Archive for the 'White Diamonds' Category

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Making The World’s Most Expensive Engagement Rings Affordable For Everyone

Published on February 6, 2011 in Coloured Diamonds, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Gold, Hand-made Jewellery, Jewellery, Platinum, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

The 5 Most Expensive Engagement Rings In The World

Showing individuality has been the longest, ongoing trend with engagement rings as pointed out with our series on celebrity engagement rings and several of our other, more recent engagement ring related entries.

Wearing these one-of-a-kind engagement rings often comes with a price tag better left to millionaires due to the use of traditional white diamonds or large, coloured diamonds, sometimes using the combination of both.

To give you a little taste of designer creativity that knows no bounds, here’s an inside look at the five most expensive engagement rings in the world that have had a part in inspiring this trend:

With exquisite diamonds comes an exquisite name: Secret Kiss Of The Roses. This engagement ring holds the secret of a 4.18 carat white diamond wrapped encasing a 0.80 carat rose cut pink diamond – all set in platinum.[1]

Total Price: $545,000 (USD)

Internally Flawless is the name given to this, well, internally flawless 5.98 carat oval diamond with a total of 3.96 carat diamond surrounding to form a floral designed engagement ring – all set in platinum.[2]

Total Price: $1.3 million (USD)

Just in case it isn’t enough to just hide one finger under its enormous weight of 14.79 carats in one diamond, the Tiffany Oval Diamond engagement ring also comes with an additional ring complete with 12.3 carat diamond-shaped pillows. Both rings are placed in platinum settings.[3]

Total Price of the 14.79 carat diamond ring – $1.49 million (USD)

Total Price of the 12.3 carat diamond ring – $800,000 (USD)

Total Price: $2.29 million (USD)

Having a more traditional style of design to it, the De Beers Platinum engagement ring holds a massive 9 carat single white diamond set in what the title claims – platinum.[4]

Total Price: $1.83 million (USD)

And last, but as you’ll see, definitely not least, is the most expensive engagement ring in the world titled as The Chopard Blue Diamond Ring. The treasure that lies in this ring is – drumroll please – the extremely rare blue diamond that is 9 CARATS in size! This fortune of a rock sits in 18 carat white gold and therefore earns its title, by far, as the most expensive engagement ring in the world![5]

Total Price: $16.26 million (USD)

And This Is Affordable To Me, How?

With all this talk about extravagant, customised engagement rings, some may look down and find that their current engagement ring could use a little updating or those still in the market may have decided to take a step away from the traditional look and have begun looking for a more modernised, trendy version.

The problem that many people will run into, however, is this question: How on earth would I ever be able to afford such an extravagant, multi-coloured, multi-diamond engagement ring?

Let’s start by taking a look at a few documented costs of the average engagement ring buyer:

  • In 2009, Americans spent an average of $3,150 on engagement rings[6] with the average diamond size being .38 carats[7]
  • In Australia, the average cost of engagement rings run $5,116[8]
  • In 2005, the average amount of money in the UK spent on engagement rings was £1,289[9]

Keeping these averaged budgets in mind, there are certainly limitations as to how extravagant one can go when purchasing a unique engagement ring, but there isn’t any limitation on how creative one can be.

When thinking with a resourceful mind, options become available to re-create the design and style of an engagement ring you’ve chosen in your mind long ago. Talking with your jeweller is the best way to begin your process of customising or designing your ultimate engagement ring. By incorporating this step right at the get-go, options such as coloured diamonds or types of precious metals can be discussed to change around carat sizes, integrating gemstones and having the stones placed in ways that make it more affordable for you.

PLEASE REMEMBER – that while you can experiment with the quantity of the material needed for your ring, the one thing you must never substitute for is the quality of your ring! This can’t be stressed enough. While it may look beautiful the first time you place it on your finger, it won’t last and is guaranteed for replacement within a handful of years.

This means, when thinking diamond, think diamond! Don’t consider replacing a diamond with cubic zirconium. Instead, if you love pink diamonds and yet it’s entirely out of your budget, converse with your jeweller about pink gemstones that will resemble a pink diamond but cut the amount of money required down to something you can afford.

Is it still difficult to see the end result? To paint a clearer mental picture of how you can make one of the most expensive diamond engagement rings in the world end up on your ring finger, let’s explore how to make the original price for the Secret Kiss Of The Roses engagement ring come down to an amount that fits your budget.

When talking with your jeweller, you can discuss which gemstone and carat size suits you and your future engagement ring better. While there isn’t a single stone out there that perfectly imitate a brilliant white diamond, there are genuine gemstones that, to the naked eye, will give a great resemblance of a diamond. Substituting gemstones such as white sapphires and white topaz instead of white diamonds can be a great choice for the big carat selection. In place of the pink diamond, embed a pink tourmaline gemstone in the centre to create the proper effect of this magnificent ring. The budget that’s been set aside for the biggest price of the engagement ring – the diamond – can then be placed in the sequential order covering the band.

Keep in mind that customised or designer engagement rings can rack up the price if you’re not careful so keep things realistically within proportion. Instead of going for 4.18 carats, you may find you’ll be just as happy with a 1 carat gemstone.

The end result? You’ll have a customised, designer engagement ring that doesn’t forgo on quality and yet, gives the fantastic look of a multi-thousand dollar ring!

While trends may come and go, engagement rings have been around for many centuries and aren’t going anywhere – so have fun with it, book an appointment with your jeweller and get trendy!

