Diamonds & Engagement Rings News

Diamonds are for Trevor

2008-01-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

In this male-dominated world it is usually women who have the advantage where jewellery, clothes and accessories are concerned.

But a diamond company has tilted the balance in favour of men by creating the world’s most expensive tie. It costs – hold your breath – Dh1 million and is studded with 261 diamonds weighing 77 carats and 200g of white gold.

The maker, India’s Suashish Diamonds, was not satisfied with having its brand Ishi’s sold through more than 130 outlets in 25 cities in India and the Middle East. It wanted the world to really sit up and take notice – and so it created the sparkling tie.

“The product design team wanted to do something to make the brand stand out,” said the group’s Marketing Vice-president Siddharth Kedia. “So they came up with the idea of making the most expensive and unique tie in the world because this was something that had never been done before.”

Managing Director Ashish Goenka said: “I was wowed when they brought the idea to me.
“It was a unique concept and went very well with our policy of wanting to position our products as aspirational and our desire to showcase our design and product development strengths to the world,” said Goenka.

Suashish Diamonds, whose retail partner in Dubai is Joy Alukkas, linked up with the upmarket boutique Satya Paul to create the tie from pure silk in Ishi’s brand colour, purple. It was launched with a lot of fanfare at a Satya Paul fashion show in Mumbai.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan created a sensation when he walked down a red-carpeted ramp wearing the Dh1m tie. Pictures of him with the glittering creation around his neck were flashed around the globe.

The tie achieved what Ishi’s design team had set out to do – it made the world sit up and take notice.

Kedia added: “That was the launch of our World’s Most Expensive Series of Products line. The tie got Ishi’s instant international recognition and helped position it as a leading jewellery brand in the Indian and Middle East markets. We got quite a few orders for more ties, albeit on a smaller scale, after people saw the photographs.”

Ishi’s team did not rest on their laurels – they went on to make the world’s most expensive waistband for women. The Dh2m band, studded with 8,000 diamonds weighing 200 carats set in one kilogram of pink gold, was modelled by Bollywood star Bipasha Basu. They followed this with the most expensive armband in the world, which was studded with 10,000 diamonds set in one kilogram of gold in four shades. The Dh3.6m sensation was modelled by former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova.

Goenka said: “If anyone wants to place an order with us for any of these exclusive products then they should get in touch with Suashish Diamonds or the Ishi’s design team.

“We will surely not disappoint them as our team have shown that they can create anything,” said the managing director.

Prince William to propose to Kate Middleton? Harry already asked Chelsy Davy?

2007-08-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Prince William is reportedly planning to propose to girlfriend Kate Middleton in the next few weeks - and his younger brother Prince Harry is already said to have popped the question to Chelsy Davy.
According to the People newspaper, William is planning to use one of his mother Princess Diana’s favourite rings for the engagement and has already asked his uncle, Diana’s brother Earl Spencer for permission to do so.
A source told the newspaper: “William is sure his mother would have approved of Kate. So he approached his uncle to see what he thought of the idea.”
“Using one of Diana’s rings is the greatest symbol William can think of to show how important Kate is. It will also keep his mother’s memory to the fore on his big day. Assuming Kate accepts, it will be like a union of the two most important women in his life.”
The source added that while the couple are currently holidaying together on an exclusive island in the Seychelles, William is more likely to propose at the royal estate in Balmoral, Scotland: “Balmoral has special memories for them because it’s where they used to sneak off for discreet weekends when they were students at St Andrews.”
“It is where the romance started. William thought it would be the place with the most meaning to them.”
Meanwhile, Prince Harry is said to have proposed to Chelsy during a recent safari holiday in Botswana.A source told the Sunday Mirror that the couple pledged to marry when Chelsy has finished her postgraduate degree - and will hold off announcing the engagement until then: “Harry and Chelsy are serious about each other and are both keen to make more of a commitment.”
“Neither of them can imagine living without the other. It’s just a question of how and when it will happen.”
Chelsy, who was born in Zimbabwe, currently lives in South Africa but is thought to be enrol at the University of Leeds next month to study politics - and be closer to Harry.
The source, claiming to be a friend of the Prince, went on: “[Harry] has also come to realise that what he and Chelsy have is pretty special. It’s natural they would want to settle down.”
“[But] for now he does not want her to be a public figure and they both want time for their relationship to develop as normally as possible. It will be 18 months down the line before they go public about their engagement.”

Court decision scores knockout for Tiffany against jewelry knockoffs

2007-08-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

A federal court in New York has entered a final judgment by consent for jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. and against Starglam Inc. and its principal owner, enjoining them from any further infringement of the Tiffany name and trademark. Starglam had been charged with selling Tiffany knockoffs online and via retail stores.

Under the judgment, defendants paid Tiffany $950,000. The principal owner had previously pled guilty to charges of trademark counterfeiting and has served his sentence, Tiffany says.
“We are pleased to announce this judgment,” says Tiffany’s chairman and CEO Michael Kowalski. “Trademark counterfeiting severely damages brand owners and consumers alike. The way to stop it is to take aggressive action against the counterfeiters and make them pay, criminally as well as civilly. That’s what happened in this case which should send a message to anyone trying to sell counterfeit Tiffany merchandise.”

Starglam was charged with selling the counterfeits on the Internet, including on eBay. Tiffany, No. 98 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, has a civil suit awaiting trial in a federal court in New York against eBay because of the large amount of counterfeit Tiffany silver merchandise that has been sold on eBay auction sites, Tiffany says.

Starglam also was accused of distributing counterfeit silver Tiffany merchandise, some of which was purchased in Asia and some in New York, Tiffany says. The government brought proceedings against the New York seller who was prosecuted and convicted.

Damiani Signs Paris Hilton for New Jewelry Line

2007-08-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Paris Hilton has signed an agreement to be the new face of Italian jeweler Damiani’s new Bliss collection. As reported in E! Online, the socialite was recently photographed for the launch of the three-year print campaign.

The Bliss line is Damiani’s lower priced line, geared toward the younger market. The pieces incorporated gold, stainless steel, wood and diamonds, with prices ranging from $60 to $3,000.

Vice President Silvia Damiani said, “She’s perfect. It’s our young and our very fashionable line.”

Diamond Jewelry For The Holidays!

2007-08-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

A festival diamond jewelry grip may be just the chunk that makes this a Christmas to memorize! Whether it be a new diamond halo, diamonds earhalos, ornament, armlet or some other chunk pf diamond jewelry, the festival time can be a flawless time to fast your perpetual keenness to those you ardor with a diamond all their own! There are a few equipment to keep in brain when exchange diamond jewelry for the holidays, and here's a few of them.

WHAT DO THEY LIKE?
each has their own special type, and to have the best shot at discovery diamond jewelry that compliments their untreated special type you want to come armed with proof. What do they like? Classic, contemporary, or vintage styling? What metal do they wish.
Exclusively gold, platinum, silver? Do they like bold or ingenious diamond jewelry, and what magnitude are the chunks they own now?

SHAPES and SETTINGS
Diamond jewelry can come in many outranks and locales. Some choices might enter a circular diamond, a marquise cut or oval, a princess cut or emerald, pear or sympathy; as well as many other cuts and outranks and really even flag of diamond jewelry out there. verdict superstar's special wishence when it comes to diamond jewelry can be a tricky attempt; you don't want to give it away! See what they stare at when space shopping; you may get a suggest at some of the equipment they like.

Be assured to take into consideration the magnitude and outline of their hands, particularly for a female. presume how it would look on her hands. If you're in a retail store have a clerk with like hand assembly paradigm it for you.

The last thing you want to do is have a large halo that overwhelms her hand.

WHAT magnitude DO YOU BUY?
You may have to become a furtive agent to get this report, but it would be finicky to have an idea of magnitude when you're Choosing that halo. Another firmness is austerely exchange limp diamonds and shopping together for the locale.

You're still her knight in shining shield and she get to elect how it shines!

WHERE TO BUY DIAMOND JEWELRY?
This part is receiving easier and easier. In addition to the diamond traders in your theme, the internet has revolutionized diamond jewelry shopping, to the point where it's now wishable to do your diamond shopping online. Time, convenience, greatly more gladly open reportrmation and array make diamond jewelry shopping on the net an no- brainer.

You regularly run into great prices online as well, as there is no overhead online and also no commissioned salesperson there to "direct" you into the diamond jewelry they want to push you, not necessarily what you want. No presassured, no ranks, no parking, no crime, and all the chief diamonds traders have an online ghost, as well as some that are chastely web-based. Let me ask you: would you fairly buy your diamond jewelry from a timeal worker who is pushing you what they have left on hand, or make a greatly more reportrmed and leiassuredly firmness from a web-based trader with a great contract more array and maybe better prices? approve, you elect! Most of the chief Most all online stores will agreement you guarantees and earnings privileges, and in my panorama putting my prestige license online is a great contract safer than generous it to an eighteen year old final for the hottest XBOX.

If you're looking for diamond jewelry for the holidays, let your fingers do the walking and find that flawless chunk they'll adore eternally!

Video captures smash, grab at Lauderhill Mall jewelry store

2007-07-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

Armed robbers hit a jewelry store in the Lauderhill Mall this morning, donning black masks as they jumped the counter and shattered jewelry cases.The 10:40 a.m. robbery was recorded by two security cameras inside S. B. Jewelry Inc., 1487 N. State Road 7.

Police released the footage from the cameras this afternoon in hopes that the public can help identify the robbers, one of whom left his gun behind, police said.The trio made off with handfuls of jewelry, including necklaces, pendants and large crosses with diamonds and might have left in a maroon SUV, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Robert Parmelee at 954-496-4716 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

Click here to watch the video http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0723lauderhilljewelry,0,4785813.story

Court freezes assets in diamond fraud case

2007-07-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

A state judge issued an injunction Monday that freezes all assets of the defendants who were accused of stealing $3.3 million in diamonds as part of an alleged "bust-out" scheme to defraud 45 diamond companies. Alfred Avi Taub, A Taub Diamonds Corp., Shalom S. Taub, Ora Taub, Oran Taub, Oran Designs and Shiran Atias are "restrained from transferring any and all assets, either personal assets or corporate assets," according to court papers filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Manhattan as part of a civil suit filed by the diamond companies.

The restraint also covers joint assets and says all income to the defendants will be received by a court-appointed receiver, Paul R. Sklar, who will manage their assets. A temporary restraining order had been in effect since July 2 against all the defendants except Atias.The civil suit, filed by attorney Cindy Molloy, who is representing 45 diamond companies, but says her firm is aware of at least 91 alleged victims, was filed on June 28.

It alleges that Alfred Avi Taub established A Taub Diamonds Corp., a diamond wholesale business in New York's diamond district, in April 2006, and together with his father, Shalom S. Taub, rapidly established credit and contacts within the diamond industry by initially paying the bills on small transactions over a period of 11 months, and using clients as references for one another, court papers said.

But this April and May, the suit alleges, the company had built up its credit enough to "bust out," and Alfred and Shalom Taub, as well as Atias, a company "affiliate" proceeded to collect more than $3.3 million in diamonds on memo, which the suit alleges the three men never returned or paid for. In addition, A Taub Diamonds Corp. did not have enough money in its bank account to cover the diamonds it had taken on memo, according to the suit, and began bouncing checks written out to the lawsuit's plaintiffs.

The lawsuit states the defendants also lied to their plaintiffs regarding the whereabouts of the diamonds on memo, with Alfred Avi Taub claiming that some had been converted into sales. In mid-June, he also told several of the plaintiffs that he'd been robbed and lost $1 million in diamonds, but that he had insurance to cover the loss, court papers said.

According to court papers, Alfred Avi Taub left the United States for Israel on the same day the suit against he and the others was filed, but returned on July 18 and has since been staying at the home shared by his parents and brother in Long Beach, N.Y. In a June 27, 2007 search of the premises, eight diamonds were confiscated by the New York Police Department, court papers stated.

In a deposition filed to the court on July 19, Taub invoked his rights under the Fifth Amendment of the United States. But according to court papers, he appeared on July 17 in the Magistrate Court in Kfar Saba, Israel, in which he said he was robbed of a little more than a million in diamonds, that $1.4 million was taken from him by a client who tendered the amount in several checks, the first of which wasn't honored. He told the court that about $500,000 dollars is left, and that he's still owed about $300,000, according to court papers.

While the Manhattan district attorney's office confirmed to The New York Times that it had been pursuing a criminal investigation into Taub's business, and that his homes in Long Beach, N.Y., and Brooklyn, N.Y., were searched, no arrests have been made in the case.Neither the district attorney's office nor the defendants immediately returned phone messages.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo seen “Choosing wedding rings”

2007-07-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

It seems that the infamous sex picture scandal involving singer Nick Lachey and girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo brought the couple closer together. A close friend claims that the pair is shopping for wedding rings, and Vanessa knows exactly what she wants.
“Vanessa has always wanted a cushion-cut diamond. But at the Kentucky Derby in May, Vanessa changed her mind after she saw and emerald-cut engagement ring on another Derby-goers finger,” says a friend.
26-year-old Vanessa told Lachey that she wanted an emerald-cut diamond in the center and two smaller ones on the side. The couple have been dating a least a year and have bought a million-dollar condo in New York City.

Good Things Come in Three, All About Three Stone Jewelry

2007-07-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

He brings her to an empty movie theater and the lights darken. Suddenly, there she is on the screen—black-and-white images of their courtship. And there he is, by her side in the dark, presenting a three-stone diamond ring.

The ad ran late one afternoon in July 2000 in a darkened room in Charterhouse Street. It was the day De Beers unveiled the three-stone ring known as the “Diamond Dream.”

The impact was far-reaching, extending to other categories (three-stone jewelry, sometimes referred to as PPF—past, present, future—now accounts for some 10 percent of all women’s diamond jewelry worldwide, according to the DPS) and to every continent.

Clearly a bridal product (it was initially an anniversary band but soon became an engagement ring alternative), and very much a “diamond as the hero” piece, it nonetheless had modesty written large. Like the woman in the ad, and the women in the “Steps” and “Hands” ads that followed, this new three-stone ring was as serious as it was lovely. Its beauty lay in trim and thoughtful lines—Audrey Hepburn rather than Liz Taylor—and in each ad, its presentation induced a quiet but profound reaction from a woman who played her cards close to the chest.
Madonna, Sharon Stone, Toni Braxton, Jennie Garth, and others received them in mid-proposal. Their celebrity helped expand the category—from anniversary band to engagement ring, but also from emotion driven to aspirational, modestly private to glaringly public.

In the process, a new three-stone guideline was born. With centers two or three times larger than the sides’ total weight, the ring was an engagement ring, and centers were often raised in such settings. Those differences lost the abbreviated diamond wall for a look that was almost a solitaire, with the sides as supporting cast, but it still worked.

We at Diamondsonfifth offer the most beautiful three stone rings, earrings pendants, prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, that way we fit everybody’s budget.
If you have any question please feel free to contact us at 866-382-0288.

Thanks
The DiamondsOnFifth Team

Jewelry Most Popular Customized Gift for Wealthy

2007-07-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Jewelry eternity bands proved to be the most popular customized luxury gift in a survey of the spending habits for wealthy consumers in the United States. The 2007 Wealth Report, conducted by research company, the Luxury Institute, showed that 37 percent of wealthy consumers buy made-to-order jewelry as a gift, while 44 percent make similar purchases for their own personal use. Combined, jewelry was the second most popular made-to-order category - 56 percent of wealthy consumers said they buy customized jewelry – behind home furnishings (57 percent.) Homes, men's dress shirts and suits completed the top five.

The survey, which was released July 15, 2007, questioned residents with household incomes of more than $150,000 about their spending habits on customized luxury goods in the categories of made-to-order, one-of-a-kind and made-to-measure. It showed that twice as many women buy made-to-order jewelry for personal use, while men more frequently buy it as a gift rather than for their own use.

The Luxury Institute said the wealthy listed more than 100 brands of made-to-order products they buy, of which Tiffany & Co. was the most popular with 6 percent of the wealthy saying that they made a made-to-order purchase from the New York-based jeweler. While automobiles were the most popular "one-of-a-kind" items, 26 percent said they have bought unique luxury items such as jewelry

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker choose Piaget For there Wedding Bands

2007-07-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

During a fairytale wedding at Saint Germain L’Auxerrois Church in Paris, Desperate Housewives’ leading lady, Eva Longoria, and basketball superstar, Tony Parker, exchanged vows and sealed their love with a pair of Piaget Possession wedding bands. Unique to Piaget, the Possession rings feature two bands that are inseparably linked, turning together for eternity. “They are such a wonderful couple, so in love and such an inspiration to so many,” states Philippe Léopold-Metzger, President of Piaget. “We are honored that they have chosen Piaget’s Possession wedding bands to be the ultimate symbol of their love.”

Ms. Longoria’s Possession band is crafted from 18K white gold and features two rows of 80 brilliant-cut diamonds, separated by a row of 27 square-cut diamonds—a total of 107 breathtaking jewels. Mr. Parker’s is a matching 18K white gold Possession band, the picture of elegant simplicity. At the couple’s request, a special inscription was engraved inside both rings in French.

South River man proposes at Milltown parade

2007-07-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Amy Kozak's 6-year-old brother — clearly eager for a brother-in-law — had tried using dandelions to propose marriage on behalf of Kozak's boyfriend. Wednesday, on her favorite holiday and with her great-uncle serving as grand marshal of the borough's parade, Jack Ryan Kozak played his part in the real deal.

Under inflatable palm trees on the back of the Good Day Preschool and Kindergarten float, Jack held up a fluorescent-orange sign that read, "Ryan wants to know if you will marry him."
Before Kozak, 22, could urge him to quit his silliness, her boyfriend Ryan Pfaff, 25, popped from the passenger's side of the float-carrying truck in a charcoal pinstripe suit.
"What?" Kozak said, looking around for some help interpreting events.

Before Kozak could process the moment, Pfaff fell to a knee and presented her with a diamond engagement ring.
Kozak held her left hand to her heart for several seconds before offering her finger. And a kiss. And a hug.
A crowd of family, friends and strangers applauded.
"I've been planning this for two weeks," said Pfaff, a South River resident who plans to return to school and become a grade-school teacher. "It worked out perfectly."
Minutes afterward, Kozak, a recent graduate of Rowan University with a sociology degree, continued with sporadic success to fully take in what had happened.
"Surprised," she said of her emotions. "Shocked. Happy."
Pfaff said Kozak, a Milltown resident, loves Independence Day because her whole family gets together. And this year's parade was special because her great-uncle, Carl Hermann, rode as grand marshal.
The couple, who have been dating for three years, posed for pictures. Kozak showed off her ring with an unsteady hand.
"You're lucky I didn't pass out," she said to her fiance.

Another Satisfied Customer From Diamonds On Fifth

2007-07-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

July 9 2007

This was an experience we will remember FOR EVER!!!

Back in June 07' I made an appointment with Moshe from "Diamonds on Fifth" (DOF) to select a diamond for my Fiancée. We selected a beautiful .78 ct. Princess cut diamond after a long educational process, which allowed us to pick the perfect stone within our budget. Then we went to a Jeweler to select the setting, right after we went to another place to have the diamond set on the ring and polished to perfection. We left "DOF" with a beautiful engagement ring my lady got to see come to life right in front of her eyes... This was amazing, we designed the whole thing and Moshe even took pictures of the process and e-mailed them to us...

Then a month after I called Moshe back. I wanted to exchange the diamond for a BIGGER one; this was NO PROBLEM for him... After a few e-mails to decide on my new choice and pictures back and forth to pull the trigger on the deal, it was done. I mailed my Fiancée’s ring back to Moshe and within a day of him receiving it I got it back with a precious 1.14 ct Princess cut diamond.

