Archive for the 'Rings' Category

How to Take Care of a Pearl Ring

July 12th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Necklaces, Pearl Necklaces, Rings, Uncategorized
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When everyone else is wearing diamonds, any woman wearing pearls is sure to stand out. Though they don’t catch the light in the same way, pearls have their own inner light that enhances the beauty of any woman who wears them. Pearl rings are especially uncommon but they do require a lot of care. However, as long as you choose the setting carefully, take care of your pearl well, and plan ahead, you’ll be able to have a ring that any woman would envy.

Choosing the right setting is one of the most important things you can do to minimize future damage. Most experts agree on two types of settings that both hold the pearl securely and protect it from scrapes reasonably well. The first is a bezel, a metal band that is wrapped around the pearl. One of the most used settings, a bezel is considered very protective. However, should you need to replace your pearl down the road (and you will), this type of setting can make things a little more difficult. The metal will have to be pulled back to allow the original pearl to be removed and the new one inserted, then the metal will have to be repaired. The other type of setting, a cup, makes replacement simpler but is slightly less protective.

Pearls are a relatively soft gem, so they can easily acquire scrapes and scratches from everyday wear and tear. They may also lose their luster over time if they are not well protected. You can minimize damage by keeping your ring away from harsh chemicals, heat, and anything acidic. You should definitely avoid cooking with your ring on. Also be very careful not to bang your pearl on anything! If you work with your hands and/or with chemicals please leave your ring at home; this will extend the life of your pearl.

Finally, you need to be plan for the future. No matter how well you take care of your pearl, it will need to be replaced someday. Over time you’ll begin to notice scratches and surface damage, as well as an inevitable yellowing if you chose a white pearl. If you know what type of pearl you’d like, it’s best to buy several at once so that you have pearls in the right size when the inevitable happens. Any reputable retailer should be able to assist you in the selection of both the setting of your ring and the pearls you’d need; it’s best to consult with him/her before you buy.

Though pearl rings need more care than pearl necklaces, the reward for all your care will be a beautiful ring that glows in sunlight and seems to hold the mystery of the sea.

Fun and Fashionable Dichroic Glass Rings

June 28th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized
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There are many different types of dichroic glass rings available to purchase. These days, most rings are available in a range of stunning designs. When designing a glass ring, the most important thing to consider is which piece of the dichroic glass you should use. This is important because the piece needs to be stunning and outstanding. The better the piece of glass, the better the patterns will be displayed.

A lot of of rings made of dichroic glass have gems in them that are so large that they are bigger than the ring. Some of the gems are so wide that they overshadow the ring. This is not a bad thing however; it can be a fantastic fashion statement. Women wear these sorts of rings for fashion and to create a conversation. The glass can either be left completely natural, or it can be altered. Altered pieces usually have designs etched on them. These designs can be things such as flowers or initials, or whatever the customer wishes.

Most dichroic rings that are on sale are made with a base of sterling silver. Silver compliments this type of glass very well. The two match so that it does not matter which color hues the glass contains. Some rings are able to have their size adjusted. In this case the silver band remains opened rather than completely closed. This allow for different people to wear it and it also allows for the same person to wear it on different fingers. Usually, rings are set in irregular shapes. This allows for individual pieces and unique charm. Some of the most favoured designs are square, round, rectangular. Oval shaped rings are usually the most popular type.

Individuals are probably wondering what the price of these pieces of jewelry are. Prices for dichroic rings vary. The prices are usually in a range from $5 up to $100. The price varies depending on the type of materials that are used. It is also dependent on what kind of design the piece contains and which studio created the jewelry.

Customers are also able to purchase dichroic glass jewelry in sets. These sets usually include several pieces, including earrings, rings, and necklaces. At times they will also include bracelets. However, it is difficult to make these kind of sets due to the fact that it is hard to locate enough of one type of fused glass. Usually there is not enough of it to make a complete set which includes all the different sorts of pieces. At times there will be shading variation. However, variations such as this are to be expected when purchasing this sort of jewelry. It adds charm and individuality to the pieces. This is one of the reasons this style is so popular.

