Diamond Rings

By Uladzislau Suski

Diamond rings are used in a variety of ways. You can find many stores which will sell you the diamond ring that you can most afford. These rings that you can find are designed for both men and women of all ages. The colors of the diamonds which are used are sometimes based on popular demand. Regardless of these colored diamonds, the styles which can be seen in diamond rings have the look of simple elegance that is a trademark of diamond designs.

You will find that the diamond colors which are used for rings are white diamonds, pink Argyle diamonds, blue diamonds and yellow diamonds to give you a few examples. The rare red and pink diamonds look really fabulous in modern classic diamond ring style. The current traditional use for diamond rings is that of engagement rings.

You will see that diamond rings are used for wedding rings, men's signature rings - although the diamonds which are found on these rings are of the small variety - and fancy diamond ring designs. The shapes of these diamonds are designed and chosen so that they enhance the wearer's finger. By choosing a ring shape which complements your finger you will find that diamond rings make a statement about the way that you feel about yourself.

Depending on the ring which is chosen your state of mind will also be revealed. For instance the main idea of diamond rings which are used as an engagement ring is that you are well loved and your fiancé has felt that you are worth the purchase of a diamond. Since the saying diamonds last forever is true you can expect that this ring that you have chosen represents the level of commitment in a relationship.

For other people who like the idea of wearing diamond rings these rings are the perfect complements to any outfit. The choice of diamond that you choose will in some cases limit what types of clothes that you wear. For instance you can wear a yellow diamond with colors that will not make the diamond ring look garish.

Besides buying natural diamond rings there is another type of diamond that you can buy. These diamonds are synthetic diamonds. These diamonds have been made so that they closely mimic the brilliance of these faux diamonds. The prices of these diamond rings are not as expensive as your ordinary diamond ring.

Now unless you have some experience with diamonds there is no way that an ordinary person will know if you are wearing a real diamond or a man made diamond rings. The best thing that you can do is to enjoy the pleasure of wearing one of the timeless beauties.
Learn all about Diamonds at this Great Diamond Site!

Jewelry Manufacturing Terms - Explained

By I. Maher

If you have ever shopped for jewelry, you have likely encountered numerous seemingly foreign terms which describe the way particular pieces of jewelry are crafted. You have probably heard jewelry industry terms such as handmade, electroplate and gold filled, and wondered what these terms are actually supposed to be telling you. By understanding commonly used terms which describe the way jewelry is made, you will be a more educated jewelry consumer and able to make informed decisions when purchasing fine jewelry such as necklaces or eternity rings.
Below are explanations of some common terms that will give you insight into the construction of particular pieces of jewelry:

-Cast: Cast jewelry makes up a majority of the jewelry you will see for sale in stores and online. Casting is a widely used jewelry manufacturing process in which metal is poured or forced into a mold, called a die, making it assume the shape of the cavities of the mold. The metal then cools and hardens in the desired shape, at which point it is called casting.

-Die Struck: Denser and thus more resilient than cast jewelry, die struck jewelry is formed by compressing precious metals into shape by striking or stamping them using harder metal dies.
Requiring specialized equipment and more production time, die struck jewelry is more costly than cast jewelry.

-Handmade: Just as it sounds, jewelry marked “handmade” has been constructed entirely by hand without the aid of mechanical devices. All major components of handmade jewelry have been individually crafted by hand, and no machine manufactured parts may be incorporated into jewelry designated as “handmade.” Handmade jewelry can be relatively costly but is highly sought after due to its uniqueness.

-Gold electroplate: Jewelry carrying this description is composed of a non gold base metal coated with a layer of at least ten carat gold. In order to be classified as gold electroplate, the layer of gold must be applied to the base metal through an electrolytic process and measure at least 0.175 microns (about seven millionths of an inch) in thickness.

-Gold filled: Gold filled jewelry is also comprised of a base metal coated with at least ten carat gold, though the gold coating of gold filled jewelry is bonded to the base metal mechanically through the application of heat and pressure. Gold must comprise at least 5% (or 1/20th) of the weight of a piece in order to be classified as gold filled. You may also see gold filled jewelry referred to as “gold overlay” or “rolled gold plate.”

About the Author: Ian Maher is the CEO of Maliere, a leading provider of eternity rings, diamond rings, platinum rings and gold rings. For more information, please visit http://www.Maliere.com

Setting Styles for Diamond Rings

By I. Maher

The manner in which a diamond is affixed to a ring is referred to as its setting, and several different setting styles are used for diamond rings. Below we examine some of the major setting styles for diamonds and other precious gemstones in rings:

Channel Setting: In a ring with a channel setting, one or more diamonds are inset into a channel and held in place by a small lip on either edge. Multiple stones in a channel setting are not surrounded by individual prongs, but are situated snugly next to one another within the same recessed channel. Excellent examples of channel settings are those in eternity rings. Eternity rings usually contain a row of diamonds inset in a channel, which stretches either halfway or all the way around the ring. Channel settings may secure all of the stones in a ring such as an eternity ring, or can be situated on either side of one larger center stone with a different setting style, a popular option for engagement rings.

Prong Setting: Also called a “claw setting,” a prong setting consists of a set of usually four or six metal prongs which protrude from the base of a ring and wrap slightly around the top edge of the diamond to hold it in place. Prong settings are popular for rings with one main diamond as the dominant feature, as is the case with most engagement rings. Prong settings are cost effective, and many people prefer them because of the belief that light can pass through a diamond in a prong setting from the bottom as well as the top, contributing to its brilliance.

Bezel setting: In a bezel setting, also referred to as a “rub-over” setting, the diamond is completely encircled by a band of metal which affixes it securely to the ring. A rub-over setting incorporates an elevated collar of metal around the edges of the diamond, which protects and secures the stone better than other elevated setting styles such as the prong setting. A variation of the rub-over setting is a flush setting, in which a diamond is set into an opening and secured at the bottom, with the top of the diamond extending beyond the base.

Tension Setting: A tension setting is a unique diamond setting style in which the metal of the ring itself holds a diamond securely in place within an opening in the metal. The diamond appears to float, since no metal from the ring extends beneath it. You may imagine the metal of the ring acting as a very strong spring which holds the diamond in place. Rings utilizing tension settings must undergo specialized strengthening treatments since the diamond relies on pressure from either side of the opening to hold it in place. A tension setting allows light to enter the diamond from all angles, giving it extra luminosity.

About the Author: Ian Maher is the CEO of Maliere, a leading provider of eternity rings, diamond rings, platinum rings and gold rings. For more information, please visit http://www.Maliere.com