Fine Jewelry - How to Keep Your Jewelry Safe

Pieces of fine jewelry will definitely attract greediness, and therefore it is best to keep all your fine jewelry in a safe place. The best place to hide something is right in front of someone’s eyes, where it is very obvious. So what can you do to protect your jewelry from being taken away?
One good solution is to hide them in a hidden compartment safe, because they look like real items in the house. Books, cleaning machines, cans, and even electrical outlets are good examples of “real items” in the house.

Before you go out there and buy all those real items, make sure you buy those that you might use. When you frequently put things into a soda can, it is more likely to be ignored by intruders than the ones that are empty and produced rattling sounds when jewelry are hidden inside. If you have one that tends to rattle, make sure that you stuff tissue papers in it with your fine jewelry so as to keep it from rattling around.

So why are hidden compartment safes so effective in keeping your jewelry safe from intruders? An intrusion will usually take place in the dark, and an intruder will most probably want to rush through the process so as to avoid and detection. He or she will more likely to look through the obvious spots rather than open every book in the bookshelf, shake every pop can in the fridge, or look at every cleaning product under the sink.

The intruder will not spend his or her time on finding the hidden compartments in the house as the likelihood of them finding a hidden compartment safe among cans are very rare. That is why it is so great to use hidden compartment safes to hide your fine jewelry!

Diamonds Are Forever

Diamond jewelry: diamond rings, diamond earrings, diamond pendants and diamond bracelets are some of the most sought after gemstone creations. Your eyes tell you how beautiful a piece of diamond jewelry is, but how do you know you are getting your money’s worth?

A little knowledge can go a long way to help you purchase a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry at a fair price.

Diamond Jewelry 101

A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.

Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers should tell you if the diamond you're considering has been fracture-filled.

Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or spots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.

While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been laser-drilled.

Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory-created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.

When shopping for diamond jewelry online, apply these tips.

1. Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buying to make sure a company is legitimate before doing business with it.

2. Take advantage of information and referrals from an internet company you have come to trust.

3. Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant's refund and return policies, before you buy.

4. Look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a question, a problem or need help.

Girl's Best Friend Are Diamonds

The diamond is a sparking gemstone of brilliance and fire that has inspired and fascinated mankind throughout the ages. As seen in history, it has been a testament to the strength of kings, the magic of mystics, the courage of warriors and to the love of a worthy man to his bride-to-be.

And in these modern times, due to its popularity, value and universal appeal, it seems that women all over want their own diamond, especially when it comes in the form of an engagement ring.

Ever since the unforgettable 1947 "A diamond is forever" slogan coined by advertising agency N.W. Ayer for De Beers, a diamond trading company, men have proposed to their wives going down on one knee and presenting that solitaire diamond engagement ring.

But this tradition actually started in 1477, when Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring. These days, the groom who does not cough up an expensive diamond engagement ring for his bride-to-be is viewed as either a cheapskate or unromantic.

What is it about the diamond that appeal to women? Men look to diamonds more for its value as either a commercial gemstone or for use in industrial applications. But for women, it seems that a diamond stands for love and romance. If Cupid would ever shoot an arrow through their heart, it better be an arrow tipped with diamonds.

Recently, diamonds have also stood for a woman's independence, as exemplified by another De Beers advertising campaign that encouraged women to wear a diamond ring on their right hand.

This emphasized veering away from traditional engagement rings that are usually worn on the left hand and implied that women did not need men to buy them diamonds, or that being engaged or married were the only reasons to wear one.

Diamond sales went up after this campaign, which got a lot of attention, as women wanted to prove their independence, financially or otherwise.

But what is it about diamonds that turn a woman on? These precious gemstones are actually just made of ordinary carbon, simpler even than other gems and minerals.

But as simple as carbon sounds, natural diamonds are probably the oldest thing you'll ever own, as it is created in a painstaking formation that takes thousands, if not millions of years.

This natural formation, along with the process and length of time to get these diamonds mined and make them into the brilliant gems that they truly are, is might be what appeals to women.

Women might also love diamonds because they re expensive.

Although diamonds are not really known for their retail value, as they have no fixed world market price per gram, it is ironic that women crave it so much because of it is expensive. What else proves a man's love than a huge credit card bill?

Women like feeling that they are pampered and spoiled, whether they buy their own diamond jewelry, or a boyfriend or husband gifts one to them. So whatever else the reason is, diamonds are certainly known to be a girl's best friend.

Cheap Diamond Engagement Ring

Are you prepared to substitute another stone, Moissanite, this stone was found in the 1800's. This stone has a higher refractive index than a diamond, making this a very popular substitute for a diamond.

If your heart is set on a diamond engagement ring some tips that will help on your search to the find the perfect ring.

Set your self a budget; decide what you are willing to spend. It can be easy to get carried away with all the shinny jewels, having a realistic budget will keep your feet firmly on the ground.
Research, know the markets of diamond engagement rings, how will you know its cheap or you are getting a bargain if you have nothing to compare your price to.

The Four C's are always used when determining the value of a diamond. Cut or shape, examples of this are round, square, emerald and pear. Carat this is the measurement of weight of diamonds. Color, diamonds vary from colorless to a yellow shade, the clear the stone the more expensive it will be. Clarity, diamonds have inclusions, tiny pieces of minerals inside the diamond from when it was formed beneath the earths surface.

