MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse concluded that online retail sales in the U.S. for  the full 2010 Christmas season rose 15.4 percent to $36.4 billion. SpendingPulse tracked the period from October 31 through today.

Apparel was the clear leader with a sales increase of 26 percent, online electronics recorded significant gains -- up 12.2 percent-- while jewelry sales rose 4.5 percent.

“Today ecommerce accounts for a much larger share of overall retail sales compared to a few years ago. And during this holiday season, it registered double digit growth for six out of seven weeks,” noted Michael McNamara, vice president, for MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.

SpendingPulse recorded six days during  the 2010 Christmas season that surpassed $1 billion in sales compared with only three days in 2009.

Metrics firm comScore will release its online retail spending data later, but so far, through December 19, it has reported Christmas retail sales have improved 12 percent from 2009 to  $28.4 billion.

Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes. Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. But there are some natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest, whose beauty is objectively undeniable. And while diamonds as a whole are a rare and costly commodity, some diamonds are worth more than others. Over the course of history, miners have found diamonds that were so extraordinary, they became legends.

For example, the Wittelsbach Diamond, a 35.56 blue diamond with an extraordinary pattern made of 82 facets, which was a prized possession of a long lineage of kings and queens. Or the Orlov, an Indian mogul cut diamond, believed to have once served as the eye of a Hindu deity statue. And what about the Golden Eye? No, not the James Bond movie starring Pierce Bronson, the Golden Eye Diamond is a 43.5 carat Canary Yellow diamond, which is considered the largest flawless perfect cut Canary Yellow diamond in the world.

There are dozens of other examples, but instead of listing them all, I present to you: the Top Five Diamonds of the World!

5. The Millennium Star

Weighing 203.04 carats, the Millennium Star is the second largest top-color diamond in the world. It was first unveiled during a De Beers display in October 1999. It has absolutely no internal or external flaws, and is shaped like a pear. The rough diamond was found in the Mbuji-Mayi district of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1990, and initially weighed 777 carats. It was cut into three pieces, the Millennium Star being the largest of them. De Beers hasn't revealed its actual value, but it has been insured for £100 million.

4. The Spirit of de Grisogono

This deep, dark beauty is the world's largest cut black diamond, and the 5th largest diamond overall. Although cut in the same Mogul diamond cutting technique, it is much larger than the Black Orlov, weighing at 312.24 carats, while the original rough diamond was 587 carats. It is set in a white gold ring with 702 smaller white diamonds totaling 36.69 carat. It's whereabouts are currently unknown.

3. The Incomparable Diamond

No diamond can compare to this diamond! Hence the name. Discovered in Mbuji Mayi, its weight as a rough diamond was a whooping 890 carats. After four years of studying the rock, it was cut into a 407.48 carat gem, and is the third largest diamond ever to be cut. And it would have been number one, if it wasn't for those meddling internal flaws! The Incomparable Diamond was cut by a team led by Marvin Samuels, who was the co-owner of the stone together with Donald Zale of Zales Jewellers and Louis Glick.

2. The Cullinan I - aka the Star of Africa

The Cullinian Diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever to be found. It's original weight totaled at 3,106.75! It was cut into nine large gems, the most notable of them being the Cullinan II – The Lesser Star of Africa, and The Cullinan I - the First Star of Africa, weighing 317.4 carats and 530.2 carats respectively. It was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the South African diamond mine where the massive rock was found. The estimated value of the Cullinan I is over $400 million!

1. The Golden Jubilee

Here it is ladies and gentleman – The Golden Jubilee! Weighing 545.67 carats, it is today the largest faceted diamond in the world, stealing the title away from Cullinan I in 1985. In the past, in the was called the Unnamed Brown, and was considered an unattractive piece. But after it was treated by  Gabriel Tolkowsky, who was instructed by De Beers to test new tools and cutting methods that had never been used before, this ugly ducking was turned into a beautiful yellow-brown diamond. Today, it is the property of the King of Thailand, who received it as a present for the 50th Anniversary of his coronation in 1997.

