Top Celebrity Designer Jewellery Choices For 2012

April 29, 2012 · 0 comments

Feel Like A Celebrity With This Year's Best Jewellery Selection

People look up to celebrities when it comes to fashion. These people just have all the looks matched with their outfit and personality making the fans envious thus imitating their favorite star. Celebrities just can’t help wearing designer jewellery and once taken a shot by paparazzi, local stores will be filled with the exact replica the following day. Celebrities are not always buying their designer jewellery for every event they attend. Most of the time, these jewelleries are just being lent to them by the designer so they can be seen over all types of media available. This is their subtle way of exposing their most expensive and intricate masterpieces. Celebrities are models so when people see what they wear, they will tend to be followed. For those who have the money to finance their dire want for the same jewellery piece, they can buy from the designer right away while others will just wait for an imitation out in the market.

Celebrity designer jewelleries are often seen on special events like the Golden Globe Awards, SAG awards, Academy Awards, and many more. Here are some of the top picked celebrity designer jewelleries that will leave your eyes stunned.

Jayma Mays wearing elegant jewellery at the Golden Globes (Photo Source: Capital M)

Most celebrities choose jewelleries from the Neil Lane. The jewelleries from this designer are always as popular as the celebrities who wear them in almost all the celebrity occasions. Stars like Diane Lane, Sarah Hyland, Katrina Bowden, Melissa McCarthy, Naya Rivera, Jayma Mays, Jennifer Carpenter, Mary Steenburgen, Ahna O’Reilly, Linda Grey, Angela Kinsey, Brooke Anderson and Nancy O’Dell are the frequent wearers. Most of them fashions a set of necklace, earrings and bracelets intricately made from platinum, diamonds, sapphire, garnet, opal and gold. Earrings vary from drop earrings, chandelier earrings and cluster earrings. There are also cuffs and bangles set with various gemstones.

Fred Leighton Jewellery is also a favorite. His masterpieces are worn by celebrities like Meryl Streep, G14Michelle Willams, Tilda Swinton, Glenn Close, Kristen Wiig, Kyra Sedgwick, Dianna Argon and Christine Baranski. The designer jewellery design made known by Fred is mostly vintage that never goes out of style. Examples are Meryl Streep’s 1920 pieces made of citrine, sapphire and moonstone. Other worn ornaments are diamond bracelet, 18 karat gold jewelleries, diamond earrings that are old-mine cut, diamond ring, bangles, snake bracelets, pearl bracelets and the typical diamond stud earrings. All of these are vintage as the designs are dated back from the 19th century – 1920′s, 1940′s and 1950′s.

Lorraine Schwartz has also won the tastes of celebrities like Kate Beckinsale, Debra Messing and Julianne Marguiles. The jewelleries worn include mesh earrings; blackened platinum earrings with amethyst and emerald stones and; carved jadeite earrings.

Irene Neuwirth also adds glow to actress Octavia Spencer with a rainbow moonstone. Other top celebrity designer jewellery choices are from Cartier, Chopard, House of Lavande, De Beers Diamond Jewellers and Harry Winston.

The best of Hollywood’s stars are also wearing the best of designer jewelleries. Thanks to them as the jewelleries they wear are extravagantly exposed by the stars and they gather even more complement like the rest of Hollywood celebrities. Paparazzi also play a big role in making these art pieces centers of attraction. Once their camera clicked on a celebrity, they get a snapshot of the head-to-toe look. That is a camera shot that can make or break the star’s total get up once printed on tabloids or shown on TV.

Knowing the latest trends no longer require attending a catwalk show or strutting along the classy pavement of Beverly Hills. Just by simply watching TV, checking on the internet and reading on the latest fashion magazines people will know the latest trends as sported by the famous stars. Celebrities are the first in trend setting. Their mere intention might just be to look their best in all occasions but added to that is their free advertisement of designer shoes, bags, clothes, jewelleries and hairstyles.

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What’s the Difference between Platinum and White Gold?

