Monday, March 10, 2008

Eternity Rings for an Eternity: Heirloom

Eternity rings are given as wedding rings, anniversary rings, special occasion rings or just as a random loving gift. The only rule for giving an eternity ring is that it must symbolize something. That is, of course, if you are giving one, not buying one for yourself!

More and more women are buying eternity rings for themselves. There are a few reasons for this. One, they want to pick it out! Two, women are making more money than they used to and can afford to buy themselves nice gifts. Third, it is not like buying yourself an engagement ring! It is totally socially acceptable to buy yourself nice jewelry. Many women simply want something classically nice to heirloom to their children.

If you are giving an eternity ring, make sure that you communicate its meaning to the recipient. Eternity rings make great heirlooms and quality should be considered when you are making a selection. When children inherit engagement rings and traditional wedding bands, they may not want to wear them. They usually store them in a jewelry box or have them made into other forms of jewelry, such as pendants for a necklace. If you want to give an heirloom gift that the recipients will be proud to wear, an eternity ring is a wonderful option.

One growing trend is to give an eternity ring when a woman has a child. They can be worn as wedding bands or right hand rings. As the woman has more children, you can give her more eternity rings. She can wear more than one on each finger and can wear them on each side of her engagement ring. This way, when you heirloom your eternity rings to your children, they each have their specific one, hopefully engraved with their names and birthdates or some other meaningful message meant only for them.

Eternity rings are often made with a full circle or half circle of diamonds. If you plan to heirloom your eternity rings, then diamonds are a classic option that is sure to never go out of style. Another consideration is each child’s birthstone. Alternating diamonds and birthstones are also classically beautiful and are sure to become a treasured possession by your children. Round stones are traditional, but different shaped stones, channeled into an eternity ring, gives it a unique look that still fits anyone’s taste.

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

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, February 22, 2008

What Are Right Hand Rings?

Well, it seems that diamonds are not only meant for engagements any more. More diamonds than ever are being sold in the form of right rings. An incredible increase in the sales of right hand rings has got many people wondering. What is a right hand ring and what does it mean?

A right hand ring is one that may have diamonds or other stones, but it does not look like a wedding or engagement ring. They generally are more decorative or ornate than traditional engagement rings or wedding bands. The good thing about right hand rings is that you can buy one for yourself!

Originally, right hand rings were worn to accentuate the fact that you did not have an engagement or wedding ring on the left hand. You could give your suitor a silent hint that you loved diamond rings, but you were purposely leaving that left ring finger open to invitation. Now, everyone is buying them. They are becoming incredibly popular and have pretty much taken over the costume jewelry market. Women now want jewelry that compliments their matrimonial set. Costume jewelry just does not make the grade any more. Why cheapen that beautiful ring on your left hand by wearing something gaudy and fake on the right? Real diamonds and gold or platinum are the way to go.

Right hand rings make great gifts to give or receive. You can give a right hand ring your own meaning. Some give them as congratulatory rings. Some give them as an anniversary gift or wedding gift. Right hand rings can really show someone how special you think they are. They make wonderful promise rings or mother rings. You have so many design choices that you may find it hard to make up your mind. With this type of gift, you really can not get too luxurious. Maybe now you can buy your special lady that diamond that you could not afford back when you were dating and gave her an engagement ring. That original ring does not necessarily need to be replaced, but maybe complimented by a giant diamond right hand ring. Okay, if giant is not quite your speed, there are plenty of delicate designs to choose from.

Unlike diamond solitaires, although many right hand rings now sport big diamonds, you can find a right hand ring to fit your budget. The best selection, price, quality and customer service that we have found is at www.Maliere.com. Consider them when searching for the perfect right hand rings for your special someone.