      More Diamond sizes and Fancy shapes coming soon & Don't forget to Look underRound and Princess Shaped Diamond tabs....

The Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA) is the world's leading authority on natural color diamonds. As an international trade organization dedicated to increasing awareness of color as a unique and valuable attribute in diamonds, they have long had the full repect and attention of colored diamond jewelry designer, Etienne Perret.

It's always a special honor, when NCDIA's executive director, Robert Lucien May, chooses to feature Etienne's natural color diamond designs on their websites.Yesterday they spotlighted Etienne's natural color diamond Triple Row Pave wedding bands on the NCDIA Facebook page.

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Three immaculate rows of pave set, natural color diamonds encircle these Etienne Perret wedding bands. Featuring yellow, white and pink natural color diamonds set in yellow, white and rose 18kt gold, respectively. These rings are available custom designed in various widths in 18kt gold or platinum, set with two to four rows of your choice of natural color or color enhanced natural diamonds, in nearly any color of the rainbow!

NCDIA is always the first to share the news about the world of large, high profile natural color diamonds (which are often more likely to take up the spotlight), but it shows the dedication to detail of their organization when they take the time to highlight the unique designs of talented independent designers such as Etienne Perret.

This ring comes with a very prolific and versatile baguette cut diamond design and is set in 14k white gold. This is very wearable during daytime and in casual attires. I like that it isn’t so sophisticated but elegant enough to wear for everyday.

A beautiful Diamond Necklace around any woman’s neck makes her look absolutely beautiful. It is probably the most elegant piece of jewelry that one can own, what with wonderful designs and impeccable craftsmanship available today. The best way to shower your love and show your appreciation for the woman in your life would be by gifting her, a stylish piece of Diamond Necklace. There is nothing that can even come close to the splendor of this magnificent piece of jewelry.

The popularity of the Diamond Necklace is growing by the day and this is making the jewelers work overtime to create unique styles and designs. You would find new designs in the market at regular intervals. This just goes to show the demand for the necklace made out of nature’s best gemstone. Now, a Diamond Necklace is within most people’s reach, if planned well. Decide as to the kind of necklace you would like to own keeping in mind the amount that you can afford. Plan accordingly and you will soon be the proud owner of an exquisite diamond necklace.

A diamond necklace would suit any occasion. A necklace with a small solitaire pendant can be worn on a regular basis also. It can be worn to work or even for an evening out. The diamond is the perfect piece of gemstone that can be worn at all times. Dressing up for a special occasion would be incomplete without a diamond necklace. A Diamond Necklace takes care of all the flaws there might be in the wardrobe and the dressing up. The elegance that it adds to the person is unmatched. When a diamond necklace is worn even with a “not so good-looking” dress, the focus is straightaway on the necklace and the dress would never even be noticed. That is the power that this precious stone commands.

There is possibly no woman who wouldn’t want to own a diamond necklace. On the other hand, every woman deserves to have this striking piece of jewelry in her possession. So, if your girl doesn’t have one, start planning for it and gift her one at the earliest.

A Diamond Necklace will always have a special place in a woman’s heart. When you place this beautiful piece of diamond jewelry around her neck, it is a moment that she would remember for the rest of her life. “A diamond is forever” and so are the memories associated with it.

Caveman couture? The Chanel Fall / Winter 2010-2011 Ready-to-Wear collection had me rolling on the floor…not laughing, but coughing up hairballs. I am only posting things that I thought were decent from the collection.

Diamond necklaces are one fashion accessory that can be worn with virtually any outfit. Depending on the size and the genius of the necklace it can arrange up a casual outfit of jeans or a perspirer or it can be the finishing touch to an elegant gown.

Diamond necklaces come in many different designs and the most difficult part in choosing one can be deciding which one best suits your personality.

One of the start considerations when purchasing a diamond necklace is the size of the diamond. Diamonds are measured in carats with a larger number indicating a larger and more expensive stone.

Some diamond necklaces contain a single stone while others have a collection of smaller stones. In the case of the necklace with several smaller stones the diamonds burthen are added together to give you a total carat weight for the necklace.

