Diamonds may be forever, but often the settings aren’t. Diamond jewelry, high end engagement rings and pendants especially, should be cared for like any good investment. You wouldn’t carelessly leave your house or car dirty, just because you’ve gotten used to it being there all the time. However, many people forget about the care and maintenance needed to make their jewelry last a long, long, time. Here are some great tips for how to care for your find diamond jewelry.

Clean Gently

Every day you put on makeup and other types of products on your body. All that can land on your fine jewelry and cause it to lose the glow it had in the jewelry case. This doesn’t even account for the perspiration that comes off your body and also can bring dirt to your fine jewelry. The key is to take your jewelry off at night and clean it with a 100% cotton cloth before storing in a pouch or something while you sleep.

Beware the Environment

Some jewelry made of silver or gold can tarnish or pit due to the environment. If you’re getting into a hot tub, it’s a good idea to take off your jewelry first, if you’re unsure. Hot temperatures and a high level of chlorine can contribute to the rapid demise of your jewelry settings. If you have prongs or other delicate pieces on your jewelry, then don’t wear them when you’re playing sports either. They can get bent or broken very easily.

Don’t Use Abrasives to Clean Your Jewelry

You don’t want to scratch the surface of your setting or a semi-precious stone. Abrasives like toothpaste should be avoided. The best way to clean your jewelry is with jewelry cleaner or in an ultrasonic cleaner. If your jewelry has more than diamonds on it, be sure to that the method you use to clean it isn’t going to damage softer stones. Don’t use alcohol as that can damage some settings, and stick with water and gentle jewelry cleaners. You can have your jewelry maintained by your local jeweler should a clasp break or your white gold needs recoating.

Bored of the plain old princess solitaire? Jazz it up with a criss cross eternity band engagement ring. That’s not the only option out there either. Jewelers have really outdone themselves in the variety of ring designs out there for a new bride-to-be. Multi-stoned settings that allow you to add diamonds or other stones on either side of a central diamond are also fabulous. If you don’t want the eternity band, just use the criss cross in multiple metal colors. The designs out there seem to be limited only by the imagination.

Criss Cross Designs

These are very hot, for a number of reason. They can be fat criss cross patterns on the design resembling a knot or several thin bands that criss cross each other in a delicate look that seems almost fairy-like. You can add diamonds to criss cross pattern or use several metal colors. You can add diamonds and criss crosses and it looks like someone gave you a ring with x’s and o’s, a suitable symbol for kisses and hugs.

Multi-Stoned Settings

Multiple stones are also a great option when you can’t make up your mind. Maybe you want the traditional diamond, but want your birthstone or your children’s birthstones in the ring. After all, if this is your second time around, then it’s the joining of two families, not just two individuals. Some couples commemorate that by adding multiple stones symbolic of each individual in the family to the ring.

Eternity Bands

An eternity band is perfect for the woman that wants diamonds encircling her ring finger. It is definitely a very beautiful sparkler. Eternity rings not only symbolize love, but also commitment and endurance. They’re meant to show that the person is committed to you for an eternity and that their love will last forever. These rings are sometimes reserved for special anniversaries to commemorate the length of a relationship. Although they are equally good if you’re just getting married, as long as the there is a center stone to make it apparent it is an engagement ring.

Jewelry and diamonds are very popular amongst many different types of men and women from many different backgrounds. The styles that are popular are seen on celebrities and can often cost more than your average person can afford. There has been a trend where replicas and other similar lower cost designs have become even more popular than the costly originals they mimic. Although in many ways, replicas get flak for being mere rip-offs, they do allow many people to look fashionable and very hip for a fraction of the price. While replicas are available for many of the higher-end fashion designs, it is often one-of-a-kind items that deserve the replica treatment as it would be impossible to own certain pieces of jewelry that are considered historic.

QVC is a great place to get the latest jewelry designs on sale for much less than you would pay at a retailer at a mall or at a brick and mortar jewelry store. They can bring the latest designs right into your home and they have flexible payment options as well as an inventory that rivals anyone in the business. They have recently teamed up with the Smithsonian to offer consumers replicas of some of the most famous jewelry pieces that are housed in their museums. These replicas will allow you to own the Hope Diamond as well as the famed Marie Antoinette’s earrings. All of the replica pieces will be made with genuine gemstones and will mimic their famous counterparts in all of the possible details.
QVC will allow its viewers to own a part of history with this collection, keeping the interest and intrigue squarely focused on the originals. How amazing would it be to own a 75-carat replica emerald just like the one found on the belt buckle worn by a Turkish sultan? Well, you can among other designs, so sit back, relax and consider the possibilities.

