They’re Perfect For The Holidays

In the same spirit, these large fashion statements are perfect for the holidays, even today! Whether you are into costume jewelry or want the real thing, a cocktail ring is the perfect accessory for the holidays. You can find many large fashion rings online, in a variety of different styles and gemstones. Some of the newer materials, like cubic zirconia, are well suited for fancy cocktail rings and can add to the spirit of the holidays.

Teens Love Them

Teenagers are very fond of large jewelry pieces, and these rings can make a great gift even for the ones that are under drinking age! Teens are into dress up and no matter how many rings you give them, they’ll love pairing them with other outrageous jewelry. The bolder the better for some teens, and that means they’ll love the huge look of cocktail rings. They will layer them on their fingers and pair them with large necklaces. For the holidays, your teen will be in high style. Get them in different band colors, in different gem stone colors, and many different designs. Your teen will love them!

As A Social Statement

While prohibition failed and now anyone of legal age can get a drink without being arrested, it still doesn’t mean that these rings don’t make a social statement. Statement pieces of jewelry that are bold, colorful, and in-your-face make the statement that you are person interested in being noticed, even when you’re part of the in crowd. Large diamond cocktail rings will always be in vogue as a cultural statement that says you’re wealthy enough to afford a ring of that quality, even if the occasion is not a wedding, but just for fun.

As a result, he did not present her with an engagement ring until after she had accepted. At the time he arranged for a selection of engagement rings to be presented to his fiancée to choose from and the future princess chose the sapphire engagement ring surrounded by diamonds. The center sapphire weighed 18 carats and was encircled by fourteen smaller diamonds. The price of the engagement ring at the time (1981) was said to have been about $65,000. Although this was considered to be a rather paltry sum at the time, it certainly sparked a trend in engagement rings that is still going strong today.

When Prince Charles proposed for the second time, this time to his former love Camilla Parker Bowles, he chose an Art Deco platinum and diamond engagement ring that had once been worn by his grandmother, the Queen Mother. The heirloom engagement ring features a diamond with an emerald cut and three diamond baguettes flanking each side of the center diamond. Their actual wedding rings were specially designed.

When it was Prince Andrew’s turn to present an engagement ring to fiancée Sarah Ferguson he chose a ruby and diamond ring. It was thought at the time that ruby and diamond engagement rings would become extremely popular with others due to the fact that there had been a surge in popularity in sapphire engagement rings following the engagement of Prince Charles and Lady Di. The speculation that this would increase the popularity of ruby and diamond engagement rings was definitely well founded.

The jewelers who anticipated the trend certainly proved to be correct as there was a surge in ruby and diamond engagement rings in the months and years following the engagement and marriage of Prince Andrew and the princess who would come to be known fondly as Fergie. Much like celebrities, the Royal Family, has certainly been known to set trends and not just in their home country, but around the world as well.

Ruby and sapphire engagement rings flanked by diamonds have continued to be popular engagement rings in Britain as well as the United States. The diamond engagement ring has actually not been the most popular style of engagement ring abroad. Queen Elizabeth has worn a diamond engagement ring, but she is one of few to have done so and clearly broke with English tradition by wearing a diamond solitaire engagement ring. While this is surprising in some ways, it is really not that surprising in others as the queen has demonstrated more than once that she will break with tradition when she feels compelled to do so.

Her ancestor Queen Victoria wore an engagement that was highly popular at the time and featured two serpents which were to represent her as well as her husband, Prince Albert. The serpent or snake engagement ring, while considered to be highly unusual today, was actually extremely popular at the time. This was the first Victorian engagement ring to ever be created and it featured an emerald, which was the queen’s birthstone.

It remains to be seen if and when Prince William will actually propose to Kate Middleton and whether he will choose a ring or they will select a ring together. It is certainly entirely possible that a sapphire ring will be chosen in a nod to his late mother while he might also choose to go in an entirely different direction and choose something else altogether, such as a diamond solitaire engagement ring similar to his grandmother’s.

