Category: Education and More
Ring Sizing
When it comes to rings there is no such thing as one size fits all and in most cases one size won’t fit you forever. Whether they have just become engaged or have been married for many years most women can recall a time when they needed their engagement ring and wedding band to be resized. It is not often that a woman can try on her engagement ring for the first time and have it fit perfectly. Although some men can estimate a size that is quite close to their fiancées actual finger size small adjustments almost always need to be made to the engagement ring to get it just right. Couples who have been married for a long time know that their finger size can fluctuate over the years almost as much their lifestyles seem to. From having the kids to developing arthritis in their knuckles the engagement rings and wedding bands that once fit so perfectly can become a little snug as the years go by. Rather than having their engagement rings or wedding bands resized as they become too tight or too loose, some couples simply choose to stop wearing them. Engagement rings and wedding bands are purchased all over the world by couples who have the intention of wearing them everyday. With sizing being the easy process that it is there is no reason for anyone to refrain from wearing their engagement ring or wedding band no matter the affect that time has had on their fingers. The process of sizing an engagement ring or wedding band is done by adding a piece of gold to make the size larger or removing a piece of gold to make the size smaller. The beauty of sizing your engagement ring or wedding band is that in order to make sure that the sizing job looks seamless each ring is buffed and cleaned, which in turn makes them look brand new. If you have an engagement ring or wedding band that doesn’t fit comfortably consider having them sized because rings with that much importance are meant to be worn.
Gemstone of the Month: Emerald
Emeralds have always been highly coveted as a stone with rich historical symbolism, combined with a gorgeous colour that can’t be matched. It is no wonder people can’t wait to get their hands on one. Emeralds are mined in many places around the world including Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil, with the finest emeralds originating in Colombia.
In ancient times emeralds were known to help the wearer see into the future and be blessed with good fortune. This day in age emeralds are known to represent rebirth because the vivid green colours are similar to those we see in spring, a time when everything starts new. Which is why May, a month when Spring really begins to blossom in front of our eyes, is the perfect host month for an emerald birthstone.
Emeralds are often used in engagement rings and wedding bands because the brilliant green colours display a wonderful contrast to the white diamonds. The unique history of emeralds and the incomparable shades of green make the choice to add a piece of emerald jewellery to your collection an easy one.
Gemstone of the Month: Aquamarine
The name aquamarine, which in Latin translates to “water of the sea”, could not be a more fitting name for these stones. The blue tones that aquamarines are found in are a true replica of the beautiful waters found all across the world. For many years aquamarines were given to sailors because they were seen as lucky stones that would provide them with a safe journey when out at sea. These days they are stones that are placed in all kinds of jewelery from engagement rings and wedding bands, to beautiful white gold drop earrings. They are a popular choice for people born in the month of
March as it is their birthstone, as well as the traditional gift given to couples on their 19th wedding anniversary. Aquamarines like emeralds are a member of the beryl family of gemstones, which means that they are fairly resilient stones. Being mined in Brazil, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, and a few other places leaves the world with no shortage for these stones, and this translates to reasonable prices for people on the lookout for an aquamarine.
Rhodium Plating
Of all the possessions people across the world own these days, engagement rings and weddings bands are some of the few that make it to almost every formal event, special occasion, and casual day out. As items that people wear constantly engagement rings and wedding bands will always be subject to the normal wear and tear of everyday life. The effects of being constantly worn can be even more taxing on engagement rings and wedding bands that are made of white gold because of how the white gold itself is made.
White gold is a man-made substance. Since gold by its nature is yellowish in color, natural white gold does not exist. White gold is created by taking yellow gold and mixing it with different white alloys such as palladium or nickel, thereby changing the look of the yellow gold to a white gold colour. While white gold gives any engagement ring or wedding bands a stunning look, it has a tendency to develop a yellowish tinge over time. This is because the acids in our skin react with the alloys used to make white gold which will eventually cause the yellow gold colour to bleed-through. This can be corrected with a process called rhodium plating.
As a member of the platinum family, rhodium, its liquid state, has the ability to easily restore any white gold ring to the lustrous appearance it had when you first laid eyes on it. With the right combination of buffing, cleaning, and rhodium plating, you will easily have your white gold engagement ring and wedding band looking as beautiful as the first day you bought them.
Gemstone of the Month: Garnet
As the beginning of the New Year, January is a month filled with high hopes, new beginnings, and several resolutions for many of us. This is why garnets, which represent love, healing and happiness, are the perfect gemstones for this month. Mainly mined in Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and India, garnets come in several colours, including green, brown, yellow, and of course the most popular colour, red. In fact the only colour that garnets are not available in is blue. The name garnet comes from the Latin word “granatum” which means pomegranate. It is named so because the red garnets have a shade similar to that of pomegranates seeds. Garnets of any colour are also the traditional gift given to couples for their second wedding anniversary. Whether you like white gold, yellow gold, the colour green, purple, or orange there is sure to be a piece of garnet jewellery to match your tastes beautifully.
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