Search for close out sale, where jewelry is sold at below cost because they are closing down. Seasonal sales, and stock clearance, make way for new styles and design.
Search thrift shops or pawn brokers, are also great places to find cheap diamond engagement rings. Although the rings will not be new, having originally worn by someone else. A real bargain has often been found in this method of shopping.

The internet has become the most popular market place in recent years for shopping. Billions of sales every day, high competitive prices and the twenty four capacity to shop. Buy cheap diamond engagement rings at auction sites. Many jewelry retailers on line deal directly with the manufacturers, allowing them to sell at wholesale prices.

Choosing the Right Fashion Jewelry

Emotional appeal is one of the greatest motivators of a customer to choose one piece of jewelry over another, when buying designer fashion jewelry. Perhaps, it is the allure of dazzling sapphire teardrops in the continuing infinity of earrings that made her heart flutter or it maybe even finding the ideal cut and the intensity of its brilliance upon finding a stunning half-carat marquise diamond that caught her attention. Never mind the reasoning, it was the attraction that caused the purchase of a beautiful piece of jewelry that can offer the owner the satisfaction of a lifetime.

Choosing the Right Fashion Jewelry

Emotional appeal is wonderful, however, consumers of jewelry may want to consider the long term value of the items they purchase. Surely, a sterling silver herringbone chain, a diamond solitaire ring or even a pair of 24K gold earrings will increase in their value as the years pass, although, the jewelry designer can help to preserve as well as increase the value of the jewelry you own, even more. While designer fashion jewelry is more expensive than the price of typical jewelry, there are a few things you should consider when choosing your designer jewelry.

When you own jewelry fashioned by a well-known designer, you can rest assured that its craftsmanship is of the finest quality. Designer fashion jewelry is crafted with the most premium quality generally retain their value. This is why, if you were to resell your items, you will find interested buyers inquiring as to who designed it, as well as how it looks and has held up over the years.

Of course, not all designers may produce high fashion jewelry, since many designers are happily focusing on the traditional jewelry marketplace. For instance, the Collection is a high end designer that feature platinum as well as yellow and white gold 14K or 18K bridal bands, while using only the best quality of diamonds to skillfully fashion stack-able wedding rings. Other impressive fashion jewelry designers. You should keep in mind however, that no matter which jewelry designer you may choose, that they should always be reputable and offer a solid guarantee for their pieces. In order to achieve the most enjoyment for many years to come, it is essential that you are completely satisfied with the designer fashion jewelry that you purchase.

Buying Loose Diamonds For Top 7 Tips

Looking for the "perfect" engagement ring can be a bit of a challenge. Sometimes the stone is ideal but the setting just isn't what you're looking for, and other times you find the ring and setting of your dreams, and you want to be very choosy about the stone you place in it. In circumstances like the latter, it can be very beneficial to pick your stone first so you can have your ring specifically tailored to the stone you chose. To feel confident about the ins and outs of buying loose diamonds for a ring, adhere to the following seven tips.

Identify and work with the jeweler you want to make your ring:
Many jewelers are happy to make custom rings based on the size and shape of the loose diamond you choose. Once you have determined the jeweler you want to purchase from, let them know all of the specifications of your diamond. The size of the diamond will determine what size the setting (also known as a collet) is. For a brilliant cut diamond, the jeweler may need to know the carat, or weight, of the diamond. The carat weight of a round stone is directly related to the size of the stone, in this instance. For a princess cut diamond, the jeweler probably needs to know the width, length and carat weight of the stone in order to properly create and fit the setting.

Know your "Four C's": The four C's are basic criteria that can be used to judge the beauty, price and value of a diamond. The first is the diamonds cut, which obviously has to do with the way a diamond is cut and shaped. The amount that is removed from the diamond has the most direct impact on the final way that a loose diamond will look. The second criteria is the diamonds color. Diamonds are graded on a scale of D-Z, where D is the most favorable coloring. The color helps to describe the overall appearance of the diamond, ranging anywhere from white to yellow. The third criterion is clarity, and this is graded from FL (flawless) to (Many Visible Inclusions). When learning about clarity, you will be learning about the number of and location of inclusions in the diamond. The fourth and final criterion is carat weight. This is often confused with size, but carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond when it is measured on a scale.

Familiarize yourself with stone cuts: Although you do not need to know exactly which stone you want, it helps if you have some idea of diamond shapes and cuts before you go stone shopping. Some stone cuts might be too cumbersome on the ring and setting that you choose, and other might be too difficult to accommodate. Knowing which stone you prefer (say, an emerald cut over a pear shaped diamond) will also cut down on the stone you have to pick through, and should ensure your shopping experience is a pleasurable and easy one.

Understand how a diamond is graded: Just like in school, diamonds get assigned a grade based on their color and clarity. Color grading is determined by comparing the stone to a pre-determined group of "control" diamonds whose definite color is noted. The gemologist examining and grading the stone will then assign a color grade based on how it compares to the control diamonds. The clarity is figured out by looking at the number of inclusions on the stone and noting their size, location and how many there are.

Beware of sales: This is not suggesting that you can't find a loose diamond at a great price, but beware of deals that seem to good to be true. They probably are.

Create a budget and stick with it: While you definitely want to make sure you are getting the right diamond for your ring setting and lifestyle, making a budget and adhering to it will make you feel good about your purchase without breaking the bank.

Compare, compare, compare: It will be a lot easier to compare and contrast diamonds of a similar size, cut, shape, weight and color. That way you can have an easier time finding the best deal for the exact diamond you want.