Although it’s important to consider the size when purchasing diamond necklaces it’s also advisable to take other characteristics of the diamond into account.

All diamonds are judged on their color. If you briefly glance at a diamond you might consider that they are all a brilliant clear color. This isn’t true.

There are diamond necklaces that cover a full range of hues. Diamonds are placed in several different color categories. Colorless and white are two of them. These types of diamonds when placed in diamond necklaces are considered the purest form of diamond.

Other colors of diamonds include blue, yellow, orange, pink, brown, green and red. If a diamond has a hint of any of these colors it is considered to be impure. They are stunning though and make a wonderful additional to diamond necklaces.

Purchasing diamond necklaces can be done several ways. If you are looking for diamond necklaces that you’d consider an investment you’re advised to visit a local, reputable retailer who specializes in the sale of diamonds. They can explicate the different designs, size and uncloudedness of the diamond necklaces to you. They will also, oftentimes, offer a warranty which provides for any refuge and cleansing of the necklace.

Many jewelry retailers also provide a trade-in option. This means that if you decide not to keep the diamond necklaces you’ve purchased that you will be able to return them to the store. The store will purchase them back from you for a percentage of the original cost.

If you are looking for less expensive diamond necklaces you might try an online retailer. There are several online sources to buy diamond necklaces. Often they are low priced because of the high Bible they deal in.

Many online stores that do sell diamond necklaces have testimonials or reviews posted. Read these and see how others who have used the site felt about their diamond necklaces purchase. It’s nice having a little insight into the company you are dealing with when you are planning on purchasing something as special as a diamond necklace.

Regardless of where you purchase your diamond necklace you’ll be thrilled with the product. Diamond necklaces have a way of brightening up the smile of any woman wearing one. They make beautiful and thoughtful gifts for any social function.

1270 returned to the World Watch and Jewelry Show held last month in Basel, they did it in style because his show was divided into three main stand, all on two floors with a total of over 300 sqm. Among the innovative jewelry design of the new collection we have beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earrings, we see precious stones, pearls and white gold black and white, fantastic pieces that each of us dreams of having to feel the real princesses.

Fashion Jewelry is the best way to spice up an outfit. Get a celebrity look by sporting the latest fashion jewerly styles. Try the hottest Hollywood trends, experiment with looks straight off of the runway or add pizzazz with costume jewelry. Paired with any outfit for any occasion, fashion accessories are the easiest way to take your look from drab to fab.

Jewelry is undoubtedly a woman’s best accessory. Whether a pendant, ring, bangle or a necklace, a piece of jewelry can accentuate a woman’s beauty …
In Asia, the Indian subcontinent has the longest continuous legacy of jewellery making anywhere, with a history of over 5,000 years. One of the first to start jewellery making were the peoples of the Indus Valley Civilization. Early jewellery making in China started around the same period, but it became widespread with the spread of Buddhism around 2,000 years ago.

Spring 2009 is in the air.

So for all of you who are extremely busy with your own home jewellery businesses I thought some hints on the key trends might be helpful.

As always we must begin with color. There are three important color stories for the season.

The first is black and white.

The new take for this graphic combo is floral. Pretty all over large flowers. Whats really fresh for black and white is taking it in a less slick direction and adding a more textural attitude.

I believe using fabric wrapped beads, printed ceramic, and glass beads from India that are imperfect is a great way to achieve a crisp but natural look for this palette.

Coral and yellow is the warm palette this spring/summer. Look to the continent of India for inspiration.

Use patterned beaded and etched metals to complement your colors. Antique finished on metal, and rose gold platings can really make this theme a bit more directional.

Amazonite greens and translucent turquoise look great for a cool spring palette.

Try mixing matte and shiny beads for a beachy feeling. Touches of raffia for texture make a nice contrast, and using a brown or natural material to ground the colors is a new way to do blue.