Fashion Jewelry for the Rest of Us

June 13th, 2010, Posted in Bracelets, charm bracelets, Earrings, Jewelry, Necklaces, Rings, silver jewelry, Uncategorized
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Most of us can agree that it doesn’t take an abundance of wealth to buy fashion jewelry. There is something about fashion jewelry that allows all of us to look good and feel good without having to break the bank. The unique advantage of buying fashion jewelry is that you can actually buy several jewelry pieces for every outfit you wear for a small investment. But if you are buying fine jewelry from Tiffany or Cartier, you might get away with one or two pieces for the same price it would cost for 30 or 40 fashion jewelry items.

The other unique things I see in fashion jewelry is that it is worn by the lower, middle, and upper class. It does not discriminate because it is affordable and available everywhere. Next time you walk into Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or Kohl’s you will find a whole section of the store related to fashion jewelry. And yes, there are a few expensive jewelry pieces. But for the most part, you can get nice fashion jewelry for small potatoes in relation to fine jewelry.

But don’t mistake buying fashion jewelry for being cheap. Yes, money plays a part in it, but you also have to look good and be able to coordinate your fashion jewelry with your wardrobe or it is a waste of money (even if it’s cheap). I think that it takes more creativity and style to shop for fashion jewelry then it does to shop for fine jewelry. If you have the money and the riches, you can look great wearing a pair of two-carat diamond earrings. But what if you don’t have the $40,000 to spend on a pair of diamond earrings? Do you have the imagination, knowledge, and smarts to find a great set of earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace to match your outfit for the evening? That takes style to pull off!

Is Fine Silver Jewelry As Good As Gold?

May 25th, 2010, Posted in Bracelets, Earrings, Jewelry, Jewelry Boxes, Necklaces, Rings, silver earrings, Uncategorized
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Over the centuries, there has never been a valid argument to say that silver jewelry is more valuable than gold jewelry. In fact, everyone knows that when times get tough and a recession hits the economy, many of the investment gurus tell us to buy gold? I wonder why they don’t tell us to buy silver? Not that silver is a bad metal, but it certainly is not gold. For example, if you were to walk into Tiffany’s or Cartier, they would likely carry fine silver jewelry and fine gold jewelry (as well as a whole lot of other expensive jewelry). When you look at the price tag for each piece of either silver or gold jewelry, you would find that the gold jewelry was more expensive than the silver jewelry.

There are a myriad of reasons why gold is more valuable than silver. First, gold cannot tarnish but silver will tarnish. But it should be noted that the tarnish is very minor with silver. Nevertheless, no tarnish (like gold) is better than some tarnish (like silver). Gold is useful because it has valuable properties inside. The high value of gold puts it in higher demand in relation to silver not only because of the properties but because it is much more rare then silver.

The problem is that a lot of the world’s gold jewelry ends up in the hands of the large jewelry players who are able to control prices. But before that, the gold is in the hands of a few large central banks who also manipulate the price. It should also be noted that jewelry manufacturers have to pay more to store silver because it is heavier than gold. But believe me, fine silver jewelry is not cheap when you walk into Cartier or Tiffany’s so don’t think you can get it for nothing.

Handmade Silver Jewelry Classes

May 20th, 2010, Posted in Bracelets, Earrings, Jewelry, Necklaces, Rings, silver earrings, silver jewelry, Uncategorized
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Have you ever thought about taking a class about handmade jewelry? Have you ever thought about teaching a handmade jewelry class? If you are thinking about taking a class, you can usually find them at your local community center or at a junior college. But you can also take classes online if you are so inclined. If you want to teach a class, you can either lease a classroom for a few hours, a day, or a week (depending on the depth of the class) or you can apply to be a teacher at your local community center or the local junior college. Of course, if you have a bit of experience, you can conduct online classes with WebEx or another online conferencing technology.