Regardless of what type of ring is chosen for the woman who will one day be the Princess of Wales it is certain that the style will spark the same popularity as the rings that other royal brides have worn over the years.

Glass Diamonds

These are often in antique or vintage jewelry. The settings may have actually contained a real diamond at one point, and somewhere along the way, the diamond was stripped and a glass reproduction put in its place. You’ll find these more often in settings that have a closed back, as there were ways to keep them from being too closely inspected using a simple newspaper test. The test consisted of looking through the diamonds bottom to see if you can read a line of print. With glass or cubic zirconia, it’s very easy. With diamond, it’s very hard because the light is very well reflected.

Rhinestones

These are similar to glass and used in clothing to simulate the look of diamonds, but are generally not anywhere near. It can add a splash of sparkly fun to your wardrobe, but in general, there are even better options today, if you want to have a fake that looks the part. Rhinestones tend to look a bit plastic and don’t reflect light as well as cubic zirconia.

Cubic Zirconia

These fakes do look pretty good for what they are. They are flawless and equate to a “D” color diamond. They do reflect more of a prismatic and colorful spectrum than diamonds, which can make them look bit fake for diamonds. They are much softer than diamonds and so jewelry made with them can be damaged. They have quite different characteristics than diamonds, so jewelers can easily tell a cubic zirconia from a real diamond. For one thing, the cubic zirconia will be an insulator and the diamond is known as a very good thermal conductor.

Moissanite

This material is very close to diamonds in look and characteristics. They have been known to fool some jewelers who don’t have the proper equipment to inspect the diamond in question. You generally need a special Moissanite inspecting tool, and not just the general round of diamond tests. That’s because this particular synthetic material has a very similar hardness and thermal conductivity range that approximates diamonds. It is not as hard, but still very hard for a synthetic diamond. It is very close to thermal conductivity as a real diamond. Since they are grown in the laboratory, though, they hold no organic value and they aren’t priced as high as diamonds.

Knowing The Difference

If it’s hard for a jeweler to distinguish between moissanite and diamonds, imagine the average person’s dilemma? Since the difference in value is so large, you will want to assure yourself that if you think you are buying a real diamond, that it in fact is. It’s one thing to deliberately go out and seek a synthetic stone, and quite another to be fooled into buying one you think is real, but has been carefully labeled so as to avoid the fact that it is really a synthetic. If you are going into the market for a real diamond, which most people do eventually, the best way to make sure you are getting the real thing is to only do business with reputable companies that provide a lab certification report. That way, you will know exactly what characteristics your diamond has and how much it is actually worth, instead of assuming that because it looks like a diamond, it’s the real thing.

One area where almost any shopper could use a bit of guidance is in purchasing diamond jewelry as a holiday gift. Huge sales beginning around “Black Friday” and through the New Year offer some new, as well as classic, pieces, but the sheer volume of choices can quickly overwhelm even the most seasoned shopper. There a few key points to keep in mind whether shopping online or in stores and they include:

• Budget
• Comparison shopping
• Flexibility
• Fun

Of course setting a budget is the most important consideration when looking for a gift of diamond jewelry, but during the holiday season many people’s dollars can stretch a great deal farther than normal, so it is a wise choice to do some preliminary investigation before fixing a budget amount. This is easily handled by doing some comparison shopping, and the Internet makes this very simple.

Most shopping malls contain branches of the major “chain” jewelry stores as well as department and specialty stores. Most of them will provide a website that itemizes their holiday promotions or current inventory. A savvy shopper could easily determine a realistic budget by spending a bit of time comparing what each store has to offer.

Additionally, though the online shopping environment provides a stress-free method of tackling holiday shopping, this holiday season is expected to create some of the most remarkable in-store bargains in recent history. Most stores and shops are expected to dramatically reduce prices in order to accommodate the global economic troubles, and this means that shopping malls and retail stores will be able to compete with online shopping prices. So, comparison shopping is going to play a critical role in finding the best diamond jewelry gifts.

