Diamonds have became a symbol of power, vitality and well being dating back when it was first imported in Europe around the 14th century. The person wearing it radiates an aura of a rich individual.

Vintage Diamond Rings have been infamous and widely used for generations. Vintage jewelries were made with hands which gave them an utterly unique touch, as compared to jewelries which are created through machines today. There were numerous era’s of vintage diamond rings. Some of these eras are listed as follows.

The Victorian Era – An area named after the Queen of Britain, from 1837 to 1901, experienced the shortage of gold which has made them rely on using diamonds for value. The vintage diamond rings, after the death of the Queen’s husband, have been created with serious and dark designs.

The Edwardian Era – Upper middle class masses have managed to raise the standards of wearing diamond rings and matching it with their costumes during a short length of time (1901 to 1910). During this era vintage rings were lighter in weight and look.

The Retro vintage Era – The demands for precious gems had increased at the beginning of the 1930′s, however as the era draw closer to its end on 1980s, the diamond ring had lost its luster and charm as gold reclaimed its popularity.

Various designs of diamond rings and the constant changes of needs and tastes of people have been reflected in these eras. In retrospect the vintage diamond rings have experienced increases in demand and popularity however there were also years when it was out shined by gold.

Only the popularity had decreased. This doesn’t mean that people stopped buying them once and for all. Diamonds and all other gems have their own admirers and people who like to wear them and collect them in their jewelry boxes keep on buying them.

Diamonds had never failed to capture the heart of many ladies especially today. Engagement ceremonies would be incomplete without Diamond rings as it has been widely referred to as a symbol of an everlasting love and commitment for the couple. It has been a trend to give a vintage diamond rings as gifts to show love, care and gratitude towards ones’ partner.

Be it for an engagement ring or a collection of the vintage rings, these diamonds have a charm and appeal of their own and add a niche to the overall appearance of an individual.

Alan Brenner maintains OldEraRings.com, a complete source for vintage rings. Come see our complete collection of vintage carnelian rings.

Vintage is the classification of engagement rings or any jewelry that is considered to be 50 years or older. It is also similarly referred to as antique although this word is more widely used in other items such as furniture. On the other hand, a ring that is less than 50 years old is called estate ring.

When we think about vintage rings, we necessarily think of heirloom pieces that are handed down from generation to generation or from one relative to the next. However, for those who are not fortunate enough to have a relative who will relinquish a precious engagement ring to the new set of couples in the family, there are jewelry shops and places that sell antique rings.

These rings have captured the imagination of many, even in this modern age, because of their unique designs that are set apart from the contemporary look of rings which are usually available in many jewelry stores. These old rings often possess an intricate design that enhances its elegance and beauty. They are also mostly better crafted than modern pieces.

If you are intent on getting a vintage engagement ring to signify your undying love, remember also that there are numerous designs and styles to choose from. Here are three of the popular and major classifications and choices for antique rings.

Victorian engagement rings are the oldest which were crafted from 1885 to 1900. The rings are made of rose colored gold or yellow gold. There is not much indicator of this type in terms of design as there are simple rings and intricate ones. This is also the onset of the Industrial Revolution and it was reflected on the preference of the people and their capability to buy. Thus, most engagement rings from this group are adorned by diamonds. There were also Victorian rings that contain pearl.

Edwardian engagement rings on the other hand were usually made in the first two decades of the 20th century. Their main characteristic is the intricacy and elaborateness of the designs. The usual gems they used in these rings are not only diamonds but also sapphires as well which was even the more popular choice for Edwardian designs. This is also the time when oxyacetylene torch was available and widely used to form platinum rings instead of the usual gold.
Art deco rings were from the decade between 1920 and 1930 and they could be easily recognized because of their sharp edges showing off a geometric appearance. They are also in bold colors and the style has turned towards a more modern look. The characteristic design of these engagement rings is that the featured stones are designed around one another in different patterns that resemble leaves, flowers and related shapes.

In choosing your perfect vintage engagement ring, bear in mind that one of the specific area that you must carefully study is the design and craftsmanship. Make sure that it must not only match well with your beloved’s preference, but it should also represent more than anything else the eternal love that you want to profess to her.

