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Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Jaw Dropping Celebrity Engagement Rings
EmailWritten by tatiana on Apr-26-08 5:50am
It must be wedding season, because celebrities are announcing engagements left and right. With the recent news that Carmen Electra is going to try the whole, "'Till death do you part," thing for a third time, it's only appropriate that we look at some of the rings that adorn the fingers of celebrities worldwide.
Paris Hilton & Paris Latsis
Now for the mother of all engagement rings. Remember when poor Latsis thought that when Hilton said yes, she'd actually marry him and they'd stay together forever and ever? Right, well, that never happened, they didn't even make it to the planning stages of their wedding. But, thanks to the identically named duo, we had the privilege of being exposed to one of the most amazing rings of our time. The massive white diamond ring was picked out by Hilton herself, designed by a private jeweler and rumored to be at least 23-carats total weight. That's not all, aside from her engagement ring, Hilton also received a 21-carat canary diamond as an "I love you" ring. Oh, the perks of being engaged to a Greek shipping heir.
Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt
Yeah, yeah, she's the girl from The Hills we love to hate, but you have to admit her on-again-off-again fiancé Pratt has good taste. The giant lavender colored center stone, surrounded by diamonds, has been rumored to be merely an amethyst stone, but it's still an eye-catching ring.
Anna Kournikova & Enrique Iglesias
Although neither an engagement nor marriage can be confirmed from either, the massive pink stone the Russian tennis star is sporting is worth mentioning. The ring may look like something you'd pull out of a Crackerjack box, but it's rumored to be an 11-carat natural pink pear shape diamond.
Carmen Electra & Rob Patterson
The eyeliner wearing due just announced their engagement and Electra is proudly sporting her black diamond ring. Rare and unusual, the simple style is very fitting for the dark pair.
more at http://www.zimbio.com
It must be wedding season, because celebrities are announcing engagements left and right. With the recent news that Carmen Electra is going to try the whole, "'Till death do you part," thing for a third time, it's only appropriate that we look at some of the rings that adorn the fingers of celebrities worldwide.
Paris Hilton & Paris LatsisNow for the mother of all engagement rings. Remember when poor Latsis thought that when Hilton said yes, she'd actually marry him and they'd stay together forever and ever? Right, well, that never happened, they didn't even make it to the planning stages of their wedding. But, thanks to the identically named duo, we had the privilege of being exposed to one of the most amazing rings of our time. The massive white diamond ring was picked out by Hilton herself, designed by a private jeweler and rumored to be at least 23-carats total weight. That's not all, aside from her engagement ring, Hilton also received a 21-carat canary diamond as an "I love you" ring. Oh, the perks of being engaged to a Greek shipping heir.
Heidi Montag & Spencer PrattYeah, yeah, she's the girl from The Hills we love to hate, but you have to admit her on-again-off-again fiancé Pratt has good taste. The giant lavender colored center stone, surrounded by diamonds, has been rumored to be merely an amethyst stone, but it's still an eye-catching ring.
Anna Kournikova & Enrique Iglesias
Although neither an engagement nor marriage can be confirmed from either, the massive pink stone the Russian tennis star is sporting is worth mentioning. The ring may look like something you'd pull out of a Crackerjack box, but it's rumored to be an 11-carat natural pink pear shape diamond.
Carmen Electra & Rob Patterson
The eyeliner wearing due just announced their engagement and Electra is proudly sporting her black diamond ring. Rare and unusual, the simple style is very fitting for the dark pair.
more at http://www.zimbio.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A Man's Guide to Choosing an Engagement Ring
So, the time has come to pop the question, eh? If you're thinking of going down on one knee and asking her to marry you in the traditional way that women love, you'd better have the engagement ring ready.
While it's becoming more popular for couples to decide to become engaged in an off-hand manner and then venture down to the jeweller to choose the engagement ring together, many women still feel there's something special about wearing a ring that their beau has chosen especially for them.
Making the Right Choice of Engagement Ring
Before you can even consider looking at rings, you need to find out a few basic things:
What is her ring size?
Does she prefer yellow or white gold?
Does she prefer simple styles or would she prefer an engagement ring that will be instantly noticed?
By studying the kind of jewellery she generally wears, you can find out a lot about her tastes. If she wears simple jewellery, this is probably a sign that a diamond solitaire may be more appropriate than a flashy engagement ring carrying a cluster of gems.
Be aware of any jewellery she admires, especially engagement rings. If she appears to be particularly impressed by a certain ring, make a mental note of the cut and shape of the stone and the colour of the gold.
The ring you choose should reflect her personality—she'll be wearing it for a long time, after all.
The Cost of An Engagement Ring
Once you've decided on a style, it's time to determine how much you can spend on the ring.
Traditionally, a man is expected to spend at least the equivalent of two month's salary, although a lesser amount is acceptable these days.
There are several reasons why the engagement ring was expected to be so costly.
So that the young lady—and, not least, her family—would know that you had made a conscious effort at saving in order to propose to her.
By saving for the ring, you show that you're also capable of saving for a future home.