There are a lot of places to take classes on handmade jewelry and there are all different types of handmade jewelry classes. I am personally interested in handmade silver jewelry. Therefore, I would be interested in finding a class about handmade silver jewelry. But that is not all I am interested in. I also want to learn how to make pearl necklaces and bead bracelets. I am OK with looking on the Internet for a class, but I tend to learn better in a group setting where I can touch and feel the jewelry. I also don’t have much room in my house to watch the online presentation and then perform the task.

If you are an expert artisan, you may want to start your own handmade jewelry class. Let’s say, for example, that you wanted to teach people how to make handmade silver jewelry and you wanted to advertise your upcoming class. A great place to advertise for free is Craigslist. Once you are able to get enough people to commit, you can then look into booking the place. Of course, you need to do all of this in advance so that you have enough time to fill the class and enough time to book the place. It sounds simple, but this may be the toughest part. But once you have the place and the class in order, you can get to doing what you truly enjoy.

Buying a Fashion Jewelry Necklace

May 18th, 2010, Posted in Bracelets, Earrings, Jewelry, Necklaces, Rings, Uncategorized
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If you walk into a shopping mall and go into any discount jewelry store you are likely going to find a place to buy a fashion jewelry necklace. There are a myriad of different sizes, styles and colors to choose from. But when it comes to buying fashion jewelry, it is important that you don’t get caught up in the idea that the jewelry is going to be worth something in the future. This type of thinking should be applied to fine jewelry and genuine antique jewelry.

So your main focus when buying a jewelry necklace, for example, is to look for something that not only fits your wardrobe but also your personality. The great thing about a fashion jewelry necklace is that you can afford to buy numerous styles, colors and sizes to match your wardrobe. I am not suggesting that you go on a fashion jewelry spending spree any time soon. I am, however, suggesting that you be intentional with your purchases. Again, fine jewelry is something you buy that will last a lifetime, but fashion jewelry is more of a temporary purchase that could last a fairly long time, but will likely last as long as the latest trend is over.

Make sure that you don’t overpay for a jewelry necklace when shopping at the mall. So take this into consideration, the stores in the shopping mall or in a retail center have to pay a fairly high rent just to keep the doors open for business. That means they have to sell a lot of fashion jewelry necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets to cover their costs. That is why it may not be a bad idea to shop for your fashion jewelry online. There are literally thousands of small to large online stores to shop at and you can sometimes get free shipping as well.

Giving Emerald Rings To Your Loved One Shows Your Undying Love And Affection

April 25th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized

Even though women may be genetically programmed to fall in love with jewelry, it is still easy to see why they love emerald rings so much.  Emeralds are a member of the beryl family of gemstones, which means that it is a hard stone, that produces deep green hues, almost appearing black under certain lighting.

When you do not want to give your special someone a diamond ring, but instead want to stand out from the crowd, maybe the cool glamour of emerald rings is just what you need.  The magnificent beauty of these stones encased in precious metals makes them highly sought after.

The look of an emerald stone is not the only reason you should consider giving one to your special someone.  History shows that the emerald has been associated with the Goddess Venus.  Because Venus is considered to be the goddess of love, women have an easier time finding beauty in the stone, as opposed to other rocks, such as rubies or pearls.  Most women will take your gifted emerald ring as a sign of your undying love for them, even though it may not be a diamond.

The Goddess Venus is not the only historical figure said to have possessed large amounts of emerald stones. Queen Cleopatra used emeralds as gifts, and a token of her love and appreciation to important people that came to her kingdom. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, can also often be seen wearing emerald jewels that were presented to her by her husband Prince Charles.

Engagement rings do not necessarily have to be diamonds. You can see that emeralds hold a large amount of history and allure, and are still, to this day, adorned by royalty.  Giving a genuine emerald ring to your loved one is a great way to show your undying love and affection towards them.