The black diamond ring stands out from the rest because of its aura of mystery and mystique. The hand that wears this ring will automatically be a stand out compared with the other more predictable gems. White diamonds may appear brilliant but these black types appear bold and daring. Black has been a controversial color, which is either resented for its ominous aura or loved for the unique and daring appearance. In the same way, these diamonds are either revered for its magnificent look and effect or criticized by others for its intrinsic flaws and impurities.

The black option for engagement ring is not a very popular choice because of the beliefs that sticks with the color black. For many cultures, it is highly connected with ominous premonitions, bad luck, death and even evil. But for those who try to go beyond the conventional and against the old wives tales and superstitions, they get to stand out from the crowd with the a unique, dazzling and magnificent engagement ring.

Much of the rising popularity of the black diamond rings come from the celebrities taking notice of the daring, gorgeous and stunning statement of such rings. For many, it provides a bold statement about their personalities. The rage is picked by those who were tantalized and captivated by the exciting proclamation that black diamonds attach to their stature and personality.

Black diamonds are just like any other diamonds and were formed from carbon because of the application of intense pressure and heat. The difference in the formation of these dark colored ones is the inconsistency of the heat and pressure which produced internal cavities and inclusions. This is the basic cause of the dark coloring. Light that is reflected in the polished white diamond is absorbed in the cavity within the gem in the case of the black diamond.

These gems are truly elegant and a real treasure more so because of their rarity due to their intrinsic flaws. However, some regard these imperfections as the characteristics that make the diamond unique. Hope Diamond was propelled to popularity because of the boron impurity in this blue diamond. With the black diamond, the most famous are the Black Orloff of India and the Black Star from Africa.

In choosing your jewels, be properly informed and knowledgeable about the intrinsic qualities of the gems. A white colored diamond would sparkle perfectly for a night of glitter and brilliance. A black diamond is just right for your day events where the darkness of the gem will be highlighted in the daylight. In any way, you get to stand out in the parties and events you go to whether it’s day or night and whether you are a mysterious black or a glittery white.

There are many speculations that black diamonds are not real diamonds but yes, they are the real deal. All diamonds are crystallized carbon, which is a result of the application of intense heat and pressure to the black carbon. As this valuable gem appears in various colors such as yellow, pink, blue, green, gold, colorless or white, why not in black? Actually, black diamonds are just very dark green ones which appear inky black because of the effect of light on it.

As it is, diamonds are very valuable because they are revered for their brilliance and timelessness. They are also the hardest naturally occurring stone in the world. On the other hand, the value of a black diamond depends on a lot of factors. The interplay of these factors provides the value of this gem at any given time.

Popularity and Demand
Before, these distinctly colored gems were used only for industrial purposes because they are hard to cut. But the elegance of this rare gem caught the fancy of jewelers. With the aid of promotions, they established that black diamonds are unique, distinct and rare. Jewelers, enthusiasts and the entire market took notice which consequently increased the popularity of this stone as jewelry pieces. This contributed to the surge in demand which naturally raised its value.

Uniqueness and Flaws
These dark gems are really known as carbonados because they are found with diamond crystals called carbonados. Just like the other diamonds, they are made from carbon atoms. However, it also includes hydrogen in its make up which led others to speculate that they were formed in an area with high hydrogen content specifically the outer space. This increases the interest and the speculation of rarity for this stone.

Also, while white diamonds are made of a single crystal, black ones are composed of millions of tiny crystals. Because of this, inclusion and deposits of sulfides in between the crystals provided the dark tint. However, they are also responsible for the flaws and cleavages within the stone which makes it harder to give it a smooth polish. The fewer cavities the gem has, the more expensive it becomes. This type of diamond can also be found on only two continents, in Central Africa and in South America, specifically in Brazil.

Finding prices for black diamonds can be difficult, as much of whats sold is very unique so this reflects the artistic value of the jewellery in addition to the value of the black diamond. What follows is a price chart from a wholesale black diamond dealer located in Antwerp, Belgium, the world capital for the diamond trade, but to truly find the going rate for black diamonds, your best bet is to follow this link, which will give you some true market values.