References:

[1] http://www.mostinterestingfacts.com/collectible/the-4-most-expensive-engagement-rings-in-the-world.html

[2] http://engagementring.org/the-reason-behind-extensively-expensive-engagement-rings

[3] http://www.theoddpics.com/2010/07/4-most-expensive-engagement-rings-in.html

[4] http://www.worldinterestingfacts.com/wealthy/top-6-most-expensive-engagement-rings-in-the-world.html

[5] http://buydiamondrings.org/most-expensive-diamond-rings-ever

[6] http://blog.learnvest.com/learnvest-daily/average-cost-of-an-engagement-ring/

[7] http://www.ringenvy.com/engagement-rings/fun-%28and-useful%29-engagement-ring-facts

[8] http://money-guide.com.au/2009/12/average-wedding-cost-australia/

[9] http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/article.html?in_article_id=397984&in_page_id=5

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The 5 Most Common Mistakes Brides Make When Choosing Bridal Jewellery

Published on January 30, 2011 in Bridal Jewellery, Coloured Diamonds, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gemstones, Jewellery, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

With so many things to do before a wedding, it’s easy to overlook problems you may run last minute on your wedding day. Considering jewellery plays a crucial role in your big day, you’ll want to know the about most common mistakes brides make in order to prevent these unwanted disasters from happening to you!

Mistake #1:

Choosing An Ultra Trendy Engagement Ring

Trends come and go but engagement rings are designed to last a lifetime. Unless you’re having an engagement ring custom designed for you according to your own personal taste, you may want to think twice before choosing the next ‘It’ engagement ring.

For example, the latest trend in the engagement ring market is replacing the classic, white diamond with a birthstone. There’s no mistaking that this is a fantastic idea but remember to ask yourself if you want to be reminded of your birthday every day or your future husband.

Also keep in mind that your coloured birthstone may not match all of your clothing. If you were born in April (diamond birthstone) or June (pearl birthstone), then you can easily get away with this dilemma but if you were born in a colourful month like July (ruby birthstone) or August (peridot birthstone), your engagement ring may not flow as well with all of your pink or orange clothing.

Engagement rings can be an investment and the last thing you’d want to do is look back five years later and realize your wedding set has long gone out of style leaving you wanting a new set. It could possibly hurt your bank account as well as your spouse’s feelings.

The Fix:

If you’ve already chosen your trendy ring, enjoy it! If, however, in a couple of years, you decide that you’d like something more classic or updated, there’s always the option of having your jeweller make the changes necessary to keep you enjoying your ring forever.

For those who are 100% certain of putting colour into your engagement ring, think about opting for coloured diamonds instead of birthstones. Not only will they remind you of your most memorable day, they’re 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral on earth making them almost indestructible – that is, unless you plan on putting your ring into a fire of 1405 degrees Fahrenheit.[1]

If you’re still in the process of choosing your custom designed engagement ring or having it designed, the best selection would be a timeless wedding set that, 25 years later, you’ll never grow tired of admiring its beauty.

Mistake #2:

Picking The Bridal Jewellery BEFORE Picking The Wedding Dress

Once a woman receives her engagement ring, the frantic planning for the race to their dream wedding day begins. Because there is so much pre-wedding planning to do, it’s easy to lose order during the chaos.

Picking the wedding dress beforehand allows the bride-to-be to pick the bridal jewellery that emphasizes the gown rather than hiding under it or worse, clashing with it. The last thing any bride needs is to look just as chaotic as they felt when pulling together their wedding. By creating the wrong fashion statement with something as simple as the wrong choice of necklace, it will ensure that their wedding will be remembered for all of the wrong reasons!

The Fix:

The two most important considerations to notice before picking the bridal set is the neckline of the wedding dress and also, the embellishments that may or may not have been added. If your dress includes embellishments such as pearls or crystals, you’ll want to follow the theme accordingly with your jewellery.

For the neckline of your wedding gown, you’ll want to consider wearing your bridal jewellery the following ways:

  • Halter Neckline or Backless Dress – These are perhaps the most restricting gowns when it comes to jewellery choices. Wearing only stud earrings and a bracelet would be the perfect selection.
  • Square Neckline or Strapless Dress – These necklines are just the opposite, leaving many varieties open for most types of jewellery to be worn. The best choice would be to wear drop or chandelier earrings with a single or double stranded necklace. Another option that looks fantastic is wearing simple earrings with a fancy bridal choker.
  • V-Neck or Plunging Neckline – Since you’ll want to draw attention to your face, wearing stud earrings with a y-drop or a pendant necklace will do just that!

Finding your dress and picking bridal jewellery afterwards is the common sense approach to take; however, if you’ve already fallen in love with the jewellery that you’ve decided is a must-have for your wedding day, you can always opt to design your wedding around the jewellery. Just remember that that can get a little tricky since the philosophy behind wearing bridal jewellery is to enhance your overall wedding look while bringing your own personal style into play.

Mistake #3:

Not Styling Your Hair According To Your Bridal Jewellery

That sounds a little silly, doesn’t it? But think about it, if you’ve chosen to wear beautiful pearl stud earrings with a matching necklace and have left your hair down, you wouldn’t even see most of your bridal jewellery!

The Fix:

Before going to the salon to have your hair glammed up, check out a few bridal magazines or try your jewellery on while standing in front of a full length mirror to get a feel of how you want to look on your wedding day. Ask a close friend or family member for their honest opinion because most store employees will say anything to get a sale.

Unless your wedding dress is extremely embellished, you’ll most likely be wearing a full bridal set and it’s a safe bet to say that you won’t want to hide it under your hair. By keeping your own personal style, you can incorporate professional styles to elegantly pull your hair up off of your neckline and away from your ears. If you have short hair, sweep either one side or both sides up over your ears to show off your gorgeous bridal earrings.