When comparison shopping for diamond jewelry it is also important to remain flexible in order to locate the widest number of choices and range of prices. For example, some jewelers may offer a number of metals to choose from, and which can greatly lower the cost of the gift, i.e. a white gold or silver setting instead of a platinum setting. Alternately, many shoppers can reduce the cost by purchasing a smaller, but well-cut diamond instead of paying for larger carat counts.

Mixing precious and semi-precious stones is also another way of acquiring an excellent piece of diamond jewelry, but at a bit of a reduced overall expense. For example, many women would like to receive an eternity band as a special holiday gift, and a smart husband or partner could investigate the price differences between a gold, silver or white gold band, set with smaller well-cut diamonds or a mixture of diamonds and other stones. A willingness to be a bit flexible can often produce a good opportunity for tremendous financial savings.

There is an old saying that says “it is better to give than to receive”, and many people truly come to understand the joy of giving, particularly during the holidays. Unfortunately, even someone with the best intentions can easily get burned out by the holiday traffic, crowded shopping conditions, and an overly busy schedules. In order to truly enjoy shopping for diamond jewelry as a holiday gift it is important to remember that the experience of selecting the item should be as much fun as giving it. Allowing the entire experience to be fun, relaxing and enjoyable is the key to picking out the perfect gift. This means scheduling in a realistic amount of time to do some comparison shopping, and for physically making any shopping trips in order to select the item. It is also helpful to have some knowledge about the wishes of the receiver, and this can be difficult to determine without actually asking them directly. For this reason it may be a good idea to plan some window shopping with them in order to see what attracts their attention.

If there are several loved ones receiving diamond jewelry as a gift it is a good idea to make note of the current trends in fashion, and the types of jewelry the individual might prefer. For example, it is perfectly acceptable to purchase diamond jewelry for a teenager, but along simple lines such as diamond stud earrings set in silver or white gold, or a simple diamond pendant that they can wear frequently, or save for special occasions.

Diamond jewelry shopping for holiday gift-giving should be an enjoyable experience that adds a bit of extra sparkle to one of the happiest times of the year.

The name Tiffany is synonymous with elegance. The founder and owner of Tiffany & Co., Charles Lewis Tiffany, made a reputation so enduring that a particular setting of his own design carries his name to this day and is considered one of the standard options for setting the most priceless diamonds. The Tiffany setting is designed to display the diamond in a way that it is most availed of what it needs to show its beauty to the world: light. Set on six prongs, diamonds in a Tiffany setting truly sparkle. For gems that deserve to be set in a way that unavoidably draws the eye to them, it is one of the best and serves as a testament to Tiffany’s sensitivity to the artistic display of such beautiful stones.

Harry Winston, 1896-1978, is a legend in the world of jewelers. Not only did he work with some of the most famous gems in the world, he worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and was known as the preferred jeweler for film celebrities. Winston had an abiding love of diamonds and was the owner of the Hope Diamond, possibly the most famous diamond in all the world. As any jeweler is wont to do, Winston wanted the world to see for themselves the beauty of this spectacular gem and, to that end, he donated it to the Smithsonian Institute in the late 1950’s where it still resides today.

Winston’s clients included the one celebrity who, aside from Marilyn Monroe, is probably most associated with diamonds: Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor was given a diamond that weighed over 69 carats by her husband Richard Burton. Burton once joked that, if their movie careers should falter, they could sell the diamonds of which they were so famously fond to make ends meet. Winston’s association with Hollywood continues until this day. Over 30 years after his death, the stars still seek his creations when they’re going to be seen on the red carpet at Hollywood’s biggest events. A $20 million recreation of the “Heart of the Ocean” diamond owned by Kate Winslet’s character in the 1997 film “Titanic” was made by Winston’s company. His Harry Winston Diamond Company endures to this day.