The most difficult part was to convince my girl to give me back the ring for a couple of days so "I could have it appraised". We went together to the UPS pick up location to get the ring back from "DOF" and just imagine her expression when she saw the bigger rock!

NOBODY BEATS the honesty of "DOF"! There are no hidden agendas when you deal with them. The transparency of the transaction makes you feel very comfortable and you are not pushed to make decision unless you are 100% happy with the choice you are about to make... I FULLY RECOMMEND DIAMOND ON FIFTH!

Moshe - You are the best! Thank you for giving us an experience we will remember for the rest of our life!!! See you back in 5 years for a 2.0 ct upgrade!

Hiram & Vivi
Milford, CT

What is the difference between a Diamond Grading Report and an Appraisal?

2007-07-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Diamond Grading Report is a document issued by a Gemological Laboratory describing a Loose Diamond. The laboratory will not issue reports on Diamonds which are set in a mounting. A Diamond Grading Report (certificate) issues a "grade" indicating the physical properties of the Diamond "at the time of evaluation".

A certificate is a document which retains its value over a long period of time, assuming the Diamond does not chip or is not otherwise altered.An appraisal can be performed on a loose Diamond, a mounted stone, or jewelry. If the stone is not loose, the physical properties are estimated using various estimation techniques. Most importantly, an appraisal indicates the Dollar Value of the piece under consideration.

Obviously, the Dollar Value can easily change considerably over a relatively short period of time. Appraisals are most often used for insurance purposes. Many people make the mistake of using an in-house appraiser to evaluate the purchase price of their Diamond. This is a big mistake. Firstly, appraisals are often over-estimated, and are therefore a very poor estimation of price. More importantly, any in-house Jeweler may be biased towards their own merchandise.

To further complicate matters, many people have become more educated when it comes to buying Diamonds, and have learned that its important to have a GIA certificate. What they have not learned, unfortunately, is how to differentiate between a GIA GTL (Gem Trade Lab) Grader, and a GIA G.G. or Graduate Gemologist. Many assume that getting an appraisal by a GIA gemologist is the same as getting a GIA Grading Report.

Some unscrupulous Jewelers attempt to further that illusion.The GTL (Gem Trade Lab) Grader is a GIA employee who performs the Diamond Grading for the Institute. A GIA Graduate Gemologist, on the other hand, has simply passed the GIA Diamonds, Diamond Grading and Colored Stone, Gem Identification and Colored Stone Grading courses.

The GTL grader has all of the above and more. S/he is far better trained in grading and usually has far more experience than a G.G. Further, the GTL grader does not have the same vested interest in the outcome of the grade of the stone they are evaluating.

http://www.diamondring.com/forums/diamondtutorial.php?learn=20

Over 3 carat diamond pear found in trash?

2007-07-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

I just came across this story and felt i need to share it with you guys even it is a week old.

This is a story of a women that mistakenly through her 3 Carat diamond ring in the garbage, but was very lucky when my of the sanitation guys helped here look through all the garbage and found the ring.. Good to know there are still good people out there.

Click Here to view this clip.

Will You Marry Me? What A Cute Way To Propose

2007-06-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

DUSTIN & ERIKA
"When I met my husband, Dustin, I was a single mother of 3-month-old identical twin boys," recalls Yuma, Ariz., bride Erika. "He proposed two months after we met by dressing my boys in onesies that said 'Will You' and 'Marry Me?' We got married a month later. He has since adopted the boys, and we also have a 2-year-old daughter, and another daughter due in October."

Ever heard of an SI3 Diamond Color Grade, And Don't Know What It is.

2007-06-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

The GIA Diamond clarity scale refers to how clean, or free of imperfections a Diamond is. The GIA standard for the clarity scale consists of: FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, ???, I1, I2, I3 So what is the SI3?

The SI3 was born out of the desire of the Diamond Industry to incorporate an extra grade to identify Diamonds in the lower range of the clarity scale. Many complained that there is too wide a gap between the SI2 and the I1 grade.

Why not offer an SI3 grade to bridge the gap? After that EGL - Los Angeles (European Gemological Laboratory) started to issue the SI3 grade, Some say the SI3 is a good idea, others say it is a bad idea. The problem with the SI3 today is that GIA, the largest and most widely accepted Gem Laboratory in the world, does not recognize SI3 grades.

If you see a diamond with a SI3 clarity written on the EGL certificate, remember it is basically a I1 on a GIA certificate.

Give Your Girlfriend Howard Stern's Engagement Ring For Only $39.00

2007-06-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Howard Stern and Beth O are getting married! The notorious shock jock proposed to Beth Ostrovsky with a glamorous 5.2 carat emerald cut three stone ring! Don't wait for your billionaire to come along, borrow his expensive taste at a fraction of the cost. Inspired by Howard and Beth O.'s taste in larger than life bling, Edina's CZ cushion cut ring features a 5 carat emerald cushion cut center stone surrounded by 1.5 carat side stones. The 2mm thick band and prong setting has been rhodium electroplated for the elegant shine of platinum. 6.6 grams.

Another Satisfied Customer From Diamonds On Fifth

2007-06-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

Emarald cut diamond 3.12 E VS1

We are finally back safely in London.
Thanks for the photos we received, they are great and will be treasured.
Also, thanks very much to you and all your colleagues for your wonderful hospitality. You really made this experience a special and memorable one for us. We are ecstaticly happy with the ring which is absolutely stunning (I am just as obsessed with it as Tamara!)

Moshe, you really could not have done more for us! Thanks so much for all your time and consideration, you really looked after us brilliantly, and thought about everything for us.

The tour of your diamond-making business is something that Tiffany can never compete with, it was fascinating - and by the way, Tiffany don't have the choice of diamonds that you have either! (I know becuase I went in looking for a similar stone to see how much money I had saved by shopping with you - the answer is that they charge about 65% more than you and have a much smaller selection!) It was also great to meet and get photos with the jeweller who actually made our ring.

We will send you the photos we took (which are great). We will certainly mention you to all of our friends - it would be impossible not to, because you are such a central and happy part of our engagement story!
We will definitely stay in touch.

Best Wishes
Michael and Tamara

Another Testimonial For Diamondsonfifth.com

2007-06-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

June 18 2007
Princess cut diamond 2.38 F VS2 set in a three stone ring.
Moshe --- I just want to thank you for all your personalized service and the level of comfort you gave me in dealing with "Diamonds on fifth". I have to tell you I was skeptical in dealing with a company and sales person I found on the Internet ---- however, your expertise, insight and warm personality gave me the comfort level to invest in the beautiful GEM and setting. Jessie was more than pleased and has come to grips with marrying me :-) Having visited the store and met you in person, she could not say enough nice things. Thank you so much for all your help in making my diamond experience pleasurable --- and my engagement memorable. You're the BEST my friend.Warm Regards and Thanks

DavidLaurys Station PA

Do you want to know everything about jewelry?.

2007-06-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

A new jewelry book aimed at consumers discusses jewelry-wardrobe building and aesthetics, and offers retail jewelers both a marketing tool and a sales-team training guide.The 224-page book, Jewelry Savvy: What Every Jewelry Wearer Should Know, is written by third-generation jeweler Caroline Stanley and certified image consultant and jewelry designer Cynthia Sliwa. It features more than 100 images.

The authors say their book covers "everything that people should know about jewelry but probably have never been taught," including developing a jewelry wardrobe, understanding personal style, care and maintenance of jewelry, and understanding the basics of metals, gemstones and costume jewelry.

The authors offer retail jewelers several methods for using the book in their stores: offering it for sale to customers, using it as a training guide for sales associates, offering it as a gift to better customers, or using it in conjunction with an in-store event focusing on jewelry wardrobing.The book retails for $19.99. Copies may be purchased by calling (310) 937-8997. Online purchasing will soon be available through Jewelrysavvybook.com.

Worker Returns Package Of Diamonds & Engagement Rings Worth Over $260K

2007-06-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

For every bad person there is a good person out there, after writing alot of stories of people stealing diamonds and engagement rings it is great to be able to write a story of a person that realy is a hero. Here it is.

A local jewelry store is thanking a man for turning in $266,000 worth of gold and silver rings he found.

Robert Lewis works at Kansas City International Airport. On Monday night, he was leaving work when he noticed a suspicious package.

"I was heading home and I saw this bag right in the middle of the road. Working at an airline, I recognized it was freight," Lewis told KMBC's Micheal Mahoney.

"Brinks" was printed on the bag, and it was filled with 40 pounds of jewelry.

"I saw all the rings -- engagement rings, wedding rings, just unattached stone, diamonds, everything," Lewis said.

He said he briefly thought about keeping the bag, but then decided to turn it over to police.
It's not clear whether the bag was accidentally left behind or if it was part of a bungled robbery.
"How the heck does a bag like this fall out of a Brinks vehicle? I guess I spoiled somebody's plans," Lewis said.

The Brinks security company refused to comment on the case.
Helzberg Diamonds retrieved the bag of jewelry and is promising to show the company's appreciation to Lewis.

"I talked with Mr. Lewis today. I thanked him for what he has done. I'm sure we'll come up with a nice way to thank him. We'll figure out something special for him," Helzberg CEO Marvin Beasley said.
"Today is Helzberg's lucky day," Lewis said.

Where Does The Name Tennis Bracelet Come From

2007-06-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Did you ever think to yourself where the name tennis bracelets came from, ok here is your answer.

According to Diamondbug it is called a tennis bracelet because in 1987, Chris Evert, the former World No. 1 woman tennis player and the winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, was playing in the U.S. Open. She was wearing an elegant, light in-line diamond bracelet, which accidentally broke and the match was interrupted to allow Chris to recover her precious diamonds. The ‘tennis bracelet’ incident sparked a new name for the item and sparked a huge jewelry trend.

We at www.diamondsonfifth.com sell beautiful tennis bracelets from $2000.00 and up.

Angelina Jolie is doing good with here extra jewelry

2007-06-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

The Bochic necklace and earrings vintage-style suite of rose cut diamonds set in 22K gold that she wore at the Golden Globes will be auctioned off by charityfolks.com and all proceeds will go to UNHCR programs in Chad for refugees from the Darfur region. Keep it up.

Woman, 47, charged in theft of ring

2007-06-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

As we reported here a few weeks ago that an engagement ring was stolen off a dead women’s hand, we are finally able to report the rest of the story.

A 47-year-old Licking woman, who was a nurse’s aide at Phelps County Regional Medical Center, has been charged with a felony count of receiving stolen property as a result of an engagement ring that turned up missing from the victim a fatal traffic accident.Pamela A. Chapman, of Licking, who was assisting in the hospital morgue on March 18, is out on $20,000 bond for the alleged theft of an engagement ring valued at $15,924.The arrest of Chapman ends a two-plus month investigation involving PCRMC Public Safety Officers, the Rolla Police Department, and officers of the Licking Police Department.

“I wish this alleged event had not happened here, but I understand things like this do occur,” said PCRMC Chief Executive Officer John Denbo. “Thanks to an extensive investigation by Officer (Hank) Harper, this is coming to an end instead of some unexplained occurrence. I’m glad we know what happened or at least what allegedly happened,” Denbo said from his office Thursday.Denbo credited the work of Harper, Rick Hanrahan, director of Public Safety at the hospital, the Rolla Police Department for bringing closure to the investigation.On March 18, John Long and his fiancee Meghan Calahan were involved in a fatal traffic accident on State Route B near St. James in which Calahan, 22, was killed.

Calahan’s body was transported to Phelps County Regional Medical Center where it was examined by Phelps County Coroner Larry Swinfard. Calahan was wearing several rings and jewelry, including a 14-carat diamond engagement ring, which Long had designed at Hannoush Jewelers. The jewelry was removed and secured together with a paper clip.The clip with the jewelry allegedly was handed to Chapman, who was assisting the nurse who then secured the rings to Calahan’s body. The body was then placed into a locked morgue at the hospital, according to the probable cause statement for Chapman’s arrest.Three days later, Swinfard was informed the engagement ring was missing, who then reported the missing ring to the Rolla Police Department.

On March 28, PCRMC Public Safety Officer Harper interviewed Chapman, who denied knowledge of the engagement ring, and the investigation had stalled.About two months later -- on May 24 -- Leanna Chapman, an employee at a Cabool hospital, was wearing an engagement ring at work. A fellow Cahool hospital employee, Jeri Foster, questioned Leanna Chapman about the origin of the ring and was allegedly told her aunt, Pamela Chapman, found the ring in an elevator at the PCRMC.Foster became suspicious and called the PCRMC Public Safety Office. Harper, Lt. Ken Nakanishi of the Rolla Police Department and an officer of the Licking Police Department went to Pamela Chapman’s home at 110 Sackett St. in Licking where they spoke to the woman.

The ring was retrieved by Leanna Chapman, who said she borrowed the ring from her aunt, Pamela Chapman, and upon inspection found the ring was identical to the missing one belonging to Calahan.Pamela Chapman, although interviewed about a missing ring by Harper shortly after Calahan’s ring was discovered missing in March, said she did not tell Harper about finding a ring because she believed the rings to be of different values.Subsequently, Long, Calahan’s fiance, filed a claim with State Farm for the missing ring and the claim was approved for $9,747.50. Photos of the ring were e-mailed to Long, who positively identified the ring as Calahan’s engagement ring.

Chapman, shortly after the ring was discovered in her possession, was fired from the hospital. She had been a PCRMC employee for nearly four years.“She was terminated on May 24,” Denbo said. “All of our employees go through background checks. There was nothing found (in her background check).”

www.diamondsonfifth.com

216 ct white diamond recovered in Lesotho

2007-06-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

A 216 ct white D colour flawless diamond - bar a small peripheral gletz, a small naturally formed plane in a diamond - was found at the Letseng diamond mine in Lesotho by Gem Diamonds. This follows shortly after the recovery of the Lesotho Promise, a 603 ct white diamond recovered in August 2006.The stone was transported for sale to Antwerp in February and will be tendered for in a parcel that includes two other white D colour flawless stones of 54,9 ct and 30 ct respectively.

The Letseng mine recently rose to prominence with the recovery last year of the Lesotho Promise, the fifteenth largest gem quality diamond publicly reported as being recovered, which was sold in Antwerp to the South African Diamond Corporation, the owners of Graff Jewellers, for $1,.4-million. The mine is situated in the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho and is the highest diamond mine in the world.

Read More http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=109635

Another great Testimonial from one of the greatest people in the world.

2007-06-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

June 6 2007
Emarald cut diamond 3.00 I VS2 - Diamond eternity band 4.96 H VS1
My husband and I purchased the most beautiful diamond engagement ring and eternity band from Diamonds on Fifth. They are consummate professionals and in my opinion, the best in New York’s famed diamond district. They are honest and fair and know diamonds – what else can you ask for? I will be a lifetime client and have referred all of my friends. Moshe is wonderful – I think I’m ready for earrings!!

Sunny Hostin
Legal Analyst, Court TV and FoxNews

Lazare Kaplan’s One Million Dollar Ice Cream Cone

2007-06-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Lazare Kaplan’s One Million Dollar Ice Cream

Hi Everyone, i just got back from Vegas attending the jewelry and diamond show. I came across a very unique diamond ice cream cone at the show, thought that all of you will like to know about it, made a google search and came across this Video clip. Hope you will enjoy it.

More Women Picking Out Their Engagement Ring

2007-06-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Just as we see from our great customers, this report just confirms what we see.

Once upon a time, when a man proposed, he gave a woman a shiny solitaire diamond engagement ring. It was the standard. It's probably what her friends had and she was eager to join the club.

Fast forward to 2007: It's now the norm for a woman to influence what her engagement ring will look like -- if not to pick it out herself, says Mary Moses Kinney, director of the Independent Jewelers Organization. The result is bigger stones, nontraditional settings and some rings that forgo the diamond altogether. "Size matters," says Millie Martini Bratten, editorial director of the Conde Nast Bridal Group. "People love a big sparkly ring, especially coming from the person they love most in the world."

Moses Kinney thinks the larger rocks are being driven by two things: Women aren't shy about asking for what they want, and, because couples are getting married a bit older, they typically have more money to spend. The older bride also has had more time to carve out her personal style. "Women want personality in their ring. They want to make an emotional statement with the ring.

They want it to reflect who they are," says Moses Kinney. The groom, Bratten says, if left to his own devices, would probably still go for a classic solitaire because that's what he thinks an engagement ring looks like. But he's rarely left to his own devices. Usually, she says, "He will take his fiancee to the store and let her point out shapes she likes -- the shape is the priority -- and settings. She'll drop hints whether she likes gold, platinum or white gold."

Read more http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/usworld/news-article.aspx?storyid=83512

More grooms-to-be are pointing and clicking to find their honeys the perfect wedding ring

2007-06-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

Future dentist David Ung wore out a lot of shoe leather shopping for a diamond engagement ring for his fiancée, Ynhi Nguyen.

"I went from 47th St. to Chinatown," said Ung, 29, who visited more than 10 stores in a month. But when it came to actually buying the bling, he went online to jewelry Web site diamond.com.
Ung, who's studying at New York University College of Dentistry, plunked down $5,000 for a 1.15-carat, round, colorless diamond ring, even though he first saw it when it arrived in a box at his home.

"I love it, it's shiny, it's sparkling," said Nguyen, a 33-year-old accountant from Vancouver.
Ung loves it too - for a different reason. A comparable ring "would have been $7,000 to $8,000 in a store," he said.

For many men, there are few things more daunting than buying an engagement ring. Not only are they expected to fork over a huge sum - etiquette experts have long recommended spending two months of salary - assessing the quality and value of diamonds can be as angst-ridden as meeting the in-laws.

But jewelry Web sites such as diamond.com, ice.com, whiteflash.com, diamondsonfifth.com, mondera.com, ross-simons.com, abazias.com and industry leader bluenile.com are taking the guesswork out of the hunt, and offering a growing number of grooms a less expensive alternative to traditional and often intimidating stores.

Prices for diamond rings purchased online can be 20% to 40% less than comparable stones behind the glass shelves. The reason: jewelry Web sites, which have far lower expenses, will often take a much lower markup on their merchandise.

"A $1,000 diamond at Zales will be $650 at Blue Nile," said Ken Gassman, president of the Jewelry Industry Research Institute, an independent research firm. "Zales' profit margin is 50%," he said, while "Blue Nile's is 20%."

For Gabriel Weaver, a 29-year-old lawyer from Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, scoring what he considered a good price on a ring - $4,000 for a 1.1-carat, near colorless Asscher-cut rock - wasn't the only reason he bought from bluenile.com.

Weaver said the Web site had great information that helped him choose among Blue Nile's vast selection - 50,000 stones and 100 settings. The catalog ranges from a .23-carat diamond of medium clarity for $277 to a 12.23-carat piece of ice for $1.369 million.

Blue Nile and others are making jittery grooms more comfortable with 30-day return policies and certificates from independent diamond-grading labs backing up their diamonds. Place an order and the ring will arrive at your doorstep in three business days.

The sites demystify the buying process by detailing what's universally known as the four c's - cut, clarity, color and carat weight - that factor into each diamond's value. Knowing those attributes for any given stone makes it much easier to compare prices.

For now, online sales are still just a fraction of the diamond engagement ring business. But the numbers are growing along with online jewelry sales - the fastest-growing Web retail category overall.

Gassman estimates that, of the $6.2 billion worth of engagement rings sold last year, $500 million, or 8%, were bought online. Five years ago, Net sales accounted for only 1%. The average price of an engagement ring online or off was $3,200 last year, according to the Diamond Information Center.

Jewelry stores aren't going away any time soon, though many are hurting because of the Web. There will always be people who insist on actually seeing a stone and comparing it to others.
Buying a diamond is "a touch-me, feel-me kind of thing," insisted Harvey Nagin, president of the 47th St. Business Improvement District, which represents 3,000 Diamond District retailers and wholesalers. He added that wise shoppers will find 47th St. prices competitive with the Web.
If you choose to buy a diamond online, make sure you are buying from a reputable store. Read shoppers' reviews on comparison shopping sites such as shopzilla.com or shopping.com, said ice.com marketing chief Pinny Gniwisch.