If you’re unable to decide on your own, much like consulting with your jeweller to pick out the perfect bridal jewellery, you can consult with your hair stylist to pick the perfect up-do meant just for you!

Mistake #4:

Not Matching Your Bridesmaids

Every bride wants to stand out on her wedding day and looking unique is a sure way to do exactly that. Your wedding day should be all about you which means this is the one time it’s okay for you to be selfish about who wears what with of your friends without sounding catty. Much like buying the bridal jewellery set before the wedding dress, you must plan out your bridesmaids’ entire ensemble beforehand so there aren’t any last minute clashes.

The Fix:

Most women prefer to give jewellery as a gift to their bridesmaids but if buying complete jewellery sets are out of your budget, purchase just the earrings, bracelet or necklace for your friends to set the tone of the theme. By choosing the coloured gemstone and/or design for them, they’ll be inclined to follow suit that emphasizes you and doesn’t upstage you on your perfect wedding day!

Mistake #5:

Choosing Your Bridal Set From The Store At The Mall (Gasp!)

Sure, bridal jewellery sets can be costly and after purchasing the wedding gown, wedding ring set, bridesmaid dresses, facility rental, DJ (the list goes on and on), you’ll be feigning to save money when you can. However tempted you may be, jewellery is one area you should never forego quality on.

Bridal jewellery is not always necessarily worn after the wedding day but it either already is or will be a future heirloom to pass down to worthy family members. In other words, bridal jewellery is meant to last not just your lifetime but generations to come.

The Fix:

You can cut down on extravagance to save some dollars but you should never wear cheap jewellery on your wedding day. You’ll want every little detail to be stunningly perfect and guess what? Cheap jewellery can tarnish even the most beautiful of all wedding dresses, not to mention the greenish marks left behind on your skin. To make sure you don’t fall victim to committing this wedding faux-pas, talk with your jewellery designer to use materials that work for your wedding day as well as your budget.

If you aren’t planning on holding onto your bridal set to pass down as an heirloom, discuss options to make your jewellery a part of your life that you can wear to fancy occasions or wear as an everyday piece.

Knowing what you now know to avoid falling into these common little traps, you can put your mind at ease and be rest-assured that you’ll not just look great on your wedding day; you’ll look above and beyond spectacular – you’ll be DAZZLING!

References:

[1] http://didyouknow.org/diamonds/

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50 Top Celebrity Proposals, Part V

Published on January 23, 2011 in Bridal Jewellery, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Fun Stuff, Jewellery, Platinum, Proposals, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Watching celebrities lives unfold can sometimes be interesting. They live their lives in the eyes of the public no matter what the circumstances are. At times these moments can be inspiring while other times can be humiliating. In this last in a series where I examined some of the breathtaking moments when celebrity women become celebrity brides, we’ll look at the last 10 in my list of 50.

1 Kara DioGuardi and Mike McDuddy

Kara DioGuardi is used to life in the public eye as a former judge on American Idol, so it comes as no surprise that her engagement to former school teacher and general contactor Mike McDuddy went public as well. While the two were on vacation in Mexico, Mike decided to pop the question while Kara sat in her thermal pajamas. With lit candles he presented a champagne citrine stone designer ring to Kara.

2 Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin

While True Blood costars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer were heating it up on screen, they were also secretly heating it up off screen. The pair managed to keep their relationship out of the public eye for quite some time before going public with their engagement. Stephen proposed to Anna in Hawaii on the beach while vacationing with friends.

3 Jeff Francoeur (Atlanta Braves) and Catie McCoy

The “beauty” Catie McCoy found true love with her “beast” when Jeff Francoeur proposed to her during a production of “Beauty and the Beast” in Atlanta. While in the theatre Jeff got down on one knee and gave Catie a diamond engagement ring. Hopefully this marriage ends just as the movie.

4 Nick Cannon and Selita Ebanks

Vitoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks and Actor/Musician Nick Cannon had a night of magic when he proposed to her on May 7, 2007. After leaving the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York, the couple headed to Times Square via limousine. On the JumboTron screen the words “Selita, will you marry me” appeared for her and the world to see.  After Selita answered with a yes the couple celebrated with friends and relatives at Butter. Unfortunately, the party may have lasted longer than the engagement. The couple broke up in October of 2007.

5 Tiffani Thiessen and Brady Smith

Former Saved By The Bell and Beverly Hills 90210 actress Tiffani Thiessen had a dream engagement to actor Brady Smith. Brady presented Tiffani with a scrapbook he handmade that showed their relationship step by step. Their wedding took place in July of 2005 in Montecito, California. Some of the celebrity guests included Jeannie Garth, Tori Spelling and Jason Priestley.

6 Travis Barker and Shannon Moakler

Tattooed rocker Travis Barker became engaged to actress Shannon Moakler on December 24, 2003 while on the Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland. The couple got married in October of 2004 in California. Their wedding was inspired by the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and was full of Goth inspired décor’. Two kids and a reality series later, the couple filed for divorce in 2006 and reconciled in 2007. After officially breaking up again the couple reconciled for a second time. It sounds like their marriage is still on the Haunted Mansion roller coaster.

7 Brendon Fraser and Afton Smith

Funny man Brendan Fraser had big plans to propose to actress Afton Smith. While on a vacation to Paris the couple was having a Polaroid picture taken of them. Right before the camera snapped the picture Brendan opened his coat to reveal a note that read, “Will you marry me, Afton?” Once the picture was developed he realized the words were too small so he had to open his coat a second time to reveal the note. The couple married in late 1998 and now has two sons.

