merger with De Beers.

De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited was thus formed in 1888. As a group, they owned all of Premier, most of Kimberly, and several other mines. The company was granted an official listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in August 1893 (DeBeers.com).

Over a decade later, the De Beers cartel formed, made up of the newly named Barnato Brothers, Anglo American, and JCI. Anglo American and the Barnato Brothers owned most of the stock, about 90% combined. Through Anglo American, De beers began to acquire a large number of other mines, including the Consolidated Diamond Mines. Some of the largest during their time, acquiring the CDM was a huge coup for the De Beers Group.

In the 1930's, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, the chairman of De Beers Group and leader of Anglo American, came up with the idea of "single channel marketing" which he defined as "a producers' co-operative including the major outside, or non-De Beers producers in accordance with the belief that only by limiting the quantity of diamonds put on the market, in accordance with the demand, and by selling through one channel, can the stability of the diamond trade be maintained."

This new single channel marketing structure eventually came to be known as the Central Selling Organisation (CSO) (DeBeers.com) Basically, Oppenheimer formed a cartel on the premise that he was operating a legitimate enterprise. He stomped out all competition and kept a stranglehold on the supply of diamonds, upping their value and rarity through a limited supply that De Beers doled out carefully. It is safe to say that during this time De Beers Group owned and controlled about 90% of diamond production in the world; thus they could control the "rarity" and value and keep a hold on the lucrative industry. Many of their dealings were shady, and they were known for particular ruthlessness against their competitors.

De Beers Group operated out of London and sold diamonds in the United States through supplying numerous smaller businesses in the States with the coveted gems. Because of anti-trust laws forbidding, among other prohibitions, the formation of cartels, De Beers could not set up shop in the US.

The diamond market came crashing down with the advent of the depression in the 1930's, and De Beers shut major mines like the Kimberly, Premier, and Consolidated Diamond Mines. They kept up the production of non-De Beers companies' mines to keep a hold on the market and waited for events to even out. But conditions for De Beers continued to worsen with the advent of World War Two, when they were forced to shut down almost completely.

They were revived again in the forties with the help of Oppenheimer's son Harry, who took over the helm of De Beers from his father. He visited the US in 1939 with the hope of finding a marketing firm that would agree to direct a pilot marketing campaign. He met N.W. Ayer and engaged the agency to begin a marketing campaign. They came up with a campaign targeting the emotional value of a diamond. Frances Gerety, a young copywriter for N.W. Ayer, coined the famous slogan "A Diamond is Forever."

The goal behind the marketing campaign was to ensure that women kept their diamonds literally forever. The goal was to prevent a secondary market for diamonds by persuading women that diamonds should be untouched by another woman to really have any menaing. This allowed De Beers to maintain control of the diamond trade at wholesale level andretailers to sell diamonds at a high price without competition from secondary markets. They touted engagement and wedding rings, anniversary necklaces, and anything of value that a woman could want. It was this marketing campaign that made diamond wedding and engagement rings so popular, and pushed diamonds to become the number one coveted gem by women.

In fact his campaign was so successful, it worked on an international level and brought countries like Japan into De Beers' sphere. By the late 90's, Japan produced 33% of the worlds diamond commodities (www.wikipedia.com).

De Beers flourished and grew over the years, establishing itself as an international diamond cartel that was highly successful, ruthless against its competitors, and king in the world of diamonds. With a wealth of diamonds at its fingertips, the possibilities were endless.

In the early 1980's De Beers hit another snag as sales dropped and they were once again losing money. But by the late eighties and early nineties they were back on their feet and expanding into other parts of the world such as South America and Asia, into the oceans with the formation of an underwater mining company, Debeers Marine Limited, and throughout Europe.

Finally in the 2001 De Beers was allowed to formally partner with Louis Vuitton and sell through them after a lengthy investigation by the European Throughout its decades in operation, De Beers has been accused of human rights violations, dealing in "conflict diamonds," and price fixing, among others. They have repeatedly denied all accusations, but came clean in June of 2004 after they were slapped with a 10 million dollar lawsuit surrounding charges concerning fixed prices in the industrial diamond market. De Beers admitted to price fixing, promised not to do it again, and paid the fine, a slap on the wrist to a company that makes billions upon billions of dollars.

In 2001, De Beers launched a joint venture with French luxury goods company Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A (LVMH) in order to establish De Beers as a retail brand in the US and internationally. Before the venture was allowed to begin, the European Union competition commission launched an investigation into whether the venture would give De Beers too great a control over the rough diamond market. The commission eventually allowed the joint venture to go ahead in July 2001. In 2005, De Beers gained full access to the US market and set up shop in New York (Wikipedia.com).

Throughout its history, De Beers has been surrounded by contention from all sides. An obvious cartel, they monopolized the diamond industry for decades and remain a powerful player in the diamond industry. They encouraged the mythology surrounding diamonds, touting them as rare and highly valuable. In fact, at one point in 1998 De Beers had to introduce production quotas on its own mines as a result of an influx of diamonds from outside resources. With diamond values in the billions, the company still kept a stronghold on its diamonds and touted them as rarities.

Diamonds are not rare and the only reason they have been so is because of De Beers. Their strict regulation of diamonds has supported ridiculously high prices and an artificially inflated value that remains to this day. Currently they are expanding into further ventures in Canada and are no longer a publicly controlled company.

Get to Know About Diamond, Gems, Jewelry     Diamond Anniversary Rings

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Learn More at Natural Pearl Information Center

Pearl Learning Center: Pearls have been a source of fascination for centuries. They have been considered the most magical and feminine of all gems and are the only one created by a living organism. Pearls emanate a certain warmth and glow not found in other gems, due to their unique beginnings. Pearls are found in pearl oysters. However, the origin of the pearl mystified humans for centuries. Many theories were put forward regarding the origin of pearls however, it wasn't until the turn of the twentieth century that the relationship between pearl oysters and parasites was discovered.

Due to the rarity and high price of natural pearls, cultured pearls feature predominantly in jewellery stores. Side by side, it is very difficult to tell the difference between a natural pearl and a high quality cultured pearl with the naked eye. Pearls are composed of between 82-86% mineral (calcium carbonate), 10-14% organic binder and 2-4% water. They are very soft and can be chipped quite easily.

The name 'pearl' has various origins. The Teutonic derivation comes from the noun beere, meaning berry. Latin derivations are pirium, a sphere, and pirula, a pear. The Romans used the Greek word margarita, describing something of unique value, a cherished possession or a favourite child. The pearl is the birthstone for June, and also the anniversary gem for the Third and Thirtieth Wedding Anniversaries. Recognised as the emblem of modesty, chastity and purity, pearls have also come to symbolise a happy marriage.

Anyone buying pearls should take time to learn to evaluate luster and, in particular, to recognize what is acceptable and what is not acceptable; in particular, when luster is too low. Luster is produced when rays of light are absorbed into and reflected back out through the nacre - the layers of calcium carbonate that make up the pearl. Luster is rated from very high to very low. In general, the thicker the nacre, the deeper the luster. Japanese pearls, in general, exhibit a higher luster than South Sea varieties that show a softer, more velvety appearance.

Know Everything Abour Rare Famous Colored Diamonds

Colored diamonds allows you to have a beautiful diamond engagement ring without sacrificing color. There are many gorgeous, colored diamonds to choose from, and if you do choose a colored stone, you don't have to give up quality and elegance to do so.

Diamonds are found in their natural colors when they are mined, others become colored by gemologists and jewelers. Companies have begun color-treating diamonds of lower grades like a less desirable yellow or bcol-md-12nish tinted diamond into a beautiful, brightly colored diamond and well affordable to the average consumer.

Irradiation process is a popular treatment process for colored diamonds, which uses a high heat system to alter the color of the diamond. Sometimes diamonds are treated by painting.

Fancy Colored Diamonds

Diamonds are valued around the world based on their clear colorless qualities, but there are people who prefer the fancy colored diamonds that come in vivid hues of yellows, bcol-md-12ns, greens, reds, pinks.

Colored diamonds exists naturally as well like if a diamond has nitrogen in it, it often has a yellow tint to the stone. If the gemstone has been exposed to minor radiation, the gem may turn green.