Some people are purists and will only wear diamonds with diamonds. However, pearls are also a classic accompanying element in elegant jewelry ensembles. Today’s look is more eclectic and you can literally wear anything you want with diamonds, finding new looks that may not have even been possible in the past.

Pearls

For a classic match, cultured pearls and diamonds really complement each other. The soft glow of the pearl provides a perfect foil for the fiery sparkle of diamonds. You can have diamond and pearl earrings, or wear a diamond ring with a pearl necklace. You can have pearl bracelets with diamond clasps, or a diamond pendant hanging from a pearl necklace. It’s all stunning and very beautiful!

Semi-Precious Stones

You can even pair diamonds with your birthstone, if it happens to be a semi-precious stone. The two gemstones together complement each other. When the color to wear for the spring season is violet, then why not wear amethyst earrings with diamond chips? Gemstones of all types and colors look great with diamonds!

Natural Elements

Some stars in previous red carpet seasons took to wearing raw diamonds. These natural stones look even better with natural elements like shells. Just because you’re wearing a diamond doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. Fresh water pearls are a natural element that look great with a little sparkle added to them also. This is particularly true of themed weddings like beach weddings or princess weddings. Add a little fun to your jewelry ensembles that make you feel quirky and alive!

Luxury Items

A put-together look includes the shoes, the purse, as well as the jewelry accessories. If luxury is what you’re going for, then invest in some designer goods to highlight the rich look of diamond jewelry. Go for other fancy colored diamonds to wear with your white diamonds. In some cases they’re less expensive, but still genuine diamonds! If you can’t afford that, there are always a few good lookalikes that cost less but still make you feel rich. A nice pair of sunglasses, with a few faux diamond chips in them, and you can now pretend you’ve hit the lottery.

Before titanium and tungsten were used for jewelry for men, they were components in industrial automotive applications. In the same manner, there are numerous modern materials that can be recycled into fashionable jewelry items for both men and women. Innovative designs with paper, electronic doodads, metal, and even plastic scraps can lead to some pretty eye-catching jewelry that’s not only cheap, but green too.

Paper

Color comic strips and magazine layouts can be made into paper beads that are glossy and richly textured into layers. It saves them from going into landfill, and it also is easy and safe jewelry accents for children.

Electronic Circuitry

If you’ve ever broken open a radio or a calculator, you know that the chips and wiring have a very modern design to them. They can be cut up to make great earrings, and pendants. Some of the components can be removed to use along with other recycled materials in new designs that appeal to technical or modern people. Wires with colorful plastic coatings can be woven into bracelets, earrings, pendants, and even purses.

Metal

Anywhere there’s scrap metal there’s an opportunity to make jewelry. Bike chains can make very edgy chains around your neck or wrist. Safety pins have long been a favorite of the punk crowd. Take a look around to see where you can find metal wire or components that can easily be fashioned into great jewelry pieces. Bottle caps are a great craft item that can also be used in jewelry design. You do have to be careful with metal not to use any pieces with jagged edges as they can easily cut the wearer. Instead opt for pieces that disassemble easily and that can be used as is in a new jewelry design.

Plastic or Industrial Waste

Plastic is an easy material to craft. It can be pasted together, it can be cut, and it comes in a variety of colors. Industrial wastes like the plastic used to display x-rays can be cut or shaped into fanciful earrings or pendants. Small CD-ROMs make fun earrings and inner tubes from tires can make some wacky, but fun, necklaces! There’s bound to be tons of craft materials lying around your home just waiting to be used by a clever jewelry artist. All it takes is a little imagination and some time to find new ways to use old materials. It’s fun, it’s creative, and it’s also eco-friendly!

If this sounds like a solicitation for food sales, you’re wrong! The newest stars of the diamond market are being labeled champagne or chocolate-colored diamonds for their rich yellow to brown tones. In the past, these stones did not appeal to jewelers, but they are about to hit the market in time for a palette of spring colors that was made right for these precious gems.