Moissanite

April 21st, 2010, Posted in Earrings, Jewelry, Necklaces, Rings, Uncategorized
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Moissanite is gaining popularity as a diamond simulant as compared to the diamonds other popular simulant, the cubic zirconia, moissanite is almost the same hardness as a diamond and just as beautiful. It is because of it’s hardness being similar to the diamond that moissanite is often used in thermal as well as electronic application and it is useful for high pressure experiments. It was in Arizona, at the Diablo Canyon or the Meteor Crater that fragments of the moissanite from a meteorite were found. Dr. Ferdinand Henri Moissan, a noble prize winner was the discoverer of this mineral. It’s natural form is incredibly rare and expensive but fortunately it is relatively simple to recreate in the lab as silicon carbide is its synthetic form. The reproductions have the benefit of being just as incredible as the real deal while being significantly cheaper than a diamond.

Its uses:

This mineral is often described in it’s natural form as looking like tiny diamonds in the meteorite material, although the available moissanite on the market is created in laboratories before being cut as gemstones and used as a diamond stimulant. It is popular as it brings in twice the fire of diamond and has a similar index of refraction to the jeweller’s table. Because of the difficulty in growing crystal it can be costly for a sizeable piece of Moissanite Jewelry, but it has caused quite a stir in the markets of jewellers and to the naked eye it is very difficult to note the difference between it and a diamond.

Physical characteristics:

Moissanite ranges from colorless to black but its basic color is green. With adamantine luster, its crystals are translucent to transparent. Isometric, trigonal, and hexagonal are its different crystal system. Moissanite has a specific gravity of 3.1 to 3.2 at an average while its refraction index is 2.6 to 2.7 and the minerals associated with moissanite are olivine and iron meteorites. Its crystal habits include tiny grains and six sided plates in meteorites.

What You Need to Know About Men’s Tungsten Carbide Wedding Bands

April 8th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized

Imagine the beauty that results from processing the basic grey powder comprising tungsten carbide.  When used as jewelry, the appearance is of a fine luster, and when polished or buffed, can have a mirror finish that lasts for years.

Men’s tungsten carbide wedding bands are appearing more frequently in jewelry stores, as the shine is long lasting and the surface resists nicks and scuffs.  Using nickel as a binder rather than cobalt is the most current practice.  The former use of cobalt as a binder is being discontinued because it bonds with skin oils, oxidizing the finish and stain or irritating the skin.  The use of nickel produces a non-reactive and hypoallergenic product.

It is important to know the combination of materials in your purchase.  Some are purely tungsten without a binder, so scratch much easier. and lose their polish quicker.  The density of the finished product is what contributes to the strength.  It strength as rated against other materials is ten times as hard as silver and gold, eight times stronger than platinum,  four times as hard as titanium, and compared to steel, twice as hard.

The material is strong and wear-resistant, requiring diamond abrasives of industrial strength to cut or engrave the surface. It is considered an ideal material for men’s jewelry because of its hardiness and resistance to damage, and is marketed as modern and masculine.   Because of the extreme strength of the material, jeweler’s saws and locking vise grips are used to remove the rings in the case of a medical  emergency.

Searching for the variety of available designs, one may find a ring that is two tone, laser engraved,  round, flat, textured, beveled, grooved, domed with grooves, or inlaid with platinum, sterling silver, or gold.   It is the strongest metal alloy known to exist, formed by combining Tungsten and Carbide powders at 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit.  The qualities in the metal make it an economical choice and also reflect the qualities needed to maintain a strong union.

Maintaining the ring is a matter of a simple cleaning with a mild soap and water.  Easy care for a beautiful piece of workmanship. And while the white gold men’s wedding ring has been popular, this ring choice is coming on strong.

Dolphin Jewelry Touches The Heart

March 26th, 2010, Posted in charm bracelets, Earrings, Jewelry, Necklaces, Rings, Uncategorized

Words cannot describe the beauty and gracefulness of dolphins, as they seem to effortlessly glide through water and perform endearing back flips.  Dolphin jewelry has greatly grown in popularity over the past several years.  Much of this may be attributed to the awareness that is growing toward the endangerment of dolphins.   This is due to water pollution and them taking the same routes as tuna and as a result they are caught in the nets of commercial fishermen fishing for tuna.