Only shop at a retailer that has a liberal return policy and provides certification from the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society.

And once you buy, have an independent appraiser grade your diamond, said gem expert Antoinette Matlins, author of "Diamonds." Given the investment, she said, "It is money well spent."

$500M - Value of engagement rings bought on jewelry Web sites in 2006$3,200 - Average price of an engagement ring bought in 2006 on or offline

Court approves sale of Fabrikant assets

2007-06-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York has approved the sale of assets of diamond wholesale giant M. Fabrikant and Sons Inc. According to The Associated Press, Wilmington Trust Co. and Surya Capital LLC won the right to purchase inventory and other assets from the diamond wholesaler, which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last fall.

The AP reported that Wilmington Trust is a corporate lender based in Wilmington, Del. According to court papers, the company paid $41.5 million for the assets. Records did not indicate how much Surya Capital, a distressed hedge fund, would pay.Closing date for the sale is June 8, according to court documents.

Fabrikant gained court approval to auction assets in April. Assets cited in court papers included inventory from both M. Fabrikant and Sons and Fabrikant-Leer International, accounts receivable from both companies and the 27 percent interest that Fabrikant holds in Fabrikant-Tara International.The minimum reserve prices that Fabrikant, in consultation with retained professionals, had set for its assets totaled $48.5 million, court papers said.At the time of its Chapter 11 filing, Fabrikant cited annual sales of $370 million and said it owed lenders about $161.9 million.It is unclear what the impact of the asset sale will be on the 112-year-old company.

Fabrikant Chief Executive Officer Matthew Fortgang, representing both M. Fabrikant and Sons and Fabrikant-Tara International at the JCK Las Vegas show, would not comment on the assets sale. He noted that business at the show had been good.

The wedding’s off: so who keeps the ring?

2007-05-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

It was to be their big, fat Greek wedding.

It turned out to be his big fat compensation after the ring ended up in a dustbin.
And a big fat, age-old question has been answered by a court: Who gets the engagement ring when an engagement is called off? The answer: him.

In early August 2005, Vicki Pappas and Andrew Vacopoulos were blissfully in love. The couple, in their late twenties, exchanged rings at their Sydney engagement party.

Just ten days later they were parting. The intended bride removed her A$15,500 (£6,000) ring from her finger and placed it on a coffee table in front of members of her family, telling her distraught fiancé: “The wedding is off. Here, take the ring, I don’t want it.”

Her jilted fiancé responded: “I do not want the ring. It is a gift for you. You can keep it.”
After about half an hour he left.

Some six weeks later Ms Pappas’s former fiancé called her at work, declaring his love for her and saying that he wanted her back. Unimpressed, she called her father and asked him to gather up and throw away all the gifts Mr Vacopoulos had given her – including her engagement ring.
Her father obliged, prompting an anguished e-mail to Ms Pappas from her ex-fiancé which said: “Your dad said that he tore up my photos and threw the ring in the garbage. Why is this hap-pening? I don’t want it to happen.”

Enraged by the disposal of the engagement ring, Mr Vacopoulos went to court, seeking orders that his intended bride repay the cost of the ring.

Couples everywhere might take notice of the magistrate’s finding: If an intended bride rejects her fiancé’s ring, she forfeits the right to claim the item as a gift. And much less the right to put it in the rubbish bin.

The magistrate’s decision was appealed in the New South Wales Supreme Court by Ms Pappas.
But, again, she lost.

In the dry legalese of Justice Rex Smart , he said yesterday: “Upon Vicki Pappas rejecting the gift, she became a bailee of that item, so long as she had it in her control. It is not open to a bailee to cause the item bailed to be thrown into the garbage bin. This is especially so where the item was valuable and no proper notice was given and but a short time had elapsed. Holding a small item such as an engagement ring is not a great chore.”

Justice Smart relied heavily on the legal precedents set down in a 1926 case, Cohen v Sellar, in which a court ruled that if a woman who had received a ring “in contemplation of marriage” later refused the conditions of the gift, then she must return it. That ruling also said that if a man refused to carry out his promise of marriage, he could not demand the return of an engagement ring.

The judge in the New South Wales case said that Ms Pappas had tried to avoid the impact of the 1926 principles by claiming that her former fiancé had conferred the ring upon her as an absolute gift.

But, he said, she had never accepted the gift.

Legally bound
In Britain, the return of an engagement ring cannot be legally enforced unless there was an agreement to do so, as sometimes happens if it is an heirloomMost US states presume the ring is a conditional gift and must be returned if the engagement is called off Irish law presumes that all engagement gifts are conditional on the marriage taking place.

If it doesn’t, the gifts must be returned, Canadian law says that whoever breaks off the engagement forfeits all claim to the ring South Africa classifies engagement rings as tokens of sincerity. If the couple part, the rings are returned

1Q gold-jewelry demand soars

2007-05-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

Demand for gold jewelry in the first quarter of 2007 increased 17 percent in tonnage terms and 38 percent in dollar terms, compared with the same period in 2006, a new study finds.

The study, by precious-metal consultancy firm GFMS Ltd. for the World Gold Council, finds that global demand for gold has more than doubled in the past four years to $17.4 billion.Identifiable demand for gold in the first quarter appeared 4 percent higher in tonnage terms and 22 percent higher in dollar terms, compared with the same period in 2006, according to the report.Gold supply, however, remained tight during the first quarter.

Consumers became accustomed to current prices and restrained from selling their jewelry, and mining companies continued to dehedge, leading to a 2 percent drop in supply from the first quarter of 2006.The study projects a positive outlook for the second quarter of 2007, with gold-jewelry demand expected in the majority of key markets.

Who decides to buy jewelry and diamonds in wealthy households?

2007-05-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

According to a new Luxury Institute study, 78 percent of jewelry purchases by wealthy households begin with women expressing a need for it (what a suprise). Following the expression of need, the percentage of men engaged in the jewelry-buying process more than doubles, with 54 percent of men participating in the final decision. ( Even a bigger suprise if the men would not go along they know how there credit card bills will look like).

In addition, men appear more likely than women to make the actual jewelry purchase.Likewise, women seem more involved than men in the purchase of fine china and glassware, home furnishings and bathroom fixtures, although men do play a part.

The study also finds that 86 percent of wealthy Americans (those making more than $150,000 per year) research big-ticket items and services before purchasing them. Nearly half of the wealthy ages 44 and younger set a budget for such purchases.

Education on Diamond Cut

2007-05-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

We have people asking us all the time what is the ideal cut in a pear shape diamond or a emerald cut diamond, so I decided to add these pictures to make is easer to understand. Hope this will help.

Now lets take a look at the first picture, this is a emerald cut diamond. Lets say on the certificate by the measurement it says that the size is a 9.81x7.45x4.95 you take the first number and divide it into the second number in this case it will come out to 1.31 now you look at our picture below you see that this is a beautiful diamond shape.

The same you do with each cut diamond. Use these pictures below to help you decide what ratio diamond is the nicest in each shape.

Man finds, returns stolen diamond rings that Wellsboro woman thought were long gone.

2007-05-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Just when you think there isn't one honest person in the world left, you find out there is some great people out there. Read and enjoy.

Marjory Mosher never met Mitch Carr until Saturday, but she got a Mother's Day present from him that she'll never forget.Five of them, actually.Thanks to Carr, Mosher, 85, now has her wedding band, engagement ring, a seven-stone mother's ring, her own mother's diamond ring and a high school ring worn by her late husband, Neal D. "Mo" Mosher.

The rings had been missing for at least seven years and were apparently stolen and stashed but never sold."I just couldn't believe it," said Marjory Mosher. "I never thought I'd see them again. It's like a dream come true."The dream started as a nightmare, when Mosher couldn't find the rings.Son Doug Mosher, a retired Wellsboro High School social studies teacher and daughter-in-law Joye Mosher thought at first that Marjory had misplaced the rings or accidentally thrown them away.

Then they realized that a 35-milimeter Nikon camera and lenses were also missing from Marjory's home at 17 Austin St."At that point, we knew they had been stolen," Joye said."But there was nothing we could do. We didn't know where to start."Carr started by buying a house in Arnot, 12 miles southeast of Wellsboro, about three years ago, to use as a seasonal camp.The house had been a rental property.

At that point, the rings had been missing for at least four years.Slowly but surely, Carr has been remodeling the house. Two weeks ago, he decided to take out a bathtub on the first floor."I was tearing it out, just pulling it away from the wall, and something shiny caught my eye," Carr said."When I looked, I saw these five rings laying there in the dust."Four were unmarked. The high school ring was worn almost smooth. But careful inspection revealed a "19" on one side, a "41" on the other and an almost invisible "Wellsboro" on top.The initials NDM were engraved inside the ring.Carr never missed a beat.

"I knew what I had to do," said Carr, 48, who owns a garage and welding shop in Newville, near Carlisle."There was no question in my mind. I never considered keeping them. I could no more keep them than fly."Carr phoned Wellsboro High School and talked to guidance secretary Sandy Mead.Her quick search of alumni records revealed only one person with the initials "NDM" in the Class of 1941: Neal D. Mosher (the "D" doesn't stand for anything; it's an initial only).Mead and Doug Mosher had worked together for years. She e-mailed him, and he called Carr.

"He said he thought he might have my father's ring," Doug Mosher said."He said he had five rings. I said, 'Is one a mother's ring?'"He said, 'Yes. With seven stones,'" Mosher said. "I said, 'is one a diamond ring with a heart on it?' He said, 'Yes,' and so on, and I was sure he had Mom's rings."To say the Moshers were surprised is an understatement."We were just shocked," Joye said. "After so much time, we never expected to see them again. She hasn't lived in that house for seven years, and they certainly weren't in her apartment.

"Doug and Joye Mosher, who now live in Martinsburg, W. Va., picked up the rings Friday as they traveled to Wellsboro for Mother's Day.Carr came to Tioga County and his camp Friday to hunt spring gobblers.They gathered at midday Saturday for lunch -- and so Marjory could meet a new friend who did the right thing."I cried when I heard about the rings," she said, slipping on the wedding band she first wore in 1946."They mean so much to me. I'm still flabbergasted. I thought I was going to need a doctor."I was crying," she said.

"It was so overwhelming. I just kept saying, 'Is it true? Can it be true?'"One ring, worn by Marjory's mother, Ruth Milner Head, dates to 1920."Mo" bought Marjory's engagement ring at Earl's Jewelry Store in Corning in 1945.Now it's back where it belongs, and it's likely to stay right there."This is all about the honesty and kindness and perseverance of one man, one stranger," Doug Mosher said.

"This kind of thing restores your faith in people."For Carr, it wasn't a matter of faith. Just duty."Once I saw those initials in the ring and the date of 1941 and realized it was from Wellsboro High School, I knew we were going to find our guy," Carr said."Whether he was deceased or not didn't matter. I had to find his family. I knew I had a job to do, and I did it, that's all."

Cool picture of largest Open Pit Diamond Mine in the world

2007-05-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Just came across these great pictures though i need to share it with my readers.

Cushion Cut Diamonds The New Big Thing

2007-05-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

As I see with our customers, cushion cut diamonds are nicly crawling back to style, we just sold two beautiful 3 carat cushion cut diamonds within a week. Here is MTV kingpin Nick Cannon rocking the world of his longtime girlfriend, Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks -- by busting out a HUGE 12 carat cushion rock, and asking for her blinged-out hand in marriage. Obviously, she obliged. If you want to be part of the new trend click here and check out our beautiful cushion cut diamonds.

I you don't see what you like you can always call 866-382-0288 or emails us at moshe@diamondsonfifth.com

Fluorescence On A Diamond: Good, Bad, or Ugly

2007-05-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Diamond Fluorescence is a hotly debated topic among the diamond industry, because some feel strongly that it has an impact on a value of the diamond, whereas others feel that it makes very little difference on the appearance of the diamond. What diamond fluorescence refers to is the ability of the diamond to emit a soft colored glow when put under an ultraviolet light, or black light as it may be called.

It is found that if a stone has a grade from J to M a moderate amount of fluorescence actually makes the stone more attractive to people because with these color grades the fluorescence helps to cancel out some of the yellow coloring. This makes it appear more colorless then it actually is. However if you have a stone with a grade from D to F, which means it has a high color, fluorescence is thought to get in the way of the flow of the light. The makes the diamonds appear oily or dirty looking. This may not actually be true, but it is perceived to be true by some of the diamond industry, hence the lower price of the diamond. In some cases D to F stones should not be bought anyhow with any fluorescence just because of the possible discoloration but again, that is still up for debate.

In general, the average fluorescence makes absolutely no difference when the diamond is looked at flat side up. You should not let the amount of fluorescence influence your choice of diamonds.

There is this great GIA study on this issue http://www.gia.edu/pdfs/W97_fluoresce.pdf

A Must Read Story-'I lost my legs on 7/7 but vowed I'd stand by Lisa on our wedding day'

2007-04-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

On the morning that Dan Biddle was blown apart by a terrorist's bomb, his fiance Lisa Flint was dreamily planning their wedding day.
She'd chosen her princess-style ivory gown, colourful bouquet and co-ordinating bridesmaids dresses and the home they shared was filled with bridal magazines.
But their fairytale exploded at 9.17am on July 7, 2005. On his way to work, Dan took the full force of a suicide bomb at Edgware Road underground station.
He lost both legs, his left eye, his spleen and 87 pints of blood, spending five weeks in a coma as Lisa sat by his bedside, urging him to survive.

Read the rest of the story here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=450037&in_page_id=1879

Female switch artist arrested

2007-04-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

The black female switch artist with the droopy, crossed or lazy eye who stole diamonds from at least five jewelry stores in the tri-state area over the past few months, was arrested on April 24, the Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) reports.

The New York Police Department's Organized Theft Squad and the FBI arrested the suspect, who was the subject of a JSA crime alert on March 16, in Bronx, N.Y.She is expected to be charged with thefts from retail jewelry stores in Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Clarkstown, Larchmont, Yonkers and possibly Cedarhurst, N.Y., as well as in Stamford, Conn. She is a predicate felon who is on parole.

Deputies seek man who stole diamond rings at mall

2007-04-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies are searching for a man who stole more than $30,000 in diamond engagement rings Sunday afternoon from a jewelry store in Treasure Coast Square mall.

The man walked into Whitehall Jewelers around 5:10 p.m. and asked an employee if he could see some engagement rings, according to a report released Monday.
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As the employee was putting one of the rings back in the display case, the suspect shoved her away. She tried to stop the man by grabbing his shirt, but she was forced to let go when he tried twice to punch her, the report said.

After freeing himself, the suspect grabbed several diamond engagement rings and ran out of the store.

A few shoppers chased him but failed to catch up. They watched him run out of the mall through a fire exit and flee the scene in a white 1995 four-door Buick.

Deputies later checked the license plate number and discovered the vehicle was stolen.
Martin County Fire-Rescue workers treated Jacobson at the scene for neck and back pain. One of the shoppers who followed the suspect also received treatment for a slight cut on his right arm, according to the report.

In the fire escape hallway, deputies found one of the stolen rings, each of which has an engraved serial number. Sheriff's spokeswoman Lt. Jenell Atlas said Monday afternoon the thief still has four rings.

Witnesses said the suspect looked anywhere from 20 to 35 years old, was about 6 feet tall, weighed around 180 pounds and had an athletic build. He was wearing a white short-sleeve shirt with blue and gray stripes, khaki pants, a black dress belt, a white ball cap and black dress shoes.

Judge sentences man to 12-1/2 years for theft of diamond rings

2007-04-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

The diamonds disappeared in the time it took Harvey F. Bryant to turn his head.
The man had said he wanted to buy an engagement ring. Several rings sat on the counter from a previous customer. Bryant turned to acknowledge a comment from a repairman who was fixing a leak. The man looking at engagement rings left. When Bryant moved to return the rings to the safe, empty boxes remained where diamonds had been - the largest more than 5 carats, the smallest about 1.5 carats.

Bryant, 87, has owned his shop, Bryant Gemology Laboratory, on Shore Drive for 34 years. Two of the stolen rings had been left with him on consignment and their loss wasn't covered by Bryant's insurance. He paid the owners nearly $33,000 out of his own pocket. The third ring was worth $9,000.

About a month later, the man returned to Bryant's shop. Bryant recognized him immediately and called the police. Bryant made small talk with the man until police arrived.

John F. Dills was charged with grand larceny and pleaded guilty in May 2006. He also pleaded guilty to concealment for taking two bottles of peppermint liqueur from a liquor store in June 2006 - while he was out on bond from the grand larceny charge.

On Friday, Dills appeared in Circuit Court to be sentenced. Judge Junius P. Fulton III ruled that Dills must serve 12-1/2 years in prison for the crimes. Dills apologized to Bryant.

In a written statement to the judge, Bryant explained what he lost that day.

The theft left him disgusted, irritated and angry, he said, as well as subject to questioning by some who felt that he was too trusting and should no longer be working at his age.

"I have always believed in respecting the dignity and trust in people until such time as they become unworthy," Bryant wrote. The theft cost him about a year's profit. "At age 86 now I may not ever recover it."

$100,000 in jewelry reported stolen from Bonita home

2007-04-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Most nights before she goes to sleep, Diane Buechel slips the sparkling diamond and emerald rings off her fingers and tucks them away.

That’s what the 64-year-old Bonita Springs woman did last Wednesday night, according to her husband. She hasn’t seen her jewelry, worth nearly $100,000, ever since.

“She’s a wreck. Absolute wreck. For the first two nights, she couldn’t even sleep she was so upset,” said Richard Buechel, Diane’s husband.

They turned their Bonita Bay home upside down “20 times over” searching for her rings and a pair of diamond earrings, he said.

Diane Buechel said she still isn’t sure where her rings — which she said have more sentimental value than financial — could have gone. But the couple reported the jewelry missing Monday with the sheriff’s office.

Richard Buechel, of the 27900 block of Riverwalk Way, said his wife’s rings are at least 10 years old. They were his gifts to her. When they got married, he said, he was in medical school and their wedding bands cost maybe $200. She paid half. Buechel, a retired orthopedic surgeon, has since adorned her fingers with more sumptuous jewelry.

“She never had an engagement ring, so I gave her the diamond ring many years later,” Buechel said. “Our hope beyond hope, and beyond prayers, is that they’re going to show up someplace.”

Breaking up is hard — but selling the ring can be harder

2007-03-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

It's the last thought anyone buying an engagement ring has while scouring glass cases at a jewelry store.

But as Peter Vander Zanden succinctly put it, "there are no guarantees in love."

So whatever the reason once-happy, engaged couples break it off, the question has to be asked. What about the ring?

"Usually, it's not going to be used again because there's a sentimental attachment to it," said Vander Zanden, owner of Vander Zanden Diamond Jewelers in Ashwaubenon. "So basically you have a couple of markets you can explore if you're looking to get rid of it … but there is not big demand for purchase of used jewelry among consumers."

Vander Zanden said he buys engagement rings from spurned lovers when it fulfills a need, but at a discount.

"Basically, we'll figure it's worth X amount of dollars to us, because we can go out and buy an item on the market any day," he said. "So of course, we'd like to pay less."

Citing Wisconsin court precedent, Vander Zanden said if the woman breaks the engagement, her breach of contract means she gives up rights to the ring.

Popular wedding site the Knot.com also addresses the delicate situation by saying, "If the bride calls off the wedding and her ring was a gift from the groom, it's appropriate for her to give it back. If the groom calls it off, the bride may want to give him his ring back because she does not want to be reminded of their failed engagement."

An attorney interviewed by the site agreed that when the woman cuts it off, she "is no longer willing to keep (her) promise, and in this case, she should not retain benefit from the agreement (the ring)."

