Posts Tagged ‘diamond’

Once you found the girl of your dreams and have decided to propose to her, there is a lot to consider. Firstly you need to decide whether you want to present her with an engagement ring, or whether you will go together to choose something perfect.

The tradition of presenting an engagement ring at the proposal itself is thought to have been established when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to his betrothed in 1477. And whilst many women today may hope to be shown a ring at the same time as accepting your proposal, many may also prefer to have some input into the ring which they can hope to wear for the rest of their lives.

Whatever you decide, do not worry too much. Even if would like to present her with a ring, all reputable jewelers understand the deep significance of an engagement ring and will allow you to exchange it for something more to her liking if you have erred slightly! After all, diamond engagement rings are usually significant purchases and it is in their interest to keep you happy!

Whether you choose a ring to give on your own, or go with your future bride to buy it, you must decide on your budget. Do not skimp here.

When buying fine jewelry, one way to determine your budget is to decide on an amount and then double it. This is no joke. It is easy to underestimate the amount which should be spent when buying fine jewelry. After all, a woman can expect to wear her diamond engagement ring every day for the rest of her life and it may be the first piece of significant fine jewelry she receives. Furthermore, this ring will last several lifetimes and may well become an heirloom! This is no time to be a cheapskate!

Another way to set your budget, which is perhaps more commonly used, is the “two months’ salary” rule. This means that you should look to spend the equivalent of two months’ current salary on her engagement ring. Obviously you have other bills to pay which means you will need to save up. This may take some time so you may prefer to consider financing options. If this is your choice, make sure you get approved before you go to buy the ring so that you are clear what your repayments will be and how much of a down payment will be needed.

And remember that some of the best deals for diamond engagement rings are available online. You will be able to buy a better diamond for less money! That has got to be a win-win situation!

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Opals are beautiful gemstones and the wonderfully luminous color play of dramatic black opals makes them a perfect choice for setting into signature pieces of diamond jewelry such as engagement rings and pendant necklaces. But diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth. They can be cleaned with abrasive cleaners which can scratch and mark lesser gemstones. Opals are soft and fragile. So how can you clean and care for your opal and diamond jewelry?

Because they are porous, opals readily absorb moisture and other fluids. So caring for them is different from most other fine jewelry. And like so much in life, prevention is better than cure.

Use Common Sense

The easiest and most important way to care for your opal and diamond jewelry is to prevent it from becoming heavily soiled in the first place. So make sure you wear gloves, or remove your opal and diamond ring whenever you do the gardening, take out the trash, go to the beach etc.

And do not forget common household cleaners either. Opals can be easily scratched, cracked and even lose their fire if they come into contact with harsh chemicals such as polishes and cleaning products, not to mention hairsprays, deodorants, perfume, soap, baby oil, make up and so on. Use your common sense. Treat your opals with respect and do not contaminate them with any chemical products.

Wear Them Regularly To Prevent Dehydration

Even though are porous, opals should not be kept locked away for occasional wear only! NOT wearing opal jewelry actually damages the gemstones. This is because opals contain up to 6% water, so they actually need to be exposed to trace amounts of moisture in order to preserve their structure. Opals can crack if they are allowed to dry out. However, they will absorb the necessary moisture directly from your skin, so the easiest way to prevent them from dehydration is to wear your opal and diamond jewelry regularly.

Clean Gently

Whenever your diamond and opal jewelry needs to be cleaned, do it gently. Place your piece in a bowl of clean luke warm water and agitate carefully using a specialist jewelry brush or a soft tooth brush. Take care not to leave your jewelry to soak though. Remove it and gently pat dry with a lint free cloth.

Avoid Extremes of Temperature

Opals can be damaged by rapidly changing extremes of temperature. So if you take a sauna and are moving from a hot environment to a cold one in a short space of time, remember to take off your opals ahead of time!

Store Safely

Diamonds can only be scratched by a harder diamond, although the ring settings can become scratched in contact with other jewelry. However, opals must be kept safe in a soft pouch away from damaging contact.

Opals and diamonds complement each other beautifully. Follow these tips and keep them looking that way!

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