Designer Rings, Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings Blog » ruby

Blood diamonds

Liz Ratcliff — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Have you seen the movie Blood Diamond? If you have I wouldn’t doubt that you have sworn off diamonds… But there are options other than purchasing pricey shiny stones that help fund the violence in other countries. Here are just a few:

1) Consider a colored gemstone – rubies and sapphires are great stones for everyday wear as they are tough and durable.

2) Perhaps a diamond substitute such as moissanite (oh how it sparkles!), man mad diamond, or a diamond hybrid. They will save you a lot of money and look every bit as gorgeous as a real diamond.

3) Purchase a Canadian diamond – Polar Bear diamonds are mined in Canada and certainly aren’t affiliated with funding guerilla conflicts.

4) Purchase a standard diamond from a reputable dealer that abides by the Kimberley Process (The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’.)

Elizabeta Jewelry offers all of these options, and if you choose option #4, we will donate a portion of the sale to Conflict Neutral (http://www.conflictneutral.com/ – We have three long term aims. 1- To help those affected either directly or indirectly by diamond trading. This will be achieved by support of local projects to provide fresh water, health care etc.. 2- To work towards more strict regulation of diamond sales to ensure that less and less blood diamonds find their way in to circulation. 3 -To support stable non-corrupt governments to help them to bring stability and adequate policing and facilities such that countries are able to restrict illegal trade themselves and provide for their own people.

Custom Made Jewerly to your specifications

Liz Ratcliff — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:51:00 +0000

Are you looking for a custom, designer, one of a kind piece of jewelry made to your specifications? Elizabeta Jewelry can help! We have big name designers that can create the perfect piece for you. If you have an idea, we will run with it. And you would have the opportunity to see a “proof” before we actually produce the final piece, letting you make changes if you would like.

A case history was a client looking for a mother’s pendant but she didn’t want the usual (yet lovely) mother’s pendant that we often see. She was looking for something modern and contemporary. So using the appropriate birthstones, a jewelry designer came up with the piece that is pictured. It uses palladium metal with a ruby, garnet, and aquamarine.

If you are looking for something unique and that reflects your sense of style, please contact us at service@elizabetajewelry.com and we can put something together. You get all of the convenience of shopping from home but the service and personalization of a designer jewelry store.

June Promotions

Liz Ratcliff — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:36:00 +0000

June Promotions at Elizabeta Jewelry
The color of the month is red, the color of love and passion. Some red gemstones include the ruby, garnet, and spinel. The ruby is July’s birthstone and also the stone used to symbolize the 15th and 40th anniversary. In folklore, the ruby is said to provide protection from misfortune. The garnet is January’s birthstone and it is said to provide protection from evil. The spinel is perhaps the most under -appreciated of all the gemstones. It has often been mistaken for a ruby. In fact, the famous Black Prince’s Ruby (the central stone in the British Imperial State Crown) is actually a spinel. Due to its excellent hardness (8 on the Moh’s scale) and high clarity spinel produces fine jewelry in various cuts and shapes. Spinel is never treated in any way and continues to be a great substitute for ruby and sapphire as well as an outstanding stone in its own right. Today fine red spinel is more rare than ruby.
If you are looking for a special piece of jewelry, whether it be an engagement ring or a piece to celebrate another one of life’s special moments, we would be happy to put together some ideas for you. You can incorporate a red spinel, a traditional diamond, or a diamond alternative to make your purchase unique and symbolic. Elizabeta Jewelry is happy to send you the center stone for inspection prior to setting it into a ring.
10% off our entire offering + Elizabeta Jewelry will donate 10% of the purchase price to the Nature Conservancy or CARE – use promo code JUNE10 .
Or free spinel with the purchase of an engagement ring. We will set the stone for you at no charge. Please contact us for information on the available gemstones.

Making Your Money Go Further For an Engagement Ring

Liz Ratcliff — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Ok, so I don’t think I am dropping a bomb on anyone when I say the economy is a little rough right now. So naturally, it is a little unnerving when faced with the idea of purchasing an engagement ring. In the past, the “rule” has always been 2 months salary. I have never been one to follow the rules, and now is as good a time as any to depart from them if you find yourself in uncertain economic territory.

Do not worry, your options are still many… Fortunately in this day and age, there are many solutions that both you and your intended fiance will be relieved to know about.

1) It’s ok to purchase a synthetic diamond – hey, you don’t have to worry about whether it is a blood diamond or not and you can always replace it with a natural diamond down the road. And with the advance of technology, there are lots of top quality options – there is moissanite, which is silicon carbide, diamond hybrid which uses diamond to produce it, manmade diamonds – same or similar chemical make up of a natural diamond except that it was made in a lab. All of these options are significantly less than the cost of a diamond. For comparison a 1ct diamond G in color, SI1 in clarity usually sells for around $8000.00 (usually less if buying online). A 1ct moissanite runs about $500.00. A diamond hybrid or man made diamond 1 ct in size is about $250.00 or less.

2) An increasingly popular and symbolic option is to go with a colored gemstone. Rubies, sapphires, and spinels are just a few of the possibilities. They tend to be very durable and suited for everyday wear. Many of the colored gemstones have symbolic meaning that you may find appropriate as a symbol of your eternal love. Or maybe you just want a splash of color. Be sure that if you are considering a colored gemstone you ask your jeweler if the stone you want would stand up to daily wear. Some colored gemstones just aren’t cut out for a ring that is worn most all of the time.

3) Another trend that I am seeing more of is purchasing an ornate diamond band with lots of smaller diamonds in lieu of a large diamond. Many smaller diamonds cost less than a large diamond even if the total diamond weight is the same. The Beverley K Collection offers many unique and stunning designs. And, in fact, you can stack multiple bands for a truly amazing look (and you have gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, etc…).

4) If you are still planning on getting a real diamond, a good money saver is to avoid the “magic sizes”. Instead of a 1 carat stone, ask for a .90 carat. To the naked eye, the size difference is quite subtle, but you will be pleasantly surprised by the money you can save. The same is true for a 1/2 size – go a few points lower and your savings will be significant.

5) Buying a smaller diamond with the intention of a future upgrade… many jewelry retailers offer a trade up program so when you are ready to purchase a larger stone, you can trade in your smaller one for a credit towards a larger diamond.

Hopefully, we have provided ideas and solutions for you. Please feel free to contact Elizabeta Jewelry (service@elizabetajewelry.com) if you have any questions , would like to shop our online store, or would like to discuss other options. Elizabeta Jewelry offers all of the options listed above.

Peace and Greenness!
www.elizabetajewelry.com