Colored diamonds have been treated to obtain their colors artificially for people with lower budgets to buy the fancy colored diamonds. Jewelry Manufacturers and gemologists have found ways to alter the colors of diamonds to get any shade or hue desired.

The process of grading colored diamonds is different than that of the transparent diamond. A colored diamond is graded based on the primary hue that makes up the majority of the diamond's color like whether it's the blue or pink or red color. Second, grading based on the intensity of that color. More expensive diamonds have a very intense, naturally coloration and is more rare. Treated diamonds will cost less than a naturally colored diamond. still a "real diamond", they are created within a laboratory instead of by natural phenomenon.

Names of Colored Diamond

Fancy colored diamonds comes in so many different shades; it is often difficult to interpret the name of the diamonds color. Most commonly you'll find two colors labeling the shade of a diamond, like greenish blue. Each name for a colored diamond has a primary color description, and some have a secondary color description. If a diamond is called "blue diamond," it will be a blue shaded diamond.

If the diamond is called "greenish blue," Is the diamond blue, or is it green? The color that is described with the "ish" at the end is considered the secondary color and the other color is the primary color, in this case blue. A greenish blue diamond is mostly blue, with green shades seen throughout the stone. A diamond labeled "bcol-md-12n red" will have equal amounts of both colors seen through the stone

Get to Know About Read Gold

Gold was first discovered as shining, yellow nuggets. "Gold is where you find it," so the saying goes, and gold was first discovered in its natural state, in streams all over the world. No doubt it was the first metal known to early hominids.

Gold became a part of every human culture. Its brilliance, natural beauty, and luster, and its great malleability and resistance to tarnish made it enjoyable to work and play with.

Because gold is dispersed widely throughout the geologic world, its discovery occurred to many different groups in many different locales. And nearly everyone who found it was impressed with it, and so was the developing culture in which they lived.

Gold was the first metal widely known to our species. When thinking about the historical progress of technology, we consider the development of iron and copper-working as the greatest contributions to our species' economic and cultural progress - but gold came first.

Gold is the easiest of the metals to work. It occurs in a virtually pure and workable state, whereas most other metals tend to be found in ore-bodies that pose some difficulty in smelting. Gold's early uses were no doubt ornamental, and its brilliance and permanence (it neither corrodes nor tarnishes) linked it to deities and royalty in early civilizations .

Gold has always been powerful stuff. The earliest history of human interaction with gold is long lost to us, but its association with the gods, with immortality, and with wealth itself are common to many cultures throughout the world.

Early civilizations equated gold with gods and rulers, and gold was sought in their name and dedicated to their glorification. Humans almost intuitively place a high value on gold, equating it with power, beauty, and the cultural elite. And since gold is widely distributed all over the globe, we find this same thinking about gold throughout ancient and modern civilizations everywhere.

Gold, beauty, and power have always gone together. Gold in ancient times was made into shrines and idols ("the Golden Calf"), plates, cups, vases and vessels of all kinds, and of course, jewelry for personal adornment.

Gold's natural color is further enhanced by alloying it with small amounts of other metals. Jewelers create yellow, rose, green and white golds by using different alloys. More copper results in a soft rose color; additional silver creates green gold; and palladium produces white.

Properties: Gold is very durable and look no further than the nearest museum where gold jewelry, coins and artifacts from ancient civilizations attest to the metal's enduring beauty and permanence. Jewelers throughout the ages have preferred gold to all other metals for its beauty and ease of workmanship. Gold can be melted, or shaped, to create any design. It can be alloyed with a number of other metals to increase its strength and produce a variety of colors.

Colors of Gold: Gold comes in a variety of colors. Because gold is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength, it can also be made in a variety of colors. For example, yellow gold is created by alloying the metal with copper and silver; using copper only creates pink gold; white gold contains platinum or palladium, zinc and copper; green gold contains silver, copper and zinc.

24K Gold: Pure gold, or 24-karat, is generally considered too soft for use in jewelry, so it is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength.

18K Gold: 18K Gold is 18/24ths, or three-quarters pure gold. Jewelry of this fineness is marked "18k" or "750," meaning 75 percent gold.

14K Gold: In the United States, 14-karat gold is used most commonly for jewelry. Fourteen-karat gold is 14/24ths, or slightly more than one-half pure gold. Jewelry of this fineness is marked "14k" or "585," the European designation meaning 58.5 percent gold.

10K Gold: Nothing less than 10-karat gold can be legally marked or sold as gold jewelry in the United States. These pieces are marked "10k" or "417," the European designation meaning 41.7 percent gold.

Stamping: Look for trademarks accompanying the quality mark. When a piece of jewelry is stamped with a quality mark, law requires that it be stamped with a hallmark or trademark as well. Sometimes the jewelry is also marked with its country of origin. These designations are designed to assure you that you are buying genuine gold jewelry of the karatage marked.

Gold Pricing: Gold Pricing is based on four factors: karatage, gram weight, design and craftsmanship. The karatage and gram weight tell you how much gold is in a piece, but other crucial factors determining price are the piece's construction and design. A price based solely on gram weight does not reflect the work that has gone into the piece. It's important to remember that each piece of gold jewelry is unique and, if cared for properly, can last a lifetime.

White Gold: White gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as nickel, silver and palladium. White gold can be 18k, 14k, 9k or any karat. For example, 18k yellow gold is made by mixing 75% gold with 25% other metals such as copper and zinc. 18k white gold is made by mixing 75% gold with 25% other metals such as nickel, silver and palladium. So the amount of gold is the same but the alloy is different.

While pure gold is yellow in color, colored gold can be developed into various colors.

Rose gold is a gold and copper alloy widely used for specialized jewelry. It is also known as pink gold and red gold. As it was popular in Russia at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it is also known as Russian gold, however, this term is now obsolete.

Although the names are often used interchangeably, the difference between red, rose, and pink gold is the copper content – the higher the copper content, the stronger the red coloration. A common alloy for rose gold is 75% gold and 25% copper by mass (18 karat). Since rose gold is an alloy, there is no such thing as "pure rose gold".

A common formulation for red gold is 50% gold and 50% copper.

Up to 15% zinc can be added to copper-rich alloys to change their color to reddish yellow or dark yellow.

During ancient times, due to impurities in the smelting process, gold frequently turned a reddish color. This is why many Greco-Roman texts, and even many texts from the Middle Ages, describe gold as "red".

Green gold alloys are made by leaving the copper out of the alloy mixture and just using gold and silver. It actually appears as a greenish yellow rather than green. Eighteen karat green gold would therefore contain a mix of gold 75% and silver 25% (or 73% gold and 27% silver). Fired enamels adhere better to these alloys.

Green gold was known to Lydians as long ago as 860 BC under the name electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of silver and gold.

Cadmium can be added to gold alloys in amount of up to 4% to achieve green color. The alloy of 75% gold, 23% copper, and 2% cadmium yields light green 18ct gold. The alloy of 75% gold, 15% silver, 6% copper, and 4% cadmium yields a dark green alloy. Cadmium is, however, toxic.

Grey gold alloys are made by adding silver, manganese and copper in specific ratios to the gold.

Black gold is a type of gold used in jewelry. Black colored gold can be produced by various methods:

• Electroplating, using black rhodium or ruthenium. Solutions that contain ruthenium give a slightly harder black coating than those that contain rhodium.
• Patinationby applying sulfur and oxygen containing compounds.
• Plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition process involving amorphous carbon
• Controlled oxidation of gold containing chromium or cobalt (e.g. 75% gold, 25% cobalt).

A range of colors from bcol-md-12n to black can be achieved on copper-rich alloys by treatment with potassium sulfide.

Purple gold (also called amethyst gold and violet gold) is an alloy of gold and aluminum rich in gold-aluminium intermetallic (AuAl₂). Gold content in AuAl₂ is around 79% and can therefore be referred to as 18 karat gold. Purple gold is more brittle than other gold alloys, as it is an intermetallic compound instead of a malleable alloy, and a sharp blow may cause it to shatter.  It is therefore usually machined and faceted to be used as a "gem" in conventional jewelry rather than by itself. At lower content of gold, the material is composed of the intermetallic and an aluminium-rich solid solution phase. At higher content of gold, the gold-richer intermetallic AuAl forms; the purple color is preserved to about 15% of aluminium. At 88% of gold the material is composed of AuAl and changes color. (The actual composition of AuAl₂ is closer to Al₁₁Au₆ as the sublattice is incompletely occupied.)