The men’s findings, cufflinks and rings in Pineda’s oeuvre are miniature sculptures. They reflect the same attention to design and detail as chokers, brooches, earrings and bracelets. Of the tableware, flatware and accessories on view in “Silver Seduction,” most are pristine and elegant, a coup de grace of form.

Working primarily in .970 silver, Pineda had several hallmarks, each of which indicates the year the jewelry was made. “Antonio Crown” has been the reigning hallmark since 1953. Earlier variations date back to 1939.

Jewelry Christian religion for women is lifestyle jewelry for many women is to have a special category of gems. Various types of jewelry for women who are available from all groups that can add an elegant look for you. religious jewelry for women has always been popular. rings and bracelets are the ideal gift for you. Girls jewelry and is very picky about it. The earrings are the most common that girls wear jewelry daily. A simple chain with a tiny locket much sought after by the girls. Bangles and bracelets chosen to adjust their clothing.

other than that, still many other jewelry for women such as You will fall in-love with this lovely charm bracelet that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas.Sterling Silver 1.00 Carat Diamond Tennis-Bracelets 7.5, which include Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, an angel, "Peace," "Joy," two stars and the magnificent Star of Bethlehem. A sparkling diamond adorns each star for a total of three diamonds on this stunning and meaningful bracelet. Do not be surprised if you want this Christmas gift for yourself. It is inspiring and appropriate for the season. Christmas Blessings Charm Bracelet This then there are also religious 10K white gold ring is absolutely a stunning and unique Christmas gift for the Christian woman. It has 10 channel set diamonds and a beautiful white gold cross charm embellished with a sparkling sapphire blue. On the inside of the ring is engraving the uplifting message Always With You. Always With You

Black Dangle Earring....

It is a model for her jewelry if you are interested to see more jewelry please you to link page or clik image and do not forget to see also page Christian Religious Jewelry For Children

The Emerald Cut is rectangular with cut corners. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. The facets are broad with flat planes resembling the steps of a stair. That’s why it is refered to as a “step” cut.

Diamond Jewelry is the ultimate symbol of true and everlasting love and is given at special occasions by a man to a woman, such as the diamond engagement ring, or the diamond wedding ring and the well known diamond ring when a child of a happy union is born. The Diamond testifies that the union is true and enduring because the Diamond stone is well known for not to loose any value through all financially tough times vibrating at a wider level. Therefore Diamonds are used in the world of finance as a secure investment possibility. The Diamond is foremost known for the purity and its white color; Diamonds however also come in soft pale pinks and blues, pale to bright yellows, shades of orange, greens and brown.
Select your sparkling diamond ring, the elegant diamond brooch, or your breathtaking diamond earrings and with diamonds enhanced bracelet right here at our Online Jewelry Store. All our Diamond Jewelry is coming with an official certification to guarantee its true value.

Buying jewellery has always been expensive, even if you do manage to get a bargain it always seems more than you can afford. There are now a range of jewellery lines that are extremely affordable, what’s more there are so many that you will be spoilt for choice.

It seems like a definite yes to buying discount jewelry online. However do the cheaper prices mean less quality? It isn’t always the case but you should definitely be careful when shopping for discount jewelry online.

The Pros

When you buy discount jewelry online you will notice that there is a big price difference between what’s offered at mostlocal jewellers and what’s on offer in any online store. Buying jewelry at these prices is probably the biggest draw to discount jewelry online.

Another plus is that you can have the jewellery delivered to you. If you don’t have the time to go jewellery shopping then looking discount jewelry online will save you plenty of time. you can order in advance of a special occasion and be sure that it gets to you in time. it all sounds perfect, so what’s the catch?

The Downside

The downside to buying discount jewelry online is that you cannot try on the jewellery or really get a look at it until you have it delivered. Sometimes that can be too late and you see that it’s really not what you wanted or it doesn’t suit you or whomever you’re giving the jewellery too.

Another downside to buying discount jewelry online is that you can’t inspect the quality of the product before purchase. You have to trust that the seller is being honest and has a commitment to making sure that all products sold are of the highest quality.