8 Faith Hill and Tim McGraw

“Spontaneous Combustion” was the title of the tour and has since become the headline of the lives of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The couple met on tour in 1996 and Tim proposed to Faith right before a performance. Since Tim didn’t have time to hear what her answer was she wrote her answer on a mirror for him to see when he came off stage. The rest has been made history. The couple and their children lead the picture perfect lives.

9 Neve Campbell and John Light

British actor John Light and actress Neve Campbell had a romantic evening when he proposed. John recited lines from Shakespeare while on bended knee. Neve said yes and the couple married in Malibu in May of 2007.

10 Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi

We’ve all probably watched “The Bachelor” at one point in time, but the engagement of Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi was beautiful. While on the island of Saint Lucia Jake presented Vienna a three carat, princess cut, Neil Lane diamond platinum ring. While in her one shouldered teal dress Vienna said yes to Jake as he knelt on one knee. We all had hoped their romance would be as breathtaking as the engagement ring but it seems already to be over.

Celebrity proposals are not always what we think they will be. Some are corny and some are romantic, but one thing is for sure; it is always fun to see how the lives unfold of those whom we see in the public eye.

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50 Top Celebrity Proposals, Part IV

Published on January 16, 2011 in Bridal Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Fun Stuff, Hand-made Jewellery, Proposals and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Most celebrities have fabulous weddings that the public rarely gets to see, and proposals can be just as much fun. From the first date to the I-Do’s sometimes the relationships can be kept hush-hush. I have been reviewing the top proposals in a series of posts and here are 10 more that made the top 50.

1 Chris Bosh and Adrienne Williams

After dating for one year Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat and Adrienne Williams got engaged in Miami just outside of their home. After the proposal they partied with friends where Adrienne was seen sporting a large diamond ring.

2 Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Basset

Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Basset were atop the Space Needle when he popped the big question. Hank wasn’t originally going to propose that day but decided that it would be a huge surprise so he made the decision to do it anyway. After taking family pictures with both families Hank got down on one knee to propose. He presented her with a 2 ¼ carat diamond mounted with sixty diamonds and white gold. Sources say Kendra was extremely shocked and very happy.

3 Simon Cowell and Mezhgan Hussainy

American Idol’s former make up artist Mezhgan Hussainy and former judge Simon Cowell met on the set while filming episodes for the show. The couple starting dating in 2008 during filming. The engagement ring Simon presented her with is almost bigger than life. It is reported to be six carats and approximately $750,000. The age difference between the two (fourteen years) has not slowed them down.

4 David Walliams and Lara Stone

Finding your engagement ring in a hamburger may not be your idea of glamour; but if it was a $100,000 art deco ring from Tiffany’s you may think twice. This is how model Lara Stone found her ring from comedian David Walliams. Apparently David thought that since Lara always removed the top bun from her burger to remove items she didn’t want it would be a clever way to present her with the ring. After Lara accepted his proposal they went on a romantic vacation to Mexico.

5 Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush

With twenty bouquets of roses and five hundred candles on a tennis court, actor Chad Michael Murray proposed to actress Sophia Bush. The couple held an outdoor wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t burn as long as the candles and they were separated just five months later.

6 Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan

Channing Tatum proposed to Jenna Dewan on an island in Maui. Channing invited their closest friends to view the proposal without Jenna knowing anything was going on. The couple met during the filming of the movie “Step Up” but didn’t begin dating until after filming was completed. The engagement ring was purchased from Neil Lane but no other details of the wedding were being disclosed.

7 Bill Rancic and Giuliana DePandi

In a helicopter ride over Chicago with pizza and champagne, season one winner of The Apprentice, Bill Rancic popped the question to E! News co-host, Giuliana DePandi.  The couple who had been dating for one year returned to Bill’s apartment which was filled with roses and chocolate cake. Their wedding took place in Italy in 2007.

8 Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott

With a horse drawn carriage ride that leads to a Christmas tree farm in Canada, Dean McDermott proposed to Tori Spelling. Lights led the way to a table for two in the middle of the trees. The couple soon wed and could not be happier. On every anniversary Dean presents Tori with a new wedding ring. She says it reminds her of the day she first became his wife. She says she looks forward to the day when she can pass on her large wedding band collection to her children.

9 Howie Dorough and Leigh Boniello

Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough found that singing in front of 40,000 people was easier than proposing to his girlfriend Leigh Boniello in front of the family. Howie made sure to ask Leigh’s family for permission; included in this were her parents and grandparents. The couple met in 2000 while she was working as Webmaster for his band. The relationship was kept quiet at first but  they decided it was time to share the news with the world right before the wedding. The ring was one round diamond surrounded by two smaller round diamonds that Howie designed himself.

10 Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford

Superman Brandon Routh wasn’t so brave when he asked girlfriend Courtney Ford for her hand in marriage. While the couple was painting a mural for a charity he asked her to reach into his pocket for his chap stick. Instead, Courtney came out with an engagement ring. Brandon said he was afraid he would say something dumb so he chose to do things the easy way.

Join me next time when as I take a look at 10 more celebrity proposals.

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50 Top Celebrity Proposals, Part II

Published on January 2, 2011 in Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Fun Stuff, Jewellery, Proposals and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

As we continue on this journey into the celebrity world of proposals, I’ve found some fun stories and interesting approaches to nuptials. Some are repeating an engagement with the same person, while others may already be seeing the end of their marriage as I write this. No matter the outcome, however, some of these stories are quite “engaging”.

1.  Nicole Richie and Joel Madden

Richie and Madden have been a tight pair for some time, already building a family together with a 3-year-old daughter and a 13-month old son. Madden reportedly popped the question to Richie over a romantic Valentine’s weekend. When he presented Richie with a stunning engagement ring, she excitedly accepted.