April 22, 2012 · 0 comments

When shopping for an engagement ring, many women are deciding to forgo the gold band – and are then faced with a decision between platinum and white gold. Both are commonly used in engagement rings. Both are durable metals that can last for years. But each metal has its own unique properties.

The Difference in Colour between Platinum and White Gold

Platinum Wedding Rings (Photo Source: TekDiver

Platinum is naturally a white metal with a silvery shine and is used in a pure form. Typically, platinum rings are 950 plat (which means that they are 95% platinum and 5% iridium) or 900 plat (which means that they are 90% platinum and 10% iridium.) It will not tarnish or oxidize in any way, so the colour won’t change over time. The ring you buy today will look the same on your 50th anniversary.

White gold is actually a combination of gold and other metals, such as silver and palladium. (Very high quality white gold is an alloy of gold and platinum.) For 18k white gold, it will be 75% gold and 25% other metals. Your ring will be light grey in colour initially, and then rhodium plating is added to make it look more white and shiny. In fact, it will even appear shinier than platinum at first.  But, although rhodium is very hard, over time it will eventually wear away, making the ring appear to have more of a yellowish tint. In order to maintain white gold at its best, it needs to be re-plated with rhodium every 6- 10 months, a service which we call our Refreshing Ring Rejuvination.

White Gold Ring (Photo Source: Snrang)

Other Important Differences between Platinum and White Gold

Platinum is a denser metal and more durable than white gold, meaning that a platinum ring  will feel heavier than an 18kt white gold ring. It can also be fabricated better for complex ring designs and is the perfect precious metal to create settings for your diamonds and gemstones in. Its extra durability and wearability mean that your diamonds and gems will be held in place more securely and for longer than if you have gold settings.

Additionally, some people have sensitivity to white gold that is made with nickel. Typically, these allergic reactions can include a rash, redness, swelling or infection. For this reason, today most white gold does not include nickel, but if you do have an issue, then you should check before making the purchase.

When it comes to scratching, both white gold and platinum are durable enough for long-term wear but benefit from regular maintenance from time to time. Why? Because both metals often receive invisible micro-scratches, with one important difference to note here. When platinum scratches it will not remove metal from the ring, instead you get a displacement of metal, and it looks more like a bump than a scratch. Where if you scratch gold you are actually removing tiny pieces of the metal every time, which in turn can weaken and compromise the structure of your jewellery. In either case, burnishing the ring will smooth out the tiny imperfections to renew the lustre of the ring.

One other point we can’t forget is that platinum has a tighter cellular structure than gold does. What does this mean for you? Basically what this means is that I can achieve a mirror like finish on platinum compared to a high finish on gold. If you use platinum to set your diamonds in then this mirror like polish will reflect more light into your diamond and through a process called scintillation your diamond will pick up the extra light which in turn means that your diamond will sparkle more!

White Gold Engagement Ring (Photo Source: Somma)

The Cost Difference between Platinum and White Gold

Platinum is a more valuable metal, and as a result, it can cost about twice to three times the price of white gold. For this reason, it is most often used for special occasion jewellery, such as engagement rings and wedding rings. It is sometimes used for dress rings, but it is rarely used for earrings, pendants, bracelets, or necklaces. White gold, on the other hand, is a much more prevalent and ubiquitous metal in all kinds of jewellery. The best and most economical use for platinum given the increased cost is to use it to make your diamond settings in, then the band of your ring can be made with white gold which is perfectly suited for bands.

Platinum Ring Set (Photo Source: I Love Butter)

So Is Platinum or White Gold Better for an Engagement Ring?

If you can afford it, platinum is recommended over white gold. Many people choose to make an investment in platinum for high-wear jewellery items that they consider important, such as engagement rings and wedding rings, because the platinum gives the diamond a nice clean look, it also adds more sparkle to the diamond, and in the end, this prestigious metal is optimal for setting a diamond, due to its durability and long-lasting colour.

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The Top 10 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World – 5 through 1

April 15, 2012 · 0 comments

In the last blog, we covered the 10th through the 6th most expensive diamonds in the world, but what about the top 5? Here is the list of the most famous, rare, and large diamonds ever discovered.