Precautions

One of the things you should do before buying discount jewelry online is to read the terms and conditions carefully. Is it possible to get a refund if you don’t like what you see or feel that it’s just not what you wanted? Is there a clause that does not allow exchanges and returns? If so you want to tread very carefully before buying.

If you are not sure how a piece of jewellery will look on you then you should try on similar pieces if possible. If you are buying a gift try and look at the pieces the person already has and find something in a similar style. There is nothing worse than buying a gift that clashes with a person’s taste completely

Do you have a piece of jewlery from the past you do not wear or want? Send it in and recieve cash for gold. It is a simple and easy way to weed out unwanted jewlery from you home and a great way to capitalize on the value. It is easy and worth while!

Have gold jewelry at home and don’t know what to do with it? Send it in for cash! Cash for gold is the new way to make an unwanted item valuable. Its simple and easy to do, so why not!

Newly hooked on beading, many beginners rush out and buy the first tools they come across. Some fall victim to shoddy tools or tool sets consisting of tools they will never use. Worse, some of these cheap sets actually contain chain nose pliers with teeth - these are the hardware store variety and will mar the delicate wires you will be using.

So here is a round-up of the top six tools the Beading Gem found most useful. I use them all the time. The first three are absolutely essential and are recommended for those starting out who either don't want to shell out too much initially or are unsure if they will continue with the craft. But once you are certain you like making jewelry forever, then by all means invest in the next three.

1. Chain nose pliers
These are used to do flat crimping, their tapered jaws allow access to narrow spots. Also useful to hold the jewelry piece when doing wire-turning. They must NOT contain teeth. If you cannot get one, you can try wrapping the jaws of a regular chain nose with some tape but I would not recommend this other than as a very short term measure.

2. Round nose pliers
These are used to make wire loops. The size of the loops depends on the position along the tapered jaws when turning the wire. Your loops will not work out if you try and make do with just chain nose pliers - I did that when I first started and learnt the hard way. For consistent loop sizes, either mark your pliers with a marker pen or put a little piece of tape at the spot you want.

3. Flush cutter
Sometimes called nippers, these cutters allow you to cut thin wire or thread as close as possible. Electricians use this tool so check electrical supply stores if you are not near a craft or jewelry making shop. To save money for the first little while, you can substitute with a toenail clipper which does the same thing for most situations but it's curved cutting edges are trickier to manage. You'll not regret buying a flush cutter. Do not use this cutter on memory wire - just use regular wire cutters instead.

4, Crimping Pliers
These are alternatives to making flat crimps with chain nose pliers. This is a two-step operation These pliers first apply the crimp tube to the beading wires and then reform it into a rounded tube again. Just to be sure, reposition the pliers again and redo the reforming step a second time, or if you're paranoid like me, a third time.

For a visual tutorial on crimping using specialised pliers like this one and the flat crimping method, check out Karla Kam's video " How to Crimp".

5. Nylon Jaw Pliers
No one is perfect. Wire doesn't always bend to your will. Straighten it again by gripping one end of the wire and stroking the rest of it a few times between the soft jaws of these pliers. A real wire saver when you are working with more expensive metals like sterling silver and gold.

6. Split Ring Pliers
Split rings (looks like key rings except way smaller) are much more secure than just a plain jump ring which can accidentally open. However, trying to open split rings ruins your nails and could expose your children to cuss words they shouldn't hear. These pliers do a wonderful job of keeping the beginning of a split ring open whilst you slide something on it. Just apply the hook end in between the double ring to start.

OTHER USEFUL TOOLS

Chasing Hammer and Anvil
The completely flat side of the hammer head is ideal for flattening wires against an anvil or metal block. The process also hardens the wire making it "remember" its shape. I like the look of hammered metal especially copper but if you'd rather not see the marks, hammer the item between pieces of thick cloth like denim.

Metal File
Small metal files from the hardware store will help you remove the sharp edges to freshly cut wire. The burs must be removed if you are making ear wires yourself as these are threaded through pierced ear holes. You can also use a nifty little tool call a cup bur where you twirl the cut end of your wire in a tiny cup filer.