Animal jewelry is well loved by many and dolphin costume jewelry has become a favorite in jewelry gift categories.  You will find that costume jewelry design creations are generally quite affordable and many of the creations are charming and beautiful.  Both young girls and mature ladies love this type of jewelry because it enables them to express their style, personality and support of worthy causes, such as dolphin endangerment, at an affordable price.

You can find dolphin jewelry in almost any material; sterling silver, white gold and platinum are well suited for dolphin theme designs because it is reflective of the natural coloring of dolphins.  Some people choose to build their jewelry wardrobes around jewelry created only with designs in precious metals. If someone on your gift list only wears jewelry made from precious metals, then it would probably be best to stay around from fashion costume jewelry as a gift for them.

If you have a young daughter and want to make her aware and conscious of the endangerment of dolphins, then a dolphin jewelry gift would be a great way to do this.  When you give her the gift, you can explain to her about this deep concern.  This will make the gift even more meaningful to her.

Many of us can easily recall seeing the beloved Flipper on television.  Charmingly friendly, smart and loving could easily describe Flipper.  The next time you are jewelry shopping for a gift, perhaps consider a dolphin inspired piece.  Just like Flipper, it will likely touch your gift recipient’s heart.

10 Unusual Cubic Zirconia Cocktail Rings

March 10th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized

Unusual cubic zirconia rings include the beautiful purple blue tanzanite rings that make great cocktail jewelry and can be genuine with CZ accents or totally simulated creations that are very affordable. While genuine blue tanzanite rings can cost $500 to well over $1,000, a CZ tanzanite simulation that looks very real can be had for as little as $20 for a simple eternity band or about $50 to $70 for a full elegant cocktail ring.

When choosing cocktail pieces the most unusual cubic zirconia colors are available to mimic yellow and pink diamonds, black and brown diamonds, garnets and sapphires and rubies and even emeralds. CZs are so versatile and affordable that many ladies are choosing to have several rings to match with evening outfits instead of limiting themselves to one single gold ring that they wear over and over. But, no matter how beautiful an usual cubic zirconia jewelry may be, it’s still a fake and therefore can’t be worn everyday, not just because the gem will get dull, but because the settings may not be gold, but silver or an inferior metal that has been plated or coated to look better. If you want your faux green emeralds and rich simulated rubies and sparkling blue tanzanite rings to be the best they can be, choose the highest quality mounting you can afford. The gems can be replaced if you have a good setting.

Where to Shop For High Quality Unusual Cubic Zirconia Jewelry that Will Last

You’ll find the best deals online at places like Emitations, HSN, Amazon and even Angara where you get real blue tanzanite rings for under $200 set in gold. You can also have a custom version designed at Jewels For Me, and select a variety of faux gemstones or real ones and set them in gold. For the top faux designs in silver you will want to stick with HSN and Heavenly Treasures and Emitations and try to buy only sterling silver. Prices start at $30 to about $70. Try Ross Simons for high quality unusual cubic zirconia cocktail rings that are really a notch above. Classy estate pieces are also available, but these are less affordable.

Here are the top 10 Usual Cubic Zirconia Cocktail Rings You should Consider:

1. Simulated tanzanite with diamond or clear CZ accents
2. Art Deco mixed gemstone – emerald with Amethyst and accented with CZ
3. Antique filigree in silver with black and white CZ gems
3. Large faux pink CZ solitaire set in polished sterling
4. Canary Yellow CZ diamond in an emerald or marquise cut set in solid silver
5. Red Ruby or garnet simulated CZ gems set in gold vermeil or electroplated gold
6. Simulated emerald cut emerald with CZ accents or flower cluster ring designs
7. Large Octopus ring with pave set CZ and simulated sapphire eyes
8. Animal cocktail ring with assorted simulated gems like citrine mixed with CZ stones
9. Black calla lily designed cocktail ring with stamen clusters of yellow and black CZs
10. Mother of Pearl cocktail ring with a split shank encrusted with clear CZ gems

Most of the above suggestions are available at Emitations, Ross Simons and other online shops like Jewels For Me and Heavenly Treasures.