For men left holding the ring, they end up scrambling to get a return on an investment that's not only been expensive, but is so attached to a life-changing event that anything pre-owned seems less personal.

"We let people know it's pre-owned, and they don't want it," said Dave Koury, manager at D&M Custom Jewelers in Green Bay. "The market is narrow. Very narrow. The price is driven down so much, so what I suggest to a lot of people is to try on their own because hopefully they can get more for themselves."

Two guys were trying just that recently through Green Bay Press-Gazette classified ads. One was asking $1,200 or best offer on a $1,500 ring, and another was asking $1,500 or best offer on a $2,000 ring. One seller had also tried eBay, the online auction site, but while the ring received plenty of page views, he didn't get a bid.

Then there's Josh Opperman's solution for bereft brides and grooms. He's the creator of "I Do ... Now I Don't" at www.idonowidont.com — also an auction-style Web site where rings are sold to the highest bidder.

"You can't sell it for what you bought it for, but maybe you can get at least 50 or 60 percent of the value," said Opperman, a 29-year-old real estate broker who saw a business opportunity after suffering his own heartbreak.

He felt funny about saving his ex's leftover ring for a future fiancée. So he tried to sell it back to the jeweler, who was willing to give Opperman about one-third of the ring's original cost. (Opperman declined to say exactly how much he paid.)

Since launching his site in November, "I Do" has hosted more than 100 auctions — many are still pending — and got raves from talk-show host Rachael Ray. After Opperman appeared on Ray's show last month, his site got 200,000 hits in one day, he said.

He explains that his site is different from other online auction houses like eBay because he guarantees that you won't get hoodwinked. Sellers are required to provide a certificate of authenticity from one of the country's three leading gemological laboratories.

Once an auction ends, the seller sends the ring to Opperman. He forwards it to the site's in-house jeweler — Opperman contracts with a shop in New York's Diamond District that has been in business for 30 years — for an inspection.

The site's fee is 5 percent of each ring's final sale price. But Opperman said sellers could post items for free, so "there's nothing to lose. If doesn't sell, it doesn't sell."

As for Opperman's own ring? He sold it on his site, of course, making more than half of his money back. While he's not pleased about his breakup, he's thrilled that it led him to start his own company.

"I would have never thought of this if that hadn't happened to me," he said. "Even if something bad happens to you, you can get something good out of it, like I did."

Engagement Ring Survey

2007-03-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

I just read this article, and it confirms what I was seeing with our engagement ring shoppers.

Today WomensWallStreet.com announced the results of its annual Engagement Ring Survey. And good news fellas: Thirty-nine percent (39%) of single women said they plan to pitch in for their ring (up from 28% in the 2005 survey). Not only are more women planning to chip in for their rings, but 64 percent of single women said they plan to help pick it out. After all, how else will they know it’s a perfect fit? Today’s women are independent, successful and many are earning as much, or more, than their beaus.

With that in mind, WomensWallStreet asked women if salary should determine who pays for the ring. Seventy-two percent (72%) of women said if they earn more money than their partner it’s absolutely okay to chip in for the ring. But surprisingly almost half (49%) of the women surveyed said it’s okay for a woman to chip in, even if she makes less! Women today are speaking up in growing numbers when it comes to choosing the ring they’ll be wearing forever.

But what of the women who didn’t speak up and left it to their beaus to pick out and pay for their rocks? One in four women admit the engagement ring they received was too small or not what they had envisioned. Try that on for size!

Man jailed after engagaement rings theft

2007-03-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

A MAN who found himself acting as the getaway driver following a gems theft at a Clitheroe jewellers has been given a jail term.
James Blakeborough gave an acquaintance a lift to town, believing he was seeking a refund on a gold chain. But his companion grabbed £7,000 worth of diamond rings from Marsdens jewellers in King Street.Blakeborough (46), of Newcliffe Road, Blackley, Manchester, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to handling stolen goods. He was sentenced to two months in prison, to be added on to a jail term he is already serving.

The crime took place in September 2005. The jewellery was stolen around 5 p.m. on a Friday by a man who entered the shop saying he was looking for an engagement ring for his girlfriend and a gold band for himself.Mr Steven Johnson (prosecuting) said the man ran off with the tray of diamond rings, valued at £7,140. An eyewitness took the registration number of the getaway car and the following day Blakeborough was apprehended.He told police he knew the other man vaguely, saying he was called Derek, and he asked for a lift to Clitheroe to sell a gold chain. He parked up, not knowing there was going to be a theft, and later the other man ran towards him, telling him to run and get in the car.Mr Saul Brody (defending) said: "He knew something had gone on in the shop.

That was not the reason why he drove to Clitheroe. "He had wrongly assumed there was an entirely lawful reason for going there. After the theft, he drove, thus providing a lift to the other man, when he knew by then that property had been stolen."Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Cornwall told him: "For a small retail jeweller, to lose a tray of rings is a matter of some considerable importance. "Even if there was proper insurance, it means higher insurance premiums in future. By continuing to drive as you did, you enabled the man to enjoy the fruits of his crime."

Ringing Up a Lawsuit

2007-03-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

Broken engagements are tough to deal with, and one of the tougher questions is what to do with the ring. An Upper East Side man is suing his ex to return a 4.06 carat cushion-cat diamond ring worth $48,000. The Sun reported that the man's lawyer "declined to say which partner ended the engagement," because the ex should return it. Says who, the judge of etiquette?
Emily Post that the woman should return the ring, even if the guy breaks it off. Her website says, "Why keep a painful reminder of the end of an engagement just to be spiteful? It’s better to take the high road and move on." And according to experts (a married couple) on About.com, New York is a "conditional gift state," where the ring is considered a "conditional gift that is given in contemplation of marriage." In other words, she gives it up if there's no "I do."
We saw someone on WNBC say that engagement rings given on holidays (say a birthday or Valentine's Day) could be considered gifts, and therefore the woman would not need to return it, but a commenter says that's incorrect, though some lawsuits have given women ring custody if the guy breaks it off.
What do you say? In the court of public opinion, should the guy expect his ring back? Should the lady return it? Or do you want more details? (We do, that's for sure.) Speaking of broken engagements, Kerry Washington and David Moscow (the kid from Big) broke theirs off. Not only does she have a rock, they have homes in LA and Harlem!

Richie and Madden Engaged?

2007-03-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Nicole Richie has fueled speculation she is engaged to Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden after she was seen sporting a massive diamond on her wedding finger.
The star stepped out for coffee on Wednesday and was photographed with the large ring on her left hand.
The pair visited Los Angeles jewelry store XIV Karats on February 19 and looked at engagement rings.
An employee from the store confirms to Life and Style magazine the couple looked at rings, but that Richie only ended up purchasing a ruby necklace for $3,350.
The couple have only been dating for a few months, but are reportedly already house hunting together.
The 25-year-old ended her engagement to Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein last year and hooked up with Madden shortly after he ended his relationship with Hilary Duff.

What a story-She Overcame Polio To Live An Incredibly Active Life

2007-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Jane Fuller believed that community mattered, and she worked tirelessly to improve her own, but her "community" stretched around the world.She was the daughter of John and Marion Purtill of South Glastonbury, owners of a paper mill. When she was 7 or 8, she contracted polio, years before the vaccines became available.

One doctor recommended institutionalizing her and immobilizing her limbs. Another, more progressive, prescribed a strict and controversial exercise routine, and her parents opted for this treatment.Her parents brought Jane home from the hospital and encouraged her to strengthen her muscles with dance and exercises. The therapy was painful, but it was successful, leaving her with only a slight limp."She didn't take no for an answer," said her husband, Sam Fuller. "She was a fighter." Jane became a tennis and paddle tennis player, and she was forever grateful to her parents for their foresight in their treatment choice.

Her parents sent her two brothers to college, and although Jane was valedictorian of her high school, she was encouraged to study nursing, where tuition would be free. She obtained her degree at Columbia University School of Nursing.While still a student, she met Fuller, a Suffield tobacco farmer. Marriage was a tough sell, he recalled. Once, he presented her with two engagement rings and asked her to choose. "She sent me home with the rings in my pocket," he said. "She said she wasn't ready. ... She wanted to live a little first, but I persisted, and she caved in.

" The couple were married in 1950 and settled in Suffield, where Fuller's family had lived since the early 1700s.Jane Fuller worked at Hartford Hospital in a men's ward and ran a rehabilitation program but quit when their first child was born.That baby died of SIDS when she was an infant, but the couple had four more children.Jane eventually pursued the college degree she had been prevented from getting as a young woman. She attended Asnuntuck Community College and the University of Hartford and graduated from Trinity College in 1981. She then obtained her master of social works from the University of Connecticut.More recently, she proposed, quite seriously, that she and her husband go to law school together after he retired, but he declined.

"Dad knew it would be humiliating," said their son Jim Fuller. "She was so competitive."Over the years, Jane's jobs revolved around helping people in the community. She worked at Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Enfield and as a hospice nurse for the Emergency Aid Association of Enfield. She ran a program at Suffield Middle School for children whose parents were divorcing, raised a foster child, tutored children at the Institute of Living and taught Sunday school.After Sam retired as a vice president at Hartford National Bank, he volunteered to work abroad, and Jane worked for short periods at an orphanage in Costa Rica and at a home for blind children in Budapest, Hungary.

"She had some hardships early on," said daughter Abby Wolcott, referring to her mother's polio and the death of her firstborn. "I think it made her much more empathic. She was never a hang-back person. She was never afraid to reach out.""She was always just so kind," said Carol Martin, a friend. "She picked up the strays. She was unfailingly kind and thoughtful."Jane also served effectively on many boards and committees. She was instrumental in forming a juvenile review board in Suffield to help kids in trouble, was a trustee of Suffield Academy, directed a fund drive for the Emergency Aid Association and continued to volunteer for Meals on Wheels even as her health declined.She loved musical theater and never missed a production at the Goodspeed Opera House, where she served on the board for 30 years.

"She made enormous contributions," said executive director Michael Price. "She had a sensibility that far exceeded [that] of most people."Jane raised her family with the utmost tolerance of the snakes, possums, raccoons and salamanders her children insisted on bringing home. "If it moved, we had it for a pet," said Jim Fuller. "She let us follow our passions." Jane also had a sense of fun that was contagious, was always ready with a quip and amused her friends with her "party rules.

"Her parties were fantastic," said neighbor Danna Gauntner.As guests arrived, Jane would introduce them to others, dropping hints of topics of mutual interest. Jane didn't fancy cooking and would pass a bowl of popcorn and call it "hot hors d'oeuvres," looking stylish in chic black leather pants and a starched white shirt. Her cocktail parties started and ended at set times. Shrimp cocktail was essential, dinner parties were catered, and everyone always had a good time."She would mix up people," said Gauntner, such as "the local minister, the principal, a cartoonist.

"Afterward, she'd pose a question: `Everyone talk about someone who influenced your life, or a favorite teacher.' We would go around, and it would reveal something [about each of us.]""She was upbeat, positive and generous," said Janet Frechette, a longtime friend. "There was no pretense with Jane. ... She was always so genuinely interested in what others had to say [and] would do anything for anybody."

Diamond Appearances at the 2007 Grammy Awards

2007-02-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

The diamond fashion trends at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles were set by hip-hop’s leading men, sporting large diamond statement jewelry from diamond pave watches, diamond pendants to diamond Right Hand Rings.

Multiple Grammy Award winner of the evening, Mary J. Blige wore an all diamond look by Lorraine Schwartz, including yellow radiant cut diamond line bracelets, yellow and white diamond drop earrings, and a 30 carat yellow diamond Right Hand Ring. Carrie Underwood accepted her ‘Best Female Country Vocal Performance’ award wearing a pair of diamond pendant earrings with hanging briolettes, a yellow diamond Right Hand Ring, and a diamond bracelet.

Read more http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullNews.asp?id=27016

Advice for spurned Valentine's lovers

2007-02-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

Spurned Valentine's lovers are being given some top tips on how to get a refund on an engagement ring or other jewellery, if they are no longer needed after February 14th. Last year the government's advice service, Consumer Direct, received a number of calls from people wanting advice on returning expensive jewellery.

However, lovers planning to pop the question this year are being warned to take precautions so they do not get caught out if the answer is no. "If you take an unwanted engagement ring back to the shop, I'm sorry to say you have no rights to an automatic refund or exchange unless you have made an agreement with the jeweller, so you could lose a lot of money," explained Michele Shambrook, of Consumer Direct, the government's advice service. "We'd recommend getting this in writing or making sure that it's written on the receipt."

Another tip is to buy the item online, as this normally means it can be returned up to seven days after delivery. "However, traders can charge return postage, and there are exemptions for goods that are made to order, engraved, or altered to fit," warned Consumer Direct. And with engagement ring often being highly expensive purchases, the agency also recommends taking extra care to research whether the company is reputable and to find out their returns policy before buying. Once you receive the item you should also check for the appropriate hallmark on metal jewellery or a certificate for a diamond purchase, usually available for diamonds of half a carat or more.

"Make sure the jeweller writes on the sales receipt any information you relied on when making your purchase, such as the gem's weight or size," Consumer Direct added. "If you're buying jewellery costing over £100, consider using a credit card, as this may offer you extra protection should problems arise. "If you're shopping online for jewellery look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a question, a problem or need help

The permanent fiancée

2007-02-13T11:01:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I sat down to get my nails done.The manicurist, in her early 20s, asked me to take off my diamond ring."Nice ring," she commented. "So when is the wedding?"
Funny how such a simple question makes my head spin.

I have been together with my guy for eight years, engaged for four. We have a three-year-old daughter.
We have no plans to get married.
I'm not like actors Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend, who have been together for years, and say they won't marry until it's legal for gays to marry across the United States, which could take awhile.
In the meantime, she's got a diamond.
I'm not like Angelina Jolie, who says she and Brad Pitt have no plans to marry because they are "extremely committed to the children and as parents and to have a ceremony on top of it is nothing." Pitt, however, does wear a "commitment ring."
I'm certainly not like Goldie Hawn, together with Kurt Russell for more than 20 years, who once was quoted saying she wouldn't tie the knot because "marriage is ridiculous . . . what are you investing in? Concepts. But concepts are broken with the snap of a finger."
I don't think marriage is ridiculous. I love attending weddings. I'm not waiting for the legalization of marriage for everyone. Here's the unromantic truth: I shrug my shoulders at marriage. It's one big "whatever."
For a growing number of men and women, including actors Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger, marriage is also becoming a shoulder shrug.
Retailers, apparently sensing an opportunity, now offer commitment rings for those in between "I do" and "I don't."
Commitment rings tend to be more wedding-bandish than the simple princess-cut solitaire diamond engagement rings. According to Toronto custom jewellery designer Alexandra Schleicher, they are more ornate, with multiple gemstones.
"People want something special that relates to their relationship, which doesn't necessarily mean an engagement ring," Schleicher says. She has customers who buy rings for their partners who never utter the words "engagement" or "marriage."
"And they'll already have a house together and children," she says.
In Canada, the number of common-law relationships has nearly tripled since 1981, the first time it was tallied. Then, there were 357,000 common-law relationships. By the 2001 census, roughly 14 per cent of all couples were common-law. Common-law unions are most prevalent in Quebec, where more than 30 per cent of partners are not married.
When Alexandre Trudeau had baby Pierre in December with his live-in partner, Zoe Bedos, the national press had a hard time describing their relationship. Writers referred to Bedos as Trudeau's "partner," "spouse" and even "wife." Although they have said they do plan on getting married, they didn't consider it necessary before having their first child.
Amy Johnston, 36, an artist who lives in Toronto, has never been married. Neither has her live-in boyfriend of three years, who introduces her as his "life partner."
"When I think about the things that I'm worried about in a relationship, like will he stay interested in me and will I stay interested in him, well, marriage won't change that," Johnston says. "It doesn't protect you from all of that.
"And," she adds, "not being married is not going to stop us from having kids."
But she does wonder if having a ring would make things easier. "In the second year of our relationship, everyone was asking us when we were going to get engaged or married but then it kind of peters off and people assume you are married. It's amazing how many people ask. It just makes you wonder why people are so interested."
Schleicher asks male clients whether they are sure they know what buying a commitment band means -- basically that it means a commitment.
"I ask them if they're planning to propose and they say, 'No. It's not a proposal. I just want them to know that they are committed to me and that I'm committed to them.' "
"Women may not feel eager to get married, but many do still feel the need for commitment," says Toronto journalist Anne Kingston, the author of The Meaning of Wife.
"My observation is that the commitment value is the same with common-law and marriage," she says. "But there's a comfort level with common-law, that you're not getting ensnared with the complications of marriage. Women no longer need that second level like sealing the deal."
It should be noted that for those with less than celebrity-sized incomes, common-law unions can leave them without some legal protections in the event of a breakup. "Most people don't understand their rights when it comes to common-law," Toronto lawyer Phillip Epstein says.
In most provinces, one is entitled to spousal support, but not a share of property. In Quebec, common-law arrangements do not entail subsequent spousal support or property rights (child support is required, however). That's why Epstein suggests couples in common-law relationships get a cohabitation agreement as they approach their third anniversary.
Sally Healy, 38, an interior designer, has been with her partner for eight years. She has been married once before, and has a son. Her partner has never been married. "He has never asked me," she says with a laugh.
"I don't doubt his commitment to me at all. I don't doubt his affection. I'm not offended at all that he's never asked," she says. Not only that, but they have "never, ever discussed" getting married.
But for Christmas, she received a "beautiful ring" from him. "The card read, 'To my wife,' " Healy says.
Why are strond, independent non-wives wearing non-wedding rings? Perhaps the relentlessness of old-fashioned conservatism makes it easier to blend in, sort of. Or just that we haven't quite figured out anything better yet.
"Wife is not a role women want to see themselves as nowadays," Kingston says. "Unfortunately, we haven't redefined what a wife is."
So, what do I call myself? The fiancée, of course.

How to Buy an Engagement Ring: Valentine’s Day is when people think of getting engaged

2007-02-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

The holiday that is most associated with love is also the holiday that sees the biggest sales in diamond rings.Many starry-eyed boyfriends take advantage of the romance in the air to ask their significant other to make a lifelong commitment.And why not? What could be more romantic than popping the question on the day that is dedicated to lovers?There is a lot more to proposing, however, than reserving a nice restaurant and learning to keep your balance while perched on one knee.

Selecting an engagement ring can be a daunting task.Tony Baldwin, owner of A.A. Baldwin’s Jewelry By Design, 256 Front St., has been designing rings and other jewelry since the late 1970s. His rings aren’t your typical cookie cutter-type rings either.“We live in a time where technology is always changing. There is no reason, when making such a major purchase, that you shouldn’t have it made exactly the way you want,” he said.Baldwin takes the time to educate not only men but an increasing number of couples who come to him looking for that perfect engagement ring.“I see a lot more ladies who are involved than were 30 years ago,” Baldwin said. “Times have changed.” But Baldwin also noted that the element of surprise is still important.

“Most women prefer something that a man takes his time to pick,” he said.One local groom-to-be, Eric Fouss, 28, of Lowell, took the old-fashioned route when he proposed to his fiancée, Jenine Ferrell, on Christmas 2005. He said she never saw it coming. “I was going for a total surprise. I kept trying to throw her off. I think she thought it was going to happen on Valentine’s Day,” Fouss said. Fouss knew that his sweetie preferred the princess cut diamond and that little bit of input was all he needed to begin his search. He looked through books and consulted many jewelers before deciding on a beautiful custom-made platinum ring in the trellis mounting-style.What advice does Fouss have for others looking to propose?“Combine both your likes to come up with the perfect ring,” he said.Fouss and Ferrell are planning to be married Sept. 15, 2007, in Lowell.