Bent Chain Nose Pliers
These are like regular chain nose pliers except they are bent. They are useful in situations where the closing action needed is awkward for your wrist. They are also handy as a second pair of chain nose pliers.

Pin vise
These are small pen-like vises that grip two wires so you can twist them together creating prettier wires.

For a tutorial on what these tools look like etc, check out Wigjig's video on jewelry making hand tools.

Definitely some gift ideas here either for yourself or a budding jewelry maker you know!

We buy gold at Precious Metals, and we get a lot of questions about the whole process. The nightly news is talking about how to sell your gold and showing hidden camera investigations. There are ads for mail-in services playing on every TV channel, and many jewelry stores have signs in their windows saying “We buy gold!” and “Highest Prices Paid!”. So, I’m going to break down the whole process in a series of posts.

What are you selling?

First of all, before you go to sell your gold you should have some idea of what it is that you are selling. If you take your jewelry to a pawn shop, consignment store, or estate jewelry store, you can sell your jewelry as jewelry. The price is determined by both the value of the materials as well as the workmanship or labor that went into producing the piece. If you take your jewelry to a store that proclaims “We Buy Gold!” like Precious Metals Sudbury, you are selling your jewelry as scrap metal. I don’t care if your jewelry has never been worn or has been run over by a car; it is all scrap to me. I don’t care if it is your class ring or an earring you found on the street, it all gets melted down. The price is determined by the pure gold content and the current price of gold.
All of this means two things.
1. If you have nice jewelry, pieces that have little wear and are stylish, you should not sell them for scrap. Sell them on E-Bay or Craigslist (Remember to be safe! Meet in public and cash only.) or your local consignment store. Let’s say you have a nice necklace with a little precious stone in it or a gold bracelet from Tiffany & Co., the scrap price will typically be less than half of what you could get selling it on E-bay. This is especially true for brand name jewelry. ANYTHING by Yurmin, Tiffany & Co., Judith Ripka, or any other big name designer is worth trying to sell as jewelry.
2. You don’t have to know the exact weight and gold content of your pieces, but you should have realistic expectations. With the market hovering around $900 per troy ounce, the average 14K gold wedding band will fetch $20 to $70 at scrap pricing. There just isn’t that much gold in one small to mid-sized ring, especially when you take into account that the ring is only part gold. 14 Karat gold (which is the most common karat in the U.S) is 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts other metal (copper and nickel). You will only get paid for the gold. 14 Karat is 58.3% gold, just over half. 10 Karat gold is only 41.7% gold, less than half. Is your mother’s wedding band really only worth $30? In gold scrap, yes, in your mind, probably not. Don’t sell anything that you can’t part with, because the money will never cover the loss of a family heirloom. And, don’t think that by waiting for gold prices to go higher you will get way more money. If your ring is $30 at $900/oz, even if gold goes up to $1400, you are still only going to get around $50 or $60. Chances are, if you have trouble parting with it at $30, you’ll have trouble at $60, and you just shouldn’t sell it. I can’t pay you for your sentiment, and once you sell it, your memories are gone.

Next….Shopping around and what determines price?

Retail sales of gold and gold jewelry have reportedly fallen as much as 60% during January in Dubai, the heart of gold trade in the Middle East. However, the drop in gold sales is not due to a lack of demand.

Dubai's traditional gold market has collapsed mainly because of the lack of tourists. Local jewelers, who have been waiting for a big chunk of tourists to come in for Dubai's annual shopping festival, have seen less tourist inflow to the city that has badly affected the gold sales.

Retail sales of gold have also been lowered as a result of the shortage of gold coins, for which there is a big demand. In a normal buying environment, the biggest demand during the Dubai shopping festival is for gold coins weighing 8 gms or a sovereign. Gold coins weighting 2 gm and 4 gm are also quite popular.

Overall, Dubai's jewelery sector had its ups and downs during 2008 with a significant increase in Q3 in followed by a slight drop in gold jewelery consumption in Q4. In the neighboring UAE, the increase in gold demand reached 22% in tonnage terms; equal to 56% increase in value terms

today i,ll tell you how to clean gold jewelry...

