Diamond Rings | Rox Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Diamond Rings’

Rules Of Engagement

Monday, July 19th, 2010

The modern man and woman have blurred the boundaries between genders in certain areas – everybody holds the door for…everybody! Equal rights in society, at work and in a relationship are a given. So is there still a place for male chivalry when it comes to that most precious, symbolic of gestures – the engagement?

Choosing the Ring

For a start, the right diamond engagement rings don’t have to be a total surprise. This is something a woman will wear for her lifetime – slipping it on and off to take a shower, retelling the story of how you became engaged while she gently spins the sentimental jewellery on her finger.

Many couples find choosing diamond engagement rings together to be an affirmation of why they’re choosing to marry one another.

The Price of True Love

The question of who pays for this epic diamond jewellery is, in this day and age, one for discussion. The common opinion seems to be that a real gentleman would (at least offer to) foot the bill.

Father Knows Best

The notion of asking parental “permission” is nowadays one of respect rather than authorisation. This tradition finds its historical roots in an accord being reached between father and suitor, but the more modern approach is simply about a future son-in-law displaying good manners. Remember, these people will be family soon so do everything you can to make the right impression!

Tags: diamond engagement rings, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, Jewellery
Posted in Diamond Rings | No Comments »

5 Reasons Why We Love Diamond Jewellery

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

1. The unmatchable twinkle! The ancient Greeks loved diamonds and interpreted them rather poetically – they enjoyed the notion that each diamond was a speck of shattered starlight. How beautiful and magnificent does that sound! We have more to thank them for too – the word “diamond” evolved from the Greek word “adamas” meaning “invincible”. Remember you’re wearing invincible starlight next time you catch the glint of diamond rings in your eye!

2. The symbiosis between the meaning of love and the meaning of diamonds is a well documented one. There can’t be any greater show of love than imparting a ring made using the hardest, most coveted substance on earth as a token of indomitable, indestructible, unending love.

3. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Investment, be it financial or emotional, doesn’t usually come cheap. There are always stakes to consider, circumstances to asses, and any number of other potentials to speculate on. Diamonds can be considered somewhat of a bought investment. Be it diamond engagement rings, diamond bracelet, diamond-set designer watch, or any other items of diamond jewellery, the diamond itself will only depreciate in value if damaged.

4. The phrase “timeless” is uttered in soft, breathy tones to describe such fashion idols as the Channel suit, Holly Go-Lightly’s black Dior dress and… diamonds! Never out of fashion, always chic, always desired.

5. They’re inspirational, with ownership holding formidable esteem and status. Diamonds are rare, desirable, treasured, and rife with meaning and symbology. Everyone aspires to own a diamond!

Tags: diamond engagement rings, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, popularity of diamonds
Posted in Diamond Jewellery | No Comments »

Diamonds – The Four Cs

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Diamonds are assessed and graded by experts within the diamond industry according to the “four Cs”: cut, clarity, colour and carat (weight). If you may soon be visiting a jewellery store to shop for diamond rings, it can be helpful to know a little about these criteria.

Cut

Contrary to popular belief, the ‘cut’ of a diamond refers to its reflective qualities rather than its shape. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut, so the angles and finish of any diamond are the key factors in its ability to negotiate light. A good cut gives a diamond that magical brightness that seems to emanate from deep inside itself.

Clarity

Most diamonds contain some minor imperfections that have occurred during their formation. Industry experts call these imperfections ‘inclusions’. The number, size and visibility of these inclusions are what determine the overall clarity of a diamond. Diamonds rings which are free of inclusions are fantastically brilliant and so are very highly sought after.

Colour

A colourless diamond allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond and so creates a greater sparkle. Completely colourless diamonds are rare so the more “white” a diamond’s colour is, the greater its value.

Carat Weight

A carat is the unit of weight by which diamond jewellery is measured, with one carat being equal to 0.2 grams (200 milligrams). Larger diamonds have a greater value per carat as they are discovered much less frequently than smaller diamonds.

Tags: 4 Cs, diamond clarity, diamond colour, diamond cut, Diamond Rings, Jewellery
Posted in Diamond Jewellery | No Comments »

Diamonds And Carats

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

The value of a diamond is not determined by its size but by its weight, which is measured in carats. The word ‘carat’ originally comes from keration, the ancient Greek word for carob seeds, which were used to weigh and compare many goods in the ancient world. The weight of smaller diamonds is not expressed in carats, but in ‘points’.