Blue gold is an alloy of gold and indium. It contains 46% gold (about 12 ct) and 54% indium, forming an intermetallic compound AuIn₂. While several sources remark this intermetallic to have "a clear blue color," in fact the effect is slight: AuIn2 has CIE LAB color coordinates of 79, -3.7, -4.2^[9] which appears roughly as a greyish color. With gallium, gold forms an intermetallic AuGa₂ (58.5% Au, 14ct) which has slighter bluish hue. The melting point of AuIn₂ is 541 °C, for AuGa₂ it is 492 °C. AuIn₂ is less brittle than AuGa₂, which itself is less brittle than AuAl₂.

All the AuX₂ intermetallics have crystal structure of CaF₂ and therefore are brittle. Deviation from the stoichiometry results in loss of color. Slightly nonstoichiometric compositions are however used, to achieve a fine-grained two- or three-phase microstructure with reduced brittleness. A small amount of palladium, copper or silver can be added to achieve a less brittle microstructure.

The intermetallic compounds tend to have poor corrosion resistance. The less noble elements are leached to the environment, and a gold-rich surface layer is formed. Direct contact of blue and purple gold elements with skin should be avoided as exposition to sweat may result in metal leaching and discoloration of the metal surface.

A surface plating of blue gold on karat gold or sterling silver can be achieved by a gold plating of the surface, followed by indium plating, with layer thickness matching the 1:2 atomic ratio. A heat treatment then causes interdiffusion of the metals and formation of the required intermetallic compound.

Many online searchers are scared about buying jewelry online for reasons like diamond quality, gemstone is genuine or not or incorrect ring size. Buying Jewelry Online has gcol-md-12n dramaitically in last several years because of high consumer confidence as consumers are able get very good deals and buys online with a large selection of fine designer jewelry with a varity of styles and designs.

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Platinum

Platinum Historical Use: Platinum was used by the South American Indians before the fifteenth century. They could not melt it, but developed a technique for sintering it with gold on charcoal, to produce artefacts. A pre-Columbian platinum ingot was found which contained 85% pure platinum. When the Spanish conquered South America, they discovered the Indians use of platinum, and called it "platina", a diminutive which means "little silver", a somewhat derogatory term. It was considered by the Spanish as a worthless nuisance and impurity.  

Platinum Group Metals: Platinum is closely related to five other metals, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium. Together these six are known as the platinum group metals, often referred to as PGMs. They all have somewhat similar atomic structures, leading to some similarity in chemical and mechanical properties, although there are, of course, many important differences. Platinum Facts: Atomic Number: 78; Atomic Weight: 195.08; Density or Specific Gravity: 21.45; Melting Point: 1768.90 Celsius and Hardness (Moh) 4.3.

Platinum Processing: In about 1780, Janety was able to refine it using aqua regia, Smith & Tennant developed an arsenic refining method after 1800, the arsenic was used to aid in the melting. This was highly toxic and dangerous, and it is not used nowadays. Until about 1800, it was not realized that there were in fact six different metals. Palladium was not separated and identified until 1803. Platinum's melting point is very high, and consequently it is difficult to melt. It was first melted by Lavoisier shortly after 1800.

Platinum Stamping: What are the marks inside my platinum jewelry? You're familiar with the gold standard, where 24k = 100%. The platinum standard is based on parts per thousand, where 1000 parts = 100%. All platinum alloys are derived from this standard. The two most common platinum alloys found in the US. 95% Platinum: This alloy is 950 parts per 1000 and 50 parts other metals. Common quality marks are: Platinum, Plat, Pt, Pt950, 950Pt, 950Plat and Plat950. 90% Platinum: This alloy is 900 parts per 1000 and 100 parts other metals. Common quality marks are: 900Pt, Pt900, and 900Plat. Typically platinum is alloyed with copper, iridium, palladium, cobalt, ruthenium, tungsten, gallium or indium. It can also be alloyed with rhodium, osmium or titanium but these are rarely used.

Platinum Purity: Why is platinum's purity important to me? Two reasons. First, your skin. Platinum is hypoallergenic and resists tarnish, making it easy for sensitive people to wear. Second, platinum's purity makes it one of the strongest, most durable metals in the world. Platinum has often been described as the purest, or the most precious metal. Both these claims are slightly inaccurate. The price of pure platinum is generally higher than gold, but not always, therefore the claim that platinum is the most precious metal is also a typical marketing exaggeration, besides rhodium is frequently double the price of platinum. As noted previously, the Spanish conquerors of Latin America considered it a worthless nuisance.

Precious Platinum: Silver has its place in jewelry, particularly for larger and heavier pieces, where its low price means it can be used lavishly. Silver does tarnish very easily, and needs frequent cleaning, which is its major drawback for jewelry. Again its rapid tarnishing, means it is less than ideal; it is also quite soft, and not durable enough for diamond settings in general. Certainly now that platinum has earned its recognition as a precious metal, silver is by comparison a poor relation. For its combination of preciousness and purity, there is no doubt that platinum deserves pride of place, so when we query the claim about platinum being the purest and most precious metal, we are trying to give an accurate honest appraisal on a completely objective basis.

Platinum Deposits: Until large deposits were discovered by Merensky at Rustenberg in South Africa in 1924, 93% of the world's supply of platinum came from the USSR. the Rustenberg deposits are considered very rich in platinum. The ratio of platinum to palladium recovered is 2.5%.

Platinum Alloys: In jewelry, like other precious metals platinum is mixed with other metals to form alloys. Before 1975 there was no requirement for platinum to be assayed and hallmarked in Britain, therefore there was no recognized standard. Because of this, most early pieces marked "plat" or platinum, may be of very variable, and quite low fineness, and most would fail modern assay standards. Typically platinum is alloyed with copper, iridium, palladium, rhodium, osmium or titanium. All our platinum products are made with .950 fine platinum. Platinum is perfect for diamond settings. We also make rings in combinations such as: Platinum with 18 karat yellow gold and platinum with 24 karat yellow gold.

Platinum in Jewelry: Platinum started to be used in jewelry in Europe about the mid nineteenth century, but it was not until the 1924 find that it started to become commonly used. It became very fashionable during the art deco movement. It possesses very good mechanical properties for jewelry, being strong, and highly durable. It is ideal for stone settings as it has a low "spring-back" rate. In jewelry, like other precious metals it is mixed with other metals to form alloys. Before 1975 there was no requirement for platinum to be assayed and hallmarked in Britain, therefore there was no recognized standard. Because of this, most early pieces marked "plat" or platinum, may be of very variable, and quite low fineness, and most would fail modern assay standards. Our Platinum Jewelry includes Platinum Chains, Platinum Bracelets, Platinum Earrings, Platinum Pendants, Platinum Rings, Platinum Wedding Rings, Platinum Diamond Rings, Platinum Anniversary Rings & Engagement Rings.

Know Everything About Ruby Ring Settings

What platinum or 14k white or yellow gold ruby ring setting style is best for your stone? To answer this question, you will need to know what styles there are to choose from and what advantages each has to offer. Here, the choices are as varied as ring designers. Once you recognize these differences, you'll be prepared to analyze each ring at a glance and make a choice based on those elements that best please your taste.

The Prong Setting:  This is the most common type of setting, especially for ladies' solitaire ruby rings. Prong setting is the one most often used to hold a solitaire. Prong setting puts the emphasis on the stones and not the metal. It involves fitting the diamond in a metal head or basket and securing it with a minimum of three prongs or metal claws. The purpose of any setting is to hold the rubys securely in the mounting and at the same time allow light to enter the rubys for maximum brilliance. The shape of the prongs can vary. They may be rounded, elongated or pointed. There are many decorative variations of this setting style.

The more metal used to hold the rubies, the more secure they are; the less metal used, the greater the chance for the ruby to reflect light. For this reason, platinum is often the metal of choice for ruby solitaires.