5. De Beers Centenary Diamond

The third largest diamond ever produced by De Beers’ Premier Mine in South Africa, the Centenary Diamond is still a giant, weighing 273.85 karats! Though it is colourless, which often makes diamonds less valuable, the GIA has given the Centenary a grade D rating – the highest grade of colourless diamond. Essentially, this means that it is “perfect” both inside and out. No one knows who owns it now, but rumours have linked it to a young entrepreneur of British and Israeli origin. It is currently valued at $100 million.

Hope Diamond (Photo Source: Nikoretro)

4. The Hope Diamond

Currently house at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Hope Diamond has been called the most famous diamond in the world, and it is the second most visited artwork of any kind. What’s the first? The Mona Lisa – pretty good company. Compared to many of the other most expensive diamonds, the Hope Diamond is relatively small – 45.52 karats – but it has become so famous due to its beauty and the fact that misfortune has befallen many of its owners. Though the Hope appears blue when you view it with the naked eye, under ultraviolet light it actually shines red. Experts value the Hope at $350 million.

3. The Cullinan Diamond

At a whopping 3,106.75 karats, it should come as no surprise that the Cullinan Diamond is the largest rough-gem quality diamond ever discovered. In fact, it was so big that nine different cuts were made from it. Some of the most well-known parts of the original rough-cut Cullinan became the Great Star of Africa (or Cullinan I), weighing 530.4 karats, and the Lesser Star of Africa (or Cullinan II), weighing 317.4 karats. Both of these diamonds are part of the United Kingdom’s crown jewels, and the Great Star of Africa was the largest polished gem in the world until the Golden Jubilee weighed in at 545.67 karats in 1985. The Cullinan was estimated to be worth $400 million.

Sancy Diamond (Photo Source: Waitscm)

2. The Sancy Diamond

No one quite knows where the Sancy Diamond originated, but many experts believe it to be of Indian origin due to a cut that is unusual by Western standards. In fact, it is the first large diamond to ever be cut with symmetrical facets. The gem is also unusual for having no pavilion (the bottom part of a modern brilliant cut diamond) – it only has a pair of crowns (the top part of a modern day brilliant cut diamond), one on the other. France’s Louvre Museum currently houses the Sancy in its Apollo Gallery – the French Crown Jewel Collection. The name of this 55.23 karat, pale yellow diamond comes from the first known owner of the jewel, Nicholas Harlai, Seigneur de Sancy. Its value is unestimated, but it is considered priceless.

1. Koh-I-Noor Diamond

This 105 karat diamond was once the largest known diamond in the world, and it was passed on from various Sikh, Mughal, and Persian rulers for centuries until the East India Company seized it and made it a part of the British Crown Jewels. The only reigning British monarch to actually wear the Koh-I-Noor in her crown was Queen Victoria, and legends even say that the gem is cursed if it is owned by a man. These myths detail how all of the male owners have suffered various misfortunes through their lives, including many rulers that have lost their crown. Fears about this “male curse” were so widespread that men would give the gem to their wife so that it would not affect them. The Koh-I-Noor Diamond has the purest form in the world, and is known as the “Mountain of Light” in Persian. Like the Sancy, the Koh-I-Noor’s value has never been estimated and it is considered priceless.

You may not have enough money to purchase any of these diamonds, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find your very own special diamond, whether it’s for an engagement ring, bridal jewellery, a wedding ring, or other special occasion jewellery.

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The Top 10 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World – 10 through 6

April 8, 2012 · 0 comments

With celebrities buying more and bigger diamonds every year for engagement rings or for other special occasion jewellery (the most well-known recent example being Beyonce’s 18-karat diamond engagement ring), it can be tempting to believe that some of these have to be among the biggest and most expensive diamonds ever sold. But true diamond enthusiasts know that rings like Beyonce’s don’t even come close to the world record holders. Those diamonds are among the most famous ever discovered, held by billionaire owners, museums, and royalty. Let the countdown begin!