When shopping for diamonds, customers are often advised to pay attention to the cut of the gem, one of the four C’s in the mnemonic they often use to remind themselves of the marks of quality. Famous jewelers often patent their own cuts as a way of distinguishing themselves from others and of establishing themselves as authorities in the gem cutting world. The famous Israeli diamond cutter Gabi Tolkowsky patented the Eternal cut, a very complex cut that features a flower-like pattern of facets, that is currently offered only from the Gerrard Company of England. This company also made a recreation of the “Heart of the Sea” diamond from “Titanic”, though their necklace used a sapphire in place of the blue diamond that was the centerpiece of the jewelry in the film.

The most distinguished gem-cutters often become collectors themselves, and are sometimes tasked with working with the most precious of all stones. In some cases, they also broker some of the most well-known diamonds in the world and, in doing so, further cement their reputation and legend as among those whose life’s work is more distinguished by their association with such great wealth. Charles Lewis Tiffany, for example, acquired a portion of the French Crown Jewels, which further elevated him in status among his peers. Having in his possession the famous Hope Diamond did nothing to diminish the reputation of Harry Winston, to be certain. His longevity and prosperity, ironically, cast doubt upon one of the legends surrounding the diamond itself: that it’s possessor inherits a curse.

The work of famous jewelers represents some of the most expensive art in the world. Though this art is wearable, it is oftentimes found displayed, as in the case of the hope diamond, or in the collections of individuals who possess such items as a type of investment. The value of such items, as it tends to increase with age, precludes many of them from being worn. Like the gems from which their created, however, whether they’re worn or displayed, their beauty is, indeed, forever.

If there is a “rule” about engagement rings however, it could be summed up in one word: diamonds. Most engagement rings will contain at least one diamond, and this is something that even an “untraditional” bride is likely to expect. Luckily, diamonds come in an enormous number of styles, sizes, qualities, cuts and even colors, so selecting a ring that matches a woman’s personality should not be too difficult for her partner.

Of course as in any fashion item, engagement rings are available in “traditional” formats or styles, as well as incredibly contemporary ones too. The materials used can vary widely from platinum to silver, yellow and white gold or even tungsten. It is strictly a matter of personal taste, and a willingness to shop around in order to select the perfect ring.

Currently there are several jewelry trends that are appearing in the world of engagement rings as well, including reproductions of vintage or antique jewelry, colored diamonds, and alternative shapes to the stones.

Vintage and antique jewelry is more popular than ever, and a look through a few shops may actually allow a suitor to locate the perfect ring for his lady. This is particularly true if a woman tends to admire such periods as the Victorian era, Gilded Age, Jazz Age or Roaring Twenties, or even the more recent eras like the 1950s through the 1990s. The methods used to cut stones and the settings will reveal the era in which the rings were produced, but some of these same styles are practiced today, and a new ring with a similar “feel” could also be found in a modern jewelry store or website.

There are several jewelry companies that focus on reproduction work, and such sources are perfect for a suitor looking for an “old-fashioned” ring. Such locations are also an ideal resource for historic wedding band reproductions. For example, a woman who greatly admired the late Princess Diana could be presented with an exact replica of her famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

While the more “traditional” or vintage styles appeal to some women, others don’t necessarily want an engagement ring to “look” like an engagement ring and will be happy with a custom or unique ring to wear on their left hand. One of the best methods of acquiring an engagement ring with unique appeal is to purchase a colored diamond.

Most people are well aware of the brief relationship between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, and of the six carat, pink diamond engagement ring he gave her. While this sort of stone is out of most men’s budgets, a colored diamond is not. They come in almost every shade, hue or color imaginable, and currently the “hottest” are the canary yellows. While these can be expensive, many clever shoppers are choosing to use the popular “three stone” band which allows two smaller, colored stones to be mounted on either side of a larger colorless diamond. This provides the ring with a unique and diamond filled appeal!

The Internet is a great resource to learn more about colored diamonds, and a brief word of warning about the purchase of such stones is to be absolutely sure they are naturally colored stones, and not those created in synthetic environments. Such differences are quite hard to distinguish, but for the expense of the stones it is a wise choice to work only with a very reputable dealer.