Because platinum is both dense and strong, very thin wires of it are sufficient to hold the ruby securely in place. The ruby may be raised high up above the shank to give it a larger appearance. In such a setting, the prongs are attached to the central setting of a ring, known as the head or basket. Each prong extends upward and outward from the head, arching over the sapphire to form a secure grip.

The ideal prong tapers to a rounded point. It should be smoothly finished, diminishing any chance of the prong snagging the threads of your clothes. The prongs should also be placed at the key points of the stone, typically at four corners or at four, five or six points evenly spaced around the stone, to offer security without interfering with the stone's brillianc.

Prong Settings Advantages?: It allows more of the stone to be in view than most other styles. It's quicker and, therefore, less expensive to set than most other styles. It can hold large sapphires securely. Settings with six prongs are more secure than those with four prong. This setting allows rubies to be more easily cleaned than the other styles. It can be used to set any type of gemstone, no matter how fragile it is.

Prong Settings  Disadvantages: May not provide as smooth of a ring surface as some of the other styles. It doesnot protect rubies as well as other styles since it leaves most of the girdle are exposed.

The Channel Setting: This style is often used for wedding bands, but it may also be used to accent center stones. The rubies are suspended in a channel of vertical walls with nometal separating the stones.

Channel setting is also used when there is no center stone at all. The placement of baguettes around an entire band is a beautiful choice for a wedding band, one that goes well with a matching ring set with a diamond solitaire. Channel setting offers a sleek, elegant appearance, though the end result is a very different look.

Channel  Settings Advantages: Channel setting protects the girdle are of rubies as well as provide a smooth ring surface. None of the edges are exposed, and so they are not subject to hard knocks or general wear and tear.

Channel Settings Disadvantages: Usually more time consuming and costly than prong setting, when properly done. It should not be used for fragile gems.

The Pave Setting: In this type of setting, rubies are fit into tapered holes and set almost level with the surface of the ring. Then some of the surrounding metal is raised to form beads which hold the sapphires in place. Sometimes the metal around the bead-set stones is raised or engraved to form decorative patterns. When there are three or more col-md-12s of rubies in this way without partitions between the stones, it is calle pave, which, in French means paved like a cobblestone road. In order to give the impression of a continous ruby surface, it is customary to use white gold or platinum to support pave-set rubies even if the rest of the ring is in yellow gold.

Pave Settings Advantages?: Usually protects rubies better than a prong setting. Allows uniterrupted designs of varying width. Pave set rings appear larger eventhough the stones are smaller. Each tiny diamond, weighing just a few points, is fully cut with 58 facets. Though small in size, each stone contributes to the overall, shimmering look of the design. After it is positioned in its hole, tiny bits of metal from the surface of the shank are pushed over the edge of the ruby, forming tiny beads to hold the stone in place.

Pave Settings Disadvantages: Is a risky setting method in terms of possible stone damage. It does not provide as smooth of ring surface as bezel, channel and flush setting.

The Bar Setting: This is a form of channel setting, except the rubies are set in channels acress a ring, and stones on each end of the channel are exposed at the edges of the mounting instead of being secured in metal.

The Invisible Setting: Invisible-set rubies are placed tightly next to each other with the metal of the setting concealed underneath the rubies, allowing them to form a continous surface.

Invisible Settings Advantages: It enhances brilliance because there's no metal on top of the stone to impede the entry of light.

Channel Settings Disadvantages: If not properly set, small square stones may fall out with hard wear. It is usually more time consuming and expensive than prong and bead setting. It is risky setting method, in terms of damage to the stones, so it should not be used for fragile gems.

The Flush Setting: is a popular style for people who use their hands a lot in their professions; it offers good protection for their rubies. Emeralds are sunk into the mounting until they are nearly level or flush with the surface. Only the table of the diamond and a bit of the upper pavilion facets show. This technique seems to go against everything we know about diamonds in relation to light, but it's become quite a popular setting. It's a very subtle look, and one that appeals to the woman who likes the idea of tiny, glittering bits of light twinkling like stars in the sky.

Flush Settings Advantages: It protects the girdle area of the rubies. Provides a smooth, tailored look. The flush setting is also used for larger stones, offering great protection and a modern look.

Flush Settings Disadvantages: It is usually more time consuming and expensive than prong and bead setting. It is risky setting method, in terms of damage to the stones, so it should not be used for fragile gems.

The Bezel Setting: A bezel is a band of metal that surrounds the ruby and holds it in place. They have become popular now as attractive settings for rubies. The bezel may either fully or partially encircle the ruby. A bezel is a collar of precious metal that wraps around the ruby. The bezel is attached to the top of the ring and stands up above it, adding height and another dimension to the setting. Although solid bezels have a very traditional look, the bezel may be 'split' into two sections, arcing around just part of the ruby.

Bezel Settings Advantages: It provides good protection for girdle and pavilion areas of the sapphire. It can be used to set almost all gemstones without causing damage to them. It accentuates the circumference of the stone, making it appear larger than in prong setting. It provides a smooth ring surface

Bezel Settings Disadvantages: It is usually more time consuming and expensive than prong and bead setting.

Also Get to Know Emerald Ring Styles

Also Get to Know Emerald Ring Designs

Also Get to Know Emerald Ring Metals

Also Get to Know Emerald Ring Craftsmanship

Read About Emerald History, Emerald Facts

About the year 1717, having offered the gem to several sovereigns, the Regent of France was persuaded that his country should possess the most beautiful and perfect diamond known so the diamond was bought for £135,000 and from that time known as the Regent diamond. The diamond was stolen from the public treasury during the turbulent times of the French Revolution. Twelve years later it was recovered and hen set in the Imperial diadem of France.

More About Diamond Cartel

Why Buy From Sndgems.com Online Jewelry Store

1. Secured Online Store: Sndgems shopping process is fully certified by the Independent Internet Security Leader. As one of the

Internet security is a broad term that refers to the various steps individuals and companies take to protect computers or computer networks that are connected to the Internet. One of the basic truths behind Internet security is that the Internet itself is not a secure environment. The Internet was originally conceived as an open, loosely linked computer network that would facilitate the free exchange of ideas and information. Data sent over the Internet—from personal e-mail messages to online shopping orders—travel through an ever-changing series of computers and network links. As a result, unscrupulous hackers and scam artists have ample opportunities to intercept and change the information. It would be virtually impossible to secure every computer connected to the Internet around the world, so there will likely always be weak links in the chain of data exchange.

2. 100% Satisfaction Guantee

When purchasing a piece of jewelry, look carefully at the construction and quality of workmanship. The way the piece is designed, constructed and finished will have a major impact on how well the piece wears and holds up over time. We partner with jewelry manufacturers worldwide to get the finest quality jewelry at the most outstanding prices. To be certain that your jewelry has been evaluated by a trusted third party, get it appraised by a local jeweler and you'll find that our jewelry, designer clothing & designer handbags will be appraised 30 to 60% above retailers price. You can easily spot the fake handbag with the designers logo alone. Most designers usually place their product's signature on the same part of their every designer handbag so that buyers would know that it's the real handbag. All our designer clothes and designer hanbags come with original designer authenticy card and tag.

Sparkle N Dazzle guarantees that the diamond you purchased has been graded with the strictest standards using the Gemological Institute of America grading systems. The sapphires, rubies, and rubies in the gemstone jewelry we offer will display rich blue, green, or red color. And each gemstone must be translucent — not opaque like the gemstones found in much of the gemstone jewelry available. You'll find we offer only the strongest, most durable jewelry grade platinum. Pearls in all our cultured pearl jewelry will have medium to high luster. Our designer clothes & designer handbags are 100% authentic and are at least 50% discounted. Everybody dreams of having fabulous designer handbags of the finest quality that one can only see in a celebrity's hand. However, such leather handbags are difficult to find and quite expensive.

3. Privacy Promise: Sndgems Online Jewelry Store respects your privacy and is fully committed to ensure your privacy is protected online. We want you to ensure that your privacy is protected. We want to ensure that your online shopping at Sndgems Online Jewelry Store is totally secure with respect to your personal information, your credit card information online and off-line.  Sndgems uses latest up-to-date encryption/security and technological standards to make your jewelry purchase safe. It is our privacy promise.