Greens, Champagnes, and Browns

Spring 2010 is celebrating a unique palette that will have people scrambling to get some of these lovely gemstones in their jewelry chest. Add a little violet tones from amethyst, and the look is earthy, but with a promise of good things to come. Since they have not reached the popularity of other fancy-colored diamonds, nor of white diamonds, the champagne diamonds can be bought for a 15 to 25% markdown, compared to other diamonds. That’s because for many years they weren’t even considered for diamond jewelry, high end or not.

Try Them with Unusual Gold Colors

The champagnes can work well with rose gold, which has an alloy of copper added to it. You can use them white gold and combine them with semi-precious amethyst and white diamonds for a very modern feel too. The colors have a wide range of depth and make each piece that uses a champagne diamond unique.

Designers Are Loving Them

Expect to see far more champagne diamonds on the runways and in shows. Designers love the way they can be used in novel ways to create an entirely new palette. In addition, it’s recognized that they might appeal to cash-strapped consumers a bit more who have struggled through this recession and want some other diamond choices.

Argyle Has More Brown than Pink

The new popularity has some diamond mine owners swooning too, especially Argyle. This diamond mind in Australia is best known for the fancy-colored pink diamonds. However, before those were brought to the surface, there was an even larger stash of brown diamonds they worked their way through. The potential to have them used in jewelry, and not just for industrial purposes, will provide a better profitability to the Argyle mine.

A quality piece of jewelry is an investment in future fashion wear. Whether you buy a commercially produced piece of jewelry or have one custom-made, there will come a time when you want something different in your jewelry box. You’re in luck because the recession trend is to make old things new, especially with old rings and things. Vintage designs may not fit your wardrobe now, but you can easily take a few of those pieces and make an entirely new piece that is unique and special. With everyone wanting just a little more work, even fashion design jewelers are willing to cut a deal by helping their customers redesign old pieces.

Keep the Stones

If you’ve got fine jewelry that seems worn or out of date, or broken, you should keep the stones. Think of a jeweler as a tailor, if you need a ring redesigned, it’s a cinch. Emeralds are just like buttons that can be added to other pieces to give a whole new look. A good practice is buying old jewelry from swap meets, garage sales, or estate sales. Keep thinking about the type of jewelry design you would like, and just be creative to get it by combining elements from more than one piece. It’s far less costly to have the diamonds and gemstones available and just put them in a different setting, than to buy an entirely new piece.

What Types of Items to Hunt

Vintage flower jewelry along with psychedelic shapes and colored diamonds are taking the market by storm. Roses have always been a really good jewelry find, and now some designers are capturing the essence of flowers perfectly in recycled pieces. A flower motif is a very easy way to take elements from various jewelry pieces and combine them into something new.

Classic shapes like hearts are also excellent for recycling. You can take a simple heart and add a stone for a great new look. You can take two different heart pieces, and form new pieces featuring hearts tied together by a necklace chain. Add a few diamond chips to any heart or heart necklace and it amps up the elegance big time. By melting pieces together or splitting them apart, different pieces of each jewelry item are used to create a fresh statement. Even if an item is outdated, it doesn’t mean you love it less. It just means it might not be in style anymore. Why not take that piece and re-work it so that you can continue to enjoy it even further into the future? In this recession, it really is the smart thing to do to take what resources you have and make them give you even more value for your money.

What You Can Do With Gold Pieces

If you happen to score some gold, that’s a great way to start recycling. Gold is very malleable, in most cases, and easy to re-work into new pieces. Gold is also useful for generating cash these days. Selling gold is easy and profitable now and it can help you to fund a new purchase. You might even think about throwing a gold party for friends and relatives to get a commission of their sales too. If you have pieces with gold and stones, the jeweler who is buying the gold, will often remove the gemstones and let you have them back. This gives you the option to have some extra cash, and the opportunity to use the gemstones in another jewelry piece later.