Buying Mens Engagement Rings

March 4th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized
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When it comes to buying mens engagement rings there are a few things that you need to consider. This type of ring has become a lot more popular in recent years, in part due to same sex marriages, and in part due to the fact that couples are putting off the actual wedding in favor of longer engagements with more time to save for the big day.

Most men prefer a simple ring. This will usually mean opting for a plain band style of ring, rather than anything too fancy. You can get bands made out of all kinds of different metals, but the most common are certainly gold and silver. Platinum is an option, but this is very expensive and a lot of people may prefer to save this for the actual wedding ring.

Sometimes, there will be men who like to add a bit of sparkle to their engagement ring. In this case, you can get some fantastic and still very masculine mens diamond engagement rings. This usually differ from ladies engagement rings as they will usually use the diamonds as embellishments rather than the main focus of the ring. This will mean that the diamonds are much smaller than on women’s engagement rings, so you don’t need to worry so much about the clarity or carat, but rather just what looks good.

As the concept of mens engagement rings is fairly new, you might find that they aren’t necessarily referred to as this kind of ring. In this case it is worth considering getting any type of mens ring. One style that has been more popular is the mens promise ring, which often sport celtic patterns.

Whatever style you decide to go for, you can be sure that getting a mens engagement ring will give you a great gift for the man in your life. For more tips, you can visit the Ring Buyers Guide.

How To Wear Sterling Silver Rings

January 15th, 2010, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized
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Different types of sterling silver rings and their settings.
There are many different types of ring styles and settings for your sterling silver rings. The first thing that we will talk about today is the types and styles of rings that people wear and what they mean. Ring symbolism is intertwined in cultures throughout time. Here is a list of all of the fingers and some of their cultural meanings.
“Thumb: The willpower finger. The Venus Mount at the base of the thumb symbolizes vitality and sexuality. The separation of the thumb from the rest of the fingers represents mankind surrounded by the cosmos. Wearing a thumb ring emphasizes the insistance of freedom of thought and action. The more prominently the thumbs are displayed, the more important is independence and freedom. Insisting upon standing as a unique individual, such a person will not allow any outside factors to influence personal opinions.
Index: The authority (index or pointing) finger. The Jupiter finger represents ego, leadership qualities, and one’s position or standing in the world. (Jupiter was the chief god and ruler of the world.) A ring on the index finger emphasizes your assertiveness and ambition, and your ability to make up your own mind.
Middle: The identity finger. The Saturn finger is associated with wisdom and dealing with responsibility and our role in life. (Saturn was the father of Jupiter.) This is the finger with the most strength and balance. Wearing a ring on this finger announces “I am” and governs the way we see ourselves, our potentials, and our limitations. It is an effort to enhance willpower with the support of total ego.
Ring: The creativity (annular) finger. The Apollo finger reflects your creativity and sense of well-being. (Apollo was the sun god, and is traditionally associated with music and poetry.) This is the finger for most rings, and is associated with affections, optimism, and artistic appreciation. The ring finger on the left hand is the only one with a direct connection to the heart, which is why it has become the traditional finger for wedding rings. It is a self-imposed restriction on the subconscious desires to share the self with others. A wedding, friendship, or engagement ring announces that the person’s creative fantasies are limited to the donor of that ring.
Little: The relationship (pinky or auricular) finger. The Mercury finger reveals your powers of self-expression and communication. (Mercury was the messenger of the gods.) This finger expresses attitudes toward personal and sexual relationships. Wearing a ring on this finger tells others how appealing you consider yourself, and how well and easily you can express yourself to others.”
Toe rings- It is said that the meaning of wearing a toe ring on one toe on one foot in India means that you are a prostitute. This being said western culture puts no real value on wearing a toe ring.
Everything that is in quotes is an excerpt from www.likeacat.com
Now let us go on to the next part of this article with the different types of ring settings that one can have on their sterling silver gemstone rings.
The first type of setting for your silver ring is the:
Prong Settings: Six prongs is usually the accepted amount of prongs to hold a gemstone into place. Prongs are long metal strips that are attached to the ring band that hold the gemstone to the band.
Channel Settings: This type of setting is for more active people as it holds the gemstone closer to your ring band instead of out in the wind like that of a prong setting. The channel setting is exactly what it sounds like the gemstone sits in a “channel” or groove in the ring band.
Tiffany Settings: This type of setting is more for solitaire studs that you want to show off as the gemstone such as on a sterling silver cubic zirconia ring.
Baguette Settings: This type of setting is for flat and long gemstones
Bezel Settings: This setting uses the sides of the prongs to hold the stone into place.