Steps:1. Find out what your girlfriend likes: You can make life easier for yourself by taking her with you when you look for rings. Many couples prefer this method over running the risk of buying her something she absolutely hates.However, if your idea of the perfect proposal involves surprising her, there are a few ways to figure out what she likes without spilling the beans. First, ask her family and friends. Take them with you, if need be. Second, look through her jewelry box. Chances are, if everything she owns is silver, she won’t be happy with a yellow gold band

.2. Find a good jewelry store: Research, research, research. Word of mouth really is the best advertisement. Also be sure they are a member of the American Gem Corporation.

3. Decide on your budget: The recommendation of the folks who are trying to sell the diamonds is two months’ salary. It isn’t necessary to spend money for the sake of spending money, though, especially if your fiancée-to-be is a simple person who may not wear a 2-carat stone. Be smart. Be frugal. And always negotiate.

4. Choose a stone: Remember the 4 Cs and consider Step 1. If your lady love really has her heart set on an emerald, by all means go that route. But it is usually best to play it safe and stick with the traditional diamond. It will go with absolutely every outfit she wears and has probably been her dream since she was a little girl. You or she might have an heirloom diamond that would be perfect. Some cuts to consider are marquise, pear, princess, radiant and round.

5. Choose a setting and a band: While not as nerve-wracking as selecting a diamond, there are probably more choices than one would think. Would her almost-flawless diamond look better in a cluster or prong-solitaire? How about bar, gypsy, or channel settings? And then there is the metal. Platinum is the most glamorous and most expensive. There’s also yellow gold, white gold and silver. Bottom line ... pick what you like and what you think she will like.

Theft of rings further saddens woman’s passing

2007-02-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

In the 46 years Connie Remillard was married, she never took off her wedding ring. Not once.
So when the nurses at Woonsocket’s Landmark Medical Center told her they’d need to cut the band because of swelling in her hand, Connie and her husband, Bob, begged them not to.
The staff relented and worked the ring off Remillard’s hand intact. When it slid off her knuckle, Connie Remillard cried.
Days later, Remillard, 67, of Blackstone, Mass., died at Landmark. Her death was sudden and her husband and three daughters took it hard.
What happened days later was harder still. On Jan. 30, a day after her funeral, the Remillard family returned to the Holt Funeral Home to retrieve Connie’s rings. At her wake, she’d had worn the wedding band once more, along with her diamond engagement ring, which she’d removed for safety’s sake before going into the hospital.
As the Remillards waited in the Holt foyer that afternoon, the police say, Warwick resident Sean Robertson stole the rings and flushed them down the toilet just a few feet away.
Woonsocket police say Robertson, 40, of 201 Riverside Ave., Apt 5, and his mother were at the funeral home visiting a deceased family member. When Holt owner Cynthia Noble stepped out of the room, Robertson allegedly grabbed the velvet box containing Remillard’s rings off a table and concealed them in his clothing.
Noble told the police she returned to the room and noticed Robertson standing awkwardly above a bag of Remillard’s belongings. He then asked to use the restroom, where the police say he hid the jewelry box above the ceiling tiles.
By then, Noble noticed the rings were missing and announced that she was calling the police. That’s when Robertson allegedly returned to the restroom and flushed the jewels down the toilet, said Woonsocket Police Lt. Timothy S. Paul.
Robertson was called to the Woonsocket police station that night for questioning, Paul said. He was charged with larceny over $500 and arraigned. He was then ordered held at the Adult Correctional Institutions.
“This all happened while we were sitting right there,” Bob Remillard said, his voice tired. “My daughters were going to share [the rings], but then the theft occurred and they were flushed and there is no hope of getting them back.”
That same night, Noble called in a plumber to try and extract the rings from the plumbing, she said. They found the box in the pipe, but the rings were gone.
“When we saw the box, our hearts soared, but the plumber shined a light on it and saw that it was in the open position, empty,” Noble said. “It was just a shock that anyone would do something like that. It was a feeling of powerlessness as we tried to do something to solve it and then disappointment when we couldn’t.”
“What can I say? It’s done. It’s over. There’s not much you can do about it,” Bob Remillard said, his words trailing off.
His daughter Diane, was more emotional.
“It’s hard,” she said, through tears. “It was like the last piece of my mom.”

Best plan for ring may be to keep it on hand

2007-02-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

I need an honest appraisal for my rings, and I'd like to know how to figure out where to sell them.What is a diamond engagement ring worth? The details of this story have to be a little vague, but I'll tell you all I can.

This particular ring, the guy was just a teenager when he bought it, working at his father's store downtown.She was working downtown, too, same as he was. Big city, Midwest. Her job was just blocks away from his, actually, but they met in high school.They were on their way home from the movies, she thinks, when he proposed.

Hard to recollect, the memories fade, it's been a long time since the mid-1940s."He showed the ring to me and said, 'Will you marry me?' And I was surprised, and really, really pleased," she said .They got married, all right, a couple of years later. "He built us a beautiful home" with his own hands and some help "on the real technical parts." It became a good life. A better job came along, big company. Children came, and grandchildren.

In later years, they moved south for the warmth. Illness struck them both and was an unwelcome companion for a long time.Now he's gone. The last thing she wants is to be a burden.What's this engagement ring worth? I could calculate it pretty well, listening to her.But what will somebody pay her for it? I checked with the International Society of Appraisers. The closest certified member I found was Joette Humphrey, who works in Hendersonville. She has a basic rule on this: "My counsel, when people come in and want to sell their jewelry, is that if they are wearing it and loving it, don't sell it. It's likely not going to get what they think it's worth."If it's just sitting in a jewelry box, then sell it and invest the money

."You'll need what Humphrey calls "a willing buyer." And bluntly: "If someone were selling a piece to a pawn shop, they'll probably get less than selling to a neighbor." But most people don't buy from other people. They buy from a jewelry store, for the knowledge and expertise.Humphrey said that, with average jewelry, the way to get the most money is to put it in consignment, such as at a gallery. The catch is you don't get your money until the piece sells.For a quicker sale, a local dealer is an option, ideally one that specializes in estate jewelry (which is anything pre-owned). Local jewelers or antique shops may be able to give you an estimate, and possibly buy the jewelry outright.

Homework: Ask if there is a gemologist on staff or one on contract. Is the dealer a member of a certifying organization such as the American Gem Society? Call the Better Business Bureau, ask around about the store's reputation.If you have really high-end jewelry, you can check the phone book or the Internet for an auction company with experience in appraising jewelry.

Engagement Ring Returned

2007-02-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever lost something important to you and never thought you would see it again?What if you could get it back? A La Crosse woman was reunited with the diamond ring she lost nearly 10 years ago.While bowling at River City Lanes in April of 1997, Lucy Bruring had a little mishap.

"My left hand came down like this and all of my rings fell off. My wedding band and engagement ring were soldered together, it fell in front of me, and my anniversary ring went flying."Bruring says she started to cry and began to think the worst."I thought I'd never find it."Recently, Charlotte's Bridal Shop bought the building and workers were renovating the inside when they were told of the misfortune that happened so long ago.

"We had been laughing and joking, like hey did you find the diamond yet?" says Shannon Carey of Charlotte’s Bridal.Well, as luck would have it…"We were cleaning up after all the lanes were removed and we were sweeping just a bunch of garbage up and it was sitting on a board almost perfectly clean."Soon after, the phone was ringing at Lucy's house with a surprise."I couldn't believe it. I said, what did you say?"Shock was felt on both ends."What are the odds of us finding it in a bunch of garbage?""I thought I lost it.

I never thought I'd get it back. It's just exciting."Lucy still bowls with her rings on, but she says that she’ll now take extra precautions."It looks great. I'll have it cleaned and soldered. Make sure I never lose it again."

Don't get blood on your hands

2007-02-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

VALENTINE'S Day is approaching, but Hollywood blockbuster Blood Diamond may rub the shine off dreams of receiving a sparkling rock. There is nothing romantic about the suffering of thousands of innocents caught up in bloody civil wars to control this lucrative trade, as portrayed in the film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, below.
Yet the World Diamond Council is determined to reassure consumers that so-called conflict diamonds, the subject of the new film, now represent only 1% of world trade. Furthermore, it stresses that revenue from the legitimate industry is vital for improved healthcare and education across Africa. Don't stop buying diamonds is its predictable message.
The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as "diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognised governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council".
The film is set against the background of barbaric fighting in Sierra Leone in the late 1990s, paid for by conflict diamonds, which accounted for about 4% of the world's diamond production at that time. The brutality and dehumanising of child soldiers in particular led to an outcry resulting in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which requires participating governments to guarantee legal authenticity of any stones sold within their jurisdiction.
So should you buy or shouldn't you? See the film and make up your own mind. But if you agree the legitimate trade should be supported then make sure you only buy via reputable dealers that offer full authentication.
Illegal gems are believed to still come from three countries. Republic of Congo has been suspended from participation in the Kimberley Process and conflict diamonds may still be coming from Liberia and the Ivory Coast.
Diamonds have never been bought with an eye to a quick buck, but have long been prized for their enduring quality and tradability. Countries, governments, banks and stock markets can all crash, but with diamonds you can put a fortune in your pocket, flee and begin life again.
The precious gems can be bought in two forms. Uncut stones are purchased for pure investment from dealers or over the internet. These must be kept in a safe at home, or in a safe-deposit box, and should be insured. Alternatively, you can buy polished stones to set in jewellery or which have already been set.
A spokesman for Koppelman's, in the heart of Britain's diamond market in London's Hatton Garden, said: "Uncut stones have been doing well over the past few years. Not soaring away but steadily rising.
"But jewellery hasn't been doing so well. It's been flat. No one knows why. We would all like the answer, but that's the way it is."
In truth, jewellery can't be considered a serious investment at all. Fashion jewellery in particular has a resale value of a fraction of its purchase price. Like buying a new car, it will depreciate the minute it sits on your finger. Over time, though, it can hold its worth. Gems passed from generation to generation can prove a good hedge against inflation.
As with paintings or fine wines, the more you spend, the more you stand to make. The bigger and better the quality of the gem, the more it becomes a serious investment which will appreciate over time.
But you need to pay at least £3,000 or £4,000 to be in this league. Fine designer jewellery with a big sparkler will appreciate most of all, but again will be priced upwards of £3,000.
Keep in mind four things when shopping for a diamond: cut, colour, clarity and carat. The latter refers to the gem's weight. Typical engagement rings are between half and one carat. The most valuable diamonds are colourless, and are graded D to Z, with a perfectly colourless diamond graded D. Yellow and pink diamonds have become fashionable alternatives in recent years. Unusual colours are particularly prized by collectors for their rarity.
How much a diamond sparkles will depend on its cut and clarity, as these determine how light passes through and reflects off a gem. A 'flawless' diamond will be classified IF, which stands for internally flawless.
Stones are most often cut 58 times (facets in industry jargon). Round and princess (square) settings are the most common choice for engagement rings, so if buying for a present you may wish to check before opting for a heart or pear-shaped stone.
Watch for terms such as 'clarity enhanced', as this means the diamond has been artificially altered, not given an extra polish. It is well worth ensuring the diamond bought has a certificate verifying its quality from an independent laboratory. Any reputable jeweller should not be afraid of a buyer wishing to have the quality of their stone verified in this way.
And don't forget insurance. List any expensive jewellery separately under your home insurance policy, and make sure you have all-risks cover which will pay up if you lose jewellery while away from home.
Websites such as www.cooldiamonds.com have investment stones and jewellery starting at below £1,000. Visit www.diamondfacts.org to be sure you avoid blood stones.
This article: http://business.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=183532007

Woman Reunited With Lost Engagement Ring

2007-01-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

She found a ring on Christmas, hidden between phone books wrapped in a box. Then, she found her boyfriend on one knee, proposing marriage at his family's holiday party. But the happiness was short-lived, because just days later, the ring disappeared. Just five days after receiving it, the oversized engagement ring Teresa Wellendorf wore so proudly around her fiance's antique store was gone. Teresa Wellendorf said, "I panicked, an antique store, I ran all over and backtracked where i'd been.

"When she couldn't find it, she had to tell her fiance, Heath Epperson. Heath Epperson said, "I told her it was going to be okay because she was panicked and freaking out on me."Wellendorf also said, "I wasn't expecting him to be mad or anything he just, 'Calm down, lets look,' so we did."But they didn't have any luck. Epperson mentioned, "By the end of Monday night it was kind of somber attitudes. You kind of been through everything at that point."Well, not everything. It turns out a shopper who visited the antique store on New Year's Eve found something unexpected in her bag. Cindy Rigsby replied, "And I thought oh my gosh, who dropped a ring in here, it looks like one of those rubber gumball machine rings and I picked it up and I said, oh no, this is real.

"When Rigsby of Stugis found it, she called all the places she had visited. When Rigsby called the antique store, Epperson picked up the phone. Epperson said, "Relieved, it was a good thing, extremely good, to get the call from an honest person."Rigsby said, "And he described the ring to me and I said, how soon can you come and get it and she was here in this place within 45 minutes... She came in the door she looked at me, I said Teresa, she said Cindy, she was crying and I said here ya go."Wellendorf said, "I gave her a big old hug and couldn't say thank you enough."Rigsby said she put herself in the person who lost the ring's shoes and knew how bad she would feel and decided it had to go back to whoever owned it.

Jewelry store thief makes off with two rings

2007-01-22T14:16:00.000-08:00

A suspect stole two rings valued at more than $20,000 from a Mall of the Bluffs jewelry store Sunday.
Council Bluffs Police reports indicated witnesses said a man came into Fred Meyer Jewelry at approximately 1:35 p.m. Sunday. The man looked at several items, including engagement rings.
Reports indicated the suspect left the store and returned moments later, again looking at rings.

At some point, the man grabbed two rings - a 2-carat princess-cut diamond ring valued at $13,800 and a 1.3-carat round diamond ring worth $6,875 - and ran out of the store.

Witnesses said the suspect jumped into a blue sports utility vehicle and fled the scene. Sgt. Ray Mabbitt of the Criminal Investigation Division of the CBPD said the vehicle was recovered, but the suspect or suspects remain at large.

Mabbitt said that CID is processing the vehicle and will continue the investigation.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP. Callers may remain anonymous.

Cops use X-rays to catch thief with ring in his belly

2007-01-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

A THIEF who swallowed an engagement ring was caught after police ran a metal detector over his stomach.
Then a hospital X-ray showed up the platinum and diamond sparkler in his gut, a court heard yesterday.
And police kept Simon Hooper in custody for three days until nature took its course and the £1750 ring reappeared.
Jobless Hooper was jailed for 12 weeks after he admitted the bizarre theft at the Clock House jewellery shop in Dorchester, Dorset, in November.
Jeweller Fred Burgess, 57, said after the case: "He walked in and told me his girlfriend had just had a baby and so he wanted to ask her to marry him.
"We discussed what type of ring he was after and I showed him a platinum princess cut ring from the window.
"As he held it in his hand, I turned back to the window to get two more rings but when I looked at him again the ring had gone.
"I asked him where it was and he claimed he had given it back to me. I asked him to empty his pockets.
"I still couldn't find the ring and I could only assume he had swallowed it because there wasn't anywhere else it could be.
"He was eating peppermint cream sweets at the time - I don't know if they helped him to swallow it."
Police took Hooper for an X-ray after a strip search failed to produce the ring.
Even when it appeared on the image, Hooper claimed it was a piece of foil he had eaten by accident. But police refused to swallow his story and put him in a cell.
Justine Gayford, prosecuting, told Blandford magistrates: "By the following day, the ring had still not passed, so his detention was extended by magistrates for 36 hours.
"By November 26, his time was up and at that moment he passed a single stool which contained the diamond ring."
Hooper, from Fordington, Dorchester, who is still with his long-term girlfriend, avoided paying compensation to the jeweller because the ring was recovered.
But Mr Burgess said another buyer had backed out after being told the ring's history.
The jeweller said: "I had to tell her what had happened. Unsurprisingly, she doesn't want the ring now.
"I don't want to sell the ring in my shop now I know where it has been so it will be polished up then sold through the trade."
Desmond Reynolds, defending, said Hooper's judgment had been affected by alcohol.

Diamonds still a celebrity's best friend

2007-01-17T07:11:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles—So much for the Blood Diamond-fueled war between Hollywood and the diamond industry. Celebrities from Little Miss Sunshine Abigail Breslin to The Queen Helen Mirren, sported bling at last night's 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood.In fact, the Diamond Information Center said 82 of Hollywood's finest from film and television wore diamonds to the event.

Breslin, 10, star of the Globe-nominated hit Indie film, wore diamond loop earrings and a three-stone diamond-drop pendant by Harry Winston. The regal Mirren—who won Globes for best performance by an actress in a motion picture drama for The Queen and best performance by an actress in a miniseries or motion picture made for television for Elizabeth I—wore 3-carat kite-shaped diamond earrings set in white gold, a diamond bracelet, and a Tahitian pear-shaped Golden Diamond pendant set in micro pavé on a white-gold and diamond chain by Chopard.Even more politically outspoken celebs such as Angelina Jolie and Maggie Gyllenhaal dazzled in diamonds.

Jolie—known for her philanthropic efforts in Africa as well as her A-list association with Brad Pitt—worked with fashion stylist Jen Rade to create a glamorous look that included a vintage-style uncut-diamond necklace, earrings and bangles set in 22-karat yellow gold by Bochic.Best actress in a motion picture drama nominee Gyllenhaal chose vintage Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry consisting of a 1937 Ludo Hexagone bracelet with the company's sapphire Mystery setting in the center with diamonds, a 1937 Pont oval sapphire bracelet with round-cut diamonds, and 1923 Pampilles earrings with sapphires and baguette-cut diamonds.

All the pieces were mounted in platinum.Overall, top diamond trends at the Golden Globes included right-hand rings, earrings and vintage-inspired necklaces.Diamond right-hand rings were worn by best actress in a motion picture musical or comedy nominee Beyoncé Knowles, in a 25-carat grey-, yellow- and white-diamond right-hand ring valued at $110,000 by Lorraine Schwartz; Jennifer Lopez, in a yellow-diamond right-hand ring by Lorraine Schwartz; and best actress in a motion picture drama nominee Penélope Cruz, in a diamond and platinum right-hand ring by Chopard.

Diamond earrings were worn by Jennifer Hudson, best supporting actress winner for Dreamgirls, in 19th-century old-mine-cut diamond earrings by Fred Leighton; Cruz, in diamond studs by Chopard; Lopez, in yellow- and white-diamond earrings set in yellow and black gold by Lorraine Schwartz; and Sienna Miller, in diamond chandelier earrings from the Cartier Private Collection.Diamond necklaces were worn by Heidi Klum, in a diamond and platinum choker with diamond-heart locket, valued at $1 million; and best actress in a motion picture drama nominee Kate Winslet, in a heart-shaped diamond pendant by Chopard.Male celebrities also followed the trend with Jamie Foxx in diamond stud earrings, Jeremy Piven in diamond and platinum cuff links by Neil Lane, and Sean Combs in diamond stud earrings and two diamond right-hand rings by Lorraine Schwartz.

In one of the more interesting accessory choices of the evening, Kyra Sedgwick, winner of the award for best performance by an actress in a television drama series for Closer, arrived on the red carpet with a "golden globe" already in hand. She wore Piaget's Golden Globe right-hand ring in 18-karat white gold with diamonds, which features an intricately faceted globe that reflects light as it dangles from a simple band

How To Avoid Buying Blood Diamonds

2007-01-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

Much of the recent buzz about the movie "Blood Diamond" is focused on actor Leonardo DiCaprio and whether his performance is worthy of an Academy Award nomination.However, plenty of other people are talking about the movie itself. DiCaprio plays a mercenary caught up in Sierra Leone's civil war.

It was a war paid for by diamond exports. It is no accident the movie opened during the holidays and just before Valentine's Day. Producers hope it will encourage Americans to ask questions about the diamonds they buy. More than 60 percent of the diamonds on the market are purchased in the United States. Some buyers, like Beth Gertstein, worry about more than color, clarity and cut. She shopped for a guarantee her stone is "conflict free.