10. The Allnatt Diamond

No one really knows where this 101.29 karat, cushion cut diamond was discovered, but many experts believe South Africa to be its home and have theorized that it originated from what is now the De Beers Premier Diamond Mine. The Gemological Institute of America rates the Allnatt diamond colour as Fancy Vivid Yellow, and it gets its name from one of its former owners, Major Alfred Ernest Allnatt, an English businessman and philanthropist. This diamond is currently valued at $3 million.

Red Diamond (Photo Source: FancyDiamonds.net)

9. The Moussaieff Red Diamond

Not just a red diamond, but a Fancy Red diamond, at least as rated by the GIA, the Moussaieff has a triangular brilliant (or trilliant) cut. Of all the diamonds in the top 10, this gorgeous 5.11 karat gem was discovered the most recently – in 1990 by a Brazilian farmer who found it in the Abaetezinho River. At just over 5 karats, it’s also the smallest of the top 10 diamonds, but its value comes from the fact that it is that largest Fancy Red ever rated by the GIA. It is currently owned by Moussaieff Jewelers Ltd. and valued at $7 million.

8. The Heart of Eternity Diamond

Discovered in the De Beers Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa, the Heart of Eternity was cut by the Steinmetz Group into the shape of – what else? – a heart, then sold to the De Beers Group. The GIA rates this 27.64 karat diamond as Fancy Vivid Blue, which puts it in a very rare class of coloured diamond. The Heart of Eternity is probably most famous for a failed attempt to steal it in 2000 that was discovered and stopped. It is valued at $16 million.

Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond (Photo Source: GreyLoch)

7. Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is notable for actually losing value – and karats – after being recently recut. Currently a 31.06 Fancy Deep Blue Diamond, it used to be 35.36 karats and known as the Wittelbach Diamond back when it was part of both the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels. Experts even compared its colour and clarity to the Hope Diamond. But in 2008, a London jeweller bought it at an auction for what was then the highest price ever paid — $23.4 million! – and subsequently had it recut to its current smaller size. It is now worth $16.4 million.

6. The Steinmetz Pink Diamond

The largest and finest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond in the world, the Steinmetz Pink was first revealed in May of 2003 in Monaco, and has been displayed at the Smithsonian as part of their “The Splendour of Diamonds” exhibition. It weighs 59.60 karats, and the Steinmetz group took 20 months to cut it. It is currently valued at $25 million.

Check back to see the rest of this incredible list of rare and expensive diamonds.

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Amber Gemstones: Each One Is Completely Unique

April 3, 2012 · 0 comments

Amber Gemstone (Photo Source: Mersey Viking)

The gemstone amber is actually not a stone at all – it is formed from fossilized tree resin that has hardened over millions of years into the beautiful gem we prize today. It is found in a variety of colours, most commonly in the yellow, orange, and brown palettes. However, over 256 shades have currently been identified – including a very rare blue. The most valuable amber gemstones of all are completely transparent. Since it is an organic material, each piece of amber jewellery is as unique and special as its wearer.

Amber’s beauty has been recognized since ancient times, with ornaments as old as 13,000 years turning up in excavations across Europe. Greek and Roman women sought this gem as symbol of wealth and youth, and warriors wore amber into battle for luck. The ancient Chinese even burned it to create an intoxicating piney scent thought to be medicinal. In more recent times, amber was a common gem used in art deco jewellery. Today, it is sometime mentioned as one of the twelve birthstones, sharing November with the topaz.

Amber has long been thought to contain healing properties. It is most often noted as curing depression, with the power to transform a wearer’s negative energy into positive energy. Wearing the stone is also thought to purify the mind and body.

Amber Fossil (Photo Source: Tanki)

Finding Fossils in Amber Gemstones

Because amber is an organic substance created from fossilized tree sap, specimens are occasionally observed with preserved insects trapped inside. In rarer cases, pieces will be recovered with tiny animal and plant fossils hardened within the gemstone. These specimens are often quite beautiful and displayed in prized collection in museums and showrooms around the world.

Where Does the Gemstone Amber Come From?