2.  Jason Seehorn and Angie Harmon

Perhaps my favorite story within this set, Harmon and Seehorn shared their moment with literally millions on “The Tonight Show”. Harmon was a guest on the show, but refused to talk about her private life when pushed by host Jay Leno. Former football star – and Harmon’s boyfriend –Jason Sehorn came out on stage with a Diamond ring to pop the question. Harmon’s father was even on hand to provide his blessing over the proposal and a tearfully surprised Harmon accepted both.

3. Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller

Despite current problems between Sheen and Mueller, the proposal shared between the two was nothing short of sweet. While on a 10-day vacation at the Four Seasons Hotel in Costa Rica; Sheen proposed to Mueller with an 11-carat, $500,000 engagement ring. Mueller was reportedly caught off guard, but happily accepted.

4.  Katy Perry and  Russell Brand

The recently married Perry and Brand were engaged in a romantic ceremony at the Taj Rambagh Palace hotel in India on New Year’s Eve. Brand planned every detail of the proposal, including the dining experience and what Perry would wear. The couple arrived for the special evening in a horse and carriage. At midnight, they enjoyed fireworks while sitting on an elephant and were then taken to Mughal Garden where the engagement ring was hidden among the flowers. Perry found the ring, Brand proposed and Perry immediately accepted.

5.  Carmen Electra and Rob Patterson

Electra set out to plan her third trip down the aisle after Patterson proposed. The couple were celebrating Electra’s 36th birthday in Las Vegas when Patterson popped the question. The two had been dating for more than a year and Patterson presented Electra with a black stone engagement ring. She excitedly accepted his proposal.

6.  Beyonce and Jay Z

Beyonce and Jay Z were a steady item for about five years before he asked for her hand. Jay Z proposed to his favorite girl while the two were enjoying a romantic getaway in Cannes. He reportedly promised to get her the “biggest diamond she could fit on her finger.” Beyonce excitedly accepted the proposal. With the promise of that kind of ring, how could she refuse?

7.  Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter

Winter knows how to take romance to the next level, creating the perfect proposal atmosphere. Under a full moon at midnight, just two days before Christmas of 2007, the two were seated in a double kayak off the coast of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. It is reported that Sanchez became worried when the guide in the other kayak paddled away, until she realized it was part of the plan. Winter presented Sanchez with a proposal and a 4.3-carat brilliant-cut diamond ring. She readily accepted and then realizing they were still surrounded by acres of sea, begged him to put the ring away for fear of dropping it in the water.

8.  Ali  Fedotowsky (The Bachelorette) and Robert  Martinez

Not all reality television shows focused on finding “the one” can gain attention as a great proposal. However, the end of the Bachelorette, featuring Fedotowsky as the one looking for love, the proposal from Martinez was nothing short of breathtaking. Rumors had been surrounding the show and Fedotowsky as she was reportedly planning to remain single. Perhaps it was the 3-carat Neil Lane engagement ring worth about $50,000 that changed her mind.

9.  Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green

The second time around may be the magic number for Fox and Green who are engaged – again. Green proposed to Fox on the beach of the Four Seasons Hotel in Hawaii. The two had picked out a 2-carat diamond ring together and Green presented it to her on their special day. The day ended with confusion, however, as Fox reportedly lost the ring on the same beach. Hotel staff members combed the sand looking for the ring, but were unable to recover the prize.

10.   Tara Reid and Michael Axtmann

Party girl Reid appears to be on the path to finally settle down – or at least make the commitment to party with only one man. After a whirlwind romance of less than a year, Axtmann asked Reid for her hand while having dinner at The Little Door restaurant in Los Angeles. Reid readily accepted and patrons throughout the restaurant clapped and congratulated the couple as Axtmann placed a beautiful round brilliant cut diamond ring on her finger.

Join me next time as I take a look at 10 more celebrity proposals.

Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Private Jeweller

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Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Corporate Beholder – 2/3

Published on November 28, 2010 in Diamonds, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gemstones, Jewellery, Mens Jewellery, Pearls and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

People get older, women have children and accidents occur that sometimes permanently changes sizes and/or appearances. For some people, nature cruelly creeps into genetics on the day of conception – it’s an unstoppable force. You can love it, hate it or EMBRACE it!

Studies show attractive people tend to fare better in the corporate world because good looks appear to go hand-in-hand with self confidence which matters A LOT in the workplace. People are walking advertisements of themselves which is portrayed by the way they dress and present themselves.

When people aren’t confident about themselves, they tend to go into ‘hiding’, which instead, creates the opposite effect. Those who want to hide excess weight might wear baggy clothes making them appear even bigger than before. Men who miss long, lost strands of hair on top of their head may hide behind hats or a comb-over, which has yet to make the Top 10 Fashion list. Women who are self conscious of teenage acne scars might hide behind excessive makeup creating a clown-like resemblance. These are all ways that many people try to cover their flaws when, as you might have noticed, more attention is being drawn to them.

Appearing ‘corporately attractive’ (meaning tall, well dressed and good-looking) may sound discriminating and be a controversial subject to broach but you can’t change certain stereotypes. You can, however, create attractive illusions by learning how to subtly hide flaws by creating an overall balance.

While wearing the right type of jewellery won’t magically lose those extra pounds or gain those couple of inches, it WILL trick the human eye at first glance, helping you add a couple of beauty points overall.

Try applying these Jewellery Do’s and Don’ts to your business attire and see if you don’t feel more confident, look better and receive tons of compliments!

