Platinum Wedding Bands Popular Among the Rich and Famous

Purchasing a wedding band is amongst the vital purchases that you can ever make as a wedding band stays forever. It also has to compliment what you wear as well as your lifestyle also as both of them will show a drastic change with the passage of time. A person who goes to the market to buy a wedding ring has a range of metals to make their pick from but in the end the decision has to be made from the two metals including gold as well as platinum.

Platinum is naturally white in color. When fitted with a diamond inside it looks at its best. It is said that the diamonds are best fitted in platinum metal. Choosing to give a woman the platinum wedding band can be far simpler then choosing any gold ring. The best thing about platinum is that it stays as it is and never fades. So no maintenance is required. Thus it is the costliest metal as compared to gold and silver.

Platinum is very soft so it conforms easily to the shape of the stone. This reduces the chance of the stone being damaged while it is being set. Sometimes in harder materials the ring-prongs can scratch the surface of the gem. In that sense, platinum would be a better choice for your ring than gold, as it will reduce the chance for loosely held gems falling out. However, when it comes to jewelry pieces such as earrings, gold would be a better choice since platinum is heavier than gold.

Platinum wedding bands also have emeralds, rubies, or sapphires setting on it. Choose it according to your personality. Also the shape of her hand should be kept in mind and accordingly it should be selected. If she has a broad hand then go in platinum bands with larger size and if she has narrow or petite hands then small and delicate band will look good on her. Take care that it doesn't look too gaudy on her hand.

Platinum is a rare metal and it never tarnishes. Pure gold is too weak for jewelry so it is always alloyed with some other metal to increase its durability. But that's not the case with platinum. It can be mounted into any shape and size and for that reason it is more expensive then gold.

Platinum is a prestigious choice and is often chosen for its sophisticated appeal and popularity among the rich and famous.

Radiant Cut Diamonds the Beautiful Centrepiece of a Diamond Ring

Radiant cut diamonds were first developed and patented by Henry. The radiant cut diamond was the first diamond to combine the elegance of the emerald shape and the fire and brilliance of a round diamond. When the patent on the radiant cut diamond expired the radiant cut became a fully accepted diamond shape and began to be widely distributed by both wholesalers and manufacturers.

Much like circular shaped diamonds, radiant cut diamonds allow you to see the deep, natural clarity of the diamond. When you look at a radiant diamond from the front you can clearly distinguish the diagonal cross pattern that is created between the sides of the diamond. It is this stunning cross pattern that helps to make radiant cut diamonds more beautiful than many other types of diamond and makes it the ideal diamond to choose for the centrepiece of a diamond ring.

Rings that have been set with radiant cut diamonds are some of the most desirable rings as they have such unique style and shape and can also have very unusual colours. This kind of diamond set ring are also available in a number of unique shapes so you do not have to stick with what could be considered a boring round or rectangular shape.

Radiant cut diamonds are also very popular in engagement rings and the tradition of using radiant cut diamonds for engagement rings dates back to the fourteenth century. The diamond is usually the centrepiece of the ring but you can also attach side stones in a number of different ways. If you decide to purchase your diamond ring online you should always check the length and width of the diamond as there are no rules for these measurements. Generally there are two routes you can take when purchasing a ring with a radiant cut diamond, quality or budget.

About White Gold Wedding Rings and Bands

It was during World War II that white gold wedding bands became popular as during this period using platinum for non-military purposes was banned. White gold is an elegant and versatile material that is also inexpensive and can be sued to create beautiful and unique pieces of jewellery. White gold wedding rings are lighter in weight than platinum wedding rings and compared to pure or yellow gold they are more durable and scratch resistant. If you take proper care of your white gold wedding ring it can maintain a flawless appearance for a very long time.

White gold wedding rings are not pure gold. White gold is an alloy of gold and this is usually nickel, palladium or silver. The alloy of metals is a pale yellow colour naturally but white gold wedding rings are plated with rhodium to make the rings shinier and also whiter in colour. Rhodium us extremely hard and does not tarnish as well as being very reflective.