Black Diamond Price Chart

0.01 carat…….$1

0.05 carat………$2

0.10 carat……….$6

0.15 carat………$11

0.20 carat…….$16

0.25 – 1/4 carat……..$29

0.30 carat……..$68

0.40 carat…….$104

0.49 carat…….$127

0.50 – 1/2 carat…..$205

0.75 – 3/4 carat……$386

0.90 carat…….$630

1.00 carat……$1225

1.50 carat……$2213

2.00 carat……$4320

3.00 carat……$11340

4.00 carat……$19140

5.00 carat…..$33500

Four C’s of Diamonds
The standard of evaluating the value of diamonds is through what they call the four C’s or on the basis of Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. Cut is the stone’s polish and proportion. These black diamonds usually have a 16-facet cut although seldom are round and have angles and flat surfaces. Clarity on the other hand is concerned with the absence of flaws or chips and cracks that are visible to the eye and Color is about how the distinct color is distributed evenly in the stone. A diamond with a glossy surface with less internal flaws has a higher value. Carat refers to the weight of the gem. The heavier it is, the higher the value it commands. A black diamond is heavier than the other diamonds thus, even if two stones will have the same carat, the black one will look smaller.

Despite different myths about the black diamond, it still gained popularity as a sought after gem in jewelries, both for men and women. The demand for these gems comes from people from different classes and social stature propelling it as one of the most sought after gem for jewelry.

A black diamond is also formed from the same carbon that results in the formation of the other diamonds of different colors. Intense heat and pressure results to the production of this brilliant gem. However, black diamonds are formed with the improper and uneven pressure applied on the carbon element. This result to impurities and cavities within the stone. Often, this dark gem has inclusions and intrinsic flaws and cavities which make it unable to reflect light, which is where the other diamonds obtain their brilliance and thereby giving it its dark color.

In some countries where black is associated with death, it is a warning and foreboding. Other cultures associate it with eyes of snake and spiders and the matching fear that looking into their eyes bring. While some people believe that touching a black diamond would bring happiness, fortune and good luck. Some married couples also put their trust on the gem to save their ailing marriage.

A black diamond is different from the other diamonds because of its seeming boldness and defiance among the other stones. As this type of stone is usually flawed, they could be considered of lower quality, yet this does not prevent enthusiasts to wholly embrace the beauty and elegance of this gem.

Traditionally, black diamond is used as man’s jewelry because of its seemingly bold and brave attitude. It is used in men’s rings which are either of titanium or platinum. This combination provides the striking effect that brought out elegance and unique style.

Recently, women have found a new appreciation for the stone. The rage for this gem follows the attractiveness of contrasting black and white in women’s fashion. Women’s bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings are usually the combination of black diamonds set off by pairing them with white diamonds to enhance the color of both gems.

Despite some myths and beliefs surrounding the black diamond especially with regard to possible bad omen to couples who are getting married, it has also been becoming a popular choice of bride and groom for their wedding rings. Some brides were even presented with a black diamond engagement ring by their beau to complete the ensemble. This has been the choice of couples who dare to be unique and daring.

Truly, black diamond jewelries are getting their fair share of popularity these days. Your unique talent to properly harness the ability of this diamond to enhance your overall appearance and statement will be up to you. So go ahead. Be bold and daring yet mysterious and elegant with this jewelry pieces.

When it comes to wedding rings and engagement rings, many jewelry stores offer the same boring pieces of jewelry as they have been offering for the last 2 decades. But when you design your own custom engagement ring, it is unique and special just like special woman in your life, whom you are about to marry.

The process of designing custom engagement rings is fun and very easy. If you go to a jewelry website that offers customization, you are gonna go through a series of steps. First, you select a diamond or stone setting and decide on the type of metal for the ring, if it’s gonna be gold, platinum, silver, copper, or white gold. The next thing is to decide on the 4Cs, cut, color, clarity, and carat. After making these selections, you would be able to see the stone and the setting together, and you can decide whether or not to go through with the final product or if you would like to continue experimenting with different stones and settings.

The moment you hear the words diamond engagement ring and customization,do not fret or panic,because in some couples, the first thing they might think about is the expense. First of all, try to find a jewelry site that creates all the jewelry that they sell. This means that you eliminated out the middle-man and therefore already saved a great deal of money. There are also wholesale jewelry sites that can allow you to design your custom engagement rings.