Jewellery Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s

  • Do think vertically - Perhaps the most famous rule of any fashion guru is to never wear stripes horizontally because it adds pounds. This applies to all aspects of apparel and isn’t limited only to stripes. Wearing jewellery that drapes downward rather than hugging your body can have a slimming effect. Make jewellery and accessories work for you, not against you!
  • Do use symmetry – The highest emphasis on what deems a person as good-looking is held within the facial features. Symmetry is more important in the face, rather than the body as a whole, because it gives the appearance of good and psychological health. Wearing single stud earrings or single pearl earrings adds to the overall effect of symmetry, oftentimes drawing attention out at evenly, rather than pinpointing specific areas of the face.
  • Do wear big jewellery if overweight – Chunky jewellery, big stone pendants or collarettes help balance weight without weighing the body down. While wide bracelets make wrists appear thinner, there is one exception to this is for people who carry extra weight on a small body frames. Because wrists are the dead giveaway of frame size, they’re the one area of the body that won’t pack on the pounds, in which case, nix the bracelets and stick to only earrings, necklaces and rings.
  • Do wear long jewellery to add height – When lengthening height, the last thing you want to do is bog it down with excessive amounts of jewellery and accessories. Keep jewellery long but keep it simple. Choosing long chain and opera necklaces with matching dangle or drop earrings will perfect your illusion of supermodel height!

Don’ts

  • Don’t wear loud jewellery – In an office, especially a small office, wearing loud, jingly jewellery is just as annoying as someone wearing excessive perfume to the point of knocking people unconscious. While it may be trendy, it’s certainly unprofessional and distracting, drawing ALL of the positive attention away from the amazing look you worked so hard to achieve.
  • Don’t over-accessorize – Sure, most people have many favourite pieces of jewellery or a lot of jewellery containing their favourite gemstones that they feel they must wear all at once but that doesn’t mean you should.. For those who insist on wearing a lot of jewellery, remember that in the office, it’s very distracting and even worse, others might actually perceive you as superficial. Choose either one matching jewellery set or keep it toned down to one pair of earrings, one bracelet, one necklace and one ring on each hand.
  • Don’t ‘over-match’ your jewellery – Jewellery should hold its own while emphasizing physical features and attire. If you’re wearing an all black business suit, why not create your own fashion trends by adding colourful gemstones that pop?
  • Don’t limit jewellery to just women – Men can also wear jewellery and accessorize in ways that show masculinity! Choosing the right wristwatch or ring can show power and stamina, as long as it’s not too flashy and matches body proportions.

While these tricks are great for boosting your confidence and enhancing your attractiveness, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to continue taking the utmost care of your body. Get enough sleep to get rid of your dark circles, stop drinking large amounts of caffeine and if you’re a smoker, stop smoking to rejuvenate your skin, get on a healthy diet to remove pesky zits and exercise to stay healthy.

When you feel great, you look great! Everyone CAN look attractive in their own way; it’s just a matter of emphasizing the nice parts and hiding the flaws so that you can put yourself on display in the corporate spotlight!

Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Private Jeweller

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Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Corporate Beholder – 1/3

Published on November 21, 2010 in Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gemstones, Jewellery, Platinum, Sapphires and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

We all know that your mother thinks you’re the most beautiful and talented creature on the planet but in the corporate world – whether it’s morally acceptable or not – LOOKS MATTER a heck of a lot more than mom’s opinion!

Whether or not employers should put people on their scale of 1 to 10 hot-or-not rating meter, it happens no matter how many of them claim to make unbiased decisions when hiring. Just look at these statistics:

  • Studies suggest that attractive people earn 5% more in hourly pay than their average-looking colleagues, who in turn earn 9 percent more per hour than the plainest-looking workers.[i]
  • Not only do looks come into play, height does as well! A woman who is 5 feet 7 inches tall, well above the national female average of 5 feet, 3.5 inches, will make $5,250 more over the course of a year than a female co-worker standing 5 feet 2 inches.[ii]
  • In Malcolm Gladwell’s best-selling book Blink, he polled about half the country’s top 500 CEOs and found that 58% were nearly 6 feet tall; in contrast, the average American male is 5 foot 9 inches tall.[iii]

Studies after studies show that people instinctively equate beauty with being higher-functioning and more successful in life. Obviously, this isn’t always true once we get to know a person but the fact remains that people are instinctively programmed to make first impressions. This is exactly why looks count during first impressions.

Based off of these studies, height, weight and facial features play the biggest part in determining first impressions – whether it can be changed or not. While not everyone has been dunked in the genetically perfect pool, there are certainly ways to improve yourself to bring out your most attractive features.

Even though jewellery is used for many purposes, such as engagements, gifts and marriage, did you know that jewellery also serves to bring out your own striking qualities?

Perhaps you’ve never noticed just how bright your blue eyes were until you put on a pair of sapphire earrings or how graceful your neck was until you wore a beautifully fit pendant. Gold jewellery can make bronze and darker skin glow while platinum jewellery makes fair skin radiant.

In the same way pants are tailored to slim the stomach and elongate legs, jewellery that’s appropriated to body types and skin colour can also be slimming and flattering. Heavier women look great wearing chunkier necklaces and cocktail rings because it can divert attention away from problem areas while drawing attention to the more becoming facial and body features. Thin, delicate pieces of jewellery fare better on slim women by not overpowering them or their outfits. For those on the short side of the height spectrum, putting on long-chained necklaces adds the illusion of an extra inch or two.

Since men can’t exactly walk around the office with false eyelashes and chunky necklaces as easily as women, it comes down more to presentation style and execution. Having a suit tailored to accentuate the body proportionately is great but beefing it up with accessories such as a perfectly-sized wristwatch, cufflinks and/or a tie clip will make a fantastic impression.

