Thursday, January 15, 2009

Cheap engagement rings - what steps will ensure the cost cutting

Due to expensive diamonds, settings, other features like metal and engravings, costs of rings often exceed the budget that was initially set by the couples. But once certain basics are in place, purchasing of cheap engagement rings becomes a lot easier. Here are some steps to follow.First, make the budget wisely. Do not keep the estimate of the spending too low to make it impractical. Your focus should be on having a near correct idea of spending in the initial stage of making of budget. For instance, decide if you are prepared to spare an amount equivalent to two months' salary, or would you be comfortable with three month's salary. Ask the jeweler about the costs of setting the diamond and settle for a less expensive one, as most of the settings like prong, bezel and channel protect the stone. Similarly, you can opt for a less costly ring metal after comparing its prices. Usually, yellow gold, white gold and platinum are the metals.Consider the above tips while shopping for cheap engagement rings. Make sure to compare all the features of the ring with their prices in mind.
Online shopping is source of competitive prices on every commodity including the rings. Because of less spending on overheads, the online sites can afford to sell the jewelry pieces at affordable prices. So, the more you scan the sites, the higher are your chances of locating a suitable ring.In case, still you need to prune the costs even more, which you should to save the money, then buy a loose diamond at competitive prices from reliable online sites or from anywhere you think is suitable.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Finding the Right Irish Ring You Want

I find what I am looking for? This is really pretty simple; if you are doing some searching online you can type Irish Rings into your favorite search engine. But that might not be what you really want to do to find that perfect ring for that special someone in your life.The best possible way to choose the Irish Ring design for wedding rings that best suits your relationship is to research into the meanings of Irish symbols. If you have it all- Friendship, Love and Loyalty- you might choose an Irish Ring (Wedding Bands) with the traditional Irish Claddagh, which has Two Hands (symbolizing Friendship) holding a Heart (Love) with a Crown over the Heart (Loyalty) on it.You might not have too much of a choice here, as most of the Irish Ring designs available are available in either yellow or white gold singly; with a few that are a combination of both. Then again, you might decide on a Sterling Silver Irish Ring. This is really a matter of personal preference, as well as what you can afford.if you or your beloved wears a ring that is an in-between size… or smaller/larger than the "traditional" sizes that many an Irish Ring can be found in; this where you might run into a bit a difficulty. The first thing that you are best off to do is find out exactly what ring size you really do wear. You might need to get an Irish Ring that is the next whole size up if you wear and in-between size. There are many Irish rings can be found in both whole and half sizes; which eliminates this problem… for the most part.The Claddagh is a very traditional Irish symbol of Friendship, Love and Loyalty. You will also find an Irish Ring that has Shamrocks all over the band, as this is another traditional symbol of the Emerald Isle. The Celtic Knot is a symbol of Unending Love or Eternity, as it goes on forever with no beginning or end… much like the circle. Another of Ireland's enduring symbols of its very unique culture is the Ardagh Chalice; this precious symbol adorns one particular women's Wedding Band design.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

The Onyx Appeal

Chalcedony quartz is the mineral name, but the common name for the lustrous black gemstone is onyx. Silicon dioxide deposits occur inside the gas pockets of lava and when it dries, a rock containing the chalcedony is formed.This variety often contains white bands of silica that run parallel throughout the stone. This gives it great texture. There are other varieties that range from brown to reddish-brown with varying band colors. There are also stones that are more gray than black. However, the black gemstone is still the most common and the most popular.The stones found in black onyx jewelry likely come from Brazil. However, there are also deposits in India, Madagascar and in the United States, California and Arizona.In Greek, the name "onyx" means "nail" or "claw." The reason can be found in Greek mythology. Eros, the impish Cupid and son of Venus, decided it would be fun to cut his mother's beautiful fingernails. So while she slept, he crept up and chopped them off with the tip of his arrow. He then proceeded to spread the bits of nail around the ground. The gods turned these bits into stone because no part of a god should ever die. These bits of stone became known as onyx.It is also supposed to heighten intuition, improve mood and act as a catalyst to change bad habits. Physically, it is supposed to aid in the proper function of the body's major systems like the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
What could be a downside of its mystical properties is its propensity to stifle passion and emotion. This can be good at times to avoid fights, but it can also temper sexual desire. There are other mines all over the world, but the most significant is probably Brazil.Significance of the black gemstone Like amethyst, which is also quartz, the black multi-layered chalcedony fills the cavity of the igneous rock.