But before you make the move of purchasing your custom engagements rings online, check reviews for the website. You can see reviews and comments from their previous customers and and have a hint about how they deal with transactions or the quality of their products. You can also find reviews from sites like the Better Business Bureau. The negative stigma attached to making large purchases online is a thing of the past and many online stores have excellent exchange and return policies.
Always remember, that this is one of the most important purchases you will ever make, because it is for your wedding, and also because the things that would rest in your fingers are not just pieces of metal, but symbols of your vows of love, passion, and fidelity. Taking the time to educate yourselfand being aware about diamonds and jewelries and learning to compare prices will be to your benefit.

Diamonds are forever, so why would anyone choose an emerald engagement ring? 90% of the time, people would be thinking about diamonds when engagements rings cross their mind. Actually, some people prefer to have emerald engagement rings, rather than diamond rings. Simply because they love the charm an emerald gemstone gives off or it may be because their favorite color is green. However people buying emerald engagement rings have similar but quite different reasons why they chose emerald over the majestic, and expensive diamond.

The earliest known emeralds were found close to the coast of the Red sea in Upper Egypt and Afghanistan. But today, the best emeralds are found in Columbia, South America.

The name emerald is derived from the Greek word “smaragdos” which means green stone. There are many stories in ancient times about emerald and its properties. Emeralds were believed to provide cure for everything, from leprosy to dysentery. In the Bible, the emerald is one of the precious stones in the “Breastplate of Judgment” worn by Aaron, (Exodus 28:15-30), and its literal translation from Ancient Hebrew means glowing coal.

Its history alone is enough to make anybody want to have emerald engagement rings, it symbolizes immortality and faith. The emerald is considered to be the most powerful gemstone in terms of healing energy. Interestingly the emerald was Cleopatra’s favorite gemstone.

One of the “Big Five” of precious stones, the emerald is in fact considered to be more precious and rare than a diamond. Compared to other stones, the emerald is completely unique, from the way it is formed to its beautiful color. Because of this, the emerald is one of the most desirable gemstones for an engagement ring.

Emerald is a hard gemstone but can be brittle, with a hardness of between 7.5 and 8 on the Moh’s scale; the most valuable type of Beryl ever found. The emerald’s green color is influenced by the amount of chromium found in the silicate, and colors vary in range from green to blue green and yellow green. An emerald engagement ring is definitely more unique than a diamond or any other gemstone available today.

It is the birthstone for March, therefore an emerald engagement ring is appropriate for brides-to-be, born in March. An emerald engagement ring is not only a beautiful, rare and valuable gemstone, it has a dynamic history and symbolism, and wearing such a piece of magical and fantastical stone could feel much better than wearing very expensive but “just” damond rings.

The first thing to do when buying two tone engagement rings which has contrasting metals is to choose the material. The combination of yellow gold with white is most popular because each is the affordable gold option, other shades like rose are great too. Rose gold has a pinkish hue and blends with white easily like the blushing bride to her groom. If you love the natural shade of green, you’ll definitely find it in sage gold. Two tone engagement rings are also beautiful with white or yellow gold in combination to sage gold.

Platinum is the most expensive metal to use, and it is more brilliant than white gold too. It’s also stronger and longer lasting. For an extremely elegant effect, try combining the lustrous platinum with white gold in your two tone engagement ring. You would be amazed of the elegance and simple beauty two tone engagement rings would show off in such color combination. Of course, don’t be discouraged from trying very affordable metals such as silver, copper and bronze. The vivid colors in the bronze and copper interact playfully and dramatically with gold. Silver and copper together, will mark the special day in a most affordable way.

Once the metals are chosen, tyou should decide how you want them to weave through your ring. The intricate knot of Celtic designs is popular, and filigree designs show off varying types of metals to great effect. One romantic idea is to buy interlocking rings which appear as two rings woven together like the love shared by the bride and groom. Finally, for a true feminine touch, a floral motif of rose gold on white or yellow gold produce an ethereal softness. Any combination of metal is appropriate and beautiful for a two tone engagement ring.

Honestly, buying a diamond engagement ring is one of the most important purchases that you will ever make. It will set the tone for your marriage, and may be more meaningful to you than the purchase of your first home. Not only that, but buying an engagement ring is a huge investment. Let’s put it this way, you want the best value for your money which means you need to deal with someone that you can definitely trust.