There is one problem with rhodium plating and that is that in three to five years, depending on how active you are when wearing your white gold wedding ring, the rhodium plating will begin to wear off where it has been rubbing against your hand or other fingers. When this happens the rhodium needs to be replaced.  This is done by re-plating the ring. The re-plating process is not expensive and the price will depend on the intricacy of the design of the ring. Most jewellers nowadays offer a re-plating service.

You can also easily clean your white gold wedding rings at home. The simplest and easiest way is to use a solution of equal parts ammonia and water. You can also buy ammonia based commercial jewellery cleaning solutions. If your white gold wedding ring has gems or pearls set into it the make sure you check with your jeweller before cleaning the ring with an ammonia solution.

 

All you need do is soak your ring in the ammonia solution in a bowl for 10 to 20 minutes. This will loosen any dirt and grime that has accumulated over time on the ring. It is recommended that you soak your white gold wedding ring in a bowl rather than a sink to avoid inadvertently losing your ring down the drain. After you have finished soaking the ring you can use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub off any remaining dirt and grime in the crevices of the ring. Once the ring is clean, rinse it with warm water and dry off with a soft towel. If you have a white gold wedding ring that has designs or etchings you may want to use an alternative method which is an ultrasonic machine. This works by using vibrations and water to clean the crevices of the ring. Keep your white gold wedding ring clean by storing it in a cloth box or bag or a jewellery box that has a separate compartment, this will avoid the ring being scratched but other pieces of jewellery.

White gold wedding rings are good value for money as well as being beautiful. Even when you account for the cost of re-plating the rings every now and again they are still a less expensive option that a platinum wedding band.

Platinum Wedding Band the Symbol of Love

Platinum wedding bands are fast becoming one of the most sought after types of wedding jewellery.  For those getting married it is easy to become bewitched by the striking visual impact and celebrity chic that has become associated with platinum wedding bands. A platinum engagement ring represents everlasting love. More and more couples walking down the aisle find they are exchanging platinum wedding bands when they take their vows. Platinum wedding bands have become so popular because of our celebrity driven culture. The choices we make are often influenced by what we see in the celebrity pages of magazines. Many of the rich and famous choose platinum wedding bands because they are more stylish and more expensive than gold. Today there are is huge choice of platinum wedding rings available for both men and women and it is one of the fastest growing markets.

Platinum wedding rings give off the impression that money is not an issue and can often be a way to prove how successful you are as well as maintaining an image as someone who likes to enjoy the glamorous side of life. People want their wedding bands to reflect their status. It is important to remember that what is in fashion now might not be in ten years time so try not to be seduced by current trends. 

The aesthetic excellence of platinum is one of the main reasons that platinum wedding bands are becoming some popular and another reason is the exclusivity of platinum as a precious metal. All the platinum that has ever been mined would fit into an average sized living room which just goes to show how precious platinum is and why platinum wedding bands are so appealing to couples getting married. Platinum is also an extremely durable metal and this is an important factor when you remember most people will be wearing their wedding ring for many, many years.

Platinum is more resistant to wear and tear then other precious metals used for wedding jewellery, such as gold and silver. Platinum has a greater weight and density than gold and silver. Because of its malleability and strength platinum gives jewellers more scope to work with and this is why you can now find platinum wedding band where a diamond or other precious stone is held in place simply by the design and the strength of the platinum. Platinum wedding bands are made of purer metal than gold ones and the fact the platinum is naturally white means that there is no need for the metal to be coated to produce the finished result.

If you want to buy a wedding band that will look as good in 50 years time as the day you bought it then look no further than platinum wedding bands. There are so many designs on the market that range from classical to timeless you are sure to be able to find a wedding band that is a long lasting and as strong as your relationship.

How to Check the Quality of Fresh Water Pearl Jewellery

Many people consider fresh water pearls to be imitation pearls as they have been cultured, but this is not the case. Unlike natural pearls, fresh water pearls are grown with human intervention. Whatever the process involved in creating pearls, natural and freshwater pearls are identical in their makeup as they both comprise of the changeable internal layer of a mollusc shell. Both types of pearl bring the same level of pleasure and happiness to the wearer.

For nearly four thousand years fresh water pearls have been used for decoration and in jewellery. The use of pearls began in Egypt with the mother pearl and has travelled through time remaining one of the most sought after jewels. Fresh water pearls can be used in numerous items of jewellery including crowns, necklaces, tiaras and rings to name but a few.