A carat is made up of 100 points, so a half-carat diamond is also known as a 50 point diamond. Although used most famously for diamond jewellery, carat is also used as a standard measure for other gemstones. However, some gemstones are denser than others so different gems of the same weight are not necessarily the same size.

Larger diamonds normally have a higher value as they are rare and therefore in more demand for diamond jewellery than smaller diamonds of the same quality. Of course, a diamond being large does not automatically qualify it as valuable, as the quality of the cut, clarity and colour all need to be taken into consideration.

A large stone with poor cut, clarity and colour will not be worth any more simply because of its size. However, a large stone with excellent cut, clarity and colour will be worth more than smaller diamonds of equally good quality. For example, diamond rings consisting of one large two carat diamond will nearly always be more expensive than diamond rings made up of several smaller diamonds which may total two carats between them.

Tags: diamond carats, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, larger diamonds
Posted in Diamond Rings | No Comments »

Diamond Clarity

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

All diamonds are unique, and most have tiny flaws or imperfections which are known in the jewellery trade as blemishes or ‘inclusions’. These imperfections can be cavities, scratches or even delicate crystals that have been created within the diamond as it was forming in the earth. The term used to describe the presence of inclusions in diamonds is clarity.

A diamond that has fewer inclusions has a higher clarity, and is therefore of more value. The internal characteristics that are present in diamond jewellery can only be seen by looking through a special jeweller’s magnifying glass, known as a loupe. With a loupe, diamond jewellery can be divided into six main categories:

FL
Diamonds with no inclusions are referred to as ‘Flawless’ and are incredibly rare. Brilliant, flawless diamonds are the most beautiful jewellery of all.

IF
IF means that the diamond is Internally Flawless and that no flaws are visible under magnification, only small blemishes on the diamond’s surface.

VVS
The VVS grade means that the diamond is ‘Very, Very Slightly Included’.

VS
VS stands for ‘Very Slightly Included’ and means that minor imperfections are visible under magnification.

SI
SI means that the diamond is ‘Slightly Included’ and imperfections are visible under magnification and possibly with the naked eye.

I
I stands for ‘Included’ and means that imperfections are visible with the naked eye.

Numbers are used after some categories to grade the diamonds further. For example, a VS2 will have more or larger inclusions than a VS1.

At ROX, all of our diamonds are carefully selected for their quality. Available loose or in settings for rings, diamond bracelets, necklaces or earrings, we supply a wide range of diamond jewellery.

Tags: diamond clarity, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, loose diamonds
Posted in Diamond Jewellery | No Comments »

Choosing A Diamond Engagement Ring

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

So, you are sure that your girl is ‘the one’ and you know where and when you are going to pop the question. All that you need to do now is purchase the perfect engagement ring. Naturally, diamond engagement rings are the preferred choice for blushing brides-to-be, but choosing suitable diamond rings from the wealth of jewellery available can be a somewhat daunting affair.

First of all, make sure you remember that the size of the diamond is not the most important thing. Your beloved will not think less of you because you cannot afford an absolute rock, so work out just how much you can genuinely afford and stick to it. Commission hungry jewellery sales assistants sometimes try and persuade guilty feeling bachelors into buying diamond engagement rings that are far beyond what they can afford, so make sure that you stay within your limit.

When you have made your mind up and chosen a ring which doesn’t require a mortgage, take the time to ensure that it comes with insurance and a warranty. If you have pushed the boat out and purchased more expensive diamond rings then make sure that certification is also included. All diamonds that are equal to or greater than 0.3 carats need to be certified in order to determine the authenticity of the diamond and to state all of its relevant characteristics such as colour, cutting and cloudiness grades.

Tags: diamond engagement rings, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, wedding and engagement rings
Posted in Diamond Rings | No Comments »

True Love Beats The Recession

Friday, June 11th, 2010

You don’t need telling that times have been tough over the last couple of years due to the economic situation. But the recession can’t be allowed to stand in the way of true love, so how do you choose from the many diamond engagement rings available one which your fiance will wear with joy, love and pride every day, and breaking the bank? After all, you are probably saving for a deposit for your home together, so you will want to be able to look at diamond engagement rings that won’t put your finances under pressure. On this note, etiquette experts suggest that two month’s salary is a reasonable amount to spend on diamond engagement rings. Of course, if you can afford to spend more, most women won’t argue with you about that.