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

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, February 15, 2008

Eternity Ring History

The history of the eternity ring goes back almost four thousand years. Ancient Egyptians are thought to be the first to make and wear eternity rings. Eternity rings are essentially a continuous circle of metal studded with stones either halfway or all the way around. Early eternity rings were meant to symbolize eternal life and love. The unending, unbroken circle of precious metal represents a never-ending circle of trust, or the circle of life. Eternity rings today symbolize an everlasting relationship of love and are commonly used for wedding or anniversary bands.
Early eternity rings featured stones that went halfway around the shank of the ring. They also further set their meaning in stone when they were fashioned to look like a snake swallowing its own tail. This snake swallowing its tail eternity ring really helped solidify the meaning of the continuous circle as the eternal symbol of love and life. Eternity rings were originally made with the stones flush mounted. This is where the stones are actually imbedded into the metal. The flush setting makes for a very comfortable wear. If the stones are too large or protrude from the sides too far, then they can be uncomfortable between your fingers.
Modern eternity rings are usually channel set for comfort and larger stones are avoided. Channel set refers to how the stones are encased by the metal only on the edges of the shank. This is not to be confused with claw set where the stones are raised above the shank and held on by prongs. Claw set is almost exclusively used for half eternity rings so that the prongs do not irritate the skin on the surrounding fingers. Modern advances in jewelry crafting have actually made full claw set eternity rings much more comfortable and popular. Channel and claw set eternity rings give a more brilliant shine to the stones used than the flush mount setting, but some still prefer the original embedded stone eternity rings.
The meaning of an eternity ring traditionally is eternal love, but it is really open for individual interpretation. Couples very often come up with their own meanings. Eternity rings are used for wedding bands and vibrantly compliment diamond solitaire engagement rings. They are becoming increasingly popular as anniversary bands or right hand rings. But, you can give an eternity ring for any occasion. The birth of a child is a very appropriate time to give an eternity ring. In this instance, it could symbolize the eternity of your new family or your never-ending love and compassion for your wife who has helped you create this new life. Some like to say that it symbolizes the eternity that it took for the baby to arrive or some other personal meaning to you as a couple. As an anniversary gift, it could symbolize the eternity that you will be together or how it has felt like an eternity being married.
Whatever meaning you come up with, an eternity ring will leave a lasting impression and most definitely become an heirloom and beautiful conversation piece for years to come. The long-lasting reputation and never ending popularity of the eternity ring will ensure that it never goes out of style and is always admired and loved. Showing your love with eternity rings is a long standing tradition and will surely make your special someone feel loved and appreciated.

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

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Friday, August 17, 2007

Major Diamond Shapes

Historically, diamonds have been highly regarded and believed to possess magical powers that bestowed strength and invincibility upon the fortunate few who possessed them, perhaps due to their seemingly indestructible nature. Today, the diamond has evolved into a symbol of eternal love for many, and is available in a variety of cuts. Here you will find an overview of common diamond shapes that are commonly used in jewelry design.

Round: The round cut diamond is the most popular choice for jewelry, with the circle commonly representing never-ending love and harmonious balance. Creating a finished round shape diamond requires sacrificing more rough than any other diamond cut.

Marquise: A marquise shaped diamond is elongated, typically half as wide as it is long, with pointed ends. Said to be inspired by the smile of a mistress of King Louis XIV named Marquise de Pompadour, the marquise shaped diamond has royal insinuations.

Pear: The pear cut diamond, also known as the drop cut, appears to be a cross between the round and marquise shapes. A pear cut diamond may appear wide on the rounded end or may have a more elongated shape.

Heart: The heart shaped diamond requires considerable skill to produce. The heart cut is similar to a pear cut diamond, but incorporates two connected rounded edges where the pear shaped cut has one.

Oval: An oval shaped diamond looks just as you may imagine, like an elongated round cut diamond. The longer length causes an oval cut diamond to appear larger than a round cut diamond with the equivalent carat weight.

Princess: Only around since 1980, a princess shape diamond is a perfect square with ninety degree angled corners. A minimal amount of rough is lost in cutting and polishing a princess shape diamond.

Baguette: Baguettes can be fashioned in a variety of shapes, but typically appear like a rectangle with one end disproportionate to the other.

Emerald: An emerald cut diamond is reminiscent of the way emerald gems are typically cut, and appears like a shortened rectangle with beveled corners.

Triangular: Triangular cut diamonds, also called trilliants, are three sided and shaped as the name indicates, like a triangle. A trilliant may have linear or rounded sides, and the corners may be sharp or rounded.

Asscher: Invented by diamond cutter Joseph Asscher, Asschers can be square shaped or rectangular with the corners cut at angles. Looking straight into an Asscher cut diamond will reveal the unique illusion of a passageway of mirrors.

Cushion: The cushion shape diamond has been around since the 1800s, but has experienced a recent surge in popularity. The square shape rounded on the sides and corners is renowned for its vintage appearance.

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

Labels: , , , ,