There Is 3 method of clean jewelry...

Every method have 3 steps...

Dish Soap Method
Step 1: Put a few drops of liquid dish detergent in a bowl of warm water. Mix gently. For even better results, you can use sodium-free seltzer water or club soda…the carbonation loosens soil and removes debris.

Step 2: Soak the gold jewelry in the solution for 15 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub each piece of jewelry with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Stiff bristles can scratch the surface of your jewelry. Special brushes designed for this purpose are best, but an eyebrow brush will also work.

Step 4: Rinse each piece in warm running water.

Step 5: Blot dry with a soft cloth.

Ammonia Method
Use this method sparingly. Even though it’s very effective, doing it too often can damage your gold. (Ammonia can also darken platinum.)

Step 1: Mix one part ammonia to six parts water.

Step 2: Soak the jewelry in the mixture for no more than one minute. Using a strainer can help with pulling it all out quickly at once.

Step 3: Rinse the jewelry thoroughly under running water.

Step 4: Dry the jewelry with a soft polishing cloth.

For Jewelry with Gemstones
Pieces of jewelry with gemstones that are glued into the setting should not be submerged in water.

Step 1: Wipe the jewelry with a cloth that’s been dabbed in dish soap solution, as instructed above.

Step 2: “Rinse” the jewelry with a cloth dampened with plain water.

Step 3: Lay the pieces upside down after cleaning so any remaining moisture won’t soak into the setting.

Gold chains that are available for men are thicker and shorter in length than the ones available for women. The typical length of gold chains for men is 18 inches where as the typical length of gold chains for women is 22 inches. It is always possible to find gold jewelry that is longer or shorter than the typical length. Some of the popular types of gold chains include the Singapore chain, the marine chain, the rope chain and the curb chain.

Gold rings that are made for men are large and have strong features where as the gold rings that are made for women are elegant and they have intricate features. Gold rings for men and women both can be encrusted with semi precious gems and precious gems. Gold rings for men and women can be made of yellow gold with shiny or matt finish and white gold with shinny or matt finish.

Other gold jewelry that is popular these days includes bracelets, anklets, earrings and ear studs. It is also possible to find gold nose studs and gold belly piercings. These items are often sold in 22 k gold, 20 k gold, 18k gold, 16k, 14k and gold platted or gold wash finish.

At Blue Nile, we apply the same high quality standards to all of our diamond shapes. We have an exceptional collection of traditional round diamonds and we also offer the finest non-round, or "fancy-shaped", diamonds available. All of our certified diamonds are graded by the GIA or AGSL to have FL-SI2 clarity, D-J color, and Ideal, Very Good, Good, or Fair cut. Our Signature Diamonds are the finest quality diamonds available, and we offer them in round, princess-cut, Asscher-cut, and emerald-cut shapes.

Choose Your Diamond Shape

Since all diamond shapes are very different, unique characteristics determine quality for each shape. Select your shape below to learn how to recognize the most beautiful diamond. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact one of our Diamond and Jewelry Consultants who can help you find the diamond that's perfect for you.

Round

The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular and most researched diamond shape available today. For almost 100 years, diamond cutters have been using advanced theories of light behavior and precise mathematical calculations to optimize the fire and brilliance in a round diamond. In addition to being the most popular and researched shape, a round diamond will typically give you more flexibility in terms of balancing cut, color, and clarity grades while still getting the fire and brilliance you want.

To maximize the brilliance of a traditional round diamond, select one in the two highest cut grades, ideal or very good, and choose ideal, excellent, or very good polish and symmetry grades. For the finest ideal round diamonds available, view the Blue Nile Signature Round Collection.