4.. Trusted Jewelry Industry Affiliations: Sndgems is committed to providing the highest standards of quality and services to you adhering to stringest trusted jewelry industry established. We adhere to strictest industry norms of jewelry industry's leading and most respected organizations including Jewelers of America, Jewelers Board of Trade and Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers Association.

5. Jewelry Education, Expert Advice & Friendly Customer Service: Sndgems is committed to providing its customers complete, precise and easy but still useful information to educate its customers in making jewelry purchae easy, enjoyable and safe at our online jewelry store. An educated and informed customer is what we thrive for. Please visit our education center to learn more or e-mail us back.

6. Customer Reviews: Sndgems online jewelry store was launched in 1998 and has about 7500 fine designer jewelry products and thousands of satisfied customers who have bought jewelry from our online jewelry store.  They have provided us valuable information in improving our online store. We've provided real customer feedback with real customers who have bought great jewelry products from us after doing reasearch using our education pages, price comparison tools and even on checking our jewelry at local jewelry stores to get reassurance.

7. Best Jewelry Site Awards/Jewelry Industry Awards/Jewelry Industry Award Winning Designs: Sndgems stands miles apart from thousands and thousands of online jewelry stores and main street/mall jewelry stores worldwide  with regards to its education center, jewelry selection, jewelry quality and overall value and customer satisfaction. Sndgems is committed to and proud of being recognized as the best online jewelry store because of great jewelry offering largest selection+finest selection+best value+best customer service+best deals+best customer service+best after sales service+best customer reviews+best online shopping experience.

8. Our Prices: Sndgems has been recognized as an online leading jewelry store offering best deals+best buys+best value+lowest prices. We offer the finest selection of at reasonable prices and that shows in our customer feedback and reviews.  We're not just the online leader but are much better alternative to mall and main street jewelry stores with inflated prices and illusionary discounts.

9. No Additional Taxes: Will you charge sales tax on my order? To be clear, the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), which was signed into law on October 21, 1998, does not, as some have asserted, preclude sales & use taxes on any and all commerce conducted over the Internet. State governments are allowed to impose sales and use taxes on all such electronic sales. Currently, most e-commerce companies use the same taxation rules used by mail-order companies, which are based on constitutional guidelines for interstate commerce. Generally this means that states can only require companies to collect sales tax in states where they have business operations, and as a result, a company will not collect sales tax in states where they have no business operations. We charge 5.75% sales tax for Ohio State Residents.

10.Free Insured Shipping: When awaiting the delivery of your order, remember that the first day of business is the day after your order is processed, provided that the item you order is in stock. Sndgems makes every attempt to keep items in stock. Should the item be out of stock, you will be notified by e-mail during the ordering process with the approximate delivery time noted. Many orders may be able to ship more quickly, but each piece of jewelry is created by hand to your specifications after you place your order. All orders are subject to credit and address verification. For your protection, all FedEx shipments require a customer signature upon delivery. Shipping addresses are limited to one address per order. Sndgems.com primarily uses FedEx because it is a traceable and insured method of shipment. All shipments require a telephone number and an address specifying if it is a business or residential. All deliveries must be made to a physical address (no P.O. Boxes except APO/FPO addresses). All shipments require a signature, without a signature UPS/FedEx will not complete the delivery. Therefore, the shipping address must be one where someone will be available to sign for the package. We offer several shipping options: FedEx Ground; FedEx 2 Day (U.S. Addresses Only); FedEx Overnight (Standard Overnight Delivery); FedEx Saturday Delivery all for free now.

11. Jewelry Appraisal Certificate of Authencity, Price Verification, Genuine Gemstone Assurance, Diamond Quality: All our jewelry is authentic, natural, genuine and real. We donot sell costume jewelry or imitation jewelry. We use only genuine naural fine gemstones and diamonds.  With every purchase at our online jewelry store, you will receive a free third party jewelry appraisal from reputable appraisal company assuring you of authenticity, gemstones genuineness and price verification.

12. Gift Certificate: Sndgems at its online jewelry store offers fine jewelry gift cartificates in many denominations like $1000, $2000, $5000, $10,000 and $50,0000 which can be redeemed at our online jewelry store and jewelry stores worldwide.

13. After Sales Service: Sndgems is qualified to perform virtually any jewelry revitalization you may require, and our experience in this area is considerable. We will gladly work with individuals to meet their specific needs...or with professional shops seeking reliable, high-quality repairs for their clients. You may rely upon Sndgems goldsmiths to accomplish the most delicate of restoration procedures, whether on jewelry or watches. Our reputation for expert execution is unsurpassed. We have certified gemologists and professional jewelers and it is their our duty to provide the finest workmanship around. Any precious metal jewelry can be redesigned or repaired. Everything from clock repairs to ring sizing to fine designer re-mounts. Most repair work generally requires one week and is unconditionally guaranteed. All at rock bottom prices! In addition to fine jewelry repair work... we are also qualified watch repair specialists. Check jewelry every 6 months as prongs can wear thin and let stones fall out. Chains and pearl strands weaken with wear. Ring shanks wear thin through time. Before disaster strikes, have your jewelry professionally inspected and repaired. No job is too large or too small, and estimates are provided. Active outdoors types, for example, might be better off avoiding the marquise or pears shape. The shank as well as the prongs of a ring worn daily by a very active person will show the effects of wear.

14. Jewelry Artists, Designers, Manufcturers Worldwide Showcase Your Jewelry Designs at Sndgems Online Jewelry Store: Jewelry Artists, Designers, Manufcturers Worldwide can showcase their handcrafted exclusive and beautiful jewelry designs on Sndgems Online Jewelry Store, Facebook Store Front, Sndgems New York Jewelry Store, Sndgems Japan Jewelry Store, Sndgems UK Jewelry Store, Sndgems Bangkok Jewelry Store, Sndgems Bridal Shows and more. We offer many other distribution channels like product catlogs, jewelry shows, jewelry party plans and many more. channels. 

Ruby Rings Reviews

Gorgeous! Perfect compliment to my ruby wedding band to celebrate our 5th anniversary, the birth of our son and my 30th birthday. Gina August 26, 2011.

perfect stunning ruby five stone ring. I would highly recommend Sndgems.com to anyone looking for quality and good prices. Jen

I love my ring! The rubies are such a beautiful pigeon red, just like the shade you see in the online pictures. The diamonds are very sparkly. The focus is definitely upon the stones rather than the band, which I like. The ring fit perfectly and I have been wearing it constantly. I would highly recommend Sndgems.com to anyone looking for quality and best deals. Mark September 8, 2011.

She had a tear in her eye after getting the stacked 5.0 carats stunning ruby diamond eternity band. Jonathan September 15, 2011.

Excellent service and a quality item. Had to return for the wrong ring size. No issues at all and received the correct size with in a couple of days, Custome service was very pleasant and there were no issues. I would highly recommend Sndgems.com to anyone looking for finest quality and good prices. Rick September 22, 2011.

Loved the beautiful ruby diamond three sone ring. I would highly recommend Sndgems.com to anyone looking for quality and good prices. From Hongkok September 27, 2011.

The ruby  and diamond ring is exactly what I had expected. The natural red color is great, the side diamonds are clear and compliment the ruby. I would highly recommend Sndgems.com to anyone looking for quality and good prices.

Excellent Quality. They have the finest selection of ruby rings I have seenanywhere. Beth from Spain, October 5, 2011.

Online Shopping Tips

Know the online merchant. It is always best to know the reputation of the companies you choose to do business with. If you are not familiar with the online retailer, be sure to check the Web site for contact details, including a physical address and phone number. Also, look to see if the site is a member of a trust mark or trust seal program. This certifies the business meets certain business standards set in place by the program.

What is Online Security? The online economy is massive, with billions of dollars changing hands every single day. Online shopping has brought consumers lower prices, incredibly diverse choice and an ease of buying that simply can't be matched in the physical world. So, online buying presents challenges to keeping your money safe, but if you're smart, they're challenges that aren't too hard to overcome.