""It was certainly very important for us to buy an engagement ring that was symbolic not just our love and commitment but also of our values," she said.Experts around the world continue to debate the availability of conflict diamonds. The war in Sierra Leone ended in 2002. Since then, the United Nations has worked with diamond exporting countries on a global regulatory system called the Kimberly Process.But a recent report by the Government Accountability Office says the U.S. is, "still vulnerable to illicit trade of rough diamonds."

The report recommends steps the government can take to stay on top of the situation DiCaprio's movie and a hit song by rapper Kanye West, "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," have given the controversy a lot of publicity. Many companies now promise to guarantee a diamond's history. For instance, you can buy a man-made stone. Robert Linares, with Apollo Diamonds, says his gems are actually grown in a lab.

"What we have done is to figure out how to start with a seed diamond and grow on that, by adding carbon atoms, one atom at a time," he said.Canada now markets its diamonds as conflict free. That's why Gerstein chose to buy a Canadian diamond for her engagement ring. But the World Diamond Council says many countries offer that guarantee. It says 99 percent of all stones throughout the world are free of conflict."We're working very hard to make sure that there are no conflict diamonds anywhere, in anybody's inventory," said Cecilia Gardner with the Council.Global charities like World Vision say that is true, to a point.

The charity says boycotting diamonds is not an answer for those worried about conflict diamonds. Such an action could hurt countries that market their diamonds to pay for health care and schools.What should you do? It is not a bad idea to ask questions. Does your jeweler have a conflict diamond policy? Many will offer warranties from their suppliers.

"If you're going to a reputable jewelry store, all of their diamonds will be covered," Gardner said.The charities say questions from customers will keep the pressure on both retailers and suppliers to ensure conflict diamonds do not end up in your hands.

Wedding jewelry might have a familiar ring

2007-01-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

Picking out engagement rings and wedding bands is one thing - there are so many more choices than diamond solitaires ringing up sales at the jewelers' cash registers these days.
But when it comes to what a bride is going to wear with her wedding gown, the decision may not be quite so clear-cut.

Colored stones, pearls or heirloom pieces have caught the eye of some contemporary brides this season, but diamonds are still a bride's best friend, claims Nicky Yakubovich, founder of MJJ Brilliant and creator of the Bloom collection of romantic jewelry found in many jewelry stores.

"Clusters of diamonds in floral motifs with vintage appeal are romantic choices that can be worn with a wedding dress and many times over, and will always serve as a reminder of that special day," says Yakubovich. "These pieces are not just reserved for the bride, but make wonderful gifts and commemorate the occasion for special members of a wedding party."

Yakubovich suggests considering multiple layers of diamond necklaces, in either yellow or white gold. When choosing neckwear for the wedding day, try it with your gown to be sure the neckline sits right with your jewels.

The jewelry expert also suggests staying true to your personality when choosing your jewelry to wear with your wedding gown.

"You'll be looking at these photographs for years to come," he says, "so don't go overboard with your hair or earrings. You want everyone to see you, not only your jewelry, so resist the urge to pile it on. Keep earrings close to your ear and bracelets from jingling and making noise."

Yakubovich also suggests checking clasps and making sure stones aren't loose. "You don't want to spoil your big event with a search for missing or broken jewels."

Choosing wedding jewelry also allows the groom to sparkle. "Thinking past the wedding day, another trend is for grooms to gift their bride with a special piece that means something to the story of their lives together," adds Yakubovich.

Whether it's a special necklace, pendant, set of earrings or bracelet, it's the personal touch that sets aside the jewelry chosen for the wedding day, says Yakubovich. "Since each couple's experience of love is unique, the jewelry becomes a personal connection, individual to each couple."

Some other unique jewelry expressions for wedding-day attire:

Antique lockets with a picture of your groom inside.
A sparkling crystal brooch worn on the sash of your gown.
A jeweled crown fastened securely in your hair.
A pearl-encrusted hair comb.
A special pair of jeweled cuff links for the groom.
Engraved pendants on a velvet ribbon choker.
Monogrammed sterling earrings.
Personalized charm bracelets.
Jewelry for your cake! Crystal cake-toppers in the bride and groom's initials.

Diamonds for wholesale price

2007-01-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

Diamonds for wholesale price
Posted Jan-15-07 11:56:37 PST
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Royal Request for a Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring

2007-01-15T06:56:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Natural Sapphire Company was contacted on January 9th by a gentleman from the United Kingdom who was inquiring about an extremely fine blue sapphire. The unidentified caller specifically questioned if the sapphire would be fit for 'a royal engagement.'
The caller specifically enquired about having a mounting made in the 'Princess Diana engagement ring design.' Pictures of the late princess' ring were faxed from a blocked number in the UK. The fax included specific details of the sapphire engagement ring Princess Diana received.
No official transaction transpired, but wire payment instructions were requested and a 6.02ct antique cushion cut blue sapphire was put on hold.
When questioned if the recipient would be of 'royal descent' the caller insisted that it would be a potentially very important ring in England.
Princess Diana was engaged with a blue sapphire ring. The famous design of 'The Princess Diana Ring' was forever an iconic design in the jewelry world. Blue sapphire rings are now used as engagement rings 2nd to diamonds. Michael Arnstein, Executive Director of The Natural Sapphire Company comments, "We have all heard of the publicity surrounding the rumors of Prince William and Kate Middleton, we would be honored to help see the tradition continue in the royal family."
A picture of the extremely fine sapphire can be seen below: http://thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/nscnet/expandedstones.aspx?stoneid=B614

Study: 'Blood Diamond' has minor affect on holiday sales

2007-01-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

Two percent of Blood Diamond viewers did not buy jewelry this holiday season because of the film, according to a post-holiday study conducted by the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC).The study, held from Dec. 28, 2006 through Jan. 3, 2007, polled 2,961 JCOC panelists.

A quarter of those polled did purchase fine jewelry or watches as a gift this holiday season, down from 28.1 percent in the JCOC's holiday 2005 study. More than a third of those surveyed who did not purchase fine jewelry or watches claimed it was because of financial reasons. Of those respondents who did purchase, 45 percent spent more on jewelry and 21 percent spent more on watches than in previous years.

Nearly a quarter of all fine-jewelry purchasers spent more than $500 this holiday season.Independent retailers and department stores were the most popular retail venues for fine-jewelry purchases this holiday season. The JCOC, a division of MVI Marketing Ltd., is an Internet-based, niche market-research service providing the gem, jewelry and watch industries with market intelligence about their products and consumers. For more information about the study, visit JCOC.info.

Why do we wear our engagement rings and wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand and not on some other finger?

2007-01-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

Why do we wear our engagement rings and wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand and not on some other finger?

It is a tradition that goes way back to the ancient Greeks and Romans who believed there was a special nerve that ran from that finger to the heart. Why they thought this, I don't know. I guess it just seemed like a good idea at the time.Later on, in the Middle Ages, it evolved into the idea that there was special blood vessel between the ring finger and heart. This was called the vena amoris or "love vein."

Largest Natural Blue Sapphire Available for Sale in North America

2007-01-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

The Natural Sapphire Company (www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com) has placed on sale the largest natural blue sapphire in the United States. The 129ct rough sapphire crystal was discovered in the world famous gem mines of Sri Lanka (formerly “Ceylon”) in 1952. The first cutting yielded an 80ct sapphire. It was then sold to a British family and in private ownership until the late 1990’s.
At this time it was re-cut for a more perfect shape and better symmetry in order to improve its light and color reflection. The sapphire is now in its best form weighing in at an amazing 69.53cts. and conservatively priced at $417,000.
The color and clarity are exceptional. It is a one of a kind gemstone for the ultimate collector. Michael Arnstein the 3rd generation gem cutter at The Natural Sapphire Company has described it as “you have to not only be wealthy to own this, you have to be lucky to have the opportunity to purchase it.”
The Natural Sapphire Company (founded in 1939) is a specialty gemstone company only dealing with natural untreated sapphires of the finest quality. They have offices in New York, Colombo Sri Lanka, Bangkok, Mumbai and soon opening in Tokyo. The Natural Sapphire Company supplies upscale retailers, manufacturers and private clients with the world’s finest sapphires.
Sapphires come in a rainbow of colors. The primary colors are blue, pink, yellow, and a pinkish-orange combination called a “padparadscha.” The most popular sapphire are the famous blue sapphires that have been adorned by royalty. Blue sapphires have been used as a popular engagement ring stone since Princess Diana was engaged with a magnificent natural blue sapphire ring. Sapphire engagement rings have grown in demand steadily as many consumers seek out non-diamond type engagement gemstones.
To see the largest collection of sapphires in the world, visit The Natural Sapphire Company online at: www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com.

Thief Steals $100K In Gems From Jewelry Store

2007-01-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

He wore a mask and brought his crowbar. He also got caught on tape stealing handfuls of jewelry.Police in Cottage Grove, Minn. hope newly released surveillance tape will lead to clues in the heist, which employees estimate cost the jewelry store $100,000."Colored stones ... diamond rings, gold bands, gold chains," said Christine Selvig, describing a long list of what was stolen, though she admits it's difficult to put a number on the emotional damage.

"We're a small store here in Cottage Grove. The damage he did -- it took two years of struggle to get where we're at today."On tape, the crook is seen working very fast, using his crowbar and his big green storage bin. Authorities think he may have known an alarm had already alerted police to the crime in progress, so he grabbed the jewels in a flash.The thief was able to empty three cases in less than one minute."There he is rummaging through," said Christine's husband Chad as he reviewed their store's surveillance video.The Selvigs hope that showing pictures of unique items stolen -- including many unique, custom-made engagement rings -- will lead to the masked man if he tries to sell the items intact.

"I had a customer come in here last Friday looking for ladies' and mens' diamond rings and I started crying, 'I don't know what to show you,'" said Christine Selvig.Ironically, one of the rings swiped bore the inscriptions: "What would Jesus do?"Reviewing the surveillance tape is now the best way to track down the suspect and the precious jewels that were lost.

The suspect wore a dark blue sweatshirt with white writing on the sleeves. He also wore yellow rubber gloves.If you have any information in the case, please call Cottage Grove Police at (651) 458-6012.

Making The Most of Valentine's Gifts For Him

2007-01-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

The emphasis on Valentine’s Day remains, in the majority, with a man’s token of love to a woman. The red roses that so symbolize the modern Valentine’s Day are a male love token, a gesture of the man’s heart, a product of romance….. and some quite heavy marketing. The annual love peak is reached on February 14 each year, and marriage proposals hit the news as the more imaginative men think of unique ways to pop the question, while others bring out their engagement rings with confidence on a scale from total, arrogant confidence, down to sheer desperation and extreme wishful thinking.
Love and romance are, of course, a two way combo; at least, we all hope it is two way. While the red roses, and to a lesser extent the heart shaped chocolates, are the domain of the man to woman love token, millions of women still feel the desire to buy a Valentine’s Day gift for him each February. The problem then is, what to buy, and how to make Valentine’s Day as romantic for the husband or boyfriend as a recipient as it can be as a giver?
With Valentine’s Day coming so soon after Christmas, many girls and women will recently have been through the gift searching process for their husband or boyfriend. Maybe, then, there is little more thinking to do about a Valentine’s Day gift for a husband or boyfriend. Or is there?

Read more http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=18447

The glitter of diamonds engagement rings competes with the twinkling of holiday lights.

2006-12-22T07:46:00.000-08:00

Twenty-six percent of all engagements take place during the holiday season.

There are four words heard more often this time of year than any other season - and they're not "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year." The holidays are a time for warm and fuzzy family gatherings, rekindling childhood friendships and igniting romantic relationships.

Will you marry me?" is heard under mistletoe, at comfy corner tables-for- two and around red-bowed Douglas fir trees. The glitter of diamond engagement rings competes with the twinkling of holiday lights. For many, this festive season begins and ends with the "C" word: commitment.

Christmas weddings and engagements get hot just when the weather turns cold. "We book more weddings in January and February because everybody gets engaged over the holiday season," says Joy Fox, banquet director and certified wedding planner for D'Ignazio's Towne House in Media. "Guys recognize that they can't go wrong and women like to show off their rings to friends and family. Most couples plan to marry within seven to nine months after their engagement."

Even the blogosphere is a-chatter with the big news. "It's hard this time of year because more and more people get engaged and leave us behind. It's hard not to be jealous. Anyone else becoming obsessed with engagement thoughts?" writes KissyKissy on a diamond consumer information Web site. She gets 27 instant responses.

For many women of all ages, the yuletide season is a time of anticipation: Will he propose? These ladies in waiting eschew the traditional holiday gifts in favor of the gift of a lifetime: a wedding engagement ring. "People get caught up in the spirit of giving, love, joy and happiness," says Fox. "It's every little girl's dream to get engaged at Christmastime."

Intimacy expert Helga Hayse, author of "Don't Worry About a Thing, Dear" says Christmas may be the worst time to get engaged. Hayse says that despite the romantic illusion, the holidays are too hectic a time to enter into a lifetime contract.

"There are a lot of distractions and family obligations and then someone surprises you with a ring. Who can say 'No!' to a one-carat diamond," questions Hayse.
"Twenty-six percent of all engagements take place at holiday time. There is a magical haze around Christmas that creates a make-believe world that doesn't exist," she says.

"The fact is an engagement ring is like a letter of intent, a prelude to a contract of commitment and should never be perceived as a gift."

Bah-humbug says the eternal romantic in all of us and retail numbers back us up. According to Blue Nile, the largest retailer of diamonds and engagement rings in the U.S., "June is the traditional month for weddings but for engagements, December takes the prize. One out of five engagements are said to occur in the last month of the year."

Jean Sanders Torrey, a nationally known writer and author of "Why Men Marry and Why Men Don't" says the holidays serve as "a spark or prodding" for men to take a relationship to the next level.
"Sometimes the calendar is the catalyst that gets the man going. An engagement is not the actual commitment of marriage but a step forward. It doesn't involve the legalities or the vows but gives the man training wheels, a learning time, a warming period," she says.

Although in these modern, hurry-up times, the engagement "warming period" has been shortened, Sanders Torrey still believes in a yearlong pre-marital courtship.
"People should stay together for four seasons to get to know each other's habits," she says. "The man may be active in sports like golf and swimming in the spring and summer but spend the winter on the couch. It's best to know these things about your partner in advance."

The mall is the crossroads of the holiday spirit where romance, intimacy and marketing merge. "There is a significant increase in engagements between November and continuing into January. Most of our customers are waiting until Christmas or New Year's Eve to get engaged and its reflected in our sales,' says Gretchen Howie, store manager for Littman Jewelers in the Granite Run Mall.

"Many of our customers share with us how they plan to propose. Some get engaged while decorating the Christmas tree or during dessert in a romantic restaurant. It makes our staff feel part of something special and makes for an excitement in the store."

According to the Diamond Information Center, retail sales of diamonds have steadily been increasing, from $26.3 billion in 2000 to $33.7 billion in 2005. The industry takes in most of its annual diamond sales revenues between the period of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Howie says it's usually the man who picks out the engagement ring. "The couple have already discussed the subject, visited the store or looked online," she says. "He usually knows what she has in mind and normally knows her ring size. We get very few exchanges."
The ever-pragmatic Helga Hayse believes that despite the giving nature of the season, a ring is no mere gift but rather the signature ink on a long-term contract.

"An engagement ring is a prelude to a lifetime commitment. It should be thought through and each couple should exchange rings. It should be a 2-way street," she says. "If the engagement is broken, in Pennsylvania, the man gets the ring back. That's the law."

Metcalfe planning Coyle proposal?

2006-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

Jesse Metcalfe is planning to propose to pop star girlfriend Girls Aloud's Nadine Coyle in a bid to fix their strained transatlantic relationship - according to newspaper reports.The couple, who split briefly last month, have been trying to keep the romance alive despite the Desperate Housewives hunk living in America and Biology pop star residing in Britain.
The John Tucker Must Die star was spotted searching for engagement rings. Metcalfe then booked a surprise luxury break in Dubai. A source close to the star tells British newspaper The People: "He wants to make up to Nadine, so he's booked a five-star hotel and has made sure they can spend some quality time together - just the two of them."

Fishy Diamonds Surface at Russian Airport

2006-12-12T11:53:00.000-08:00

Russian custom officers found 25 large, rough diamonds tucked in a dead fish. The strong aroma drifting from a woman’s suitcase raised their suspicions, resulting in the surprising discovery.

The search of the 51-year-old woman’s belongings took place at the Polyarny airport as she was about to board a flight to Moscow, Ananova reported. During the search, officers pulled a three-foot long pike out of her luggage, and that’s when the diamonds fell out.

Police suspect the diamonds are fishy and have started an investigation. A police spokesperson said, “The woman thought the stink from the fish would be enough to put guards off asking too many questions if she was stopped. Luckily, the guards were keen fishermen and didn't mind at all.”

Manilal's Death: More Details Emerge

2006-12-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

At around seven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, December 7, eight Antwerp police officers raided the home of Indian diamantaire, Nikhil Manilal, in the Antwerp suburb of Wilrijk. The officers had a warrant to conduct a house search. At the time, Manilal was at home with his wife, Sujata, his father, and a number of servants. According to witnesses, Manilal, managing director of Beltaj NV, suffered a heart attack while reading the warrant, and collapsed.

The servants in the home said they had wanted to call Sujata and Nikhil's father when Manilal suffered his heart attack. The two family members were in a different part of the house. However, police prevented the servants from calling on the family, apparently, to preserve the “moment of surprise” when confronting her as part of the investigation.

Only when it became clear that the 46-year-old diamantaire had passed away, some ten to 15 minutes later, did police call an ambulance. A servant in the home who was at the scene had wanted to comfort the dying diamantaire but was prevented from doing so. Dominique Reyniers of the justice department in Antwerp denies the charges. He claimed that an ambulance was called within a minute or so after the diamantaire’s collapse. In the meantime, police have already changed their version of events a number of times.

Read on http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullNews.asp?id=26654

Paris Hilton’s Fake Engagement Ring

2006-12-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

Publicity ploy or not, the engagement rumors Paris Hilton sparked just days ago by wearing something which looked like an engagement ring, are all bogus according to her publicist, Elliot Mintz.
The on-off couple, Paris Hilton and Stavros Niarchos are apparently back together but not engaged as many tabloids reported. Hilton’s representative said the “Stars Are Blind” singer wears rings on all her fingers from time to time and the ring she was spotted wearing is not the one and they’re not engaged.
Munitz told People, "Paris is not engaged. She does wear rings on different hands and fingers and depending on what's comfortable, but she is not engaged."
About a week ago, Paris Hilton showed up at Stacey Bendet's "Black & White" dinner for her clothing line alice+olivia at Katsuya in L.A. wearing a sparkler on her left hand, shocking attendants. Her sometime boyfriend, Stavros Niarchos accompanied her.
However, the ring looked suspiciously like the fake "diamond" solitaire she once claimed former fiancé Paris Latsis gave her. Hilton was engaged to Latsis for five months in 2005. Still, the starlet was pretty quiet when dinner guests asked her about Niarchos and the ring.
Some close friends of Paris denied the rumors as well, and said that Niarchos family is rather unhappy of their reunion suggesting that they even gave him an ultimatum to stop the relationship or else lose his Greek shipping inheritance.
"They refused to meet her last year when Paris and Stavros had dated for a while," a friend claimed. "Paris even followed him and his family to Hawaii, where they go every New Year's, and they still wouldn't meet her. They think she's tacky."
Stavros’ parents aren’t the only ones worried about their son’s fate involving one of the Hilton sisters. The parents of David Katzenberg, now dating “The Simple Life” star's younger sister Nicky, feel the same way about their son romancing Nicky. A source said his father Jeffrey Katzenberg, the former Disney executive who co-founded DreamWorks, is against the relationship: "Jeffrey thinks the Hiltons are just lowbrow and that his son is young and should be dating around."
On Friday night, Paris, her sister Nicky, Stavros Niarchos and their friend, Brandon Davis were seen partying at the South Beach, Fla., nightclub Ink. While the DJ played Billy Idol’s "Mony Mony," Hilton gave Niarchos a lap dance looking happy and quite possibly in love. A source told People, "Not only are she and Stavros together, but they are in love." At around 3 am, the heiress was reluctant to her boyfriend’s insisting of leaving home.
Paris and Stavros have been together at the beginning of 2006, broke up in May, got back together for a bit in July, broke up again, and now seem to be back together.
25-year-old Paris Hilton, who recently expressed her desire to have four children by the time she turns 30, has been engaged twice before but never made it to the next level, marriage.