While we can’t always change our naturally given looks or stature, there’s much to be done with how we present and portray ourselves within the corporate environment. The next time you’re out shopping for a brand, new suit or getting a new hair cut or style to give yourself a boost of confidence, remember to look for the perfect jewellery that’ll pull your whole ensemble together!

References:

[i] http://articles.cnn.com/2007-02-28/us/cb.pretty_1_competencies-dental-work-workers?_s=PM:US

[ii] http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/05/appearance-work-pay-forbes-woman-leadership-body-weight.html

[iii] http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/05/appearance-work-pay-forbes-woman-leadership-body-weight.html

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Eskae Private Jeweller – Apprentice week 10

Published on November 14, 2010 in Diamonds, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gold, Hand-made Jewellery, Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

What another great week of learning the art of jewellery making at Eskae Private Jeweller.

This week I learnt many techniques including; putting a comfort fit inside of wedding ring, melting gold, using rubber bullets to polish and smooth out deliberate dents in a hammer finish, and how to create a bezel for a diamond pendant jewellery.

The last technique is the one I would like to tell you about; how to create a straight, parallel shaped bezel setting as opposed to one which is tapered at the bottom, which I had previously seen Sam create a few weeks before.

I began the same way as you would when creating the tapered bezel, by rolling out the white gold stock gauge to a specific thickness using a formula which gives me the most accurate widths and depths of the gold needed to create this bezel’s specific measurements. The next step is to square off one end of the gold strip, by using a squaring tool and scribe. I then sawed off the excess gold and filed the end to make sure it was perfectly straight. I then emeryed one side of the gold with my emery papers to ensure the surface was clean, smooth and prepared for the next stages. This side will be on the inside of the bezel, and therefore needs to be as clean as possible, as it is hard to access once the bezel is created.

The gold strip was then annealed to make sure it was soft and malleable for the next step which is bending the metal to create the circular shape of the bezel. The trick here is to bend and turn the metal not the pliers. I used my fingers and thumb to bend the gold around the pliers, stopping and moving the bezel into different positions on the pliers so that the metal bezel could continue being bent around the pliers. I then had a round shape to work with and it is beginning to take shape and look like something. Now using a different pair of pliers, I aligned the two ends so they sat straight and as close to each other as possible. To get them even closer, I placed a saw cut in between the two ends, I then squeezed them together again with the pliers and repeated this again. This step is very important as it helps minimise the appearance of the solder when it is finished and it also ensures that there is a nice clean gap for the solder to run into.

For a nice clean looking solder join, we at Eskae Private Jeweller always place a ball of solder in a inconspicuous place, for example, in the bezel pendant, I placed the solder on the inside of the join, and drew the solder outwards using the heat of my soldering torch. I would have to say that this would probably be the most important technique I learnt and performed this week at Eskae Private Jeweller, as this is what can make or break a piece and make a piece of jewellery look professional. It maybe a minor detail but it is very important.

After soldering the join, I then measured and marked out where I wanted to place some drill holes for the chain to slide through the pendant. A great trick Sam showed me on how to accurately work out where to place them was to put the bezel on a piece of grid paper with a 6 pointed star shape marked on it. The join line and the top of the pendant was placed in line with the top and bottom lines and then the diagonal lines on either side of the top of the pendant were marked for the holes.

The next great trick I was shown was to punch a dent into the marks where the holes were to go so that it would be easier to drill the first hole. This minimizes any slip of the drill, allowing the drill to sit in the right position to begin the hole. I thought this was a great trick as drilling is quite tricky and a little bit scary for me as they are a totally new tool for me to get used to, so this trick allows me to have more control and confidence.

Once you have created the initial hole, a ball bur which is a ball shaped drill bit is used to open up the hole. I did this by gradually going up in size with the burs until I reached the size I needed. After the final size hole is drilled I removed the drill bit from the hand drill and turned the ball bur in the hole on a slight angle. This takes away the sharp edge on the hole and allows the chain to run smoothly through the holes.

Next is creating a scalloped edge on opposite sides of the pendant. Once the positioning of the scallops has been determined, I placed a saw cut on the marked lines and then used a fine triangular file to open up the saw cut wider. This allows for more accuracy when using the next file to form the scallop shape. This file is known as a rats tail as is looks very similar to the name. After this file is used to open up the scallop, a half round file is used to put a champher on the scallop.

The next step is to finish the pendant off by emerying and polishing the pendant using various emery papers, rubber wheels for the inside only and polishing mops and brushes.

Now the pendant is ready to have the diamond set into it to finish it off and complete this new piece of handcrafted jewellery.

It has been a very busy week, but also very exciting!

Talk to you next time,

Holly

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10 Extraordinary and Unusual Celebrity Engagement Rings

Published on November 9, 2010 in Bridal Jewellery, Coloured Diamonds, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gold, Jewellery, Platinum and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

As you journey with me on this trip through a wide variety of celebrity engagement rings, the trip has been very rewarding. On this, our last stop, we will examine some unusual engagement rings, whether it is a result of the featured stone or the design of the ring. While not all of these engagements were meant for lasting love, the beauty of the given ring could last beyond a lifetime.

1. Katharine McPhee

While not a celebrity until she sang her way to the finals on American Idol, Katharine McPhee still sports a ring worth examining. Nock Cokas proposed with a classically cut colored stone ring that features an oval cut yellow diamond. The center stone is surrounded by pink pave diamonds set in platinum.

2. Heidi Klum

The 10 carat canary diamond engagement ring Heidi Klum received from husband Seal is a Lorraine Schwartz design. The clean lines of the stone cut accentuate the brilliance of the diamond. This design is perfect for Klum’s slender and long fingers, which perfectly display this natural wonder.