SSL Encryption

A better way to tell if a form really is secure is by looking at the address bar in your bcol-md-12ser (see the picture below). When you're looking at the form where you're supposed to enter your credit card number, the address should begin with "https://www.sndgems.com/", not "http://www.sndgems.com/". That little letter "s" in there means that the information that you're sending the site through the form is encrypted, which means that even if someone intercepts the information, they won't be able to do anything with it. Any questions regarding our virtual secured web server could be directed to support@icom.com . Usually, shopping on the Web is much safer than shopping over the phone, or even through the mail. There's a much smaller chance that a telephone operator or a waiter will write down your credit card number and then sell it, or that a store will thcol-md-12 out a receipt and someone will dig through the store's garbage to find it. Especially if you keep the rules just mentioned in mind, you'll most likely have a very good experience shopping over the Internet.

Shop Only at Secure Websites

Ensure you are shopping at a secure Web site. A secure Web site uses encryption technology to scramble the information you send, such as your credit card number, in order to prevent identity thieves from gaining access to it as it travels through the Internet. Secure Web site addresses also include "https://" at the beginning of the address -- the "s" indicates the Web site is secure. Also, look for a closed padlock displayed in your bcol-md-12ser's toolbar or on at the bottom of your screen. If the lock is open or not present, this may be a sign that the site is not secure. Even on a secure site, do not send any more financial information than is necessary to complete the transaction. Always keep a paper copy of the transaction for your records.

Beware of Phishing E-mails

Review privacy and security policies

Check company policies you do business with online. All reputable companies post a privacy and security policy or statement on their Web site. This should tell you what information the company collects, how it is used and what is shared. If you are concerned about your information being shared with other companies, make sure there is an option to keep your information confidential.

Be proactive in protecting your security

Install commonly available security tools such as anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a personal firewall. These programs and the computer's operating system must be maintained with the most recent patches or updates. Probably the most common -- and most easily remedied -- security problem in home computers is out-of-date software.

Do not use personal information for passwords

Using information such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, names, common words, e-mail addresses or telephone numbers as passwords can make you an easy target. Be sure your passwords contain at least eight characters and include numbers or symbols. To avoid misuse, do not write down passwords.

Monitor online activity regularly

If you conduct business online, review your account statements regularly and consider using a separate credit card for online purchases or payments to ensure all transactions are in order. By reviewing online statements, transactions and your credit report frequently, you could detect a theft and limit its damage. Identity thieves typically use stolen information for only a short period of time to avoid being caught. If you suspect a security breach, act quickly by contacting the companies you do business with immediately. The Federal Trade Commission's identity theft Web site is a great resource for information on identity theft, including advice and guidance if your identity is stolen.

Know about international security and privacy standards

Be aware that international security and privacy standards may be different. When you shop in the United States, you are protected by state and federal consumer laws. These laws may not apply if you place an order internationally. If it is not a reputable merchant and there is a problem, it may be difficult for you to resolve the issue. You should print out and date a copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, company information and even confirming e-mails, and save them with the records of your purchase. Also, look at your purchase as soon as you receive it and contact the seller as soon as possible if you discover a problem.

How to Pick a Perfect Ruby Engagement Ring

Being educated and informed about the basics of a ring will make it easier when shopping for a perfect engagement ring.

When you feel you're comfortable and are ready to buy an engagement ring check out online jewelry sores first. Online jewelry stores offer many advantages over local jewelry store with regards to selection, styles & designs, pricing, budget, speed, convinience, education, guidance, customer reviews, third party appraisals and return policies.

Get to Know Basics of a Ruby Ring

Getting educated about the basic components of a ruby ring will help you better evaluate quality of a diamond ring in terms of style, designs, metals and look of the ruby ring and will guarantee you in getting a stunning certified ruby ring at a lower price from a reputed online jewelry store with free education, guidance and appraisals. Here are few terms that are used for a ring:

Appraisal: A third party evaluation of rings value, quality and authencity.

Certificate: Like a GIA certificate certifying rubies cut, color, clarity, weight and value.

Cut: This refers both to the geometric proportions of a gemstone, and the final form into which a rough stone is shaped. The most prominent cuts in the industry are the round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart, emerald, princess, trilliant, and radiant

Clarity: The measure by which a diamond is graded for purity, or whiteness. This is done by taking in the presence or absence of blemishes on the diamond's surface, or inclusions within the diamond. The professional grading scale is: flawless; internally flawless; very, very slightly included; very slightly included; slightly included; imperfect

Carat: The unit of weight by which a diamond or other gemstone is measured. It equals 200 milligrams. The word is derived from the carob bean, whose consistent weight was used in times past to measure gemstones

Setting: The way the rubies are set in a ring and how they are held.

Design: The way the ring will finally look includes the setting and rubies are held.

Band: The shank of the ring that goes around the ring finger.

Bridal Set: A bridal set includes the engagement ring and the matching band and could also include men's wedding band.

Head: This refers to that portion of the ruby where prongs secure the stone in its setting

Semi-mount: A setting complete but for the main stone, to be selected separately.

Now that you're educated about the ring there is no need to rush to buy the ring. You need to compare prices from different jewelry stores based on your knowledge of diamond 4C'sand also check company's return policy, guarantees, appraisals, customer reviews and get the best value possible anywhere.

Beware of Sales or Advertisments that seem too good to be true:

The advertised or on sale jewelry could be following:

inferior unacceptable quality

might have been stolen or misrepresented

prices might have been inflated and then discounted

poor workmanship

not genuine or real

diamonds could be of inferior quality

gemstones could be of lower quality

metals could be lower purity

false advertising

strings attached

Mall and local Jewelry Stores have huge overheads including prime location higher rents, showroom expenses, more staff and so on. There is no way they can sell you for lower than online jewelry stores.

Sndgems have low overheads and want to pass on those savings to our customers.

Get Proposal and Engagement Rings ideas from Celebrities

Celebrity Engagement Rings have a brilliant sparkle and a unique and mind blowing design. If you are planning for your engagement or wedding do not miss out on grabbing ideas from how celebrities made their proposals so special. We have complied a list of gorgeous celebrities and their one of a kind, stunning diamond and gemstone engagement rings. Our celebrities inspired engagement ring guide will help you steal the style of your favourite celebrity and guide you how to get their look.

Kim Kardashian Engagement Ring
Kris Humphries, a well paid basketball player proposed Kim Kardashian with an engagement ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz and featuring a 20.5 carat diamond engagement ring . The magnificient diamond ring consists of three pieces of white diamond sitting on a platinum band. The main diamond in the middle weighs about 16.5 carat and cut in emerald shape. The other two trapezoid-cut stones each weighs about 2 carat. The diamonds on the ring are graded VS (very slight), an indication of excellent quality diamonds.The estimates costs somewhere around $2 million. Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring is often compared to her sister Khloe Kardashian’s 2009 engagement ring. Khloe Kardashian received a stunning 12.5 carat diamon ring from hubbyLamar Odom, a basketball player who is far better compensated than Kris, but that was less than half the cost of Kim’s at $850,000.Kim Kardashian’s ring is even heavier than Kate Middleton’s 18 carat sapphire-diamond royal engagement band that once belonged to the late Princess Diana. Sure this is out of your price range, you’ll be happy to know that beautiful diamond engagement rings are available for much less. Sparkle and dazzle Online carries a magnificent collection of Diamond Engagement Rings at affordable prices.Bcol-md-12se through thousands of celebrity style genuine diamond rings. Sndgems.com also carries the latest collection of Designer Ruby Diamond Rings, Sapphire Diamond Rings and Emerald Diamond Rings.

Halle Berry`s Engagement Ring

Halle Berry engaged to French actor Oliver Martinez shows off her one of a kind emerald engagement ring which is a little bit of an antique art deco style and could be worth up to $100,000 or maybe more. The custom-designed etching on the ring is likely filigree — a popular request that makes an engagement ring truly one-of-a-kind .The ring is textured and contains codes and symbols which you cannot see .The symbols and codes represent the couple's story and only they can interpret it. Emeralds make beautiful engagement rings, even among non-celebs. If you are looking for an elegant, exotic and fancy emerald diamond ring for your fiancé, Sparkle and dazzles` must have genuine premier designer emerald diamond rings feature classic and delicate designs and are all time favorites. They offer great prices too. Save now on celebrity style engagement rings!