Find A Jeweler You Can Trust

With gold being as valuable as it is, it’s important to work with a jeweler you can trust. You don’t want to end up handing in a 14k gold chain and receiving a piece with 10k gold. It’s very likely that you won’t even notice, but the piece will be worth far less. The same is true of diamonds in your recycled jewelry. An unscrupulous jeweler can switch gemstones on you, leaving you with a less valuable piece while he resells the one he switched. Develop a relationship with a jeweler, and if possible, have him do the work in front of you. Negotiate the price beforehand, and see where you can save money here and there. Right now, everyone is looking to get a little extra work, and jewelers are no different. The right person can help you get the new look you want, at the price you want, while getting some business in the door for them.

Fashion styles for spring are showing skirts that are tight at the waist and flowing to the ground or cropped at the thigh. This can be a problem for people slumbering out of winter hibernation, as a skirt that is tight at the waist draws attention to it. Those in real heavy winter climates have the luxury of hiding a few extra pounds under the coats, but that doesn’t mean the warmer weather isn’t right around the corner. Take a tip from the Southern states, and anticipate the need to be clever with fashion and accessories to make you feel slimmer and sexier. In the winter, down South, for instance, coats are worn with few buttons and rarely if ever buttoned to the top. This not only helps to produce a less bulky feel, but it also flaunts a little color in the drab scenery, by drawing the eye towards the sparkle from fashion jewelry design that can include a nice diamond or other colored gemstone.

Traditional Flavor, Untraditional Shapes

In the past, the diamond princess cut solitaire was the jewelry of choice for those about to take the big step. Now you’re more likely to see some nods to more vintage shapes that are more rectangular, and even great enthusiasm for the pear-shaped diamond ring. You do have to be careful not to pick a shape or size that makes your fingers look fat and stubby. When choosing how to pair your diamonds with your wardrobe, it takes a little attention to both how you wear your clothing, your body type, and also what to draw attention to, and what to avoid that can make you look fat.

Paying Attention to Fashion

If you’d like to draw attention away from certain things, or bring more attention to other areas it’s quite simple. When pulling attention away from the waist wear longer tops that drape nicely over the bottom and a pant or skirt that compliments your shape. Add jewelry highlights that move the eye away from bulky areas. Avoid styles that bunch when you sit also. When drawing attention to the hips and waist after a winter workout, to accentuate this part of your body more, you can use jewelry in the form of a chain wrap with some jewels, or a belted sash. In fact, anywhere you want a little more attention you can add a bit of jewelry to draw the eye.

When You No Longer Have Time To Diet

There are definitely ways to get those few inches off your frame without dieting when you need to pull off that dress for a special occasion. If you’re on the beach for a winter vacation in Mexico, and those pounds are still there, just add some playful bracelets and anklets to your outfit to draw the eye away from the waist and onto slimmer areas. This way you can still wear flowing skirts that are tight at the waist without drawing too much attention there. Be creative and clever. No one is going to imagine that the shell jewelry dangling from your anklet isn’t just there because it’s pretty. It’s also there because you’re drawing attention away from waist to sexier places on the body, until you have time to diet properly.

Alexander the Great is known for solving the riddle of the Gordian knot by taking his sword and boldly cutting it in two to loosen it, thus fulfilling prophecy to be the king of Asia. Knots throughout history have represented a thorny problem, but they also represent unions, and destiny. Some knots are symbolic of a heritage, like the Celtic knot, or the symbol criss cross knot that sometimes refers to Christ. Either way, knots have always stymied and delighted people who want something unusual, and this year, you’ll get to see a whole lot more of them in 2010.

Criss Cross Bands

These are great for engagement rings and wedding bands. They offer the opportunity to use multiple metals, one for each band, and have a very modern look. Sometimes, the bands are engraved with criss crosses or looped over each other in a criss cross fashion. The look is very modern, but also very old-world, and mysterious. It’s like having a weaved knot engraved around your finger.

Criss Cross Pendants

Religious crosses have a large fan base, and the same is true of the criss cross pendants. Some people see them as a more hip version of the Christian cross, and others don’t associate any religious overtones to them. They can be studded with diamonds, and made to look more symbolic than religious. You can have one knot on your chain or multiple knots. You can have an entire criss cross necklace that twines around your neck, giving no religious allusion whatsoever, if that’s your style.

Celtic Knots

Have a little of the Irish in you? Why not celebrate your heritage with the Celtic knot? Some Celtic knots are seen as pagan symbols and if you’re into gothic, they make a great fashion statement. Celtic knots are seen as druid symbols by some and other times they are simply heralded as a part of Celtic heritage. It’s up to you to decide whether the knot is something that appeals to you or not.