Some couples regard jewellery as an investment, which is why they go for top-quality diamond jewellery which will appreciate in value over the years. Others are less concerned with the value and choose diamond engagement rings which will simply prove that they are in love. This is one of the reasons why eternity rings are so popular, as they are the perfect symbol of a relationship.

If you are looking for diamond jewellery of any kind, then ROX will be able to help you find the perfect gift. They can supply everything from diamond rings to gents watches, so whether you are buying online, or from their stores, make sure you look at the great range of jewellery available there.

Tags: diamond engagement rings, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, eternity rings
Posted in Diamond Rings | No Comments »

What Are Blood Diamonds?

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

For most of us, the first time we heard the term Blood Diamonds was when the Leonardo Di Caprio film of the same name appeared in cinemas. So what are blood diamonds, and should you take steps to avoid inadvertently buying Jewellery which contains them?

Essentially, they are the stones which appear in Diamond Jewellery which have been sold in Africa in order to fund illegal operations of rebels and other terrorist groups. Countries that have been most affected by this are Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many people have died in conflicts which have been funded by the sale of these stones which later turn up in everything from Diamond Bracelets to Eternity Rings.

There have been moves to ensure that our Diamond Jewellery is free from these blood diamonds. Ten years ago, South African countries with a legitimate diamond trade began a campaign to track the origins of all rough diamonds, attempting to put a stop to blood diamond sales from known conflict areas. Their efforts eventually resulted in The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), an international effort to rid the world of conflict diamonds, and so far appears to be seeing success.

When you are buying diamond jewellery, don’t be afraid to questions when you are choosing diamond rings or diamond earrings. Ask the dealer where the diamonds you are looking at came from, what the company’s policy on blood diamonds is, and if the company can verify the origins of the stones.

Tags: diamond bracelets, diamond earrings, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings
Posted in Diamond Jewellery | No Comments »

Look After Your Diamond Jewellery

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

You could be forgiven for thinking that you don’t have to worry about diamond rings becoming worn, but this is not entirely the case. Despite diamond jewellery being made from one of the hardest substances on earth, it can become worn, so make sure you follow a few guidelines and you will avoid this. For example, if you wear any other rings next to a diamond ring some abrasion may occur, as a diamond in direct contact with other diamond jewellery will rub away at the other stone. Eventually, your diamond may also be slightly worn down if they have been placed together for too long. Wearing two rings close together can cause the abrasion of metal as well, so it’s probably best if you never take your rings off to wear them on opposite hands or a few fingers apart.

You can also take care of diamond rings by cleaning them occasionally. There are a number of materials that can be used to clean diamonds and their mount, including soapy water, some detergents and alcohol, but don’t use abrasive substances which may damage your diamond jewellery. diamond rings can also attract grease, and after a while if not cleaned they will lose their sparkly and can become dull. This applies to all diamond jewellery, whether it is eternity rings, cluster rings or diamond bracelets, so a little bit of maintenance will ensure that your diamond jewellery will never lose its sparkle.

Tags: cluster rings, diamond bracelets, Diamond Jewellery, diamond maintenance, Diamond Rings, eternity rings
Posted in Diamond Jewellery | No Comments »

Ethically Sourced Diamonds

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Because diamonds are small enough to be extremely easy to transport but very valuable indeed, the diamond market is an ideal target for illegal smuggling operations. Coupled with the fact that most of the stones of sufficient quality to be used in fine diamond jewellery and watches are found in some of the poorest and most troubled places on Earth, there is a recipe for trouble.

In these days of heightened consumer responsibility, the way diamonds can be used by violent and vicious regimes to gain power and the money to buy arms has been brought out into the light. In the past these ‘conflict diamonds’ found their way into designer watches and diamond earrings all over the world. Even some unlucky people’s wedding rings, bought in complete ignorance of the deadly serious issue of conflict diamonds, have been tainted by it.

However, times change, and in this matter they’ve changed for the better. All diamonds coming into the EU now have to be certified to come from conflict-free, legitimate sources. No conflict diamond may now be knowingly sold here, either as part of any diamond jewellery or as a cut stone.

You can buy diamonds from ROX with the full assurance that they are conflict-free. We’re proud to be a part of the new, more socially responsible trade in precious stones. So much so that we even scrutinise all our gold suppliers to make sure their practices are safe for workers and environmentally sound. We make sure that our jewellery is ethical jewellery.

Tags: diamond earrings, Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Rings, ethically sourced diamonds
Posted in Diamond Jewellery | No Comments »