Erin Brady`s Engagement Ring.

The 63-year-old Tyler asked for Brady's hand with a 5-carat brilliant cut sparkler designed by celebrity jeweler Looree Rodkin. The glittering brilliant cut diamond sits on a micro pave diamond-and-platinum band. Tyler has been dating Brady for five years. His last marriage, to clothing designer Teresa Barrick, ended in 2006. Get Brady`s glam stunner for a fraction of the price! For more celeb designer rings, check out our collection of Sparkle and Dazzle Celebrity Inspired Engagement Rings! Make her feel like a star and take her breath away when she first sees her diamond engagement ring.

Zara Phillips Engagement Ring

Zara`s platinum-and-pave diamond engagement ring is simply magnificient! Zara phillips, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, the royal darling,13th in line to the throne and a cousin of Princes William and Harry, engaged with fiance Mike Tindall, an English rugby player .Tindall rather than opting for an antique or a family heirloom had a bespoke diamond and platinum engagement ring made by a jeweler. In the centre is a single, solitaire diamond sitting on tens of pavé set diamonds on a split shank or band made from platinum.

 

We've found some round-cut baubles that have a similar feel. Check out our favorite options under the jump. Bcol-md-12se more Zara Phillips style engagement Rings here. For deals on genuine diamond engagement rings delicately designed by designers visit www.sndgems.com and save now on incredibly unique engagement rings .You have another option of making her happy with a custom design engagement ring.

Britney Spears Engagement Ring

The beaming, pop diva Britney Spears celebrated their engagement and her hubby-to-be's 40th birthday in Las Vegas. Fiancé Jason Trawic chose her a sparkling 3 carat Neil Lane Diamond and pave band ring.The royal treatment of the ring continues all the way around the finger with platinum set diamonds throughout the entire ring. The estimated price tag for this magnificient creation is a whopping $90,000!. Looking for deals on genuine diamond engagement rings delicately designed by designers visit www.sndgems.com and save now on incredibly unique engagement rings .You have another option of making her happy with a custom design engagement ring.

 

Looking for a similar design, get a custom made ring, Britney Spears style in the sndgems collection of fine jewelry. You can also give Britney Sperars style a twist by alterning the stone to an emerald , ruby or a sapphire. Sndgems.com has an amazing collection of genuine Emerald Diamond rings, Sapphire Diamond rings and Ruby diamond rings inspired from celebrity style engagement rings. Each ring is very lovingly crafted to give it a unique and stylish look. Sparkle and Dazzles offers superior quality engagement rings at prices that suit your budget. Satisfaction is guaranteed! What do you think of Britney Spears’ ring . Post your comments here

Gisele Bundchen Engagement Ring

Gisele Bundchen got a very beautiful diamond engagement ring. Brazilian beauty Gisele Bundchen received this beautiful 4-carat engagement ring from American football star, Tom Brady. It is estimated to cost $150000. The ring is absolutely mindblowing, elegant and classy, a solitaire roung brilliant diamond, flanked by two triangualr stones on the sides in platinum settings. Gisele Bundchen is one of the most famous models in the world. The 28-year-old model tied the knot with New England Patriots quarterback Tom, 31, at St Monica's Church in the LA beachside suburb of Santa Monica.You cannot be Gisele Bundchen or Tom brady but you can definitely look for similar genuine diamond engagement ring designed by sparkle and dazzle exotic designers at a lesser price. Make your fiance feel like a queen with our affordable genuine diamond engagement rings.

Kristin Cavallari Engagement Ring

Kristin Cavallari`s the 24-year-old reality star, accepted NFL player Jay Cutler's proposal over the Easter weekend with an impressive engagement ring. Kristin’s diamond is an asscher cut, which is one of the most popular modern cuts.The ring boasts 10 round side diamonds, which are estimated to be nearly 1.5 carats. In total,it is estimated the ring would be worth a whopping $125,000!Absoutely gorgeous ring that anyone would love.What is so essential is to realize that such a stunning ring is not out of your reach. You can check our similar designs at reachable prices at sndgems fine jewelers. Sparkle and Dazzle offers the best affordable designer genuine diamond jewelry. Snag this clear jewelry design for yourself and once you slip it on, you will never want to take it off.
Katherine Heigl Engagement Ring

Hollywood star Katherine Heigl 3-carat, pear-cut diamond flanked by pave diamonds from musician hubby Josh Kelly is simply stunning with an effervescent sense of French style. Platinum solitaire setting accented with side stones is a popular style is hollywood. A unique piece of jewelry by Ryan Ryan design, this ring has sentimental value as half of the platinum band is from her mother`s own engagement band. Sndgems.com fine jewelers can help transform your halo diamond engagement ring dream into a sparkling reality . Check out their magnificient collection of diamond engagement rings and wedding bands and the get amazing looks without those high prices.

Jenna Dewan Engagement Ring

The beautiful actress/ model Jenna Dewan got a huge exotic vintage style diamond engagement ring from Channing Tatum. She loves her ring and it grabs as much attention as she does because of its beauty and size. While they were holidaying at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, Neil Lane, helped Tatum and Jenna design their Oval cut diamond solitaire engagement ring in platinum settings with 1.62 carats. To steal her style, check out our engagement rings collection at affordable prices. sndgems.com offers a wide collection of antique style diamond engagement rings. Our spectacular collection can make you feel good and luxurous with a guilt free purchase.

Gwyneth Paltcol-md-12 Engagement Ring

Chris Martin, Coldplay Singer proposed to American actress Gwyneth Paltcol-md-12 with this asscher cut diamond with a double band in 2003.Gwyneth Paltcol-md-12 garnered worldwide recognition through her performance in Shakespeare in Love (1998), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, for Outstanding Lead Actress and as a member of the Outstanding Cast. Gwyneth Paltcol-md-12 halo engagement ring with micro pave halo setting is simply exotic and elegant, and is a perfect example of the celebrity engagement rings. It is an all time favourite of many. If you are inspired by this beautiful ring visit sparkle and dazzle and get a custom ring built for you that fits your budget.

Anne Hathaway

Beautiful and charming actress Anne Hathaway received a 6 carat rock from fiancé Adam Shulman. This illuminating and gorgeous diamond engagement ring, featuring a round stone, was designed by Adam Shulman in collaboration with Kwiat Heritage Jewels in a timeless platinum setting. It carries a price tag of approximately $150,000. Luckily you need not be a celebrity to gift a similar design to your love. Make your proposal memorable with a designer engagement ring from sparkle and dazzle. Your partner is sure to cherish it! Every engagement ring at sndgems is delicately made with the best diamonds, carefully selected, to make her feel like a queen.Check their collection. They have a sure hit collection of genuine diamond platinum enagement rings and designer wedding bands.

Do you love her ring and want to get a similar one for your enagagement. Please comment

Kate Middleton Engagement Ring

Prince William proposed to his girlfriend Kate Middleton using the treasured engagement ring that belonged to his mother.The 28-year-old Prince made the proposal using the dazzling oval blue 18-carat sapphire and diamond ring while they were on holiday in Kenya.The ring has 14 diamonds encircling the sapphire. It is estimated that the sapphire alone is worth about $300,000 retail and the whole ring would be about half-million dollars. Sapphires, also called the royal gem, is loved by the royals in Britain . Today we find a lot of Lady Diana`s/ Kate Middeltons Engagement Ring replicas. But if you really want your beloved to feel speacial do not fall for any replica instead look for a jeweler carrying authentic sapphire diamond engagement rings. Do not miss on the Sparkle and Dazzle collection of Sapphire Diamond Rings. They are the most impressive, classic, gorgeous and brilliant and most of all 100% authentic.Leave a unique impression on your to be fiance with a sapphire diamond engagement ring.Pick a good bling and she is sure to feel like a Queen.

Miley Cyrus was spotted wearing the diamond sparkler which is believed to be gifted to her by Hunger Games hunk Liam Hemsworth. Miley Cyrus tweets to the rumours that "Its a topaz".