Along the same lines as the vintage or estate jewelry are stones cut in unusual or old-fashioned shapes or methods. For example, rose and mine cut diamonds were a showstopper at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007, when actress Cate Blanchett wore more than one hundred carats of them on the red carpet. This created a huge interest in the old-fashioned method of cutting diamonds, and such vintage looks are appearing more and more often.

Additionally, heart shaped, round and cushion stones are also completely acceptable for a diamond engagement ring, and can provide a unique appearance to such an important piece of jewelry.

Some men become overwhelmed by the pressures of choosing a ring that will probably be worn on a daily basis for the rest of a woman’s life. This is understandable, but it is important for them to remember that there are other resources for help, including friends and family members. Alternately, some men invite their prospective bride to help them with the selection, but make the actual proposal a surprise event. Just as there are no rules for engagement rings, there are no rules for the presentation of an engagement ring!

Different Colors

The colors of tungsten can range from a silvery gleam to the grays and even black, depending on how it is treated or finished. It can be alloyed differently to produce different colors, all in neutral grays or blacks. You won’t get black as a choice with platinum rings, yet a black tungsten wedding band with diamonds is completely stunning for a sophisticated man’s wardrobe. Since you can combine multiple bands of tungsten in different shades, the look can be customized to include whatever look you love best.

Finishes

A high polish is very popular as a way to simulate more expensive platinum bands, for much less cost. It’s also ultra-modern. Bands can be textured, but tungsten is hard to engrave. At least you can get a few grooves to show up if you choose multiple bands of metal in your wedding band. This can add a striking contrast between different colors and textures and still leave the design quite minimalistic and unadorned. At most, you might get some weaves as a finish in different metal bands, giving the ring a more detailed look.

Other Reasons Men Love Tungsten

It isn’t just the way the metal achieves modern and sophisticated looks and designs, it’s also about the durability and cost factor. Tungsten is a very strong metal that won’t damage easily, and it is much harder than gold. This makes it ideal for active people to wear without fear of damaging it in sports or other strenuous activities. It fits right in at the gym, just as much as at a romantic dinner for two. Tungsten is hypoallergenic, like gold, so anyone can wear it. It costs much less than gold, a big factor in today’s depressed markets. You can get a man’s tungsten wedding band for less than $100 and it can be far more attractive than yellow gold. This leaves the option of adding precious stones to the band, and making it a real stunner. The different finishes and close resemblance, in some cases, to white gold or platinum, can help a person to make the decision in favor of tungsten.

In the first decades of the current era, Pliny the Elder, a Greek historian, wrote of an infamous stone not yet called a diamond that would resist smashing and heating. In those days the stone was already coveted. It was described as being kept for royalty and associated with a variety of specials powers in the pagan tradition. It was likened to quartz but recognized not to be such and once that story began to circulate the quest for diamonds was begun in earnest.

The Crown Jewels

The coined term crown jewels refers to the jewels worn or displayed before the current sovereign King or Queen of England during the ceremony for their coronation. This coronation makes them the ruler of the British Empire. Throughout history the diamonds that make up a large portion of the crown jewels have always been in the public eye.

The Mountain of Light

In the early 1300’s what was then known as the world’s largest diamond weighed in at 105 carats today. Before being cut to increase brilliance it weighed over 185 carats. This gem has many “names” but they are all translations meaning the mountain of light. Originally found in India it was battled over extensively by warring armies during invasions. Eventually it wound up in the hands of the British monarchy and they still own it to this day. It became part of the British Crown Jewels in 1877 when the Prime Minister declared the Queen of England the Empress of India.

The legends that surround this jewel are most likely quite a comfort to the current Queen of England as it is rumored that whoever owns the stone rules the world. However this good luck only holds true for female owners and rulers. Superstitious lore says that it brings any male owner tragic fortune. So Prince Charles may want to consider parting with it. This is highly unlikely since this is the stone his grandmother the Queen Mother wore in her crown. In fact as she laid on display at her public viewing after her death the crown and the jewel which is the center stone was on display. The British royal family have had control and ownership of this diamond for 2 and a half centuries and aren’t likely to ever part with it.