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Princess

This is our most popular non-round diamond. Its beautiful brilliance and unique cut makes it a favorite for engagement rings. The princess has pointed corners and is traditionally square in shape. When choosing a color grade, consider that while the price of a J-color non-round diamond is exceptional, color may be slightly visible in its corners. Also, princess-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how square or rectangular they are. To find the dimension of princess you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. This will determine what the diamond will look like when viewing it from above. Here are length-to-width ratios for princess-cut diamond shapes that are pleasing to the eye.

For a princess diamond shape that is square, look for length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to-width ratios greater than 1.10. For the most brilliant princess available, view theBlue Nile Signature Princess-Cut Collection.

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Emerald

What makes this shape different is its pavilion, which is cut with rectangular facets to create a unique optical appearance. Due to its larger, open table, this shape highlights the clarity of a diamond. If you choose an emerald-cut with a lower clarity grade, such as SI, be sure to review the clarity plot on the diamond certificate. Also, emerald-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how rectangular they are. If you'd prefer an emerald cut with a squared outline, look for an Asscher-cut diamond. To find the shape of emerald you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For the classic emerald-cut shape, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.30 and 1.40. For the highest standard of craftsmanship available in an emerald-cut diamond, view the Blue Nile Signature Emerald-Cut Diamond Collection.

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Asscher

This beautifully unique shape is nearly identical to the emerald-cut, except that it is square. Also, this shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets in the same style as the emerald-cut. If you choose SI-clarity be sure to view the clarity plot on the diamond certificate, because this shape highlights the clarity of the diamond. When choosing a color grade, consider that while the price of a J-color non-round diamond is exceptional, color may be slightly visible in its corners.

All Asscher-cut diamonds from Blue Nile will appear square, because each one is guaranteed to have a length-to-width ratiobetween 1.00 and 1.05. For our ideal Asscher-cut diamond, view the Blue Nile Signature Asscher-Cut Diamond Collection.

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Marquise

The shape of a marquise diamond can maximize carat weight, giving you a much larger-looking diamond. This brilliant-cut diamond looks beautiful set with round or pear-shaped side stones, and the length of the marquise makes fingers appear long and slender. To find the dimension of marquise you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For the most traditional marquise-cut diamonds, look for length-to-width ratios between 1.75 and 2.25

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Oval

An oval diamond has beautiful brilliance that's similar to a round diamond. Oval diamonds are also very popular as their length can accentuate long, slender fingers. To find the dimension of oval you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For the most traditional oval diamonds, look for length-to-width ratios between 1.33 and 1.66.

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Radiant

Trimmed corners are the signature of this diamond, and they help make the radiant-cut a popular and versatile choice for jewelry. A radiant-cut looks equally beautiful set with either baguette or round side-diamonds. Radiant-cut diamonds can vary in their degree of rectangularity. To find the dimension of radiant you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For a radiant diamond shape that is square, look for length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to-width ratios greater than 1.10.

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Pear

This brilliant-cut diamond is also called a teardrop for its single point and rounded end. The unique look of the pear shape helps make it a popular choice for a variety of diamond jewelry. If you choose an elongated pear shape, the length of the diamond creates a subtle slimming effect on the fingers.

To understand what the diamond will look like when viewing it from above, look for the length-to-width ratio on each diamond's detail page. For the most traditional pear-shaped diamond, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and 1.75.

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Heart

The heart is the ultimate symbol of love. The unique look of the heart-shaped diamond helps make it a distinctive choice for a variety of diamond jewelry. When choosing a color grade, consider that while the price of a J-color heart shaped diamond is exceptional, color may be slightly visible in its corners. To find the dimension of heart-shape you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For a more traditional heart-shaped diamond, look for length-to-width ratios between .90 and 1.10.

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Cushion

This unique shape has been popular for more than a century. Cushion-cut diamonds (also known as "pillow-cut" diamonds) have rounded corners and larger facets to increase their brilliance. These larger facets highlight the diamond's clarity, so if you choose an SI clarity grade, be sure to review the clarity plot on the diamond certificate. Cushion-cut diamonds are available in shapes ranging from square to rectangular. To find the dimension of cushion you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For a cushion-cut diamond that is square, look for length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to-width ratios greater than 1.15.

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