Leave a unique impression on your to be fiance with a ring from the celebrity rings collection from sparkle and dazzle fine jewelry designers, committed to make her feel the most special woman.

 

What does Miley glittering engagement ring tell about her style. Please comment.

Erin Brady`s Engagement Ring.

The 63-year-old Tyler asked for Brady's hand with a 5-carat brilliant cut sparkler designed by celebrity jeweler Loree Rodkin. The glittering brilliant cut diamond sits on a micro pave diamond-and-platinum band. Tyler has been dating Brady for five years. His last marriage, to clothing designer Teresa Barrick, ended in 2006.

 

The 34-year-old art consultant Will Kopelman proposed Drew Barrymore with a magnificent, D-color radiant cut diamond. According to the jewelery company, the ring Kopelman chose is just under 4 carats,colorless diamond, which is situated on a diamond-covered band. The bling was designed by Graff Diamonds.

Tamera Mowry, actress and former star of the television show Sister got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Fox News Correspondent, Adam Housley. Housley proposed while the couple was in Italy with a vintage inspired design by Verragio

 

Real Housewife of Atlanta Kim Zolciak Tweeted out a photo of her 10-carat diamond engagement ring for all to see two weeks after engaging with Atlanta Falcons player Kroy Biermann. The Stunning ring has a Cushion cut.The cut gives off a larger-than-life vibe fitting for Zolciak's personality.

 

Disney darling Brenda Song got engaged to The Social Network star and her beau, Trace Cyrus who proposed her with a stunning cushion-cut diamond engagement ring

Natalie Portman`s Engagement Ring

Portman announced her engagement to Benjamin Millepied in late December 2010. Natalie Portman`s eco-friendly Vintage inspired sparkler, carying an estimated value of $35,000, is a simply stunning engagement ring. Dancer-model fiancé Benjamin Millepied, thoughtfully designed it to include recycled platinum, an antique round diamond center stone and accenting pavé diamonds taken from a conflict-free mine. This gorgeous piece was designed by Jamie Wolf, a ballet dancer turned jewelry designer. If you love this amazing double halo engagement ring, check out its delightful look alikes at affordable prices. You will love them. Guaranteed!

What do U think of Portman’s "one-of-a-kind" engagement ring? Post your comments here.

Kate Moss Engagement Ring

Super Mode Kate Moss was proposed with a vintage style engagement ring by her boyfriend rocker Jamie Hince.The ring is estimated to value £14000. Moss’ vintage-style, with a large oval diamond set in a double-shank band, coordinates perfectly with her bohemian-meets-glam style. Looking to create a one-of-a-kind love token to reflect unique sensibilities Check our top selection of similar rings. Even though these look like quite expensive pieces, the prices are kept as affordable as possible.

Elizabeth Hurley Engagement Ring

Shane Warne proposed to actress and breast cancer activist Elizabeth Hurleywith a square-cut sapphire flanked by two trillion-cut white diamonds. The actress' sapphire and diamond ring is worth an estimated $100,000. Its a platinum setting with an approximate 9-carat center blue sapphire and a 2-carat Trillion cut diamond on each side. Did you like the ring? Isin`t it glamorous and exquisite. Post your comments here. For more, click through the gallery to see similar rings at affordable prices.

Penelope Cruz`s Engagement Ring

Javier Bardem proposed to Penelope Cruz with a vintage 3-carat sapphire ring worth roughly $30,000.

If that’s a bit out of your price range, you’ll be happy to know that beautiful sapphire engagement rings are available for much less. Sparkle and dazzle has a magnificent collection of Natural Sapphire Diamond Rings at affordable prices.

Industry Affiliations:

Sndgems.com is affiliated with the jewelry industry's most respected organizations and associations. We encourage you to visit these resources and review useful information they have included to provide valuable education and answers to most consumer questions. An informed customer is our best customer.

Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers ofAmerica MJSA is a national jewelry trade association working to provide long-term stability and prosperity for jewelry manufacturers and their suppliers.

Jewelers Vigilance Committee Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) is a not-for-profit trade association whose mission is to maintain the jewelry industry's highest ethical standards.

Jewelers Security Alliance Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) does online crime reporting for jewelers around the country in the Unites States and promoting jewelers' security

Jewelers of America Jewelers of America (JA) is the national association for the retail jeweler. JA is both a center of knowledge for the jeweler and an advocate for professionalism and high social, ethical, and environmental standards in the jewelry trade. The JA mission is to assist all members in improving their business skills and profitability. JA will provide access to meaningful educational programs and services, leadership in public and industry affairs, and encourage members with common interests to act in their and the industry's best interests.

Jewelry Information Center Jewelry Information Cente (JIC) is the public relations arm of the fine jewelry and watch industries. Founded as a non-profit trade association in 1946 in New York City, JIC is funded by its members (nearly 1,000 manufacturers, designers, and retailers of fine jewelry and watches as well as other trade associations) and considered to be the objective authority....

Diamond Manufacturers And Importers Association Of America Promoter of legislation and regulations which advance the standards of the American diamond and jewelry industries.

International Colored Gemstone Association The latest gem news, market trends, and mining reports.

International Confederation of Jewelry, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls and Stones (CIBJO) CIBJO is an international confederation of national jewelry trade organizations. CIBJO's purpose is to encourage harmonization, promote international cooperation...

Japan Pearl Exporters' Association Association promoting the use of Akoya cultured Pearls, harvested in  Japan.

Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO) Information on buying and caring for fine jewelry.

World Gold Council Promoters of gold and gold jewelry. Founded in 1987, the World Gold Council is an organisation formed and funded by the world's leading gold mining companies with the aim of stimulating and maximising the demand for, and holding of Gold...

DiamondFloor.com A B2B ecommerce exchange floor for the professional certified diamond trade and jewelry industry.

Gemnet British based Gem and jewelry Network, membership is 300 UK Pounds per year. You will find a lot of jewelry elsewhere, but the Sndgems.com designs are like no other. Our designers are unique just as their designs and styles are. We take pride in our uniqueness. Our designs are individually handcrafted and brought to you directly from the source.

Jnet.comA comprehensive business-to-business Web site for the entire jewelry manufacturing industry.

A Diamond is Forever Adiamondisforever.com is an information source on diamonds and is sponsored by the Diamond Trading Company, the worlds leading diamond sales and marketing company.

Diamond Review The consumer guide to buying diamond jewelry. Offers extensive tutorials, loose diamond price database, message boards, regional jeweler search engine with reviews, more. Your search for a diamond starts at DiamondReview.com.

DiamondInfo.org Diamond Guide, Information and Buying Tips for Loose Diamonds and Engagement Rings.

DiamondTutorials.com Tutorials and tips on purchasing diamond jewelry.

Federal Trade Commission What to know before you buy jewelry. How to buy Jewelry - Information to help you get the best quality jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store by catalog or online.

Gemological Institute of America GIA is the world's largest and most respected nonprofit institute of gemological research and learning

International Colored Gemstone Association The International Colored Gemstone Association is a non-profit association to represent the international gemstone industry.

International Gemological Institute A wealth of information on the Gemological and Jewelry Industry.

Professional Jeweler Magazine Professional Jeweler's mission is to provide short, well-written, information-rich articles in an organized layout sequence.

American Gem Society Since 1934, the American Gem Society (AGS) has been protecting the consumer. For 65 years the AGS logo has been a symbol of excellence in the jewelry industry. As an association of fine jewelers, our members are committed to the highest standard...

The American Gem Trade Association The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is an association of North American trade professionals dedicated to promoting the long term stability and integrity of the natural colored gemstone, Pearl, and cultured Pearl industry.

The Diamond Buying Guide Looking for the perfect diamond engagement ring, but you don't know enough about purchasing diamonds? The Diamond Buying Guide presents the information you need on "how to buy a diamond".

Canadian Jewellers Association Promoters of Canadian jewelry products.

Gem & Jewelry Export Promotion Council of India Association dedicated to promoting Indian gem and jewelry manufacturers.

Diamond Manufacturers And Importers Association Of America Promoter of legislation and regulations which advance the standards of the American diamond and jewelry industries.

Sndgems.com wants its customers to learn everything about jewelry trade association before they make an important purchase at the fine jewelry store of Sndgems.com.