Diamond Love Knots

Knots of different metals are intriguing enough, but add a diamond in the middle of the knot and you have something really special. These look great in earrings with a knot dangling and a diamond in the middle. It’s like a pair of hands embracing a diamond heart. Adding a diamond to the knot will obviously change not only the look, but also the symbolism. Instead of seeing the knot as something binding, it now appears to hide a rich secret. All one has to do is pull back the threads of the knot to find a treasure of diamonds.

Knotted Necklaces

Layered bib necklaces are very big too. You will find that they are knotted in a distinctive pattern that makes them look very lace-like, in some cases. The layered look is very big, even with simple chains or bracelets. That’s a good thing if you like knots. Even layered necklaces made of pearls can benefit from a strategic knot placed near the bottom. It adds a whole different style and look without having to go out and buy a whole new piece of jewelry.

There is quite a bit of interest in one particular raw uncut diamond on the market today. This extremely large 507-carat raw uncut diamond was speculated at having the ability to bring in over $30 million on the open market last fall, and today it has been recorded that this rough diamond managed to be sold for a total of $35.3 million, which makes it the absolutely highest selling price for any raw uncut diamond on the market today or in the past. When examining the overall value of this rough diamond, one can break down the worth to a remarkable $69,557 per carat. Nowhere in the world will any individual find a more precious stone that can reap as much as this particular raw uncut diamond. It seems that with this rare diamond, the Petra diamond company is quickly rebounding back from the recession lows that it had experienced in the past year.

The Petra diamond company who possessed this precious gem had it appraised previously at over $25 million by several special analysts and is known as one of the top 20 largest raw uncut diamond gems in the world today. Found last September at the Cullinan mine in South Africa, the Petra diamond company has reflectively named this precious rough diamond the “Cullinan Heritage”. Raw diamond mining at the Cullinan mine near Pretoria in South Africa has been known as one of the best sources of biggest diamond finds, yielding the world’s largest diamond that was discovered back in 1905. This other rare diamond sits at an outstanding 3106 total carats that currently belongs in Britain’s Crown Jewels.

This egg-sized rare diamond find is quickly becoming known not only for its large size but also its remarkable color and clarity as its more significant attributes. Currently there are no plans in place for any further jewelry design ideas or how one would proceed with such a large rare gem, but effectively this celebrity diamond can yield a remarkable ‘D-flawless’ clear and polished stone anywhere between 170-180 carats. A diamond of such beauty can also fetch a significant resale price on the open market. Before any individual of the general public has the opportunity to view and possibly purchase the Cullinan Heritage diamond, it will be certain that much analyzing will occur. Teams of diamond experts and cutters will have to be assembled so that they are sure to scrutinize every possible solution and strategy for how the Cullinan Heritage diamond could be cut and made presentable for possible resale.

The Cullinan Heritage raw diamond was recently purchased by a tender from Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Ltd. The purchase and sale of the Cullinan Heritage diamond puts specific emphasis on the interest that China has on the global diamond market and how they are growing contributors, bouncing back from the economic crisis of past years. Many are recognizing China with significant interests in the global diamond market, overtaking Japan as the second most influential country for rare gems. It is not known currently what the plans are for this remarkable rare diamond find, but the ability of this rare diamond to be cut into many other rare stones is a possibility, while keeping the diamond intact can also bring forth an extraordinary treasure for many jewelry designers.

Even though depleting markets and the global recession over the last few years has touched many individuals and businesses, many rare gems including the Cullinan Heritage have sparked a high level of interest, significantly more than first assumed. The diamond market today is currently increasing back to levels seen in 2008 before the economy had suffered a negative impact. Many feel that this raw uncut diamond is just a small step in helping the diamond market regain its notoriety and continues to grow for the open market as part of a successful economy. The interest in raw uncut diamonds is quickly growing, helping make rare diamond finds such as the Cullinan Heritage an even larger find due to its worldwide interest.

Although it may be difficult to imagine such a large rare gem being bought and sold for such a substantial amount of money, many individuals are sure to see other raw uncut diamonds come from diamond mines in South Africa that have been known to produce such rare gems.