Fortunately, there are excellent reputable sources to buy two tone engagement rings that will let you stun her with an heirloom quality diamond at a fraction of the cost. Don’t be tricked into paying for fancy diamond showrooms in expensive malls staffed by pompous sales people selling overpriced jewelery. You can check out our suppliers items and see if anything fits for what you are looking for.

Round cut engagement rings are stylish and fabulous, even with any changing trends of fashion. Because round cut engagement rings have the most common diamond cut around, they can easily be worn without too much complication. You can either wear it for formal, casual, or even when in normal clothing, so giving it to your apple-of-the-eye is a wise decision because she can wear it all the time.

Why Choose Round Cut Diamonds?

There are a lot of jewelry types that have diamonds as the gem of choice in them, and the usual cut that you can find being used in these jewelry are often round cut diamonds. The reason behind this choice is because of the way that these diamonds are easily cut from raw stone or because of the flexible range of possibilities that round cut diamonds can offer when being used in jewelry making.

The reason why round cut diamonds are oftenly the ones being cut out of raw diamonds is because of the brilliance and sparkle that the symmetrical shape that it has. It also produces less waste when cut this way and is the classiest and most elegant of all diamond cuts. You can have these diamonds alone on any piece of jewelry and still have it look elegant and precious due to its simplicity.

The round cut diamonds being used in jewelry may be the center stone of the ring or may be the surrounding smaller stones that help make the piece stand out. These round cut diamonds may also be used in combination with other popular diamond cuts, like the oval cut or the pear shaped cut, in jewelry designs that combine the brilliance of the round diamond and the unique shapes of the other cuts.

The Right Cut For Your Precious Diamond Engagement Ring

Round cut engagement rings are superior than any other cut in terms of the fire that the stones emit. The fire that round cut diamonds emit is often the product of superior craftsmanship by the gem cutter who crafted the stone from its raw form into the round diamond you now see.

A diamond’s cut determines the way it will look in jewelry and how it will sparkle and shine. If the cut is too shallow, the diamond tends to lose the light through its sides, making it look dull and lackluster. If a diamond’s cut is too deep, the light simply travels through it, making the stone look dark and dead. Round cut engagement rings are virtually perfect, as long as the gem cutter is a professional one.

The word moissanite for jewellers and gemologists would mean, replica, and cheap. All of which are true, but not in a negative way. Moissanite engagement rings are rings features a man-made gem that is in the likeness of a diamond. Its cost is a mere fraction of the price of a real diamond and this allows for the production of beautiful but cheap moissanite engagement rings. Don’t get me wrong though they are only cheap in price but when placed beside a real diamond ring, only a trained gemologist can tell the difference, and he would probably need some equipment to tell which is the real diamond.

Moissanite engagement rings are steadily gaining popularity even in the upper classes. I bet you didn’t know that Beyonce has a moissanite replica of her emerald cut engagement ring. Her fiancé Jay-Z gave her a 5 million dollar 18-carat diamond ring and a cheap moissanite ring that is an exact duplicate of the real thing which she can wear everyday. People could stare all day but no one can tell if she’s wearing the real thing or the cheap replica. Which is an advantage of a moissanite engagement ring, no common man can tell if it is a real diamond from a distance of atleast 1 foot.

The trick is to pick the right design, which piece to wear and when and where to wear it. You might be surprised that numerous Hollywood celebrities have started to wear replica jewelries including moissanite rings. Of course everybody would assume that they’re always wearing expensive designer jewels because, well, they are stars and they can afford it. But what you might not know is that 90% of those designer jewelries are borrowed, if they can’t borrow, they use replicas. They can get away with it too mainly due to the fact that you can’t tell the difference between a million dollar diamond from a cheap moissanite ring, specially one that’s worn appropriately.

So when considering to buy rings for any occasion, you can always check out moissanite rings and you will see that they really have no visual difference from a real diamond. The big difference between the two is the price, and as couples starting to settle down, you should save up on money as much as possible because of the current economic crisis. If you know how to pair your pieces your outfits will look fabulous. As I said no one can tell the difference and if you know how to wear your jewels, your cheap moissanite ring will look like its worth a million bucks.