The Cullinan Diamond

The largest diamond ever found on earth is called the Cullinan named after the village it was found in. The village was named after a British man. His name was Sir Thomas Cullinan. The diamond was found in 1905 and two of the stones cut out of it are found in the crown jewels. Mining has been sporadic and unsuccessful for the past century at this location. It is though the luck of the region left with the diamond.

The Stars of Africa

A diamond weighing 530 carats known as the Star of Africa is set in the royal scepter. And the 317 carat diamond called the Lesser Star of Africa has been set into the Imperial State Crown. These two diamonds are among the most famous of the crown jewels.

The crown jewels consist of over 2500 of the best diamonds in the world. They have been kept in the Tower of London for five centuries after they were stolen in the early 1300’s. After they were recovered they were removed from their previous home at Westminster Abby because they were deemed safer and more defendable in the tower.

Rumor has it that all of the crown jewels were shipped secretly overseas to Canada during WW II to protect them from the incessant bombings of the Germans. That rumor has been contradicted by the rumor that they were kept at Windsor Castle during these turbulent times. At any rate the jewels, like the monarchy survived that deadly era in history.

It is a famous misconception that the crown jewels date back to antiquity. Indeed there are less than a handful of them that can be traced beyond the mid 1600’s. Oliver Cromwell melted down and destroyed the original crown jewels during the mid 1640’s as he attempted to end the monarchial reign of the royal family. He nearly succeeded in his position as Lord Protector and for two decades until his death and the failure of his son to retain the power he gained, he had successfully ruled the empire which he called the Commonwealth.

Prior to that great loss of the crown jewels in the early 1200’s they were lost by the King and not replaced completely until the end of that century. So hopefully for the royal family the old adage that you often hear that the “third time is the charm” will hold true and they will be able to hold onto the crown jewels.

Completely Flawless

This ring doesn’t just have a few good qualities, it is considered to be flawless by most laboratory standards of the 4 C’s of clarity, color, carat, and cut. The color is exquisite, it has absolutely perfect clarity, and an ideal cut for the stone. The 32-carat weight is exceptional by any standards. Thus, it wasn’t just the size of the stone that helped it to sell for so much, it has an exceptional quality, also.

Designed by Noted Jeweler

David Webb designed the diamond into a stunning ring setting. This designer is world renowned for great designs and lends great authority to the piece. The stone alone is beautiful and completely flawless, but the design makes it a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece.

The Annenberg Diamond

The diamond is named after the family that donated the gem stone as part of Leonore Annenberg’s estate. Ms. Annenberg was said to have bought the stone to celebrate her 90th birthday. From there, it was auctioned off at Christie’s, which is unlikely to see a stone of this quality come through its doors soon again.

The merger, finalized recently, will increase both companies’ overall retail presence and will allow Abazias to improve their position in both e-commerce and direct response using OmniReliant Holdings, Inc.’s experience in that area. With such elements as the Deal-of-the-Day, 1-Step-Buy, and the Engagement Ring Builder, Abazias has gained many satisfied customers who have an appreciation for top-notch customer service and innovative website features. With over 150,000 diamonds with a combined value of over $1 billion, they have set the standard for high-quality diamond purchases on the Internet.

Abazias is a highly recognized online diamond and jewelry retailer as well, selling the latest design trends and have been featured in last year’s Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide. This merger, approved the first week of September 2009, will allow both companies, OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. and Abazias to grow substantially through the use of the others’ resources. Abazias will now have access to a video production studio to film commercials and educational videos on diamonds and fine jewelry. Not only will they be able to shoot these videos for the website, but the partnership will also facilitate the launch of a jewelry TV channel for the sale of Abazias items.

OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. gains further Internet presence to further amplify their successful reputation and added resources in the form of leadership and further credibility in the e-commerce sector. Using their direct response model, OmiReliant Holdings, Inc. can use Abazias’ cutting edge technology and online retail savvy to continue to bring high-quality items to shoppers around the globe.