Should the couple fall upon hard times, there would always be the ring to 'pawn' in order to get through.
As most young people no longer live in their parent's homes but have outgoings of their own, unless you're an especially high earner, nobody will expect you to "prove your worth" by spending two months salary on an engagement ring. What is important is that you spend enough to show her just how much she means to you, based on your own personal budget.
Buying the Engagement Ring
Once you've decided on a style and the amount you're happy to spend, it's time to head for the shops.
But before you go charging into the first jewellery shop you come across, stop for a moment and remember that this is an engagement ring and, as such, probably the most important piece of jewellery you'll ever buy.
Before you go shopping, ask around and try to determine which jewellers offer the kind of service you need. If you're buying a diamond set ring, you'll want a guarantee that the stone is conflict free, and you'll want re-sizing included in the price. You'll also want at least a 12-month guarantee against loss of the stone due to faulty craftsmanship or defects in the materials used.
Decide on a two or three shops, give them your maximum budget minus ten percent, and ask to see the available collections.
Why minus ten percent?
In order to tempt you into spending more, a jeweller will almost invariably include a few pieces that are slightly above your maximum budget. This way, even those rings will still be within your real budget.
Make sure the metal is properly hallmarked, that diamonds carry a certificate including the carat and grading of the stone, and that the jewellery provides a guarantee that the diamonds are conflict free.
Once you've procured your chosen engagement ring, all that remains is for you to find the perfect moment and hope that she'll accept your ring as a perfect symbol of the love you feel for her.
Sharon Jacobsen is a full-time freelance writer living in England, UK. For a competitive fee, she'll happily provide quality, compelling and keyword rich articles for your website, newsletter or any other Web publication on any subject of your choice.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Jacobsen
While it's becoming more popular for couples to decide to become engaged in an off-hand manner and then venture down to the jeweller to choose the engagement ring together, many women still feel there's something special about wearing a ring that their beau has chosen especially for them.
Making the Right Choice of Engagement Ring
Before you can even consider looking at rings, you need to find out a few basic things:
What is her ring size?
Does she prefer yellow or white gold?
Does she prefer simple styles or would she prefer an engagement ring that will be instantly noticed?
By studying the kind of jewellery she generally wears, you can find out a lot about her tastes. If she wears simple jewellery, this is probably a sign that a diamond solitaire may be more appropriate than a flashy engagement ring carrying a cluster of gems.
Be aware of any jewellery she admires, especially engagement rings. If she appears to be particularly impressed by a certain ring, make a mental note of the cut and shape of the stone and the colour of the gold.
The ring you choose should reflect her personality—she'll be wearing it for a long time, after all.
The Cost of An Engagement Ring
Once you've decided on a style, it's time to determine how much you can spend on the ring.
Traditionally, a man is expected to spend at least the equivalent of two month's salary, although a lesser amount is acceptable these days.
There are several reasons why the engagement ring was expected to be so costly.
So that the young lady—and, not least, her family—would know that you had made a conscious effort at saving in order to propose to her.
By saving for the ring, you show that you're also capable of saving for a future home.
Should the couple fall upon hard times, there would always be the ring to 'pawn' in order to get through.
As most young people no longer live in their parent's homes but have outgoings of their own, unless you're an especially high earner, nobody will expect you to "prove your worth" by spending two months salary on an engagement ring. What is important is that you spend enough to show her just how much she means to you, based on your own personal budget.
Buying the Engagement Ring
Once you've decided on a style and the amount you're happy to spend, it's time to head for the shops.
But before you go charging into the first jewellery shop you come across, stop for a moment and remember that this is an engagement ring and, as such, probably the most important piece of jewellery you'll ever buy.
Before you go shopping, ask around and try to determine which jewellers offer the kind of service you need. If you're buying a diamond set ring, you'll want a guarantee that the stone is conflict free, and you'll want re-sizing included in the price. You'll also want at least a 12-month guarantee against loss of the stone due to faulty craftsmanship or defects in the materials used.
Decide on a two or three shops, give them your maximum budget minus ten percent, and ask to see the available collections.
Why minus ten percent?
In order to tempt you into spending more, a jeweller will almost invariably include a few pieces that are slightly above your maximum budget. This way, even those rings will still be within your real budget.
Make sure the metal is properly hallmarked, that diamonds carry a certificate including the carat and grading of the stone, and that the jewellery provides a guarantee that the diamonds are conflict free.
Once you've procured your chosen engagement ring, all that remains is for you to find the perfect moment and hope that she'll accept your ring as a perfect symbol of the love you feel for her.
Sharon Jacobsen is a full-time freelance writer living in England, UK. For a competitive fee, she'll happily provide quality, compelling and keyword rich articles for your website, newsletter or any other Web publication on any subject of your choice.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Jacobsen
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What Is Turquoise?
Turquoise is the birthstone of December and also it is traditionally considered the anniversary gemstone for the 11th year of marriage.