Diamond Or Cubic Zirconia Rings?

December 28th, 2009, Posted in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized

First in order to decide which is better diamond or cubic zirconia rings we first must discuss what the two are and what they two are not.

First let us define what cubic zirconia is: according to Wikipedia: “Cubic zirconia (or CZ) is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4). It is sometimes erroneously called “cubic zirconium”.”

Now let us define what diamond is: according to Dictionary.com: “a pure or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon naturally crystallized in the isometric system.”

So what are some of the main differences in the two?

While to the untrained eye cubic zirconia rings and diamond rings will look almost exactly the same but when you take a closer look you will see:

The first and most obvious difference between the two types of gemstones is the color: in cubic zirconia there is rarely any color unless it is put their intentionally to imitate a certain type of gemstone such pink in rose quartz. Diamonds on the other hand are always going to have at least some kind of color whether it is a slight yellow or brown. Only the very rarest of diamonds is truly colorless, and for this reason if you see a huge clear gemstone on a ring and it cost two hundred dollars, then it is most likely a cubic zirconia engagement ring not a diamond one. (Cubic zirconia engagement rings and the cubic zirconia wedding ring are among some of the most popular today because of their clarity and price).

A couple of other ways to spot the fake from the real:

-The C.Z. test: a clear indication that the gemstone is not real is will be the c.z. stamped on inside of the ring. Adversely if it has any other kind of stamping such as 585,10k or PT then it is probably real.

-The scratch test: a diamond can scratch glass; MOST cubic zirconias cannot scratch glass some can though. * This can damage your diamond * do this test only as a last result.

-The breath test: breathe on the diamond like you would on a pair of glasses, if the stone stays foggy then it is a cubic zirconia ring, if it clears up fast then it may be real.*before doing this test clean the stone really well (warm water and dish soap will usually do the trick, and for really stubborn grim use some “windex” or other ammonia based window cleaner solution.)

-The word test: this test can be done with some rings. While holding the ring up next to a book or computer screen see if you can clearly read the letters through it. If you can then it might not be a diamond.

-The weight test- cubic zirconia weighs 1.7vas much as diamonds of the same size.

-The black light test: this test can give you an idea of the quality of your stone as well as tell you if it is a diamond or cubic zirconia. If it does not have a blue hue then most likely it is not the real thing as almost all fakes do not have a blue hue. * Special note* some diamonds as well do not have a blue hue this is an indication that they are of higher quality.

-The magnifying glass test- this is a test that will show you a multitude of things about your stone. For starters if the stone seems to be a little foggy it’s probably a diamond. If the lines/cuts on top of the diamond or facets are sharp clean lines then it is probably real. Cubic zirconia have rounded or rolled lines. If the stone appears cloudy has any crakes,chips then it is more than likely the real thing.

Other tests that are on the microscopic level:

-“The Thermal conductivity test: Cubic zirconias are thermal insulators while diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors, exceeding copper. This makes telling the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia quite easy for those with the right instruments.

-The Cut test: Some cubic zirconias use different facet shapes than are typically used for diamonds. This difference would be visible under close inspection with a loupe(customized microscope to fit to see gemstones and other small objects).

-The Refractive index test: Cubic zirconia refractive index of 2.176, diamond refractive index of 2.417.

-The Mohs test- Hardness: Cubic zirconia 8:diamond 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.