3. Rebecca Romijn

The 6 carat yellow diamond engagement ring worn by Rebecca Romijn was designed by Simon G. While the oval stone itself is certainly elegant and impressive, the look of the ring along with the stacked pink and blue pave bands give the overall presentation a unique finish. The contrasting colors make the yellow diamond radiate from its setting, giving the overall appeal distinction.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow

Often giving off the air of a quiet and traditional girl, Gwyneth Paltrow has surprised us with her sense of style more than once. Her Coldplay front-man husband, Chris Martin proposed to her with a breath-taking Asscher cut diamond with a micro pave frame and double band. The look is exquisite and the styling very unique.

5. Sandra Bullock

While her public life is in turmoil, Sandra Bullock’s ring, designed by Neil Lane and estranged husband Jesse James, still exhibits a unique flair. The design is a vintage-inspired engagement ring with the theme of “You and Me.” The ring has two intertwined diamonds and a diamond pave wedding band to provide a complete genuine and unique style.

6. Mena Suvari

Traditional does not seem to be in the cards for Mea Suvari who instead preferred to use her birthstones of amethyst and citrine in her engagement ring. The stones are beautifully set in an asymmetrical design around a gold band and are meant to represent the commitment between Suvari and husband Robert Brinkmann.

7.      Jennifer Anniston

Although her marriage to Brad Pitt was not meant to last, Anniston wore one of the most beautiful and uniquely designed engagement rings seen in the celebrity circles. The ring was tactile in design, with stones set on different levels. The overall shape is based on the concept of the heart and is a symbol for eternity; at least the ring will last.

8.      Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel wears a Neil Lane designed engagement ring from Benjamin Gibbard. As beautiful and unique the large solitaire ring is for Deschanel, the eye-catching aspect is truly found in the wedding band. An eternity band, it is set in platinum and has alternating small rubies and diamonds all the way around it, giving it a unique appeal to the finished set.

9.      Jenna Bush

Jenna Bush’s engagement ring incorporates the traditional diamond solitaire with large sapphires flanking either side. The look is both traditional and unique, incorporating the three-stone setting in a platinum finish. The stones are all round and jump off her finger anytime she moves her hand giving a very noticeable appeal.

10.  Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie once wore an inverted cushion cut pink sapphire in a pave undercarriage and split diamond pave band that was given to her by DJ AM. This original engagement was said to have fallen through and an updated ring may soon follow. Given the beauty and allow of this piece alone, why would anyone want a replacement?

I hope you have enjoyed this trip through celebrity engagement rings as much as I have. Join me next time as I embark on a new journey through celebrity proposals. I will see you there.

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Eskae Private Jeweller – apprentice weeks 7/8.

Published on October 28, 2010 in Bridal Jewellery, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gold, Jewellery, Platinum, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Well hello again, I’m back!

And what a busy two weeks it has been for me at Eskae Private Jeweller. I have been busy learning tricks of the trade in making and creating engagement rings, finishing touches, fusing gold, perfecting using various pliers and how to protect stones when heat is applied to a piece of designer jewellery.

One of the first techniques I learnt over the last two weeks was how to begin a half round wedding ring. Instead of filing the shape to begin with, which can remove a decent amount of gold or platinum, therefore you end up with a lighter feeling ring, I was taught a traditional smithing technique. This technique involves hammering the gold or metal on the top corner of the ring whilst turning the ring on a ring mandrill.

A mandrill if you aren’t too sure is a long tapered steel rod, with ring sizes on it. It is one of the tools that really identifies a jeweller and their craft. The mandrill is a great tool for this particular technique as it keeps the ring stable meaning it doesn’t move around whilst you are hammering, as well as keeping the correct finger size whilst you hammer and also giving you a good grip on the ring to enable you to create the curved profile of the ring.

I hit the edge of the metal the whole way around the ring on both corners or edges and then began hitting just inside from the first hammer marks. These two hammered lines soften the edge of the wedding band to eventually create the curved profile. After hammering, you can then use a fine file to create a more smooth and even looking profile for the shape of the ring.

I also learnt how to put finishing touches into very tight crevices. To do this a cratex or ‘brown’ rubber wheel is used to get into the groove and smooth out the surface of the gold. A cratex wheel is a abrasive rubber wheel which can be shaped into various widths and shapes to fit into certain hard to reach areas of jewellery.

One of the most exciting techniques I learnt in the previous week was how to fuse gold together. This technique is similar to reticulation and is where you melt another piece of the same metal onto and into each other – perhaps to fill a gap or even join two pieces together. This was a very important technique to learn as it can be applied to metals such as platinum. The advantage of fusing two gold or platinum pieces together is that the join is made of the same material as the two halves or pieces that are being joined, and not of solder which is not as tough or hard wearing as either gold or platinum is.

Another important technique I learnt last week, was how to protect diamonds and gemstones which are already set in jewellery and need to have heat applied to them. For example when re-sizing a ring. One of the methods I was shown was to place the end of jewellery with the stone in it into a small pot of wet sand. The wet sand acts as a heat-retardant against the heat generated by the soldering torch, which can cause damage to the stone, such as cracking or burning. The other method is to use a special paste which is placed over the stone/s. It acts in the same way as the wet sand.

And finally I practiced using various pliers to bend gold into various shapes. I learnt where the pliers needed to be placed on the metal in order to bend the metal in a particular direction and also how to use your fingers and hands to manipulate the metal around the pliers.

All in all the last two weeks have been very busy for me, learning exciting and new techniques and also applying some of the previous weeks techniques.

Until I speak to you next time, have a fantastic week, if its anything like last week I know I will!

Cheers, Holly

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