What a story- God bless them all

2006-12-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

December 8, 2006 -- The brother of a hero New York soldier killed in Iraq on the same day a blue-ribbon commission recommended bringing U.S. troops home said yesterday that pulling out would send the wrong message to the world.
"To me, it makes no sense . . . If you get out now, it would be telling the whole world you left and didn't succeed in anything," Ivan Ryndych, 20, said of the talk in Washington about what to do about the Iraq situation.
"If you do pull out, and give me a stupid reason, what kind of government are we?" he asked in front of his family's immaculately kept home on a cul-de-sac in Staten Island's Willowbrook section.
Last night, candles were lit there in honor of his brother, Sgt. Yevgeniy Ryndych, 24.
Yesterday, an engagement ring Ryndych had bought over the Internet for his fiancée arrived by FedEx. He was due home on leave next month.
Sgt. Ryndych was on patrol with his unit in Ramadi - an especially dangerous area for U.S. soldiers - when he was fatally injured by an improvised explosive device.
He was among 11 U.S. soldiers who gave their lives Wednesday, the same day the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended that the government commit to removing combat troops in early 2008, and boost efforts to train Iraqi forces.
On Staten Island, Ivan Ryndych said he was not sure a pullout would mean for troops risking their lives in Iraq. "If they do pull out, it will save soldiers," he said. "But then, if you take out soldiers, you have to admit you were wrong."
Sgt. Ryndych, who was born in Ukraine, was an avid reader as a youth, very interested in math and military-strategy games.
Ivan Ryndych said he was surprised by his brother's success with the Army's physical training.
"He wasn't a sports guy - he just read books since he was born. He wasn't a physical guy at all," he said. "But he always wanted to go into the Army . . . He just liked the whole Army concept."
Asked if his family was prouder of its Ukrainian or U.S. heritage, Ryndych said: "We live in the country that's better to live in."
A graduate of Lafayette HS in Brooklyn, Sgt. Ryndych joined the Army in 2000 and trained for the infantry. He qualified to serve in airborne missions and earned a Combat Infantryman's Badge and a Good Conduct Medal.
He was a skilled marksman, ranking No. 3 among the thousands of troops based at Fort Carson, Colo., his brother said. Only highly trained Army snipers shot better.
"There were so many accomplishments," Ivan said.
Ryndych served a yearlong tour of duty in Korea, and served a tour in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
"He had a lot of medals. The first time in Iraq, he got two medals, one for saving somebody," his brother said.
The Army offered Sgt. Ryndych more training - but he turned it down to go back to Iraq. "All his friends and soldiers were there already," Ivan Ryndych said. " 'I don't want to leave them.' That's exactly what he said, word for word," his mother, Slava Ryndych, said in a soft, trembling voice.
Ivan Ryndych was considering a military career himself until his brother's death.
"Now that this happened, I definitely won't go in the Army," he said. "I can't put my parents through the same thing. It's not about me."

Firefighters cut woman from rings

2006-12-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

A disabled woman is recovering after firefighters were called to her house to cut rings from her finger after her hand had swollen up overnight.

The daughter of the middle-aged woman, from Lochgelly, was forced to call for help on Wednesday when her mother could not remove her wedding rings.

Two firefighters from Fife Fire and Rescue used special fire engine cutting equipment to cut her free.
The rings were causing the woman, who is a wheelchair user, severe pain.

Struan Drummond, a Fife Fire and Rescue Service firefighter, said: "We received a call at 1000 GMT and decided to go round instead of asking the woman, who was in a wheelchair, to come to the station.
"It was an unusual call-out but it is all part of the service, we are here to help the community.

"We removed both her wedding ring and her engagement ring using special equipment which has a cutting wheel."

'The Break-Up' co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn have split, report says

2006-12-06T10:32:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK – Representatives for Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn have confirmed that the Hollywood couple have called it quits, People magazine reported on its Web site.

“Jennifer and Vince mutually agreed to end their relationship but continue to be good friends today,” said representatives Stephen Huvane and John Pisani, according to People.com, in a story posted Tuesday.

Their representatives said the former co-stars decided to end their romance after Aniston visited Vaughn in London in October.

Aniston, 37, and Vaughn, 36, spent much of the last year and a half battling rumors about their relationship – first that it was starting, then that it was headed toward marriage, and most recently that it was sputtering.
The actors met while filming “The Break-Up” in 2005. Reports of a romance quickly swirled, but the two initially said they were simply friends.

They were spotted together in various places over the ensuing months but said little about their liaison. Still, by this summer, they were denying whispers of an engagement.

Within months, they were denying that they were breaking up. In October, Vaughn threatened to sue British and American tabloid newspapers that had reported that he was breaking it off with Aniston and had been seen kissing someone else.

Vaughn, now filming a holiday comedy called “Fred Claus,” is known for his roles in comic films such as “Wedding Crashers” and “Starsky & Hutch.” Aniston, who is divorced from Brad Pitt, came to fame in the television comedy “Friends,” and has gone on to star in a string of feature films.

Blood Diamond film not a threat

2006-12-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - The movie, Blood Diamond, which is to be released in the United States on Friday, will have little or no impact on the diamond industry, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kago Moshashane, said the movie is actually more about the role of mercenaries in fuelling civil strife than conflict diamonds.
Mr Moshashane said the title, Blood Diamond, is only a catch phrase and not so much about the susbstance.
Mr Moshashane, who attended a sneak preview of the movie, said in an interview that the picture, based on atrocities that took place in Sierra Leone in the 1990s, mainly tells a story about the greed of mercenaries who in the pursuit of a large diamond sell weapons to both warring parties.
He said he was confident that consumers would continue buying diamonds as the movie did not portray diamonds as inherently bad and responsible for conflict.
In my own opinion the movie mentions diamonds but it is really about a historical event, he added.
Mr Moshashane said the diamond industry has been jittery about the impact of the movie on the sales of diamonds, especially since it is December when consumers buy engagement rings and other jewellery.
Though there is still concern, Mr Moshashane said he was relieved that the movie will not taint the whole industry.
Meanwhile, Mr Moshashane, who chairs the Kimberly Process, an organisation meant to keep conflict diamonds out of the market, said though the process is progressing well, their work was made difficult by some unscrupoulus diamond dealers and traders.
These people, he said, buy illigitimate diamonds, mix them with certified gems and then present them to the markets. However, he said any licensed dealer found to be engaged in such business will be banne.
Also, he said some countries, which are not part of the Kimberly Process, were used as conduits for conflict diamonds.
To stop them, Mr Moshashane, said they were banking on the UN to take action, as those countries are members of the world body. BOPA

Oprah discusses 'Blood Diamond' today

2006-12-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

On today's The Oprah Winfrey Show, Blood Diamond Director Ed Zwick and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou had a fairly diamond-industry-positive discussion on conflict diamonds with host Oprah Winfrey.

The episode, which was taped earlier, offered viewers information on the film and the issue, and gave airtime to how the diamond industry has addressed conflict diamonds. Winfrey didn't editorialize while praising the actors and the film, but she addressed her audience directly in a segment on what the diamond industry has done since the events depicted in the film.

"Sources say that the flow of conflict diamonds has been slowed to just one percent of the diamonds that are now in the marketplace, and it's important for everybody watching to know that the sale of conflict-free diamonds, a majority of all diamonds, is actually saving many African countries," she said before introducing a clip that highlighted the importance of diamonds to the economic health of countries such as Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and even Sierra Leone today.

While the message was clearly that conflict diamonds are bad, none of Winfrey's guests were critical of the diamond industry. DiCaprio told Winfrey that even though the movie highlights a different issue, it relates to his personal beliefs on the environment. "It was very symbolic of what we do as consumers," he told the talk show host. "When we buy something, it is a vote. We're in essence endorsing that product or that company or that corporation and how they do business.

"Neither DiCaprio, Hounsou or Zwick went so far as to tell consumers to vote against diamonds."You're not telling people to stop buying diamonds?" Winfrey asked Zwick, to which he responded, "Not at all."The episode made mention of the Kimberley Process, though not all the information was accurate. It stated that today 47 countries meet the requirements, when at this point it's 71."This is a wonderful circumstance in which the public was able, by virtue of their awareness, to create something that has changed the world," Zwick told Winfrey. "You can sit there when you walk into a diamond dealer, to a jeweler, and you can say, 'I want to see a warranty. I want to see a certificate.'

And you can make a difference that will affect thousands of lives."The show also talked about the impact of civil war on Sierra Leone in the 1990s and featured music from Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, a group of musicians who found each other in a refugee camp in the Republic of Guinea. The group—with help from the United Nations—has performed for other refugees at camps and recorded their first album, "Living Like a Refugee."

They have been featured in a documentary titled Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars and their song "Ankala" is in Blood Diamond.In addition to featuring the topic, Oprah.com also provides additional information on conflict diamonds, including links to Amnesty International, the World Diamond Council's Diamondfacts.org Web site and the Kimberley Process Web site.

Kate rings true for Owen

2006-11-30T13:47:00.000-08:00

OWEN Wilson is planning to propose to Kate Hudson, it has been claimed.
The comic actor - who has grown increasingly close to his You, Me and Dupree co-star since she split from husband Chris Robinson - was allegedly seen shopping for engagement rings with his mother at the Harry Winston diamond store in Dallas on Friday.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "They were looking at a huge, pear-shaped, flawless diamond engagement ring."

Owen, 38, and Kate, 27, met on the set of the romantic comedy earlier this year and the actress - who has a two-year-old son Ryder - announced her split from rocker husband Robinson shortly after.

Though both stars have vehemently denied they began a relationship either before the split or after, they have been seen dining together frequently and Owen has visited the Almost Famous actress at her home.
A representative for the actor has denied he was looking for an engagement ring, saying: "Owen's mother was looking for jewellery for herself."

What work? 60 million shop online today

2006-11-27T15:03:00.000-08:00

Washington—If Santa only knew. Instead of knocking out items on their work to-do lists, employees may well be holiday shopping at their desks today, a new survey suggests.With Black Friday now over, the holiday shopping frenzy has moved online with "Cyber Monday" expected to draw 60.7 million consumers shopping from home or work today, according to a Shop.org survey conducted this weekend by Big Research.

Today, expected to be one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, starts the holiday season in earnest for online retailers. "While traditional retailers used Black Friday promotions to pack the stores this weekend, online retailers are using Cyber Monday to debut holiday merchandise and offer virtual door-busters," said Scott Silverman, Shop.org executive director, in a press release issued on Monday.

"On Cyber Monday, consumers will find specials ranging from percentages off entire Web sites to specific savings on big-ticket items."Free shipping is also expected to be a big draw, with 83 percent of online retailers planning to offer some kind of free-shipping promotion during the holiday season, according to the Shop.org/Shopzilla eHoliday Mood Study.Shop.org's own Web site, Cybermonday.com, has already received tens of thousands of visitors, the group says.

The site showcases more than 400 retailers featuring special promotions to encourage shoppers to point and click their way through the holiday shopping season. Coincidentally, a recent Big Research survey also found that 61 million people plan to shop online from work during the holiday season. "Shoppers who fought the crowds at the mall all weekend will find a welcome reprieve online on Cyber Monday," said Phil Rist, vice president of strategy for Big Research.

"Consumers who couldn't find what they were looking for in the stores will be flooding Web sites on Cyber Monday to shop for holiday gifts, research products and compare prices."Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation, is the network for online retailers with 600 members, including the 10 largest U.S. retailers and 70 percent of the top online retailers as ranked by Internet Retailer.

2006-11-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

New York—Some independent jewelers saw green on Black Friday, but others worried they may end up in the red if sales don't pick up as the holiday season progresses. "Friday started off very slowly in the morning," says Evan James Deutsch, owner of Evan James Ltd., in Brattleboro, Vt. "I think everyone had a Thanksgiving hangover. But it really picked up in the afternoon."Store sales increased 20 percent on Black Friday this year, compared with last year, Deutsch says, fueled by diamond stud earring and products priced between $300-$500.

The favorable sales continued through the rest of the weekend, and Deutsch has a positive outlook for the next few weeks."We had a great first weekend," he says. "We're very optimistic about the rest of the year."Steven Duvarney, owner of Duvarney Jewelers in Fitchburg, Mass., has a somewhat more cautious outlook about the holiday season, following average sales over the weekend.

"Black Friday was typical of what we would normally see on Friday and Saturday," he says. "For us, as a downtown store, most of the action takes place in the last two to three weeks of the season, so it's hard to get a feel yet for how sales will be. But so far, we are on par with last year."A disintegrating local economy made sales "lousy" at Leonard's Jewelers in Mount Airy, N.C., says owner Walter Leonard, citing the recent closure of two textile plants that employed local residents.

"There was a lot of traffic, but sales for us were down," he says. "I'm afraid it might be like this for the rest of the year. I hope it's not like this, but I think it might be."In the South Central region, retailers say they found either strong traffic or strong sales, but not both. Kelly Newton of Newton's Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., says he saw a number of new faces in the store over the holiday weekend."Saturday was quite busy, with more people looking, but not buying—more people we hadn't seen," he says.

As for Black Friday, Newton says it was as busy, if not busier than last year, with top sellers including diamond solitaire earrings and engagement rings, diamond stud earrings and Rolex watches.When asked what he thought was driving traffic into the 92-year-old store, Newton says he was unsure, though he'd love to know the answer."We don't run specials, we're not a monster advertiser—we've just been around a long time," he says.Jeff Fox of Barnes Jewelry also says Black Friday was a busy day for his Amarillo, Texas store."Traffic was incredibly good on Friday, but as far as buying, not as strong," he says.

However, Fox says combined sales from the weekend were up 15 percent from last year. Regarding best sellers, Fox says jewelry across the board sold well."Probably the strongest thing, ironically, was diamond and color fashions—rubies and sapphires," he says. In San Antonio, Texas, Aaron Penaloza of C. Aaron Penaloza Jewelers says his store saw very light traffic but good sales. Penaloza attributes the light traffic to the store's neighborhood strip-center location."A lot of our customers go out of town for the holidays, and when they do shop [at holiday time], they go to the malls," he says. Despite light traffic, the retailer came away from the holiday weekend making a number of key sales, including a carat-and-a-half Asscher-cut diamond for a custom pendant and a pair of Kwiat diamond earrings, bought by a Hurricane Katrina victim from Louisiana.

"She saw them last year, but didn't think she could spend money on diamonds," Penaloza says.After having her home rebuilt this year, she returned, remembering the starburst-patterned earrings she saw in the store the year before. All in all, Penaloza has high hopes for this year's holiday sales."We had a phenomenal November last year and expect to do even better this year," he says.With an unseasonably warm holiday weekend in the Cleveland area, Chad Schreibman, co-owner of Alson Jewelers, says business was good, but potential shoppers may have decided to enjoy the sunny weather—which reached the high sixties—versus getting a jump on holiday gifts.He says the store was up about 7 percent for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but that he had hoped for an even stronger start to the season.

"Sales were good actually, but I was hoping to have a little bit more traffic," he says. "I think the weather may have kept a few people from shopping."Overall, he's encouraged by growth of 12 percent through the first 11 months of the year."We never really look at this weekend as a tracker because I don't think in our industry it's as big a deal [compared to the big-box retailers]," he says. "Our month has been great and that's a better barometer as opposed to the big Black Friday weekend."Designers such as David Yurman and Roberto Coin were among his best sellers for the weekend.

At Anshus Jewelers in Menomonie, Wis., owner John Anshus says sales saw a spurt, but that the store and area tend to build as the season goes along. "It's doing well for us, but we get a slow start and it accelerates as it continues, right up through Christmas," he says.Early shoppers snatched up pendants and earrings in everything from gemstones to diamonds, he says.As with last season, the circle pendants look to be popular again, and he anticipates that Journey diamond jewelry will start gaining traction in the coming weeks."It takes a while for the more rural population to get moving," he says.In the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Wash., Alvin Goldfarb Jewelers had a surprisingly strong Black Friday, according to owner Steven Goldfarb."I was surprised—we did well.

I thought it would be slow because that's sort of a big-box electronics day, but we had very nice steady business, and we were probably up 10 percent on Saturday," he says.He said he sold a little bit of everything, mostly in the $1,000 to $2,500 range. "It feels like people want to get their shopping done earlier," he says.Also seeing what he called a surprisingly good Black Friday was James C. Jessop, owner of George Carter Jessop Jeweler in downtown San Diego.

"We had more people in, both looking as well as we closed more sales than we usually see that day after Thanksgiving," he says. "It's generally not a strong day for us, so it was a pleasant surprise."He attributes this success in part to better planning and also to the store's location, since clients who want to shop without the mall headaches can turn to the by-appointment jeweler.Business was slower—with more browsers than buyers—at Gleim Jewelers in Palo Alto, Calif.

"The last couple of days, the traffic was mostly people looking but not quite ready to commit. Hopefully that turns into a sale," says Richard T. Velayo, store manager.He says vendor trunk shows and a watch event the store has scheduled for the next two weeks will hopefully encourage people to buy."It's been slow. I'd say clients are still on the cautious side," Velayo added.
www.diamondsonfifth.com
www.qualitygiftsplus.com

Stolen ring leads to nuptial nightmare for bride-to-be

2006-11-24T07:53:00.000-08:00

A BRIDE-TO-BE has been left with a nuptial nightmare after being told a week before her wedding day that she will have to find another ring because the one she had chosen has been stolen .

Lisa Maguire, 32, and her fiance, from Wilmslow, who have been planning their dream wedding for more than a year, chose their rings from Wilmslow jewellers Modus several months in advance.
Lisa’s ring had to be custom made in America, and although it survived the long trip back to Wilmslow, it was stolen just minutes away from the jewellers shop in Grove Street after opportunistic thieves made off with a Royal Mail delivery van, as reported in last week’s Wilmslow Express.
Now the couple say they are "devastated" by the loss so soon before the wedding.
They are to be married at St Bartholomew’s Church on Saturday, November 25.
"It had taken me months to find a ring which I really loved, and I don’t want to exchange rings and have a ring blessed which I’m not entirely satisfied with," said a tearful Lisa.
"The ring I chose from the shop was from the Hearts of Gold collection, but it was two toned gold and white gold with diamonds and I wanted it all in white gold to match my engagement ring, so it had to be specially made in the US.
"Obviously I’m very upset and emotional.
"I already have a lot to cope with in the run up to the wedding and this is the worst thing that could have happened," added Lisa, who has since found a replacement elsewhere.

Peter Harrington, who owns Modus on Grove Street, ordered a replacement from America which was unacceptable to Lisa. He said: "I appreciate that it is a very emotional time for the customer.

"Once I was notified about the robbery I phoned her to let her know. I gave her my personal time and was on the phone to the US for about three hours trying to get a replacement ring, which I did.

"Unfortunately she decided that she didn’t want that particular ring anymore and that she had seen another that she liked.
"I have jumped through hoops to find her another ring but she obviously changed her mind about what she wanted.
"No one is at fault here, other than those who stole the Royal Mail van."