Fresh water pearls are usually a white or beige colour but the latest pearl culturing techniques mean that artificial colouring can be added to oysters that are in the process of growing pearls and this colour will be fully integrated into the pearls. There is another method of adding colours to fresh water pearls and that is to dye the pearls after they have been fully formed. Using this method usually produces pearls with brighter colours and does not tend to affect the quality of the pearl so you do not need to worry about this. There are so many colours available including purple, blue, pink brown and green.

When you decide to purchase some fresh water pearl jewellery the first step is to check the pearls origin. The reason for this is that there are several countries that culture fresh water pearls, but the majority of pearls, 73%, come from China. The origin of freshwater pearl necklace can readily affect its price so consider purchasing freshwater pearl necklaces from less-known pearl manufacturers if you're on a budget. Fresh water pearls that are authentic are frown naturally inside the shell of an oyster and come in different shapes. The most popular shape of pearl are the round or baroque but there are other shapes available if they are not to your taste. Other shapes available are off-round, button, stick, coin, teardrop and oval. The more creative shaped pearls are suited to those who have differentiating taste, whereas round and baroque pearls used in fresh water pearl jewellery looks great with classy and formal outfits.

It is easy to check the quality of the pearls used in your fresh water pearl jewellery yourself and you can do this by scraping the surface of the pearl with a little force. When you do this a trace of powder will appear but once you wipe this away the pearl should appear completely untouched. Another way to check the quality of your fresh water pearl jewellery is to check the grade it has been given. The pearl grading system is A, AA, AAA. AAA is the finest quality and A is the lowest. Pearls with an AAA rating should all look exactly the same as there is no difference in pearls with this rating.

Princess Cut Diamonds

Princess cut diamonds are a square brilliant cut diamond with sharp (un-cropped) corners.  Princess cut diamonds are one the most popular diamond shaped for engagement rings today.  They were developed to fulfil a desire for square shaped stones with more brilliance than a traditional cut emerald or square diamond.   The princess cut diamond is associated with personality traits like independence, audacity and confidence.

Princess cut diamonds history dates back about thirty years.  It was originally developed back in the 1970’s and was patented as the Quadrillion diamonds.  This particular shape of diamond has been embraced by the public because of its clean and modern lines.  It is also popular amongst diamond cutters are it has the highest yield from diamond rough.  A princess cut diamond has about 76 facets for greater brilliance and is usually referred to as a “square modified brilliant” on lab reports and grading certificates.  The end result of the princess cut diamond is a diamond that has all the brilliance of the round brilliant but with a different overall appeal.

One of the main appeals of a princess cut diamond is the cost saving.  They are as brilliant as a round brilliant cut diamond but are less expensive per carat.  Another way costs are saved is in the cutting process.  The cutting process of a princess cut diamond follows the natural structure of the diamond more effectively than with other diamond shapes.  Because the cutter follows the crystalline structure it allows for a higher yield of the rough carat weight to be retained, thus lowering the cost of the diamond.  Compared to a round brilliant cut diamond of a similar weight the princess cut tends to be 20% to 33% less expensive.  The princess cut diamond’s lower costs along with its beautiful shape and brilliant shine are the reasons for its popularity especially as the stone set into a solitaire engagement ring.

You will never need to find an excuse to buy or wear a princess cut diamond.  They always look good on your finger and there is never a bad time for a diamond ring.  Rings that are set with princess cut diamonds are elegant in their look and are not overly flashy.  Whether you are out for the night with your girlfriends or attending a formal occasion a princess cut diamond will always look great and will compliment the beauty you already possess.  

When you decide to buy a princess cut diamond there are several factors that will need to be considered.  In a princess cut ring H or I color will give you the best value.  Another important factor is the clarity.  Your best choice is VS2 or SI1 clarity as this will also provide the best value.  Princess diamonds that have an SI1 clarity are very rare because of the high quality of diamond rough that they are cut from.  The third thing to take into consideration is the cut parameters.  Ideally the depth of the diamond should be 65% to 75%.  The polish/symmetry of the diamond should be Good, Very Good or Excellent and its length/width ratio should be between 1.00 and 1.05 for a good quality princess cut diamond.