Chemically, a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, turquoise is formed when meteoric material or groundwater percolates through aluminous rock in the presence of copper. For this reason, it is often associated with copper deposits as a secondary mineral, most often in copper deposits in arid, semiarid, or desert environments. It consists of a phosphate of aluminum, colored by copper and traces of iron. Some gemologists believe that the beautiful blue color is produced by a complex ion formed by copper and ammonium. The finest colored material is mined and worked in Iran; its colors range from the highly desirable sky blue to a bluish green.
History
Turquoise, also known as the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Its blue color is so distinctive that the name is used to describe any color that resembles it. That is why it is used as a gemstone.
Since about 200 B.C., Turquoise has been extensively used by both southwestern U.S Native Americans and by many of the Indian tribes in Mexico. The Native American Jewelry or "Indian style" jewelry with turquoise mounted in or with silver is relatively new. Some believe this style of jewelry was unknown prior to about 1880, when a white trader persuaded a Navajo craftsman to make turquoise and silver jewelry using coin silver. Prior to this time, the Native Americans had made solid turquoise beads, carvings, and inlaid mosaics.
Today, turquoise has found wide acceptance among people of all walks of life and from many different ethnic groups. The name turquoise may have come from the word Turquie, French for Turkey, because of the early belief that the mineral came from that country (the turquoise most likely came from the Alimersai Mountain region in Persia, now Iran or the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, two of the world's oldest known turquoise mining areas.). Another possibility could be the name came from the French description of the gemstone, "pierre turquin" meaning dark blue stone.
For thousands of years the finest intense blue turquoise in the world was found in Persia, and the term "Persian Turquoise" became synonymous with the finest quality. This changed during the late 1800's and early 1900's when modern miners discovered or rediscovered significant deposits of high-quality turquoise in the western and Southwestern United States. Material from many of these deposits was just as fine as the finest "Persian. “Today, the term "Persian Turquoise" is more often a definition of quality than a statement of origin, and the majority of the world's finest-quality turquoise comes from the United States, the largest producer of turquoise.
Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise jewelry is high in fashion now for its natural colors and elegance. It's also highly collectible and grows in value over time. One can find a brilliant selection of Turquoise jewelry in both traditional and contemporary styles to match every taste. There is everything Turquoise Concho Belts, Turquoise Earrings, Turquoise Bracelets, Turquoise Rings, Hair Jewelry, Turquoise Necklaces, Turquoise Watches, including Turquoise Belt Buckles and Bolo Ties. You can't go wrong with a one of a kind hand made piece of Turquoise jewelry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vivian_Liu
Chemically, a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, turquoise is formed when meteoric material or groundwater percolates through aluminous rock in the presence of copper. For this reason, it is often associated with copper deposits as a secondary mineral, most often in copper deposits in arid, semiarid, or desert environments. It consists of a phosphate of aluminum, colored by copper and traces of iron. Some gemologists believe that the beautiful blue color is produced by a complex ion formed by copper and ammonium. The finest colored material is mined and worked in Iran; its colors range from the highly desirable sky blue to a bluish green.
History
Turquoise, also known as the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Its blue color is so distinctive that the name is used to describe any color that resembles it. That is why it is used as a gemstone.
Since about 200 B.C., Turquoise has been extensively used by both southwestern U.S Native Americans and by many of the Indian tribes in Mexico. The Native American Jewelry or "Indian style" jewelry with turquoise mounted in or with silver is relatively new. Some believe this style of jewelry was unknown prior to about 1880, when a white trader persuaded a Navajo craftsman to make turquoise and silver jewelry using coin silver. Prior to this time, the Native Americans had made solid turquoise beads, carvings, and inlaid mosaics.
Today, turquoise has found wide acceptance among people of all walks of life and from many different ethnic groups. The name turquoise may have come from the word Turquie, French for Turkey, because of the early belief that the mineral came from that country (the turquoise most likely came from the Alimersai Mountain region in Persia, now Iran or the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, two of the world's oldest known turquoise mining areas.). Another possibility could be the name came from the French description of the gemstone, "pierre turquin" meaning dark blue stone.
For thousands of years the finest intense blue turquoise in the world was found in Persia, and the term "Persian Turquoise" became synonymous with the finest quality. This changed during the late 1800's and early 1900's when modern miners discovered or rediscovered significant deposits of high-quality turquoise in the western and Southwestern United States. Material from many of these deposits was just as fine as the finest "Persian. “Today, the term "Persian Turquoise" is more often a definition of quality than a statement of origin, and the majority of the world's finest-quality turquoise comes from the United States, the largest producer of turquoise.
Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise jewelry is high in fashion now for its natural colors and elegance. It's also highly collectible and grows in value over time. One can find a brilliant selection of Turquoise jewelry in both traditional and contemporary styles to match every taste. There is everything Turquoise Concho Belts, Turquoise Earrings, Turquoise Bracelets, Turquoise Rings, Hair Jewelry, Turquoise Necklaces, Turquoise Watches, including Turquoise Belt Buckles and Bolo Ties. You can't go wrong with a one of a kind hand made piece of Turquoise jewelry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vivian_Liu
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