Check out my new blog

2006-11-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

For all your ebay geeks, here i give you all the daily Ebay news, hope you will enjoy it.
http://ebaynewsdaily.blogspot.com/

Celebrities and Their Diamond Engagement Rings

2006-11-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.

The history of diamond engagement ringsMaximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.Famous ladies and their engagement ringsCelebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule.

The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:Royalty:Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.Actresses:Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats.

However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.

Pop stars:Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.

Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.Replica diamond engagement ringsOf course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002.

The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring.

The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.

Tim Richardson is your guide in the world of diamond engagement rings at http://www.loveanddiamonds.com/ where you can find tips on choosing the diamond and the setting for the perfect ring. You'll learn about diamond shape, cut, clarity, weight, color, how to read a diamond certificate and how to avoid scams.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Richardson

Saying 'Thanks' in the spirit of Thanksgiving

2006-11-20T08:01:00.000-08:00

Cindy Evans of Fremont said she lost her wedding and engagement ring set when she and her husband went to St. Vincent to visit her mother-in-law. Mrs. Evans had taken the rings off and placed them in her lap while she put on hand lotion, then forgot to put them back on. Unnoticed, the rings dropped to the ground in the parking lot as she got out of the car.
"I didn't realize they were missing until I was driving home that night," Mrs. Evans said. She was distraught; she called the hospital security office several times to see if they had been turned in, and went back to search the area where the car had been parked. She even called a pawn shop to see if someone had taken them there. And she thought of her mother's advice. "She always said when you lose something, you pray to St. Anthony," Mrs. Evans said.
"I was never too good about that," she admitted. "I would call her and say, 'You need to pray to St. Anthony for me." Her mother died in April.
"So I prayed to her. I said, 'Mom if you see St. Anthony where you are, would you ask him to find my rings?" Days later, she got a message from security personnel at the hospital, saying they thought they might have her rings. Mrs. Evans' description matched the set that had been turned in. "I was crying. I said, 'I can't believe it. Did they leave their name?" The answer was no.

We ask all our loyal readers if they have any thanksgiving, to add it to our blogs so the rest of us could learn from it.
Thanks
http://www.diamondsonfifth.com/

Platinum jewelry demand continues to fall

2006-11-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

New York—Demand for platinum dropped in 2006 for the fourth consecutive year, according to Johnson Matthey's interim report, issued on Tuesday.Rising and volatile platinum jewelry prices will decrease global platinum jewelry demand by more than 10 percent this year to 1.74 million ounces. The price has caused manufacturers and retailers from all regions to cut back platinum inventories, while in China and Japan, recycling of old stock also continues to affect the amount of new metal purchased.But Johnson Matthey experts say they see no signs of sharp price decreases in the near future.

"Investment funds could support the platinum price at a $1,200 level, but if that interest were to decrease, we still see support from the jewelry sector and other industries supporting prices of more than $980," says Ellen Zadoff, market-research manager for Johnson Matthey.For the eighth year in a row, demand has exceeded supply, although the deficit this year totaled only 20,000 ounces.In related news, Johnson Matthey expects palladium demand to fall by 310,000 ounces to 1.12 million ounces for the year, and prices to trade in the $260 to $380 range.

We at www.diamondsonfifth.com are not seeing this big of a change, half of our costumers are still buying platinum. There are a number of reason, 1) people are allergic to gold 2) it last longer so you end up paying the same in the long run 3) it is stronger so the diamond is more secured in platinum then gold.

NRF: Shoppers will use Web for one in four holiday gifts

2006-10-31T07:49:00.000-08:00

OCTOBER 30, 2006 - Washington -- If jewelers need yet another reason to ramp up their Web sites for the holidays, they just got it.

A new consumer survey conducted for the National Retail Federation (NRF) by BIGresearch shows that shoppers plan to use the Internet to either browse or make purchases for an average of 28.9 percent of their holiday shopping, or for more than one in four gift purchases."While many shoppers plan to purchase holiday gifts online this year, others are using the Internet to look for gift ideas, research products and compare prices before heading to the store," Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, the online retail division of NRF, said in a press release issued Monday. "Retailers' ongoing efforts to make their stores and Web sites work hand-in-hand will create more sales and happier customers.re

"The sheer number of those planning to make at least one purchase online has increased from 36 percent three years ago to 47.1 percent this year. In addition, many will also use the Internet to browse before heading to stores to buy. According to the survey, a whopping 88.7 percent of consumers regularly or occasionally examine products on the Internet before buying in a store.When it comes to merchandise research, electronics are the most popular searches, with 39.3 percent of those surveyed indicating that they have browsed for electronics online before buying in a store within the last 90 days.

Other merchandise that shoppers have recently studied online before buying in a store includes apparel (20 percent), appliances (19.6 percent) and home improvement items (18 percent). Consumers also said they have researched medicines, vitamins and supplements (16.2 percent), and shoes (16.1 percent) online before purchasing in a store."Companies view the Internet as a marketing opportunity, not only a sales channel," said Phil Rist, vice president of strategy at BIGresearch.

"Retailers see their Web sites as the first connection they make with many consumers and will be sprucing up their sites to give holiday shoppers ideas and information on popular gifts."The survey found that shoppers use a variety of Web sites to research and compare products. The top Web site used for this purpose is Google.com, chosen by 23.6 percent of those surveyed, followed by Yahoo.com, selected by 7.2 percent, Amazon.com, chosen by 5.5 percent, and eBay, selected by 3.7 percent.The NRF 2006 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to the winter holidays, polled 7,623 consumers and was conducted for NRF by BIGresearch from Oct. 4-11.

What shape and how big of a diamond do the celebrity buy there loved once.

2006-10-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

We start with one of our famous celebrity, please when reading this and you know of any other celebrity info please add.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have secretly married, The National Enquirer can exclusively reveal.Wearing white, the pregnant Alias star sealed her union with Ben on a sandy beach on the Turks and Caicos island yesterday evening.With the sun setting, her costar Victor Garber watched as Jen, 33, and Ben, 32, embraced and kissed.And The National Enquirer was there to witness the romantic moment.

The couple flew to the paradise hideaway yesterday morning, accompanied by Victor, who plays Jen's CIA agent father in the hit TV show.It is understood the couple are leaving the luxury resort Parrot Cay, where they spent their first night as a married couple, later today or tomorrow.The newlyweds are believed to be heading for Jen's family home in Charleston, West Virginia, to celebrate their nuptials with family and friends over the July 4 weekend.In April, The National Enquirer exclusively revealed that the couple got engaged after learning they were expecting a baby in November.Ben proposed by giving Jen a $500,000, 4.5-carat cushion-cut diamond.

The National Enquirer also reported that Jen at first could not wear the ring from top jeweler Harry Winston because it was too large and had to be re-sized.

Shape Cushions Carat 4.5

Kate Moss engagement ring rumors?

2006-10-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Kate Moss has fuelled rumors after she was seen looking at engagement ringswith lover Pete Doherty.
The supermodel and the former drug addict were browsing over sparkling bands during a romantic trip to Florence at the weekend.

One onlooker said: "They both looked like a pair of loved-up teenagers but they were taking the matter of rings very seriously. There is no guarantee it's an engagement ringbut it seems significant to them."
Kate, 32, made her best efforts to hide the sparkler when she arrived in Heathrow airport yesterday (22.10.06), by covering it up with her sleeve.
Meanwhile, Pete's uncle Phil Michels has claimed the 32-year-old catwalk queen is pregnant with his nephew's baby.

He told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "I have spoken to Pete twice about the baby and he has confirmed that Kate is pregnant. They are both delighted and Pete sounded really excited. Pete told me they want a baby to cement their marriage."
Meanwhile Kate has reportedly given Pete a list of six rules which he must obey or she will call off their alleged wedding.

The 32-year-old supermodel is calling the rules 'Kate's Commandments' and insists the junkie rocker must stop taking drugs, end contact with his 'loser' friends and call her at least thee times a day.
Pete, 27, must also stop flirting with his groupies if he wants to make Kate his bride, start eating properly and spend two hours every day writing poetry and music.
A source said: "Pete is prone to going AWOL. Kate has warned Pete that if he doesn't comply, their relationship is off."

Kate and Pete are apparently planning to marry in Ibiza on her 33rd birthday in January next year.
She agreed to marry the rocker after he checked into The Priory rehab centre to battle his addictions to crack cocaine and heroin.
Since leaving rehab Pete has managed to stay clean.

Top 4 Mistakes Men Make When Buying Engagement Rings

2006-10-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

You have found the woman of your dreams, but can you find the ring of her dreams? Read these common mistakes to make sure you are on the right track.

1)Not knowing her style. An engagement ring is not just a prop to use while on bended knee -- it is a treasure that she will wear forever! Quietly talk to her friends, or better yet, study her other jewelry. If she only wears silver earrings, chances are she won't want a yellow gold ring.

2)Not knowing her ring size. This one doesn't require psychic abilities or even outright questioning. Just sneak one of her rings and bring it to your jeweler. If you don't think you can get away with it, try it on your own finger and mark where it lands. Just make sure you are using one that goes on her ring finger, and not, say, her middle toe.

3)Going it alone. You have probably at least heard of the 4 C's of diamond buying -- Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat -- but did you know that there are hundreds of ways to combine these elements into the perfect diamond for your taste and budget? www.diamondsonfifth.comcan show you how to get the best "fire," or how to fit that Big Rock into your price range.

4)Scrimping on quality. Not only will your future bride wear her engagement ring her whole life, she will pass it on as an heirloom. Invest in her pride, and your shared joy. "Two months income is the usual advice," That rough guideline should get you a ring that will engage the eye, and then the soul. Forever." .

www.diamondsonfifth.com

Shoppers to spend more this holiday season

2006-10-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER 17, 2006 - Washington, D.C. -- The average consumer plans to spend $791.10 this holiday season, up from $738.11 last year, according to a new study from the National Retail Federation.

The 2006 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by Big Research, also finds consumers will take advantage of holiday sales and discounts, spending an additional $99.22 on themselves.Almost half of the consumers surveyed (48.4 percent) say they plan on shopping at specialty stores for holiday gifts, and 70.3 percent say they will buy gifts from discount stores.Of those surveyed, 47.1 percent say they will shop online for holiday gifts, and 61.6 percent will go to department stores.

Department stores may see the greatest traffic from young adults, with 79.1 percent of 18 to 24 year olds surveyed planning to shop at department stores for holiday merchandise. The average holiday gift budget will divide as follows: $451.34 on family, $85.60 on friends, $22.40 on co-workers and $44.52 on others, including clergy, teachers and babysitters.

www.diamondsonfifth.com
www.qualitygiftsplus.com

Can you save this wedding?

2006-10-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

According to bride-to-be
Candace Palacios
, her November wedding is on hold until she gets her engagement ring back.
It all began Sept. 22. A personal trainer for Lifetime Fitness in Romeoville, Palacios had just finished her shift and was awaiting her fiance, Brian. The couple planned to spend the evening working out.
» Click to enlarge image
submitted photo Have you seen Candace Palacios' engagement ring, shown here in front and side views?
» Click to enlarge image
Are these your keys? rose panieri/staff
» Click to enlarge image
Do these photos belong to you? They were found in a wallet bought at a garage sale in Morris. Photo by Rose Panieri/ herald news staff
"I changed on the second floor in the ladies room, and had intended to pin two rings to my belt loop," Palacios said. "Thirty minutes into working out, I realized I had only one ring -- my engagement ring was missing."
Palacios retraced her every step. The ring was gone. She is almost certain it was stolen -- at least that's what she told the police.
It's certainly bad luck to have your engagement ring stolen. But why postpone the wedding? Just cash in on the insurance policy and buy another one.
"We didn't have the ring insured ..." Palacios informed me.
Oh, that definitely puts a different spin on the situation.
And it's understandable. You're in love. Life is rosy. You're virtually floating above the earth. Insurance is the last thing on your mind. Then suddenly, some Snidely Whiplash with a hat pin bursts your pretty pink bubble.
"My fiance and I are absolutely distraught over this loss," Palacios told me. "The sentiment behind this engagement ring far outweighs any monetary value."
No doubt. And Candace, I promised to help you and I will. I know for a fact that there are more decent people than "rotters" out there.
I'm asking our readers to keep their eyes and ears open. Palacios's ring is unique. It's a 2 carat cut platinum engagement ring surrounded by 132 diamonds.
Should you notice anyone wearing the ring, or see it for sale, discreetly call the police (please don't try to be a hero).
Meanwhile, Palacios prays that either the police will retrieve her ring or the person who snatched it returns it.
"The ring has an identifying serial number and is nationally registered as stolen," Palacios said. "I'm hoping it is just 'found' and returned, as there would be no consequences to the good Samaritan."

www.diamondsonfifth.com

Lost and found: Decades later, Norton woman gets long-lost ring

2006-10-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

By Jean Porrazzo, Enterprise staff writer
EASTON — Twenty years ago, Helen Miller was gardening in the backyard of her home when her engagement ring slipped off her finger.
"I shoved my hand into a huge pile of leaves," said Miller, now 67. "I pulled out my hand and my ring was gone."
Now, her lost engagement ring has come full circle — back to where it belongs, resting on top of her wedding band.
The antique Cape, at 76 Short St., has been sold twice since Miller lived there. The latest owners found Miller's ring — also while gardening.
The owners, Julie Taylor, 32, and her fiance, George Lea, 40, were out in the yard replanting spring flowers and cutting branches when Lea cut into part of a barbed-wire fence.
"He dropped the chain saw and there right on top where I had dug up daffodils was the ring," Julie Taylor said. "I think God had something to do with the barbed wire."
Taylor and Dennis Ruggiero, whom Taylor works for, returned the ring.
"The look on her face told me the whole world was right now," Taylor said.
Back when Miller lost the ring, two decades ago, she and her husband, Bill, searched for days and then renewed their search each spring when they gardened.
"All we got was poison ivy," she said. "Every time I did yard work, I looked for it. I was sure it was part of a bird's nest."
The couple talked about replacing the ring but Miller's husband died in 1997, and Helen Miller moved to Norton.
"We never got to it," she said.
Miller sold the house to Ruggiero three years ago and mentioned the lost ring.
"He got his metal detector and was sure he could find it," she said. "He dug a lot of holes, but no luck."
Ruggiero rented the house to Taylor and Lea, who ended up buying it. He passed along the story of the ring.
After Taylor and Lea found the ring two weeks ago, Taylor and Ruggiero paid a visit to Miller at her job at Shaw's supermarket in Easton.
"I was bagging someone's order when they both came in," Miller said. "I thought it was a visit."
Taylor introduced herself to Miller and told her she had found something at her former house.
"I didn't think of the ring," Miller said. "I don't know why."
Then Taylor opened her left hand and she had Miller's engagement ring on her finger, with her own engagement ring on top of it to keep it in place.
"I was dumbfounded," Miller said. "I was thinking, 'What can I do for you. How can I thank you?'"
Miller went to her former home and Taylor showed her where she found the ring. "It's just where I lost it," Miller said.
Miller plans to pass the ring on to her daughter along with the story of its recovery.
"I'm going to write it down," Miller said. "My daughter is thrilled."
When she lost the ring 20 years ago, Miller had lost weight and the ring was too big, but she didn't get it resized. "It fits perfect now," Miller said.
When Miller glances down at her ring, she thinks of her husband, and Taylor and Lea who returned the ring to her.
"I've always thought that there are more nice people than bad," Miller said.

Buying Diamond Online

2006-10-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you.

Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found thelowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet.

Alsocheck with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

www.diamondsonfifth.com
www.qualitygiftsplus.com

One of world's largest rough diamonds sells for $12.4 million

2006-10-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER 09, 2006 - Antwerp -- The Lesotho Promise, the largest uncut diamond excavated this century and the fifteenth largest ever excavated in the world, was sold here today to Safdico for approximately $12.4 million.The auction was held at the HRD Antwerp Diamond High Council with Mamphono Khaketla, minister of natural resources for Lesotho, announcing the outcome.

Interested parties submitted closed bids to the tender competition on the diamond.The 603-carat diamond (about the size of a hand) is virtually clear and categorized as a class D diamond, according to a statement from HRD. It was found on Aug. 22 in the Letseng mine, owned by the Lesotho government (30 percent) and Gem Diamond Mining Co. of Africa. The country has uncovered other important diamond finds, notably the 601-carat Lesotho Brown in 1967.
De Beers closed the Letseng mine from 1982 until 2004. The diamond was put on the market on Oct. 4, the date the small kingdom celebrates its independence."We are proud that a diamond from Lesotho is making history for a second time," said Khaketla.Freddy J. Hanard, managing director of HRD, said the auction in Antwerp shows that the city remains an important international diamond capital.
www.diamondsonfifth.com
www.qualitygiftsplus.com

Report: E-tailers push holiday early OCTOBER 04, 2006

2006-10-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Report: E-tailers push holiday early OCTOBER 04, 2006 - Washington, D.C. -- The days when holiday-shopping hysteria hit on Black Friday are long gone—at least in the cyber age—as online retailers plan to start promoting early, according to the 2006 eHoliday Mood Survey.

The research, conducted by BizRate Research for Shopzilla and Shop.org, reports 38.5 percent of multichannel retailers plan to start holiday marketing earlier this year versus last year, and more than half (62.5 percent) will begin promotions by Nov. 4.That's in line with consumer preferences, with one in five (19.8 percent) of online shoppers saying they will shop for gifts earlier this year, and 34.9 percent indicating Halloween as their holiday shopping kick-off date."Due to shipping deadlines, online retailers have a shorter promotional window for the holiday season, so many of them want to be first out of the gate to debut holiday merchandise," said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, in a statement.

"Multichannel retailers are very good at responding to what their customers want, and this year, customers want to start shopping early."Because a majority of shoppers (74.9 percent) list free-shipping offers as one of the most important factors in deciding whether or not to buy online, an increasing number of retailers (83 percent this year, compared to 64 percent two years ago) will offer shipping promotions.

Many will also add early-shopper and first-time-buyer discounts.Of course, all of these on-site deals won't matter if consumers don't make it to the Web sites. That's why most online retailers (97.4 percent) will invest in search-engine marketing, and another 73.1 percent will use comparison-shopping engines. Unconventional marketing tools—such as blogs or RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds—will be used by 41.6 percent of retailers, while 79.5 percent plan to incorporate viral marketing. To catch consumers offline, retailers plan to invest in traditional media, including newspapers (44 percent), magazines (52 percent), radio (31.6 percent) and television (26.3 percent)."Online shoppers have become more diverse than ever in terms of when and how they shop, so retailers must market to the masses this year," said Helen Malani, Shopzilla's chief shopping expert.

Overall, companies are optimistic about the coming season, with one in five (20.5 percent) expecting growth of 75 percent or more over last holiday season. Another 29.5 percent expect strong growth (from 30 percent to 74 percent), and 21.8 percent project growth between 15 percent and 29 percent.
www.diamondsonfifth.com
www.qualitygiftsplus.com

Another Satisfied Costumer From Diamonds On Fifth

2006-10-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Moshe. We love the ring!! It fits perfect now and the diamond is tight in the setting. Thank you so much for everything that you did. The night I proposed, it was just Linda and I out for a late dinner. I waited until after we ate, when the restaurant was pretty much empty of people. I had the box and ring in my pocket. I told her that "I loved her" and "I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her". " Will you marry me" She thought I was joking. I had to repeat myself a second time as I put the box on the table. She said "Yes" before I opened the box. When I opened the box she started to cry. She hugged and kissed me. She's been showing off the ring everyday now. We have an apt to get it appraised on Oct 27th for the insurance. I'll send you a picture of us once we take our engagement picture. Thanks again, Chad

Thanks Chad is was great dealing with you, and i hope you live together the rest of your life’s happy and healthy.
Moshe
www.Diamondsonfifth.com