The most common source of amber is the Baltic Sea. Baltic Amber, as it is known, has washed up on the shores of Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Russia since ancient times. It is currently mined, mostly in Poland. But the gemstone can be discovered all over the world, with rich deposits present in countries including:

  • Dominican Republic: This is the most prolific source outside the Baltic region. All Dominican amber turns blue or green when exposed to UV light.
  • Myanmar: Most amber produced by Myanmar is imported to China.
  • Lebanon: Lebanese samples frequently contain ancient trapped insects, as well as fossilized animals and plants.
  • Romania: A common source of “black amber,” which is actually more of a deep red or brown colour.

Amber Jewellery (Photo Source: EricSkiff)

Caring for Amber Jewellery

Amber is a beautiful gem that looks great on any wearer, and is featured in all jewellery styles, designer jewellery, even engagement rings! But since this gemstone is actually a rather soft and delicate compound, there are some important precautions you should take to protect your beautiful jewellery.

  • Make sure not to store amber where it can rub against metal or anything that could scratch or damaged the polished surface. A soft pouch is a great way to store and protect your gemstones.
  • Amber should be kept away from perfume, hair spray, or any commercial jewellery cleaning product. The harsh chemicals may cause deterioration of the gem. Extreme heat and hot water should also be avoided.
  • Instead, amber should be cleaned with a soft cloth dipped in water. To polish your jewellery, you can rub a little clear olive oil into the surface, then rub dry with a soft cloth.

Amber Rings (Photo Source: Chris P.)

Amber gemstones make great gifts that are sure to please any wearer. The deep orange colour and unique soft appearance make for striking and beautiful ornaments. And because no piece of amber is the same, you know you’ll be buying a gemstone that is truly unique!

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Ways To Keep Your Jewellery Sparkling New

April 1, 2012 · 0 comments

Sparkle And Shine Jewellery Techniques

Jewellery has been in existence for around 100,000 years. It has been used as personal adornment with varying degree of elegance and rarity depending on the social stature of a person. Pieces of jewellery are made from different materials such as precious stones, precious metals, shells and beads. The material used determines the value of the jewellery. The more precious the stone or metal is, the more expensive it becomes. The value becomes even more costly when artistic design comes into play. The artistry of jewellery determines how it will be accepted by you.

The monetary value of a jewellery makes it a must that due care be given to it. However, this is not the only reason for giving full attention to the maintenance of any jewellery. Some people may even take care of those made from cheap materials more than those made from precious metals or stones. Sentimental value may be as important a factor as that of monetary value in taking care of jewellery. Nonetheless, whatever the kind of jewellery you have, it is necessary to maintain it as if they are brand new.

Here are a few ways to help you care for them;

Use jewellery with proper care- Although most of the precious metals are hard and strong enough to withstand normal day to day use and torture, it is still best to always make sure that they are not extendedly exposed to harsh conditions or not exposed at all. When pieces of jewellery consist of a precious stone or pearl, they will require a higher degree of care since they are more sensitive to higher temperature or extreme humidity.

Clean jewellery regularly- When pieces of jewellery are always exposed to the elements such as heat, dust and oil, there is a tendency for them to become dull in color or discolouration on your gold may occur. To avoid this, it is proper to make an effort in cleaning them. In all honesty the best way for you to keep your jewellery looking and feeling sharpe is to have it professionally cleaned every 6 months. As a service to all my clients I offer them a free 6 monthly check up and clean of their jewellery whether it be an engagement ring, wedding band, pendant, earring or any other type of jewellery. It is important to do this regularly as an excess dirt, grim and other nasties can and will eventually harm or damage your jewellery. I have included a short video for you on how to clean your jewellery at home. Please take note of the instructions in the video.

How to Clean Your jewellery at Home

Proper storage- If your pieces of jewellery are not in use, they should be stored properly to avoid any damage and to lessen accumulation of dirt and other elements. It is best to store each item separately and wrapped in soft cloth or foam. This way, scratching and rubbing on each other can be avoided. Cleaning the items prior to storage will also ensure that even with prolonged storage, discolouration or anything adverse will be lessened. The positioning of the items in storage should also be considered especially if there are protruding ends or precious stones to lessen the chances of breakage or damage.

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